Up to speed

This post will bring everyone up to date with our little pride and joy.


We took Race to Dairy Queen for the first time. Our guess is that he likes it, Dad's car and the car seat took a pretty good shot, but we had fun.



Here is Races personally guided tour of the lake, given by our neighbor Dennis. And yes, being allowed to Captain the vessel costs extra.



Now on to the events that make a boy a boy and make a man an older boy. This is a local burnout party, we have attended 3 years running. So if you do the math Race was still in the womb his first year.



Back to Mexico for a week to tie up loose ends. This is a church about 5-10 minutes away, on foot.



We were greeted with this when we retuned. Sure is good to be home.


Here's Mom and Race in the bleachers at Races first trip to the drag strip.



This trip was complete with 8000 horsepower, nitro belching, top fuel dragsters. The ear plugs were a good start but we also covered up his ears with our hands. Then he covered his own ears.



After watching a few of these passes at 300 MPH it gets the adrenaline flowing and the ears ringing.


So Papa Ron and Grandma Toni decided Race should have a pair of these.


To top off the day Race got to "drive" his first dragster. Rest assured he will drive a dragster long before he is 10 years old. Just a little slower than this one.

Big changes ahead

Well as most of you know we left Mexico in June to come home for a few engagements we had. When we left Mexico we all but signed the contracts to stay for 2 more years. Well that was all about to change. We were only here for a few days and a different Magna plant wanted to make April an offer. So after a meeting and a little (read VERY little)thinking about the proposition we decided to stay. So here are some pictures to catch everybody up on Race and his having to adapt to his new surroundings. Ah, um, well adapting took all of 30 seconds, that is how long it took for him to find his toy box, complete with a "new" set of toys.


Here he is running throughout the house at full speed, and having fun. Pretty sure the adapting phase is over.



For everybody that doesn't see alot you can all see just how big he is getting. For us who see him daily it takes things like this for us to really realize how much he has grown.



For Race, the only thing better than pushing one of his trucks around is doing it naked!!



In Mexico, other than a few trips to the beach, the extent of water for Race was the bath or three times in the pool. At home it is a little different, we were a little concerned about how he would deal with the water. Well, no worries he took to the water right away. And he has already developed a pretty good pair of sea legs.



Oh yeah, he doesn't really care if he has on the appropriate clothing.



I will post again right now to get you up to speed, including his first trip to the drag strip.

Out of paradise, back to reality.

We are back at home, and life is normal....as normal as it can be. Here is an addition to many pics of Race. He is mimicking us more and more everyday. And his anger management needs a little fine tuning....ok truthfully, it is nearly non-existent. He gets SOOO bent out of shape he will throw whatever may be in his hands, along with a disgusted scream. Quite comical, the hard thing is trying to laugh without him catching you. For example, the other day he was trying to balance a couch pillow on the steering wheel of his Radio Flyer. Well, he hasn't grasped the concept of balance yet. So he would put the pillow on the steering wheel, turn around to grab a Matchbox car,and the pillow was on the floor. First time this was acceptable. Next try same result, this time a small display of displeasure, slap the pillow. OK, the pillow should have learned, now let's try this again.....same scenario, same result. The anger however, is building RAPIDLY. After the fourth or fifth attempt goes bad the result is a COMPLETE meltdown, of monumental proportions, screaming, crying, and the propulsion of small objects at astonishing speeds!!! All the while Popi is semi-hidden and dying from the surpressed laughter. AAAAHHHHH the TERRIBLE TWO'S.



Time for this dirty little game of "hide and seek". The reason it is dirty is because this is what we wipe our feet on before entering the house.


"OK, enough of "the Man" holdin' me down. I know way more than my parents. I'm packin' up and I'm outie!"



Oh yeah can I get breakfast first?



Since Race was moving out we decided that we should add to the family since we kinda got used to the three of us. Say Hola to IGGY our new iguana.



This is one of those unique things you find that you just have to have. It is carved out of a solid chunk of solid stone. Can't wait until we get him home in our garden.



See most of you in a couple of weeks!

Playa del Carmen

Yes, it was difficult, but we managed to have a good time in Playa del Carmen. Chris, Romina, John, Ruth, Joy, Ron, Race, and I spent a few days in a resort south of Cancun, near where we got married. The weather was perfect; hot and sunny (mostly), the water was warm, and the company great. Race loved the pool, he has no fear. Which, of course, adds to our fear. But all was well. It was a well deserved break.


Here is the view down the beach in front of our resort, gorgeous!

We spent quite a bit of time eating and drinking at the pool bar. What a surprise!! Geez, it's a tough life.

Ready...

Set...

Still set...

Go!!

Yea!

Daddy and Race in the pool in the evening.

Race loved this hammack on our patio in front of our room. We were almost right on the beach, you could see the ocean out the side window.

Race watching Daddy, Chris and Romina playing volleball.

Race loved the sand and the waves. Evidently, he is more accustomed to them now since our trip to Acapulco.

Life is good!
Juice is good!

And the hammack is still good!


Thanks everyone for visiting our site, see you soon!

¿Que Pasa Amigos?

Hola from south of the border. Just a few more photos to throw out there. Race learns and does more and more every day. He knows more Spanish than English now. If asked ¿Como le perro? (what does a dog say) The response is woooof woooof! We have also begun the "no" stage,¿quieres comida?(do you want to eat),NO! ¿Quieres leche?(do you want milk), NO! ¿Quieres jugo?(do you want juice), NO! However.....¿quieres Coca? (do you want pop)MAS!! Oh, and now I am Papi (pronouced Poppy) most of the time, and Da some of the time. So, here we go. First up, contrary to popular belief they actually DO have tractors here...See!!


However, this is still the preferred method of farming/transportation.



Madre y Padre are doing their best to get Race comfortable with the water. It took several attempts to keep the mask on for more than 4.3 seconds. But, he actually will try to put it on himself now.


Nobody has told Race that you are supposed to have water in the pool. So for now this is just as much fun.


And just because you don't have water to swim in, you can still get worn out.


Here is Race and Ma having a good time at "Casa Ocho" para cumpleaños de John. House #8 for John´s birthday.


Ok, hasta luego for now. We are going to Cancun this weekend so I imagine that will be the next post. ADIOS MUCHACHOS!!!

Wow, is that snow???

Basically, all winter here it was sunny and 70. Now, generally it is sunny and at least 80 everyday as well, except every afternoon it storms for an hour or two or three. And in the last month it has hailed at least 6 or 7 times during the afternoon storms. Probably due to the altitude here, the hail doesn't have time to melt. It makes quite a racket at work an at home, beating on those tiles. The kids are fascinated!



Hey! Race and his cool shades. Or dad's cool shades, rather. Let's go for a ride, beep beep!!

Our little munchkin, getting ready for bed. He doesn't appear very sleepy, hmmm...

Race Updates

So, in lieu of our lake, we bought an inflatable pool for the kids. And they love it!! They can’t stay away from it. Clothed or unclothed, they are always soaking wet.




Well, Race has learned how to successfully climb out of his crib. The first time caused quite a bump on his head. We thought he was able to accomplish this because he could reach the bed next to his crib, so we moved the bed, but no. He is able to swing his leg up over the side and it only took one painful fall for him to figure out he can’t let go until he is hanging down as far as possible before he lets go. Smartie! He climbs everything, and has no fear!! And here is on a trampoline. Mom was a little nervous about that!


Race is speaking more Spanish than English, and it is so cute!! Of course, sometimes it is a mix or he responds in English to your Spanish question. He usually can repeat the last word you just said. Or he’ll just shake his head yes or no in response (no more often than yes.)
¿Quieres comer? (do you want to eat?) Response: ¿Comer? ¿Quieres jugo? (do you want juice?) Response: ¿Jugo? Quieres banarte? (do you want a bath?) Response: ¿Bath? He still says car and dog and mom and dad, and he has begun to say “gracias” and “de nada” if you prompt him. It sounds more like “gacias”, we love it! He also can say peez (please) when prompted. "Peez" is much easier than "por favor"!

Mmmmmmm, breakfast burrito...