Happy Birthday Ben!

We celebrated Ben's 35th birthday last Saturday. The boys had the great idea to give him a baseball cap of his favorite soccer team, the Tigres. They also had some special homemade gifts for him, like a homemade decorated airplane from Josh, some drawings from Sam, and a perler bead creation from Seth.

Isn't this a great picture!?

Opening gifts

After a breakfast of puffy German pancakes, we headed to a waterfall that's about 40 minutes from our house called Cola de Caballo (translated in Enlgish: the horses tail). It is a pretty cool place up the mountains. We really enjoyed being out in nature, by a creek, and in the midst of trees.

Oh, Joshy...you're a nut! 

I love this family picture!

I guess it does kind of look like a horse's tail.

The kids enjoyed splashing around in the creek.

Almost like summer days in Scappoose by the creek

Sam & Seth

All the boys

After the falls, we headed to the quaint puebla of Santiago for some lunch. Our friends recommended a little restaurant on the square, La Casa de Abuela (Grandmother's house). It was great and SO cheap. We had various tacos, sopes, chips and dip, drinks and Ben even got a cheesecake. The tab came to about $14 American dollars. We'll definitely be vising there again! 

Birthday boy with his cheesecake and Tigres hat

Our friends, the Leonards, live pretty close to Santiago, so next we stopped by for an afternoon of swimming. It was great to reconnect with them (they had been back in American for a few weeks). The kids always have a blast together and visiting with Dustin and Katie is always good for our souls.

Ha! Trying to coordinate a crazy jump picture with seven kids is hard!

We ended the night at home with bbq chicken pizza, ice cream and a hilarious pirate play put on by the boys. What more could a man ask for on his 35th birthday?

The Blessing of a Second Car

It has been a month since we finally purchased a second car here in Mexico for me to drive during the week with the kids. We bought it 11 weeks after moving to Monterrey; so with the two weeks that we were visiting in Oregon, it was a little over two months of me having no vehicle during the work week with three kids at home, in an unfamiliar apartment, in a foreign country. Two months of piling all four of us into tiny uber vehicles if we needed to go anywhere during the day, including the grocery store, which meant that we would also have to load all of our groceries into the trunk of a second uber car after shopping. Hard would be an understatement. 

Since purchasing our car, I've been mentally composing this blog and there are two major themes I've landed on: patience and provision.

If there is one thing that Mexico has taught us, it's patience. When we moved here, we assumed that we would have a second vehicle within the first week. Eleven weeks later we got it. Eleven weeks! As I look back at the situation, maybe the overriding feeling should be frustration, but truly more than anything, I just feel grateful. And that's really what we're learning: patience leads to perseverance, hope, character and thankfulness.

I do have to relate a couple (now) hilarious stories of perseverance regarding using uber. First is a story about buying the boys bikes. We had been promising the boys bikes since we first moved here, but we were hoping to wait on that second (and bigger vehicle). Finally, one Saturday we decided to just purchase the bikes and use an uber to get them back to the house. We spent probably at least an hour at an amazing toy store selecting the perfect bikes (you know, one of those experiences as a parent that you're absolutely exhausted and have a headache by the end). At last, the boys proudly wheeled those bikes to the check stand, and lo and behold, one of Ben's co-workers is in line behind us. As we are chatting with her, the cashier interrupts, hands us our credit card and says, "Lo siento, no funciona." (Sorry, it doesn't work). Great: our credit card isn't working. Just what Ben wants to happen while talking to someone from work. Long story short, we were unable to get our credit card to work and had to walk out of the store empty -handed. I'm not exaggerating to say that Josh cried multiple times on the way home: "I want my bike!!" In fact, I was impressed that Sam and Seth didn't cry; I certainly wanted to! Poor kids, poor parents. BAD DAY.

Excitedly picking out those bikes

Two days later, we had the credit card thing figured out and the kids were desperate for the bikes. It was during the work week, so that meant that I needed to take an uber with them to the store, purchase the bikes, and then get a big enough uber for the ride home that would not only fit all four of us, but three bikes too. I ordered an uber XL, and of course the smallest SUV one could imagine showed up at the store. But, as we now often say, Mexico may not be a country where it happens easily or well, but somehow they always make it happen. With a ton of finagling we managed to fit all the bikes into the trunk with half of the middle seat down. This meant Seth and Sam were double-buckled in the other middle seat, and Josh was buckled onto my lap in the passenger seat. Not ideal, not legal in America, but acceptable for Mexico. And fantastic because it meant we could finally get the bikes home!

Seth and Sam sandwiched in the back with the bikes.

I would have never done something this crazy four months ago, but honestly I have gotten a little used to the crazy. And the smiles on the boys' faces when they finally got to ride their bikes at the park was worth all the hassle. (This picture is taken at a park about 10 minutes walk from our apartment. It has a great bike/walking trail as well as play equipment and a trampoline!)

Awkward uber story number two: the week before we bought our car, we went to Walmart to purchase a barbecue. Now, why in the world would we buy a barbecue a few days before we would have a vehicle to appropriately haul it home? Well, we were having a fourth of July party with friends and desperately wanted it to be a real American barbecue (hamburgers, corn on the cob, strawberry shortcake). Of course, the community grill at our apartment had been reserved for a birthday party. Clearly we couldn't have a barbecue without the grill. We found the perfect grill, managed to communicate well enough to purchase the grill, endured the embarrassment of rolling the loud, clamoring thing behind us across the store (like our family doesn't already stick out enough here) and brought the grill to the trunk of our small sedan hoping for a miracle that it would fit into the trunk far enough that we could tie the trunk down and call it good. Failed. That's okay, we knew plan A was doomed. So, plan B: call an uber XL. Now you may remember from the previous fiasco that an "XL" rig in Mexico isn't exactly what we would consider to be large in America. So, of course, a tiny SUV showed up to help us haul our barbecue home.  The uber driver opened the trunk, put down the back seats and he and Ben lifted it to the trunk...only to clearly illustrate that it will not fit in this vehicle either. And as they lifted it down, the corner of the leg on Ben's side scratched a 4 inch mark on the car. Fail; major fail. The driver was clearly peeved (why wouldn't he be?) and wasn't in the mood to "try one more time" to get the grill into his vehicle. He drove away with an extra 500 pesos and lots of "lo sientos." By this time, our kids looked like this:

 I had to take a picture because we have to try to keep humor in these situations so we don't scream, cry, or totally lose it in front of our kids. We were all hot, tired, and frustrated that what was supposed to be a quick trip for a grill turned into a multiple hour debacle. Plan C: try one more time to get an uber XL that is actually XL. Try not to scratch the vehicle when loading. Plan C: success! Patience and perseverance wins! 

The second theme of our car is that of provision. It's a long story of why it took us so long to get a second vehicle. It includes a lot of failed plans, frustration in failed systems, and unmet expectations. But the Lord really provided us the perfect vehicle at the perfect time. Would you believe that we purchased a vehicle from the son of our Spanish tutor while we were in Portland? Isn't that wild? We met the Romero family because Gaile, our Spanish teacher, gave us their number as a good contact in Monterrey. They have two girls, 9 and 5, and are a very kind and fun family. We met them just in time to find out that shortly they would be moving to America, and that they were selling their vehicle. Their car was the size and price that we wanted, and as a bonus, they would help us do all the registering and paperwork at the Mexican DMV. It was an ideal situation. And while the timing really didn't seem ideal, maybe it was in Lord's eyes. Maybe it was all about teaching us patience, perseverance and that in the end, that His timing is perfect. 

The boys at the park with the Romero girls. We hope to visit them in their new home in Texas some day soon! 

Sam and Seth posing by the car the morning of their first day of sports camp

 A much better fit for the bikes than an uber XL

 Happily sitting in our new ride! Thank you Lord! 

Rivera Maya Vacation

A couple of weeks ago we took what we hope will be only the first of many vacations to the Rivera Maya. It is only a two hour flight to Cancun from Monterrey, so it's pretty easy travel for our family while we live here in Mexico. This trip we were especially blessed because Ben's parents met us there! We rented a condo together in a little town south of Cancun called Akumel. While the condo wasn't super fancy, it was right on the beach and we could see the ocean from the living room window. Also, an unforeseen bonus was that our beach happened to be one that mama turtles lay their eggs. So, when we arrived at 10:30 p.m. on Friday night, we walked outside and saw a huge turtle digging her nest. It was absolutely an amazing experience.

Each set of sticks marks a turtle nest. There were literally hundreds of them on our beach.

Each nest was labeled with the date the eggs were laid. 

 The view from our deck. 

 Eight in morning on day one and the twins were already in the ocean. It was all that we imagined it could be for those boys. Having never experienced a warm ocean before, the Caribbean was heaven for them! 

(Sam on left with a shell, Seth on right with a boogie board) 

 Joshy making a sand castle with Grandma in his undies before breakfast

 It was so awesome to have this right outside our door.

Unfortunately our beach had quite a bit of weeds, so after we all ate breakfast, we drove to la playa paradiso (Paradise Beach), just about 10 minutes further south. It was a beautiful beach where you can see the Tulum Mayan ruins in the background.

 Joshy had a blast making a sand castle 

 The twins quickly took to boogie boarding

 Not too many grandmas would join their grandsons in boogie boarding and be just as enthusiastic (or more so) than they! (Diane and Seth)

 Jeff joined in the fun too 

 After several hours on the beach we ate at a wonderful Thai restaurant that had a gorgeous view. It was weird for Ben and I to be in tourist Mexico, where the servers speak English and Thai food is even an option (no Thai restaurants here in Monterrey). It was such a treat! 

In the afternoon we headed to a beach that Jeff and Diane had already stayed at for the previous few days. We purchased snorkeling gear for Ben and the twins at a store and they practiced in the pool for a bit before heading to the ocean. 

 I have to take a moment here to say how proud we were of Seth and Sam for their sense of adventure and courage the entire trip. They were up for any new experience that was put in front of them and really were brave. First time boogie boarding, snorkeling, and kayaking and they never hesitated! (Seth, Sam)

 It was so helpful that the boys have become pretty good swimmers over the past few months here in Monterrey! 

 Ben is such a great teacher (and Dad!)

 The boys out in the ocean snorkeling!

 Joshy doing what he does best: digging in the sand.

 Seth coming in from snorkeling

 Note to any parents who head to the Caribbean: spray sunblock does not give enough coverage, especially on the face. All the kids got pretty burned on day 1. Seth even got sunburned on his eye lids. Bad parenting moment!

 We were also blessed to be able to take kayaks out on this particular beach. All the kids loved kayaking! 

 Ben and Seth

 Josh LOVED being in the kayak...poor Diane's arms were so tired by the end because Josh kept asking her to paddle around.

 Sam and Ben

 I wish that this picture wasn't blurry, because it shows such a sweet moment of Diane reading to Josh at bedtime.

Morning on day two, we woke up and the boys immediately rushed to the water again. This time we were blessed to see two babies turtles who were trying to make their way to the water. It was so awesome!

 There were quite a few of us rooting them towards the ocean

 Come on little guys!

 It was pretty amazing to watch!

 We knew that S & S would love the Caribbean ocean; they absolutely had a blast from the moment they woke up each morning until the sun went down.

 Seth

 Can you find the iguana? As we drove out from our condo in the morning we saw this guy.

 The beach we went to this second morning was by far our favorite. It was absolute paradise and had great body surfing. 

 Joshy checking out the ocean with jerky in hand. 

 Everyone spent a lot of time out in the ocean on this morning 

 Josh eventually went out into the ocean with Ben and bobbed around for the longest time. He didn't want to get out because he was having so much fun! 

 Seth

 Getting ready to catch a wave (can you see Seth's white mark in his hair? It's the way you can tell Seth and Sam apart from the back!)

 Trying to get the three boys to look at the camera and smile is nearly impossible

 That's the best we could get (Sam, Josh, Seth)

 More water play

 Josh pretty much thought that he was invincible in his water wings and was fearless of the waves 

 Seth

 Isn't that an idyllic beach?

 Sammy catching a wave

 Josh hanging with Grandpa and Grandma

Two adventurous souls

Our lunch stop was recommended to us by our apartment manager here in Monterrey

It was a pretty cool place: we ate with sand between our toes and a great view

There was also the most amazing decor, including a huge tree fort

Sam and Seth in the fort

Sam, Seth

Such a cool place!

Our little family

That evening Jeff and Diane watched the boys for us so that we could go on a date. We didn't get to go out alone for our 12th anniversary this June, so we called this our anniversary date. We drove North to Playa del Carmen and had a wonderful dinner on the famous pedestrian avenue there. It was a nice break from parenting! When we arrived back home we sat on the shore, listening to the waves, watching the stars and a lightning storm that was only over the far off ocean. It was a pretty neat experience, one in which you are reminded of God's majesty in creation of the stars, storms and oceans.

The third morning, the kids were exhausted and slept in a bit. I took the opportunity to walk along the beach by myself. About 15 minutes into my walk a hotel worker who was clearing the ocean weeds spotted me and asked me to release this baby turtle into the ocean (the turtle had gotten caught in the piles of weeds and needed open ocean to swim in). I have to say: this was one of the coolest experiences ever! I held a baby turtle! 

 When the kids woke up, Ben took just the twins to a bay in Akumel known for seeing turtles while snorkeling (Josh stayed behind with Jeff, Diane and I and made sand castles). Ben, Seth and Sam all got to see several very large turtles while snorkeling that morning. 

 Truthfully, by this point in time we were all pretty tuckered out. We headed back to the condo for some lunch, rest, and swimming in the condo pool. 

 Sam

 Seth

 Josh was a big fan of the big pool floaties

 The hotel maid created the boys some towel creatures that afternoon. While Josh took a nap, Seth and Sam threw on their life jackets and floated around in the ocean by our condo literally for hours. They loved it so much. 

 We're so grateful that Jeff and Diane joined us! 

 When Josh woke up, Ben took him out on the kayak again

We all headed to Playa del Carmen for dinner and shops on the final night. 

 Thankfully I found someone to take a family picture for us! 

 We left early on day four, but not too early to miss this beautiful sunrise. 

 We look forward to returning to the Rivera Maya again someday soon! 

Getting to board the plane via steps was one of the boys' highlights. Josh will tell you all about how HUGE the jet engines are.