November Mendez Update

So, here we are, into October. Most of what went on this month was dealing with the process of buying a house. We finally closed on October 28th. But before that, there was paperwork and more and more paperwork, and endless signing away our first and second born.

Speaking of the first and second born, here they are enjoying cookies at Sam's. Did you know that there is a cookie club at Sam's? Kids get a free cookie - which keeps them occupied for at least part of the store while the parents shop. Publix does this too. And sadly, Lily has figured it out and starts asking for a cookie every time we get close to them.

We also went on a Halloween Train ride. But we did it during the day, so it wasn't spooky at all. And the girls had a great time. I don't have that many pictures because it was so blasted hot and humid and my camera lens kept getting steamed up.

 

Finally, Halloween. The girls were University of Alabama cheerleaders (Roll Tide!) and were so cute! We taught them how to do the cheer and everything. And it was HOT that day. Halloween is supposed to be fall weather!

At the Trunk or Treat "Tailgating Party":

 With Papa Joe:

At the Perky Pumpkin Party:

Here is Abby in a bouncy house at the Greek Festival in Mobile. The food was awe-some!

And here is a random cute picture of the girls with Joel:

That's it for October!

Love,

Julie, Joel, Abby and Lily

October Mendez Update

Here is part 2 of our DC adventure!

The girls and I went to the Reston Zoo one morning. One very hot morning. The zoo has gotten fabulous ratings, mainly because they have this HUGE barn where you can go feed goats and sheep and then give bottles to all the baby animals. Of course I paid extra for that because it sounded so cute and so much fun! However, I guess when you're short enough that the goats and sheep are taller than you, it's not quite the great idea that I thought it would be. Abby had a total SPAZ-OUT so we didn't last very long in there. Oh well, I got to feed them anyway. 

Here we are on a "hayride" around the zoo. As you can tell, Lily's in the obstinate "I don't want my picture taken" phase. Whatever, I'll take the picture anyway. Take that you toddler.

And to celebrate surviving the zoo, we all got ice cream and push-up Popsicles, and I fed my own wild animals.

In the hotel, we were constantly looking to make our own fun and keep the girls entertained. That ummm, drove me to total madness. Next time we're stuck in hotel - I'm buying cases of "grown-up sauce" (wine) to keep it as entertaining for me. But one thing that did work well was dress-up. We played dress-up with our own clothes, and I hit the thrift stores and bought tons of dress-up costumes - old recital outfits, princess dresses, you name it.

(Notice how Abby has stuck her "wand" in her hair" so she could use both hands to dance.)

We did a bit more sightseeing while in the DC area. Joel and I took the girls downtown one weekend. This is close as we could get to the White House (Abby and I had read a book about the White House.) She decided it was pretty and she wanted to live there. Ha! Abby Mendez for President!

And here we all are enjoying the Mall, and all the wonderful space to just run amok. Abby was in heaven after being cooped up so much for so long.

Our last week in DC, my bestest-estest-estest friend from college came to the DC area with her son. So of course we drove up to visit with them. Abby and Matthew became fast friends.

And FINALLY it was time to fly to Alabama. Not a minute too soon, as my sanity was beginning to be in question. As soon as we got to my parents' home, I found Abby a preschool and enrolled her right away. Unfortunately, there isn't room for Lily yet, we're still on the wait list.

We are fully immersing ourselves in all things "small-town life."

Here is Abby on her first day of preschool in Fairhope.

And here is Abby's first ballet class. (She's on the right, up against the wall.) Now, that is the SAME teacher I took dance from as a child, in the same dance center. Might not be a big deal to most folks, but for me it's just huge that I get to share this with one of my girls. (Lily's not old enough yet.)

And here we are hanging out with Papa Joe (my Dad) at the Fairhope Football Game. Imagine ME trying to explain the game of football to a four-year-old! I thought that would make you guys laugh. We taught the girls to cheer for our team (Go Pi-rates!), I explained what cheerleaders were to Abby, and we watched the band. The girls had a fabulous time, and we actually made it to half-time before we had to head out.

And to round out the month was a visit from Chile! Yes, our friends from the Embassy in Chile came to visit their grandparents. Small world, huh? And yes, just like we had joked in Chile, it turns out that we're related. In a very extended way, but whatever. So, they were here and we got to see them a little and Abby got to play with one of her dearest friends. It was very hard to separate the girls once again, and it was hard for Abby when she realized her friend got to go back "home" to Chile, and she didn't. She hasn't quite forgiven us for that yet.

That's it for this update. More later!

Love,

Julie, Joel, Abby, Lily

September "U.S." Mendez Update!

Here is story of our month in August - in pictures!

First, say goodbye to our stuff. See ya' on the flipside! (Hopefully not flipped over and destroyed all that.)

 And how does the Mendez clan celebrate packout being over? By going to ChuckeeCheese of course!

Here is the last day of preschool for Lily in Chile. (Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of Abby's.)

Our Chilean neighbor threw a farewell party for Abby for all the neighborhood kids. One of the nicest gestures ever done for us in Chile. I about bawled right there. The kids had a wonderful time.

And here we are: IN THE US!!!!!


Here is Abby and Lily as we are dealing with clearing customs in Atlanta.

And here we are in the airplane on the way to DC!

So this begins Part 1 of our DC adventure!

Our first field trip was to the American History Museum. Ever since Abby told us "her" flag was the Chilean flag, I have been adamant that she learn about the US Flag. So we went to the "Star Spangled Banner" exhibit, where you can see THE Star Spangled Banner. It was C-O-O-L.

They wouldn't let us take pictures inside, so here we are outside the exhibit.

Drawing pictures of the flag we just saw.

Watching an interactive skit about the making of the flag. Basically she is showing you how long one of the stripes in the flag was. I think it was forty feet long or something like that.

And here we are afterwards, on our way back to the Metro. Did I mention we did all this in pouring rain??? Thankfully it cleared up just enough for us to get from the museum back to the Metro.

We also went to  Build-A-Bear one evening with Daddy. Joel was able to record his voice on a machine put  inside the bear, so when they squeeze the arm, he can talk to them. We purposely did this so the girls would have this when he was away at training, and then later gone to Afghanistan.

The rest of the month was a constant, frantic attempt to keep the girls occupied and entertained. The hotel gave us guest passes to the Gold's gym across the street - which had a free childcare/play area. So we spent a lot of time there. There was a play cafe in Reston that had a supervised play area as well, so when I needed to work we would go over to the Play Cafe so I could get stuff done. (I also had to finish up the certification course I was taking while we were there.) The hotel also had an indoor pool, so Joel and I would take the girls in the pool often as well.

And we went all over trying to find the coolest playgrounds. Here is Turtle Park, which was cute.

But our BIGGEST fun was our trip to Sesame Place. I think this is on my "Places I Must Go Before I Die" list. Especially since I got re-addicted to it watching it with Abby.

Notice the "We Speak Spanish" sign in the window.

And Abby is knocking on the door at 123 Sesame Street, looking for Elmo. She wanted him to come out and play.

I told the girls that Elmo was still sleeping, so Lily is telling us to hush.

Lily's favorite character there was Big Bird. She in fact said "Bird" and we didn't understand her, so she started signing it.

We didn't do many character meals, just the bedtime snack with Cookie Monster and Abby Caddaby. And since my favorite character EVER was Cookie Monster (who eats all the cookies he wants and never gains an ounce) was there, I almost keeled over getting to meet him. My inner preschooler was just in shock. And my little preschooler children were quite in shock too!

And here we are with Abby Caddaby. We were very excited to meet her, but this character wasn't as good at posing for pictures.

And Abby and Joel together:

More pictures hanging out around the park:

Going to a show:

On the rides:

Taking more pictures with the characters:

We also got to spend time with my relatives in the DC area. Here we are at my Aunt and Uncle's house.

Their subdivision had a pool, so we got to all go take a dip.

That's it for August!

Love,

Julie, Joel, Abby, and Lily