Holy Chinoli!

One of our favorite things about the DR so far has been the chinola juice. We didn't know what it was at first - especially because "chinola" is a Dominican Spanish word and not something we could look up in our handy Spanish-English dictionary, but we knew that we loved it. Even after we were told that it was passion fruit, we had to trust that our local friends because neither of us had seen it in its original form. We were buying the juice "fresh" for several weeks before our housekeeper said that it was "easy" to make. I wouldn't exactly call the process "easy." Chopping an orange in half and then using a juicer is "easy." This is definitely more involved. But is it worth it? Definitely. Click the picture to check out this slide show (with captions) and then decide for yourself. Better yet, come for a visit and you can taste for yourself!

Pixieland

Click the Pixies for more photos

June

This is what the kids look like when I don't have a nanny. I don't know their up from their down... Click the picture for more from June.

March Pictures

Click the picture to visit the Kodak site.

There's No Place Like Home

I posted new pictures to the right of our trips to California and Pennsylvania. My mom says I can't post the stories I want to post about our trip... probably because my funny stories focus on coping with our crazy families (and I say "crazy" in the most endearing way possible). I mean, wouldn't you think someone was crazy if on the first day she showed your escape-artist-son how to open the baby gate? Or how about for watching Fox news? I have to admit, though, that no one in our family offered cake to our children for breakfast like we did on our first morning back home. What? I couldn't wait until dinner to try it.

Here we are less than 12 hours after arriving home.

The Boy At School

Click the picture for 3 more pics of The Boy at school.

I-can-not-be-lieve-it!*

We're here. We're here, we're here, we're here. Hallelujah, praise be to Jah, Allah, Buddah, Shangdi, Yahweh, or Godbunny. I'm not picky. Just thank God... we are here. Click the picture to the left for proof.

It was a long flight (and we almost didn't go because The Boy has an ear infection in his left ear) and we couldn't sleep because the helpful flight attendant moved us to the bulkhead seats (where the arm rests don't go up). The Girl now has The Boy's illness. It presented itself at 30,000 feet and again in the middle of last night. We're going to the doc here to get them both looked at.

We're here.

Yesterday I had the most delicious sandwich of my life. For dinner I had ribs and salad with jalapeno ranch dressing. For breakfast I had a bagel with cream cheese and jalapeno ranch dressing. Can you guess what we are planning for lunch and dinner tonight? I'll give you a hint... it involves bread and jalapeno ranch dressing.

Speaking of hot and spicy... today is the ten year anniversary of MH's and my wedding (the second one). We've had more romantic celebrations in the past (we have, haven't we?), but at this moment, I can't think of a more perfect way to celebrate than laying around all day in pjs with my two phlegmy but adorable kids.

*The title of this blog should be read in the voice of Leo from Little Einsteins. That show was the most popular request of The Boy over the past week. Thank God we're here and he has toys to play with.

Additional Pictures from MH's Dancing Expedition

Here are some more pictures of MH's trip to Coroico. If you didn't see the video footage yet, check it out below (August 23rd post). It will hurt your eyes and you stomach muscles.

Labor Day Slide Show

It truly is a labor to go through all these pictures.
Sorry, I couldn't choose.
Click The Girl for more!

August Slideshow

Click for more pictures
Hanging Out At Home

You Say Parade. I Say Desfile...

Here is our July slideshow.

Coolest Thing So Far

Saturday we went into La Paz to see what we heard was a "parade" but our cab driver said whatever it was it wasn't a parade. MH says that anytime there are people marching past him with music and costumes it is a parade. I guess they'll have to agree to disagree. What we gathered from the cab driver (named Johnnie), was that students graduating from one class to another participate in this festival. From 8 am to 5 pm they "parade" through the streets in costumes and dance to music (but it isn't a parade, mind you).

It took us a while to figure out the rules, but it seemed like store owners charged people to sit in the chairs they provided in front of their stores while beer, candy, and ice cream vendors walked up and down the streets. The streets were also filled with people making their way through the parade, so as the students were dancing and marching, spectators were bumping into them (and getting in the way of my picture-taking). Luckily we're giants compared to Bolivians, so we were able to watch the spectacle over the heads of the people who didn't want to rent chairs. The Boy kept asking to move, so we found a cafe and ordered the best meal we've had since we've been here: goat tacos and queso fresco quesadillas with fresh guacamole. The Girl was mostly unimpressed, but during the lulls, The Boy asked for "more dancing."

Thumb Four Says...

Clicky Clicky to See Our Pic-ies - June/early July Slideshow

May/June Slideshow

Click this link to see our slideshow from our Move to Bolivia!