MEXICO!! Chapter Five

On Christmas Day, we started things out with Juliette opening her gifts from Santa.

Later, the rest of the clan reunited for some more family celebration

Uncle Rafa gets caught in the photo-crossfire

The "older" cousins then set out to get the piñata up for the "younger" kids...

And Chen gave Juliette her first lesson in taking a whack at something:

She was a natural (yikes!)

Taking turns with Ariel

Watching as the piñata succumbs to the blows...

And racing in to reap the rewards!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

The next day was our last full day in Mexico, and to round it out, we went out for dinner with the Chenhalls family.

Juliette actually enjoyed the arrachera meat,

but quickly lost patience for just sitting around the table...

Here she pulled a Duncan on us and started doing laps around the table.

The fugitive on the run.

Tía Sara manages to catch our little runaway....

while Abue and Tato carry on with the conversation.

¡Adiós, México! Y gracias a Abue Rosalinda, Tato, Ricky y Sara para una visita excelente…

¡Nos vemos muy pronto!

MEXICO!! Chapter Four

'Twas the day before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring...

Except Juliettita primping and brushing...

All set to go to Miguel & Joaquin's house!

Wait, where are we going?

Miguel welcomed us with a wonderful lunch,

and a fascinating home that feels like a slice of time travel.

Juliette explored their garden which had lemon trees just full of lemons ripe for the picking.

She then proceeded to covet her sour treasure throughout the afternoon.

Here we're getting ready to welcome the baby Jesus to the nativity scene. In Mexico, they put the baby Jesus on a plate surrounded by candy and we all go around and give him a kiss and take a piece of candy. (Not real sure about the origins of that tradition...

In the words of David Sedaris, it's best not to think about it too hard.)

Yes, Juliette, that's baby Jesus there in the yellow dress. Just go with it.

I don't think Papá would find my inner dialog amusing.

Papá shows Juliette how to give the baby Jesus a kiss

And put him in the manger...

Back at Abue Rosalinda and Tato's house, we got to do it all over again. This time I think Juliette was a little more confident about how it worked...

But she wisely left the plate in the more capable hands of her second cousin, Ariel.

Baby Jesus finds His way to the Nativity scene

And Ariel's efforts are applauded.

Later that night, just our immediate Chenhalls family sat down for a lovely dinner (sans Juliette since it was way past her bedtime). Eduardo made his famous Caesar Salad:

After dinner, we exchanged gifts.

Sara, why does it seem like you already know what's in that gift from Ricardo?

And Ricardo appears to be seeing it for the first time...?

The brothers got matching sweaters, which both deigned to wear the next day in fear that the other would also have his on. :)

Let's shake on it!
Rosalinda loved the plate from Bob & Mary Jane

And with that we (eventually) made our way to bed.... since we all knew that Santa's arrival would be soon coming, and Juliette's awakening not far behind!