Nov. 6, 2006 - Fun field trips
I haven't updated recently because the girls have been having me type up their blogs, and they pretty much cover all the exciting events!
We've had a fun weekend. Yesterday we went with the Kintsell's to Nuevo Progresso in Mexico. It was pretty much a shopping strip and much easier to navigate and less threatening than Reynosa. The prices were really good so we did some Christmas shopping and got Faith a HUGE Hello Kitty pinata for her birthday this week. It was twice as big as the ones at Walmart and only half the price. Now we just have to get a wagonload of candy to fill it... We had also promised the girls before moving here that we would buy them authentic Mexican dresses, so we shopped a bit for those. There were basically two styles everywhere, large baggy housedress types and beautiful but revealing halter top dresses. We finally found a couple that were really pretty and hand embroidered and modest. Katie's was $15 and Faith's was $10. Katie's dress especially was so ornate and just beautiful that I'm really pleased with the price.
As we were walking down the sidewalk everyone was calling to us to buy their different items, either in the open stores or on tables along the walk. I was pretty used to this after my mission trip and trip to Cancoun, but it was really different for the girls. One very poor lady was sitting on the ground with her two little children selling small packs of Chickletts gum. Katie reached for her money and I asked if she wanted to buy gum. She said she just wanted to give her money to the lady. It really tore her up, especially when the woman sent her little toddler over to Katie offering her gum. Katie has been saving her money from doing laundry and working so hard, yet this is the second time she's given it away when she saw someone in need. I'm so thankful that she's not only a hard worker but is a giver with a sensitive heart.
After shopping a bit more we walked to a panaderia, or bakery, to buy some treats. The girls got cookies or doughnuts and we sat outside under a tree and ate. Actually, Gracyn just scrapped the sprinkles off her cookie and then handed it to me. The baked goods in Mexico aren't as sweet as we are used to, so it's basically all just various forms of bread with sugar sprinkled on it, and maybe filled with a fruit jelly.
The kids were pretty worn out by the time we left and it took a little while waiting in line to get back across the boarder, but from the bridge it's actually a pretty quick trip home, about 25 minutes. Since this is the place to shop, we'll be heading over there more often.
Today we ran some errands and wanted to visit either the Arts and Science Museum here in McAllen, which we've heard is great, or the birding center. Both were closed on Monday's unfortunately. We went over to Mission and found a butterfly garden nature center that was really cool. Since we're studying flying creatures in science this year this still made for a great field trip. Because the butterflies migrate to south Texas during the winter there are just tons of them, but we've never seen so many as there were in these gardens. They were just covering the bushes, many many varieties, and there were also caterpillars and cocoons everywhere. I don't think the kids had quite the appreciation for the moment that we did, but it was still a neat experience. Since it's free to walk through we're going to pick up a butterfly field guide and go back some more to try to learn to identify them. I'd also like the girls to start nature journaling (a la Charlotte Mason) and these would be beautiful to work on sketching.
At my last ob appointment last week my dr. had a fit that I was planning on going home for Christmas since I would be traveling only 3 weeks from my due date. After discussing it Ralph and I decided to go for Thanksgiving instead and then fly Miriam into Texas for Christmas. I feel much better about this compromise and now we get to visit our family and friends in just a couple of weeks instead of waiting until next month! Yippee! This week will be busy getting ready for Faith's birthday party on Thursday, and then we'll be leaving on Thursday of the following week. It will be a combination Thanksgiving/Christmas celebration, so fun for all!!!!!
Comments
Nov. 7, 2006 - Prayer Request
Posted by OurHomeSweetHomeschool
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HeadingHomeward needs our prayers.
Please lift her before the Lord and stop by to let her know you are praying.
Thank you,
Theresa
Nov. 28, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Miriam
