Trying to catch up

Family life can get hectic fast, and my back-to-blogging debut happened just after several visits to family, so I was already "behind" in my mind. Then, sometime in between all the visits, Evita got sick-- and soon we were ALL sick. So here I am, trying to catch up on my blogging.

ACT 1

For my birthday (and my Dad's) we visited my family in Juarez and took the opportunity to have Baby E' presentation (I like it better than the baptism thing- no offense meant here).

It was, in the history of all my birthdays, a most memorable one. So much about it was beautiful and perfect and poetic and dear to my heart. We were all together in El Paso on the first day (and the road trip to El Paso was just so great!) and had a wonderful birthday dinner. I also met my brother's girlfriend, which is kind of a big thing. The service for Baby E's presentation was beautiful, and so many of my family members were there! It was beautiful to see my cousins worship, the hands of my aunts and uncles high in the air, worshiping together. A sight I was so grateful to be able to enjoy.
There was lots of great food, lots of celebration, lots of fun. It rained while my family was partying, and the children went outside and played in the rain, and it was just like being in one of those sappy movies... the children playing in the puddles with their bare feet, and the family gathering around watching and talking and laughing. Poetically beautiful-- and yet, no lyrical or descriptive power can truly express the beauty of such moments of togetherness and happiness... My heart swells, when I remember this trip.

Que Dios bendiga y proteja a mi familia siempre, and may He allow us many more moments like this.

Anther day during our stay, my sister S and her husband took Quijote and I out for a double date (which was SO FUN!!) and everything was delicious. I don't think we get to do that often enough- us "adult" siblings. It's good to hang out and talk and have a good time away from the kids sometimes. haha!This birthday was special to me because of outings like this. Because of all this, because of finally being with Dad after so many birthdays apart, and because of many other tiny and big reasons...
And there was a lot of fun cousin time:

"Oigan primos, tengo chisme!!"

 They also spent a lot of time swimming in a plastic pool my mom set up for them outside.Makes me wish we could do it every day!!!

I am very grateful.

 ACT 2

We also visited the M Family, and we finally introduced B and her daughter to our little Baby E. And of course, we also finally met little A. B says she likes the name because it reminds her of mine. Heart!! This trip was also pretty amazing for us. The roadtrip was great, and the first day we were there we spent it lazying around with Grandpa, which is always pretty awesome. It was restful, and comfortable. We watched TV, and slept, and we went out to eat whenever the mood stroke. Then the Bugs came and we met Baby A. And then there was lots of cousin time. Again, it makes me wish we could do it every day.

We celebrated Uncle R's birthday, and Bugs and I went to a Barre class together, which was lots of fun.

We also saw one of Quijote's friends from high school, who lives by the River Walk. It was a great little outing involving a nice walk, a baby water park, and snow cones. And strawberries. I ate the poor guy's strawberries.

It is always interesting to see how other girlfriends of mine (my mind is back with the Bugsy now) deal with the many challenges of child rearing. The Bugs was there on her own, and though Grandma tried to help by doing some of the travel with her, I think the trip was a challenge for her. I remember traveling on my own to see my family once, and the nights especially were tough. Quijote is such an involved Dad, it is hard not miss him whenever he is absent! But the Bugs really did a great job of being on her own with cute little A, and it was wonderful to see her. I do miss ya, girl. 

Finally, my friend J visited us last week, and I want to write about this (Act 3) but alas, it is late, and I want to give it proper attention.