A great trip to Syracuse to see Katie Linh and Dawn November 20, 2008

Finally I was able to post these.  Tomorrow I’ll write about our visit!  I’m getting used to this new blog.

OK, I know it’s been more like 3 weeks!  Zoe and I had a great time as usual at the McCarron’s.  This time we flew in and out of Syracuse, which saved Dawn a trip to Rochester.  We also used Zoe’s birthday present from my wonderful friends…a sit-n-stroll, which was soooo convenient for traveling alone with her (not mentioning the part when she drew on the airplane wall with her crayon when I turned my head for a millisecond and the part where she yelled “OUT PEAS!” which translates to “out please” for the whole airplane to hear).  She was super-hyper and getting in to everything, until she fell asleep on initial approach!  Figures!

Dawn made a fabulous spaghetti and meatball meal for us when we arrived, and her mom and step-dad came to dinner too.  She also made Kahlua brownies for dessert!

We had snow the next day.  Zoe didn’t like it too much, especially not the bundling up part!  Katie is used to it.  Zoe is a Southern girl!

The two girls played, but Zoe wouldn’t leave Patrick alone for a second! 

We went to the mall in order for me to buy a uniform coat, since I left my Delta peacoat in the Madrid hotel while watching the election results before leaving.  Of course no one found it when I called the next day! 

Anyway, we saw a very strange-fake-looking Santa at the mall.  Zoe wouldn’t even look at him and screamed, “NOOO!” and hid her face in my neck.  Katie wasn’t too keen on him either.

It was great to see Regina and her little ones.  Sophie Hoa is doing great and looks adorable in her red glasses! 

Dawn and I got to hang out by the fire and drink wine, watch movies and eat Thai food and chocolate.  What else do you need?  All my favorite things!

By the way, Zoe decided she  DID NOT want to sleep in the borrowed crib.  She insisted on taking her naps and sleeping in the bed, even at night!

As always, our trip flew by.  It was over and we were home in no time.

Thanksgiving December 17, 2008

We had Thanksgiving at PJ and Juliana’s house.  Padrinho Antonio came to eat after he got back from Paris, and Tia Monick also came later that evening.  The food was wonderful.  Tia Ju did a great job.

Godmom Endia, Andrew and “The Boys” December 12, 2008

They only stayed for one night, but it was enough time to play, dance, eat, go to the park and catch up a little bit.  I don’t know who had the idea, but Zoe and Navarro thought of a new use for the butterfly nets for the “catching butterflies game”   Zoe taught the boys her dances to the Wiggles’ songs.  I wish we lived closer to each other!  We also went to the Atlanta Zoo, which I will post later.

A quick trip to visit the “Fancy Santa” at Phipps Plaza December 12, 2008

We met Isabel, PJ, and Juliana at Phipps for the annual visit with Santa.  He is the “real” Santa at Phipps Plaza in Atlanta.  Vovo’ Sandra made both of their beautiful dresses!  Zoe saw Isabel go straight to him, so she put on a brave face and sat in his lap.  She was as still as a statue the whole time he read her Christmas list  (Hey!  You got it all wrong, by the way, if you’re reading this, Santa.  I think you need new reading glasses

)  Zoe didn’t move a muscle the whole time!  I wonder what she was thinking? I think she wanted the candy cane at the end.  We prepared by watching last year’s video, when she would say “Zoe crying.”

Afterward, we rushed home, so we would be there when Endia arrived with Andrew and “the boys”.

A quick (working) trip to Mexico City November 20, 2008

I worked a trip to D.F. and was lucky enough to see our dear friends, Antonio and Violeta, who live there.  We had a wonderful meal that night.

Earlier in the day, I met Monica and Yamille, her daughter.  We met them in Cancun in August.  Yamille is Zoe’s friend, and her parents are really nice people.  We ate mole for lunch.

It’s was a fun and relaxing trip.  We were delayed the last part of the trip to LaGuardia and got back 5 hours late.  Because of the fog, I got home at 3 am!

The trip was worth it to see so many nice friends that we miss so much!

Two Halloween Festivals November 8, 2008

On Friday we went to Blue Ridge for a Halloween Festival, and on Saturday we went to the Coosawattee River Resort Fall Festival.  As you can see, Zoe was a Tiger.  She even knew a tiger said, “Grrrrrrr”.  After a few moments, she felt totally comfortable holding up her “punkin” bag for treats.  She entered the costume contest and didn’t want to leave the stage.  She was afraid we would take her sucker away.  We all had a lot of fun!  We hope you enjoy the photos and like the new blog!

Zoe’s birthday bash October 23, 2008

Fafa made chicken in pomegranate sauce, samosas with curried potato inside, potato salad shaped like a fish, and eggplant. She was cooking for 24 hours! The party was great. We think everyone had a pretty good time. Cathy made salad, Cindy made cupcakes, Miss Marcia made the birthday cake, and I made sangria. Zoe looked super-cute in her outfit and had fun playing with the other kids.

Mimi’s birthday October 23, 2008

We had Mimi’s birthday dinner the day after Alejandro’s. I made beef stroganoff the Brazilian way, and we had a small cake. Fafa and Hooshy went to Atlanta to see some other friends, but Rita and Louie were here. We saw Mimi and Poppa’s interview on ETC television. It was really funny.

Happy Birthday Zoe, Alejandro and Mom! October 16, 2008

Zoe got some cute little things from the family, but her real party will be on Saturday. Her big surprise was that Hooshy and Fafar arrived. The next day was Alejandro’s birthday. We spent the day in Dahlonega, and had lunch and ice cream. Hooshy bought Zoe a barn full of little horses. For dinner we went to Ably Asian Cuisine for Thai food. It was delicious! He even had a candle to blow out. Mom stayed with Zoe, so we had our first kid-free dinner in a year and a half!

Regalitos de Espana October 16, 2008

Alejandro came home from Spain the other day. He was bearing gifts. Here is Zoe in the outfit from Carolina with the doll Abuelita gave her. The doll has a little chair that was Abuelita’s when she was little. She loved all her presents, but the best present of all was seeing her Daddy again. She ran across the yard to hug and kiss him.