"Take me out to the Ballgame..."

(Magda in her batter's helmet, which she wore to bat and to field!!!)

Well, we may not have had peanuts, but the hot dogs were plentiful... and the spirit of the games just as enchanting! Summertime comes around, and some of the greatest memories I have are of late-night softball games in the glow of headlights, the feel of the ball smacking into your glove, or the bat cracking as your teammates and fans scream and cheer... good times ;)
Last Friday night, the workers and kids of CVE invited the personnel from DIF (the social services organization we work with here) and a few of their teachers from school to a baseball game and cookout.
Showing up perfectly on time (which in Mexican culture really means an hour late), everyone pounded mits against knees, squared up to bat, and screeched around the bases to the accompanying cheers and yells from the sidelines. Although I couldn't say who won the baseball game, the outing seemed to be a hit with lots of laughter, dusty knees, and new friendships.

Candi sits in the wagon, "guarding" the baseballs; Gabriel tries on the catcher's mask... managing to keep it on for the 2.5 seconds it takes to get a picture before it slid off and hung around his neck as he ran back and forth as the "ball boy."

Ready for the pitch: the outfielders display their "ready" stance... notice Magda still wearing the baseball helmet... lol

Safe! Michelle makes it home just in time; at left, Francisco gets some "words of advice" from Jo-el on running the bases....

After the game comes the food! The kids and staff gather around the burning tree stump to roast hot dogs... the first hot dogs brought back were still slightly frozen, so we had to help the kids understand how long to roast them!

Gonzalo, a worker from DIF, holds Eduardo before getting ready to eat; Paola relaxes in one of the chairs surrounding the fire...

Hot dogs with beans, tomatoes, and onions, watermelon, nachos with cheese, and - of course - s'mores for dessert... AC's usually do the "food thing" pretty well... lol

At left, the kids toast (or in some cases, like me, beautifully burn to a blackened crisp, which is the absolute best way to eat a marshmallow... lol) their giant marshmallows. Joan found these at one of the grocery stores in town, and the kids had a blast with the extra gooey-ness that ensued; Gabriel tries to feed part of his marshmallow to Limón, who in turn tries to avoid the sticky-coated mess... it was quite amusing to see the little guys smear marshmallow goo all over their faces and then run up to the older guys for hugs and kisses... and the dancing, quickly-defying movements that took said older guys out of the reach of marshmallowy hands... ;)

Francisco, Federico, Lili, and Jose finish their nachos while watching the sunset...

A small tribute to the burnt log - which has now been permeating the air for three days... ;)

And Moises' face perfectly expresses how all the kids were feeling at the end of the night... very, very full and ready for bed... lol. He kept pulling his shirt up over his stomach and putting my hand on his bulging little belly to tell me that it was very full and could I help??? Hmmmm... ;)

Chubby Bunny

There are moments when suddenly a facet of someone's personality is revealed to you... a little puzzle piece falls into place and you think, "Ah-ha! I now know this about that person and will forever identify them with this characteristic."

Meet Sir Braden Mogler a.k.a. "Pepe"... and the incredible feat that has forever dubbed him a "Chubby Bunny" champion... ;)

After Jovenes Night last Friday, we were sitting around in the kitchen (notice that the kitchen seems to be where most of these ideas/situations arise... what is it about that place???) and were informed by Braden that he is a reigning champion of "Chubby Bunny" - a game that involves shoving as many marshmallows as possible into your mouth and saying, "Chubby Bunny" with as much clarity as you can muster... not necessarily an easy task and I personally was slightly skeptical. However, as Amy kept handing him marshmallows and we all kept watching, Pepe's cheeks just kept expanding... and expanding... and expanding...

And a clearly enunciated "Chubby Bunny" was forthcoming every time...

Here the kids are watching as Pepe fits 15, 16, 17 marshmallows and just keeps going...

Almost at the end... and searching for the best place to quitar the marshmallows for easy counting purposes...

Thirty marshmallows, my friends... that's right... 30.

Unbelievable.

The kids, of course, decided that they would all like to try as well... from left to right, top to bottom, Francisco, Lili, Michelle, and Federico all try to stuff and mumble "Chubby Bunny." I think the most that any of them got in their mouth was six... slightly below the resident champion's record!

So... for those of you planning on making a trip to CVE any time soon, work up your "Chubby Bunny" skills... there has to be someone out there who can triumph over Pepe ... ;)

So it turns out...

... that I'm not Chuck Norris.

Amazingly enough.

In fact, the "round-house kick to the face" wasn't even properly executed...

So yes... as you can see, I had a slight accident, which I would prefer to call "wicked-cool fighting," but really involved... ahem... falling down.

Last night, Braden a.k.a. "Pepe" was playing "make-a-ridiculous-face-at-the-little-kids-and-see-if-they-fall-down-screaming" through the escuelita door. As he walked outside, Jenna yelled, "Attack him, boys!" The little ones responded by not doing anything at all, so (trying to give them at least a little "male-ish" influence), I yelled, "Like this!" and ran toward Braden, pretending like I was going to kick him with my foot, raised my leg, he grabbed my foot, jerked up (not very hard I have to add), I lost my balance, fell backwards, couldn't catch myself because of the things I was holding in my hands, and landed - wrist first - on the ground, lying on my back.

Ouch.

So it hurt, but I didn't want to be a wimp, and made it until this morning at church before telling Gloria that I wouldn't mind going to the Centro de Salud [Health Center]. We got there, got the x-ray (which showed that there was absolutely nothing broken or cracked), and then listened as the lady informed me that my nerves were acting up and that I shouldn't move my wrist at all. She then proceeded to ask me if I wanted a sling-cast or a regular one... thinking I had missed something, I looked at Gloria, but she just waited for my answer, and I said a regular one was fine. The lady then put on the biggest cast in the entire world (see above photo for the area that hurt in comparison to the entire wrapping job), wrote me a prescription for two different medicines for the pain, and advised me to come back for mobility treatment at the end of my 20-day incarceration in the cast.

After we left, I politely explained the word "overkill" to Gloria (who agreed), got permission to remove the tree stump from my arm in two days (also from Gloria), and returned home to type this up with one-handed pecks that has taken 20 minutes longer than normal...

But you're right everyone...

It is good fodder for a blog post... lol

Daytrip to the Range

(Ringing telephone...)

Bill: Bueno?

Steph: Hey Bill... it's Steph. We're headed out to the ranch for a little daytrip, and wondered if we could get the keys for the houses?

Bill: Ummm... I think they're in the kitchen. Who's going out?

Steph: Me, Jenna, Joel [Leman] and the little guys.

Bill: Oh... um, do you need me to go?

Steph: No, I think we're okay. We've been there before...

Bill: Well, I mean... I could go if you wanted...

Steph: Well... if you want to. We'll just be out there for a bit... but you don't have to if you don't want.

Bill: Well, I mean... it could... I could... if you wanted, you know.

Steph: (slightly puzzled) So... you want to go? Or not?

Bill: Well, I mean... sure... sure... if you want... I could go.

Steph: (laughing) So... we'll pick you up then???

Bill: Oh, sure... yeah, that would be okay...

After this inauspicious but amusing start to the trip, we all piled into the big white robber van and headed out to the ranch for a couple hours of trekking through sand and popo... what could be more fun?!? On the way out we were able to experience Mr. Leman's driving skills, which brought the heart-drop-to-the-floor kind of excitement that riding a unicycle along the edge of a ravine with a 500-foot drop and only sharp, jagged rocks at the bottom might bring... ;) However, we arrived safely (to be fair... we weren't ever really in danger) and stopped at the little tiendita (store) in the town of Cebolla (yes... the town's name is "Onion"). Bill bought all the little boys tiny bottles of juice and pop, which were a big success as we arrived at the ranch, and strolled around in the dry heat.

Standing at the well... the boys were all pretty excited to see the water running, and kept jumping up and down, shouting "Agua! Agua! Agua!" At right, Bill holds Candi up to the water - she is our little water-bug, and thoroughly enjoys being doused with water... whether in the tub or with a glass of water!

Eduardo was so excited about his drink that he refused to put it down... at all. He spent the first hour leaning against our legs drinking his juice from "Pappi Bill"... ;)

We went in the house, and while some of us had no problem walking through the rooms, the "taller ones" had to duck to avoid the lintels above the doors. Yes, yes, I agree... there are advantages to being short... not that Jenna and I ever get teased about our "shortness" from our loving brothers in Christ... they are so far above things like that... ;)

At right, Pollito (Edi's nickname which means "little chicken") stares at the large lizard we found... he was fascinated until it decided to take a flying leap from the sill and land an inch from his toe... then he wasn't too happy... lol

There were a couple of horses out at the ranch that the neighbors let graze, and the boys decided to chase after. You might have to increase the picture size, but this was taken in the heat of the chase as Aaron and Diego ran full-tilt behind the trotting horse trying to catch up.

At left, Diego checks out how deep the well is... and at right, there are so many parts, shingles, wires, spare tires, and other cosas lying around... so why not take pictures???

This picture was taken as we jumped the ditch... my moving pictures never turn out, but this one was fun... and also 3.5 seconds before catching my toe in the wire fence and about falling on my face... graceful, very graceful.

At left, one of the many fences climbed by the boys, and at right... well, let's just say that it wasn't only the little boys crawling around like cattle... ;)

We also looked at the remains of a dead cow... which was a very solemn moment until Bill and Joel decided to tell the boys that we were having hamburgers from cow brain/head for lunch... grossness.

At left, Diego and Aaron head out across one of the pastures, kicking up dust... and at right, the reason they were kicking up dust... the ground is very, very dry... just ready for another rain which probably won't come for a while yet...

We all piled into the van to head home, and then waited as Jenna changed a dirty diaper on the side of the road... again... in the sand and heat...

What a dedicated woman... ;)

Loreena McKennitt: "An Ancient Muse" Tour

The stage in Scottsdale, Arizona. I did not take pictures during the performance, partly because the program suggested not to do so, and also because there is something about having a musical memory fixed in your mind that is so very special. We all spread out our blankets, kicked off our sandals, and made cozy friends with our neighbors... ;)

I have been looking forward to May 9 for a very, very long time. No, not because Braden and Joel L. have arrived – although that is, of course, enjoyable as well – but because of the musical adventure I was going to have that night.

I left Tuesday night to drive up to Tucson, and on to Scottsdale, Arizona the next day for a concert featuring Loreena McKennitt – a Celtic folklorist singer originally from southern Ontario who researches and specializes in the history of the Celts (who she defined as both "creative" and "stubborn"... lol) and turns that research into music. Fascinated with her voice, her musicianship, and her philosophy behind the art of music-making, I have been an avid fan since Junior High when I randomly selected her CD from a stack of “non-traditional” music and fell in love.

So... here’s the story of my trip (with accompanying musical adventures... because one of the things I love about road trips is the opportunity to revisit all genres of one’s collection... and really... most of my memories in life have songs attached to them, or vice-versa). Just a warning... more writing than pictures this time!!!

Part I (accompanied by some Loreena, some Backstreet Boys, a little Brian Littrell, the Triplets of Belleville, Kutless, Joni Mitchell, and Stan Getz)

I noticed on my way up to Tucson that my eyes were bothering me quite a bit. Thinking that this was from the fact that I was very tired, had been pretty teary (it was an emotional day, my friends), and was driving 75 down the highway with my windows down, I didn’t think too much of it. I got to Tucson, checked into my hotel, and checked in the mirror to see that my eyes had gone from white and blue to reddish pink and brown – grossness. So I jumped back into the trusty, white robber-van (does anyone else think that big, white vans just smack of criminal activity???) and headed to Target to get some eye-drops. Procuring this soothing aid, I wasn’t quite out of the store before ripping open the package and squeezing the liquid into my stinging eyes.

It didn’t help.

My eyes went from bad to worse. I got back to the hotel, and was squinting to see past the fuzziness in my vision. I looked in the mirror again, and wondered if I had pink eye or just a severe, severe allergic reaction. The areas all around my eyes were puffy, there was “sleep” coming out continuously, and overall... it was just gross.

I looked like I had been crying for the last three days or drinking heavily.

Both of these sounded like a good idea after waking up all night long, my eyes so swollen that I could barely open them, sleep caking my eyelashes. I distinctly remember thinking at one point in the night that at least I would be able to hear Loreena sing, and then realizing that if I couldn’t see, I wouldn’t be driving, and probably not going. Then and there I decided that I would blackmail someone from CVE (probably someone of whom I have incriminating photos... lol... which includes more people than you think!) and make them drive me on up to the concert... ;)

However, I woke up in the morning and – barely – decided that I could drive myself. The pot of coffee did a great job of restoring my normal chipper morning self – okay, that was a lie – it did a great job of bringing out the slightly less-frazzled, morning-stupored self that I meet every morning.

Part II (accompanied by Michael Bublé, Yellowcard, Josh Groban, The White Stripes, Vanilla Ice – you knew it had to be there somewhere – The Incredible Soul Collection, and some German rap)

I had never been to Phoenix before, and was looking forward to the drive there to get to see the surrounding countryside. And I came to a decision. No one – absolutely no one – should say that driving in Kansas is boring. They should try driving in Arizona, and then write a comparative thesis on how many times one strays from thinking about driving or seeing one’s surroundings into a kind of somnolent state of robotic, mechanical sensory perception while your mind – literally – is miles away. Yes, yes... the mountains are lovely. And very, very constant... lol. However, it was a very good time to think... and dream... and pray. So for that... it was enjoyable... ;)

I arrived in Scottsdale safely – Mapquest is amazing, and part of the reason that I haven’t gotten lost in several instances – checked into my room, and then headed to the Scottsdale Civic Center where I picked up my ticket for the evening performance. My eyes were thankfully much better – although I still looked as though I had been on a drinking or crying binge. However, the 95-year-old woman at the counter was a sweetheart despite my looks, and informed me that in order to get a good seat I would have to get there early, elbow all the retirees out of the way, dodge the dentures and walkers, and tuck-and-roll safely to the front of the line. Well... she didn’t exactly say it that way... but I’m absolutely sure it was implied... lol.

I walked toward the amphitheatre area where the performance was to be held (an outdoor event, which I love), and heard Diana Krall booming over the speaker system. Any group of technicians that play her jazz to test out their equipment are, in my opinion, absolute geniuses. Kudos to the techies.

I ate at a Chinese restaurant after leaving the Civic Center where I was met – as usual – with frank stares of either pity or suspicion. Why is it that people do not go out to lunch by themselves at a sit-down place? All through my college years, I found it incredibly relaxing to head to a restaurant with only a book clutched in my hand for “company” and enjoy a nice meal. Apparently, though, to think like this or to – heaven forbid – act it out, is to be deranged or deluded – and since I’m okay with that I guess I shouldn’t complain. ;)

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that I ate off the most horrendously twisted fork it has ever been my misfortune to see or use. It looked as though someone had had their vicious way with it in a churning blender several times. Every time I took a bite, I had to dodge a prong sticking me in the cheek or the risk of losing a tooth. This made eating a very exciting experience.

Part III (accompanied by the music of Loreena McKennitt, sheer genius)

I have thought about what I want to write here, and have concluded that no matter what I say, her music has to be experienced... not just read about. This talented woman has a voice unequaled by anyone I have heard – anyone. She also plays twenty-four instruments, writes all her own music and the parts of the other instruments who will accompany her, blends poetry, history, folklore, and mysticism into a maelstrom of sound that goes beyond just “music,” and appears to not only love her work, but to need to share this experience and love of music with others. Having heard her CD’s many times, it was a new experience to watch her onstage – her interaction with the other members of her band, her conversations with the audience, the effortless conducting and orchestrating of every musical number simply through the strength and purity of her playing and her voice. She was the lodestone of the performance, and one’s eyes rested upon her as the music went straight to your heart. Yes, I cried. And I would dare to ask – how could you not?

The only thing I could think was – “I wish this was in Kansas” – so that, first of all, my family (especially Dad) could have heard her perform since they love and respect her work as much as I do; and secondly, so that the concert truly could have been “under the stars.” The surrounding lights of Phoenix’ large metropolis hid the stars from view even though we were outside... but other than that thought, I wouldn’t have changed a thing about the performance. Three encores, twenty or more songs, and three hours later it was over – and I was enchanted all over again. Her music is able to invoke emotions in me that other musicians simply have not – and I wish that you all could have been there to experience her magic.

But... if you are at all interested, I would recommend visiting http://www.quinlanroad.com/, Loreena’s official site. I believe you can hear samples of music, and I would listen to: “Bonny Portmore” (lament for a walnut tree), “Santiago,” and “The Old Ways.” Or for more lyrical or literary selections: “The Highway Man” (from the poem by Alfred Noyes) and “The Lady of Shalott” (by Tennyson).

Part IV (accompanied by Michael Franks, Journey, Sarah McLaughlan, Sarah Brightman, BEP, Cirque du Soleil, and the Les Miserables soundtrack)

Time to go home. I headed back to Magdalena, very thankful for the trip, and filled with a desire to have every single person at CVE experience her music at least once before I leave... ;)

Gracias a nuestro Señor por la música... y por los abilidades para cantar y tocar que Él nos ha dado. (Thanks be to our Lord for music... and for the abilities to sing and play that He has given us.)

"Dude Looks Like a..."

There have been these comments lately... on blogs, whispered behind hands, just floating around in the air, if you know what I mean. I don't know exactly who they're stemming from, but I have a few guesses as to how they could possibly originate. However, I do not claim (nor does Jenna) to be responsible for the lack of "male influence" in the lives of our young kidlets, nor the adverse effects that this could possibly render on their psyches (as if there are that many "adverse" effects... sheesh... we are just trying to cultivate "a sensitive side") because of living with all women for the early stages of their life. And if we are indeed guilty of laughing our heads off, rolling around on the floor in fits of giggles, and (unconsciously perhaps) prolonging these moments by taking five million photos, well...

Sometimes these things just happen.

Last Sunday morning Jenna and I decided that some of our boys shouldn't go to church because of the chicken pox (more photos of the kids with pox to come in the future). We didn't think the parents of the children in church would appreciate the exposure to our "poxy" kids...

Moises had the chicken pox pretty bad, and was in a lot of pain. I had kicked off my heels and was holding him on my lap in the living room, when suddenly he squirmed to get down, picked up my heels, and ran behind the couch. Thinking nothing of it (the boys always play catch-me-if-you-can with our stuff), I headed over to change Edi... diaper #1,309,578 for those who are counting (not me, of course).

I turned around, and there was Momo, putting on my heels by the couch, grinning like a little monkey! And seemingly out of pain... lol
Even though he put the heels on the wrong feet, I was impressed by his balance. He clomped around the living room, showing everyone who passed his new shoes, and never fell down once... I have to admit that even I have stumbled (okay... biffed it big time) at least twice in those heels. Very impressive, indeed... ;)

Something about Moises' "catwalk clomping" made Edi really, really excited about shoes, too. He joined in by moving every single shoe from the shoe holder (sidenote: I suddenly realized I have no idea what to call that storage thing in English) to the table, and giving a gasping, wide-mouthed, shocked stare every time a shoe made it to join its fellow friends on the wooden surface. Oh my... I love the excitement kids get out of doing something like moving ten pairs of shoes... lol

I went into the bedroom to check on Gabriel, and when I came back Moises was gone. Hearing distant clomping coming from outside, I rushed out (intent on saving the people who were coming to church from the sight of this high-heeled, diapered, poxed kid) to discover that Momo had made it all the way to the gate - still without falling - and was proudly showing some kids on the swing his new shoes. I called him back, and - sashaying a bit - he came... a toothy grin lighting his face the whole way... ;)

After returning to the house, Moises finally surrendered the heels... and they were promptly snatched up by Gabs, who put them on and started prancing around the living room, exclaiming "I'm a woman! I'm a woman!"

Holy cow.

Male influence? I guess that might be important at some point... ;)

Another Old Man...

Señor Jo-el had his 25th birthday last Saturday, and the CVE ladies couldn't pass up the opportunity to "bless him" with a gift... ;) After all... we figure that after you get to the ripe old age of 25, there isn't really anything too exciting left (no offense to any readers who are over the age of 25... this is simply meant to point a good-natured finger at our second ancient and slightly decrepit CVE "brother"... lol). Pictured above, Jo-el gets his "mordita" with the cake, but managed to take a humongous bite and consume the part that would have gone in his face...

And... the frosting didn't stick that well... bummer... lol

The first part of Jo-el's gift was orange chicken... specially bought, brought, prepared, and served with a smile... ;) The second part involved a book and a gift certificate to Panda Express... you didn't want a Chipotle certificate instead, did you Jo-el??? lol...

I think he might have actually been a little nervous as the last part of the gift drew nearer. After seeing Seth's "kit" that he received for his birthday, I think "nervous" is perhaps understandable... ;) Everyone gathered around the walk-in refrigerator/freezer to watch events unfold...

The signs on the doors read:

That's right... more cookies and goodies than you can imagine. Now, I don't want to spill too many of Jo-el's secrets, but if you happen to be in the storage area of the kitchen, it's almost guaranteed that he will head back there looking for cookies, bars, etc. to finish off any and almost every meal of the day. Admittedly, he is not alone in this... Brian, Joe, and Bill are constant (if not very stealthy) cookie and chocolate thiefs as well... ;)

Jo-el with his "stash" of baked goods... an entire shelf to himself... how lucky can one man be??? Next month might be Bill's shelf, the month after Brian's shelf will arrive...

This could possibly become a tradition in the CVE kitchen... ;)

Photo #1 - Jo-el with the "CVE sistas"... maintaining our proper distance...

Photo #2 - deciding "proper distance" doesn't lend itself quite as easily to...

Photo #3 - ... punching the birthday boy... ;)

Happy Birthday (otra vez) Jo-el!

p.s. (Are you planning on sharing the bounty??? Bill wants to know... lol)