Another Welcome Visitor...

The kids and I were both spoiled with company when Tif arrived right after Dad had just been here for a visit! I really do enjoy having my family visit, and by the smiles on the kids' faces, it seems that it's something really difficult for them as well... :)

Here, Tif and I took the kids to see Christmas lights and to the plaza for churros (sugary-sweet goodness that is as close to voluntarily clogging your arteries as you'll ever come...) and paused to get some pics...

Tif and Nere in the living room. Tif taught several of the girls different dances and gymnastic moves... she was their new heroine... ;)

One morning we all went on a walk to the back of the CVE property... this, of course, included a stop by the "petting zoo" a.k.a stable area... ;)

Sunday morning (Wednesday night???) before church. This photo might look slightly familiar, since the same place was used for Dad and the kidlets the week before... lol. Good place to get everybody close together and contained (more or less) in one area... :)

Candi, Tif, and I went to Momo's for lunch one day, and ended up amusing all the waiters with our attempts at getting a photo; the people at the table next to us even offered to take the pic for us!!!

This would also be the day that we started crying so hard at the table that we had to get the check and leave... :)

This is not surprising.

Or abnormal.

What are sisters for, but to laugh, cry, laugh more, and cry harder with?!?

Tif got this pic of Candi smelling the chapstick... doesn't she look like the poster-child for the AC world? :)

Adventures at the Ranch:

One morning during Tif's visit, Diego and Jose didn't have school, so we headed out to the Ranch for a brief visit...

... and had a grand time!

At left, Tif peeling off her knee socks to walk in the "crunchy" mud -- anybody who has lived in the country (or visited, perhaps!) doesn't even need an explanation for "crunchy" mud... you just know it's fabulous. :)

At right, Diego in the super-cool roots of a tree that we found... this spot was truly amazing, and I plan on coming back to pass some hours reading inside it...!

The tree-climbers!!! Yes, "tree" not "porch," Dad... :)

And I'm pretty sure all three are "tree-huggers"!!!

*tear* It makes me so proud... :)

The... non-tree-climbers.

But... we had some great facial expressions watching them... ;)

This... was a very sad moment. We found a dead bug. Proper homage and respect paid to the recently deceased, we somberly filed on past... ;)

Some videos of our time at the Ranch...

Hey Gramps!

Atrociously Overdue.

I should have used that as the name of this post, but... [cough] since I imagine it's already flitting through the minds of every single one of you... I won't worry too much about it... :)

Dad made his annual visit to Magdalena the week of Thanksgiving, and it was amazing. The kids (especially Candi) kept calling him "Papa" - stemming, I believe, from the fact that it's a whole lot easier to say "papa" than use the American pronunciation for "J" in Jeff - and it made my heart very full to see how wonderfully they respond to positive male interaction.

Even when there's a "language barrier" -- which is truly no barrier at all. :)

Above... Dad and the surrogate "grandkids" on Sunday morning before church.

My Dad is a big man -- these children are relatively small. Hence, the beauty of this photo! Just to see Aaron and Dad's smiles gives me warm fuzzies... :)

Dad was a trooper. He heard me wake up every morning at 5, and then the kids stomped into the living room at 5:50 a.m. to get ready to go to school. They tried to be really, really quiet (even while tip-toeing around the front of the couch to see if the giant beast was really, truly asleep), which lasted for about 10 seconds, and then a yell, a sneeze, or somebody slamming the bathroom door would inevitably happen... and Papa Bahr's morning had begun... lol.
This picture was taken Sunday morning after the kids "slept in" and then wanted to snuggle under the blanket with Dad on the couch. Awwwwwwwww... :)

Something I can clearly see, and freely admit is that these kids (especially the boys) do not get all the male interaction they need -- someone to go out in the barn and work on machinery with while getting covered in dirt and grease, someone to wrestle with, someone to... [okay, brain lapse... I'm sure there are lots of manly things they could and should be doing... like eating nails with bloody cow-burgers after hunting all day using a big stick as a massive killing device and then sleeping on the ground with nothing but the dew as a blanket... but I'm coming up short. Maybe because I'm not a man... ;) ]

*Warning -- there could be facetiousness in the above statements.*

However, it was neat to watch how avidly the kids wanted to be a part of whatever projects Dad could find to do (no... he doesn't "sit" very well... lol) -- and I will never forget the sight of all six kids holding hands with one another and Dad and heading across campus... ready to conquer the world. :)

Every morning after Dad left to go eat breakfast with the team in the dining hall, Candi would ask, "Papa... trabajar?" - "Dad... to work?" It made me smile remembering a certain quote from my sister on the home-made (and relatively private... you have to be a really good friend to listen to those babies... lol) recordings my mom made when we were little...

"Where's your Dad, Tifani?"
"He's workin' -- bery, BERY hard!"

Candi liked to equip Dad with his yearly supply of chapstick before he headed out -- which usually involved (at least) 10 coats... :)

See the video below...

Dad also did "reading time" with the kids... and even though it was in English, they just ate it up... :)


The last morning of his visit, Dad and I took a picture outside of the house. I remember taking a picture in front of the volunteer dorms two years ago the afternoon he was heading out from his first visit to Magdalena -- incredible how quickly time can pass... and yet how so much can sometimes stay the same.

Thanks for coming, Dad... [in Bahr lingo] "good times"... :)
I love you.

Tif flew into Tucson the last day of Dad's visit, so we drove up earlier than the bus to pick her up, and then got to spend several (okay... like 9... lol) hours together.
Good times... though a relatively long one... ;)

More on Tif's visit in the next post!!!

El Desfile - "The Parade"

Last Monday was the national holiday Mexican Revolution Day, and the kids from grade school had a parade. All the girls and boys in Aaron, Nere, and Poncho's grades had the option of dressing up like little Mexican princesses (I'm sure they have a different name than that) and revolutionaries from 1910 (who amazingly, in 2008, wear buckled sandals, plastic bullets, and beards drawn from eyeliner... lol).

Here they are pictured above... next to the ever-present purple walls... ;)

Jenna, Zulema and I ended up going to San Ignacio early (where the grade school is), and found a spot along the side of the main street. In tow were Candi, Diego and Jose, as well as Zulema's kids - Kevin, Angel, and Keyla.

Pictured above: Zulema, Kevin, and Jenna waiting for the parade to start.

The Big Moment: The kids passed by on their short -- okay, very short -- parade route... :)

There were some little, little kids in the parade that must have been about Diego and Jose's ages... maybe in Kindergarten or something. And this little girl was amazing... she looked beautiful, but kept dragging behind the rest of the group, swerving from one side of the street to another while her mom followed behind yelling for her to get back in line... :)

After the parade, everyone gathered at the cancha for traditional dances, speeches, etc. We ended up staying for awhile; so that both Candi and Angel could see they sat atop shoulders most of the time...

And... this is the face you get when someone hasn't had her nap, is hot and sweaty (it was unusually warm that day), really hungry, and totally annoyed that her caregiver keeps taking pictures and trying to get her to smile... :)

Karla was kind enough to keep her up top, even though Candi kept whining...

Nereida and Julissa were just beautiful... and super-excited to get to wear their outfits!

Poncho and Aaron started out being really excited to get dressed up, but by the time I saw them standing in line after the parade they were well-past wanting to take them off and had moved on into downright annoyed... lol.

Samuel is a brother from Hungary that is visiting us right now, and I believe he thoroughly enjoyed the parade... basing that assumption on the number of pictures he took... lol. Here he is posing with Aaron's bullets, and one of the signs from the parade.

As the older girls danced the traditional dances, Juli and Nere stood side-by-side right on the edge of the dance area and watched... fascinated. :)

I asked Nere later if she wanted to dance like that and she nodded an emphatic, "Yes!" She got her chance the next week since their class performed for some committee. She was supposed to dance with Aaron (but apparently he told the teacher he didn't want to do it, and hid under his desk... embarrassed, I do think... lol), but instead ended up with another young boy and told me that night that she didn't mess up even once!

Noche de Las Princessas

"Princess Night"

A few weeks ago, Jenna and I decided to have a Girl's Night in the house. We asked (coerced?!?) Seth and Juan-tan to "host" our six boys while we had a Noche de Belleza ("Beauty Night"). Good sports that those two are, they took charge of the little guys, and we girls had time to do all the girly, fluffy, goofy stuff that... well, that I haven't done in years... if ever. ;)

Above, Nere and Candi in their new winter pajamas, ready for the Girl's Night -- Tinkerbell & Dora the Explorer were enough to make them squeal when they first put them on... lol.

We had hamburgers in the house before we started the pampering session -- above, Julissa and Nere bite into their hamburguesas. Jenna and I kept telling the girls that we were just going to go to bed after supper... maybe read a story or something, but the "special night" was just really to go to bed early and get our beauty rest... for some reason, they didn't believe us at all... ;)

(Funny that we never get tired of playing that game, right Jenna?!? On the other hand, a girl's night for us would definitely include going to bed at 8:00 p.m. nowadays... so maybe it was just wishful thinking... lol)

Katie Schick and Jenean both came to celebrate the evening with us as well. Pictured above, Katie, Jenna, and I start the foot massages for Alexia, Jazzany, and Candi.

And they returned the favor! Above, Jazzany gives Jenna a foot massage while Katie tries to get Candi to sit still long enough to paint her nails... :)

I brought out all my Christmas socks to let the girls put on after their massages... and they were huge, but I don't think it made any difference in their level of enjoyment! Above (left) Alexia smiles with her striped toe-socks, and above (right) Candi models her footwear for the camera.

After foot massages, manicures, and fingernail painting, the girls were in quite the state of relaxation (except Candi -- have you ever noticed how young children are in a frenzy of energy until just before they crash??? That would be her...). Pictured above, Jenna and Jazzany hang out on the couch...

After they were all "beautified" (who am I kidding? These girls have natural beauty that astounds me), the lovely ladies watched The Little Mermaid while eating Double Fudge Brownies.

So... foot massages, pink fingernail polish, Prince Eric, and chocolate... who could want more??? ;)

La Boda de Jim y Krissa

In the final part of September, The Schick Family, Michelle (one of the oldest girls), Manuel (one of Ruth's boys), and I headed to California -- the two kids for appointments at the Shriners Hospital in L.A., and me for Jim and Krissa's wedding.

It was a wonderful trip, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to be with both Jim and Krissa and their families before the "big day"... :)

The send-off coming out of the church...

It was great getting to hang with mutual friends, too! Pictured above, the Cox Brothers (Andrew, Ryan, and Braden) and Jim at the Saturday night dinner...

I took this picture of Ryan as we were waiting for Jim and Krissa to salir from the church... who could look better in aviator glasses than this guy??? ;)

Don't get jealous, Chel... yours are "cool" too... lol.

After the wedding on Sunday, the Schicks, the kids, and I stayed with Joe & Sue Klotzle, and were able to go on a walk to the beach that evening.

A weekend for romance, indeed... :)

Leaving the beach -- covered in salt, sand, and TAR!!! Did you know that you can walk along the edge of the water and get tar plastered to your feet, shoes, pants, etc.??? I had no clue until we got back to the house, and I had to use Goo Gone to get the grossness off... wow... and yuck.

I will refrain from getting on a soap box right here... I'm sure you're all relieved... ;)

Katie and I bundled up by the water... it was chilly, breezy, and AMAZING.

Oh, how I miss cold weather, oh, how I miss cold weather, oh, how I miss cold weather.... :)

As we started the journey back to Magdalena, we decided to stop at Krispy Kreme, and let the kids try some of America's fatness... :)

I don't know that they were that impressed... lol.

And - fortunately - with all the romance and mushy-ness in the air, Joan and Katie found me someone (at a garage sale, no less!) who (even by his name) demonstrates how perfect he is... meet Mr. Wonderful!

We have been "married" for a month now, and I couldn't be happier... ;)

El Día de Independencia

In September, Mexico celebrates its Independence Day... therefore, we did too at CVE!

It was a great day - full of laughs, falls (more explanation to come), outdoor grilling, futbol (soccer), and "family" time.

I'm grateful for the staff here that make these memories and these moments such a joy for all the kids... and all of us, too! :)

Our first event of the day (after breakfast, of course) was an obstacle course... planned and executed by Señor Juan-tan. He is pictured above finishing details... and avoiding the camera's lens... ;)

José Mediano bugging Jo-el (turn-about is fair play, right?!?) and taking fifty-million years to sweep up after breakfast. This is not uncommon to tell the truth... lol.

Everyone got out to the church building, and gathered around while Limón and Juan-tan demonstrated what had to be done...

My kids weren't quite as interested in the whole course as they were in crawling up and down this board... which was great until they'd stop paying attention, lose their grip, and end up hanging upside down with their heads half an inch from the cement floor.... ay, ay, ay.

So, of course... I let them keep doing it... ;)

David steadies Blanca as she runs down the board. For those of you reading, don't worry. We promote safety at all times here at CVE... ;)

It was sometimes more amusing to watch the audience members than the actual kids running the course! Everyone would start out on one side of the building, and then slowly gravitate around the room, until they could run to the windows and watch what was happening outside in the final part of the course...

(Above) The perfect action shot!

Well, maybe not perfect, but pretty good... ;)

Julissa finishes off her round by kicking off the bar that signals Juan-tan to stop the timer...

At left: Cuteness personified. At right: Harshness personified... :)

When the younger boys got tired of watching everyone run the course, they decided to go outside to the dirt mound and plant "flowers." I walked up and Aaron said, "Look, Steph! We're taking care of our world!" Diego solemnly nodded his head, and added... "Hmm-hmm [insert: yes, the noise is the same in Spanish... lol]... hmm-hmm," as though this was a task of monumental import... and it is, isn't it??? :)

The two baby girls were present and accounted for as well. Kaleigh (left) and Gloria (right) were wheeled 'round and around that church... just like they're pushed 'round and around the dining room, the cancha, the campus... wow. Those strollers get a LOT of mileage...

After the obstacle course, everyone hung out until Limón finished grilling the hot dogs, and the rest of the food was ready. It was a perfect day weather-wise, too, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves...

Just looking at this picture makes me smile, because it makes me think of barbecues in my past... :)

Nicole and Carissa resting against a tree before lunch-time...

But, of course, like all good picnics... there are always casualties! Aaron walked in front of the metal swing and got whacked hard -- I mean, really, REALLY hard on the back of the head. He went down crying, and we went to the kitchen for some doctoring. I had managed to meter a stick through my toe-nail, and that was relatively painful as well... so we made a good pair... :)

Below are a few videos of the Independence Day obstacle course for your viewing pleasure:

Diego & José having a grand old time...

Candi trying to do her own obstacle course...

Uriel's full-course run... I'm not sure what place he got, but I think he did well... surprise, surprise!!! :)