Mexican Independence Day...

... was fun this year!  The celebration usually starts with the school's program:

Candi all dressed up and ready to go in her wedding Independence Day dress!

(it's a little tighter than it was two and a half years ago!!!)

 Aron participating in the flag salute -- notice his very intense concentration while rounding the corner!!!

 Candi and her class reciting a poem...

 ... and then having to exit NOT SO GRACEFULLY from the stage!  hehe.  :)

 Diego's puppet show; his puppet is second from the left-hand side.  

A very happy puppet... :)

 Mili looking pretty cute in her sombrero!

 Making salsa verde with Ithan, who decided to eat my onions RAW.

{gross}

 The kids had a few days off from school so we decided to hike the cross mountain with ALL SIX KIDS one morning... :)

 Don't be fooled by my smile -- this was trepidation at its greatest since I hadn't hiked up the mountain for a good two years prior to this and KNEW it would be painful.  

And... it was!!!  :)

 We made it to the top...

 ... and refreshed ourselves with apples and Little Debbie treats!  

So much for the calorie loss, huh?  ;)

 Our kiddos!

 The youngest was "plum tuckered-out!"

 Yes, the boys had this idea.

Yes, I encouraged them to make it a reality.

Yes, this is about the fourth or fifth shot to get it right... 

... and no, Diego did not fall off the mountain afterward, although it was a close call!  :)

 "Wow, the sun was bright!" -- [you're thinking]

No, our faces really were that red STILL.  :)

 I love this picture!  Thank You, Lord, for siblings!

 The way down we actually were with the kids a little more... ;)

 A lot easier downhill!!!

 We got home and had huevos rancheros (soft-set eggs served on fried tortillas with a layer of refried beans and then covered in yummy SALSA!!!)...

 ... and mango enchamoyadas for a late-morning snack!

(frozen mango pops that are covered with chamoy -- a slightly spicy salsa -- and tajin -- a spice mixture of chiles and lime -- for all you gringos out there... ;)

And in the afternoon we headed to Juan-tan and Bere's for a wonderful CVE family potluck!

Yeah! for Mexican Independence... :))))))))))