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...