Vecinos y Carne Asada (Neighbors and BBQ)

Brian and I like to take walks on Sunday afternoons. Sometimes we smell families having a "bar-b-Que" in their backyard and it smells more like their burning leaves or twigs. But today, ahhh....we passed a home just a few houses down from us and the smell coming from their yard was wonderful! As we passed, I noticed they were Latin. I said to Brian, "I didn't know we had Latin neighbors! They sure know how to cook." Brian asked, "Do you want to go say hi?" I was skeptical at first, but then a breeze blew that wonderful smell of Latin Bar-b-Que past our noses. Why not?

So here we are. Brian and me with our two children, strolling up to our Latin neighbors home, having never met them before, and wanting to make friends and introduce ourselves on a Sunday afternoon....when they are having a family Bar-b-Que. This situation might deter some people, but those people have never had authentic carne asada. And they probably don't understand how kind and open Latin people are. The phrase " Mi casa es su casa" (my house is your house), is a reality and a real part of Latin culture.

Before we knew it, they were more or less pushing plates of food on us and asking us to sit with them. Never mind that they were drinking beer and smoking! The food was delicious and mouthwatering! I learned how to makes a really yummy authentic pico de gallo from the lady of the house named Graciela. It all makes me laugh just thinking about it.

They were easy to talk to, fun and welcoming. We had some laughs, and I understood most of the Spanish conversation. Jackson mingled with their kids and looked at the horses. In the end, we invited them over to our place next month for another BBQ. They kept saying, "we have a big family!" We can handle it! Brian loves to grill.

What a great Sunday afternoon!

Happy Baby

There is a yoga pose called "happy baby" and it's not too far off of what you see Zoey doing these days. I've always thought it was so appropriately named, and I love it when I see my babies doing 'yoga' poses in their own! Jackson is very familiar with yoga already. He will see me stretching and ask "yoga?" How many 2 year old know what yoga is? I love it.

In reality, Zoey is our happy baby. She is such a delight. I think a lot of it has to do with the amount of sleep she gets, but she is just so pleasant to be around. Of course she has fussy times, like when she's hungry, tired, teething, or if Jackson bites her (or any combination of these), but these times are few and far between her happy times. She's so wonderful.

She is rolling, scooting, pivoting, and starting to balance her body weight on her arms and toes....before long she'll be crawling! She got her two front teeth in a week ago, and she hadn't started solid foods until yesterday.

She is soooooo uninterested in baby food. There is a rat on the Pixar movie Ratatouille that says to his brother, "If you work your way past the gag reflex, it opens up all kinds of possibilities!" That's Zoey. She can't get past the gagging. I've tried pureed bananas, pears, applesauce, peas, and finally sweet potatoes. She will eat sweet potatoes, but she doesn't like it! I'm afraid she'll never want to stop nursing.

I can't believe she is almost 6 months! I love seeing her little personality come out. I also love seeing how different she is from Jackson. She is very much a girl and I LOVE it (or maybe it's because Jackson is such a boy that he makes her look more girl-ish)! Either way, I love having one of each.

Jackson's Two!

Happy Birthday to YOU, Jackson dear!

Today, Jackson is two years old. I can't believe it! He's such a little helper in so many ways. This is a picture of him helping me make his birthday cake. He LOVES chocolate. He gets that from me, ha ha!

We're celebrating his birthday tomorrow by having a swim party with the family at the Lehi indoor pool. It's one if his favorite places to go.

I just wanted to write down a few things I love about my ever-growing boy and the sweetness that comes with the innocence of childhood. I'd hope for these things to stay for ever, but I'll know he'll grow out of it someday, as he should. I just want to make sure I remember what he's like at this time in his life.

I love it when (if he wants something REALLY bad) I can tell him "it will cost a kiss" and he quickly obliges! But I love it even more when he does it unprovoked, and just wants to give me a kiss.

I love it when I catch him doing silly things when he doesn't think anyone is looking, like making faces at himself in the bathtub faucet (reflects like a mirror) or walking on his heels just to be silly.

I love it when we ask for "bear hugs" he's all about making the sound more than the actual squeeze.

I love how he sucks on his bottom lip and plays with his cowlick when he's a little unsure of things.

I love how me asks me to kiss his owies better.

I love it when he wants me to do something with him, he'll take my hand and say, "come with me!"

Although I love that he's independent, I love it when he needs me too.

I love how anxious he is to be able to play with Zoey. He can't wait for her to be his playmate!

I love his facial expressions and his excitement over little things.

I just love, love, love him! I'm so glad he's a part of our family.