Lisa n Tom (n James n Joseph)

 My mom has been colorizing old family photos and periodically sending me some. Here are a few: Me, Christina, and Lori around 1977, St. Louis, Missouri Mom's (Rexene) 6th grade class, Clearfield, Utah Robbins family having dinner at the McAllister's house, 1976, St. Louis Grandpa Rex Catmull, age 6 or so? Idaho Rex and brother? My dad, Roy, with his borrowed VW Bug, around 1969, Utah "The Gang" (bless Grandma Edna Nelson Robbins for labelling all of her photos!)  Joe Nagy, Dan Nagy, and their little Uncle Roy age 3. 

 

James and I are taking a 4-week Asian cooking class at the Instituto Gastronómico on the north end of town. We're learning to make gyoza, dumplings, Vietnamese spring rolls, summer rolls, ramen, onigiri, mochi, Korean cheese corn dogs (an actual thing), Japanese curry, and bao. We're also learning about knifework and different cooking methods. But, mostly, we're just rocking these hair nets.   

 My sister Debbie and her daughters came to visit us! They spent a couple of nights in a treehouse (literally) in Playa del Carmen and then drove the 3 1/2 hours to see us in Mérida. We took them to Hacienda Teya for salbutes and flan, to Uxmal for pyramids and iguanas, and Choco-Story for chocolate and rescued monkeys. The boys really enjoyed getting to see their cousins. It was basically a never-ending slumber party.

Back-to-back pool parties! On Sunday we met up with Joseph's 3rd grade class for their end of the year party at another hacienda. This time we had a catered lunch with slow-cooked pork ( cochinita ) tacos and aguas frescas. The guardian of the television. Please notice the antennae suspected by a wire from the tree. The local stray doggy crew coming to check for leftovers. The boys and some of the dads played soccer for HOURS in the 90+ heat and humidity. And then we burned stuff. And then we gathered around the projector and watched Mexico lose to England, 2-3.

The Chuburná Stake hosted a swimming and games activity day at a nearby hacienda for all the Primary kids. (A bold undertaking!) There were ponies and a pool and hot dogs and water games. And monkeys. (Only one monkey is real. Hint: It's wearing a Washington Nationals cap.)

There was the last day of school walk, the 6th grade Mass, and now the "Clausura" ceremony a week after school is over. It means Closing Ceremony. Each grade and their parents attended a 50-minute presentation where everybody got their end of year certificates, final grades, and they passed out awards. James and Joseph both got "Best Effort" awards for ... Spanish. (Joseph was kind of confused as to why he didn't get Best in Class for English. "I speak English better than anybody!")  We're going to a different school next year, which is kind of a bummer. Saint Patrick's has been great. But they only go up to 6th grade, so James has to move to a secondary school no matter what and Joseph insists on going with him.