Fun Outing and a Send Off

On Sunday the twins and DaddyQuique were on their own. PapaJason had to catch up on work due to jury duty and some computer upgrades in his office. DaddyQuique decided to take the twins to watch a movie, which was playing in the Japan Town theatre. So they made a day of it. First, lunch. They wanted to have sushi boats, but the place they knew in the mall had closed and a new place had moved in, one with a conveyor belt instead of boats. It was fun.

After lunch they did a little shopping, with their own money. And then to the Japanese arcade games. There were some interesting games, all in Japanese so each had a little paper taped on with English instructions.

Navi found a really fun one, it absolutely made no sense but was VERY entertaining, odd and hilarious at the same time.

The next school day, the twins had to meet their class downtown at the Fairmont at 8:00AM. The Italian consul general had invited the class to help send off the participants at the start of this year's California Mille Miglia.

A race from Italy recreated in California where vintage cars race throughout Northern California on a one thousand mile course. The children waved Italian flags and wished the racers their best - in Italian. An hour later they were off to school.

CYO Camp, Occidental California

Last week Ada and Navi's class went off to an overnight camp for 3 days and two nights. (All pictures courtesy of La Scuola)

The camp is geared for outdoor fun. Along with their teachers was their environmental studies instructor.

They had many stories to tell, but they both had SO MUCH fun and can't wait for next year.

Easter 2019, Salinas

Saturday afternoon the Lopezjoneses made their way to Salinas for the Easter holiday. The twins of course ran straight to the garden.

Sadly Marky was not there this weekend, but Larry was more than happy to have Ada and Navi around.

The next morning it was cascarones time, empty eggs to be filled with confetti and sealed.

This Easter the young kids were few, just Ada and Navi. So DaddyQuique asked some of his younger cousins to join in the egg hunt.

There were many eggs to hide, including some left over from last year. Abue and Abuelito's garden is always the perfect place to hide eggs, everything is so green and plenty of trees and plants.

After all the eggs are found the fun begins.

Cracking them on people's heads.

Even the adults got in on the fun.

Every year it is always such fun to do this. This year Navi was the hard one to get. He ran so fast or climbed high in the trees to escape the egg cracking. But... daddy's cousin Kayla came up with a good plan.

At the end of the party she would have to say goodbye to everyone and would ask Navi for a hug and hold him. DaddyQuique passed around an egg to almost everyone there and when the time came... Navi had many eggs smashed on his head - all in good fun.

Gianluca's Special Guests

Gianluca had a special visit this week. His family is in town to see him. The Lopezjoneses hosted them for dinner one night.

The twins of course were excited to have Gianluca and his brother Giovani to play with.

CDMX - Chapultepec Castle - Zocalo

Early Saturday morning everyone was up and out of the house to visit El Castillo de Chapultepec. A beautiful castle in the middle of a large expansive park in the middle of the city.

It was a grand place, worth the visit.

Lost of history and plenty of Spanish royalty items to see.

 After the park the twins made their way by foot to the Zocalo. Stopping by the Angel of Independence for a picture.

An hour later they made it to the Zocalo, Mexico City's main square.

They visited the National Palace to see the Diego Rivera frescoes.

And on their way to lunch saw the ruins of Teotihuacan, the Aztec city the Spaniards conquered, destroyed and rebuilt over.

Many of the stones from the pyramids were used in building all the structures around the square including the main churches.

CDMX & Teotihuacan

 

The second part of their spring break the group headed to Mexico City. The first night there they had a wonderful meal in their favorite neighborhood, Condesa, on their favorite street Avenida Amsterdam.

Early the next morning, an hours ride by car, Ada and Navi explored some bigger pyramids. Teotihuacan (900-1150 A.D.), which predates the Aztecs and there's no definite knowledge on who built them. They were ready and excited to climb the tallest pyramid, the Pyramid of the Sun.

The view was amazing!

These two were tired out by the time they got down.

They even got to see some very neat murals.

After riding back to CDMX everyone decided to have lunch at the Mercado Roma Biergarten.

Ada and Navi found a great spot for them to hang out on their own and have their lunch, corn dogs!

There was a foosball table Navi really enjoyed playing.

On the way home the group convinced Navi to get a well needed cut.

 Afterwards they stopped on the playground.

Oaxaca Outings

One day the group went to the top of a cliff to visit the pyramids of Monte Alban.

It was a warm day, but they went early and beat the crowds. It was a very neat and casual adventure.

Each morning DaddyQuique took the twins out for breakfast baked goods. Instead of pan dulce they found a great place making fresh croissants.

Dinners were fun in groups. The restaurants were very family friendly and casual. One night the adults went out for a kid-free dinner. DaddyQuique went out earlier that evening and brought a pizza home for their dinner. Ada and Navi did great and when everyone came home they were fast asleep.

One day in the park the twins found a bouncy house. Even with Ada's fractured arm she was still able to have fun.

The best time to pass time was in the pool. Ada and Navi loved it.

Oaxaca

On their first day out the Lopezjoneses explored the city a little. Which turns out to be quite walkable and perfect for them.

 Later that afternoon, after pool time, the rest of their party arrived. UncleJan and UncleGeorge.

An hour later UncleBrad.

Everyone is staying in a house in the city center.

That evening the first dinner began with cocktails/mocktails on a roof top bar.

The next morning everyone walked to the mercado for lunch. Navi had a very cheese and delicious quesadilla.

And somehow this picture was taken of both kids smiling!