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!

SPRING BREAK 2019!

The twins started their spring break with a long day of travel. Waking up at 5AM to catch a 6:30 fligh tot Houston, where they had a five hour connection. Luckily they found a great lunch spot there, with ipads, that kept them well occupied for a long lunch. After lunch they all went to the airport spa for manis and pedis. Navi refused any services and preferred to hang out and wait outside the spa.

Finally they boarded a really small plane on their way to Mexico. It was so small DaddyQuique had to hunch down walking through the aisle.

Their destination... the city of Oaxaca de Juarez in the state of Oaxaca. They were there to eat and the first night did not disappoint. Navi had a tlayuda with chorizo and cheese, it's a thin crispy tortilla, smothered with bean paste topped with local cheese and chorizo and other garnishes.

The next morning they lounged around in the pool as they awaited the rest of the group in their party.

The weather has been great, mid 80's.

Fun Weekend

Here is Ada with her splint in Dolores Park. She has to wear it for another 4 week.s

Over the weekend Abue, Abuelito, TiaNanna and Marky came to San Francisco for the twins' annual school fundraiser. Abuelito stayed home to babysit the kids while everyone else went out to have a fun night.

And a fun night it was. Abue, TiaNana, Nonna and ZiaNonna once again had a great time at La Scuola's La Dolce Vita 2019.