Operation "Rescue Kitty"

Let me preface this by explaining that the school I work at runs right up against a small creek.  One side of our school is nothing but chain-link fence where we can see down into the creek bed.  Well, today after lunch I was walking to get my kids when I noticed a bunch of them all crowded at the fence looking down in to the creek bed (which has been dry, but now is filled with mud and debris from the first rains we are currently experiencing).  So of course I walked over to see what they were looking at.  There were two small kittens that had somehow gotten themselves stuck down there.  One looked to be in pretty good shape, but the other one looked like it was probably dead.  A couple of kids from 5th grade had a cardboard box and wanted to go get the kitty (there is access down to the creek bed), but they couldn't walk down there because it was full of mud.  Since the bell had already rung everyone left to go to class.  I happened to have P.E. at that time, so my kids went with the P.E. teacher.  So... now that I knew those poor kittens were down there I had to do something about it.  I went to the kitchen and asked for any left over meat or chicken they might spare.  I was given a small handful of hamburger patty.  I then took the cardboard box and punched holes in the flaps and tied string through the holes.  I had the idea that I could throw the box over the chain-link fence and lower it down into the creek bed.  I would put the hamburger meat in the box and hopefully lure the kitten inside and then pull it back up.  I got this all pretty well worked out, I threw the box over and the kitten came right up to it, but it wouldn't get inside!  Let me tell you, I spent a full hour trying to maneuver that box and calling the kitty to try and get it in.  I am very proud to say that after working up a sweat and getting absolutely filthy, the kitten FINALLY got in the box, I pulled it up, and with the help of the P.E. teacher, we got it back over the fence and to safety!!!  Phew!  One of the 5th grade girls got permission and took it home after school.  I wish I had my camera with me to take a picture, the kitty was absolutely beautiful.  It was black and grey stripped with blue eyes.  I'm sure it is very grateful to be in a warm home tonight!!

No School Today

Hurricane Beatriz has been working her way up Mexico's western coast and today we received the announcement that school would be cancelled.  Of course I was two blocks away when I got the call, but oh well, I just turned myself around and headed home.  An unexpected day off to spend with my kiddos!  Yay!  Hopefully all we get from Beatriz is this nice steady rainfall that's been falling since yesterday evening.  It sure is keeping things cool!!

Rebecca's Crawling!!

My little Miss has finally made the big milestone of crawling!! She's been at it for quite a while now, but just within the last few days she's really gotten the hang of how to move her arms and legs in coordination.  I can't believe how fast seven and a half months have flown by!  Next thing I know she's going to running around playing with her big brother David.  As excited as I am about her new found mobility, I am also a bit (selfishly) bummed that I will now have absolutely no "down time" while she's awake. She's off in two seconds after I set her down on the floor and who knows what she can get in to, so....as they say, "There's no rest for the weary".  Here we go!

Rain!!

Finally the rain gods heard our prayers and last night we got our first taste of summer rain!  It didn't last long, but it was so nice to hear the sound on my roof and to smell the scent of wet earth.  I love that smell!  Hopefully we'll get more today!  

Giving In

Well, we've finally decided to give in.  It is SO hot here in Vallarta we can't stand it any more in our un-air-conditioned house.  The sun beats down on our front two rooms, the family room and our bedroom, all day long that by the time night falls it feels like a sauna in our room.  A fan is just not enough and it's very uncomfortable to sleep at night.  We all end up just tossing and turning and not really getting any rest at all. So.....we spent all day today driving around and making phone calls to find the best deal on an air-conditioner.  We want to get one just for our room so we can at least sleep comfortably at night.  Now, the thing to know about having a/c here in Vallarta is that it's insanely expensive to run.  You have to either make loads of money to be able to pay your outrageous bill once it arrives, or be very conservative with how much you use it.  Since neither my husband or I have a money tree growing in our back yard (darn it!) we will just have to be VERY aware of how much we turn it on.  We think we found a winner at Sams Club.  First, though, we have to call the CFE (electric company) to come out to the house and change the wiring to 220V.  Next we can install the a/c.  I'm hoping that by next weekend we'll get some relief from this oppressive heat and be able to catch up on some much needed sleep!!  I'll keep you posted...  

Mini Vacay

This Tuesday and Wednesday the family went with a group of friends from out of town to a beach about 2 hours south of Vallarta called Mayto.  We stayed in a little hotel right on the beach that has a nice pool and restaurant.  We got off to a late start on Monday evening because our friend's plane arrived 3 hours late.  The drive out there was a bit rough because I ended up getting car sick twice.  We didn't get to the hotel until about 10pm.  Tuesday was much better.  We had a nice breakfast at the restaurant and headed straight to the pool.  David, my water baby, didn't get out of the water all day except for the few hours we took to drive to a town about 5 minutes away, called Tehuamixtle, for a seafood lunch/dinner.  We had a really nice day enjoying the beach, pool, and sunshine.  Wednesday we got up early, ate breakfast, and headed home as there were more friends arriving at the airport.  Unfortunately, Wednesday morning David woke up with an upset tummy and guess who got the result of it all on their lap on the ride home?  That's right, me!  We had to make a pit stop and strip David and myself down, wash off, and change clothes.  Poor David, but he really felt much better after he got it all out.  Other than both of us getting car sick, we had a really nice stay and it was great to get away for a couple days in the middle of the week!!  

 Rebecca and me hanging out by the pool.

 David and Daddy swimming the day away.

Rebecca happy to be on our mini vacay.

 Rebecca entertaining herself while we have lunch/dinner.

 In Tehua eating our delicious seafood.

 Rebecca passed out.

 The amazing sunset at Mayto.

The family.

Back At It

Well, it's been quite some time since I've blogged and SO much has happened I don't even know where to begin.  For starters, I've had another baby.  My daughter Rebecca arrived into this world on November 4, 2010.  She's already 7 months old, I can't believe how fast the time goes by!  My school year is almost over, just one more month and then, freedom!  But only for a short 4 weeks this year because SEP (the education board) has decided to change our calendar due to the Pan American Games that our city will be co-hosting this coming October. (More on that in a later post).  At any rate, I'm ready for vacation!  Hopefully I'll have a little more free time and will get to blog more often.  I definitely have tons to write about and share with you.  For now I'll just say that I'm glad to be back and you'll be hearing more from me now on! : )