call me the tortilla lady

I finally did it.

I put on some Gloria Estefan and got ready to make corn tortillas. I had a bit of a shaky start with a few tortillas that we'll only see later as chilaquiles. But I finally got the masa right and I got better as I went, utnil by the end they were even sort of round-ish.

They're no Maseca factory tortillas, but they taste good!

cold and colourful

Ok, so it's getting cold... it has already gotten as cold here than it ever does in Cuauhtemoc... and I'm getting cold. I think everyone is laughing at me wearing long johns, touques and mitts already (in fact, I know they are!). But just for the record, and to prove it's not just the Canadian weather: I always wear long johns at these temperatures... have for the last 4 years!

I don't think the kids are as cold as I am...they're still biking to school wearing only sweaters.

We drove to Saskatoon for a wedding this weekend. The weather warmed up on Saturday afternoon so we headed to the reception early enough to take a walk on the Mewasin Trail down by the river, where we took this picture. The kids had lots of fun climbing on and around the bandstand. We noticed that it was almost like a Mexican plaza with the bandstand in the centre of the park. The noteable exception being that we were allowed to walk on the grass, of course. Ezra found about a million ladybugs there.

Ezra needed to take a bunch of leaves to school for a math/science activity so we all went leaf-collecting together before supper yesterday. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and the trees were looking gorgeous. There are so few deciduous trees in Cuauhtemoc that it doesn't make for a very colorful season. We haven't had such a beautiful fall for a very long time and are thoroughly enjoying it.

eight years old, and no pinata

Last week, Lauren & I worked together to make birthday invitations for the 13 girls in her class. Then we planned the party: bake cookies, make marbleized paper, decorate bags to take their cookies & paper home in, and finish with pink punch and birthday cake. Oh, and of course... the presents!

So we went shopping and got ready for the party. I baked a cake and set out the cookie and craft supplies and braced myself for a full house! Tuesday after school, they all walked home together and arrived ready to party. I never did get a chance to count, but no one was missing so it must have been 14, including Lauren. I think they all had a good time. I may have been a little tired when it was all over.

For future reference, I do not need to plan so many activities: a giggle of girls can keep themselves entertained quite well when there's cake and presents around!

caronport, saskatchewan

So here we are. Two countries and a world away from Cuauhtemoc. And it's good. But I never expected I would miss Mexico as much as I do. One of the things I miss the most is greeting and being greeted with a kiss. Going to church here feels like a bit of a solitary activity. On the other hand, I am thoroughly enjoying the excellent music and preaching at Caronport Community Church.

Here we are having our first meal in our new home. We could hardly walk through the house for the boxes stacked all over the place. Two weeks later the boxes are almost all unpacked. Lauren & Ezra are happily settled into their school routine and Scott has enjoyed his first seminary course. Avery asks every day if we can go to Emily's or Hannah's house (in Mexico) and I find myself looking for something meaningful to do, as though caring for my family weren't meaningful enough.

We're settling in and beginning to find a routine that will be comfortable for us. And we're cold! It's 8 degrees outside and blustery and on the short walk from the van to the church Avery huddled into herself and said "I'm cold! I'm cold!" over and over. So I'll be off to buy mittens, scarves and touques not too long from now!