Lizzy's First Movie

Today, my mom, Jeremy and myself took Elizabeth to her very first movie ever in a movie theater! We went to see "Tangled", and it was great. I was a little nervous about her talking and getting up during the movie, so you can imagine how happy my heart felt when we walked into the theater and it was completely empty!!!! Yes, that's right...we had the entire theater to ourselves!!! She did great, though...and Jeremy even liked the movie as long as he had his Sprite and popcorn. I was so happy this experience went well. I LOVE to go to the movies and now I have another movie partner to go with me.:) She was so proud about going to the movies that when she came home, she said," That was a fun day!" I thought I'd snap a picture of her with her first movie ticket.:)

Lagniappe:

I am trying to remember things the kids have been saying since we have been back in the states....but since I haven't remembered to put them on the blog lately, I have forgotten some of them, but one happened when we were in Houston. Jeremy, Lizzy and I were walking around my friend's neighborhood in Houston. Jeremy was looking all around and he said, "Wow, Mommy.....they have mailboxes here!!!" He said it in such awe....I didn't want him to see me laugh. But, I realized that he hadn't been out to check the mail with me since we moved to Nigeria.....checking the mail is something I took for granted...but in Nigeria, we don't really get too much mail...and the little bit that we do get goes to Guy's office...so we have no box to check.

Lizzy and Jeremy: The other night when Guy and I were out for our anniversary dinner, my mom and dad watched the kids for us. My dad put them to bed and he said, "Now, you are as snug as a bug in a rug." The kids started laughing at him. When we got home, Dad asked me if I had ever said "Snug as a bug in a rug." I told him I thought I had, but I really couldn't remember. Dad was pretty happy because he had taught them something new and made them laugh. So, fast forward to Monday morning and the kids woke up and ran into our room. Jeremy said, " You know what your daddy told us last night?" I said "What?" They both simultaneously said really loud " Snug as a bug in a butt!!!" and they started literally rolling on the floor laughing. I started laughing and so did Guy. I guess my dad did teach them something...just not what he thought he did.:)

4,380 days and counting:)

Yesterday, Guy and I celebrated our 12 year wedding anniversary! Wow!! It's hard to believe that 12 years ago we got married in a blizzard in central Illinois! My dad has already vetoed any ideas about winter weddings for his grand children.:) We've come a long way since we were students at the University of Illinois...and I am looking forward to all the adventures we still have ahead of us.:)

We went out to eat for a really nice dinner ( Thanks again, Mom and Dad, for babysitting!)For our anniversary, Guy gave me a Mother's ring. Those of you who know me also know what a hard road it was for me to actually become a mom...and the fact that I have two children still blows me away sometimes. :) Now I can always carry them close to me.:) Thank you, Guy, for such a sweet gift.:)

Our New Year's Eve

On new Year's, Guy and my dad went to a market nearby my parents' home and brought back lobsters for dinner.

Here are the two chefs making the great dinner.:)

Sitting down for our lobster feast.:) No, the kids didn't eat the lobster...they were a little scared of it actually. Jeremy was watching Guy eat his lobster and Guy asked him if he wanted to touch the lobster. Jeremy said," Is it still alive? It looks like it is alive." So, our lobster dinner was also a lesson on the food chain.:)

We played a few games and Lizzy thought she would be funny with some new glasses she got for Christmas.:)

Jeremy learned how to play checkers.:)

Watching Toy Story 3...an all new favorite.:)

Dad enjoying a good drink after the kids went to bed.:) We enjoyed the rest of the evening watching T.V. and having champagne. I hope you all have a wonderful and prosperous new year!!

What is Telegraph Hill???

Happy New Year to you all!!!:) On Thursday ( I started this post on Friday and then didn't get to finish it until today), Guy and I went into San Francisco while my parents watched the kids for us for the day. ( Thanks Mom and Dad). I was all set to go and see Alcatraz ( I have wanted to go there for a long time...not to be an inmate..ha ha) until Guy found out that all the tickets were sold out for tours for that day...so he came up with a back up plan..."Let's go to Telegraph Hill."he said. What is telegraph hill??, you may ask....well...come along with us and I'll show you what we saw.:) Above is a picture of me in front of the ferry building in downtown San Francisco.


Inside the ferry building, I couldn't believe that I saw Ghana baskets being sold in a gardening shop for about 80 U.S. dollars....I can get them in Nigeria for about 10 dollars....mental note...perk number 1 about living in Nigeria...you can get cheap Ghana baskets.:)

There were a ton of baskets at the shop...I couldn't believe it!!!

Of course, no day out away from the kids would be complete without going wine tasting while I am out here in great wine country.:)

I really must drink a ton of wine since they named a valley after me!!!:)
(Salinas Valley)

Oh, yes...I still need to hike up to Telegraph hill!!!! At least I won't be able to feel my feet after all those glasses of wine!!!:)

So, Telegraph Hill is a tower which was built back in 1929 as a token of appreciation for the fire fighters of San Francisco. It is called Telegraph Hill because it was the first place where telegraph wires were received in the later 1800's. Now, it is an eclectic neighborhood built around the tower. It is located at the top of a very tall and steep hill. There are many houses which are built into the hill and only one road that winds up the hill. Many of the houses are only accessible by steps.....I can't imagine bringing groceries up there every week!

At the top of the hill below the tower, you can see the Golden Gate bridge,

Alcatraz....so close...yet so far away!

another picture of Alcatraz

Me at the top of the hill:)

Of course, we had to make the smooshed pennies for the kids...they love those.:)

On our way back down the hill...

Just some neat homes built in the hill....these could actually be accessed by cars....

Then, we were off to Chinatown. Everything was decorated for New Year's.

Last stop ...sushi in Chinatown.:) After Guy found himself just the right green tea pot...we stopped and had sushi at a really neat place with little boats floating by with sushi on them...
It was a great end to a great day.....no kids...much needed time with my husband...lots of wine...and sushi! ... and I found out about Telegraph Hill.:)

He Found Us!!!

So, he went to Lagos, then to Houston, then to Chicago and finally to Livermore, CA and he found us there!!! Yes, Santa made it to my parents' home!!! I wish I would have known that Santa was coming because I would have had my camera out before he arrived. The look on Jeremy's face was absolutely priceless!!!! He was so surprised. Elizabeth was a little scared...but was a little more accepting when she realized that he was pulling out really neat things for her from his bag of presents.:)

Jeremy posing for a quick pic with Santa Claus! Until next year!!!:) Thank you so much Santa!!!:)

My grandpa found a few gifts in the crawl space at his home. My grandma had gone shopping early this year and bought a few gifts for the kids before she passed away. It brought tears to my eyes, but it was also a really nice feeling...it was like she was here with us. This is one of the gifts she bought for Jeremy before she passed away. Every year, she went to Hallmark ( her favorite store) and bought Jeremy an ornament for how old he was each Christmas. This year, I decorated the tree in Lagos and thought of her when I hung his 1-4 year ornaments on the tree and felt sad because there wouldn't be a fifth year ornament from my grandma this year. I couldn't be more wrong...what a wonderful gift!!! I know she is watching over us....my guardian angel.:)

My parents gave us an AWESOME picture of the Palio..a race held in Siena, Italy each year. We went to Siena with them in April.:)

I think Jeremy got everything known to man that could be Spider man!!! Check out the webbing on these p.j.'s!!!!

Among tons of other presents, Lizzy got matching p.j.'s to go with her Bitty Baby.:) Nighty, night!!!:)

A Message from the Swamp Dog

I just received this note from Bernice a little while ago and since I have not gotten my Christmas cards out yet, I thought I would post it on the blog. I will be sending out Christmas cards next week....my planning wasn't so good this year....but hey, now you can look forward to a New Year's Card!!!:)

Swamp Dog Newsletter

Greetings from the “Center of Excellence” in Lagos, Nigeria. Yes, that’s right I said “excellence”. That is what is on all the license plates from Lagos State. I don’t get off the compound very much, but that is what my mom says is on the license plates on all the cars, and when she says it she can’t stop herself from laughing…..I haven’t figured that one out yet.

So, I am typing out my 11^th newsletter for the Salinas family. It is December 24, and I am just now getting around to getting it done. As a matter of fact, one of my very best friends in the whole world, Happiness, is helping me out. I am dictating to her as she types.:) She is a cook, housekeeper, gardener, nanny, personal shopper, dog walker/groomer, and now I can add secretary to her resume.:) My legs just aren’t working like they used to. The arthritis is really bothering my legs and it is making it a little harder for me to get around…not to mention type out a letter. (Thank goodness Mom found a good vet here, and he gave me some great meds!!!) I am 11 years old which makes me about 77 years old in dog years. Why isn’t someone else coming up with what to write in this dang letter anyway? I am the oldest in the family now!!!:)

Let’s see, this year was a busy one. In January, Mom, Jeremy and Elizabeth came back from visiting family and friends in the U.S. We had a pretty quiet February. Jeremy started his first season of tee ball here in Lagos. Then, in March, Mom took Jeremy and Elizabeth back to the U.S. to visit her grandma. Elizabeth also turned two!! In April, they all left me again and went to Siena, Italy to see all the beautiful sights and meet up with mom’s mom and dad and brother over Easter. I also heard that mom did a lot of wine tasting there.:) There was also a story about something mom said in Montepulciano, but I think you have to talk to her personally to get the whole story.:) April was also a good month because some new families moved onto the compound with children just about Elizabeth and Jeremy’s ages. Their moms and dads are pretty nice also, so mom and dad also have new friends. It’s always nice to have such nice people around when you are so far from your own family and friends. In May, Jeremy finished up school, and Mom and the kids took off in early June to do their yearly ”Tour of America” beginning in California, then to Michigan, Illinois and Texas. Lots of doctor’s appointments, and of course the packing of the annual shipment to Nigeria…..I heard that was a lot of work!!! Dad flew over to meet mom and the kids in July and then, they all came back together the end of July. (BTW, Mom turned 34…not sure if she wanted me to mention that!) In August, Jeremy started up pre- k and turned five!!! Elizabeth also started at a little preschool this year a few times a week. The house is a little quieter when she is gone in the mornings, I can use that time to catch up on my sleep.:) The end of August, they all flew back to the U.S. for my Uncle Greg and Aunt Julia’s wedding in L.A. In September, Guy had his 37^th birthday. And sadly, Mom flew back to the U.S. when her lovely Grandma passed away. We will always keep her in our hearts…she was a very special lady. October and November seemed to go by quickly with all the school parties, play dates and get togethers. This brings me to this December. Right now, the flat is quiet, my water and food bowls are freshly washed and I am able to really reflect on this past year. It has been a busy one as usual, but I am always surrounded by my family who loves me (except right now of course because they left me again to see their families in the U.S……maybe I am not always surrounded by my family…I guess that is for another newsletter). But, at least when they are gone, I have Happiness here to take really good care of me. I hope you all find your own “Happiness” this year in your hearts. Don’t forget you can always write to me at Guy Salinas ExxonMobil – Lagos, Nigeria (MOP C-11-D) P.O. Box 4490 Houston, Texas 77210-4490. My phone number is (713)431-8500 ext. 22954. Remember, you can take the dog out of the swamp, but you can’t take the swamp out of the dog! Cheers! Bernice A.K.A. The Swamp Dog

Merry Christmas!!!!

Hello from snowy Chicago, Illinois!!!! We landed here to visit Guy's family on Wednesday. I know I grew up almost my entire life in Illinois, but I am really not used to this cold weather anymore!!! Elizabeth is pretty much on board with me in that area as well! Although, Jeremy, born in Guatemala and most of his life spent in Houston, acts like he could stay outside in the cold forever!!! They had a great time outside on the day before Christmas Eve playing in the snow with Grandma. I think Elizabeth stayed out for about five minutes!:)

All dressed up to go to the childrens' mass at Grandma and Grandpa's church. I'm glad I got Elizabeth to stand still long enough for me to take the picture.:)

Lizzy and her daddy at church...it was a packed house!


We went to Guy's aunt's house for dinner after church......I almost got a good picture of Lizzy and me together.:)
Christmas morning breakfast before tearing into the presents!!!:)
Uncle Robert was good about helping the kiddos open up their gifts.:) I took these pics with the new camera I got from Guy. I am still figuring out how to use it.:)
How many Transformers does a five year old really need????:)
Cute hat from Grandma and Grandpa.:)
We went back outside to play in the snow tonight. Jeremy was pretty excited that he found an icicle hanging from the eve of grandma and Grandpa's house. Guy pulled it down for him and we put it in the freezer.:)
When we came inside, we had some cupcakes that grandma had made.:)
Better eat your cupcake, Lizzy, before Grandpa gets it!!!!! Merry Christmas to you all!!!:)