After breakfast this morning I said to Ali, “Thanks for breakfast.”
Ouest heard this and immediately responded with her own, “Thanks for dinner Mama.”
Everything is dinner for some reason. She knows what breakfast and lunch and lunner are obviously, but still she calls them all dinner.
I dropped Ouest off at school today. Lowe and I hung around with her while we waited for the other small kids to arrive and the teacher to take them all up to their room. The older kids gathered around us as usual, talking to Lowe and saying good morning to Ouest. When the bell rang and everybody started to shuffle Ouest reached over to me, pulled me down to her level, gave me a big kiss followed by an eskimo kiss, and then a big hug. I could have died in that moment of sweetness. Surrounded by all of her peers and yet there was not one hint of self-conciousness. Why oh why do we grow into the people that we are? Why can’t we all be three years old forever? I don’t want my kids to grow up.
Lowe has gotten pretty good at flagging down buses, and he even recognizes the bus that we take around town—the green Sabalo Centro bus. A dozen buses went past us as we sat having an ice cream this afternoon, but when that Sabalo Centro bus roared up he knew it.
He likes bus rides, but far and away his favorite is the pulmonias—the Mazatlan VW-engined golf cart looking taxi. He climbs into the backseat first and sits right up against the side hand railing. Ali slides in next to him, then me, then Ouest on the other outside seat. With the family squeezed in we roar off for our three or four dollar ride around town.
When we arrive Lowe is always the first to say, “Thank you.” It comes out as, “Mmrra meh.” He says it sort of like, “Hey buddy, thanks for the ride.” All cool like, without looking back.
17 Comments on “Bits and Pieces”
Pat, those free hugs are something that you just can never get enough of. Just know that you are getting something most Dads don’t get to experience.
You are right though, why can’t they stay that way? I wished the same thing. Good times!
HB
Yes, why can’t we all stay 3? My daughter used to get off the school bus and run down the driveway to me with her arms opened wide every day. It was a sad day when she stopped doing that. She will turn 18 very soon. What a fabulous photo journal of your children’s youth. Really enjoy your blog.
Ah the shrimp bucket…we spent many a morning there for internet and massive shrimp platter. I can’t believe it now, but we actually left Mazatlan never want to see anymore shrimp. But damn, now my mouth waters for those coconut shrimp and a cerveza…it would cost you $100 here in Australia and $5 in Mazatlan. Oh how we miss Mexico.
I have yet to hear a story of a cruiser who has crossed the Pacific from Mexico, and doesn’t miss Mexico. Mom visits next week which means we can stop eating at taco carts and let her buy actual restaurant meals for a week. 🙂 Shrimp Bucket will get a shot then.
Ouest with the note pad all the time now, cracks me up. News reporter?… no. Bookie?… NO! Ah now I see it… FLOOR TRADER!
Now that is funny! I love those shots too.
I should order her a stack of trading cards. She would love them. In fact I think I may still have a stack of leftovers somewhere back in MN.
Love Lowe’s look in the b/w photo. Also, Testing out the answer you gave me to my question I asked. 🙂
It worked, Sweet!
Ahh, the magic of the internet. 🙂
Any shots of this VW powered 4 wheel thing you describe ? 🙂
I’m sure I’ve had pics of the pulmonias in the past, but I’ll look to take a new one soon anyway. Meantime just google it. They’re famous.
The Shrimp Bucket! We love that place. The hotel above it, La Siesta, is one of our favorites. Cheap, clean, right across from the beach, and several great restaurants nearby. How fun.
Yeah, that Olas Altas area is pretty nice. We went swimming on the roof top pool of the Best Western there yesterday. All it cost is a beer.
Were those glass shards on top of the roof of the blue and white building with the Mexican flag on top? Is that there version of barbed wire? LOL.
That my friend, is 99% of the world’s idea of barbed wire.
You got a pic of my broken glass security measure on the third pic from the bottom. Oh, the memories. And the Shrimp Bucket sure brings back some fond memories as well.