BACK HOME in CUENCA

 Our trip to the states was great,  but it's good to be back to our normal lifestyle....

The main reason our trip was the First Communion of our 8 year old grand daughter CRISTINA.....

Our lovely daughter Deborah, son-in-law Phil with Cristina and Father Tom...

Cristina with Father Tom

GODPARENTS Aunt Linda & Matt Pizcorski

After the Mass Deborah and Phil hosted brunch at a terrific restaurant in Omaha,  Granite City....on Sundays there is a huge buffet with just about anything you can imagine having for Brunch.....

Olivia, Nicolas & Cristina -- horsing around....Cristina really loves her cousins!

We flew into Minneapolis on April 16 to spend a week with daughter Linda and family....got to see Olivia skate -- she loves the ice rink and is REALLY GOOD at only 9 years old.....went one evening to watch Olivia get fitted for new skates....the prices nearly knocked me over!   Ten months before Linda paid $300 for ice skates for Olivia and here she was getting  a new pair because her feet had grown so much.

Nicolas is a charming imp at 12....you can't help but love him and his gentle ways even tho he is all boy  (and so hard to get a good picture of him)

On Friday the 24th we all drove down to Omaha for Cristina's First Communion on Sunday.....It was a wonderful trip even tho I wasn't feeling that great - problems with my blood pressure meds... so we really didn't get to see many people........

Did manage to have dinner at Nettie's Mexican Restaurant in south Omaha -- terrific TexMex and Margaritas!!

And we had dinner at another Mexican Food place before we left -- Agave Azteca..... really good food in a lovely environment....

Ran into old friends who knew our daughter Christina and the leader of a Mexican trio she sang with.....quite an emotional evening...

 

Cristina REALLY LOVES tortilla chips!!

Phil had the idea to try out this restaurant- a great idea!!

We managed to do quite a lot of shopping while in Omaha -- the big deal for me - a new Samsung 4 tablet....I love it!  I had mentioned to Rick that I'd like a Kindle or small notebook....he got me a 10 inch tablet.....

Our trip home was uneventful but exhausting....almost 24 hours of traveling with no sleep, but we survived......Susana and Bertha picked us up at the airport at 8:30 am on Bertha's birthday,  May 5, or better known in the states as CINCO DE MAYO....we came home and Susana insisted we go over for breakfast....delicious scrambled Mexican style eggs and bacon!!!  Hit the spot.....then she said we should rest and she would bring lunch over....Arroz con Pollo.....she's just incredible....

Did a little unpacking and rested, then Geovani called to invite us to go to dinner with them to celebrate Bertha's birthday!!

Dinner was at EL ARRIERO, not far from us.....

Latinoamericana 1-50  off Av. Remigio Crespo Toral

EXCELLENT!!!

CARNES ASADAS,  PARRILLADAS,  CANELAZOS,  COCTELES, etc.

Bertha looked great in the ring I gave her....Sunfire Quartz & Brazilian Citrine...

Saw the Cardiologist on Friday and he changed my meds.....the water retention is much better.....

MOTHER'S DAY was soooo nice.....Bertha came over with a beautiful arrangement,  and then Susana brought over red roses, and a gift -- the oh so pretty clock!!

Geovani drove us to Mass at the Cathedral where we met Yolanda and Juan Gabriel...after Mass we ate at Don Colon,  and so did Betha, Titi and Paul....

Yolanda is such a good mother we wanted her to have a special day too....

Juan Gabriel looks so handsome in the shirt and tie we brought him from the states!!

After lunch Bertha wanted to take us for a drive,  but first Ricardo wanted to treat us for ice cream at Mixx....the best ice cream I have ever tasted!!!

Then we took a drive up to Turi --- such a fabulous view of the city nestled in the valley,  CUENCA!!!

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YESTERDAY was Paul's birthday and we were honored to be invited to celebrate with the family.....

 

Handsome Paul turns 21!!!

This young man is such a delightful gentleman -- he's going to make a terrific lawyer!!!

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HAD GREAT NEWS THIS WEEK...          Deborah called to tell us she and Cristina will be visiting us from July 7 thru August 9th....We're very excited and happy -- it's going to be a fantastic summer!!!