Summer fun

Today we enjoyed some time outdoors ... a little summer fun with cousin Emma. Francesca loved playing with the hose and Mateo and Emma got all wet in the "mist" and "shower" settings of the spray. Handy Manny made an appearance as well!

The zoo

This morning we went to the Henry Doorly Zoo - boy did we have fun! It was hot, but we were there early so the animals were still frisky. Francesca and Mateo especially loved the peacocks and the gorillas. Mateo said some really funny things ... it was just a great morning!

Hello peacocks!

Black bear

Watching the polar bear swim

Grandpa and Cesca

Walking to see the sea lions and the elephants

Teo poses in front of the sea lions

Lemurs in the new Madagascar exhibit

The silverback brought back great memories of Rainforest Cafe in Florida!

Mama gorilla and her baby

Cesca was really into the gorilla exhibit - she kept shouting!

Walking with my 'cuz

This orangutang tries to compete with Francesca's flexibility

"AH! Look at me... I have a big belly!" Mateo made fun of the penguins.

Emma and Teo in front of Nemo

"It looks like a kite!"

Ces signs "fish"!

Pompano!

All pooped out

Posing with the Amazon fish

"Look - that fish looks like abuelito!"

The beach at Key Biscayne

We're back in the States, but now in Florida visiting Tia Jas and Tio Jose. Today we went to the beach - the very first time playing in the ocean for both Mateo and Francesca. Needless to say, they LOVED being in the water and goofing around in the sand. Key Biscayne has shallow beach that stretches far into the ocean; the water is warm and there are no waves. Although not the typical wavy ocean experience, it was perfect for their first time at the ocean.

Almuerzo Beltran-Castañeda

This afternoon (after mourning Brasil's loss to the Netherlands in the World Cup), we had an incredibly enjoyable afternoon at the Beltran-Castañeda home. Lunch was spectacular - carmelized pear and blue cheese salad, beef medallions in maracuya (passion fruit) sauce, twice baked potato pie, brownies and ice cream... deliciosisimo! We stayed the entire afternoon and had such a nice visit - time goes by so quickly when we are with them.

Watching el Mundial

Francesca's favorite pasttime - emptying out the drawers

Margarita Maria with Teo and Ces

Ces with Margarita Maria and Gladys

Mateo telling Jairo Andres a story

Mateo with Jairo Andres and Francesca with Margarita Maria - los consentidos

Jairo Andres brought treats for Mateo and Francesca - little tea cakes shaped like a chick, frog and pig

Eating ice cream on the balcony

Francesca sat on Jairo Andres' lap for over an hour while he massaged her legs and rubbed her feet together - each of them was in heaven

Edelmira and Gladys

Taking a bath

Francesca's newest move, the "bucking bronco," performed after a warm bedtime bath