Anders' 6th Birthday

Late one night after the boys were in bed, I sat at the kitchen table to make good on a promise I made to Anders: to make him a sea turtle birthday cake.  He gently reminded me that I have *never* made him a piñata or a homemade cake, and I compromised by offering to attempt my first fondant cake topper to set atop a store bought cake.  With the help of Alvin and some 20 views of the same YouTube video, I nailed it.

Anders birthday party is always a difficult one to plan, being the only birthday that falls in California's rainy season.  We always have to have an indoor plan, and this year we rented the Glen Canyon Recreation Center.

Anders insisted on having Noah the Balloon Ninja at his party as he's been obsessed with balloon arts for the last few months.  Part entertainment, part souvenir, the balloons were created at request and many fit our sea turtle theme.

Blessed with gorgeous weather, most kids played outside in the playground or explored the nearby canyon, leaving the rec room calm enough for us grownups to catch up with each other.  The closet happened to have a bunch of wheeled toddler toys, which our bigger kids took to immediately.

Still buzzing from the holiday sugar overload we decided against a goodie bag and instead made a decorate-your-own-sea-turtle-cookie station. Linus led the charge in explaining the process to all the attendees.  I just love seeing the difference in decorating styles between my boys.

Then the moment of truth came, when I set my cake toppers on the Whole Foods cake.  Anders and his friends were delighted by the cake, and no one noticed that it was store bought.  No one also noticed that I only placed 5 candles for his 6th birthday.

Another year, another wonderful birthday memory.  The problem is these parties are incredibly labor intensive,  and you may ask "Why do you do it?"  I set the bar high with the older brothers in a time in my life when I had more time and less responsibilities.   But to Anders, it makes no difference-- these parties, in the presence of friends and family, are part of the collective experiences that make him feel valued, loved, and celebrated. My darling baby son, he is all of the above.

Child Abandonment: Teotihuacan

Early one morning we boarded a bus to take the early tour to Teotihuacan, an ancient city built around the 1st century and predating the Aztecs.

Once we arrived we were greeted by the cool temperatures, warm lighting, and the sight of rising hot air balloons.  Eager to climb to the top of the pyramids, we ditched our tour group and set off on our own.

The climb up to the top of the Temple of the Sun was steep but in in the shade.  I loved the few feral dogs who hung around the tourists, climbing the pyramid effortlessly. I was the only one brave enough to snuggle them, but I was probably the only one there who had rabies vaccination.

Aside from the structures there were many preserved paintings and carvings left to admire.

By early afternoon the grounds were crowded and the sunlight intense, making the pre-dawn wakeup call worth it. Luckily the trek up the Temple of the Moon was far less challenging.

Our last morning in Mexico City we strolled La Reforma to get some exercise and admire the city one last time.  The Angel of Independence statue is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city, along with the numerous, random shrines to the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Later that morning we hopped on a plane to San Luis Potosí.  Boarding on the tarmac always makes me feel a like we are in a rap music video, the novelty never wears off on me.

Child Abandonment: Mexico City Part Three

The city is so large I had to plan out our day's itinerary carefully to minimize our transit time.  On our third full day we explored San Angel and Coayacán, where on Saturday mornings San Angel neighborhood has a market featuring fine local handicrafts. 

The surrounding Plaza San Jacinto is perfect for strolling, with many painters and artists displaying and selling their work. Many of the streets were cobblestone, with small alleyways perfect for wandering.

After shopping we stopped for a fantastic meal at El Cardenal, a well known chain only in Mexico City.  After all the meat in cheese, we opted for a vegetarian selection and were impressed by the unique preparations.

Then we strolled over to Coyoacán, well known for being the home of Frida Kahlo.

The streets and plazas were lovely, but we especially loved the neighborhood market. You can find everything you need from food to party supplies and even costumes. 

Not huge fans of Frida's art, we took a photo of her house and kept on going.

We rested in our Uber as we made our way to Xochimilco,  best known for its canals, which are left from what was an extensive lake  system. On weekends city dwellers head out here to picnic on trajineras and enjoy floating vendors and mariachi bands.  We opted for the quieter option, cruising along the Ecological Park.

Teaming up with 5 other American tourists, we negotiated a 2 hour boat ride and enjoyed the silence on the water. The canals are too polluted for the axoltl to live there, but I liked to imagine a time (and a future) when the giant salamanders could roam around.

Later that night we hopped back over to Chapultepec Castle for a very special performance by the Ballet Folklorico.  Atop a hill, the city views from the castle were gorgeous. The dance performance was extra special with the castle as its backdrop.