Loretto Chapel Miraculous Staircase

Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico was on the list of "Must see" and since it was at the heart of the Santa Fe town square, we could walk over there and check it out. So we did all of the sightseeing recommended there. I don't think we left a stone unturned. If we did, pardon us and we'll come back and check it out. They had a saying there, if you ring this bell, you'll be back. So we all rang that bell because we do, we do want to come back here.

I find it hard to believe that the nuns at the Loretto Chapel had failed to get the carpenter's name and all. Oh, oh, I am skipping. Let me get to the story of this Loretto Chapel. It's an interesting story and something, I'd like our children to remember that they were here. I doubt they even remember it but ha, we got pictures to prove to them that they were here!

Anyway, this exquisite Gothic revival building, the Loretto Chapel was completed in 1878. It truly is a beautiful church. And I marvel how they could make this huge overlook of not building the stairway to the upstairs singing chapel while the church-goers sit down below in the pews. When the builder realized their biggest goof, they couldn't remedy that mistake but to tear down the entrance part and rebuild to make room for stairs.

The nuns couldn't afford to make those changes. What they did was to pray and pray for a miracle.

Guess what happened? It came one day in the form of a wandering carpenter, who in six months constructed a 23 1/2 foot-high spiral staircase that makes two complete 360-degree turns with no visible means of support. He came on a donkey and with a very few tools. This mysterious carpenter vanished without a trace and didn't take any payment, but his gravity-defying masterpiece still stands.

Me and my kids posing in front of the Loretto Chapel while my dear senor is behind the camera.

A close-up of us!

That's the mysterious carpenter!

The miraculous spiral staircase! They said the railing was added years later. There were pictures of young ladies in choir uniforms sitting all up on the stairs with no rails. Those were awesome pictures. I personally think they should have left off the railing but of course with safety in mind and building codes...... blah blah blah. Kind of ruin the beauty of those spiral staircase.

That's in the back and now I'm turning around to the front.

The front of the church. It was pretty fancy and in Gothic theme. Made me feel I was in France.

I backed up a bit and turned my camera to the right to catch Jesus holding a child statue.

We had repeatedly told our kids to be quiet! Be Quiet!

Jonah got the message! Shhhhh!

A close up of the railing. No nails at all. This staircase is one of the few man-made wonders in the world!

Remember this penny souvenir machine? I hadn't seen one in a long while and I had to let them had their fun. They have been so patience inside the chapel while we take in the scene and wondered how and how come... etc.. We had questions and of course, we're left to continue to wonder. The frustrations of being Deaf and the frustration that we're too tired to ask the guide questions and knowing we'd ended up being more frustrated so it's easier to just go. And beside our kids were even more frustrated. LOL!

FSDB Thanksgiving play

At FSDB, they had their first annual Thanksgiving lunch and play. All the children that goes to Early Learning Center (ELC) were involved in this cute play. The kids' parents were invited and I, of course went. My senor couldn't go but I told him I'd take pictures and I did.

Can you spot Annabelle and Jonah??

I was told that Annabelle was supposed to be one of the Pilgrims but when she found out that her "best friend" Vanessa was going to be an Indian. She got terribly upset and wanted to be an Indian and tore out her Pilgrim outfit and would not co-operate. So they gave in and allowed her to be an Indian.

Our children and Vanessa (kneeling down).

They said that Annabelle and Vanessa are in-separable. They hold hands playing in the playground. They'd save seat for each other at lunch time. They do pretty much everything together when allowed.

My Indian kids! Aren't they cute?

Another picture.

Annabelle and Vanessa

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As to the bus woes?

It's no more bus woes! Hurrah!

Annabelle eagerly climb the bus with Jonah knowing she will be going to school and see Vanessa again.

Vacation bathtub fun!

This was at Santa Fe's motel just a few miles away from the old town square. We had a long long day walking around, sightseeing and all. And came back to the motel for the night and I shooed the kids to take a bath.

They still are having fun despite having a long day! I am amazed! I am glad to know they still can have fun!

They still have their summer tan and see how white their butts are?

They did not splash a lot of water out of the tub. They are an 'expert'.

They stopped quickly to check out what was that flash? And saw that I was taking a picture of them and they smiled!

Beautiful smiles they have!

They're a happy kids.

That I am grateful!

They resumed their playing...

Discovering Austin, Texas' Bridge Bats

This is a continuation of our vacation out west in September. We were in Austin, Texas staying at Isaac's niece Elisa and her husband Nick's home.

Remember this picture? Haha! It's our header picture for now but it's that same day we played cowboy boots and hats. Then Elisa and Nick were done working at Texas School for the Deaf. Both are a high school teacher. We all got together to eat and to visit the bats.

I absolutely adore this family picture of us!

We are all together walking toward the bridge to see Austin's Bridge Bats. It is one of the Must See in Austin.

Nick talking to Jonah.

We have arrived and the goose was there to greet us.

The Goose.

I love how Elisa's jean pocket has embroidered geese kissing and the goose was honking at Elisa.

The infamous bridge with thousands and thousands of bats sleeping under the bridge.

Information Booth about Austin's bats.

We're killing time there chatting and waiting for sun to set in and for the bats to wake up and go out hunting for bugs.

Annabelle, Jonah, Elisa, and my senor.

It's finally getting darker.

The bats are a-flyinggggg. You can see them in the sky next to the tall building on your right.

Annabelle and Nick watching the show.

It is hard to see the bats!!! They were kind of sleepy and left late for their bugs hunting.

Jonah's excited and pointing to the bats to Nick.

It has gotten too dark to take more pictures.

We had a lot of fun! And it was educational.

Rollerskating Fun!

Rollerskating?

We were invited to a rollerskating birthday party early last month. We couldn't find them at the rink when we checked in. We were puzzled and decided to go ahead and have fun rollerskating. My senor and I have not skated in years and we decided we would practice ourselves first before including our kids. Our kids did not even mind waiting as they had spied an indoor playground and they wanted to check that one out first. So it worked out perfectly for all of us. Whoo!

My senor showing off his roller shoes and smiling for me.

Already hard at work putting on his ankle brace then sock and then the roller shoes.

My senor is already out on the rink rolling away!

Look at him!

Look at him having fun!

He is having fun!

The birthday party that we could not find was in an enclosed room! We missed the party! It was funny knowing we were there! We didn't think to ask where it was. Oh well!

We felt confident with our rollerskating skills so we asked our kids if they wanted to try it. They sure did!

I'm putting the roller shoes on their feet.

Being silly...

All smiles and ready for their first adventure on rollerskating!

We laughed and laughed and laughed at how they kept on falling and trying again and again. And they were determined to keep trying. Then they said they wanted to go to the playground. So they never got to the rink.

They're too little. They'll grow and try again later and they'll get it!

Brain Freeze

Annabelle had her first brain freeze today at Rita's. She doesn't know it's called 'brain freeze' but we sure recognized it and we laughed at her. She didn't think it was funny of us to laugh at her.

Annabelle smiling for her papa as he took the picture with his I-phone.

I couldn't get the picture bigger. Ugh! More struggling to find out how it works. Or I should say, more learning for me to find out how it works?? LOL

Sisters!

Wouldja believe it that I just finally uploaded this picture from one of the many "sim" cards that we have???????

I was looking for Elisa and Nick's wedding pictures that we went and I could not find them and it was a "no wonder" it was not included in this blog cuz it wasn't even on the computer. So it was out of sight, out of mind. (I think that's the saying.) So I have been downloading tons of pictures yesterday and today. I'd have more but my camera's battery shut down on me. Eeeek! But I took it as a good omen and take a breather and do this blog.

Anyway, I discovered this picture of my sister, Jenny and me. That was 3 years ago during end of October when they were down here vacationing and visiting us and our parents. Our children, hers and mine, are so TINY! It's hard to believe that they have grown in the past 3 years! And her boy Peter is in her tummy and at that time, they weren't sure if she were pregnant but she was.

Jenny and me (that baby is Jonah)

Jonah and his lemonade

Earlier today after picking up Annabelle and Jonah from their bus stop and then driving over to pick up their papa at work. Then we all headed over to eat at Moe's. One of our few favs place to eat.

They love their chips and salsa. The kids loves loves their lemonade and was scrabbling on who was drinking too much and asking me to refill that one cup for them. Their papa refilled one last time before heading back to our van and home. Jonah wanted control of it but Annabelle would not allow that so I had to pull it away from Jonah and give it to Annabelle thus sparking a protest from Jonah. I'd have to shush Jonah and tell him to wait his turn and he would panic that Annabelle will drink it all up. Sigh, I take it away from Annabelle and give it back to Jonah. Another round on back n forth. Til we got to the van. Annabelle already was sitting so I gave it to her. Jonah protest over it and I tell him that he has to sit and buckled in before he'd get the drink back.

I can see Annabelle hurry slurping up the lemonade. I had to hide my smile and their silly scrabble over lemonade. Once Jonah was buckled in he immediately handed out his hand to Annabelle and signed "gimme." Annabelle smirked and kept right on drinking. I had to take it out of her and give it to him.

I got in the drivers' seat and drove home. Their papa told me one of the kids are crying. I looked back and Jonah was wailing that Annabelle drank it all up and wanted me to fill it up. I told him no more and that I'm sorry. And told Annabelle to give him back the cup. But Annabelle said it is empty. I told her to give it to him anyway so she did but somehow it ended up on the floor.

I stopped at the gas station to get more gas and while the gas was pumping, I walked around the van and pick up the fallen drink and gave it to him. Jonah said we have lemonade at home and that he'd want some. I told him, there's no lemonade at home. He said there is. I just shrugged and said sorry.

When we got home, Jonah promptly brought in the cup and I stopped him and told him to throw it away at the trash outside. He said no, we have lemonade at home and he ran in before I could take it out of his hand.

When I got in, Jonah had opened the freezer and picked out the frozen lemonade. I had forgotten that we had some and I hadn't made lemonade in a while. And I was surprised he remembered we had some!

Jonah's smile was big and has that expression, "I told you so".

So I made that lemonade and he happily drank some more lemonade!

Annabelle and her papa

Just a lovely picture of them sitting on the rail fence waiting for the waitress to call us all in to eat our late breakfast that one Sunday morning.

Annabelle and her papa!

Jaguars vs Miami Dolphins--8/21/10

We bought season tickets to our Jacksonville Jaguars football team. We have been going to all of the home game except the ones we missed while on vacation to Colorado. It was ironic because that first home game was against Denver Broncos and we were in Colorado! We gave away those 4 tickets to his son and nephew-in-law.

The first home scrimmage game against Miami Dolphins and we lost! It was a bad game and fans were already leaving during 3rd quarters, including us.

When we drove to look for parking space, it was a beautiful day although the news said it will rain. It hasn't until we started walking toward the football arena and then it started to thunder and lightning came.

We were ill-prepared for rain and went in like that accepting that we will get soaked. Surprising our kids took it as an adventure and did not even complained.

They postponed the game until the lightning ceased. It did not ceased for the next 3 hours. They allowed us in the arena but did not let us in to our seats. So the hallways was crowded. We looked for area where our kids will be safe.

We found them on the stairway and stayed there until they allowed us in to our seats.

The kids were such a good sport. It had gotten dark outside so watching the lightning was a show for us all.

They're playing and keeping busy.

Me and my dear senor!

We went home soaked and I still am amazed at how our kids behaved that night. Not a complaints from them about being wet or being uncomfortable.

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We have gone again and again, and they seem to enjoy themselves. Though they complained about being thirsty or hungry. (That's SO normal!) But otherwise, they're such a good Jaguars fan!

GO GO Jaguars!

Playing with make-up!

A few days before we left to go on our long wonderful vacation, Jasmine had been staying with us those few days. Annabelle was with Jasmine constantly those days when she was home with us.

So without Jasmine being aware, Annabelle got into her make-up bag and helped herself to it.

So this is the result of her doing.

Annabelle and her big sister, Jasmine.

The girls' papa joined in.

A close-up of her works!