Neighbors . . . the Good, the Bad and the Ugly!!!

Living in this new area has been interesting, needless to say. I have an iguana that lives on the back wall, a dog that barks at it every time because she's scared (that would be mine), a lady next door who thinks she's better than us and hardly acknowledges us and is also remodeling her house which has cut down our trees and left all the garbage for us to pick up, and a fabulously large lime tree where the family thinks its funny that I ask for limes. Every time I go over there, they give me a bag full. I've been here since June and I've met a few people. They are always nice and love Aiden. It's nice for him to have "little girlfriends" because all the kids that want to play with him are girls. I'll post pics of everything on my next entry.

It shocks me that October is almost over. Time is flying by and we are doing our best to try to make the most of our time here. We try to go to the beach once a week, it's tough taking Nana though, she loves it, but she gets car sick like nobody's business. EEWWW!!!! It has been the hottest month I've experienced since I've lived here, I am so glad I've got A/C. I think I would NOT survive if I didn't!!!

Ben has been working at the Port sometimes and at the same Hotel sometimes and with me sometimes. It depends on what's going on. Work here is a very strange thing. He is however working VERY hard on his education. He studies every night and I am so proud of him!!! His first 2 exams have produced A's. This has really helped motivate him!! He still has a very difficult time on the computer, and I lack patience in teaching that, so hopefully he'll be able to take a course sometime soon. We've been trying to get his brother to bring the car that's sitting there, not doing anything, here, but he just won't do it, so we have a lot of problems coordinating with work and Aiden. But so far, it's been working. He takes Nana running in the morning if he works in the afternoon, or not at all and then he takes Nana and Aiden at night. If it's just me, then I take them. It's an experience!!! As of last Friday the 7th, Ben was told that they wanted him full time at the hotel until April. I feel really good about it and he does too, but he is torn because he makes more money at the Port, but if he were to take the job he was offered, he would work from 7-3 one week, 3-11 the next week and then 11-7 the next week. Sometimes he would have to work double and that would be really hard on our family!!! I just don't feel that that would be a good choice for us. It was a tough decision, but I think that the hotel is where we need to be.

Aiden is growing up so fast! He's talking more and his language is split right down the middle between Spanish and English. He knows everything in both, but will say some in Spanish only and others in English only. The only time he says both is when you ask him "Yes" and he says "Si" or you say "Si" and he says "Yes". He's also saying words backwards, which we find REALLY funny! The word for tractor is Topo, and Aiden says Poto. No matter how many times we say Topo, it's always the same Poto. He can get quite cranky when he's tired, but I guess so does everybody!! Right now we're finally past the Elmo stage and moved on to "Lady and the Tramp" and if I can squeeze something else in, it's usually "Hercules". Ben and I can quote just about every word for both movies. It's REALLY annoying!!! Aiden has also come to the conclusion that "mamapapa" is one word. We are one being. I hate to admit it, but it annoys me! I am telling him over and over that I AM MAMA NOT PAPA!! Oh well. We were walking to the local market the other night and we caught 2 frogs. A really small one and a medium one. It was fun and he loved it!! And I did too!! Catching frogs has always been something I enjoy . . . call me CRAZY!!! Since the time change a few weeks ago, we were a week before you, he has really gone downhill. He has been a real challenge at daycare. I'm surprised they haven't kicked him out yet. He's picking fights, hitting the teachers and throwing temper tantrums. He has this really high pitched yell and it's awful. It's been scaring the other kids. I've been called a few times to pick him up. I sit him down outside and talk to him and make him apologize to all the kids, but when I get him home, I put him down and he's asleep within 10 minutes. His body and mind are having a tough time adjusting and I am having to keep him home this week to try to get the sleep back on track, because it is really embarrassing to go to daycare and have them tell me how awful he was!! That doesn't work for me or Ben. It's been a stress, but hopefully after this week, he'll get back on track and get it together!!!

I am VERY busy!!! I have started Yoga classes M/W/F mornings, which I love!!! They are free and I feel so at peace with myself when I leave. I have also started a business cooking out of my home. I'm selling cakes and cookies. So far they have been a hit, it's just taking a lot time to get the word out. It's called Guera's Goodies" which means "Blondie's Goodies". Ben has had real issues with the name, but he's warming up to it as the $$ comes in. I go to the Port area 2xs a week and sell out of the back of my car. Mostly I sell to my students, but I have also picked up some "regulars". Last week I ended up making several dozen cookies, cakes and cheese cakes from orders only. It was CRAZY!!! It's been a rough start, but I'm hoping that it will continue to grow!!! I've gained weight since I started this which has really annoyed me. I'm trying to kindof run with Nana, but as you all know, running is NOT my favorite thing. I like going to the beach, but Nana gets carsick and throws up every time. That's a real hit with Ben, let me tell you!! I'm still teaching and I'm beginning to really get into the groove of things. There are still some grammar teaching issues that I have and hopefully I can continue to improve my "methodology". I have a meeting with my boss this week to discuss it.

I can't believe that yesterday the 8th was my 5th anniversary. We went to dinner and movie. It was nice. 5 years . . . WOW!!! Man a lot has changed in those 5 years. I hope that the next year brings us some good luck and stability!! I hope all is well with all of you and I hope you all had a great Halloween!!

Aiden turns 2!!! AAAHHHH!!!!!

I can't believe that October is halfway over. I started the last blog entry 3 or 4 weeks ago and just published today. Life has been hecktic!!!

For Aiden's birthday we went to Burger King, had ice cream and played on the toys. He loves it! Whenever we drive by there, he wants to go in. The frustrating thing about it is that the place where we grocery shop is in the same area. The following Sunday we invited several people to the beach for a little "party". We made ceviche and chicken salad. Only one person came. We were very frustrated!!! And to top that off, we had been there about 45 minutes and it started to pour!! It really wasn't a great birthday for Ben and I. Thank heavens, Aiden will have no recollection.

Since then, work has gotten a little better for Ben. He's gotten on the list more and usually shoves his way into the gates to work. My work is fine. Today was my last day with my Nissan Boys and it was very sad. I've had them for 3 levels and become quite attached!!! Hopefully, I can pick up another Nissan class in the next 2 weeks. The pay for that is AWESOME, even for the US!!

Crazy as it seems, I'm trying to start a dessert business. I am going to do a trial run next week. I'm going to sell cheese cake, cookies, chocolate cake and banana bread. I'm really hoping that this works out. The only downside is that my shy husband is going to be the one that has to sell. He's going to the Custom Agencies and during breakfast/break time going to sell pieces of everything and hand out flyers. He is TERRIFIED!! I think it will be good for him. I'm hoping that he'll make more money in an hour than an entire day of working. We'll see. Please pray and keep your fingers crossed that this will work out!!

I had to renew my FM3 Visa last month. As always, it was a nightmare. I got fined $525 pesos because I didn't report my move within 30 days. On top of that was the renewal fee of $2,000 pesos which my work paid for. I can't express my thankfulness for that. I didn't have the money for that one!!! I would have been an "illegal alien" in Mexico. How ironic is that? But it's all fixed and we're back in the groove.

Here in Mexico they offer free health insurance to people that work. It totally SUCKS, but it's free. When you go there, it is complete chaos and people wait for hours!!! I went and had a complete female check-up and it took a month for the results. I went to go get them yesterday and I had to schedule another appointment to have the doctor go over the results with me. That's really going to help . . . you know me and Espanol. Not happening!!! But you do whatcha gotta do!!!

We had some problems with our car and went in and got it fixed . . . or at least that which they had the parts for. That set us back $150 and we still have to pay for the parts when they come. If it's not one thing it's another.

Mexico is getting very scary these days. Maybe it's always been this way and I've been oblivious. Manzanillo has been the safest city in Mexico forever, but that is changing!! I'm ready to make the move out of here. When I finish my semester of teaching in May, we are leaving. I don't know if it will be to the States or Canada, but we're through with Mexico. The optimism is quickly deteriorating and Ben is so stressed out that he can hardly function.

HOWEVER, he is working on his schooling and placed in the 90% area!! I am so proud of him. That really helped motivate him for the next part of the course. He's spending every free amount of time he has studying. Frankly though, it's about time.

I can't believe that when I leave here in May, I will have been here 2 years and a month. WOW!!! It's seems like forever and just like yesterday when I got here. Time flies yet goes so slow.

I hope you're all doing well!! We are here. I'm trying to get my optimism back up for this bakery business.