one year.

It was one year ago that we first came to Guadalajara and decided to make the biggest move of our lives. 

It has been quite a year for us. I feel like we've learned a lot. All the changes have been one of the most difficult I have yet to experience. Medical school is hard. Really hard. If someone could have provided a glimpse of our lives right now, I would have said NO WAY. We aren't doing it. But perhaps I will look back in 10 years and think, that was awesome. And to be honest, to be a medical student in Mexico, is kind of awesome. So many things here that I love. SO many things I am grateful for. So many things I will miss when I leave someday. 

Hard to think...but it's true.

J works hard. He always has. 

But I've never seen him work this hard. 

Cheers to being done with our first year!

We took a picture at a restaurant called, "La Bodeguita del Medio" when we came last November. We recently went there again. Funny to look back.

Good:I am going home for the holidays. I look forward to seeing everybody that I love. I love this time of year. It makes me happy. We survived the first year...phew!

Bad: My car has been broken for over two weeks. It's been a nightmare. We drive J's truck...3 seater truck, with all 5 of us. Not cool. My washing machine broke. I'm supposed to pack in three days and I have an enormous amount of laundry that can't be done. I want to scratch my eyes out.

XO

comida.

I love food. 

I love trying new restaurants. 

And I love going back and reliving the experience. 

I love how food brings people together.

My experience with new restaurants in Guadalajara thus far has been an amazing one. The food here is amazing. Anywhere from street tacos to a fancy restaurant. I seldom walk away disappointed. Ok, perhaps a little disappointed at the amount of calories I just consumed. But truly, how do I resist??

november.

this is the month of thanksgiving... 

thank you for being a great roommate.
thank you for loving my babies as much as your own.
thank you for your constant generosity.
thank you for introducing me to new music.
thank you for always keeping a secret...the vault.
thank you for trusting me with yours...I'm also the vault.
thank you for flying me home when I was desperately wishing to be there.
thank you for being there when I came home from the hospital that day and listening to me...and crying...with me.
thank you for always saying the right thing at the right time.
thank you for making me feel beautiful, inside and out.
thank you for knowing exactly what is on my mind...because we are in kahootz.
thank you for having the same sense of humor as me.
thank you for teaching me how to make bread.
thank you for letting me come listen to you give your sunday school lesson.
thank you for bringing me dinner when i came home from the hospital.
thank you for letting me complain about the same thing over and over.
thank you for knowing when i'm upset, just because you know me. 
thank you always getting me the best smelling candles.
thank you for asking me my opinion.
thank you for being the one person who genuinely helped me get through the first semester in mexico.
thank you for calling me to tell me random things about your day.
thank you for being a great mom. you're a good example.
thank you for getting frozen yogurt with me.
thank you for making sure I have a good birthday.
thank you for being the reason I have been on some amazing vacations.
thank you for staying up late with me to make bows for our girls.
thank you for always having a good plan.
thank you for being honest with me.
thank you for sending a suit case full of american items for me.
thank you for giving me my job back...even if it was just for a month.
thank you for all the dance parties in the olds (aka...boat) or the suzuki (aka...the humper)
thank you for always having the best treats in your pantry.
thank you for letting me eat them :)
thank you for watching my kids.
thank you for laughing with me at the Nacho one-liners.
thank you for girls' night when our husbands were gone.
thank you for being the first and last person I see when coming and leaving to Mexico.
thank you for being constant...never changing who you are.



thank you friend.

you know who you are...

xo

ava grace.

Today I celebrate the day my oldest child came into my life. Many thoughts and emotions flood my mind as I think of her. I don't really even know where to begin...
Ava Grace,
1. You had the most amazing hair when you were born. It was the first thing we noticed about you. I was able to put pig tails in your hair before you turned 1. You still have the most amazing hair. 
2. You are so smart. Too smart sometimes. I used to read to you every.single.day when you were a baby. You still love to be read to. But you are learning and enjoying reading on your own. You are learning Spanish. By the time we leave Mexico, I am certain you will know more than me. When you don't understand something right away, you get extremely angry. This is because typically, things come so easily to you. We are the same in this. I used to get very angry too when I couldn't understand.
3. You love to sing and dance. You love to have dance parties, which is why you are my child. We have dance parties together. 
4. You love to watch tv. Mostly, movies. It's a problem. But you love it.
5. You are contagious. People love to be around you. In the short time we've lived in Mexico, we've been invited to so many birthday parties because you always get invited. You are happy and loud. Very loud. You are the life of the party.
6. You are a perfectionist. You work hard at making sure things look perfect. This is why you close your door before you leave for school. You don't want Lola getting in your room and making it a mess. You get upset if your hair is falling out. Things must be symmetrical for you. Everything....even-steven.
7.  You are the pickiest eater. If I let you, you would survive on bread and fruit. That's all. Actually, you'd eat icecream too. It drives me crazy.
8. You need to be recognized. You perform very well when you feel like you are impressing someone. It's important for you to receive positive feedback. 
9. I have high expectations of you. Probably set too high. But I always know you can do what I ask. I used to think I wanted my oldest child to be a boy, but it has been simply perfection having my oldest be a girl, to be YOU.
10. You are beautiful. I know you are mine so I am biased. But no, you are so beautiful. 

I cannot believe another year has gone by that I've had the privilege of being your mother. I love remembering but I love looking forward. 

So very glad you were born. So very glad we get to celebrate your birthday. 

Muchisimo amor Ava.

mexican independence day!

This past weekend we had the fortunate experience of driving to Puerto Vallarta with some friends. Lucas, a friend and fellow med student, is from there and his parents still reside there. They invited us to stay with them for a long weekend. (I had a make sure they knew we had 3 kids with us...yikes)It was a great time. The drive was beautiful. The roads were very windy... narrow, windy, dizzy roads. But beautiful. Very green. Trees everywhere. It felt like we were driving in a jungle.

The house was perfect. And Lucas' parents were wonderful. They fed us dinner. They were loving and patient with the kids. They had a swimming pool. The weather was very hot and humid, but thankfully it rained while we were there and it cooled things off.

And the best part...the beach. I have decided that if I am ever to go to the beach, and it is my choice, I will always choose beaches in Mexico. You don't have to bring anything! Or do anything for that matter. There is always something there to buy, always cheap. 
So here's what we did...we got up, only brought towels, camera, money, and a few other things, and headed to the beach.
When we got there, we set ourselves up in front of a restaurant that was recommended by Lucas. They provide chairs (that recline), umbrellas, tables, and a waiter that will be there for you the entire time. He brought us coca lite, chips and guacamole, salsa, nachos, pina coladas with strawberries, coronas (hahaha) anything you want. We spent the day there and our bill was around $10. 
The kids really had a blast. The water was perfect. The first day it rained, but it didn't prevent us from enjoying the day. We stayed and swam, in the rain. A unique experience that we all loved. The second day was sunny and we left with "tourist marks." 

Thank you to Lucas and his family for a wonderful weekend. 

Viva Mexico.

Bad: The rainy season is over I think. I am so very sad about it. I have completely loved having the rain. It makes me happy. It's different. It makes everything green and pretty. Also...I am officially injured. I cannot run. I realize how much I enjoy running and I am sad. And I am going to get fat now. 

Good: Both of my cousins are getting married...in December! It's going to be a party!!! 

Loving: "The best thing about the future is that it only comes ONE DAY AT A TIME." -Abraham Lincoln

race.

I knew there was going to be a race in Guadalajara. I thought I might do it. I changed my mind. I wasn't going to be ready and thought...there will be another race. I did my usual thing at the gym this week. But the signs all over the city were haunting me. It didn't matter. I still wasn't going to run. Saturday came. Late in the afternoon I get a message from J. The conversation went like this:

Jaren Kottraba: think i might do race, do you want to?

 Vanessa Kottraba: maybe!
 Jaren Kottraba: you want to go to expo
 Vanessa Kottraba:  when and where is expo?
 Vanessa Kottraba: right now? with kids? alone? no way
 Jaren Kottraba: until 5 tonight
Vanessa Kottraba: why do we do this?!
Jaren Kottraba: with me and kids
 Jaren Kottraba: do what
Vanessa Kottraba: the race?! craziness
 Vanessa Kottraba: no?
 Vanessa Kottraba: i ran eight today. think that's bad?
 Jaren Kottraba: you tell me if you want i will come home and go with you
Vanessa Kottraba: i don't know. do you think thats crazy for me? since i ran a lot today?
 Vanessa Kottraba: it felt great.
Jaren Kottraba: no you always run
Jaren Kottraba: if you want you would be fine
 Jaren Kottraba: it was so fun
 Vanessa Kottraba: but not 13. i am scared. will you run with me? or you wanna smoke me this time?
Jaren Kottraba: whaterver you want
 Vanessa Kottraba: ohhhhhhhhhhhh...i don't know!!!!!!!!!
Jaren Kottraba: are kids asleep
 Jaren Kottraba: i will come home and we can go down there, i am going to do it so when we get there if you want to then do it
Vanessa Kottraba: just noah...still
Vanessa Kottraba: do i have to be tehre to sign up? i haven't showered yet
 Vanessa Kottraba: *there
Jaren Kottraba: no
 Vanessa Kottraba: i will want to sign up. i was sad driving home when i saw all the signs. think i could beat my time?
 Jaren Kottraba: ya im sure you could, a little ibprofen and some of my drink
Vanessa Kottraba: psh. i know..i have a lot of work to do
Vanessa Kottraba: ok well you're coming home then right? where is the expo?
 Jaren Kottraba: its up to you do you have time
Vanessa Kottraba: where????
 Jaren Kottraba: i think by colomos
Vanessa Kottraba: oh...then ya..i think i can swing it...just shower when i get home i guess
 Jaren Kottraba: why not right now, it will take me 30 to get home
 Jaren Kottraba: we just have to be there before 5
Vanessa Kottraba: k see you soon ((sweat))

We did it. No. I did NOT beat my time. But who cares. We did it..and we did it together. It's kinda like life..right?! It's crazy. Sometimes things come at you that you just don't plan. But you get through it. And if you have someone to do it with, then it's just better. And things may not end up how you want or plan, but you end up ok in the end, right?!

Now I know...never run the week of a race. At least don't run 20 miles the week of your race. So stupid. This means I ran 33 miles this week. Stupid. I will be better prepared next time.

Mark my words.

la baranca.

It is rainy season in Guadalajara.

It is wonderful. Everything is GREEN. The weather is amazing.

We took advantage...

We went on a hike at a place called "La Baranca." J has done it a few times before. This was my first...won't be my last.

It was beautiful.

Even better when we can enjoy with friends...

Thanks Brittany & Lucas!

afternoon at the park.

Bad: I have had a series of "health" issues upon my return to Mexico. Not been fun for me at all.

Noah broke our tv this weekend. I was caught somewhere between wanting to strangle him or going underneath the covers and screaming into my pillow. Like a fool, I stood in the longest line at Best Buy on black friday, 3am, to get the dumb tv, and not even a year later, it's broken.

Good: I discovered, yet another new taco place. These tacos are the bomb. And this new place sells fruit water. So very tasty.

Very good:

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

-Maria Robinson

(Thanks. I will rock today.)

XO

wild wild west.

There's so many things wrong with this picture. But I post anyway...

so long...

sweet summer.

Some highlights of summer '11:
-staying in Mazatlan 
-trip to the lake for my bday (love you Sparks!)
-True Foods for my bday with mom and sister
-road trip to Utah with sister and family 
-spending time with my Grandpa and other family members who I haven't seen in YEARS
-spending almost everyday swimming
-going to Lifetime...enjoying friends & classes
-running Usary..the back side (hardest run of my life!!!)
-Pita Jungle
-watching Dateline
-Frozen yogurt
-Spinatos
-friends
-cousins
-cabin

Bad: Summer is over! Driving back to Mexico was brutal. It took us way longer because we packed so much stuff to bring back. I did a terrible job of packing good food to eat during the drive so I ate like crap the whole way. Our stuff got rained on. I came home to mess, bugs, dirt, laundry, you know...all that fun stuff. I gained weight while I was home and I am so gross. I hate that I get homesick. SO LAME!
Good: We made it home safe and sound. It's always stressful to drive here. We brought home tons of food from AZ that will be so good to have since most of it I can't get in Mexico. And it will save us tremendously on our monthly food bill.  The kids start school this week! We had tacos and crepes tonight. I forgot how fun it is to drive here. It's like Mario Kart. I had a wonderful summer and I'm lucky to have been able to be home for so long and enjoy all the things I did. 

XO