On Wednesday, we had a Leadership training meeting that lasted most of the day.  The boys came with us to see all the missionaries and ended up staying for the meeting and lunch.  Then they got a ride home with the De la Rosas because we had a baptism to go to also. 

 On Thursday we traveled to Teotitlan because Dad had an interview and we were able to get some sugar cane that fell out of this truck... it's a beautiful drive.

 Then we went to the Parian to look around the shops and to Las Ranas for dinner.  On Friday we spent the day with the Lopez family in Atlixco.  It was such a fun day! 

The boys got to meet two of our elders, Elder Shipley and Elder Foster and 

the Lopez family... President and Sister Lopez, Rebecca and Abram

We played ping pong...

  and visited with all their animals...

One of the brothers of President Lopez owns a hawk that is blind.  He lives at his house

 and just sits on their patio.  President Lopez brought him over so we could hold him...

That's Bradley underneath the hawk's wing...

  

Afterwards, we went into Atlixco to look at all the flower gardens.  

Atlixco is famous for it's flower gardens and at this time of year there were a 

lot of people crowding the streets in and around the gardens.  

After visiting the flower garden and buying a hammock for Bradley, we went to a 

Trout Farm, where they raise trout and have a restaurant...  These lanes are FULL of fish!

Of course, the boys had to find something that was a little more fun than looking at fish...

During the warmer months, there is a zip line and other activities for the kids...

 Of course, we had to eat at the restaurant.  And yes, we had the fish.  

It was good, but it was prepared a little differently than what I'm used to.  

Head, eyes, fins, the whole thing!  But it was good and fresh!

the boys are here!

Finally!  the boys got here today in Mexico City.  We are so excited to have them here and for Darren and Lindsay to come next week.  We drove into Mexico City after our New Missionary Training meeting with our newest missionaries...

Elder Lopez and Lovato doing the training with Hermana Arce and Hermana Arcos,

 Elder Kubosumi and Elder Lopez, Hermana Jimenez and Hermana Alvarez, 

and Hermana Garcia and Hermana Baltazar.  (trainers and new missionaries)

 

 The boys coming through customs and greeting us.

We haven't seen Ben and Brian since last Christmas, but we haven't seen 

Bradley since Lindsay's wedding which was a little over a year and a half ago.  

It was great to see them come through those doors!

 After we picked them up we went to see the Mexico City Temple and to do some shopping.

Christmas Activity!

As usual, we started out December with our ZLC on Friday. This is always such a great meeting and we love having the opportunity to see all the leaders of the mission.We have a few new faces this month...

 This year for Christmas we decided to have an activity with the missionaries in the southern zones at the home of the Lopez family in Atlixco and with the northern zones at the Mission home.  I had been making scarves for the missionaries most of the year and we gave those to them as a Christmas present from us at our activity.

 

all wrapped and ready to go!

 arriving at the Lopez home

welcome from the President

games, games and more games...

 

 No Christmas activity in Mexico is complete without a Piñata...

 

 

 After the games, we went back to the Lopez home to sing Christmas songs,

 

 eat food...

watch a Christmas video...

and hand out Christmas presents...

Two days later the missionaries in the north zones gathered at the Mission Home and did all the same things...

 

 

 

 

 

no, our backyard is not this big... we went to a park just around the corner from our house

 

 

 We love our missionaries and were grateful for the opportunity to gather with them at this Christmas time of year.  We are grateful for their good spirits and their hard work as they bring the message of the divinity of Jesus Christ and the knowledge of the restored gospel to the people of Mexico. 

Merry Christmas!