Sunday, April 14, 2013

Mexico, Virginia, Birthday, Baby Animals!

 Two sweeties dressed up in cute outfits.
 After the ear doctor's visit at Cache Valley Hospital.  Treats are always appreciated.  They always get a good kid ticket to turn in for a treat at the pharmacy.
 Two of the 3 Spencer Parkinsons in the family - relaxing in dad's room.
 I was in Mexico a week on business.  On Sundays they now block off the main avenues - this being a look up Avenida de la Reforma - so cyclists, joggers, walkers, skaters, etc. can enjoy the Mexico City streets.  I'm shooting this from the glorieta (round-about) of the Independence Angel.
 Side view of the angel round-about.  Note that when I was in Buenos Aires last fall (their spring) the jacaranda trees were in bloom.  Now in north america's spring, the Mexican jacarandas are in bloom.
 Standing with a colleague near the entrance of El Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City's major "central park."
 Not sure why this photo rotated when I imported it.  Oh well.  At a rest stop between Toluca and Guadalajara we stopped and, among other things, got some authentic Mexican hot chocolate.  It's always laced with cinnamon and is wonderful.  Note the talavera (or something similar) cup and saucer.
 Yes, they really do have a biotechnology sector in Mexico.  This company near Guadalajara, part of a larger tech group, develops and manufactures human therapeutics such as this human recombinant erythropoietin (a biosimilar - i.e., a biological generic more or less).
 Guadalajara has a thriving arts and crafts industry.  This glass blowing factory makes amazing pieces of glass artwork.
 Time for a rest in Guadalajara.
 With our new Mexican colleague at the glass factory after a business call near the city.
 One of the upscale artsy walking streets in Guadalajara.  That's my friend from work, Tariq Haq, with the backpack on.
 Rosario Roose, our LatAm sales rep, and I in the door of a crafts store.
Also in March, grandma Joyce hosted a table etiquette/manners "tea" party for the primary girls' activity day event.
They all wore hats to add to the festivity.
Hot wassail and chocolate angel food cake dessert.
A shot of Avril's pretty hair.  She likes to imagine herself as the princess Rapunzel.

The pensive princess.
Once in a while we let the girls on the decorative rocking horse.
Sometimes McKel lets Avril "read" to her.
It's tough being 2!  Sometimes you just get exhausted.
Gayle displayed some of her vintage hat collection at the Relief Society birthday party celebration.
Nana and Avril in their Sunday best.
And in another pose.
An activity day graduation party from Primary to YW for Mallorie Kimball.
We had a pizza party to celebrate grandma Joyce's birthday.  Here are Jared and I.
Gayle and I, with Avril over at the kids' table.
The three islanders (we all live on the island in Logan).
JJ and Ali.
Ali helping her two girls at the little table.
Mom and me.
Adrian, Arleen, and Brit.
Tracine and mom.

The girls love to bike, tricycle, and scooter around the driveway, and started as soon as the temperature allowed.

Jared recently did some work on "Rocky."
This and the following photos are from the annual Baby Animal Days held at the American West Heritage Farm in Cache Valley.  We spent a special day just with our three granddaughters.  The photos are not in chronological order but just show some of what we did.  Above shows some of us just after exiting a teepee, with the mountain man who explained about it.

Avril requested blue cotton candy.  It was windy and we had to protect it from blowing away.  McKel never figured it out and wouldn't eat it.
But Avril never turns down a treat.
Cotton candy wasn't sufficient, so next we had kettle corn.  Unfortunately, that meant we had to wait while they cooked it because they couldn't keep up with the line!
And the main attraction was petting baby animals.  Here's a cute chick holding a baby chick.
Brit helped Avril get the courage to pet a baby duckling here.
They're really soft!
McKel gazes into the horse corral.
The lambs were gentle.
McKel also got to touch a lamb.
Peek-a-boo, where are you?  Taking cover from a very active two year old. 
Two cute girls again.
Even bunnies can be a bit scary.  Avril being cautious.  You can't trust animals, you know.
Nothing beats a corn dog when you're starved.
Dad got a nice haircut at the Legacy House salon recently.
On April 13th we had an early birthday celebration for Adrian, Arleen, and Jared.  We enjoyed dining at the Chuck-a-Rama.  Brit and Jared got to sit next to each other and chat.
Smiles from Alicia and Gayle.
The three who share a birthday in our immediate family.  Patricia's triplets also were born on April 16th.
We're always glad when grandma Joyce can join us!
And we conclude this posting with a dear girl on top of a deer.  Kids cannot help but play on the Parkinson deer.