Feliz Navidad!!!

Wow! It really has been a year since we've posted and what a year it has been! Our apologies to everyone who has been waiting for more pictures and news from New Hampshire... And, as Trini's only Christmas wish was that I update the blog...

So for my dearest Trini and the rest of our family and friends,

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

MEXICO

We started 2007 with a trip to Mexico to visit the extended Tellez family and it was all fantastico!
Trini's family was so welcoming and generous to us all and provided us with a place to stay and some of the best food we had ever eaten. Below Trini's Aunt (also named Trini), Abel (Trini's cousin), Cristina and Abel's wife gathered around and share stories in Tulancingo.

Abel keeps sheep on his property and Paloma was infatuated with them...from a distance, by the end of the second day there she petted the sheep and was so proud of herself!Back in Mexico City, we stayed with Trini's Aunt Trini and her family and enjoyed catching up on each other's lives as Travis improved his Español poco a poco.

We celebrated Trini's birthday with sopes and nopales, both traditional Mexican dishes, and the taste was beyond comparison.
We also visited Trini's Tio Jose and family, also in Mexico City,...and guess what...more great food!


To get away from the big city for a few days we headed to Veracruz , a gulf coast port city where many Mexicans vacation. Unfortunately the days we were on the beach were marked by tropical storms, but we still enjoyed our stay at the famous Hotel Mocombo.
Above, Paloma is enjoying some bread with her breakfast while Trini, Travis and Cristina sample some of the best cafe con leche you can find!Before heading home we went to Frida Kahlo's house in Mexico City with Trini's cousin, Cesar.

For more pictures of our trip to Mexico follow this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tntdreams/tags/mexico/

5 YEARS!

We celebrated our 5 year anniversary with a weekend away on the seacoast in a very unique bed and breakfast. We can hardly believe that we've been together for 5 years...time flies when you are having fun...and chasing around a little one!!!

FLORIDA

Memorial Day week we enjoyed a mini family-reunion-of-sorts that Paloma is still talking about -- and we had so much fun that we are doing it again this year! Uncle Steve and Aunt Joy, who live in Palm Springs Florida just south of St. Augustine, kindly hosted the shindig. Everyone there left a lasting impression on Paloma. She knows her Nana-de-Papi (Travis' Nana), Uncle Steve and Aunt Joy (partly because Steve and Paloma share a love of ice cream!), Uncle John and Aunt Cori (whom she called Aunt Tori until recently) -- and she adores her cousins Frankie, Audrey and Ethan. And she loved spending time with her Nana, Abuelo (Travis' Dad), Abui (Abuelita Cristina) and her Mami and Papi in the Florida sun and water!

Paloma excitedly playing with Ethan, Audrey, and Frankie... She now knows they all live in Ohio and asks to go there on a regular basis for a play date, but also asks when we can go to Florida to do it all again!

And, of course, there was the beach and the pools...
and quality time with Nana and Frankie.

For more pictures from our trip to Florida follow this link:
http//www.flickr.com/photos/tntdreams/tags/florida/

CALIFORNIA

We took advantage of a continuing medical education trip for Trini and had a family vacation in northern California. While Trini toiled away in lectures, Paloma and Travis explored San Francisco. When the conference was done we visited friends and family...
We all enjoyed visiting Aunt Judy, Tia Celinda, and Mamaaa Cecilia...it was such a treat to see how Paloma lit up their faces and made us all laugh and have a good time chatting.
We also caught up with friends, Jenny...

YooJin, Liz and her 2 little ones, Peter and his 2 little ones...Amin and his little one, and Danny and his little one...Fortunately for everyone, the children got along swimmingly at a party at Liz's house and at a children's museum outside of San Francisco.
Paloma and Travis explored much, ate well and enjoyed the bay area to the fullest!


We all even managed to hit the beach in Pacific Grove (in Monterey County)...

For more pictures from our trip to California follow this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tntdreams/tags/california/

NEW HAMPSHIRE... HOME, SWEET HOME

Paloma and Travis toiled away at the homestead and Paloma learned about gardening by getting her hands dirty...she even understands the value of compost (this makes Travis very proud!
Paloma loved the summer heat and cooling off in Abui's pool with neighbor/friend Amelia...

And of course she loved that we celebrate 3 birthdays in the summer...

Paloma's

Abui's...

And Travis' (celebrated by going to the beach)

Additionally, there are bigger parties like the Latino Fest held annually in Manchester. Paloma was in the parade this year!

For more of our adventures back home follow the link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tntdreams/tags/summer/

WASHINGTON, DC

The annual meeting of the Jedi council coincided with the marriage of Travis' cousin, Mary and John -- so Paloma let us tag along on her trip to DC. Lucas, Isaac and Julie plotted against the dark side of the force while their parents relaxed a bit before the wedding.

After hanging out with the Jungs and Bakers, we headed north to Baltimore for the wedding and another family-reunion-of-sorts...although we were missing Frankie, Aaron, and Libby -- only weeks away from delivering baby Joey (born 10-1-07). During the weekend festivities Paloma could have been mistaken for Audrey's shadow! She also grew re-attached to cousin Lala (Laura Hatcher, whom we visited with last year in Ohio) -- and often asks now "when is Lala coming?" Here she is pictured with cousins Ellie, Ethan and Audrey sitting by Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
We all got dressed up and enjoyed the company, ceremony, food and weather...and we are looking forward to doing it all again in January 2008 at Annie's wedding in St. Louis.



It was hard to say goodbye to Abuelo and Nana...it's a good thing that we got a booster shot of the grandparents when Abuelo came to NH for a performance at the Green Martini in Concord during the fall, and Nana and Abuelo both came out for Thanksgiving.

More photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tntdreams/tags/summer/

FALLIn addition to the garden at our house we cultivated a plot at Abui's house...our yield could have been better, but we had fun and learned a lot about gardening along the way, and we are already making plans for next year!

The sunflowers turned out great!In New Hampshire, everyone either goes apple picking in the fall or heads to their favorite local grower...we intended to pick our own, but the day got long and we were content munching on apple samples at the stand, choosing apples from a bin, walking around the pumpkin patch, watching the ducks, and meeting and petting some goats! As much as Paloma enjoys the work outside, she relishes her time in the kitchen. She helps Abui with cooking as often as she can and loves to make pancakes with Trini on the weekends. She is developing quite a taste for scrumptious foods!

Speaking of taste, Paloma quickly understood what Halloween is all about...getting candy!!! She dressed up as a monkey (she loves Curious George) and loved asking for treats and then eating them...she hasn't quite figured out how to share her sweets...perhaps next year?!?

Trini's med school class reunion was occasion to see Jehanna, Joe and Julie at Martha and Roger's house in Hanover where Travis caught these 2 beautiful shots!



We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Bannisters, from up the street, and had some good home cookin'! As you can see below, Paloma had a great time.


Several weeks later, we drove to a local cut-your-own tree farm, and found 2 trees we liked -- one for our house, and one for Abui's. Below, we are showing off our snowman and our tree. Paloma loved the snowman so much she wanted to eat him; we did what we could to stop her from taking bites!

So long for now! Have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year! See you in 2008.

With peace and love,
Trini, Travis and Paloma