Day 3-December 22

    We're off to buy a Christmas tree.  In the newspaper we found a list of where to get Christmas decorations, and it says the Plaza Civica, near the Artisan Market.  Both are places we want to check out.

Cozy in the taxi...no one is really sleeping.

 After we find a taxi (We take lots of taxis.  It's 30pesos to get anywhere in town...less than $3.) we arrive at the Plaza.  There is a little train ride, similar to the one at the City Market.  Porter is so excited he leaves the rest of us in the dust and hops the wall to the conductor. The train costs less than a dollar.  Can't beat that.

Side note-We are all feeling very safe here.  We talked to Tony the house manager and he  told us there is really no need to worry.  The city relies on tourism, so they treat the tourists very well.  He has been right.

  More little vendors...the boys each get a cross bow with suction cup darts, for less than $12.  (Walker's favorite part of the day.)  We buy some candy, a super cool platter and a little silver nativity.

  Now the Christmas trees are about 4 ft. tall.  That just doesn't seem manageable in a taxi with the 6 of us.  So we settle on the baby one and 2 poinsettias.

Standing on our front porch with our Christmas finds.

   Next comes lunch near the Jardin, at Mama Mia's another recommendation.  They boys eat pizza, Dex and I share some steak and guac dish and we catch a glimpse of the chiefs game at the bar.  A taxi ride to the grocery store and back and we are home for another round of Dungeons and Dragons.

I was SO EXCITED to see this machine,at the grocery store,  but it was out of order!!!

   Tonight Mason made our traditional Christmas fudge.  Thank goodness I found a kit at Target before we left.  Very limited options for cookies for Santa so we ended up with Chocolate chip slice and bake cookies, iced in green and red.  It'll work this year.

  We finished the night off with movie night, Despicable Me 2.  Lots of laughs.

   My foot is really aching.  It's pretty swollen and black and blue.  Definitely feels better after I iced it again tonight.  Walking is ok if I wear my tennis shoes.  Praying it continues to improve.  We have a name of a doctor here, if we decide it's necessary.


  Tomorrow we are off to the Hot Springs, and Rosario the house housekeeper is going to cook Chile Rellenos for us.  Sounds great to me.