The Book of Life

With Halloween just ending and November starting, I wanted to write about my favorite movie – The Book of Life.  The Book of Life is based off of the holiday Dia de los Muertos.  In English – Day of the Dead.  As previously written, my family moved to Mexico in July of 2011, and home February 2013.  I have grown to love the Mexican culture.  I love everything about Mexico.  Devin could attest to that.  I love the food, the people, the country – everything! With that being said, I love this holiday.  It is by far my favorite “Mexican” holiday.  

Dia de los Muertos is celebrated vastly throughout Mexico.  Many other countries around the world celebrate their own versions of Day of the Dead by having special days designated to honoring the dead.  I would have to say that Dia de los Muertos is one of the most important holiday’s in the Mexican culture.  Familia means everything to them, making this a very important holiday to remember their ancestry.  

Dia de los Muertos official day is November 2^nd, however many people begin their celebration on October 31st.  This beautiful holiday corresponds with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, which are Catholic holidays.  The reason that they celebrate it on both November 1st and November 2nd is because traditionally they would celebrate children and infants who have passed on the 1st, and adults on the 2nd.  A lot of people will make altars for their loved ones and decorate it with candles (symbolizing life) and make sugar candies to trade and give away. 

ANYWAYS! – now that I have provided a minor history lesson, back to the movie! THE BOOK OF LIFE.  It’s adorable.  The story starts out with La Muerte, who rules the Land of the Remembered, and Xibalba.  He rules the Land of the Forgotten. Xibalba is sick and tired of being the ruler of the people who are forgotten.  He wants to rule the Land of the Remembered.  On the Day of the Dead, Xibalba and La Muerte make a wager to see who will marry Maria – Manolo or Joaquin.  La Muerte puts her money on Manolo, while Xibalba bets on Joaquin.  However, Xibalba cheats and gives Joaquin a medal that will make him invincible.  The Medal of Everlasting Life. 

Manolo is a Sanchez.  His family history is bull fighting.  His father, Carlos, believes that he can be the best bull fighter in the entire Sanchez family.  However, Manolo wants to sing and play his guitar.  Joaquin’s father is the town’s biggest hero.  He has big shoes to fill.

Maria is General Ramiro Posada’s daughter.  She believes in all things right.  When Maria, Manolo y Joaquin were little, she set a herd of pigs free who were about to become bacon.  As a result of this, her father sends her to Spain to become more lady-like.  At her departure, Manolo gives her a gift – Chuy, the baby pig she rescued.  (pronounced chewy) In return, Maria gives Manolo a new guitar, engraved with the phrase, “Always play from the heart”. 

While Manolo is being trained to be a bull fighter (much to his dismay), his father has planned his first public bull fight.  As luck would have it, Maria returned that same day.  Manolo defeats the bull, but does not believe in killing it.  This angers his father, but pleases Maria.   That very same night, Maria’s father is pressuring her to marry Joaquin so that he will remain in the city and keep them safe from Chakal.  Manolo also proposes, but is bitten by a two headed snake that Xibalba sent after him. 

When Manolo goes to the Land of the Remembered, he is greeted by the entire Sanchez family! All bull fighters – along with his mother, Carmen.  Meanwhile, Maria has accepted Joaquin’s proposal after learning about Manolo’s death. 

Manolo and his family travel to La Muerte’s castle, only to find Xibalba.  Manolo and members of his family travel to the Cave of Souls in order to reach La Muerte, who is now in the Land of the Forgetten.  After battling battles that no person has ever won before,  Manolo reaches the Candle Maker.  Candle Maker takes him to La Muerte after seeing that Manolo’s pages in the Book of Life is blank and can be written by Manolo. Here he explains to her that Xibalba cheated.  Since he cheated, she insists that they send him back up to the real world.  Manolo makes a wager with Xibalba.  If Manolo can defeat a giant bull skeleton, (made up of bones from every bull the Sanchez family has killed) he can return to Maria. 

Just before Maria was set to marry Joaquin, Chakal enters the city with this army.  He is on a quest to find the Medal of Everlasting Life.  Since Manolo won the wager, Candle Maker, La Muerte y Xibalba send Manolo to life, along with the Sanchez family to help defeat Chakal. 

The story ends with Maria and Manolo getting married.  Candle Maker also encourages the audience to “write your own story.”

I LOVE THIS MOVIE!! Seriously – everyone needs to see this.  Even if you don’t believe in Dia de los Muertos, this is a must see— By far my most favorite movie in the entire world.  I would absolutely recommend it to anyone. 

***to see the trailer of this movie, click here!

La Muerte

La Muerte y Xibalba

Sanchez Family

October 2016

So the beginning of October, we took our annual Jackson trip with Devs family.  October 8^th (Friday) I didn’t go to work.  I stayed home to clean the house a little bit and finish packing.  We left at about 12 o’clock.  We drove out to Star Valley  -- we had tickets to go through the open house for the new Star Valley Temple.  It. Was. Beautiful.  Santa vaca! I couldn’t even believe how pretty it was on the inside.  The pictures, the chandeliers (made to look like wagon wheels) the sealing room, everything was gorgeous!! I couldn’t even believe it. 

After we left Star Valley we finished the trip to Jackson.  We got there just in time to go for our first ride to look for animals.  That night we saw a bull moose and a cow moose on the Moose-Wilson road.  Then we saw 2 more cows and a bull along the Gros Ventre River.  They are such beautiful animals.  – this trip I felt like I didn’t get as many pictures as I wanted because we were driving to different places.  We went to our hotel and checked in for the night.

Saturday we got up bright and early and made it to the Gros Ventre campground before the sun came up.  There were a bunch of moose! We drove around all day. So there really isn’t a whole lot to write about.  It was just like every other trip.  The difference this time though, was we saw quite a bit more elk.  Normally we see cow elk, but not a lot of bull elk.  Saturday we saw 3! They are just as pretty as moose in my opinion.  Total Saturday we saw: 3 bull moose. 6 cow moose. 3 bull elk. Multiple cow elk.  One of the bull elk that we saw was inside the Teton National Park loop.  You could tell he was a little bit beat up and that he was on the move fast.  He had a patch of skin that was pulled off.  But he was big!

Sunday we did a quick animal run.  We saw 2 bull moose, 2 cow moose, and 2 bull elk.  Sundays are hard.  We’re always soo excited to go to Jackson and then before you know it we’re back home getting ready to go to work again.  It was still really enjoyable and I’m glad that we were able to spend that time with Devin’s Family. 

D and I celebrated 3 years on the 18th!! WOW!! I can't believe I have been with him for this long.  I just absolutely love and adore him to pieces.  He took me to Chili's for dinner - he enjoyed their skillet mashed potatoes, steak and broccoli.  I had their Caribbean salad.  Both were delish.  After we enjoyed the Salted Carmel Lava Cake.  OH. MY GOSH.  If you want to taste a piece of heaven, I suggest going to Chilies RIGHT NOW and ordering that.  It is divine.  After he took me home were we watched our Tuesday night shows.  NCIS and Bull.  What a lovely day!

The rest of our October has been pretty normal.  We took family pictures with my family on the 15^th.  That is always a pleasant experience.. haha.  Our freedom from cows is about over.  They’ll be coming home from Dry Lake soon.  Friday the 28^th we preg checked them.  (make sure they got pregnant)  that was wet and cold.  We were lucky enough to have it rain almost the entire time we were there! Haha lucky us huh — Later that night I went to a Halloween party with my parents ward.  Got to see my cute niece and nephew! Oh my goodness I just love them so much it’s not even funny.  Saturday the 29^th we had a party with Devin’s cousins.  We carved pumpkins, ate chili and played Telestrations. On Halloween my mom put together a trunk or treat at the Wellsville Dam.  Everyone that came donated a dollar to support Tyler and Jenna Willets.  They were in a big accident in the middle of September.  If you haven’t read that story, you can find it here.
  
Devin decided he wanted to go as a farmer – which means he brought the tractor as our car.  He made a best friend that night.  We met a little autistic boy who we will call “C” for privacy.  He absolutely loved the tractor.  Devin let him sit in the buddy seat and C had a blast.  C went trick or treating around the parking lot and then came and sat with me in the bucket for the remainder of the time. 

I can’t believe how fast the time is flying! Pretty soon we will be in 2017.  Looking forward to making November and December great.