Bubie's 88th

I woke up to a beautiful view on Sunday morning:I am so glad to be home with my family. I missed the kids and dogs so much while I was away then when I was sick. I think they missed me a little too. My girls took good care of me while I was sick, and we kissed, cuddled and hugged for almost three whole days!

We all were feeling much better by Sunday morning and getting back to our regular routines. After breakfast, the kids took a bubble bath together in preparation for Bubie Ruby's 88th Birthday Party.

Sela then modeled the outfit she picked out all by herself:

Here are a few pictures from the birthday party.

Marlee wanted to use the camera and got a few great shots:

Finally, here is the whole mishpucha:

I know alot of people have been asking questions and want to hear more about my trip. I am still trying to process all that I saw and experienced, but I promise to write more soon and post more pictures.

The Beauty of Guatemala

View of Panajachel and the beautiful blue LakeStreets of Pana:
Wonderful Ladies I traveled with: (L to R) Sarah, Pam, Marie, Julie, Catherine and Kelly

Town of San Jorge:

Guatemala Trip Overview

I am in Guatemala now. This has been an amazing trip and I am with such a wonderful group of ladies. This whole experience has been so overwhelming and I am having trouble putting all my thoughts and feelings into words.

I miss my kids like crazy and have been enjoying the updates from home. This morning my note read

Everyone is doing beautifully! Sela is taking care of Onyx and Mishu; Oreo & Mishu are taking care of Sela; Nathan is taking care of Oreo, Onyx, & Sela; Onyx is taking care of Sela & Mishu...

mom also added

Everyone is clean, happy and following their regular Monday schedule

I am almost afraid to ask why she felt the need to mention that they were clean!! I know they are in such good hands at my parents house, and I am so glad to know that they are all watching out for each other, even if in interesting combinations.

We are back in Guatemala City after our visit to Pana, and this morning we plan to go to the artisan's market before catching our flight home. We have been staying at the Marriott in Guatemala City, the hotel I stayed at when picking up Nathan. So many wonderful memories have come flooding back. I remember walking up and down the halls and the lobby pushing him in a stroller, trying to get him to sleep or settle down. Those first few days with him here were a bit challenging for us both, but once we got home, it seemed to all fall into place.

Guatemala is such a beautiful country. We were able to see so much on our trip to Pana, driving down the windy roads and up and down the mountains. It was fun to see cows on the side of the road eating grass or the women walking down the street with large bags carefully balanced on their heads with a child strapped to their backs. It was an amazing experience to be able to walk through the city of San Jorge which is located on the side of a mountain overlooking the beautiful blue lake. The views were just priceless.

Returning back to Guatemala City last night, we had a real Guatemalan experience. We were on a narrow two lane road winding through the mountains, when we abrubtly had to turn around. Our driver was told something in Spanish that we were unable to understand by two passing cars, and all the sudden, we started going backward down the mountain at full speed. When he got to a good point, he turned around this big vehicle on a narrow road with such skill and expertise and drove quckly away. We learned that there were armed banditos on the road ahead, and our driver concerned for our safety and feeling responsible for us, quickly got us out of danger. We did have to take the long way home, but it certainly made for an interesting trip.

We were all glad to return to the Marriott last night, and a hot shower and comfortable bed made for a terrific night. I am so sorry that this trip is coming to an end, but look forward to returning home to my family.

When I get home, I will download all my pictures and post stories about our visit.

Last night, when I got up in the middle of the night to let the dogs out (and throw in another load of laundry) I noticed a butterfly on the wall. This was the most beautiful and colorful butterfly I had ever seen. I ran to get my camera, hoping it would still be there, and luckily, it was. I took several pictures, not wanting to get too close as to disturb the butterfly, but it never moved. The dogs came in and looked, and the butterfly still didn't move. I decided to check to see if it was still alive, and when I did, I discovered it was only a sticker! Such is life with two toddlers (and a sleepy mommy!).

As I prepare for my trip to Guatemala, I begin to miss all my kids (Nathan, Sela, Onyx and Mishu) and truly hope they won't be too much trouble for my parents. Actually, I just hope my parents are still speaking to me when I get back!

I took a few precious pictures of Nathan the other day as he was running around the house in his bicycle helmet. He has been a handful this week. When it is time to go to bed, he has to make a few phone calls, and that lasts about 30 minutes if I am lucky! He has also made up a few new words to songs that include proper names for body parts! It starts "Old McDonald has a...." His favorite new saying is "oh spaghetti ohs!". Nathan also came to the realization last night about where money comes from...it comes from Aunt Sherry! But of course!

Sela has not been feeling well this week, had a runny nose and is fighting off a cold, so she was not in a picture taking mood. She is very excited about spending the next few days with Bubie and PopPop and has helped me to pack her bags!

I am really excited about this trip, seeing and spending time with some good friends and doing some volunteer work with an organization that is amazing and being in a country that will always hold a special place in my heart! Can't wait to go back with Nathan and Sela some day soon!

You can read more about this trip at: http://gafimayanmissions.blogspot.com/

This weekend, I am leaving for a mission trip to Guatemala. I am going with a wonderful group of women from the GAFI Forum. GAFI (Guatemalan Adoptive Families Island) is a private community of parents who have enriched their families through adoption from Guatemala. This group then expressed a desire to give back to the people of Guatemala, and chose to work with an existing charitable organization, Mayan Families. We hope to support this group by raising awareness of the poverty in Guatemala and by raising funds to help other parents provide the basic human needs necessary for the survival of their families.

These are the two beautiful children my family has sponsored, Luis Alfonso and Miriam Josefina.You can click on thier names which will take you to Mayan Families School Sponsorship Blog with more information about these students.

For information about other students who need sponsorship, please go to: http://mayanfamiliesstudentsponsorship.blogspot.com/

Many of my family members and friends have contributed so we can buy their families food, new clothing and shoes, school supplies and pay for their schooling for another year. They still have so many basic needs, and I wish we could do more for them. I am so looking forward to meeting them and their families on our trip and learn more about their lives.

Thanks again so much to everyone who has helped to make this trip possible. A special thanks to my Aunt Sherry and my Aunt Diane, my cousins Stuart, Tobi, Addie and Jonah and my cousin Bret, to Nathan's preschool principal Morah Ellen and her family, to Cantor Marge and especially to my parents.

Bright spots from our weekend

We had a very busy weekend, as usual. I was doing some last minute shopping preparing for my trip to Guatemala and missing the kids already. Nathan wanted to go to one more store, so we hit the newly opened Trader Joe's and he got a purple balloon. He was so excited about the balloon that he took a nap holding on to it:I could tell when he woke up, because I heard little footsteps running into the bathroom and moving the step stool accross the floor. I thought he had to rush to take care of business, but I was wrong. The balloon had slipped out of his hand, and he was using the step stool to get it:

Here are a few other random pictures from the weekend:

Not a typical Halloween

Onyx got in the spirit and dressed up in her duck costume to match Sela's costume, but unfortunately, the kids weren't in the holiday spirit.

Nathan and Sela did enjoy helping PopPop to carve the pumpkin and it turned out great!!

Nathan had originally wanted to be Tuk, the turtle from the Wonder Pets, but since Mommy couldn't find that costume and isn't creative enough to make one, we went to the store. While there, Nathan proudly picked a Lightening McQueen costume from the movie Cars. Unfortunately though, it is still at home sitting in the original packaging. Nathan did not want to put on his costume or go trick or treating. He did however enjoying giving out the candy to all the boys and girls who came to our house and was very polite telling everyone to "enjoy" their candy!

Sela was just too tired to get into the Halloween spirit. She had been partying all day with her friends at daycare and didn't have a nap. Not to mention she had a slight mishap while on a quick trip to the grocery store with mom and now has a small cut next to her left eye. Poor Baby! Sela sat quietly with Bubie and Pop wearing her Ming Ming (from Wonderpets) the Duck costume in chairs on the driveway (with PJs underneath) as we watched the kids come trick or treating to the house.