From Dave's Trip to Guatemala City

Dave went to Guatemala twice for a case his firm was defending.  He snapped these pictures with his phone, so the quality is nothing to write home about, but still fun to see. 

Apparently, the second time he was down there was the Guatemalan independence day.  So he got to see a lot of celebration, etc.  He didn't get pictures of the main celebration in the center of Guatemala City (Guatemalan equivilant of New Years in Times Square -- THE place to be), but he did run with a group  of guys and hold a torch and chant Gua-te-ma-la, Gua-te-ma-la...  I guess that's what they do down there on independence day eve.  He said it was fun.  The picture above is the next day -- the actual independence day.  After meeting with their clients, Dave and the partner he was with went to Antigua, which is a little, touristy, conquistador village about 30 miles outside of GC.  This village was built in the mid 1500s, and was originally the capital of Guatemala.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigua_Guatemala.  There are a lot of super old buildings, built by the conquistadors themselves, that are still preserved. 

This is the view over Antigua from the Cerro de la Cruz (hill of the cross).  Obviously, the city is in a valley surrounded by mountains (like every other city in Guatemala, it seems).  That mountain across the valley is the Volcan de Agua.  To the west, outside the picture, there is a twin volcano called the Volcan de Fuego.

Dave kept trying to get a good picture of the city with the mountain in the back, but he said the clouds literally moved too fast for him to get a good picture, even though it didn't feel windy to him on the hill.  This is apparently the mountain that EVERYBODY in Guatemala paints.

This is why it is called the hill of the cross.

People just hang out on this hill.  Antigua is quite touristy, and people come from all over to see the buildings and hang out on the hill of the cross.  It is very beautiful, but different than American (or, as Miss South Carolina might say, "U.S. American" ), tourist attractions.

This was Dave's view out his window at the hotel.

This was a building in Antigua.  He says it was really beautiful in person, with the fountain and everything, but his phone was running out of batteries and the flash didn't work. 

Same building.  Dave says the statues were very intricate and beautiful.

Statue of a conquistador on the hill of the cross.

Dave's taxi driver.  Apparently, they became pretty good friends.  He used him both times he went to Guatemala, and they asked him all sorts of questions about the places they went.  Dave says he was surprisingly knowledgable about Antigua (or at least acted like it). 

Streets of Antigua are cobblestone.  You can see the Volcan de Agua in the backgound through the clouds.  You can imagine that on a clear morning, after the rain, the streets are shiny and empty and the central-american mountain is probably beautiful behind the european looking streets.

The case is over, so Dave won't be back to Guatemala any time soon.  But he says he was lucky to go and he hopes to go back with me someday.

It's about time!

We have never bought an actual highchair for our kids.  You'd think that we would have, but no.  We've just used our laps, the Bumbo, or that little plastic chair we used to have until someone stole the tray when they stole our cooler.  SO, after using a real highchair over Christmas, I realized that it was definitely time.  I used my Target gift card and got THIS.  It's darling and has great features.  I think Claire likes it.  It makes it so she can actually eat when we eat, instead of us all taking turns.  I think it makes her feel like a big girl.

Happy New Year!

Remember my new family traditions plan?  This is one of the first.  For FHE last week this was our activity.  And I FINALLY got to try out the remote for my camera (uh, notice my arm sticking out very indiscreetly holding the remote out to take the picture?)  After we took it, we remembered that Claire was napping and that she wouldn't be in our 2011 New Year Picture!  :(  Next year.  Our next traditions for this month are the Family Time Capsule and the Winter Party.  

Playing in the Playroom with Katie

When Daddy Comes Home

The girls were REALLY happy to see Daddy the other night.

He was making Claire giggle so hard.  It was so funny.

Mustachio

(Audrey is sad because there was an argument about whose turn it was to get her picture taken.  :(  What a sad little clown.)  I made them these when they saw one in some random picture somewhere.  I thought, "Hey, I can make that!"  They mostly just pretended they were butterflies.

Sunrise from Dave's Office

Driving in Idaho

Remember how I was going to post those pictures Dave took on his phone of the drive up and down the mountain while we were in Idaho?  These are they.  In the clearings where you couldn't see the trees looming close by and blocking the snow, it was impossible to see.  Scary.  

Last Year's Christmas Gifts

Last year for Christmas I made these little pictures for our parents and Brent and Cheryl.  I LOVE how they turned out.  I'm posting them now because I was supposed to scan a copy and email one to each of these families--but I'm only just now getting around to it . . . and Claire mutilated 2 out of 3 of them, so I figured I'd better save them before they're destroyed.  I chose to do them for the more established families--the ones that probably won't have any other children to add to the line-up.  That's why I haven't made one for our family yet.  If you want one for your family, that can definitely be arranged.  Just email me.  

New Friend

This cute dog came into our garage last night and didn't want to leave.  We were scared of her at first, she was very excited, but when we told her to sit she did!  She was clean and kind mannered, we knew someone was missing her.  She slept in our garage and played in our back yard this morning until the Animal Services came to get her.  We posted an ad on craigslist last night but no one contacted us.  The shelter will see if she has a microchip (which I wouldn't be surprised if she does), make sure she's healthy (which I'm sure she is), and wait for the owners to claim her.  Audrey called her Bowby.  Jane asked me where her puppy was this morning.  :(  Maybe someday we can get a dog--but today is definitely not that day.

Christmas 2010: Part 5

As for the rest of the story (unfortunately without pictures):

Girls playing in the snow:


We bundled them up as best we could and put them on a sled.  Uncle Chandler pulled them around the yard behind the snow mobile for a while.  Uncle Aaron joined them.  Jane fell off, and while Aaron went to go get her, Chandler took Audrey for a ride by herself--unforunately Audrey was too concerned that Jane was getting left behind to enjoy her ride.  Finally she got too cold (about 15 minutes into the fun, but I don't blame her, it was SO cold) and came inside.  Jane took more of a ride since she was probably dressed the best for the weather.  I'm sure she had fun since she didn't want to come in.


Jacob's baptism:


On Tuesday Dave baptized my little brother.  I sang a song.  It was the best baptism I've ever been to.  


Kassie's baby shower:


Kassie (Jacob's wife) had a baby shower on Thursday.  A bunch of ladies from the ward were there, all so nice and so sweet.  I was in charge of the games.  The lady who hosted the shower at her house had the craziest Christmas village I've ever seen!  It took up half of her living room!  It even had a waterfall!  It was amazing.  And no, it wasn't tacky at all!  I wish I'd gotten a picture.  It was fun to have Kassie's mom, and all the girls in our family there.


New baby arriving:


We even got to see the baby!  Which we weren't sure we were going to get to see before we left.  Luckily, they induced on Friday.  She's adorable.  Dark hair and complexion.  She looks like Jacob I think.  Lame that I didn't get ANY pictures!!  


Projects:


I spent plenty of time with Jessica's Cricut machine cutting out letters for a project my friend and I started forever ago.  It'll be fun to finish that in the next few months.


Eating:


Turkey, Ham, Tacos, Pizza, Dips, Cheeses, Snacks, Fried eggs over easy with toast . . . all the good stuff.  Every time I get together with my family we eat really great food.  Unfortunately, it usually means I put on pounds.  BUT not this time!!  Ha!  ;)


Driving in hazardous (and bitterly cold) weather:


The weather really was bad going up and down the mountain.  But even though it was rough, we were safe.  And in a strange way, it was really fun.  Dave took pictures of it with his phone which I can post another time. 


Reading books:


I brought several books to read.  And Dave's sister and her husband got us Dave Ramsey's book The Total Money Makeover.  I like it.  I studied it the whole time, and even gave other family members little summaries.   Everyone was very interested.  So they seemed.  :)  


Banging pots on New Year's Eve,:


I wish I'd gotten a picture of this one.  Jane went out with everyone (Audrey wasn't interested) and banged on a pot.  She thought it was so funny.  Then she put chex mix in her pot and served everyone bite-fulls (against their will mostly).


Meeting new people:


We finally met Adrienne (Aaron's wife) and LOVED her.  We met two new nieces AND a new nephew--all definitely cute enough to keep.  We met Jordi's (she's coming to stay with us in a few weeks) new boyfriend--funny guy.  


Making over our financial plan:


Thanks to my new book.  We were due for one anyway, but we got so excited about it that Dave and I spent almost an entire day of our vacation planning our financial future.  Lame, huh?


Playing lots of games:
I love games.  Any game will do.  We played card games and those Catan-type games that Dave hates, and we made up games (which Dave loves).  I just loved it all.  


High-stress travel:


Audrey + Jane + Claire + winter coats + 2 backpacks + 1 diaper bag + potty breaks + diaper changes + three suitcases + three carseats + 2 shuttle rides + 2 flights + holiday travelers + cold weather + airport employees + airport traffic + all the logistics I have to keep track of = high-stress travel.  To say the least.  


Audrey was so relieved to be home that instead of going to ballet today she said, "Please don't make us go in the car again.  We just want to stay here in our own house."  So we did.  :)


Ski Trip:


Dave went skiing with his brother, brother-in-law, and Dad.  I heard they had a really great time.  And they were all really sore. 

Christmas 2010: Part 4

We spent a few days at Dave's family's cabin.  The drive up and down (which we made twice) was really dangerous, but it was worth it.  Not only was it kinda fun to see that much snow again, but it was a blast to get all bundled and spend time together away from everything.  Getting "snowed in."  

We participated in some great family traditions.  1) the reading (by Oompa, aka. Murray) of Murray Saves Christmas.  Hilarious!  I loved it!  And I know Jane did.  :)

Speaking of Jane, she got to be our little Mary in our Nativity.

And here are the cutest little angels ever.  :)

Of course, Aaron got to be Joseph . . . and the shepherd.  :)

Here is Mary with child.  And here she is riding the "donkey."

Audrey wanted to be a sheep.  That poor shepherd had quite the time keeping his one sheep in check.  She kept trying to climb up to the angels!

Our cute little Mary awaiting the birth.  Manger ready.

There are the angels!

Megan was one of the visitors.  There were some wise men I think, but Megan was the one who cared most about the baby Jesus.

Notice Jane's expression in all of these pictures?  She took the whole thing very seriously.  SO CUTE.

And there they are!  Sheep and Wise Baby included.  :)