A Weekend of Adventures and Bonding!

We have decided our days go best when we play hard in the morning and take it easy by 2pm! So, we kicked the weekend off on Friday at Jeno's Pizza and Playland. Good pizza, lots of activities for the kids! Marta really enjoyed watching everyone go down the big slide!

Caroline is a little dare devil, like Isabel. She went down the really big slide with me first, didn't like it at all. Got right back up, grabbed John's hand and said "Oltra vez, Papa!" (Again Daddy!) Lots of giggles and laughter...

Saturday was our big adventure out of Bogota. You have to understand, when we adopted Isabel, they didn't even allow us to flag a taxi down or take one of their drivers to the coffee plantation, just out of the city...now our Representative loans us her car, and says, "Go, have fun, don't get nervous...it's a long ways out!" The owner of our hotel and our Representative have gone above and beyond anything we have experienced...I guess that's what you get when you come back for a 3rd time!


"Ay...watch the road, John!"

...parts of the road were very tight...here we just got out of the big city and passing through a "barrio " or village...

...grafitti EVERYWHERE in the city and especially in the more poverished areas!


...Ahh..we made it safe and sound to El Correl! Whew! A Resturaunt and grande parque! (very big playground for the kids)!



...Isabel and I enjoyed relaxing and giving Marta her bottle in the beautiful country side...

Silas' favorite...

...Isabel and Caroline's favorite...

...Lunch time!! We had grande hamburguesas! I think I may become vegetarian the rest of the
trip in Colombia!

...not just sisters...slowly becoming friends...

...Marta is getting rounder and rounder each day...full of mischeif as her personality is coming out...

...Silas is feeling better, and slowly accepting that he has not just one, but, 2 new sisters...

...back on the road...ay!!!
The country side is beautiful and lush...

...a view from the road down into another barrio...

...passed Los Pisingos...

"Daddy, WATCH THE ROAD!"

All the excitement tired all the girls out! And you can see, no car seats in Colombia! Don't even need to wear seat belts...the kids find this rather amusing...a bit crazy when John slammed on the brakes in the above picture, they all almost ended up on the floor!

We arrived back to the Paris safe and sound! Whew!

Although at times Isabel needs her space (ok, most of the time)...she is beginning to engage in her little sister, Caroline! It's so fun to watch. She loves reading books to her, and is the only one to get her to repeat an English word.

Caroline is also beginning to feel secure enough to be away from me for short periods and play with her toys. She loves her muneacas (dolls)!

With our family beginning to grow together, feeling safe and secure with each other, John and I decided to take a few hours just the 2 of us. We really needed it, and it was wonderful. Caroline had a rough time when we left, but, we thought it would be good for her to see that we can go away, but, will always return (I am always telling her "Siempre para Siempre..." - always and forever we will be your family! The kids were well cared for by Juanita and Nancy back at the hotel, and we ventured up to Usaquen Markets. Such a beautiful day! Ciclovia Sundays are our favorites in Bogota!

This is one of my favorite markets, and we had fun finding a few treasures for the kids, enjoyed a good long power walk, got totally fried from the sun, and had a very quiet lunch together!

Now, back at it...refreshed and ready for a new week! Praise God for this beautiful day! When we returned our kids very happy to see us, and Caroline, full of hugs and kisses. As I'm typing, John is at the park with Isabel and Silas, Marta is sleeping, and Caroline and I are tracing hands, and every 5 minutes she says, "Te Amo, Mama! Te Amo!" And for the first time in English, "I love you, Mama!" I have tears coming down my face!