From DC to ES



Our stuff finally got here and with it came our camera cord. It's been an exciting 3 months. Here's a few photos from DC to ES.  Please excuse the highlighting, I don't know what I did.

Traci took the kids and left DC a month before me. They had a great visit to WA and then I met them in UT. The tough part was the all day flight by herself with 4 kids. This photo was taken at the beginning of the flight. The kids did great but I don't think this picture told the whole story.



It was great to be able to see everyone in SL before we flew south. The kids were especially grateful to have time with all their cousins. And a tramp makes it even better.  Tramps make everything better.

We loved seeing everyone at Heather's baby shower. Congrats to Heather and Debbie, by the way. I was happy to stay in the background and eat the food. Lance stayed in the background as long as he could.

I remember Dad faithfully watering the little garden that runs between the fence and driveway. Occasionally he would flip the spray over and hit Henry and he'd get the slightest mischievious smile. I'm so glad to see Ben (in the last post) and here Simon getting a chance to mimic their Grandpa.  Dad would have loved these little guys that are like him in so many ways.

One evening all the kids got a turn with the famous Aunt Margaret neck tickle. Simon is the newest fan of Marg's many talents.

After some tears, confusion, and quite a few conversations that ended with, "I know Uncle Lance said you can live with him but it's not going to happen" the day arrived to head south. Grandma and Carrie dropped us at the airport for a tearful goodbye. That was tough but there was no turning back so off we went.

We landed in Central America and were swept away to our temporary house.  On the first night there we looked up above the tv and there was a gecko.  That was the moment that the kids realized there was a chance they just might like it here.  Geckos running around the house have become so commonplace that we don't try to catch them anymore, we mostly just try not to step on them and wish them happy insect hunting.

While in DC we tried to spend as many Saturdays seeing the sites as possible. We're attempting to do the same while in Central America. We spent one Saturday seeing Mayan ruins. Very cool.  The area was completely covered by a volcanic eruption several hundred years ago.  They don't have the funds to uncover ruins very quickly.  Apparently in the area of this photo only about 5% of the ruins have been uncovered.

Having dinner on the porch.

At the botanical gardens in San Salvador.

This tree is screaming to be the subject of a Gospel analogy.

The kids have been promised a dog. But this little guy is tiding them over until we can make that happen.

The kids have made a lot of fast friends. Maggie, as usual, leads the group.

The kids were not thrilled when they found out their school requires uniforms. Traci and I think it's a lot cuter than they do.

On another Saturday we were able to go ziplining. Super fun and really beautiful. Viv and Abe got especially into it.

The beach.



Here's Mag with her new friend from school and church. Yes, we realize we are in big trouble with this girl. Maggie stakes out boyfriends wherever she goes.





Traci has told me for years that she wanted to live on a coconut island.  I think this is close enough. But she hastens to remind me that "it's not an island".  So she still counts as a long suffering wife.