Must Be Genetic

The first photo was taken when Eliot (18 months old) and I were staying with Dad. Eliot always had to eat with "Ampa". Well the next photo was taken last week. Since Benjamin never met Dad, I think it is safe to say the two dish clothes necessary for eating is genetic. Ben started this about two months ago and often insists on at least a dish cloth on his lap before eating.

Madeline Sofia Minson

Maddie is finally here! It took 23 hours of labor, but she finally came... 7 lbs 8 oz & 22.5 inches long. Everyone is doing well. Her mom and dad will be posting better pictures, but here's a first look...

Sooner than Later

So it was only a matter of time that one or more of us got sick but it happened sooner than I thought it would.  We were at the mall and for lunch decided on Subway.  How do you go wrong with an American chain?  Apparently easier than we thought.  That night Abe and Mag both got sick.  It was a rough night but Abe turned a corner the next day and felt better.  Maggie, however, couldn't quite turn that corner.  After a full day of not being able to keep anything down the embassy doctor finally recommended that we take her to the hospital so that she could get rehydrated and take care of whatever it was that was causing it.  We are right in the middle of a 5 day national holiday and the roads at night are unsafe due to the many holiday partiers that decide to drive.  So we called a cab and the embassy nurse arranged for an escort to get us safely to the hospital.  A police car arrived at the house followed shortly by a cab.  Maggie and I got in the cab.  The cab driver then proceeded to drive at mach 1 speed to the hospital.  I think the escort threw him off.  Either he thought that our lives depended on our speedy arrival or he was just used to driving as fast as possible when followed by a police car, I don't know.  About half way to the hospital I informed him that we weren't in so much of a hurry and he slowed down a bit.  The worst part of the experience was when I promised Maggie that putting the IV in would only hurt for a moment.  Then the nurse couldn't make the stick.  The poor little girl screamed and looked at me as if I had broken the promise of all promises as the nurse chased her vein around.  It appears that Maggie inherited her Mom's rolling veins.  Once the IV was in things improved quickly.  Today has been spent watching movies, coloring, and otherwise trying to occupy a little girl who is feeling better but stuck in a hospital bed.  They tell us that she'll be able to go home tomorrow.  It will be great to get home and put this first and hopefully last trip to the hospital behind us.

One week down in Central America

Hey I thought I'd give a quick report on our first week in Central America.  The camera cords are still somewhere in limbo so I have no way to post photos.  Those will be forthcoming someday.  Our first week here has been absolutely amazing.  El Salvador is a beautiful place.  Green as can be.  The weather has been perfect.  80's during the day and then once we're home for the evening it rains.  Then the next morning it's sunny again.  We spent the first week in a temporary house which was lovely but a little bit farther away from work than we wanted.  Our permanent house became available last night and we moved in.  The house is beautiful and it's a two minute drive to the embassy.  The embassy looks to become the center of our lives.  The campus is huge.  There is a running track that goes around inside the outer wall.  There is a pool, tennis courts, a playground, basketball courts and a soccer field.  Because El Salvador isn't exactly safe for kids to be cruising around there is a covered area where all the kids keep their bikes so any time they're at the embassy they can grab their bikes and cruise all over safely.  Our car is still somewhere between Miami and San Salvador.  Nobody seems to know where it is or when it will arrive.  Without it we're limited to taxis so we're feeling a little bit trapped.  Looking forward to it arriving so we can get out more. Traci spent the day today visiting the schools so that we can make a decision on which is the best for the kids.  Apparently they were both outstanding and I'm sure the kids will have quite the experience once school starts next month.  We went to church on Sunday.  It is a Spanish speaking ward but does have a handful of English speakers.  Everyone was very welcoming.  The kids didn't understand a word of Sacrament meeting.  They just colored and drew pictures.  So basically it was exactly the same result as an English speaking Sacrament meeting. Work is going well.  I'm pretty lost most of the time which is typical for any new job.  Hopefully I will shortly gain a better idea of what I'm doing and how to do it.  So far we love the Salvadoran people.  They are so sweet and helpful and welcoming.  As they are turned down for visas to the U.S. (which they often paid half a month's salary just for the interview) they don't get angry but often say thank you and god bless you.  To summarize, we're doing well and I think we're going to really love it here.  I'll post again when I have a way to post photos.  We love you all.

Abigail McKay Reid was born on July 13, 2011. She weighed 7 lbs 7 oz and 20 inches long. She swallowed some amniotic fluid and had to be life flighted to the university of Utah. She spent 7 days in the NICU and then was able to come home. The girls have loved having her home and Alivia can't get enough her. She is a very sweet baby and only cries if she is hungry. We want to take a few seconds and thank everyone for the prayers. Every day that we were at the hospital we felt the prayers that were pouring over our sweet baby girl. There is no doubt the reason why she got better so fast is because of those prayers. So thank you everyone.

Last days in D.C.

So Traci and the kids are in their final days here in D.C.  They'll be heading to Washington State for three weeks or so and then on to SLC on the 5th July.  I'll join them there soon after.  Our time here in D.C. has been fantastic and while we're ready to get on to the next adventure we will definitely miss it here.  I thought I'd post a few photos from recent days to wrap up Traci and the kids' time here.

 We've had some tickets to Hershey amusement park for a while now and so a week ago we woke up and realized they were going to go to waste if we didn't use them. So we jumped in the car and raced to Hershey.  We had a great time even though it was hotter than the surface of the sun.  Here's Abe and his Mom playing it cool on a ride.

 Maggie loved driving the race cars.  As you can see she was all business.

 Ok, so it's no Mickey Mouse.  Amazing that the kids are smiling.  It honestly was 96 degrees with very high humidity. 

 We arrived back to the apartment around midnight.  It took Traci and I a couple of minutes to get Simon and a few things from the car.  Abe and Viv didn't have a key to the building so they made due.

 I have no explanation for this other than the kids love Lego Star Wars figures and they love Simon.  So, why not?

 Every year they hold a kite flying festival at the National Mall.  Abe found out about it and would have died a thousand deaths if he hadn't been able to attend.  I wish I had a better picture because it was amazing.  Hundreds of kites everywhere.  This picture was taken by the designated area for competitive kite fighting.  It was pretty cool.

 So the Browns came to visit and we had a great time. This is the subway trip home after a long day of sightseeing.  Mag, Daniel, and Abe (partially visible) all out cold.

 I love it when babies find something hilarious.

 Things get pretty spiritual at the McKay house when the missionaries come over.

 We took the kids out of school at the beginning of May.  Traci spent each day homeschooling and taking them on as many field trips as possible.  One of the stops was the National Cathedral.  It's an incredibly fascinating and beautiful building.

 Carrie and Kim have both posted photos of the mini-reunion in Philly.  One day wasn't enough time with Grandma but the kids took what they could get.

 We made one stop on the way back to D.C.

 Ok, so not my safest driving moment but I couldn't resist.  The temple really does come out of nowhere.

This was too good, I had to post it.  We love "So You Think You Can Dance".  Maggie fancies herself quite the dancer.  I think with good reason.

Love you guys, see you in SLC in a few weeks!



Enjoying Grandma

On her visit, Grandma reacquainted herself with two of her youngest. She enchanted Simon several times. And Benjamin loved playing "this little piggy" with her.