tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41948708379042595742024-02-19T00:26:44.603-08:00My Indoor VoiceRebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018152348835165573noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-63210824565685256872012-01-03T23:06:00.000-08:002012-01-06T15:15:11.029-08:00Service and Sacrifice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This Christmas, I was dying to get my kids to think about something other than what they wanted for Christmas. I started with a tiny idea in my head to do a service project and then everything just fell into place. What we ended up with was huge trip to Mexico to help out some families in need. I say "huge" only because of the amount that we were able to accomplish - other than that it was a super fast (too fast) trip. We left Thursday morning (5 am) and came home Saturday afternoon (2 pm) We didn't stop working the whole time we were there! It was an incredible experience and I am so thankful to Bishop Garcia and his incredible gracious, sweet, hard-working wife. I am also SO grateful for their son Santiago and his girlfriend Cizdy. Cizdy speaks very good English and was such a life-saver. Bishop Garcia had another son and daughter-in-law available who were happy to help and had two very adorable daughters. What a great family! If you're on top of things enough to realize that this doesn't describe the photos in my original emailed pictures of the Bishop's family, you're right. I had them mislabeled. Oops.<br />
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If you don't know already, we got hooked up with Bishop Garcia and his family through a guy in my ward, Adam Hansen. Adam served his mission to Hermosillo, Mexico many years ago and he periodically goes there to help out. The last time he went, Greg went with him to scope things out and got really excited about what we could do to help. He took some pictures and we started planning.<br />
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For the month of December, I spread the word with my friends and family that I was looking for stuff to take to Mexico. I was so impressed with the response. My bookclub friends were INCREDIBLE with the things they came up with. Especially Erin and Julie (Thanks guys!) My "gym" friends were also amazing. One of them, Ryann, came up with enough little girl clothing to keep every (tiny) girl in the ward completely outfitted, through every season. THEN she came back with some really nice bedding sets. I was dying as I was putting her bedding on the bed of a cardboard house, with dirt floors. Oh man, I thought, if only Ryann could see THIS, I think she would be as excited as the family that got to sleep in it!<br />
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The point is, we had some very generous donations, including beds and mattresses. It was amazing. As the trip got closer, I got an e-mail from Bishop Garcia that said the families could use some bedding. It was cooling off, and the families were struggling to keep warm at night. So, I sent out word again that if anyone could donate bedding, it would really be appreciated. The week before Christmas, I made an announcement in Relief Society. It was perfect. I got so many blankets and sheet sets that I thought we had too much! Little did I know...<br />
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I wish I knew who donated what so that I could personally thank everyone, but not only do I have a HORRIBLE memory, but people were dropping things off without my knowledge. So all I can say is a huge thank you to everyone. Wait til you see what you've done.<br />
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This is my garage before we packed up the trailer:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgCsWjhb0vXPDp4g-oUHsLyVU6I0CTSJtZYYIIUJnne5lvjrRItamZF0z6zVHm9Wkmam638ASZv8KNrU4tRWybCwOShW_S88maDhMSSRmxQcI4WZii-_XPSi5b45DV8-TPNGYFwiaACkh/s1600/IMG_1525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgCsWjhb0vXPDp4g-oUHsLyVU6I0CTSJtZYYIIUJnne5lvjrRItamZF0z6zVHm9Wkmam638ASZv8KNrU4tRWybCwOShW_S88maDhMSSRmxQcI4WZii-_XPSi5b45DV8-TPNGYFwiaACkh/s400/IMG_1525.jpg" width="298" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxDixYZmkPELHPOdMPIBSW3HP2cJRCwySaqy4AY7D5rJ4DRFYzpGxtDWPYZ09k_7K1RcBbAWiBRxC8bHJuLFEEW_iZAzeMRed7Dgn-eMI5C83VQLzTCkS9a10pvO683uJFdYBI6ILCt6p/s1600/IMG_1524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxDixYZmkPELHPOdMPIBSW3HP2cJRCwySaqy4AY7D5rJ4DRFYzpGxtDWPYZ09k_7K1RcBbAWiBRxC8bHJuLFEEW_iZAzeMRed7Dgn-eMI5C83VQLzTCkS9a10pvO683uJFdYBI6ILCt6p/s400/IMG_1524.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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And this was without any of the clothes out there. After I sorted the clothes and bagged them up, there was a tiny little walkway down the middle of the garage that we could use to get to the door. We stopped parking the car in there and used the front door instead. </div>
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Let me tell you, my garage was a disaster. Before we left to Mexico, we went through at least 40 bags of clothing sorting and labeling. We filled up 8 plastic bins, plus at LEAST 30 bags of clothing and shoes to take with us. All were seperated by size and sex. My children (and their friends) were feeling the service and sacrifice! At one point, I took some baby shoes to a used baby store so that I could get some tennis shoes. We had so many nice church shoes and so much clothing that I was afaid we needed something a little more practical! It was awesome, I went in with a bag of clothes, and came out with 2 bags of shoes. Perfect. I'm pretty sad that I didn't get a picture of the sorting process. My whole living room and kitchen were full of clothing. We looked like our very own D.I! Right up until Christmas Eve...</div>
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On Christmas Eve day, I needed help. I was so overwhelmed, it got to the point where there was a lot of little things that I just couldn't figure out what to do with! Would they want used dolls? Would they like Barbie's? Would anyone play with Mr. Potato Head? What about Duplo's? Or Tinker Toys?... A miscellaneous Magnetic Doll that was so cute? What about a McDonald's cash register that only spoke in English? Books in English? My friend, Michelle, had to come over to straighten me out and help me organize the last little things and get them out of my house. Then, she let me go running while she vacuumed the house. Yes, I went running. I hadn't exercised in 3 days because I was so worried about getting everything done. And I needed it. Bad. I love Michelle - we have been friends since we were 15 years old!</div>
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So, we needed to pack up the trailer. We had planned on taking our little white trailer but we had too much stuff. Our biggest trailer is a flatbed - but it needed walls. So, still on Christmas Eve day, Greg, Dave, and Rick (Rigby) went to the warehouse to build walls. 4 hours later, it was looking pretty awesome. Of course it ended up working great. Thankfully, my sister, Jannalee, brought her family over to help load it up. Because I am so lame, I didn't take pictures. They were a huge help. Thanks EVANS FAMILY!</div>
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Do you love it? It is SO white trash. I was worried our little Sequoia wouldn't be able to pull such a load, but look at it go! This is us parked at the hotel. The funny thing is, on the day we left, there was another trailer parked there that looked just like ours. Why didn't I take a picture?!</div>
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We arrived at Hermosillo at little later than we expected. We were held up at the border for a couple of hours. Oh yes, we got the serious runaround. Apparently, the government doesn't want the little people to be the only ones to benefit from your generosity. We were stopped and then let go, then sent 15 miles back, then parked and sent to one office, then sent to another and another. Basically, the little import officers thought we were too big so they sent us to the large import officers who determined that we weren't carrying anything of much value and wanted us to go back to the little import officers. Apparently, each person is allowed a monetary amount to bring in without being taxed. Clothing and shoes don't count. With 7 people our "allowed" amount was pretty high so the large import officers sent us back to the little import officers who were NOT very happy to see us again. We were questioned about 10 times about what we had in the trailer. Luckily, they didn't make us unpack it! It was a pretty tight fit and I'm not sure we could have gotten it all back in.</div>
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After all was said and done, we got through with only paying about $26. At the large import office, we were told it would be $80 plus 60% of the value of everything in the trailer. Adding it up in my head I was thinking it would cost $300 to get through the border. Ouch! After that, $26 seemed like such a bargain. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is the "biletta" that we needed to get through. It was like having a piece of precious gold in my hand.</span></td></tr>
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Now, I have been trying pretty hard to learn Spanish. I know quite a few words, but I'm not good at putting them into sentences. You would think I could understand Spanish but I swear, it is soooo hard. If they would just write everything down, I could probably get it, but they put such unfamiliar inflections on their words that I would spend all my time telling them to SLOW DOWN! Kylee can usually understand it, but she doesn't volunteer to talk. My broken Spanish and their broken English is not a good combination. It is time-consuming. If I were fluent, it would have taken less than an hour to get through the border. Probably less than half hour.</div>
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I'll apologize in advance for not taking more pictures. It was a little awkward to just whip out a camera and take pictures of all the good work you're doing :) Besides, I have never been a good person to remember a camera anyways. Thank you iphone for adding a camera so we always have one on hand!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We are unloading at the Bishop's house. It was quick work with everyone helping!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Load after load, the stuff just kept coming. Luckily, they had a little room set aside for us to put things in. Of course, when Greg and I saw it, we quickly realized there was NO WAY everything was going to fit in there. We basically put the clothes in there, the beds and furniture on the side patio, and the toys on the front porch. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After a 6 hour drive and a 2 hour stop at the border, we had some pretty happy workers!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Into the wee hours, 2 of the workers ran out of steam. Every time they asked if we could leave, one of their siblings would say "what are the 2 words?..." and Addie would wearily sigh "service and sacrifice" and try to be good a little while longer. Makes a mother proud, haha.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It's dark outside and we were only halfway through the unpacking and organizing. It's hard to tell from this angle, but Saydie is actually IN the storage room, behind that post. The side porch is over by the light, and this is the front porch with all that miscellaneous stuff on it.</span></div>
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Thank you to the person in my bookclub who donated all the plastic containers (Stephanie?). They were SO handy. SOOOO very handy. I don't know what we would have done without them. For one family, we had to hike up the side of a mountain to get to their house. Much easier to take stuff up there in containers. Easier to organize things too. In the end, we filled them up with food and gave them to the families. <br />
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Also, Megan Jorgenson, your cupboards and bedframes were just what we needed. The crazy thing is, with everything donated, all from different places and people, we ended up with almost the exact amount of beds (frames etc.) as mattresses. The only thing we had extra was one twin boxspring. We had 2 complete bunkbeds (fulls on bottom, twins on top) 2 complete queen sets, a full bed, and a twin boxspring. So crazy. Who even has full stuff anymore? And we got so many sheet sets that we were able to help families we hadn't even planned on. We got invited into houses where there were mattresses, but they didn't have anything on them! Just dirty, old, worn mattresses. In fact, I have to apologize to my mom. She donated 2 mattresses and I told her I was taking them to the dump. I think my exact word were "Mom, even the Mexicans wouldn't sleep on those mattresses. Why do you even have them?" Well, Rick Rigby convinced us to take them and man-oh-man was I glad we did. I don't think I saw a mattress that was in better shape than hers in any of the houses we went in. We just kept making up beds everywhere we went. My ever-prepared husband, brought his tool kit including cordless drill and bits. He and Santiago did a fabulous job fixing a broken bunkbed in the house of a neighbor!</div>
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The Bishop and his wife were the nicest people. Their whole family was so willing to help, and so nice. Every time we sat down in her house, she fed us. Even when we didn't think we were hungry. She made the best burritos. Dax said they were the best in the whole world. The kids scarfed down so many of them that I was afraid there would be nothing left for any of the Garcia family! On the last day, she fed us her homemade tamales and man, were they yummy! She gave us a whole bag to take back with us. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4J4mGDsGEXq8iJfz_McPvm-TH3mRt_M9D2ysZ2uNOU_3pq3eSKO3qPc_q8DfBdKKRvn4oOndQ3AH51u6aOuUSiPp_CMXoHzsUS5cwUOg_9t6_rm73sBZuZUUB6wSqVM-9yU8lnJxxZsLc/s1600/IMG_0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4J4mGDsGEXq8iJfz_McPvm-TH3mRt_M9D2ysZ2uNOU_3pq3eSKO3qPc_q8DfBdKKRvn4oOndQ3AH51u6aOuUSiPp_CMXoHzsUS5cwUOg_9t6_rm73sBZuZUUB6wSqVM-9yU8lnJxxZsLc/s400/IMG_0034.jpg" width="298" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FIJIMFaBEQN9k5HPVB3d-LBNqsNbUBTI50JUNxUVt3mJnMFuviJmdS9hT7A_MT1DuESX8BzXs_Nem1dEgjwVoCw2cJPqSlXl-HuhDkkYgtZu7aJh363gZYtfzuRqF8cxaKVaHRKgiEC9/s1600/IMG_0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FIJIMFaBEQN9k5HPVB3d-LBNqsNbUBTI50JUNxUVt3mJnMFuviJmdS9hT7A_MT1DuESX8BzXs_Nem1dEgjwVoCw2cJPqSlXl-HuhDkkYgtZu7aJh363gZYtfzuRqF8cxaKVaHRKgiEC9/s400/IMG_0033.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTbyqazjJpokqf4Rmg__esKRkHFEa8T9rsSNvbxuaJRcUsSTdpdV791rR2oIQuW9TgWZC9pI2qHPYFgE2NESymgS67nH5ehBby3mw2GvOtGqapPloONFDAcdkknN3b_A6iOceKlU1M8GK/s1600/IMG_0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTbyqazjJpokqf4Rmg__esKRkHFEa8T9rsSNvbxuaJRcUsSTdpdV791rR2oIQuW9TgWZC9pI2qHPYFgE2NESymgS67nH5ehBby3mw2GvOtGqapPloONFDAcdkknN3b_A6iOceKlU1M8GK/s400/IMG_0035.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">These are the worst pictures! Sister Garcia is in the first one, Brother Garcia is in the second one, and Santiago and Cizdy are in the third. Aren't they cute?</span></td></tr>
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The first night after we unloaded, we tried to pull out everything we would need for the first 2 families. I sat down with Sister Garcia to go over everything and make sure we were on the same page. She is so nice that even if we weren't, she probably wouldn't have told me! She just let me do whatever I wanted. We were up until late, and we left thinking that everything would be there in the morning, but NO. When we got there in the morning, the Garcia's had moved everything inside the house and covered up the front of the house by hanging a big tarp over it. I guess in Mexico, you never leave anything out where people can see it. If it's left out, it's free for the taking.</div>
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For the rest of the trip, we parked the trailer at a neighbor's house and used Cizdy's dad's work truck to move things. It was so much easier to get around in than dragging that trailer around. The roads are all dirt and really skinny and not maintained. On to the fun.</div>
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FIRST HOUSE:</div>
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We knew that at the first house we were going to, it was going to be a hike up a mountain so we tried to take relatively light things. We took a metal bunkbed instead of the wood one, and plastic drawers instead of dressers. Still, we had to take up a twin mattress, a full mattress, and a queen boxspring and mattress. Plus all the miscellaneous stuff. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53NSv_42jxTXd-sajIyN_5BPfhJXGoiGN3-_poHBsUxECxaF90-pBwhjcFnGEJR-HebXE32dvYgsFb5SH_rNx-Hoq8nAjFRoq7RRwg3yM1pIoKbSWn1JojpAsGpa94s18zEZH_w8KMbfG/s1600/IMG_0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53NSv_42jxTXd-sajIyN_5BPfhJXGoiGN3-_poHBsUxECxaF90-pBwhjcFnGEJR-HebXE32dvYgsFb5SH_rNx-Hoq8nAjFRoq7RRwg3yM1pIoKbSWn1JojpAsGpa94s18zEZH_w8KMbfG/s400/IMG_0042.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is almost the top of the trail. Can you see the road down below? That is where we're parked! Such troopers, the kids were up and down quite a bit.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdEB7PCvEaw0l0J45xsrbBSWEhMbcynTnlWHC99vaS0dtpdu8IgCuQOOkEx2AoxHkP3FsV7vCzMGw3fpWUs6VtaJ3pFa4zf0zqQE0cCcZ6h201XaR1plIDRgT5hfra5Z-TJ5kbG1uARbO/s1600/IMG_0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdEB7PCvEaw0l0J45xsrbBSWEhMbcynTnlWHC99vaS0dtpdu8IgCuQOOkEx2AoxHkP3FsV7vCzMGw3fpWUs6VtaJ3pFa4zf0zqQE0cCcZ6h201XaR1plIDRgT5hfra5Z-TJ5kbG1uARbO/s400/IMG_0044.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is the front of the house when we got there. I wish we had better pictures!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzhteEAdBws3cyro7WjMdoBHiPsNlgJbrqK9VH0fu4Qdg8a1VGpxxB5RFrDqjNJoKepZwoY_WVvEtVRXXbOwChQf0Wtv0pA4lEqYhPwCd4jCkjB71Sn1X8PyEcXADsmFSWkJnL8dGCyFO/s1600/IMG_0060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzhteEAdBws3cyro7WjMdoBHiPsNlgJbrqK9VH0fu4Qdg8a1VGpxxB5RFrDqjNJoKepZwoY_WVvEtVRXXbOwChQf0Wtv0pA4lEqYhPwCd4jCkjB71Sn1X8PyEcXADsmFSWkJnL8dGCyFO/s400/IMG_0060.jpg" width="298" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrIumGTlp3rsUUv1BxmPgUtEg8GoOtKbyMEY7o1KiMFbWu0UJ1zGdsdlYqKDPKbWBLhbIkVPnrVg_no-5kVmAemrDQdj3lynws_NXUmnbOeXfrEiIzVR08GvV8dFpPvxB7chmqzjl24hc/s1600/IMG_0054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrIumGTlp3rsUUv1BxmPgUtEg8GoOtKbyMEY7o1KiMFbWu0UJ1zGdsdlYqKDPKbWBLhbIkVPnrVg_no-5kVmAemrDQdj3lynws_NXUmnbOeXfrEiIzVR08GvV8dFpPvxB7chmqzjl24hc/s400/IMG_0054.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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This is what it looked like when we left.</div>
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The kids were pretty happy about the rug, and 3 new soccer balls!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33KzZ-S9aC8RchsJwe8gFxgT7rrJXfi2mxv46yVRU9FftwcVztbkOkt0aTxTRQAIzXlmZ7_HAg_3ttLgHHN2-uWLPe91pPYXLu8sODTKKbEkIvXfCU83lw0ZM-N8PBNdNoiX-6KBxFK21/s1600/IMG_0045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33KzZ-S9aC8RchsJwe8gFxgT7rrJXfi2mxv46yVRU9FftwcVztbkOkt0aTxTRQAIzXlmZ7_HAg_3ttLgHHN2-uWLPe91pPYXLu8sODTKKbEkIvXfCU83lw0ZM-N8PBNdNoiX-6KBxFK21/s400/IMG_0045.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sister Garcia is making up the bunkbed. Can you see the "window" by the front door? It is a cardboard box stuck in there and used as a shelf. We ended up putting 2 drawers side by side in there and used the top as a shelf. They fit really well and we insulated around it with some pillow shams that were more for looks than use.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMTBFdmaDYRnKAi_3DtLpFkiOCqRfby6zyEqgEwjm9JJK2ws2qBrPkjhw_5yM09kEDAKDyptQtXDSycfhyCLpw05dgmS4c1cML0x6FD1b0zAYtw2tMX68K8Q2wMKqBwlepDVn7v8ACbHT/s1600/IMG_0046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMTBFdmaDYRnKAi_3DtLpFkiOCqRfby6zyEqgEwjm9JJK2ws2qBrPkjhw_5yM09kEDAKDyptQtXDSycfhyCLpw05dgmS4c1cML0x6FD1b0zAYtw2tMX68K8Q2wMKqBwlepDVn7v8ACbHT/s400/IMG_0046.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is the side window of the house. We didn't do anything to it except clean. At Saydie's insistence, we bought a new water cooler for the family.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-JNENf_EMa7hc9HAfIHwx13rr67tIna09PTfsUSAjAipsc54WyR_1bz6DoxLVkLnnI37SUR27c1ze1XaEnK5948WUeUxErDsImizcB8LpvCA71LV4n1moReUWdgbBxLIPqwfONQbG_gM/s1600/IMG_0050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-JNENf_EMa7hc9HAfIHwx13rr67tIna09PTfsUSAjAipsc54WyR_1bz6DoxLVkLnnI37SUR27c1ze1XaEnK5948WUeUxErDsImizcB8LpvCA71LV4n1moReUWdgbBxLIPqwfONQbG_gM/s400/IMG_0050.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hey, if you have to live in poverty, you may as well pick a good location, right? Check out the view. It was so beautiful up there!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFT8nqnKZs37J3uCJF-PEqXS8WJKma5-QlL-08J8b5oKV7BEbt_uXeJbPdjljwHg_fmHDFkp4oULXfji_pUMbH-MIbTQMwZrrkDb3BLdB9Obrchg2lBp7FscKvjJ5-VMpkiHJqvU7Z5Bt/s1600/IMG_0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFT8nqnKZs37J3uCJF-PEqXS8WJKma5-QlL-08J8b5oKV7BEbt_uXeJbPdjljwHg_fmHDFkp4oULXfji_pUMbH-MIbTQMwZrrkDb3BLdB9Obrchg2lBp7FscKvjJ5-VMpkiHJqvU7Z5Bt/s400/IMG_0051.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is me trying to figure out what shoe size the boys wore. Foolish of me to think that the twins wore the same size, one was almost 2 sizes bigger than the other!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8t9gNfSsrF57Bjhp6tprq8oMYS29MiANoSAreX2GHdRPrDDLxuTsb2aAHLpn2ZaSsuE7uChhMWy39UTdQigRuvZmUWaDdLILXXFoKaxjIkGZ6Cu6AxoEqATduXM7SMNyzDnHK8nX1favj/s1600/IMG_0053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8t9gNfSsrF57Bjhp6tprq8oMYS29MiANoSAreX2GHdRPrDDLxuTsb2aAHLpn2ZaSsuE7uChhMWy39UTdQigRuvZmUWaDdLILXXFoKaxjIkGZ6Cu6AxoEqATduXM7SMNyzDnHK8nX1favj/s400/IMG_0053.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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These pictures are of a work in progress, but you can see we put in shelves and gave them clothes, towels and blankets. We put the drawers in with the wooden shelves in-between them but I didn't like how it looked and was about to take out the wooden shelves when Kylee stopped me and said that the Mom really liked those shelves and not to take them out. Kylee doesn't speak spanish voluntarily, but she can understand a lot of what they say to each other. So, I left it there. We fixed the large drawers under the "window" and organized their toiletries. The only mirror they had was a broken piece of a mirror that was with the Dad's shaving stuff. Yep, just like you see in the movie's. I was glad I brought a couple mirrors with me! I had to go back to the house to get it.<br />
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The little girl in the picture with Saydie is 2 years older than her. These kids are tiny. The twins are 9 years old and the teenager is 15 - that's older than Kinsey. Scroll down to the final picture and see how tiny that is. Let's just say that I was wrong on all their shoe sizes and had to go back to the house.<br />
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This is a picture of the first aid portion of our trip. This little guys toe was pretty mangled. It had a bunch of dead skin over it and looked bad. Santiago assisted me as I cut away the dead skin, cleaned it with antibiotic soap, put neosporin on it and then bandaged it up. He was so tough while we were working on his toe, he didn't make a sound. He had one little tear dripping down his face and then when he saw us cutting away the dead skin, he started throwing up. The Garcia's asked his parents if he was sick, and they said he hadn't had anything to eat in awhile. His throw-up consisted of...nothing. Just a little bit of water. For the first time, it dawned on me that I had not seen one piece of food in the whole house. Not ONE. We were already planning on going to Sam's club, but now we knew we needed to go sooner, rather than later. Don't look at the next picture, it's gross. It was worse than it looks.</div>
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Cute Kinsey just helped set up that whole porch. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZR2RN23HncUQEmUUtLOk4fxCTSW3e_D5eopARRozDebMsiS9x8O1TV7zvbDG8d8eWQ7galDS-accZgvW7nINGErE33SbjMd8nTDlenLUY-cYHhUNyr0hqTUOhSsEQB5AqkpNXL-EYXZoI/s1600/P1000090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZR2RN23HncUQEmUUtLOk4fxCTSW3e_D5eopARRozDebMsiS9x8O1TV7zvbDG8d8eWQ7galDS-accZgvW7nINGErE33SbjMd8nTDlenLUY-cYHhUNyr0hqTUOhSsEQB5AqkpNXL-EYXZoI/s320/P1000090.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9XGyCNRr752pnZKtgJe2TQaEWQ6EICJXCQseMuju1os8kRkVk4nwCWtL_KH7EnVZBVPbGiUNlfUxYDW8iv4q-wtpS5xjgstadUCLyU2a97jiw5fmRGNn4XhZZFOO5bMz-MEggU9hoU2i/s1600/IMG_0064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9XGyCNRr752pnZKtgJe2TQaEWQ6EICJXCQseMuju1os8kRkVk4nwCWtL_KH7EnVZBVPbGiUNlfUxYDW8iv4q-wtpS5xjgstadUCLyU2a97jiw5fmRGNn4XhZZFOO5bMz-MEggU9hoU2i/s400/IMG_0064.jpg" width="298" /></a>This is the inside of the house before. (top picture is one side, bottom picture is the other) It's hard to tell, but that bed is actuall a boxspring and it is falling apart. They put boards in between the original boards and then blankets to try and make it soft. It fell apart when we took it out. They wouldn't let us take it with us because they had to "give it back to someone"<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9tOr8JizrQo9Ieiqk2DkXMV0ac9rgdXNYOH1Mm6OQ-7N8kl9bgqoIqShZqH7k-QmGmRFbvMlq5_RjYKTl-cSHHrCtk5ttYj-5tab0ESnDMU_c1TlUzyPYnbRQ_RHXL1K6MsmLD4Ijhx8/s1600/P1000089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9tOr8JizrQo9Ieiqk2DkXMV0ac9rgdXNYOH1Mm6OQ-7N8kl9bgqoIqShZqH7k-QmGmRFbvMlq5_RjYKTl-cSHHrCtk5ttYj-5tab0ESnDMU_c1TlUzyPYnbRQ_RHXL1K6MsmLD4Ijhx8/s320/P1000089.JPG" width="320" /></a> This is the inside when we were almost done - wall-to-wall beds! That queen size bed has a feather bed on it. The shoe organizer is hanging on the side of the bunkbed because there was nowhere else to hang it! The walls weren't strong enough to pound anything into. They were cracked and falling apart. It's a good thing is doesn't rain a lot.<br />
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Ah the fun part of the trip. Are you wondering where the presents came from? There is a family in our ward with a son who lost his long and hard-fought battle with Lou Gehrigs disease this year. He was a police officer (Officer Mark Kelly) with the Mesa Police. His co-workers held a toy drive for the survivors of his family and there were SO many toys, that his dad, Mike, brought a truckload over to our house. Saydie spent ALL day one day wrapping presents and writing on them the appropriate age and sex. We picked some out and took them to the families we visited. These kids were so excited! I think my kids were as excited as the ones opening them! </div>
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Isn't this what every family needs? A starving dog.</div>
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Here is the whole group. That is Cizdy and Sister Garcia on the left, then the family minus the boy with his toe operated on...he was too weak to join us. Seriously, he was really pale and looked like he would pass out when he stood up. He needed food! At least he had a nice bed to rest on while we went grocery shopping - that's good, right? We came back with so much food - including a 50lb back of beans. I hope it lasts.</div>
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It was 3:00 in the afternoon when we got back from Sam's club. Time to hit another house. We knew it wouldn't take as long as this one, because we could park by the house!</div>
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HOUSE #2:</div>
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The kids were so excited about this house. It had animals everywhere. Rabbits, kitties, dogs, mice...yes mice. Pet mice that they let loose. Ew. Plus, the kids talked non-stop. In Spanish.</div>
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The new bed. This house had just dirt floor with blankets. We put in the bed and bedding and it looked so good in there. I wish I could show you the whole place. The owner is old and the house was FULL of knick-knacks that she couldn't get rid of. I was thinking about it as we were leaving Mexico - I should have offered to buy all those knick-knacks from her. We both would have been happy with the results! She was super nice. No, I'm not a control freak. </div>
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Same house, a little view of the stuff all around...the bed is in the corner that you can't see.<br />
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Try to picture this: 2 houses side-by-side. One is cinderblock, one is cardboard. The only entrance to house #2 is where Kylee is standing. The mattress BARELY fit through this space. I thought we were going to break the boxsprings. Talk about barely fitting both houses on the property!</div>
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This is the inside of the cinderblock house. This family is not doing too badly. The house has electricity and the daughter that lives around the corner has a refrigerator. The bed was there, but we put on bedding, and we brought the dresser and mirror. <br />
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Same house, different wall. There's the food and cleaning supplies we brought next to Dax.<br />
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My kids think I'll feel guilty about not letting them have any pets if they show me how much they love them. Guess what? It's not working. Even. A. Little.</div>
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Kinsey and Kylee have these pictures as their screen savers to remind them of this adventure. I love it. I REALLY really love it.</div>
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If you look behind Kylee, you can see the outside of the 2 houses. The front "yard" is the kitchen with table and chairs and some cooking utensils. We gave them organizers so they would have a place to keep the kitchen stuff.</div>
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While we were working at this house, the mother (she's pretty old) took us to her daughter's house that was (sort-of) around the corner. This was the house with the broken bunkbed I mentioned earlier. It was pretty nice. It was clean and organized (Greg laughs as I write this, but it's all relative...) At least it had a refrigerator. The bedroom was separate from the bedroom and the bedroom had a full, a twin, and a set of bunkbeds. NONE of the beds had any bedding on them. They were BARE and dirty. This is where I wished I hadn't left so many extra sheet sets at the first house. In the end, we did put bedding on every bed. I had to go back to the older house to retrieve an extra bedspread I left there. It was funny because we left the lady there with quite a few extra blankets because it was cold. When I went back to get one of them, she was pretty possessive of all of them! I did take it to her daughter's house so I figure she can get it back if she wants it. </div>
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More Animals! Now my kids want to move to Mexico.</div>
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Again, 2 houses next to each other that belong to the same family. Sort of.</div>
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Unlike the first family, this family has JUNK! I was dying to clean it out, but no. We would not be allowed to throw anything away. So we settled for rearranging it and giving them stuff to organize with!</div>
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New Bunkbed for the kids! That girl in the pink stripes is the mother. She looked so young, I was afraid to ask how old she was! You can't tell in this picture, but her husband looked just as young as she does. Sister Garcia is standing next to her, and the girl's mother is in the black jacket.</div>
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Addie and this little boy put the whole thing together. It made a pretty cute little floor in there!</div>
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This is on the road outside their house. This house was tucked back in the corner of an area we could barely get to because the dirt roads were SO BAD. You could break an axle getting there! </div>
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I'm pretty sure my kids got a disease from all the animals around here. It won't show up for 10 years or so and then all of a sudden they'll be "hey, remember that trip to Mexico we did back in 2012? No, I'm kidding...I'm sure they are fine. Right?</div>
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Mr. Potato Head was a big hit. Someone gave us a new one, so I bought a big bag of potato-head stuff at the used baby store. They were having a blast.</div>
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The young couple was sleeping on that twin bed in the corner with a couch shoved up next to it that didn't have any cushions but had been built up with some foam to match the height of the twin. We took out the couch (falling apart) and set up this full. It's my mom's mattress! Haha, it looked pretty good in there. They were thrilled to have a new bed that they could both fit in! I don't know what they'll do with that twin. Sell it?</div>
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Now it's time for the fun part: PRESENTS!</div>
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This scooter was for his brother, but he wouldn't let it go. He was scooting all over the place!</div>
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Webshooters for the spider-man fan. It took him awhile to get the hang of it.</div>
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Comparatively, this family did not have a bad set-up. Like most of the houses, the kitchen is the front porch and it is very meager on supplies. Also, no electricity. Other than that, they have some space for the kids and some privacy for the adults so it wasn't bad. The only thing is, I never saw a bathroom at ANY of the houses we went to. I didn't want to ask how that goes...I just don't want to know! Until I can manage to bring modern plumbing to all corners of the world, just don't tell me.<br />
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A couple interesting things that happened:<br />
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When we were organizing clothing on the front porch of the Bishop's house, a man walked up off the street and asked if we had any pants that might fit him. By the time he walked away, he had 2 grocery bags full of pants and shirts that would fit. That was fun for us.<br />
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When we were working on this last house, an old woman was wandering around outside begging for food. I asked Bishop Garcia what I should do and he said something to the woman and she went away. Kinsey would not let this go. Kinsey could not stand the thought of this little old lady going starving while we are delivering food for this other family. She kept at me until I asked Bishop Garcia if I could give her some of the food we had. He looked at me like I was crazy but of course didn't try to stop me. Kinsey took a few things and ran down the street to catch up with her. Oh, my Kinsey. She usually doesn't want to do anything that draws attention to herself but didn't mind running down the street with some food to give this woman. Makes a mother proud. :)<br />
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All in all, it was such a great trip. We got there on Thursday afternoon, ate, worked until 10pm. Went to our hotel and slept, got up at 7. Ate. Worked all day until 9 or 10. Went to our hotel and slept, got up at 7. Ate. Worked all day until 2pm. Drove home. There wasn't any leisure time, no play time, no swimming in the pool at the hotel, nothing but "service and sacrifice" I'm not even going to try and tell you that there wasn't any complaining. There was. Dax and Addie are used to getting plenty of sleep and food anytime they need it. Kinsey and Kylee are not late-nighters. They like to sleep. At one point when we were 2 hours late for lunch-time, I banished Dax and Addie to the car and told them not to come out until I came and got them. By threat of death - just so I wouldn't have to hear them tell me they're hungry again. BUT the good definitely outweighed the bad.<br />
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At the end of our second day, we were driving back to the hotel at night, exhausted, and Dax piped up in the back of the car "THAT WAS THE BEST DAY EVER!!" and Addie said "Yes, the very best EVER" and we all talked about how we wanted our own show "Makeover Home Edition, Mexico style" I looked in the back of the car at my 5 children and it was all worth it. The stress, the mess, the running around, the cleaning, the hassle at the border. All worth it.<br />
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I never gave my kids a choice about making this trip. I never asked their opinion. I'm bad that way - I get an idea and next thing they know they're all wrapped up in it. They gave up their Christmas. There were literally no presents under the tree except the one each that their great-grandma gave them. (Don't feel too sorry for them, Santa came and filled their stockings) But to their credit, they never fought me on it. They all just went along with it. <br />
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A big, huge thank you to everyone who donated anything for our trip. I promise you, there is not ONE THING that will go unappreciated. At the last house, the woman of the house had Cizdy come translate and then told us over and over again how grateful she was that the Lord had blessed her with our family. <br />
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We feel blessed to have been able to go over and do something worthwhile. We couldn't have done it alone, so thank you friends and family, WE LOVE YOU.<br />
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Greg, Rebecca, Kylee, Kinsey, Saydie, Dax, and Addie.<br />
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018152348835165573noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-86351906830233136152011-07-19T17:22:00.000-07:002011-10-04T21:55:23.239-07:00Girl's Camp!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRC3xG55KKCNEbIweNWhNKmWdTrwlMRzEvLG0L7WcwpbAvHgscQCyjldeRp1Mx-PY4xvcztw7ODXd13xCx9f-VllL2sbfrd02xMDeSpnONi_GlXLbzizMOUqWndUs7-V17G1p0GaCpaIg/s1600/IMG_1260.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Oh. My. Gosh. This was the best time ever. After all the preparation, the time, the planning, the packing, the PERMISSION SLIPS...off we went! This was my 2nd year as ward camp director and man was I looking forward to it. New YW presidency at the last minute so it was kind of crazy, but it all worked out perfectly. We lucked out and got assigned the Priesthood cabin. (We missed you McKenzie!) It was big enough for all of us AND had it's own bathrooms! I don't know why I didn't take a picture of it...Anywho, you would not believe what goes on up there! I'm not a very good picture taker, so you get what you get. I just don't ever want to STOP and get out the camera. I'm having too much fun :)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQI5Zpol90lAUuTEu9P3FpGQGaV3bQm0BToN7T6eN3wx9bKhqE5NQfommmPp-dXYilqR7cp6lLsw5zlAr2ipTrYoSFyRQ0C6g4SvHi7VhmHjGfG1-B7qksDL3prNqVMVPDXZRaualNkQ/s400/IMAG0251.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631224736412337426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1DpN0RzYXhwJ9D7UchJPDMvyMJN2KPWbIuN07aL6Ke9Qfc4afdrjLMtZHrCPjv3W-wfR69CN43pvTWDH7eVB62oLqI_xg_PaD2gtfQyOwGcEuTxdlZwUJU03D_2KLUAqg09NjxdIsdo/s1600/IMG_1206.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1DpN0RzYXhwJ9D7UchJPDMvyMJN2KPWbIuN07aL6Ke9Qfc4afdrjLMtZHrCPjv3W-wfR69CN43pvTWDH7eVB62oLqI_xg_PaD2gtfQyOwGcEuTxdlZwUJU03D_2KLUAqg09NjxdIsdo/s400/IMG_1206.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631224741477119490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSga9YQEKfh_MX2n7odr56StlM6pd1QdW0zzkU7AyFhdt1m2FL1sLWa786-RiYUGx_fuVEvBi-bLAH51MF2Lf8VKLH-gxENtqJfW0tvgzfNtZapB4MuZsf_cTzcKJW1bl3ZlECjvP8P-g/s1600/IMG_1190.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSga9YQEKfh_MX2n7odr56StlM6pd1QdW0zzkU7AyFhdt1m2FL1sLWa786-RiYUGx_fuVEvBi-bLAH51MF2Lf8VKLH-gxENtqJfW0tvgzfNtZapB4MuZsf_cTzcKJW1bl3ZlECjvP8P-g/s400/IMG_1190.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631224737991743458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Skit night was the first night up there. After all the hard work putting it together, I almost cried when they pulled it off without a hitch. What talented, funny girls we have! Hooray for Andrea Allen who pretty much put it all together. She took a not-very-fun song (heigh ho) and made a very-fun skit. When Andrea came out after putting on all of their mustaches, she was laughing..."they look like a bunch of chester-moleters, you are going to die it is so funny!"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4eTpVoZpSt1xGMocYSBf_K_X8zQv6sHMR9nZGXihriQRLCNX37YZWG_l1EvMtX-c51b1zVbBAFbJhvDbQQFrI4CvCT7Kq-HfCSSefcJuEIxOjRvhBlcnP24gri_YifPJ-n05Pc8g3Vd4/s400/IMG_1214.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631224749955668370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">EVERY time we gather, we sing. There is plenty of singing going on...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqt0eqevCuLwwUUhDUOy4ZHOY86P12KudZ19mKheyhffr0u8rjq0UO9s6JlUgL4X8GPumHDM7YW19_GYxloJbQ9cXGJD8Yo2koiS1eMo0g6sDZ1PrJBW4PdNZONOqfl9AfrVfOAe5bjc/s400/IMG_1242.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225228260934914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">And craft making (bracelets), and posing!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqQ7NoZRZ-sRI4mHAOUy_Vyl-w4NCl95bMqB0hso4QApXWxoL6L9K8dx2UOV23vCPoC2jBQ8rM7mxbMCZ-Hi0w9tbWmv3uU17QIN-D0adyaoT_PLvz_rl1SvWUVb2o__j0HJwICv8e2U/s400/IMG_1215.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631224755318571042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">There is very little "hang out" time. But the girls love it. Hanging out in the cabin and eating snacks. Speaking of snacks, the food that the Stake provides is dang good! Really. The problem is, they just don't give our girls enough. Most of the time, the girls want seconds, and since they have to wait for everyone to eat first, they NEVER stick around to get them. So, they're hungry all the time. We ate a TON of PB&J sandwiches and sadly...cookies. Andi just happens to have an apple in her hand! Way to go Andi.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3yAGXE_uBy2yh0WsDws0_fXABUiZy5dicUbU1ufzjrG_mEczDur7csN1HkY_6lDTOPrvFadNCMb41NoKjnGFQyco0mRhiK5tqsNQ6eloLh138G9KvKhwndtY1Mjb2kPdiNtG1Y3Kp4s/s1600/IMG_1232.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3yAGXE_uBy2yh0WsDws0_fXABUiZy5dicUbU1ufzjrG_mEczDur7csN1HkY_6lDTOPrvFadNCMb41NoKjnGFQyco0mRhiK5tqsNQ6eloLh138G9KvKhwndtY1Mjb2kPdiNtG1Y3Kp4s/s400/IMG_1232.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225224326804082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Here we are on Spiritual night. We made these lanterns and everyone wore their pj's and tie-dyes. It was a great night.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Irev2gNiRITshzdDa9NezOOmMy_eh2qdZ59oU2CzpnHDDZRqHP2zttQXUoQOm25FCWTdiU7HQYmNxiA5ha4_y09XSy_mUWZLJoWOD02ww_xuotbCEWEx1h0sfIfaGYHYF7myjo1-x6I/s1600/IMG_1225.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Irev2gNiRITshzdDa9NezOOmMy_eh2qdZ59oU2CzpnHDDZRqHP2zttQXUoQOm25FCWTdiU7HQYmNxiA5ha4_y09XSy_mUWZLJoWOD02ww_xuotbCEWEx1h0sfIfaGYHYF7myjo1-x6I/s400/IMG_1225.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225214735833698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4Qx9ylwdNAR8oSUOnLsMoiJbEVDDsJ7UPzzOkN8g3Q6pbNaQhHdmm2rOyEcQy9WwbfOPdRwO8SZKTbE8xq2JOXJR_AamcqTKqdq9O4mxHDPY6pym1WQYlg9qMP27fSl6LcyH3-Muztc/s1600/IMG_1224.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4Qx9ylwdNAR8oSUOnLsMoiJbEVDDsJ7UPzzOkN8g3Q6pbNaQhHdmm2rOyEcQy9WwbfOPdRwO8SZKTbE8xq2JOXJR_AamcqTKqdq9O4mxHDPY6pym1WQYlg9qMP27fSl6LcyH3-Muztc/s400/IMG_1224.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225212201646594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Here is Kylee and her BFF Camila. Good times!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgyigt9pxCrAo0jBHVO4NPDExcaHuiz5MTdTQz-0kAw2DXWT7CQLFK6mIrywkAuj1_TOn3BAs-rqeg_SNW_YJCEsHBcR6Y54YiiAJZy0EO4oIAs3LU9KAeNGyOX7w-qlvQox8_XkeXYY/s1600/IMG_1257.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgyigt9pxCrAo0jBHVO4NPDExcaHuiz5MTdTQz-0kAw2DXWT7CQLFK6mIrywkAuj1_TOn3BAs-rqeg_SNW_YJCEsHBcR6Y54YiiAJZy0EO4oIAs3LU9KAeNGyOX7w-qlvQox8_XkeXYY/s400/IMG_1257.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225948612953714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">When the Bishopric comes, things get crazy. </span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhref3qz0hjfJHaOMrfaebTqfcdvj9Vph-7l8D-hyyJddrqO1UevDvjIyKv3VtwkJcfLUtQIkTucY3-Hc1-8Z6PVL0LfdplqPKU_RJstg1rGwJAZ59WrrO86xDqsJfRCmel8J8O2Vvk6p0/s400/IMG_1247.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225931297617298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">There's a huge water fight,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQao27b_42rKZEW1jgtVXFFyY-C3OA5d6GPRFnvTyXlD4ccZi-EQgYHgwFxQF_Zjg0GYYhwN2uL6HD28hMSjPhLpO_ic8i_IPmf54v3Ry-BgfXDm4wQzAVr37mG2degyzZYHLJUBW6Gpo/s400/IMG_1245.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225231197706242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">The leaders (in disguise) may take it a little too seriously!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSyazk99SG7bC83cXr_pl6uURun_Z9wmkn2aJGKAW58hSVC4te3DuImJRNH_Oj9ZgWf0QIqfmnSVshnanepZqG97JfutPxIgh1YrbVvw-V01HFTfcCFk_ksOyHI0e4_8xaX6h6jK5lgA/s1600/IMG_1251.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSyazk99SG7bC83cXr_pl6uURun_Z9wmkn2aJGKAW58hSVC4te3DuImJRNH_Oj9ZgWf0QIqfmnSVshnanepZqG97JfutPxIgh1YrbVvw-V01HFTfcCFk_ksOyHI0e4_8xaX6h6jK5lgA/s400/IMG_1251.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225943441692658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">You can tell Kylee and Kinsey take it VERY seriously!</span></div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBjFfnjJ9dMmRTvppqtdEwze-4m3JI3PU6qGOoPs6q_kRaVys61eIQ48AAgv_bF6wxXCNYsGqW-0Qkj3n4fiWragJE7QTooZ2lizuIXyk-vYbIPQ9rtmkVLhKV_uH2prXIzJTq5isvTg/s1600/IMG_1250.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBjFfnjJ9dMmRTvppqtdEwze-4m3JI3PU6qGOoPs6q_kRaVys61eIQ48AAgv_bF6wxXCNYsGqW-0Qkj3n4fiWragJE7QTooZ2lizuIXyk-vYbIPQ9rtmkVLhKV_uH2prXIzJTq5isvTg/s400/IMG_1250.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225937998537698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">So does Andi. Posing here with Kinsey.</span></div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXz3KH1dxUpliF6FvnkwKDx6GrTx6rgskDfTp6fgakEYKBZNSTcFvYulW-1s42eZrtcZ68KtExKhOY234q3_Oy5bJPoAHPVGmxq3fouAVRwazYGasYfewtMZPTsOTW476C-QGCTJbzow/s1600/IMG_1256.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXz3KH1dxUpliF6FvnkwKDx6GrTx6rgskDfTp6fgakEYKBZNSTcFvYulW-1s42eZrtcZ68KtExKhOY234q3_Oy5bJPoAHPVGmxq3fouAVRwazYGasYfewtMZPTsOTW476C-QGCTJbzow/s400/IMG_1256.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631225945191981090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">I love this girl! Shelly executes a perfect photo-bomb!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRC3xG55KKCNEbIweNWhNKmWdTrwlMRzEvLG0L7WcwpbAvHgscQCyjldeRp1Mx-PY4xvcztw7ODXd13xCx9f-VllL2sbfrd02xMDeSpnONi_GlXLbzizMOUqWndUs7-V17G1p0GaCpaIg/s1600/IMG_1260.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRC3xG55KKCNEbIweNWhNKmWdTrwlMRzEvLG0L7WcwpbAvHgscQCyjldeRp1Mx-PY4xvcztw7ODXd13xCx9f-VllL2sbfrd02xMDeSpnONi_GlXLbzizMOUqWndUs7-V17G1p0GaCpaIg/s400/IMG_1260.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631226566693767154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">And then it's off to war. Trying to break each other's crackers with styrofome wands. That is one tiring game. We needed some serious recovery time!</span></div></span><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">I am a lame picture taker but at least I got a few to document the good times! Thanks girls, I had a blast. Especially thank you to Kylee and Kinsey for so kindly putting up with their mother for ONE MORE YEAR!</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgyigt9pxCrAo0jBHVO4NPDExcaHuiz5MTdTQz-0kAw2DXWT7CQLFK6mIrywkAuj1_TOn3BAs-rqeg_SNW_YJCEsHBcR6Y54YiiAJZy0EO4oIAs3LU9KAeNGyOX7w-qlvQox8_XkeXYY/s1600/IMG_1257.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSyazk99SG7bC83cXr_pl6uURun_Z9wmkn2aJGKAW58hSVC4te3DuImJRNH_Oj9ZgWf0QIqfmnSVshnanepZqG97JfutPxIgh1YrbVvw-V01HFTfcCFk_ksOyHI0e4_8xaX6h6jK5lgA/s1600/IMG_1251.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhref3qz0hjfJHaOMrfaebTqfcdvj9Vph-7l8D-hyyJddrqO1UevDvjIyKv3VtwkJcfLUtQIkTucY3-Hc1-8Z6PVL0LfdplqPKU_RJstg1rGwJAZ59WrrO86xDqsJfRCmel8J8O2Vvk6p0/s1600/IMG_1247.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQao27b_42rKZEW1jgtVXFFyY-C3OA5d6GPRFnvTyXlD4ccZi-EQgYHgwFxQF_Zjg0GYYhwN2uL6HD28hMSjPhLpO_ic8i_IPmf54v3Ry-BgfXDm4wQzAVr37mG2degyzZYHLJUBW6Gpo/s1600/IMG_1245.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-15631060435131832072011-07-19T14:45:00.000-07:002011-10-04T21:34:42.799-07:00Someone had a birthday...<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoy6Yq-fkLOnZjz2UtS6kqrTm6e0ngJ5mxUrP2QJGGjQMAaIUsEr8gUL4ySPfAbkIyI2QfvPeuD-b-uWeyR31J8409xmaPSeJLqANOpjyft1aPEiu7WYjNFxdsc_Z2OIhyRYuohWs8EMk/s1600/P8200108.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXPbndG_eZlnUQRBsSKdjAYLpCS0sUtxB6xPQQaHxHugecHTmJDOAbo6gMDur7mdk2t_jUse38A_zWmbBarAji-ozHjxxFnJdgJ_bE3ZvQt917-gGiN734UBSY2k5JEYf09vCYGsjmIw/s1600/Garn+2010_0161.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;">While we were on vacation at Newport beach with the Garn family, ADDIE had a very important birthday.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXPbndG_eZlnUQRBsSKdjAYLpCS0sUtxB6xPQQaHxHugecHTmJDOAbo6gMDur7mdk2t_jUse38A_zWmbBarAji-ozHjxxFnJdgJ_bE3ZvQt917-gGiN734UBSY2k5JEYf09vCYGsjmIw/s400/Garn+2010_0161.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631204759701036370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoy6Yq-fkLOnZjz2UtS6kqrTm6e0ngJ5mxUrP2QJGGjQMAaIUsEr8gUL4ySPfAbkIyI2QfvPeuD-b-uWeyR31J8409xmaPSeJLqANOpjyft1aPEiu7WYjNFxdsc_Z2OIhyRYuohWs8EMk/s400/P8200108.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631204764486317666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Adalyn Rebecca Garn</div><div style="text-align: center;">5 YEARS OLD! </div><div style="text-align: center;">It's hard to make it a big deal when you are already on vacation, but we did the best we could.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAYDmvHvXowom_4iN25HRFSx3Tyu7rd5kodnb82swwQwv7GcRS-ODYYET4zjam1WuOnKjj07OySpvyXP-gz4Psaf2iH-dhPbryRYkXYId1Lw9eIgaQ8tVpP30nmUeu1oG7k8eKBYertI/s400/IMG_0847.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631182334227266738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZoxZlHfkEaJIZn87ICiN0T5mXeqdn71g93rR7fdYAPgkdjRM4wUIlzToL1LEnSl5VU79xwIQX5m_DdHgBp45Y1aeoGB_ltoLLChralZw5B1CFmXq2se3l0SwEtOdc46qCgNBwn720A8/s400/IMG_0850.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631182344636037794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEFEQFxoKJTJDPbBN9rs7Q5SEnfvK7E3SK0Qb5gFKjBDhPWe5dsqSvlqPGJzljkRDihmx9uZsBs6tKeqbLLxEN18C4ffpYWKOskYqSx4wGbWpLqgK1dskGIdD7LVA8IZPoVop4aQBfzA/s1600/IMG_0874.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEFEQFxoKJTJDPbBN9rs7Q5SEnfvK7E3SK0Qb5gFKjBDhPWe5dsqSvlqPGJzljkRDihmx9uZsBs6tKeqbLLxEN18C4ffpYWKOskYqSx4wGbWpLqgK1dskGIdD7LVA8IZPoVop4aQBfzA/s400/IMG_0874.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631182595485604162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhll-g_va-m418xDmn0dUg8f37OmWNaBXmrhliuA2D18FQT1OuGra7y_ccCBCDdU2CxkiNu7dLlTr-e-tnkYoSCuuBdHi2A-AvpVxfPvmvZhuQPX75pyEBVi1WqKTYKIgHrskS9tN-2rHw/s1600/IMG_0865.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhll-g_va-m418xDmn0dUg8f37OmWNaBXmrhliuA2D18FQT1OuGra7y_ccCBCDdU2CxkiNu7dLlTr-e-tnkYoSCuuBdHi2A-AvpVxfPvmvZhuQPX75pyEBVi1WqKTYKIgHrskS9tN-2rHw/s400/IMG_0865.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631182587402629986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">(don't ask me about that red lipstick)</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHsLdOrMPUcEKDJfn3S9PtfBFcqgku2tIxvCHvQDCL4d4qgD4rP86gx6XC0mGMcdwFLjNUFqsVe1TML2lwAY2v9hpxKP_Y_LhLcbENccraLetwa0ecY1q8fFg5O7pcL8fTodtoDq4esE/s1600/IMG_0862.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHsLdOrMPUcEKDJfn3S9PtfBFcqgku2tIxvCHvQDCL4d4qgD4rP86gx6XC0mGMcdwFLjNUFqsVe1TML2lwAY2v9hpxKP_Y_LhLcbENccraLetwa0ecY1q8fFg5O7pcL8fTodtoDq4esE/s400/IMG_0862.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631182365021418082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjua2hp6KVBglHGdnqpSCumuIoM9V_PTXDQEueU_AU-yBaACr8dkcOTJJCe-k_mF5IatLBQX5L3gsio4619ZS5Q2-OP1mXUc1nPssdZNMViJuvTJHy0QkJiKzMDM4rdWFFzhJOpnjDX3d0/s1600/IMG_0863.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjua2hp6KVBglHGdnqpSCumuIoM9V_PTXDQEueU_AU-yBaACr8dkcOTJJCe-k_mF5IatLBQX5L3gsio4619ZS5Q2-OP1mXUc1nPssdZNMViJuvTJHy0QkJiKzMDM4rdWFFzhJOpnjDX3d0/s400/IMG_0863.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631182351390810578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSi5sSzYQC01RwOqPC-Eh1bEy9Z2P31hmDeArgkns3aVzIuZH656VP77dbTDCy4acdolv0yYO9mJwzbhFJVCTy-svsO8Op1GCazZLMthFc4V5KhsqsZhxHwARmzdv1tMQuufFW5DvAH9Q/s1600/IMG_0855.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSi5sSzYQC01RwOqPC-Eh1bEy9Z2P31hmDeArgkns3aVzIuZH656VP77dbTDCy4acdolv0yYO9mJwzbhFJVCTy-svsO8Op1GCazZLMthFc4V5KhsqsZhxHwARmzdv1tMQuufFW5DvAH9Q/s400/IMG_0855.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631182345931754786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Addie is trying to figure out the English language. Right now she's struggling with past tense. She may let you "keep" one of her toys, but then she'll get mad at you because you "kape" it. She'll read you a book, but if she already "rade" it then you have to find another one. Don't bother telling her you "read" it already, because that's a color. (leave = lave, need = nade, she makes them up at will)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></span></div><div>Last night she got angry because I took a dollar off of her allowance chart (I take them away if she throws a fit or is mean to anyone) and she took the sharpee and was all over her chart. I figured she was trying to put the dollar back on and told her that no one was allowed to write on her chart but me, it was against the rules. She gave me a guilty look and I asked Saydie what she was writing. Saydie said "hearts and flowers decorating the edges" so I started laughing. Addie started crying and saying not to laugh at her. Don't laugh at her.</div><div><br /></div><div>Addie is horribly independent and stubborn and, you can imagine, that being the youngest child she is also very spoiled. She is also very affectionate and funny. She loves "snuggle buggies" and no one can leave the house without "huggie kissie, huggie kissie." She is a whiz at puzzles, loves littlest petshops, and anything miniature that she can pretend with. In the morning when I do her hair, she lines up all the hair clips and pretends they are people and animals and puts them through elaborate play scenes. She also likes to build things, and COLOR. She is quite an artist.</div><div><br /></div><div>One reason I get a kick out of her is because she is my 4th girl - and the only one that has ever imitated me. She gets my voice, my mannerisms, the hand on the hip, eye roll, whatever. When she talks to the other kids, sometimes she sounds just like me and while it is not funny for everyone else, it's kind of endearing to me. ("Dax, really, does she have to ask you 3 times?" "Saydie, she said to do all of those dishes") Since she's attached to my hip at all times, she feels the need to reinforce my parenting.</div><div><br /></div><div>She goes off to all-day kindergarten this year and I can hardly stand it. It's going to feel like I've lost a piece of me! I love you Addie-girl.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-7360179751951516562011-07-10T22:29:00.000-07:002011-07-18T18:07:56.629-07:00June 5th, 2011: Newport Beach<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Greg's Parents decided to plan a family trip to Newport Beach this year. We have been looking forward to it for MONTHS. We didn't have to plan anything for this trip, we had a condo booked for us and fun activities every day. The only thing we had to do was plan for some beach games (Greg's assignment) and one girl's craft night (my assignment.) Easy peasy. For that, and one family dinner, we got a week long BEACH vacation with the GARN cousins! I could go into detail, but I won't. I'll just add some photos and tell you that we went to the beach every day, all day. My fave.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwM-mgln7n6Ik0SD8R9K5ZEI3LPUnD2UH-d1-CqZff8qtVjFOl3o5gvq4tGTiWcvnjlqjCxGBNL1U5dTOO3aeGfKbl7bqZym_H_DqJPdu67RNh2G2PzSRpwl4rywXVOWp7eyHEDAGHVsE/s1600/IMG_0908.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwM-mgln7n6Ik0SD8R9K5ZEI3LPUnD2UH-d1-CqZff8qtVjFOl3o5gvq4tGTiWcvnjlqjCxGBNL1U5dTOO3aeGfKbl7bqZym_H_DqJPdu67RNh2G2PzSRpwl4rywXVOWp7eyHEDAGHVsE/s400/IMG_0908.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628717708646831586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">The first day was Sunday. Of course. The church was beautiful and the kids were totally willing to pose for pictures.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qRZHrq680D9cE7ebjruOLRKsD0mUB4UX0URbHUZjl0zCNxre0udzk6P2V1Kbx2pcijJ3TeEKhjkS8T5bOh0To0TsbloqITXlfYkmnB0ea5yB40uLfSd9qYBLqlmVdTDJW2EvxEGucIY/s400/IMG_0549.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628716300753735458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvpBPIap-TlQvfCo3ureTSV8U6XdM6JX3sM3zyMQT9ojp8mfoIawJIDYBD33S8ijf1_BzAf8X_MfOnmHb5XU85aFEWqkHMiz-TkvxDTWGGJR_3nQebabE8kP_UfSikRP7Zy3SC0H6a5U/s400/IMG_0577.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628716649804206226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Saydie, Kinsey and I weren't there yet. We had to stay home for a dance competition but we caught up with everyone Sunday night. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Monday we headed to the beach in Newport.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Skimboarding was very popular with this group:</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSq7sEShULFwJqs-43c6tO98mVTSeyQXq7G67b-CWXnZSWQgpL-TRnBxKBqt7zjTYnBo4L5I4nZQ7MOTjhU_fI-i-50eujONT4_T7_Zcc7ACvUwMUIIE7jm6PShoOiSjx8GKePmmTVaQ8/s1600/IMG_0569.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSq7sEShULFwJqs-43c6tO98mVTSeyQXq7G67b-CWXnZSWQgpL-TRnBxKBqt7zjTYnBo4L5I4nZQ7MOTjhU_fI-i-50eujONT4_T7_Zcc7ACvUwMUIIE7jm6PShoOiSjx8GKePmmTVaQ8/s400/IMG_0569.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628716636272588722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_Se41tUzAMe9MOpCcs3cGRtI-tIBrhpUEh0cG3qIjbuGxI25570IkqigFpzh6NYJzmLOIlGpwh0MRGp4TH5Ob7EFSZ4LA_wVJCGQFw2kZg60Q67QNm6p31unmT049bcEolqQBsMCj9w/s1600/IMG_0564.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Here is Kinsey on her feet. Didn't last long!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I think this is Nate, getting launched. These kids jumped on that board over an over again...despite landing helter-skelter in only a foot of water!</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_Se41tUzAMe9MOpCcs3cGRtI-tIBrhpUEh0cG3qIjbuGxI25570IkqigFpzh6NYJzmLOIlGpwh0MRGp4TH5Ob7EFSZ4LA_wVJCGQFw2kZg60Q67QNm6p31unmT049bcEolqQBsMCj9w/s1600/IMG_0564.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_Se41tUzAMe9MOpCcs3cGRtI-tIBrhpUEh0cG3qIjbuGxI25570IkqigFpzh6NYJzmLOIlGpwh0MRGp4TH5Ob7EFSZ4LA_wVJCGQFw2kZg60Q67QNm6p31unmT049bcEolqQBsMCj9w/s400/IMG_0564.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628716618792391378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPI8PYksgrptoUEJXfpYEGR-a9ahiKvMVbu6fKu8LkLI8p3ZiaFrOjRRuyqYNF-CZv9ZZYGvv-DjzvuyU8yJ6QvSZWIZO6GEhBCXYilbh-I8J9ZnKb5ZMM2zQcWifM0Dr7zYi6xr0Uz4/s1600/IMG_0561.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPI8PYksgrptoUEJXfpYEGR-a9ahiKvMVbu6fKu8LkLI8p3ZiaFrOjRRuyqYNF-CZv9ZZYGvv-DjzvuyU8yJ6QvSZWIZO6GEhBCXYilbh-I8J9ZnKb5ZMM2zQcWifM0Dr7zYi6xr0Uz4/s400/IMG_0561.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628716304452935618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Here's Josh taking a good fall.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Skimboards are also good for making a graveyard. It was so fun to play dead, that we could hardly get the kids to "smile" and play alive!</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmOi5FkTDdUgh1HpVmaB-RksqdiiYovBEnI-hF_YmK4-D4KWswZrfNm_0QORcHUDx7WaZk0_aBo4i9NSJieAZiYOq23O2hZ9jfv4aX5rjd3yuaPG48e7Uf38jCEl2s_AiLA2Xmr4WAX8/s400/IMG_0944.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628719136635901410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; ">The cute teenagers. Kinsey, Amy, Josh and Kylee:</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqW703fPFc8Npe3J4VeiLOppel_vc7Bzhg9JUjLOtSflAd_mJA5zBDKOWgeItzV_DEzwV3ORUMoEqHmvl3cXI6UOw72ooLKm6RXXzx4PxY4zmKHm1VN688cPjLuceIIptXYizKbgobMU/s1600/IMG_0939.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqW703fPFc8Npe3J4VeiLOppel_vc7Bzhg9JUjLOtSflAd_mJA5zBDKOWgeItzV_DEzwV3ORUMoEqHmvl3cXI6UOw72ooLKm6RXXzx4PxY4zmKHm1VN688cPjLuceIIptXYizKbgobMU/s400/IMG_0939.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628718392883099074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I don't know why the pictures are do dark, but I think it's because I didn't transfer them to photobucket before I downloaded them.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWaAYvVKq5rFdTbhU_torNzUem4FQQanp1Cs8WeNExGlvgAL3vFJvzTvP6Re34VMyd7FtgBCGDo_fPp6tR4uzi_wqKVYpVyCRUHdysyNcK9224TnG3tDHhnHQBfMDgKguqbzPL6qa-YY/s1600/IMG_0937.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Saydie didn't want to be left out so she also worked on some sweet skimboarding moves...like posing with the new skimboard :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWaAYvVKq5rFdTbhU_torNzUem4FQQanp1Cs8WeNExGlvgAL3vFJvzTvP6Re34VMyd7FtgBCGDo_fPp6tR4uzi_wqKVYpVyCRUHdysyNcK9224TnG3tDHhnHQBfMDgKguqbzPL6qa-YY/s1600/IMG_0937.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWaAYvVKq5rFdTbhU_torNzUem4FQQanp1Cs8WeNExGlvgAL3vFJvzTvP6Re34VMyd7FtgBCGDo_fPp6tR4uzi_wqKVYpVyCRUHdysyNcK9224TnG3tDHhnHQBfMDgKguqbzPL6qa-YY/s400/IMG_0937.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628718373553943410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28mmg4GLXcij65vnxPQPPo83tpxNkpCkXapZM9qhU94JR4Vp6tlSr2FGiUqSB0mJLpp_e_ARkpJSeOtED8CYSCIUZ8Q1DVmTGaDa3Ze9RU-7x7hyVjODB425FtG1ZvPN2EIpIYnFXNVA/s1600/IMG_0935.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28mmg4GLXcij65vnxPQPPo83tpxNkpCkXapZM9qhU94JR4Vp6tlSr2FGiUqSB0mJLpp_e_ARkpJSeOtED8CYSCIUZ8Q1DVmTGaDa3Ze9RU-7x7hyVjODB425FtG1ZvPN2EIpIYnFXNVA/s400/IMG_0935.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628718366885491106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Ashley and Addie.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsBhaYnEl-VKhwNJId4v4eq3ykfuwKe30kvWEWYzb_4VAnp80vE8lMAFUYy4Cv_9ZnDGvWR6KLWk0y-qxk6R_rmEGgQtYUhMRpjLWnvemOidxOjphozsr5KM8GKib5GFrDw-9fZjTAdU/s1600/IMG_0921.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsBhaYnEl-VKhwNJId4v4eq3ykfuwKe30kvWEWYzb_4VAnp80vE8lMAFUYy4Cv_9ZnDGvWR6KLWk0y-qxk6R_rmEGgQtYUhMRpjLWnvemOidxOjphozsr5KM8GKib5GFrDw-9fZjTAdU/s400/IMG_0921.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628718360234694082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">What better thing to do on a windy day at the beach? Perfec time for a princess kite!</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdBDnBw4OZkO7JB6OM77HXhIzQKkjfsoCy5laD_uV4oQw5WJ01zK_77C12TeF11l9vitdgScBFDkJ01eQwiV9uRw02Ga_UbMFD6WwCtsG768FwHpk3fBzQvrT_TD7lgMGDQIdZsF6NEs/s400/IMG_0916.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628718351564368322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">A daughter after my own heart. I could do this all day long...lay on the beach and read. It would be more relaxing if Kinsey wasn't pestering her the whole time to get up and play something...I've always suspected Kinsey may be ADHD. Or something.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeco6m-9ijtCAuJwAhpQZoIdWN4lU_Fvan3Dx2JbYaCr2R7sz20mrnUelx6A6HpKQedpEcDwBI0JXRgxaUCbMAZDIFc9uUiimOv7a9Fvla10FBxMaR-6kBYPRniYjIK6Iii1nB0B58p0/s1600/IMG_0899.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeco6m-9ijtCAuJwAhpQZoIdWN4lU_Fvan3Dx2JbYaCr2R7sz20mrnUelx6A6HpKQedpEcDwBI0JXRgxaUCbMAZDIFc9uUiimOv7a9Fvla10FBxMaR-6kBYPRniYjIK6Iii1nB0B58p0/s400/IMG_0899.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628717697099330274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">My only boy child. Not the most daring in the world, but still willing to give skimboarding a chance. </span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszMHP4eOTsKaZLDQNz-2x2oLtfXMCKATDmFcya6NxxWOaPa-gURyRlIszJ3tXqausEN0WgMS0xXvezAgY8CP9ziTHxShtGvt7Ck-2Qth1IQliOkuHO2dm-3kJfIOkXYaQx5ABASjsECk/s1600/IMG_0887.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszMHP4eOTsKaZLDQNz-2x2oLtfXMCKATDmFcya6NxxWOaPa-gURyRlIszJ3tXqausEN0WgMS0xXvezAgY8CP9ziTHxShtGvt7Ck-2Qth1IQliOkuHO2dm-3kJfIOkXYaQx5ABASjsECk/s400/IMG_0887.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628717688033952834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">"How many times do I have to do it, Dad?"</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eZgLrvqz0UJSSTmjqNSFR-rMRMxgZMQqo1Z6Y6KXdqTB9dqTu9KvUTUYKC3reyFv_tq435Nj5Ku-ylg27XOY7WUwKyJMUdGz0OPGlfaU64UFlSZN45dcQeVFTJJhi-zSrQ5LWOsw9Tg/s1600/IMG_0877.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eZgLrvqz0UJSSTmjqNSFR-rMRMxgZMQqo1Z6Y6KXdqTB9dqTu9KvUTUYKC3reyFv_tq435Nj5Ku-ylg27XOY7WUwKyJMUdGz0OPGlfaU64UFlSZN45dcQeVFTJJhi-zSrQ5LWOsw9Tg/s400/IMG_0877.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628717685599215986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">A little bribery and a new skimboard will go a long way!</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Oh man, I love this kid.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKZHm0CqDtHvkUpdu_7U08B3E1qsRE_G_gzOPLaCohFcjsPajByBMxXETQ51cFmjQzouYRGEyCa8pI93EkGpLGo5v5hekrVDuHveAC72dvLZrVgxI3p-3CSxBjBg7vfGMOvand9UZC9g/s1600/IMG_0626.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKZHm0CqDtHvkUpdu_7U08B3E1qsRE_G_gzOPLaCohFcjsPajByBMxXETQ51cFmjQzouYRGEyCa8pI93EkGpLGo5v5hekrVDuHveAC72dvLZrVgxI3p-3CSxBjBg7vfGMOvand9UZC9g/s400/IMG_0626.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628716663199612370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Amy, Kylee, Erica, Kinsey</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">And back at the condo...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoeysaaV6ZRFujSQI6paG_unb1ZtzyVPEOEjav0LqULdpOKx9BawElrxf7Nr63DBoY2QtC5J3wVKHngyqMX_qhfsEvIwcTlqjtiCUR2EmydnB5hlwxIhttkhnahyMEyJuNac3Mc-_nmw/s1600/IMG_0593.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoeysaaV6ZRFujSQI6paG_unb1ZtzyVPEOEjav0LqULdpOKx9BawElrxf7Nr63DBoY2QtC5J3wVKHngyqMX_qhfsEvIwcTlqjtiCUR2EmydnB5hlwxIhttkhnahyMEyJuNac3Mc-_nmw/s400/IMG_0593.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628716654066947474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br />A little body graffitti to help pass the time. ADHD.</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TwKxh1vvtZkJHrA6LcczcjwSIfNFR85adZP1MWywTJFMRrlI45qQnSCZK0GjuwqAG8qdw_eYtTier9GcwdNWU5csceJHzDgg5s1fRx7b616lk8jhSYNs7Psa-sxxpZAx-TIemPfNF7I/s1600/IMG_0539.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TwKxh1vvtZkJHrA6LcczcjwSIfNFR85adZP1MWywTJFMRrlI45qQnSCZK0GjuwqAG8qdw_eYtTier9GcwdNWU5csceJHzDgg5s1fRx7b616lk8jhSYNs7Psa-sxxpZAx-TIemPfNF7I/s400/IMG_0539.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628716293504518018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br />Amy, Kylee, and Erica. You can tell they were really concerned about the "keep off" sign at their feet.</span></div></div></div></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wCCyk5Uf1wt8At4JYWwJjVKCWvUSKDzbQ6ttnoFCLY8gTXKNxQ36RRRELlh0LxNRjRoNlLbmEMFj1M1mv3G4MJpnjle_4ZiX2TXNLPWKHMHHejmUR88ObWlfW8DTCm40K_wNl0YCznI/s1600/IMG_0513.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wCCyk5Uf1wt8At4JYWwJjVKCWvUSKDzbQ6ttnoFCLY8gTXKNxQ36RRRELlh0LxNRjRoNlLbmEMFj1M1mv3G4MJpnjle_4ZiX2TXNLPWKHMHHejmUR88ObWlfW8DTCm40K_wNl0YCznI/s400/IMG_0513.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628716289779051266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrclcbKj3x2f9Tj25g6D8UdVVVKRgyWzND4miIg0DuU9DSbLEQLCkuVFII2SeVWo1CUKHuucDyj5n4W1_K-7v-63UtqNy95OpzxrcZGuTwGoKunubeI8kcqraq4j5ZwzJik4NESfLBmbg/s1600/IMG_0508.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrclcbKj3x2f9Tj25g6D8UdVVVKRgyWzND4miIg0DuU9DSbLEQLCkuVFII2SeVWo1CUKHuucDyj5n4W1_K-7v-63UtqNy95OpzxrcZGuTwGoKunubeI8kcqraq4j5ZwzJik4NESfLBmbg/s400/IMG_0508.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628716285270152946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Erica, Kylee, Amy, Josh, Nate, & Jack posing as the sun goes down. It's fun to have the kids get older! </span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Glow stick party with the lights on...Glow stick party with the lights off.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzaQyUwGSFNEltDQLozkCfAsdpaiozNlhzqZOYe3mfcPYWSjLg-gz61lvv6Oan-x8bOqxDfsrc_RttorOmmJAR9nSv4XNuG0dNbIiTHBmwV7Z2Oyh2thmuHXVk_KzPzTymtAgOTPRBK8/s1600/IMG_0964.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzaQyUwGSFNEltDQLozkCfAsdpaiozNlhzqZOYe3mfcPYWSjLg-gz61lvv6Oan-x8bOqxDfsrc_RttorOmmJAR9nSv4XNuG0dNbIiTHBmwV7Z2Oyh2thmuHXVk_KzPzTymtAgOTPRBK8/s400/IMG_0964.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628719147152100994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5R35CjYNVlc7_SyVdyVX-aPNhQV_ZHBTAAzTR9wDHLAfu5FUjZDhM8wF8d6VxVET1qMHnk0xjBoLyQFU0LId1ZT55gbslEgCZ_1AYbuq0aF4-lFyUFq35Drs99hzjAmXn96tOQQJhG6s/s1600/IMG_0961.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5R35CjYNVlc7_SyVdyVX-aPNhQV_ZHBTAAzTR9wDHLAfu5FUjZDhM8wF8d6VxVET1qMHnk0xjBoLyQFU0LId1ZT55gbslEgCZ_1AYbuq0aF4-lFyUFq35Drs99hzjAmXn96tOQQJhG6s/s400/IMG_0961.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628719140420913426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmOi5FkTDdUgh1HpVmaB-RksqdiiYovBEnI-hF_YmK4-D4KWswZrfNm_0QORcHUDx7WaZk0_aBo4i9NSJieAZiYOq23O2hZ9jfv4aX5rjd3yuaPG48e7Uf38jCEl2s_AiLA2Xmr4WAX8/s1600/IMG_0944.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeyLPzf7IiteHy1YjGzxZEO-m3ihuwm9prH6o1pMXTTbkpIWWYg6T89TZNcf35q38tRWWKZwAz0d03E23F-Tl05blHw4vJLHiBTpAA6XNAbbwkIEDQONVtLa6VMf4gIRGyxtTNbJYvjY/s1600/IMG_0941.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeyLPzf7IiteHy1YjGzxZEO-m3ihuwm9prH6o1pMXTTbkpIWWYg6T89TZNcf35q38tRWWKZwAz0d03E23F-Tl05blHw4vJLHiBTpAA6XNAbbwkIEDQONVtLa6VMf4gIRGyxtTNbJYvjY/s400/IMG_0941.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628719130607793970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">The perfect hosts of a perfect vacation! My in-laws, Daryl and Irene </span>Garn.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for a GREAT vacation!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u></u></span><br /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-71362805175147747962011-05-22T23:16:00.000-07:002011-05-22T23:44:46.815-07:00Beach House 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQ7yYV-WPCngbMTw5opQ9x7jo6SCheKYMGjct7fk5R1Din0s0dRJQv_y_XeauhKclMYIWjmHqQTbxwYqQtSkjIY-b0gJqOxMGbLCYkpj1iSlvrmReDVjrQs22K4qrvEURH5HUTAvdtUU/s1600/IMG_0831.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Most of you know that for one month out of the year, we rent a beach house in Oceanside. We are on our 5th year doing this and I LOVE it. It's the next best thing to living in California permanently. The crazy thing is, I generally rent it for the month of May - when the kids are still in school. How do I do it? I take the elementary school age kids out. I generally don't think they miss much in the last month of school and if there is something important they need to go back for, I'll get them there. Their teachers are pretty understanding and I do homework with them in California. This year, I wasn't very happy with their school so I withdrew them and signed them up for homeschooling. I know...cheating. But it works. The older kids can't miss that much school so they just come on the weekends with Greg. They miss a Friday here or there and sometimes a Monday. Luckily they have good grades and it all works out. Here are a few pictures from the beach house. The weather was amazingly great, all except for a few days when Nicole came to visit. Sorry Nik.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1g2WS3pjVfCNd4tVTD0OTdgwmHnStsw6qTxlqSoMECqVvLNuWEHGhZ1-xdF5phNPqieEbJcFQGP4ZFOGPTrExMojYupvEELyP7C_lYPXtfdkgW3wulj4SZub9WNc1ods4Ycp7tK43xI/s400/IMG_0820.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609794553585522994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is my favorite view, as you drive down the street towards the beach house. This is on a pedestrian bridge over the street.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKpOJCmyxrwlp5s9844VPuflcGrLqxwtsY00SLhfx-9VtTs1Z3_KhLscCSkTbOC9tfVmhjdtThM89GTM3d-e8EXxg_i0vDiOvWqBnJJg2JIsjqrlsAJ4YC6X3qgb4QSr36RZ9ZiD8bWg/s400/IMG_0434.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609794017882439602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is the view from the back balcony. Love it.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQ7yYV-WPCngbMTw5opQ9x7jo6SCheKYMGjct7fk5R1Din0s0dRJQv_y_XeauhKclMYIWjmHqQTbxwYqQtSkjIY-b0gJqOxMGbLCYkpj1iSlvrmReDVjrQs22K4qrvEURH5HUTAvdtUU/s1600/IMG_0831.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQ7yYV-WPCngbMTw5opQ9x7jo6SCheKYMGjct7fk5R1Din0s0dRJQv_y_XeauhKclMYIWjmHqQTbxwYqQtSkjIY-b0gJqOxMGbLCYkpj1iSlvrmReDVjrQs22K4qrvEURH5HUTAvdtUU/s400/IMG_0831.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609794559995523746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cwKNbHe3o1QbWdFkJwrQzEBapj3Q_-MoSAfo9xusK97lEe929XxILU06t0VBt68SNfrR4CWVwDRAuThNOCLIrQ8vIX4aQihedP6j3spuoQxuP2WO0oNPnFCNsbPK8llv0SKzr3aDRv4/s1600/IMG_0827.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cwKNbHe3o1QbWdFkJwrQzEBapj3Q_-MoSAfo9xusK97lEe929XxILU06t0VBt68SNfrR4CWVwDRAuThNOCLIrQ8vIX4aQihedP6j3spuoQxuP2WO0oNPnFCNsbPK8llv0SKzr3aDRv4/s400/IMG_0827.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609794558974942130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When we went for a Sunday walk, Addie ran almost the whole way. We ended up at the "river" between Oceanside and Carlsbad. It's about .75 miles from our house.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Y-J9gYVR9WtvtATUVAYojKj1Gv9vdvDfWbdtmP8H6qQwctQ0vY2zy6q4g1RdoCgPrhhAE-IlXzRfm3bScSMzYE61mR7mB03yk5raS1HnGgwbAwQAnjzRNwe-rTl3TXgl1CZ1XhHiG4c/s400/IMG_0640.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609794550586778706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sitting on the balcony. The whole fam. Saydie, Addie, Kinsey, Kylee, and Dax.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOFiNk6xNRP5-i_GNqA4SrH1OieTIY-68tTt0ecBL7qDnaGh5BkZMTMUgIetXiYU1Fm-i7WXgI9eOf9jyW0-jj3-uKNfyijO87xAbAhXWrAVRlhZQz_7g2ePSH9UWY8b-ZFrqx3b5Ht4/s400/IMG_0461.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609794029615665906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">No matter what we're doing...Addie wants to watch the sun go down. It's so pretty.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1dbXPFGDBuQqCQl0ZSYyRq1Bc-z-9Nm3sRg8AngcPN3jq5mfBrqYGvX-n_x0JeJMXQK1PY4hwRu6aD0T00In0pxYFJgONPtTVo_1NqXieG-YF-IKFTZMiM1UsA4IGIvgzPIPmCn26E8/s400/IMG_0443.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609794020508009634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Saydie and Addie are both little ocean fish. They will swim and play in the waves without caring if it tosses them around and almost drowns them - or if it's freezing cold. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2F8GCW4uh0X-wnNOUZnDUWj6YFx7yoWXZ4oifGCxAd0J05LybLLG_pfMuNdcW0lOO5livtGBI6rjIpYAH8Xq-n3UKRkhtBiw-UriuM3FoeQZIDT08ZU7tN5NeqX-z7KtsOoheQlyl-I/s1600/IMG_0432.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2F8GCW4uh0X-wnNOUZnDUWj6YFx7yoWXZ4oifGCxAd0J05LybLLG_pfMuNdcW0lOO5livtGBI6rjIpYAH8Xq-n3UKRkhtBiw-UriuM3FoeQZIDT08ZU7tN5NeqX-z7KtsOoheQlyl-I/s400/IMG_0432.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609794013191651762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">How is this for a view. I wish I could take it home with me. Yes, I brought my computer...it's a month!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I usually bring a lot of projects to work on while I'm here. However, this year I had a bunch of visitors, and I also had a lot of work to do on my computer so there isn't much to show for my time - but there also isn't a huge mess on that table like there usually is! I FINALLY finished blogging about last years trip to Guatemala and while I did it, I realized that I really don't like blogging. In fact, I hate it. Maybe if I keep doing it, I'll learn to like it...</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-83796688323545498242010-05-07T15:26:00.000-07:002011-05-22T23:15:59.343-07:00Guatemala Day 9, 10, & 11: Flores<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnc180OivslG7WlzqOyR7UhZLGnzk4XOzAGwP3niQ9s042O-I3OotAFQOLhgaQfUqB9e4PeDU5yXRVFlmaH_hwq4BIgTEWu0fv2UzG33ZdGht_tflFdw-Rf8YoeIbU69aKiMoL2opI9g/s1600/P4050619.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:small;">We slept in and went to breakfast at about 8:30. Not the best breakfast, they brought my fruit uncut and then generic STRAWBERRY yogurt on the side with a side of granola. weird. Kylee had french toast -which was good and came with more fruit. After breakfast we went for a walk to see if there were any crocodiles in the close pond. Absolutely NO sign of them. We were so sad...but we did see a few turtles.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"> </div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We arranged for our shuttle at 12:30 then went to hang out at the pool. It is so hot in Tikal that the pool felt great. Of course we were ready for our shuttle at 12:15 and it didn´t come until 12:45. Of course I am totally in a panic by then, even though everything is ALWAYS late here. We were the only one´s in our shuttle and thought we were going to be lucky but no...everytime there was someone on the side of the road, we picked them up. Soon we were not only full, but still picking people up! And dropping them off! It took us 2 plus hours to make a 1 and a half hour drive. Ugh. And did i mention it´s HOT. No AC in anything. </span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"> </div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Lucky for us, our shuttle dropped us off right next to the Gran Hotel de le Isle and we walked right in. $77 for a room with AC and NO BUGS! Not a fancy room, but check out the AC unit in the top corner. woo hoo!</span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-k7K4QUIbYnpW87tJIHzpjH6SvCae9UfBXjU_cA8mlCIAaW-k7FBL1MOtnIpA9XI00JVlbmInBmEdI_tNcfUzcQCmCn82hh1NNIQEIv1mXfWDlXSqGygnbAzczsNHDp_kD4uOOm89iF0/s400/P4050616.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602725929237220706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> It´s a miracle. It´s so hot here. I think the further north you get, the hotter it is. It´s different though. In AZ you can´t just ride with the windows down and be okay - I think it's because there are black asphalt roads and concrete buildings everywhere. Here, it´s all jungle so if the windows are down you get enough of a breeze that you don´t feel like you´ll die.</span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"> </div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Flores is a quaint little town. It's an island and it's very small and crowded.</span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLXVzjJ3Bs5G_J3_yAk_HEO1KAKHDoPOh72M6JXSEE9LwD9YbvRAXoWiHYxZbEtd_EGrQHixQZ09OfZiKPfB0g-rh8Nu-dMfxh18Ayr0ZOF25gpGexNqlHM6ystzTYBxrWl31yDxm8qc/s400/flores8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602726826740022914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The streets look like this:</span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW97DswVzElo7gEqRZeovzKrJaBm1K1wy0CmErWClZ-3lpPXTfVZ5Orofnkq8K09h1NOJPosTBBM1rniAHXJJ_B8eoOO0MTmBI8DlWtz4zj2OvuUdsLOA454sp4TJLLoY8rzR6hcdUs70/s400/images.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602726828937958290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 259px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Which is pretty much what it looks like in most of the cities. We walked along the water and did some shopping and then we got some GREAT pizza. Of course we were so excited to get some real pizza that we ordered a Grande (which was very large) and then we ended up leaving half of it. You´d think we´d learn our lesson, but no. At least we can take our leftovers on the bus this time.</span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"> </div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">After dinner, we walked and shopped some more and ended up at our hotel pool to kick back and read, then shower (best shower ever) and bed. It´s funny how even this old hotel feels like the Phoenician right now!</span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"> </div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Day 11: Leaving Flores</span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We thought we reserved a spot in the fancy expensive bus but as we waited for it at 8:15 this morning - it never came. At 8:50 I went to check on it only to find out it only runs at night. Ugh. Our not-so-fancy bus leaves at 10:00. </span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnc180OivslG7WlzqOyR7UhZLGnzk4XOzAGwP3niQ9s042O-I3OotAFQOLhgaQfUqB9e4PeDU5yXRVFlmaH_hwq4BIgTEWu0fv2UzG33ZdGht_tflFdw-Rf8YoeIbU69aKiMoL2opI9g/s400/P4050619.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602725931212369858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We took the back seat again and the drive was not bad. I can´t wait to get back to Greg and the kids but I really don´t want to leave Kylee! Check out our bracelet collection, we like them a lot...</span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z_xshWd2AhFpEZbAKkLHT5GvewXMQy7D1Fatl8bgxcJ_qg6eNsajATy-l0s3W9RyxgIkN9U9NGhvKyF8eYJjHzyxW81o217Ca7UTEh6uAr0vthox3YX1lGRFSfCsc-zZSbYZJmNw6xw/s400/P4060621.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602725930369090946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="gmail_quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-6282034059860929522010-05-06T22:29:00.000-07:002011-05-22T23:15:38.263-07:00Guatemala Day 9 continued: Ziplining!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNd69jtvSblqJEtz-Qc8U7xyzTrFjlVOR0Ptt5e7OTlOJabRBdgEB0aYfmHIZ1Fbj82vQ3miNmsymkvnZb_svJ6wXI4KVBYs3SlrJ01KO5gnTlFHIkESXM32Epg__77baHOZZ8iF8Heo/s1600/P4040605.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Okay, the canopy tour (ziplining) was a blast. Kylee didn't inherit any of my fear of heights, lucky for her. I'm lucky I've done it before because I can feel that familiar feeling of panic and just keep going up. The zipping doesn't bother me, it's the climbing up and standing on the really platforms.</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTJMY3uGytXCGE1Xac3CcFidRpafp91dZgVE-kApTy5LJXkopjViK81uRa-VodL95bpAz1T2q01bd1utPn0wdpz1XL5x21sJ8KHnPbXiKVWoKVS2pPEec8MY-9M35SkLUcUnosrjmmXs/s400/P4030570.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602584982306239986" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Those things are stinking high! At least once we were up there we just zipped from one platform to another, we didn't hike in between them (it was HOT.) Sometimes we climbed to a higher platform, but we didn't have to actually hike. It was a blast. For one of the zips, Kylee and I put our equipment on backwards and then flew like superman. It was a little unnerving having arms and legs totally free, but it was so fun. I thought we took a lot of pictures but apparently I took a lot of video. Just a couple pictures.</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcR6xX1gp1W_snaSgOwCwkmUduY4ghFTikozKFN7Ui5N4PoLfphqraDZgIgh1Yyhh05jhcCIkN5Tyfrz7bH7c986sjoARJf71EOCrzQvHSSYzIKsSTFtM0sLj3t73uI8VUhpNw7juYAuM/s1600/P4030572.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcR6xX1gp1W_snaSgOwCwkmUduY4ghFTikozKFN7Ui5N4PoLfphqraDZgIgh1Yyhh05jhcCIkN5Tyfrz7bH7c986sjoARJf71EOCrzQvHSSYzIKsSTFtM0sLj3t73uI8VUhpNw7juYAuM/s400/P4030572.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602584986852431858" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTJMY3uGytXCGE1Xac3CcFidRpafp91dZgVE-kApTy5LJXkopjViK81uRa-VodL95bpAz1T2q01bd1utPn0wdpz1XL5x21sJ8KHnPbXiKVWoKVS2pPEec8MY-9M35SkLUcUnosrjmmXs/s1600/P4030570.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUPcuU_XAhGqrsQL_cwvOVnOydRubu2qJzkqdPZpDC7u03YnIEPqhfpU722Cl_wfw6mZDMVeUlJuZ4TXkbnsQxmwR8-mL6BD5x3haOJLjnhYJxexDkz0tDNoC2UPU00EGKMkf18DqkoI/s1600/P4030569.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUPcuU_XAhGqrsQL_cwvOVnOydRubu2qJzkqdPZpDC7u03YnIEPqhfpU722Cl_wfw6mZDMVeUlJuZ4TXkbnsQxmwR8-mL6BD5x3haOJLjnhYJxexDkz0tDNoC2UPU00EGKMkf18DqkoI/s400/P4030569.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602584978958666050" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And a t-shirt to top it off. All of that for just $25 apiece!</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BE86T5ArL248qme_jNcYfmSCQ3WsDv_6_QzlS5M3n77sa2v3_kbSUQV6YbWudQNRUgbfXkNSFKgo7xmRDcLMddr8qM8hLwzxlmR-ZQaxk0mtYJyQ-EU6pG5H3JmgjAsph76dvua1J-U/s400/P4030575.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602584995409624770" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">After zipping we were pretty hot. It was the middle of the day, the sun was shining and it is about 90 percent humidity. Lucky for us, this hotel has a pool! We put on our suits and jumped right in. Then we snoozed in the sun for a couple hours. As we enjoyed the pool, 2 families of monkeys came to hang out in the tree above us. One family of howlers and one family of spiders. We're feeling like pros because we can tell them apart. They are so fun to watch. There were 10 of them and 3 little tiny babies. They just swing around eating food and jumping from one branch to another. They just hang there from their tails picking at leaves and looking around...it was so cute!</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">When we got hungry we walked down to the Jaguar Inn - which is more of a campground. We were sick of the food at our place, so we thought we'd try hamburgers & french fries. The ketchup is gross, but the french fries were SO good. I also had a greek salad, which I assumed would be on lettuce but no. It was basically cucumber, tomatoes and onion with a bunch of feta cheese. It WAS nice for a change to have actual vegetables with NO oil. The feta was also a welcome change from the liquid cheese that is usually on everything. It was yummy!</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We decided to try crocodile hunting that night. Our waiter hooked us up with a guide for $20 and we agreed to meet him outside at 7:00. So, we went home to change and shower and go back. We got there at 7:00 but our guide wasn't ready until 7:30. We "renegotiated" and ended up paying 100Q apiece. That's more like $20 apiece. Oh well, not my night for the negotiation :) Anyway, it was totally worth it. We walked through the dark jungle for 20 minutes and then got to a lake. When we saw this sign we knew we were getting close.</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJL0j-VvUL__pXDRtKPYHEokG39gmtfAX28bS5CGenq-nrj4CabXzh_sW3ILU9Yzx5WAfXdCHcTCsziyfyqKzh71rwwbQu5oKUwXrnqHrXKXaBJhg7TY6qm-m-WvkMIVlMwO6qbDQy20/s400/P4040596.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602589137552274850" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Then we saw this little guy and took a picture. </span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjebrkrUaVPqBnmwyn9RP8sGwM3k_emMBdpmBEY6S5gGFZVDZKfmgxA36kVhDYyW0ZgUtmo3y1EARdhTVWR-aTvVkETK_hyphenhyphenTchEupWtEDeeZ57ah13_IOVbKdZMjE7wzwNnnVYJTVjc4/s400/P4040595.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602589134594140722" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Are you wondering how we found him in the dark? Their eyes glow in the dark! Same with tarantulas. Yuck! Our guide was used to foreigners freaking out about the scorpions, but we are from Arizona so we didn't freak out. We took a picture...because he was BLACK. Sand scorpions in AZ are light colored and can be deadly. One of the most deadly species. THIS scorpion is ugly, but not deadly. He will hurt you, but not kill you. They don't even bother to treat the stings! Still, I wouldn't want to share my room with him...</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Back to our hunting trip. As we approached the lake we shined our flashlights and immediately saw 2 big shiny eyes staring at us.</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lNDlNX0ArYM4aYUzwOhiFKP9FYsZxiNJUcojQ0tD69r1GLHt8PgitNV9dnraOV1TkbbzLGHbz4PTb6YkP-HRf6aOhr5z3GiHmw42yvEEwViikoIhXnIQGDOleJXPLBD3FtRUQtjaaVk/s1600/P4040601.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lNDlNX0ArYM4aYUzwOhiFKP9FYsZxiNJUcojQ0tD69r1GLHt8PgitNV9dnraOV1TkbbzLGHbz4PTb6YkP-HRf6aOhr5z3GiHmw42yvEEwViikoIhXnIQGDOleJXPLBD3FtRUQtjaaVk/s400/P4040601.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602589159369777122" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Can you see his creepy little eyes??<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNEQlnUzBGPSFg6EZsm50CnOuOfLBqi_vQitItqV7_6v7kAjLQ-a6PBOOP8GgR-0k_h9MMHtydQ54ypXeNdcGrkFz9_s2sQqYMIziS_-J8F4J0Yi0nb9ECqgSGseA3XMBy2ga5ON-MtE/s1600/P4040599.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNEQlnUzBGPSFg6EZsm50CnOuOfLBqi_vQitItqV7_6v7kAjLQ-a6PBOOP8GgR-0k_h9MMHtydQ54ypXeNdcGrkFz9_s2sQqYMIziS_-J8F4J0Yi0nb9ECqgSGseA3XMBy2ga5ON-MtE/s400/P4040599.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602589156689656002" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This is how far away we were...can you still see his eyes? They're the 2 dots closest together and in the mid-left range...in the pitch dark. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I swear he knew we were coming. We turned off our lights for a few minutes to see if we could get him to come closer and it was so spooky. Pitch dark and every sound we heard we could swear he was coming out to get us! When we turned our lights back on he was GONE. We followed the guide around a little "island" of land and shined our lights again and he had so kindly gotten out of the water and was in full view sitting on the edge of his house. It was pretty incredible. He was big and big, and big. and so very close! After we turned our lights off again he slinked back into the water and stared at us. We took off, I think he was getting hungry. We went to another little lake and saw 3 little baby crocs. Two of them kept their distance but a little one slinked up close enough to take a picture (that didn't turn out.) It was so little, it was practically a lizard. So cute we wanted to touch it, but it was kind of in the mud and we knew his mom would be fast enough to get to us. It was a fun, spooky night in the jungle. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We went back to the restaurant and shared a chocolate banana crepe and then went to bed. We are going to have to buy some nutella so we can make those things. Check out our beds. This was such a nice hotel!</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div face="Papyrus" size="medium"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNd69jtvSblqJEtz-Qc8U7xyzTrFjlVOR0Ptt5e7OTlOJabRBdgEB0aYfmHIZ1Fbj82vQ3miNmsymkvnZb_svJ6wXI4KVBYs3SlrJ01KO5gnTlFHIkESXM32Epg__77baHOZZ8iF8Heo/s1600/P4040605.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNd69jtvSblqJEtz-Qc8U7xyzTrFjlVOR0Ptt5e7OTlOJabRBdgEB0aYfmHIZ1Fbj82vQ3miNmsymkvnZb_svJ6wXI4KVBYs3SlrJ01KO5gnTlFHIkESXM32Epg__77baHOZZ8iF8Heo/s400/P4040605.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602589163161933698" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div face="Papyrus" size="medium"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Tomorrow we are traveling back to Flores for the night, then we will bus back to Guate city on Tuesday. :( </span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-73147735217752608902010-05-05T17:42:00.000-07:002011-05-22T23:15:04.677-07:00Guatemala Day 9: TIKAL<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">"In this remote area, one of the greatest civilizations of it's time established a city that endured for centuries. Set in the jungle canopy, the site today consists of over 3,000 structures extending over six square miles including temples, palaces, ceremonial platforms, ball courts, terraces, avenues and plazas. The Maya began building Tikal around 600 B.C. and at its peak some 1,500 years ago. Tikal was a wealthy metropolis, home to an estimated 100,000 Mayans, as well as an important religious, scientific, and political center."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">This is an artists rendering of the whole park:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReZjBptQ6hjIrC5_59kaTmdFWvedxkGqMpJxmQy-0__mXPdsQcMES5NmpxErxMx2QjosWzCg3Qhyphenhyphen7dih0BiDCQdC-BzcRV8w5C2ooSwXfD09K2CmXkyV9V5G0TndDq8it4xnSDLSwlCY/s400/P4040607.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602619462674217714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We had such a blast today! We started off at 5:45AM entering the "park." We didn't have breakfast or any water but we knew there would be vendors inside so we didn't worry about it. Little did we know, once you enter the park (it's really a jungle) you have a 30 minute walk just to get to the central plaza. It was HUGE.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoGk4XMl2QRd3BylmOf4NQ-zdYUQOiqMOCcr3WKzZv_fOlnnDMpzinB3HR6wXc7EUHk9xjKxmfL7o5pXZ-SU7R0r3tqnPA2YR9vSj74KnggAmqUhkJ16ZWvJQHgLyCZhBcgGtBGhSFao/s400/P4030451.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602343592521599202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-OfPMCljV7yNfVtrHeItPVKmaiB-dpZ_zY9xDlu2YOkBO3sN74xzIoMjRNfsmPRMDJ1_BGjwFIS6WFfOXxotKhZLwiGuvYfx_Rp62XpQ8L9K5Y6LzvMH2-6_7ObjnkusZGhUtmpWb7Q/s1600/P4030546.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-OfPMCljV7yNfVtrHeItPVKmaiB-dpZ_zY9xDlu2YOkBO3sN74xzIoMjRNfsmPRMDJ1_BGjwFIS6WFfOXxotKhZLwiGuvYfx_Rp62XpQ8L9K5Y6LzvMH2-6_7ObjnkusZGhUtmpWb7Q/s400/P4030546.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602334052748766674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizobD4Lpaawn5kChElCZCofZQi2Eszw2vxPKfm8ZR6JGz9wjKqMhqSlH1gk6XPEuI6fGfk9X5cI7lgyDcnYWZFyTGJNb5RHA8l1Wf_tZrQ2oglJVQutslLAuEIvoyQWwLa7o8DPvPU2Tc/s400/P4030453.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602343599735559442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span>There was a row of these "thrones." They say no sitting on them. We couldn't figure out what they were used for... The thatched huts are covering areas that are currently being excavated.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_DiEkwMaQ_29ATvoXn4CpzoqEmWgoeXfIDU4gwXY8Zf3uY2LH52Vm0jdaYX32Z1M7K2Gy7KVVLiCONO-VqtoQU3-APA6r6c3Iy8_wZ1013OghiurvmOyGJhn_uRZ41p1oVigugbZDDs/s1600/P4030543.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_DiEkwMaQ_29ATvoXn4CpzoqEmWgoeXfIDU4gwXY8Zf3uY2LH52Vm0jdaYX32Z1M7K2Gy7KVVLiCONO-VqtoQU3-APA6r6c3Iy8_wZ1013OghiurvmOyGJhn_uRZ41p1oVigugbZDDs/s1600/P4030543.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_DiEkwMaQ_29ATvoXn4CpzoqEmWgoeXfIDU4gwXY8Zf3uY2LH52Vm0jdaYX32Z1M7K2Gy7KVVLiCONO-VqtoQU3-APA6r6c3Iy8_wZ1013OghiurvmOyGJhn_uRZ41p1oVigugbZDDs/s400/P4030543.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602334054984656306" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aMz1Oiu6bM4Vz5U_6ZH1Tjd9afpwvd-_hsW24b5_WWqGJkNvWOwwPszXogg2qN-DrDqUZ0b5DAZ8dowpdAe6aU50Fp_T0r-jdoqH_3K_UwBwT1OL4KHPmrZDyEfV_IDkOXVwFrgQmSM/s1600/P4030542.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aMz1Oiu6bM4Vz5U_6ZH1Tjd9afpwvd-_hsW24b5_WWqGJkNvWOwwPszXogg2qN-DrDqUZ0b5DAZ8dowpdAe6aU50Fp_T0r-jdoqH_3K_UwBwT1OL4KHPmrZDyEfV_IDkOXVwFrgQmSM/s400/P4030542.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602334047960351714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGq8GMnVCiTIfd4UtWHGUMu03ueKQyfqxSfoHq0Aj8nmSJiGAElgjPk3d_iLAg0mZ5QkbyZFV8G89rAiPxMB7CWMeYBHqo03iesjnjlag7zmbPC9BjHN4Vk0-cF2gsEO2LQXPMtK2iIQ/s1600/P4030541.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGq8GMnVCiTIfd4UtWHGUMu03ueKQyfqxSfoHq0Aj8nmSJiGAElgjPk3d_iLAg0mZ5QkbyZFV8G89rAiPxMB7CWMeYBHqo03iesjnjlag7zmbPC9BjHN4Vk0-cF2gsEO2LQXPMtK2iIQ/s400/P4030541.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602334043088334034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There were no vendors! By 7:00 we were pretty thirsty but the sites were so amazing that we just kept plugging along. Pretty soon we were VERY thirsty. Lo and behold, we found a discarded water bottle at the top of Temple V that half full. We drank it (mom of the year...) and it gave us the strength to continue. :)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Temple 4 was the farthest away so we went on a hike. When we finally got there and climbed to the top, we didn't ever want to come down. These are the stairs we had to climb up.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CEDygO_R7j6J8a1fBWi60XyfgrSkGX8ZShBIzmfCoIGpocnebMtXYQYJY0tH0uMFT5rdA64FzMw9dRYstCZjPE6_7or7oIxwOuXHD2lZsF1BPMIzORjo_iTuVP25T2i1o0F-XTwHRyE/s400/P4030472.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602292807568466642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIYnvRq5sQFaXgRqnjRcsDSd_SYqW2qeNUWDkwhPmW7IauN4lBmYpgLKxbkEOhVB3IJ3wKUP9wotwXtFJnDtwOc8DD5hvBUeKwBw5MM93x1ba8kIhTbK7_8-bBy-4VMpCbOU2jj5NCFI/s400/P4030484.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602292827436155074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Yes, I know how good we look. Keep in mind that we have had very "iffy" showers and no electricity.</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This place is incredibly awesome. The view. I can't even describe it. The Mayans knew what they were doing. Location, location, location. The top of the temple is still being excavated and Kylee wanted to go in it so bad...but it was padlocked. Such a bummer. This is the view from the top. Those buildings waaaaay over there are the other temples and the main acropolis. It's a pretty good hike.</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdA1dwbkwP2YAvxHQZlmRqkholW5_a6uNmBPj7ioc45UtTWYjVEW03pg4nGQhy9Mw_NjkagwqjJhZ5WfRf5JlERJb7wmNkmpCYX0N0ahX6lrrdVwmuj4Se9NpQIFwuC8TDFbfA8CpY1uw/s1600/P4030478.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdA1dwbkwP2YAvxHQZlmRqkholW5_a6uNmBPj7ioc45UtTWYjVEW03pg4nGQhy9Mw_NjkagwqjJhZ5WfRf5JlERJb7wmNkmpCYX0N0ahX6lrrdVwmuj4Se9NpQIFwuC8TDFbfA8CpY1uw/s400/P4030478.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602292818434754162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZ1SNVZyN7ojvdFbNla9OwaLXDBn7GKMF2Nar-eXEwNCQLAmzqu6bkHDtUFDULtRLEq5DPlY7PHRusxnti0bUy7qgXP3j67wvzNupURPJ9w8Q_a0Y8-5anySvPGUcH87Kz7oJS6RykeE/s1600/P4030477.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZ1SNVZyN7ojvdFbNla9OwaLXDBn7GKMF2Nar-eXEwNCQLAmzqu6bkHDtUFDULtRLEq5DPlY7PHRusxnti0bUy7qgXP3j67wvzNupURPJ9w8Q_a0Y8-5anySvPGUcH87Kz7oJS6RykeE/s400/P4030477.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602292811145777218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This is the ledge at the top of Temple IV. We were the only ones up there. Can you tell how high up we are? No rails or anything. I think that we could fall off and no one would ever find us.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_33Q0xlmHjhYxTqn6W6bga4vmE2CbcluqTSGxKoNgtA2by7ZoTW-SwwAjMH5jt7k79hc6PGgvN0EV82-vUGAVYyL4rbDBT9wMZxvyHjtVPCTLdV4CrKqisX9YHKAJa1OuhdJ5ihSshg/s400/P4030482.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602292822637751138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">On our way down we "found" a little more water. YES, we could continue. We were so glad we came to the park early, it wasn't hot yet, and it was totally empty. We felt like we were discovering Tikal for the first time - all by ourselves. This place is HUGE! As we came out of temple IV we heard a big roaring sound. We were afraid that there was a lion hurt or fighting. We went toward the sound and it just got louder and louder. I've never heard anything like it, it was so loud. We knew there were Puma's and Jaguar's in the area so we were looking for a Jaguar. But no. It was a HOWLER MONKEY! Can you see him up there?</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gw0jIz2zg7JRCAUuoM58VeESJKKgWtOIvfbdzJvAQhMvqRJwL8aTFY1QA_lf6kB-mqJjutmCevK-NnLUR_Rpema1ycv7i5E1DG2_eaPbF3FmSYq1oEOXyBFZsOCuslYGPai8QhtpmnQ/s1600/P4030562.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8jr6XCfzjVwMdXSs4cw8OuxBUbYW7Uv9-slUGYfvOx2rIgTh6Q4NAF1PmbELSxjGIqcmhIV5tWbRESbHd31lQrCywn-ktfyoOwzJHC7VFsgD8q69uLNMw0b4dg4OnE7IMlbyU3Fv_rY/s1600/P4030488.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8jr6XCfzjVwMdXSs4cw8OuxBUbYW7Uv9-slUGYfvOx2rIgTh6Q4NAF1PmbELSxjGIqcmhIV5tWbRESbHd31lQrCywn-ktfyoOwzJHC7VFsgD8q69uLNMw0b4dg4OnE7IMlbyU3Fv_rY/s400/P4030488.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602336400713658738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';">This little fluffy black monkey makes a roar like a lion. It was so cool!</span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We continued on to the rest of the ruins and Kylee just couldn't get enough of it. She's was bouncing off the walls taking a bajillion pictures of anything and everything. Ruins, birds, anteaters, monkeys...everything.</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gw0jIz2zg7JRCAUuoM58VeESJKKgWtOIvfbdzJvAQhMvqRJwL8aTFY1QA_lf6kB-mqJjutmCevK-NnLUR_Rpema1ycv7i5E1DG2_eaPbF3FmSYq1oEOXyBFZsOCuslYGPai8QhtpmnQ/s400/P4030562.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602336405445636018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvEko3yEJ3S-29GW1ZHgSddJSnKwMLdKtyhnn-kuER3Du2siDNSAYV1cPBonN677I2OFiBhEBnPaInCrN2vulCzrzvznQRAWeFZTNusbn2OC3Pe2OaURn9fEz3MgWSFGl6Zb5CZlqmU8/s1600/P4030462.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvEko3yEJ3S-29GW1ZHgSddJSnKwMLdKtyhnn-kuER3Du2siDNSAYV1cPBonN677I2OFiBhEBnPaInCrN2vulCzrzvznQRAWeFZTNusbn2OC3Pe2OaURn9fEz3MgWSFGl6Zb5CZlqmU8/s400/P4030462.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602336403805931666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Here I am sitting in someone's house:</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhED_t0Q6Qw6KnSetBD7CoawvB_Jtj0nubyWw5wDYEMKd7VQAb1Pwr3y9QAh2nMyXQXljpaFs9R2U-174KsUcCx-yUK1O1uL5UyJww5QE4fqHWBCTWfM9BVQIRuIU-CzzT14FE9vkkptc4/s400/P4030551.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602346065337030002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Every area was a new exploration, and it's all just out there in the open! It is so cool how the front side of a temple will be excavated and the back side will look like a mountain covered with vegetation. This is the front front of the building that has been excavated:</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoETxqHYaFod3zyqrIsc6nQkziLiDORzvIWhkiKtXLsTF0eJDFEXcNkB6V3jjCqf0ZrDD4Qcja8fX0q_LIQQeOmjNipjxwawQaNoAroaKdzZZRPgLxbnfzHN7P38_nNJRYABgcZ7VU4Y/s1600/P4030516.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoETxqHYaFod3zyqrIsc6nQkziLiDORzvIWhkiKtXLsTF0eJDFEXcNkB6V3jjCqf0ZrDD4Qcja8fX0q_LIQQeOmjNipjxwawQaNoAroaKdzZZRPgLxbnfzHN7P38_nNJRYABgcZ7VU4Y/s400/P4030516.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602345537147138322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This is the back. What is under that? Who knows!<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHMpFrZXWp4hsanL1vqy4haPk-wN8y7hAF5AzkBvt3tQ7Y4S5RGyrvdqx3lqt72hO0_qjNhx4U6ge66_FqvGCRVli_alBtEXv3jSF0syAaepobKeWPOFNTWFIObpFmVJZsQQ_hWkPB24/s1600/P4030514.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHMpFrZXWp4hsanL1vqy4haPk-wN8y7hAF5AzkBvt3tQ7Y4S5RGyrvdqx3lqt72hO0_qjNhx4U6ge66_FqvGCRVli_alBtEXv3jSF0syAaepobKeWPOFNTWFIObpFmVJZsQQ_hWkPB24/s400/P4030514.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602345534688737298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Same with this one...here is the front:<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFKXB11JdrcATgnSCOV6YT8sF8YqV1hkGxbyQ7aYuuTIJjHERAxsymZe9S6RbtLwfdzQL45m_0vKcv0SUxinf9bXvXapIsSaQ7KmTpCSB4Gv1LebRHWqrMtg68JE2Kb3Fs1Z-M1QWehc/s1600/P4030510.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFKXB11JdrcATgnSCOV6YT8sF8YqV1hkGxbyQ7aYuuTIJjHERAxsymZe9S6RbtLwfdzQL45m_0vKcv0SUxinf9bXvXapIsSaQ7KmTpCSB4Gv1LebRHWqrMtg68JE2Kb3Fs1Z-M1QWehc/s400/P4030510.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602345530579275586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And this is the back:<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTt6HjZgieooQHa3K2uwhpioEEFhHIL-uPbnCrcaw-VId_qnvU5XVjDjdmyLzB9ye6qIQUCIeJUHIHavYiQT5DSenNHEbmWioV-kMgAmu1uqI5EcuNYxPvxvWZSSaICe1jgzMZQl5j5c/s1600/P4030509.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTt6HjZgieooQHa3K2uwhpioEEFhHIL-uPbnCrcaw-VId_qnvU5XVjDjdmyLzB9ye6qIQUCIeJUHIHavYiQT5DSenNHEbmWioV-kMgAmu1uqI5EcuNYxPvxvWZSSaICe1jgzMZQl5j5c/s400/P4030509.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602344687124549394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There were piles and piles of these stones. They are fragile, they break apart like chalk.</span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoooTR5ffuY0gUKqbwg0ke-6W5RzK_xzL5-mGV-ddPQX-j3KNZ-6HHTosK9vrb_Zak3AF7oDMpD295gCC3gznIfC2e5kBJAyNcW_kRrvtn1OA3bjzUlOkLnKnOVgo4j2J1WjN9faBEHg/s1600/P4030466.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoooTR5ffuY0gUKqbwg0ke-6W5RzK_xzL5-mGV-ddPQX-j3KNZ-6HHTosK9vrb_Zak3AF7oDMpD295gCC3gznIfC2e5kBJAyNcW_kRrvtn1OA3bjzUlOkLnKnOVgo4j2J1WjN9faBEHg/s400/P4030466.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602344684964836786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Here they have started excavating into the side of the mountain.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKX0yGOnxVg-gvLc_h5ZR06PVut7KR4Drymf3bIcCXruslBlAsGhvjj-SHexfJ4Ay3JMqt6arLFbV1XeQMDOqY3c7wCfk_e6yS0lmFYBR6UXXV1U1xYQLA59YEJti-dOxmJASwmQD7UU/s1600/P4030465.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKX0yGOnxVg-gvLc_h5ZR06PVut7KR4Drymf3bIcCXruslBlAsGhvjj-SHexfJ4Ay3JMqt6arLFbV1XeQMDOqY3c7wCfk_e6yS0lmFYBR6UXXV1U1xYQLA59YEJti-dOxmJASwmQD7UU/s400/P4030465.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602344680440289170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Here they started excavating underground and then they just stopped...</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFJBk3x4-7e5aToreHhTNWimxqsrBjZzi7J2wlVjojkmGEuHTQbSeAU428aDje1lQ4n0_-0431Jl9xepADrJDHPZvUFTGrVI3UG_JxdklJl5XFbLB-tsanU9mom77Q0mEivYPmp2Gmls/s400/P4030526.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602355762990904930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Makes you wonder what is under all the rest of the hills in guatemala. There could be ruins everywhere and we'd never know it. However, they could uncover these ruins for the next bajillion years and it wouldn't tell them anything unless they find more of these:</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4U7GRvgFBxTWD3jNt32c51qi4JJ9VBRnKeapEYByLFb3ZccAjtawC5Unr0fR3vEyBxYVC02x9mcrs36sX-kvTOW-FW7q42bry2bj1o3NyTeTJmyUbmKMriuvt_ozw3N6uzhBE2faWu8/s1600/P4030464.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4U7GRvgFBxTWD3jNt32c51qi4JJ9VBRnKeapEYByLFb3ZccAjtawC5Unr0fR3vEyBxYVC02x9mcrs36sX-kvTOW-FW7q42bry2bj1o3NyTeTJmyUbmKMriuvt_ozw3N6uzhBE2faWu8/s400/P4030464.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602344670053936578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzNhsB7OxgHazHfxrtU5ICqmSZ1lbVlbTxBFXIsO4dg7kDHwT9Bd_urtyZkMhkI6Z5qRLG3e9bMUJ8TX8y5VCcYPdQ_o3dVmfRFssne1VA3cLGxto4blKgjQxgTgQfdnuv24CEaTwD9I/s1600/P4030463.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzNhsB7OxgHazHfxrtU5ICqmSZ1lbVlbTxBFXIsO4dg7kDHwT9Bd_urtyZkMhkI6Z5qRLG3e9bMUJ8TX8y5VCcYPdQ_o3dVmfRFssne1VA3cLGxto4blKgjQxgTgQfdnuv24CEaTwD9I/s400/P4030463.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602344668006206770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoGk4XMl2QRd3BylmOf4NQ-zdYUQOiqMOCcr3WKzZv_fOlnnDMpzinB3HR6wXc7EUHk9xjKxmfL7o5pXZ-SU7R0r3tqnPA2YR9vSj74KnggAmqUhkJ16ZWvJQHgLyCZhBcgGtBGhSFao/s1600/P4030451.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglRmjPbg13vn7zqAJ3s77TKqO6wZ2p8nkGbOqfAhQYO68LLGE4PpawNp54FcALUS9J3FFPHy75rvfQdEp8xrrUk6sE4lnrdIg5RdAISgtQWOuK8EeavH5B24HcqP0RQ9qtq0P7S4W4fI/s1600/P4030439.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglRmjPbg13vn7zqAJ3s77TKqO6wZ2p8nkGbOqfAhQYO68LLGE4PpawNp54FcALUS9J3FFPHy75rvfQdEp8xrrUk6sE4lnrdIg5RdAISgtQWOuK8EeavH5B24HcqP0RQ9qtq0P7S4W4fI/s400/P4030439.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602343588982747890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZylYryWf9jDXABYV4sMn40-LDFAm42wM5VrRvXcCGmBi0Cpfim2NffjAWpdulQxZgz-l1GJO6h0plUR_x3oQ4RWZ89GRtadW59VZ8Ayona33-vSAPrUrKfIVK4g1mfh2sBQ08jG1g6s/s1600/P4030438.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZylYryWf9jDXABYV4sMn40-LDFAm42wM5VrRvXcCGmBi0Cpfim2NffjAWpdulQxZgz-l1GJO6h0plUR_x3oQ4RWZ89GRtadW59VZ8Ayona33-vSAPrUrKfIVK4g1mfh2sBQ08jG1g6s/s400/P4030438.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602343581847213842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmiISkNEyleoM34iplx8mVIP83GHszMRvHsG5Je1PhQLvRb7v92XY2kdjCL2vZptC9BHXiehtXnbqq8tPlthJFkJA653wScNDQ7mZdcVcDxq7Eznsc1mf-vfDs4n-VtTxEWRYXqSPTNo/s1600/P4030437.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmiISkNEyleoM34iplx8mVIP83GHszMRvHsG5Je1PhQLvRb7v92XY2kdjCL2vZptC9BHXiehtXnbqq8tPlthJFkJA653wScNDQ7mZdcVcDxq7Eznsc1mf-vfDs4n-VtTxEWRYXqSPTNo/s400/P4030437.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602343581693608098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzNhsB7OxgHazHfxrtU5ICqmSZ1lbVlbTxBFXIsO4dg7kDHwT9Bd_urtyZkMhkI6Z5qRLG3e9bMUJ8TX8y5VCcYPdQ_o3dVmfRFssne1VA3cLGxto4blKgjQxgTgQfdnuv24CEaTwD9I/s1600/P4030463.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzNhsB7OxgHazHfxrtU5ICqmSZ1lbVlbTxBFXIsO4dg7kDHwT9Bd_urtyZkMhkI6Z5qRLG3e9bMUJ8TX8y5VCcYPdQ_o3dVmfRFssne1VA3cLGxto4blKgjQxgTgQfdnuv24CEaTwD9I/s1600/P4030463.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzNhsB7OxgHazHfxrtU5ICqmSZ1lbVlbTxBFXIsO4dg7kDHwT9Bd_urtyZkMhkI6Z5qRLG3e9bMUJ8TX8y5VCcYPdQ_o3dVmfRFssne1VA3cLGxto4blKgjQxgTgQfdnuv24CEaTwD9I/s1600/P4030463.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Before they translated these tablets, they believed that the Mayans were a peaceful, spiritual people who studied the solar system and lived in tranquility. When they translated them, they found out how wrong they were. They were a conquering, war-making tribe that fought constantly to exert their supremacy. These kinds of things always make me wonder what else historians are totally wrong about...</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Some of the temples we climbed are so high and the steps are so vertical that it is amazing no one has been killed on them. If they were in America, they would NOT be allowed!</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzmr2rnD_zguxlLQZv9zSS5cCNhzoIzpBQ55ZnM-563BVIkMqsD7IZPEe0R9Byf_XiWXdGeiTe-BLuArvsBSu4Li7toOp83vSNNhVtrYKeJ2T9_wpGcNnO5zzvRLWf1Luk8mmPxkxB94/s1600/P4030532.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzmr2rnD_zguxlLQZv9zSS5cCNhzoIzpBQ55ZnM-563BVIkMqsD7IZPEe0R9Byf_XiWXdGeiTe-BLuArvsBSu4Li7toOp83vSNNhVtrYKeJ2T9_wpGcNnO5zzvRLWf1Luk8mmPxkxB94/s400/P4030532.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602355771787828034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFJBk3x4-7e5aToreHhTNWimxqsrBjZzi7J2wlVjojkmGEuHTQbSeAU428aDje1lQ4n0_-0431Jl9xepADrJDHPZvUFTGrVI3UG_JxdklJl5XFbLB-tsanU9mom77Q0mEivYPmp2Gmls/s1600/P4030526.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWSOecO_AS84gplFtJvI4700EjD9QkEuO_AEwwzGLORCObLDslJ5I_xGQQSbEpo6RnTZesQlDrCcoVRBKXXzUE5TOx02a5qUP2Vp3Z3mjDetJYV1vlQ3K6Uq06Mp6rmFb3HtVZlIK0FI/s1600/P4030521.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWSOecO_AS84gplFtJvI4700EjD9QkEuO_AEwwzGLORCObLDslJ5I_xGQQSbEpo6RnTZesQlDrCcoVRBKXXzUE5TOx02a5qUP2Vp3Z3mjDetJYV1vlQ3K6Uq06Mp6rmFb3HtVZlIK0FI/s400/P4030521.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602355753910491810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUIk6leAUj2LgfMf7XLim_eZpypte3gnazl0vRzLKXhJ2hxa6RPmlrpPx0cz6NBH8OWR-LrQp8fC_98E7jxm48j3OXaSps7-8UlR2mooMmdo8Vse6E2dL8KVXu-2h-us3YVFNIMA2lQ0/s1600/P4030447.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUIk6leAUj2LgfMf7XLim_eZpypte3gnazl0vRzLKXhJ2hxa6RPmlrpPx0cz6NBH8OWR-LrQp8fC_98E7jxm48j3OXaSps7-8UlR2mooMmdo8Vse6E2dL8KVXu-2h-us3YVFNIMA2lQ0/s400/P4030447.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602355753520757010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveOgTHfe3UW3K58FHbUXEFBRsUhLnrWbhBvlVKaTY7Dn8U4QA3pAt9364a_LqPdA3tRzpVkfEuss1PONHdR47YeDouQm-8Dd4Yhx1LP3nLpuSOnHewhco8O7tCzoPi-OYb-btCWZfs9c/s400/P4030535.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602345539622292210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Can you believe how high this is?! That is a sundial down there. A real live sundial used by the Mayans who predicted the world's destruction! </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">If I had one wish, I'd love to go back in time and watch a day in the life of Tikal during 700 AD. It would be INCREDIBLE to see that city in the peak of it's glory. I want to see the kings/queens/prietesses/whatever in those days. We have no idea what it was like...or how the buildings were put to use. All we can do is guess.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We were so hungry and thirsty by 10:00 that we hit the road. On the way out we saw that some of the booths were open so we picked up some water. Hallelujah, water. We were so happy, we took a picture to remember it.</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkEFF2MEV0GU1OnwYAMCn7RAjh_gxE7Ur-EFRMHoXQgvd-hB-9I9_5pur4TEk8MqZUzZc8NknjnQhpBn5j1-KMu-bo3jLq_SgkegEw1TYQWZrSSxGhm7TGCuYc__K-raFHFr7Aw7DZWg/s400/P4030540.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602356995616894514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I don't remember looking this bad...selective amnesia.</span></span></span></div><div face="Papyrus" size="medium"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div face="Papyrus" size="medium"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div face="Papyrus" size="medium"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We went to the hotel for lunch and scheduled our Canopy zip-line tour for 11:00. Can't wait!</span></span></div><div face="Papyrus" size="medium"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div face="Papyrus" size="medium"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-67979512674918565242010-05-04T22:53:00.000-07:002011-05-22T23:14:12.637-07:00Guatemala Day 8: Travel Nightmare<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">On our first day of vacation, Kylee and I decided to buy an new bracelet in every town we went to. It was a fun little thing to shop for and we were getting quite a collection. The girls (and boys) around here have them all up their arms so we have some catching up to do! Little did we know that we would both end up keeping these bracelets on for months after we got home. Neither of us could bear to take them off. This is the beginning of our collection:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ckTtxUpRbJOPS86Q5LBJKV7U4gWW3zCNwpto4I1RLmqiHtMffBsGSRBclfkk9GcH4Rn-05e6NZm7llDUqWLXeAO6bcuaLSiB9gGZ3QLyZQEMUsoyVcPT1Q5caYFSOZdhDhguoWhd0Ek/s1600/P4020392.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ckTtxUpRbJOPS86Q5LBJKV7U4gWW3zCNwpto4I1RLmqiHtMffBsGSRBclfkk9GcH4Rn-05e6NZm7llDUqWLXeAO6bcuaLSiB9gGZ3QLyZQEMUsoyVcPT1Q5caYFSOZdhDhguoWhd0Ek/s400/P4020392.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601508162873710882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></u></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The first boat out of Livingston was scheduled to leave at 9:30 and if it went straight to Rio Dulce, it would only take an hour and a half. BUT, these are tour boats and they stop in several places so it takes almost 3 hours instead. If you want a fast boat you have to hire a private one and we're not doing that so sadly, the earliest we can get to Rio Dulce 12:30pm. Ugh. We are trying to get all the way to Tikal today.</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The day started out great, it rained before we left our cabin and then we had breakfast and it was beautiful. This is where we had breakfast:</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ckTtxUpRbJOPS86Q5LBJKV7U4gWW3zCNwpto4I1RLmqiHtMffBsGSRBclfkk9GcH4Rn-05e6NZm7llDUqWLXeAO6bcuaLSiB9gGZ3QLyZQEMUsoyVcPT1Q5caYFSOZdhDhguoWhd0Ek/s1600/P4020392.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSP9zENARyI5AcBWvTP78rSLsBgKauqG1_Eu7U2lTeN8rUfJt2dh4-7nhzLvdabdMcuvzw9YI0Y2tNdiuCFK0JTmltTLBVCGs0P5Hpk39n_UsC255FQgAjobBMERvMG8p_850wpMY6B5g/s1600/P4020391.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWSjQ0nEffrvnyxE2JX0SSduXDoZ3baEdPSYQROgnnneeFHmISN-6kT3O_PmawbfGjSneVEYMly_Egohjz51iMRla-RgcmA8yjgaOtRXQrkEN2mldl2-6sR5ICe-B4dC6BdJGToO8IeU/s1600/P4020389.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWSjQ0nEffrvnyxE2JX0SSduXDoZ3baEdPSYQROgnnneeFHmISN-6kT3O_PmawbfGjSneVEYMly_Egohjz51iMRla-RgcmA8yjgaOtRXQrkEN2mldl2-6sR5ICe-B4dC6BdJGToO8IeU/s400/P4020389.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601508151347982994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWLGmHSU8SGBGSDhyB99JYgHMz560zB33HLRJDz71e-KL3MXFBP9TVmVxSqKQr8Pjewocq91M6qI6VPHxWN3sY8oOZ54pv8x3VdUS-WxaIYlrsZ80FMc2BdBnTwClIeNL5JwzR_nFSfY/s1600/P4020388.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We had our usual...me fruit and yogurt and Kylee banana pancakes. Yum. Kylee had a pretty bad sunburn, </span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWLGmHSU8SGBGSDhyB99JYgHMz560zB33HLRJDz71e-KL3MXFBP9TVmVxSqKQr8Pjewocq91M6qI6VPHxWN3sY8oOZ54pv8x3VdUS-WxaIYlrsZ80FMc2BdBnTwClIeNL5JwzR_nFSfY/s1600/P4020388.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWLGmHSU8SGBGSDhyB99JYgHMz560zB33HLRJDz71e-KL3MXFBP9TVmVxSqKQr8Pjewocq91M6qI6VPHxWN3sY8oOZ54pv8x3VdUS-WxaIYlrsZ80FMc2BdBnTwClIeNL5JwzR_nFSfY/s400/P4020388.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601508154146110690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">so we decided to put some aloe vera on it. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSP9zENARyI5AcBWvTP78rSLsBgKauqG1_Eu7U2lTeN8rUfJt2dh4-7nhzLvdabdMcuvzw9YI0Y2tNdiuCFK0JTmltTLBVCGs0P5Hpk39n_UsC255FQgAjobBMERvMG8p_850wpMY6B5g/s400/P4020391.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601508155970522946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ckTtxUpRbJOPS86Q5LBJKV7U4gWW3zCNwpto4I1RLmqiHtMffBsGSRBclfkk9GcH4Rn-05e6NZm7llDUqWLXeAO6bcuaLSiB9gGZ3QLyZQEMUsoyVcPT1Q5caYFSOZdhDhguoWhd0Ek/s1600/P4020392.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ckTtxUpRbJOPS86Q5LBJKV7U4gWW3zCNwpto4I1RLmqiHtMffBsGSRBclfkk9GcH4Rn-05e6NZm7llDUqWLXeAO6bcuaLSiB9gGZ3QLyZQEMUsoyVcPT1Q5caYFSOZdhDhguoWhd0Ek/s1600/P4020392.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ckTtxUpRbJOPS86Q5LBJKV7U4gWW3zCNwpto4I1RLmqiHtMffBsGSRBclfkk9GcH4Rn-05e6NZm7llDUqWLXeAO6bcuaLSiB9gGZ3QLyZQEMUsoyVcPT1Q5caYFSOZdhDhguoWhd0Ek/s1600/P4020392.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">at least it LOOKED like aloe vera... After we smeared it all over her sunburn, it turned yellow and started REEKing. By the time the boat got there, we had it all washed off but it still smelled a little. It was funny. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The boat was packed but we both really like boat rides so we settled in for the long haul. Along the river there were houses like this:</span></span></div><div face="Papyrus" size="medium"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div face="Papyrus" size="medium"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pMrQqI9sm31_P09M2GbwVu0dY4ojeHVHJjINwnMC_bzvhiYBwaQLBiWsDMMpN6oQrhNNeeb18A2rzfD2p-frMlAKXsqirC2Tth8k9yN4WGN5y4uyXZYby3-q6vwvcGJqJOM86Bw5vS4/s1600/P4020401.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pMrQqI9sm31_P09M2GbwVu0dY4ojeHVHJjINwnMC_bzvhiYBwaQLBiWsDMMpN6oQrhNNeeb18A2rzfD2p-frMlAKXsqirC2Tth8k9yN4WGN5y4uyXZYby3-q6vwvcGJqJOM86Bw5vS4/s400/P4020401.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601508805253110082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">With boats like this:<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrj0515ceZ7K4Yjvc1cL6HoY8a9xpz7ciwOEuVbwcm1-BdMbCbu8dYNcYzMqXlVAqBXAU_SQwC7r5g6UmV_FWE7Dhu2OTthyuSMAOPFaccdix6XjYWCzW4lPBn0_NB02DaRGrhPdkzHSw/s1600/P4020399.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrj0515ceZ7K4Yjvc1cL6HoY8a9xpz7ciwOEuVbwcm1-BdMbCbu8dYNcYzMqXlVAqBXAU_SQwC7r5g6UmV_FWE7Dhu2OTthyuSMAOPFaccdix6XjYWCzW4lPBn0_NB02DaRGrhPdkzHSw/s400/P4020399.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601508162817944258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Of course there were the usual shacks as well...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Our first stop was a little mayan village in the jungle. With some time to kill, we started off on a trail to some waterfalls. The trail was so cool we felt like we were in the middle of the jungle book. The Mayans are living pretty primitively here, they have no utilities whatsoever and they get everything they need from the river.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvxNgW6jiK5fnru7clz-l4BO-oersrpvgqBGVejIn1hHclE51ALmB2oMm3s66Tz5fLXeyGjZq02yOjz2Gv44aTyXOOXnBg9RI_1PbToMBBMSzN4CT7IUjVcQ9JcNJfZw9y0phyphenhyphen-a1dqI/s1600/P4020406.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvxNgW6jiK5fnru7clz-l4BO-oersrpvgqBGVejIn1hHclE51ALmB2oMm3s66Tz5fLXeyGjZq02yOjz2Gv44aTyXOOXnBg9RI_1PbToMBBMSzN4CT7IUjVcQ9JcNJfZw9y0phyphenhyphen-a1dqI/s400/P4020406.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601508813958222994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRWpaXW-i2JsqFk2XC2IPW3V0PyY-8PvrrSDPRAbKabRYikT1_jM-hSpJ3S6gS3DldHklOiwirsia6NFzORDMKWoiPghB2FMkC95jRoSzwiDyC0WHummmLaxs8FbaXqmlRPvMdDW0ICU/s1600/P4020404.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRWpaXW-i2JsqFk2XC2IPW3V0PyY-8PvrrSDPRAbKabRYikT1_jM-hSpJ3S6gS3DldHklOiwirsia6NFzORDMKWoiPghB2FMkC95jRoSzwiDyC0WHummmLaxs8FbaXqmlRPvMdDW0ICU/s400/P4020404.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601508807222554898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tkKKdOlQCUuNVzDoNieSyoZpupwRHKwr8nUFPiiaP0sp3DueA8AyTEjtXSHaakusYOfc-_-W-K_QmNXbDmaW4mDnQfkkEgo1PRyjnkmSrssNR1EMiI51nLILAydB8jlPhyphenhyphen41A5_-VzU/s1600/P4020403.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tkKKdOlQCUuNVzDoNieSyoZpupwRHKwr8nUFPiiaP0sp3DueA8AyTEjtXSHaakusYOfc-_-W-K_QmNXbDmaW4mDnQfkkEgo1PRyjnkmSrssNR1EMiI51nLILAydB8jlPhyphenhyphen41A5_-VzU/s400/P4020403.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601508811082609746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">While we were on the trail, it started pouring. We took cover under some trees and figured we'd better try heading back to the boat. We didn't want to get left behind! When we got back to the boat it was soaked. WE were soaked. The guys in charge of the boat were rushing around in this torrential downpour trying to get all the luggage covered. We were watching them and feeling pretty grateful that they were fast, and good at their job. It was still raining as we re-boarded the boats. They gave us some plastic to cover up with but by then it was pointless.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtMoUrBE5r6UI3-cEnsYMK3e_9zZ12HlplXET5s7S2auGfwvS_G-dMnI3cgS5w1B-KP52JQiJeNVIOOeGgyjIOYzUbhmjR-zX_Lyu60xkUbR2HQBzjtT1KIwkR8hHxjOlZVyMkbXQQu8/s400/P4020409.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601512859894720834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I took out the rain poncho I had been carrying the whole trip, just so I could feel good about needing it. It was awesome.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">By the time we got to Rio Dulce, we were soaked, the sun was out and it was HOT!! This is what people do at the docks...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_NuCbxIeuOK_025S6uQhNwTpVJEVEv4hLR-SAibrRUbzLptmy-SLU6Zgg7cKOgmweuJjgioZqydzC63Ro2cVmuZvpuhAK_5u-ektKubfC9-vGhB4Kfw-bbg7EfIleNmVe4fjoI0W6GQ/s1600/P4020416.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_NuCbxIeuOK_025S6uQhNwTpVJEVEv4hLR-SAibrRUbzLptmy-SLU6Zgg7cKOgmweuJjgioZqydzC63Ro2cVmuZvpuhAK_5u-ektKubfC9-vGhB4Kfw-bbg7EfIleNmVe4fjoI0W6GQ/s400/P4020416.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601509393469711202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmremgYF6VwhP_U5uypuNHyOhI73J6MCrn9C1xj2uALM1HojMcxRIdp2Gqh7WK9KcXOOG9A4egkfEa27wVwZm4x88jSbPErc9Ldzd1caKf0scjiY-Ps_rFfT0exue2IxujByR3nahek40/s1600/P4020415.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmremgYF6VwhP_U5uypuNHyOhI73J6MCrn9C1xj2uALM1HojMcxRIdp2Gqh7WK9KcXOOG9A4egkfEa27wVwZm4x88jSbPErc9Ldzd1caKf0scjiY-Ps_rFfT0exue2IxujByR3nahek40/s400/P4020415.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601509387956740178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This bridge is huge. It's pretty impressive. We were hoping we could bungee jump off this bridge, but when we asked about it they said that they stopped doing it a couple of years ago when there was an accident. (I was using "we" pretty loosely in that sentence...) Kylee was VERY disappointed.</span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> You'd think we would have dried out on the boat ride but no, the humidity was so high that our sweat just added to the wetness. The bus stop was about 1/2 mile uphill from the boat dock so we took our suitcases and started walking. A guy told us to follow him for a shuttle so we did and we did a complete circle right back to the dock we started at. Urgh. Then he told us it would be $150 or more for a private shuttle to Tikal. See ya. Still burning stinking hot. Another guy said $100 to Flores. We were tempted, but no.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">At the bus stop a bus pulled up FULL of guatemalans. It was beyond packed, 4-5 people on a seat and standing room only. Nope, not gonna do it. We were told a "first class bus" would be there in 45 minutes so we started talking to one of the shuttle guys. He said he had one at 3:00 with room in it. We saw our friends from the truck ride at the bus station so we thought we'd share a shuttle but no, the shuttle guy now wanted $100 per person to do that (I know, what the heck?!) I ran back from the shuttle place and Kylee said we just missed the first class bus and our friends got on it. Double-double UGH. I was dripping, literally dripping sweat and I had just ran up and down the dock (uphill) twice. SO mad I missed the bus that I lost it. Kylee was a good sport, she went down the dock to get another shuttle but they kept increasing the price so we decided to wait for the next bus at 3:00. I realize that at this point I should have just given them the money but I am STUBBORN...the bus was only 60Q apiece. That's less than $10! And they go to the same place! So, we blew some time and cooled off at an internet cafe. At about 2:00 we decided to get some lunch. I told Kylee to make sure the bus was still coming at 3:00 so she went up to check and it was THERE! Sitting there, about to LEAVE! Talk about panic... But we made it. Thank heavens. The bus was half empty and we had the whole back to ourselves. WAY more comfy than a shuttle and 1/5 of the price. woo hoo! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">When we got to Flores, we were still and hour and a half from Tikal, our destination for the night. We were dropped off almost alone, at dusk, in a strange city with strange men standing around in groups. There were no shuttles so we had to pay $40 for a cab. A scary cab so scary that he had to tie the trunk shut and my door didn't even open. I couldn't escape if I had to!. 20 minutes into the ride it was getting dark and we were doing the one thing our travel books said never to do...drive at night with a stranger! We were scared. But, an hour later we were safe at our hotel. And our room had a bathroom! With a shower! and hot water! it's a miracle!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOEynCbtmVzPJvGnJD7esjtp3nGBDRupqJ-gEDsmcNvFVVNWPEUFz_8OhAHuOxgsec9kt7veIsmvsKS8px0ZRR5Iaog2H6XtLFl1T7vR-IAYF-UiXMcIp0E-cfX4LCvB4-oKuSJiVdlU/s1600/P4030419.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOEynCbtmVzPJvGnJD7esjtp3nGBDRupqJ-gEDsmcNvFVVNWPEUFz_8OhAHuOxgsec9kt7veIsmvsKS8px0ZRR5Iaog2H6XtLFl1T7vR-IAYF-UiXMcIp0E-cfX4LCvB4-oKuSJiVdlU/s400/P4030419.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601509399980598946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQxVAd7ct_kzbHe0wyY5_7McYVF30JX933-GJP4Rpz-eH1LvuJXbrTT03hdnRdm7KCN7NKrrf8M3ly-XZ7CnY8jr1ZjmWC2n0XmuSUpzU4JMppHHQWuc_dkykWAYzFgU2jbAChvTfREM/s1600/P4030418.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQxVAd7ct_kzbHe0wyY5_7McYVF30JX933-GJP4Rpz-eH1LvuJXbrTT03hdnRdm7KCN7NKrrf8M3ly-XZ7CnY8jr1ZjmWC2n0XmuSUpzU4JMppHHQWuc_dkykWAYzFgU2jbAChvTfREM/s400/P4030418.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601509397135686338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We love it to death and we both shower before we head to the hotel restaurant for dinner. Most expensive meal yet, and we don't even care. In Livingston we ate dinner for 20Q, and typically we can have an expensive meal for around 100Q but here our dinner was 300Q! Kylee had cheese ravioli and I had peppercorn steak that looked weird, but was pretty good. Tomorrow we tour Tikal bright and early! Can't wait.</span></span></div><div style=" ;font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-60317672347104171282010-05-03T16:36:00.000-07:002011-04-29T22:53:14.238-07:00Guatemala Day 7: More Livingston, Rio Cocoli & Pelican Beach<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Today we managed to tag along with a little family going on a tour. The owner of the tour company was their Uncle and the rest of them were all on vacation. The public tours were closed for the month, but we caught him before they took off and he let us tag along. Yep, just their family, and me and Kylee. A little bit awkward.</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYWaDpPBkvsZStd95-7Wx97Vmunb9xIfF9lkZJTJDS3X9nqrjVy9MrAIGaulSM1iUt7h1JtxuysLWBHVDgOhyBgfyntHjrPIqQBMIE48ZVLH61U8DVcCCyekSOfyrXHprAfNjc84hPPM/s400/P4010335.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601163096119300882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We were just in one boat, we're just unloading here and stepping through the other one to get off. We started off on a boat in the Carribean Sea.</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeqmLzHAScBwL_19myhkfyL5FmOKtRy9j8SLE0kJ3G94IiyyC-0PIA-EifOTl4Af0HJXv-oz3pAOqwEZGMkxnx5QjRrr4teitwQ5FYS9t3nX_9V4_REbpnXUEe3InmPjzbCRzPWlbBps/s400/P4010331.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601163094440690386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Eventually we took a turnoff to Rio Cocoli which supposedly has Puma's, Jaguars, and Manatee (of all things.)</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiUZoUYrXQrMVGkaaJptQtSBOZmGvjdyUrtgdFsG96f9aPgeZ2HPKouKJoXhspwnaEh66ynYpDhznIMpU5e5H6ODEqNVdskNUrTiPF-XquAzOa1eCSbMIB2FoWZcDYuc8NvZojrwLFW8/s400/P4010334.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601245223944246770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Of course all we saw were a bunch of birds and little tiny Jelly Fish! They were so cute, but also scary. Luckily we didn't notice them until one of the girls got stung and we were about done swimming. Once we started looking for them they were all over!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Next we went to an exotic animal reserve in the farthest netherlands of the river. The owner of the reserve rescues animals, nurses them back to health and then sells them to zoos. It was interesting, but also stinky and a little bit sad. No electricity at the farm, can you imagine? I don't know how he manages to feed them all.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickyKGN07jo3_nYNgYer_ZCJHsdDNSwUBFK4nr5sEetifLy_5F3-z9xcz2-ogkKwnxsChN2RAThk93k7PLs1jqHQH_72_EqM3E5RLhwocJ6EHAHNasvPfRAU2HXSRubm8OataDrqUR-ro/s1600/P4010351.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickyKGN07jo3_nYNgYer_ZCJHsdDNSwUBFK4nr5sEetifLy_5F3-z9xcz2-ogkKwnxsChN2RAThk93k7PLs1jqHQH_72_EqM3E5RLhwocJ6EHAHNasvPfRAU2HXSRubm8OataDrqUR-ro/s400/P4010351.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601163107099868994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSpPFF3u92Apcm68_AtwzRM7hZII62SMN-TWF81qC06JqsyU_KTwFp03NhHGebPAcVBgLgwvmvBHRf9HIWQKRh39YkxYZQb53EFaLz8tlbYlm3WWWpP7T6VrPHUzBtNyhTb-xkUhEIRk/s1600/P4010341.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSpPFF3u92Apcm68_AtwzRM7hZII62SMN-TWF81qC06JqsyU_KTwFp03NhHGebPAcVBgLgwvmvBHRf9HIWQKRh39YkxYZQb53EFaLz8tlbYlm3WWWpP7T6VrPHUzBtNyhTb-xkUhEIRk/s400/P4010341.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601163102286609410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Kylee took a bajillion pictures of these little guys...I have about 40 pictures of different animals.</span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Then we went to a beach. It was a nice beach and we threw out a sheet from the hotel and read our books. This is what the beach looked like:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MvbLENxUpDi-W6ok5YJspiRwZbTV5O8-RurauW8H1P25CEqyGdZfOVyZNJfFlH2qy2zEdtzgQOyluZ35sfMfiqqiNj0zvdxvgSSBNsXPdqHp5jYwfChVWs8IlMUk4LlujTEpDutSadk/s400/P4020385.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601246816718269362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This beach is called "Playa Blanca" or "white beach" meaning that it is a white sand beach. They would die at all the sand at a California beach! The nice family we were with included us in their family lunch.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56hSz7wWb0lxLc2sPXnyeYVqM5f8XSsZMm30cix2bPrUebfRne4sTrx8VuTmhbe6Y6m_iX_fAWZvjWxABCVLaVSNSDETwuz9miEnPoclU2boZ6zXZslddkNZyc5fHDp0eAVWsbA66Q1Q/s400/P4020383.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601247825005674738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">They had pre-ordered chicken soup from the restaurant on the beach. It was classic Guatemala. It looked good, but super oily.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKjWzNXgNSRE5UoLj1xPdmDT8F4GbpQFL5DMA0Vwfd4GApUQYRdOAyhx-JxTEPbm0rWsPqt75t7_TV-VK5_57KK-n1HknEOVSzS1pSHo7N5uUMXYtZF4MWecrZ8vr9Ve3U3zCTGdUvFk/s400/P4020384.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601246814827637794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> It comes plain and then you add lime, salt, rice and chicken to it. They bring out the chicken (the WHOLE chicken) and then you tear it apart and eat it with your soup. Corn tortillas on the side, of course. The worse part was that we couldn't quite tell what was in the soup. Kylee and I both found this round thing that looked a little like a baby onion but it had little tiny round things hanging off it. It was also squishy. We asked what it was and the guide said "oh, you are lucky, you got an egg in yours. Try it, it's really good" An egg? really? didn't look like any egg I had ever seen. "It is lucky because the chicken was with child"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXEo8ushj7-mIQ7_uEDMBh-w85HRpDdWe64IsMl5N6d7SsTKxwykkjNe19p-K7CBjWfLHL00l82_2AM4-RUBJI4RPyVc9Hwfxf9vJdX8A94NXRoOrXi_Mdb8fBbmnZw8xZMnIZOJq5Lk/s400/egg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601163087403825906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It looked like this! Only cooked... IT'S THE CHICKEN'S OVARY! AND IT'S PREGNANT!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">EW! Gross. Not going to happen. The guy saw my face and asked if he could have it. Then HE ATE IT. It was over for us, Kylee and I picked around the soup and tried to eat the rice out of it but we were starving and totally grossed out. We politely waited 2 hours and then ordered a "hamburgeuse con pappas" Which is supposed to be a hamburger and fries but was really not. It was more like pieces of chicken on a bun with greasy potatoes. Equally gross but we were getting desperate. (not equally gross, not even close) Funny thing is, they told us this chicken is special, it is home raised and better than other chicken. I was not a fan.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We had dinner in town that night. We actually found a pizza place and the poor waiter ran all the way across town to get me a coca cola light. If I had known he was going to run across the town for it, I would have told him not to worry about it, but I didn't know til he got back. I guess he could tell </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I needed it. :)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> The pizza was a welcome change and had a TON of cheese on it. We ate too much and were stuffed so we came home and read our books on the hammocks. It's becoming a nightly ritual, and not a bad one at that! </span></span></div><div style=" ;font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span> </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-85298949874798482562010-05-02T23:05:00.000-07:002011-04-29T00:05:09.178-07:00Guatemala Day 6: Livingston<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:small;">Somehow, we were lucky enough to be traveling to Rio Dulce on the one day of the week that they have a truck taking a short cut from Lanquin. On Thursdays, only Thursdays, it takes a back road cutting the travel time in HALF! Normally it's a 2 hour drive to Cabon and then another 5-6 to Rio Dulce. On the back road it is just 4 hours. woo hoo! I can't believe our luck. We "reserved" the cab seats of the truck for 8:00 am. Yep, we paid extra for the cab. We got up early so we could eat breakfast (best meal of the day) but it was super crowded and always slow so that even with our careful planning we were running close - and then miracle of miracles, the truck was on time, ready to pick us up at 8:00am. Ugh! We had to leave half our breakfast and hop in the back of the truck. Yep, the back. At first the driver wanted one of us in front and one of us in back but we didn't want to split so we both went in back. So much for paying for the cab. It just wasn't worth trying to explain. Besides, it was not a bad ride, we actually enjoyed going through the mountains.</span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJY3YXVt3zknseubXEBMohK-FIv_IrdEpK6y3CPKTpheGMbFMkRPHTGlP94uDfZRKYa8yj507pXm-WU4kzDhnTWEa13OTyM38RN_ktuTANNjMXowpeoRosP5rKSpKCAOJY1ljPBm-EoO0/s400/P3310286.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600885702923124658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKAVXbgQfbPBBinwek2I1iMVg_sEjFehw3DXG9fVZvqcvNvzTMp5VgkpDCuu7fsvXV8KpGZL2CZZf66ZmcJ0MHE129xx-qKqsVpZI132RaLfSO_iHjBmrYqS0e-khwPpB3OQTdEUp5S0/s400/P3310287.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600885708730273602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Here we are in the back of the truck.</span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTz1sKNN8D-sM5DQRhEDXfcZIPagbueMlzkDmUPv6US2qaEx_XjgnBsk3o79Z_WK1XIDddTrnMhiGTUg1DFX4zlz5MznB9CTDpW-zOMfguo_YGesxN2hKohcdd1slBN5thyVGbmv3GcE/s1600/P3310295.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTz1sKNN8D-sM5DQRhEDXfcZIPagbueMlzkDmUPv6US2qaEx_XjgnBsk3o79Z_WK1XIDddTrnMhiGTUg1DFX4zlz5MznB9CTDpW-zOMfguo_YGesxN2hKohcdd1slBN5thyVGbmv3GcE/s400/P3310295.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600885726025664466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0rZioF2NDqxUl5C4oINC153XP-NZZcyRMcS0NQqqHpGaZSXNceOrVEh-qpWolvX8dy9uj3wgdryTrWNX1iOF45EIw5NhE1an7_jLAJzenUiIA0_LwzhEIwm6wzxDsgYe2174BU3Afck/s1600/P3310292.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0rZioF2NDqxUl5C4oINC153XP-NZZcyRMcS0NQqqHpGaZSXNceOrVEh-qpWolvX8dy9uj3wgdryTrWNX1iOF45EIw5NhE1an7_jLAJzenUiIA0_LwzhEIwm6wzxDsgYe2174BU3Afck/s400/P3310292.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600885714864091554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrk9miA4HdwkV83KyJpXfZITogvnGQVeRCQprl6-fBCSOTRRhD4knglHTmtl3QwVyy5faGC4_FHBbWhSSF7kD8iCq0uOYVQ5kr8vs4Aos11V8ZsYZtB5zXacbMCjvmiAJVBfbIz0iAsSA/s1600/P3310291.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrk9miA4HdwkV83KyJpXfZITogvnGQVeRCQprl6-fBCSOTRRhD4knglHTmtl3QwVyy5faGC4_FHBbWhSSF7kD8iCq0uOYVQ5kr8vs4Aos11V8ZsYZtB5zXacbMCjvmiAJVBfbIz0iAsSA/s400/P3310291.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600885710968326802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Kylee got hungry :)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Half way there we stopped and the driver told us to trade places with the girls in front. The other couple in back with us didn't want to go in front and neither did Kylee. Go figure. Kylee loves me so much that she never wants me to leave her side so... we stayed in back. Had we only known...the last hour of the trip was on a soft dirt road and our driver took it at about 50 mph. Holy cow, dirt flying everywhere! By the time we stopped, we were covered like little dirtballs. In the hair, on the eyes, lips, yuck.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We stopped in Rio Dulce long enough to get money from the ATM (the limit, 2000Q - less than $300) and then hopped on the boat to Livingston.</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Dt3Tx3m7viAhsAeYaQG0e9h0VfVvLFeJ6dYeBWel_NvWj9NEa4OWlItl8NkSCAE0F2s_9KLg0fCi_zWNXIJU03Dp4UtwqjK7JN81uv7hBKHutSAQAh6N4sj6-wFvvRGHpB9TmLBk-KE/s1600/P4010301.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Dt3Tx3m7viAhsAeYaQG0e9h0VfVvLFeJ6dYeBWel_NvWj9NEa4OWlItl8NkSCAE0F2s_9KLg0fCi_zWNXIJU03Dp4UtwqjK7JN81uv7hBKHutSAQAh6N4sj6-wFvvRGHpB9TmLBk-KE/s400/P4010301.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600892019422280402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">No no, not this boat...but this one:<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1AfsX4RE0_UOyBhjrV-dHFaTvFGPMEAoiN3i1J1rkq8E16-4IA_2-6dTRUCZe6ZMArJJKLWxRvzrwy4Ake8HlzJ18Kzmu_EaA26XtGVYtfzK3Scgnd2sj8kUKaN8CYcRm28KkldY4ic/s1600/P4010298.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nqtFeYoTPu3nmNB7PW2eraPKaU4WMnH71ovfjBhkEjBhf7AXJYDhw09WCPJPHgwQRHQ9DmaxBXhTxH56sKfrG19RE4qoZW7qFyhKWE7vv7UWIkUlN9AtlT4nUjVG7EOn4lqx1NV9rWU/s1600/P4010296.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nqtFeYoTPu3nmNB7PW2eraPKaU4WMnH71ovfjBhkEjBhf7AXJYDhw09WCPJPHgwQRHQ9DmaxBXhTxH56sKfrG19RE4qoZW7qFyhKWE7vv7UWIkUlN9AtlT4nUjVG7EOn4lqx1NV9rWU/s400/P4010296.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600892006487717266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We were so afraid that our poor little bags would get soaked up there! When it started to rain, they covered them up...mostly.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1AfsX4RE0_UOyBhjrV-dHFaTvFGPMEAoiN3i1J1rkq8E16-4IA_2-6dTRUCZe6ZMArJJKLWxRvzrwy4Ake8HlzJ18Kzmu_EaA26XtGVYtfzK3Scgnd2sj8kUKaN8CYcRm28KkldY4ic/s400/P4010298.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600892011392963266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Dirty from the truck ride, this was still fun. For 2 hours. We passed some very cool places: The Island of the birds:</span></span></div><div style="font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div face="Papyrus" size="medium"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN5cYLBcXGf_80DoZzNxPZIcjrSjFiarBst3L8Z-r6xD6-2tbgU8f_r0WBbyjp5tw2cojf2_U_FsPQasgu5DDxekt-4o-EJWc4odfe4iFm7SJ40GNDwU_dQaKzDGRMSxNkBRuL0J6epE/s400/P4010303.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600892025402611186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A grafitti wall from the 1800's:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV78bdXzfRO_tbNW-BkL1RG52DLoJYHpxUSV-S4CLA9jKCKSeb-2CSrwGELXoCnfoYxG9r3FLAIr_5pS4JOMcaqxB8jOhtk3qfamEogG2Anv49MvLTSJ0GcD6qf3G4ImDV-5BGXpEQ6Y/s400/P4010311.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600892657173454674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Island of lillypads:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxFQNRTndfsdhrIT25tSfKvzLVwerm_Fr4Jon34txny8iHTwZmts_E2a5UmqIlBItYulhh22RgdRwpHWNRjK4EO9hedsIemRO-NO0L8aqz2DwALGPEgDO6FHCwfttq2CTaSG4T4qEqhY/s400/P4010307.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600892643178493090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And other things, like boats:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6uFEN6PZgjrvYzBwfyAT-6YdiMFKZHv0d8ZNv4N8zxy5vcpgBIeENjYlM5wd8zoKsZnUke1G8aNFQw3dG4BE3FQRlA46CdYRHYWORJMDe5Zary_DGEHHiE-O5fwhMLmrDrLoKlrGKrg/s1600/P4010320.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6uFEN6PZgjrvYzBwfyAT-6YdiMFKZHv0d8ZNv4N8zxy5vcpgBIeENjYlM5wd8zoKsZnUke1G8aNFQw3dG4BE3FQRlA46CdYRHYWORJMDe5Zary_DGEHHiE-O5fwhMLmrDrLoKlrGKrg/s400/P4010320.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600892660477922098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Some hot springs (not a chance we were going in that...):<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV78bdXzfRO_tbNW-BkL1RG52DLoJYHpxUSV-S4CLA9jKCKSeb-2CSrwGELXoCnfoYxG9r3FLAIr_5pS4JOMcaqxB8jOhtk3qfamEogG2Anv49MvLTSJ0GcD6qf3G4ImDV-5BGXpEQ6Y/s1600/P4010311.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iUiwSv4fcQ1H_K6NV865UHemPWzNEcD83nEA41z_sAfOaLINOodo8yTcshaaA6HQ8hQbgbzweeZwgWimMgOwj1-_M8IDuzARTksYMzh4fhFiJ5y2txlcbB1icxzGwCBaX1mngHAXazg/s1600/P4010310.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iUiwSv4fcQ1H_K6NV865UHemPWzNEcD83nEA41z_sAfOaLINOodo8yTcshaaA6HQ8hQbgbzweeZwgWimMgOwj1-_M8IDuzARTksYMzh4fhFiJ5y2txlcbB1icxzGwCBaX1mngHAXazg/s400/P4010310.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600892651250064786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A river house:<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKEVzCZbGzkzKDgj7iFni7nGk5_nzVDSbv4hJVR2CMM7_lH41-DzpBZBCT4lcpnBC16utzHmab2EDpFvi93djxZuJ2jYxIpWmKs4pOyhm3X1uQpQzKBzvCCgQ8iQ_bKTlnQiiz95ueQ8/s1600/P4010309.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKEVzCZbGzkzKDgj7iFni7nGk5_nzVDSbv4hJVR2CMM7_lH41-DzpBZBCT4lcpnBC16utzHmab2EDpFvi93djxZuJ2jYxIpWmKs4pOyhm3X1uQpQzKBzvCCgQ8iQ_bKTlnQiiz95ueQ8/s400/P4010309.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600892647445842242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and just plain river :</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxFQNRTndfsdhrIT25tSfKvzLVwerm_Fr4Jon34txny8iHTwZmts_E2a5UmqIlBItYulhh22RgdRwpHWNRjK4EO9hedsIemRO-NO0L8aqz2DwALGPEgDO6FHCwfttq2CTaSG4T4qEqhY/s1600/P4010307.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRP9CeQGwqIGMRM2-WBZoJU7lUcaUF9y4mI7Vf2FuSwuviUKyI5I33aO_rVMbUB2RrvJKSoQQXhM3eNsDj8lWv16rqtIGt8j6uGRARukfCT6JRgwUgqCzfHxXnSulGtBimiipv7OV4CzY/s1600/P4010305.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRP9CeQGwqIGMRM2-WBZoJU7lUcaUF9y4mI7Vf2FuSwuviUKyI5I33aO_rVMbUB2RrvJKSoQQXhM3eNsDj8lWv16rqtIGt8j6uGRARukfCT6JRgwUgqCzfHxXnSulGtBimiipv7OV4CzY/s400/P4010305.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600892028543396274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">When we finally got to Livingston we were dropped of at the deck of "Casa Rosada" (Pink House) where we were lucky enough to get 2 nights.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EcYIie5uW66Fqo8ORDY8idZqSunwPXVcnglvz4o7L5VBj8oT0t01s0kttKKdQdjqHwRr2K7po2_QLjFlCz6nmo_yDuGSXReoH-PxQmlf7Emh_aNOSY3BM8fPl1bR41LdbasCD_9GySU/s1600/P4010329.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EcYIie5uW66Fqo8ORDY8idZqSunwPXVcnglvz4o7L5VBj8oT0t01s0kttKKdQdjqHwRr2K7po2_QLjFlCz6nmo_yDuGSXReoH-PxQmlf7Emh_aNOSY3BM8fPl1bR41LdbasCD_9GySU/s400/P4010329.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600895790834898338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'lucida grande';font-size:small;">This is just the office. The rooms to the right. Little huts, kind of. The shared bathrooms are down the sidewalk and there are still bugs in our room but it is SUCH an improvement from last night that we don't even care. Kylee found a cockroach on the wall by her bed and won't go to sleep with it there. I had to accost a nice little guatemalan and enlist his help in killing it. He was so nice. Most people here are really nice. The cockroach dripped blood on the wall and the bed. Double Yuck.</span></div><div style=" ;font-family:Papyrus;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-48892447691257354422010-05-01T23:51:00.000-07:002011-04-28T23:03:51.490-07:00Guatemala Day 5 - Gruta de Maria<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Gruta means cave and boy did we go in one. First I went to the bank to exchange my LAST american dollars to Q´s. Last night Kylee woke up sick and I thought I had escaped it but no, in the morning I was just as bad (darn that mayo.) Kylee wanted to stay home and sleep but we went to the caves anyway. We each took some Bactrin (thanks Chuck) and were feeling better by the time we finished breakfast. I had my first good breakfast in Guatemala! It was a fruit bowl with yogurt, granola and pinions (I think). So good. Kylee had toast...again. We saw people eating these huge crepes so we are going to get them tomorrow.<br /><br />The caves were so cool, the Cahabon River runs through it so it is full of water. To go through the cave you are walking at least waist deep in water and in places you have to swim. We held candles the whole way through.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidz28wWm30jApWHJe7OATdG-SX5EXNmZLPCu7O24dTBAe4C88o3l1lXkSmiO1Ox0U_cCeleWNF8FaLjCKwS0-iVFdrUif6akBjccaiUnSNXW-5glicaLH2bogqqfRW-I18hh8dDft6-Xw/s1600/P3300204.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidz28wWm30jApWHJe7OATdG-SX5EXNmZLPCu7O24dTBAe4C88o3l1lXkSmiO1Ox0U_cCeleWNF8FaLjCKwS0-iVFdrUif6akBjccaiUnSNXW-5glicaLH2bogqqfRW-I18hh8dDft6-Xw/s400/P3300204.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600702709063004914" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />That's my waterproof camera case strapped onto my swimsuit. Practical if not attractive...<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wzjlkGE7XunAj2RhQsfYQon50xNlk0AW3NCHVsMdRKlPPJaNsRQVlk0yVqStNfmz22vqQMVTvPKPszstpCIbji_zqdrsLeX0dNYCgS3fe_R335NvMIhBLg54SFpgfDtNM8BjrpM3Ax8/s1600/P3300200.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wzjlkGE7XunAj2RhQsfYQon50xNlk0AW3NCHVsMdRKlPPJaNsRQVlk0yVqStNfmz22vqQMVTvPKPszstpCIbji_zqdrsLeX0dNYCgS3fe_R335NvMIhBLg54SFpgfDtNM8BjrpM3Ax8/s400/P3300200.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600702703918715554" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />We started out like this...I was very hesitant.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOE3r2OfFrOBFzhhhF5CRpdu2lw32YoYTtQUHdt0mO2HRUjmCkLXssZ-USFWyBfygkNHena3wdPptQWZjiRVHk5viA5kS2csg60cllRmlsyAnvLMtnNNurSBEPA0Xb3tafRS1WjvuvFk/s1600/P3300209.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOE3r2OfFrOBFzhhhF5CRpdu2lw32YoYTtQUHdt0mO2HRUjmCkLXssZ-USFWyBfygkNHena3wdPptQWZjiRVHk5viA5kS2csg60cllRmlsyAnvLMtnNNurSBEPA0Xb3tafRS1WjvuvFk/s400/P3300209.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600702713211771362" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />By the time it got to this, it was too late to turn back. Doesn't it look fun? I would never have done this if not for Kylee. She was loving it!<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdBgosF4S-t-aVj9HEt264tmYdq0SyYjPScVZNzRVZb35Irtfpr_9gJYB_A3BVxpb26fWNglO9naQ4Bl47EbCJWQwAHbj4gGX0Aywut1dpBfJ94sq9P3cJO0Twkqjpo1BoAWemWyiQME/s1600/P3300199.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdBgosF4S-t-aVj9HEt264tmYdq0SyYjPScVZNzRVZb35Irtfpr_9gJYB_A3BVxpb26fWNglO9naQ4Bl47EbCJWQwAHbj4gGX0Aywut1dpBfJ94sq9P3cJO0Twkqjpo1BoAWemWyiQME/s400/P3300199.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600701793399384018" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />It was scary because we had to go up rackety ladders and rope climbing thingy´s.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFD8eUX6pAks6reKCe_yIHhw0Hake2Wy3Rrd-WgK88t4kN43aCWsIz0auAaFi1kxaVv8u1iCC7le4Bdk4yD3fh7W9ZK1trrJZ81_zJyhRPhDqprhyTLAn1UOAoGpVGV62qCaW1fQanQI/s1600/P3300201.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFD8eUX6pAks6reKCe_yIHhw0Hake2Wy3Rrd-WgK88t4kN43aCWsIz0auAaFi1kxaVv8u1iCC7le4Bdk4yD3fh7W9ZK1trrJZ81_zJyhRPhDqprhyTLAn1UOAoGpVGV62qCaW1fQanQI/s400/P3300201.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600702703302364594" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />I kept thinking of how this would NEVER be allowed in the states. No safety ropes or any kind of safe-guards at ALL. One slip and you're a goner.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeGpBi8jYHXBLETrGn92Kuacmx9slUhl1OE2TTTssmnv_rjzCELesswdfUvGUqLyUzLipAsIm2XpcLUJqVaCMMLpBh_5KJD0YJR2XMqLjdF1LZiVYIunlMe10D_yjAp62nswMGtm0Zr4/s1600/P3300216.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeGpBi8jYHXBLETrGn92Kuacmx9slUhl1OE2TTTssmnv_rjzCELesswdfUvGUqLyUzLipAsIm2XpcLUJqVaCMMLpBh_5KJD0YJR2XMqLjdF1LZiVYIunlMe10D_yjAp62nswMGtm0Zr4/s400/P3300216.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600703035781460626" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />Doesn't this look SAFE? Slippery rocks, steep incline/decline, little rope to hold onto while holding a dripping candle...<br /><br />At one point in the cave, we got to a pool and we cliff-jumped into it. It was not a very high jump, but the novelty of cliff-jumping in a cave made it worth it.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoumzcLOVZPLRMmpShnR8_M2R2DTxblBDhVwMVDH9Kx-AcIwLqSU0LsBNm6pkwaf-nnYwvMHOnHBc8nskynCvC1uTtzCjIdecGzgLzPav0xNIO2zR2d-dUcCr6PGL5sVJfjS1LBKo8C4/s1600/P3300214.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoumzcLOVZPLRMmpShnR8_M2R2DTxblBDhVwMVDH9Kx-AcIwLqSU0LsBNm6pkwaf-nnYwvMHOnHBc8nskynCvC1uTtzCjIdecGzgLzPav0xNIO2zR2d-dUcCr6PGL5sVJfjS1LBKo8C4/s400/P3300214.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600702722588763666" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />This was COLD and even though we were already wet, I was not looking forward to putting my head under the water. It's a dark cave with murky water. Kylee made me do it.<br /><br />Of course the whole group was wearing flipflops. Before we went in we had to make a makeshift sandals out of twine to keep them on. Don´t worry, I took a picture.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlkPVJclcrddjwm5r3lq-mvITO7yDe1180Vx6wrkmvRaO8VQnjcyp70mIG1_dsYILPxNthTmxwfuG1WbgsyRy3f1mhL12hmHmd9sscGMcP6JaUt6R-SdxRwqnmV7PvVb9RpPPk65GIJA/s1600/P3300196.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlkPVJclcrddjwm5r3lq-mvITO7yDe1180Vx6wrkmvRaO8VQnjcyp70mIG1_dsYILPxNthTmxwfuG1WbgsyRy3f1mhL12hmHmd9sscGMcP6JaUt6R-SdxRwqnmV7PvVb9RpPPk65GIJA/s400/P3300196.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600701790074752754" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />There was our ONE tour guide doing all the sandals and everyone else just standing around waiting for him. I couldn´t believe that these kids (college age) never took the initiative to do it themselves! Not one of them. I did mine and Kylee's :)<br /><br />They had a paint plant at the entrance of the caves so we made heart tattoos before we went in. They stayed for 3 days!<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvyP5y3giHc56j_KlpuBQi3y4GTQQjQAFvX9fFVYqqVE5TR0S-v-UG19Xz50Pf-ALmbQ9AWUn7K96N1XcbWuOT-TwNOM1KbLs6x1vXcZ-4SjCwOmpsRChiylGOjTGjxIp6GWxVPdQnPk/s1600/P3300192.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvyP5y3giHc56j_KlpuBQi3y4GTQQjQAFvX9fFVYqqVE5TR0S-v-UG19Xz50Pf-ALmbQ9AWUn7K96N1XcbWuOT-TwNOM1KbLs6x1vXcZ-4SjCwOmpsRChiylGOjTGjxIp6GWxVPdQnPk/s400/P3300192.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600701785665407234" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJzDgYUkOxr6tx7_NzHKtSqpXNwdZkf3gM0oQOvtWunkzWHhu7Tk7HwQ7T6DZe9pfA8q-8iuEwJz5GAnvAiEyBApsH18fGyIXOrsLBLl6R8SBuXDw_kvaETDd_ODp194wG6gqecz4JWM/s1600/P3300194.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJzDgYUkOxr6tx7_NzHKtSqpXNwdZkf3gM0oQOvtWunkzWHhu7Tk7HwQ7T6DZe9pfA8q-8iuEwJz5GAnvAiEyBApsH18fGyIXOrsLBLl6R8SBuXDw_kvaETDd_ODp194wG6gqecz4JWM/s400/P3300194.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600701789003804450" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />After the cave, we grabbed tubes and floated down the river. It was so cold compared to the cave water. So very very cold and my tube was tiny. I was so busy worrying about balancing on the dang thing that it wasn´t very relaxing...for me. Kylee was fine with it. She floated down on her stomach.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSflv5z1FDSvCMOg28N7LF1G9nKhFytsVu1mUS783XF6AjE0gC9a0byx6Cew4cxtnQp9558eueaavHq9h-ptUL5_SXXgI7JuspHDolpqAY51ookeMjz5Gj8HNycuks1D94rnFkUgg2ME4/s1600/P3300228.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSflv5z1FDSvCMOg28N7LF1G9nKhFytsVu1mUS783XF6AjE0gC9a0byx6Cew4cxtnQp9558eueaavHq9h-ptUL5_SXXgI7JuspHDolpqAY51ookeMjz5Gj8HNycuks1D94rnFkUgg2ME4/s400/P3300228.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600722079567640866" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIT9ST1mPNc0qihEGKJcLXkN9g2ZLnvxesUj_hIR_-zHo5zWWrJcgSJ_ZCfpegsWpP29_p7lyRr4un7oliakrYzw_B2ORVmKRDZPU7NSl_OMkeoKJoL5Scp7awVLIh7ljGCliWddA4N4/s1600/P3300222.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIT9ST1mPNc0qihEGKJcLXkN9g2ZLnvxesUj_hIR_-zHo5zWWrJcgSJ_ZCfpegsWpP29_p7lyRr4un7oliakrYzw_B2ORVmKRDZPU7NSl_OMkeoKJoL5Scp7awVLIh7ljGCliWddA4N4/s400/P3300222.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600722075726022946" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />Too bad too because the sun was shining and it was a gorgeous day - which is unusual because this part of Guatemala is in an almost permanent rainy season.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8i5WLCohfo2AVyXrlLaq8G8RhktBW3cbiwlA24sEmeDLTE2Yrw0A79OyL1i_8JqTNYiJ9LyLCn6IVEj3B88ktY_SbScM8D9jCH9ylkln5nOFoYjBmKBV2CwXahUpm0YnRoajFkAZcP4/s1600/P3310229.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8i5WLCohfo2AVyXrlLaq8G8RhktBW3cbiwlA24sEmeDLTE2Yrw0A79OyL1i_8JqTNYiJ9LyLCn6IVEj3B88ktY_SbScM8D9jCH9ylkln5nOFoYjBmKBV2CwXahUpm0YnRoajFkAZcP4/s400/P3310229.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600722090519244210" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd52rJAqunFmvQr1av7P68HuMjOgKObQUdqW52LMoelbnn0W2d9p2UuH314MUX6Z-ZiK_-Iz2O8cOvaTISAnoGZMuBsHKhDgu_dEpKAh71StxUGQPFgnDT83mdpKr3337xqziwpH47OY/s1600/P3300224.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd52rJAqunFmvQr1av7P68HuMjOgKObQUdqW52LMoelbnn0W2d9p2UuH314MUX6Z-ZiK_-Iz2O8cOvaTISAnoGZMuBsHKhDgu_dEpKAh71StxUGQPFgnDT83mdpKr3337xqziwpH47OY/s400/P3300224.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600722080387921474" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />After we floated for awhile, we got out and hiked back to the caves. Since we don´t feel great, Kylee and I were wishing for trucks!<br /><br />After that, we walked over to Semuc Champey. It was about a mile away through some brush. On the way, we saw cardamom trees, and cocoa bushes. This is cardamom:<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIxue80sXmQBKyeo7JI7LN26m7vJ2kLTYj8t6xSrWXgcdeZlBF2vkrcUt9zJD5weK5QnBkIdvrzxblpP_QJjfgzqYRxeEIgVTWNY9ek67ppe-OZDfSYpCJLhVeE_VqtGvHb2JCuXmosM/s1600/P3310232.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIxue80sXmQBKyeo7JI7LN26m7vJ2kLTYj8t6xSrWXgcdeZlBF2vkrcUt9zJD5weK5QnBkIdvrzxblpP_QJjfgzqYRxeEIgVTWNY9ek67ppe-OZDfSYpCJLhVeE_VqtGvHb2JCuXmosM/s400/P3310232.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600725487502407138" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />I put one of those slimy round things in my mouth and it was sort of sweet on the outside and then sour towards the shell...like a sourpatch kid. Gross slimy though.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQLZ03GEWpkb3ttGu01MLsVfMrF_t_o7VsOkpvOoDLMP0_2LGDeLqwOuo7oH0JqHqaT3Xy7wNx21l_Rj0C_9Yosu3arYGbgRpiqhW2laufVygJe0HQ7sBN5_yFzdOwp7G29i4qV6HPd8/s1600/P3310233.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQLZ03GEWpkb3ttGu01MLsVfMrF_t_o7VsOkpvOoDLMP0_2LGDeLqwOuo7oH0JqHqaT3Xy7wNx21l_Rj0C_9Yosu3arYGbgRpiqhW2laufVygJe0HQ7sBN5_yFzdOwp7G29i4qV6HPd8/s400/P3310233.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600725487376440946" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />If you eat the inside, it's poisonous and its not very good, it's bitter.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-LgSNX3_pPH0thi6fFur-_ZQHi-bvCvSSZMP2gZydaJlfc9gGpoVjep0fdncZZiCm_yoHhzI4HxAzESmN0CMUmsfXsXNebCv2y5Fdsi-Ov_vrDjf9JPVKZp-ZXa_OAip2-zLPSi4yIw/s1600/P3310237.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-LgSNX3_pPH0thi6fFur-_ZQHi-bvCvSSZMP2gZydaJlfc9gGpoVjep0fdncZZiCm_yoHhzI4HxAzESmN0CMUmsfXsXNebCv2y5Fdsi-Ov_vrDjf9JPVKZp-ZXa_OAip2-zLPSi4yIw/s400/P3310237.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600725493115454370" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />Of course I had to try it, just a tiny bit, cause that's how I roll. It's nasty. Once they process it, dry it and whatever, they ground it into the spice, cardamom. It's not very popular in the states, but here it is a BIG deal. Guatemala is the leading exporter of this spice and even when you buy it at sprouts it is from Guatemala - and it is EXPENSIVE. In these parts, they make a tea from it. It's not bad!<br /><br />We also saw cocoa plants.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNNrq_yrVjPSrWqsX1_L3tmvfNn7ML9ea1PNqUtJ1uKXpkkyESZ8uEYR-s4_I0EyXNwfBASlzByzQERXOJvzfbRgVEuaX1nbs-thc67FzfBzKY8aqokR6t26iohmxBpeRaO3JkHvcNTU/s1600/P3310239.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNNrq_yrVjPSrWqsX1_L3tmvfNn7ML9ea1PNqUtJ1uKXpkkyESZ8uEYR-s4_I0EyXNwfBASlzByzQERXOJvzfbRgVEuaX1nbs-thc67FzfBzKY8aqokR6t26iohmxBpeRaO3JkHvcNTU/s400/P3310239.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600725497409201938" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3Ll_tIqxU65jZuwjSRBs5cTY0dIDyBRJeJUmwcwqDukqG51HpcVTktL6vR9Ueh_Wk2Dby5IWHSR7YHgypd3lHZSzvIDz86ZHigE_OfiHcLszROG6AQEEjUMs1b0vPKFktnBGr1t2G_Q/s1600/P3310240.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3Ll_tIqxU65jZuwjSRBs5cTY0dIDyBRJeJUmwcwqDukqG51HpcVTktL6vR9Ueh_Wk2Dby5IWHSR7YHgypd3lHZSzvIDz86ZHigE_OfiHcLszROG6AQEEjUMs1b0vPKFktnBGr1t2G_Q/s400/P3310240.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600725500349497506" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />Also bitter and nasty tasting. You can see all the huts around here with their cocoa and their cardamom roasting in the sun. I guess it is quite the process...takes over a month.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-54676548233680064222010-05-01T22:39:00.000-07:002011-04-28T23:04:21.962-07:00Guatemala Day 5 continued: SEMUC CHAMPEY<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The beautiful Semuc Champey. The entrance is very touristy, with vendors everywhere. Finally, the mango I've been looking for. Mango with chili powder, salt, and lemon. Yum.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmvdkIaQRQeo0drDStes5u7L7w7BXMd57XxbIaK6IIhsrLwbMeYOHFjOqmutiKp73q4WbZI0TpIyoeQABCq7oL_cFnTYEK2EB7V7llw9PiudMDowUxtY-3KCq1vB8URp9SQqFS70oBAY/s1600/P3310260.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmvdkIaQRQeo0drDStes5u7L7w7BXMd57XxbIaK6IIhsrLwbMeYOHFjOqmutiKp73q4WbZI0TpIyoeQABCq7oL_cFnTYEK2EB7V7llw9PiudMDowUxtY-3KCq1vB8URp9SQqFS70oBAY/s400/P3310260.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600878343483951730" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />This guy at the front gate actually takes your ticket and writes the number and your name BY HAND in his little notebook. Efficient.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxxMJBSYfL0cRTAPRJAT01eAtXQbDPQw0zhiFc2UkM3fAhkm3lvU4SJ6OkLS-3VkAdjJNYACwgm4smRFAqnsR8AtUx-NfCE4t7zjX2AI0pywyYH8YyHzRH1ZJ0kXd9qIy91KdckjwU9I/s1600/P3310243.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxxMJBSYfL0cRTAPRJAT01eAtXQbDPQw0zhiFc2UkM3fAhkm3lvU4SJ6OkLS-3VkAdjJNYACwgm4smRFAqnsR8AtUx-NfCE4t7zjX2AI0pywyYH8YyHzRH1ZJ0kXd9qIy91KdckjwU9I/s400/P3310243.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600731259466980738" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />Once you go in, it's a hike.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPRwfkZ6DlmxP3t3UJINaGZurdPWiuE-XccpGlyiIDhicbZrNEyyURVvX9sjClGJAItnk-01VW8McV3-2DBOVTqs_sZh-aAtr8tQRryrf_6lgE0g8D8YM_KzzVExZwLmQQyOpdbd4ZgQ/s1600/P3310244.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPRwfkZ6DlmxP3t3UJINaGZurdPWiuE-XccpGlyiIDhicbZrNEyyURVvX9sjClGJAItnk-01VW8McV3-2DBOVTqs_sZh-aAtr8tQRryrf_6lgE0g8D8YM_KzzVExZwLmQQyOpdbd4ZgQ/s400/P3310244.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600731266870296578" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />At the end of the hike, it´s kind of like a water park because you walk on this pathway and go to your pool of choice. There are at least 3 different levels and all with these gorgeous pools.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiJrI9r2LG8NOTrDDsUqsEm6U2yEo605mfbhOMEcDX9LscCxC1fbN2zOC-9YdklFytpbVVuOnhjnFohvryi1c2sT7oyDBbp6KCJBtEtwklDlG3KgsKNX_rnH4q2jdcPgYmHEvYbJmx1g/s1600/semuc_champey.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 385px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiJrI9r2LG8NOTrDDsUqsEm6U2yEo605mfbhOMEcDX9LscCxC1fbN2zOC-9YdklFytpbVVuOnhjnFohvryi1c2sT7oyDBbp6KCJBtEtwklDlG3KgsKNX_rnH4q2jdcPgYmHEvYbJmx1g/s400/semuc_champey.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600799440466080466" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />We picked one of the upper pools and found a semi-safe place for our stuff. It´s hard because we were literally carrying all of our money, cards, and valuables in my backpack. AND, the rock edges close to the pools are wet and they HURT THE FEET.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3310257.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3310257.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />A lot of our group hiked to the top of the mountain to take pictures of the view but we were still not feeling so hot so we skipped the hike and went straight to the pools. Little known fact - Semuc Champey is crowded.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3310251.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3310251.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3310254.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3310254.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />It reminded me of a really pretty public pool. Kylee was dying to get in, but heaven forbid she go in without me. All I wanted to do was layout in the sun. We compromised, I went in for a little while then she left me alone to layout. It was great, but man those rocks hurt!<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3310250.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3310250.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />It looks so inviting, but the water is just so hard to get to!<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3310246.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3310246.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />We rode home in a truck, as usual. They needed two people in front so Kylee and I volunteered but oh man. Kylee was in the king cab with 2 tourists and I was in front sitting BETWEEN two stinky guatemalans. 2 long hours. This is a picture us in the truck on our way here. You can't really tell, but we are standing in a truck bed and holding onto a bar for balance. Nice and safe.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYOxE_Nqv8OC38XmGA_2KtzToP4VwRwYsHjTpYUOLEnPuAZTP_IsE1ryIwpvIutWi3B6mErgPbL8dnLjnHBK3pBkNZeGFiSII2LAgZ8WBs-SPuhGx2XEwNRRqdsyhekRzO3A_N8-oWbE/s1600/P3310264.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYOxE_Nqv8OC38XmGA_2KtzToP4VwRwYsHjTpYUOLEnPuAZTP_IsE1ryIwpvIutWi3B6mErgPbL8dnLjnHBK3pBkNZeGFiSII2LAgZ8WBs-SPuhGx2XEwNRRqdsyhekRzO3A_N8-oWbE/s400/P3310264.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600878342320033154" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />This next one is a picture of the road we drove on. The drive is so steep and windy that it´s a miracle the trucks can get up at all. The roads are one lane and they are SCARY.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=roadtosemucchampey.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/roadtosemucchampey.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />Now picture it steep...<br /><br />When we got home, we found out we'd been moved to a dormotorio (10 people, both sexes) and we were not happy. Kylee talked the "front desk personnel" into a loft room instead which we thought was better until it got dark and all the bugs swarmed. We used our dental floss and some staples we pulled out of the wall to hang our mosquito net over both beds.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3310265.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3310265.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />We didn't want to touch anything in the room it was so gross. If we have any say in it, we are sticking to nice hotels after this. Ah, how we miss Panajachel. I can't believe we whined about having a cockroach in the bathroom last night...now we see how good we had it. At least we HAD a bathroom!)<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3310275.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3310275.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br />Great view though! This "El Retiro" was more of a campground than a hotel. It was really pretty though.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3310276.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3310276.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />So we took cold showers at the community shower. So so cold. Yes, those are urinals out in the open. Not much privacy, not even in the showers...we're learning to take these things in stride. :)<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3310272.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3310272.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />And then went to dinner. Dinner was a buffet and it was good! It had cheese crisps in flour tortillas. Unbelievable! It also had mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3310267.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3310267.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3310268.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3310268.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />This ended up being one of our favorite places to eat on the whole trip. Do you like the swing seat at the bar?<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3310278.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3310278.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />What a long day! We are still feeling a sick, so we are going to go straight to bed - with more medication. Food poisoning is NOT fun.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-83143354774555702752010-04-30T16:23:00.000-07:002011-04-28T23:01:29.474-07:00Guatemala Day 4<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our night in "El Recreo" was uneventful, except for the freezing cold showers! Our white-water rafting tour was to meet at 8:00 this morning and our hotel breakfast (traditional buffet) was at 7:00 so we made it, bags packed and stashed in the office by 7:30. I couldn't eat any of it because of my previous experience with guatemalan breakfast foods...so I snacked on some fruit. Kylee grabbed some cold cereal but then was told that she would have to pay extra for it so she took toast and beans instead. We were slowly but surely running out of Q's (quetzal) and are totally in the back country. It didn't help that when I went to pay for the night it was 440Q! (about $57) Unbelievable. I thought it was going to be 140Q (which is what it should have been) but no. So now we are getting close to being out of money and there are no ATM's anywhere. Anyway...so we were ready to go by 8:00 but no one was there for us until 9:00 - which is typical, but it still makes us worry that we are in the wrong place or wrong day or something. Our tour guide was a Guatemalan who grew up in California so his English was perfect (yeah!) Part of our rafting group was a family of Guatemalans who grew up in the states. The dad was a politician in Guatemala so he kept his family in the US to keep them safe. He eventually got out of politics because of the corruption and his inability to change it, then brought his family back to Guatemala 2 years ago. His sons and their nice, fresh american wives. Lucky girls. :) The youngest is 23 I think. They all spoke great English except for the Dad. Our whole entire group was 14 native guatemalans and then the family of 8 that I just told you about, and me and kylee. We separated into the English speakers (white) and the spanish speakers (dark) We were outnumbered.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfQT_b3u6zS7l8CeUvJHOkj66_6d7L-f1O0Kioj-gqDgTOOj_3QA3KD7TCCVzeha9bxcqj79O00niOEmed70sKVFu1E4wmhfc455sHo9kA-gDJ1qINpEXIMF69PsYmWdOMss4KEuLwlE/s1600/P3290141.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfQT_b3u6zS7l8CeUvJHOkj66_6d7L-f1O0Kioj-gqDgTOOj_3QA3KD7TCCVzeha9bxcqj79O00niOEmed70sKVFu1E4wmhfc455sHo9kA-gDJ1qINpEXIMF69PsYmWdOMss4KEuLwlE/s400/P3290141.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600510833729498706" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />I wish I had a better picture of our big group. One group was red and the other group was yellow. We split into 6 boats, me and Kylee with 2 of the family members (a son and his american wife from Boston) and 2 guides, 1 that spoke english.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvb3Jp1uF6wFinYR9yO_-3a53XcVjCoaXzW4Tff-fEKI412qvQa1_G3WfINnVsrHJanhhvhg1B5QbeNg_eKCpNlrda5X04ulsph3yEWnWC5vT8t6pNHfAIYZylDvmCnZc_2gx64gU-V0M/s1600/P3290143.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvb3Jp1uF6wFinYR9yO_-3a53XcVjCoaXzW4Tff-fEKI412qvQa1_G3WfINnVsrHJanhhvhg1B5QbeNg_eKCpNlrda5X04ulsph3yEWnWC5vT8t6pNHfAIYZylDvmCnZc_2gx64gU-V0M/s400/P3290143.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600513138561895650" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />The guy on the back spoke English. I suspect the girl did too...but she didn't say ONE word the whole trip. She didn't do anything either. In fact, if she wasn't in the picture, I wouldn't have even remembered she was there!<br /><br />We got along really well and made a great team so our 6 hours on the river was pretty fun. We went down class 2, 3, 4 and 4-plus rapids.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfHzmB0Hb6Y8vXYHlN0m9djDAW4j1AWlxTHOr9FX3U-fWASIJD-5IwkHJfxXZZ-Md5nDb3NSJYqHne6AGoy2h0E2nxgAfoGZ2eipKxe46ecvgC-a_3Ht_wmb6sU2S1QuN8SNBRfi8mA4/s1600/P3290147.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfHzmB0Hb6Y8vXYHlN0m9djDAW4j1AWlxTHOr9FX3U-fWASIJD-5IwkHJfxXZZ-Md5nDb3NSJYqHne6AGoy2h0E2nxgAfoGZ2eipKxe46ecvgC-a_3Ht_wmb6sU2S1QuN8SNBRfi8mA4/s400/P3290147.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600513138712979554" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Ko9ZMmOKTFh2NK7FTcXVMV_PEokjVDAm9hiFo-In816g9Figgt_q3yxg2teFS3yncTyYQgTV6j76pwROB3F5aMk_6bxU0HDyLx8-lWzHmlIAstplFm_RD3QZ1LEKsok-ufv-CUIF-Wc/s1600/P3290166.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Ko9ZMmOKTFh2NK7FTcXVMV_PEokjVDAm9hiFo-In816g9Figgt_q3yxg2teFS3yncTyYQgTV6j76pwROB3F5aMk_6bxU0HDyLx8-lWzHmlIAstplFm_RD3QZ1LEKsok-ufv-CUIF-Wc/s400/P3290166.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600515083986049442" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfw4KbzxT5nH86Yx9r1Lij9P6nXLAUws9Hu02N7NEb2cM_JGZI4I1b2ZqvvfgjSmx8_DAtgpuPmrxHyosmwWsp7f9maCnmWq5580UyeDT7DZdSDIFD3UgcfOFcHxDu9KnNY6QCCoVHk0/s1600/P3290162.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfw4KbzxT5nH86Yx9r1Lij9P6nXLAUws9Hu02N7NEb2cM_JGZI4I1b2ZqvvfgjSmx8_DAtgpuPmrxHyosmwWsp7f9maCnmWq5580UyeDT7DZdSDIFD3UgcfOFcHxDu9KnNY6QCCoVHk0/s400/P3290162.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600515080753900002" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />I don't know what that means, but I know that the 4-plus was the most fun. At one point we got stuck between 2 rocks horizontally. It was exciting because my side (right, front) was on the down side of the raft and I was afraid when we jostled loose it would just flip right over me. It didn't help that our guide looked a little nervous. BUT, we jostled loose and then sailed right out of it.<br /><br />The other scary part was when we got stuck on a rock RIGHT before a huge current that they called "the tornado." Once again we were afraid that we would get loose and then tumble head over heels. Our guide was talking loud and clear telling us we had to back pedal the second we hit the current so that we didn't flip. Once again we sailed right out of it. It made me wonder why he was so worried, it just seemed so smooth. I really wonder what would happen if you just held onto the raft for dear life and didn't paddle at all. Next time I'll try that...I mean, HALF of our orientation speech was about what to do if you fall out of the boat or if it flips. We were so prepared and then NOTHING. :)<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, we were wet. Totally soaked. Our feet looked like this the whole time:<br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTU1cObuH8kzrDDUN8gYVcs_VLRNhGo5f4rlwFzOfTWnulpfCNBrChFV1IJ6mk5rOFOSfmEzexwX1-l2Vr2TWhyDimX-LSPWa736eWQncazm0wANfErgM4bnMiaJON8PzUT7HL995OETA/s1600/P3290161.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTU1cObuH8kzrDDUN8gYVcs_VLRNhGo5f4rlwFzOfTWnulpfCNBrChFV1IJ6mk5rOFOSfmEzexwX1-l2Vr2TWhyDimX-LSPWa736eWQncazm0wANfErgM4bnMiaJON8PzUT7HL995OETA/s400/P3290161.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600513145270453506" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Especially me and Ricardo because we were in front. You know how when we are skiing and the front of the boat has a wave come over the bow? That's how it was everytime we hit a rapid. Soaked. We had absolutely perfect weather though, it was sunny and warm, but not too hot. We dried pretty quickly and then got soaked again. There were calm parts of the river that we just floated and chit-chatted with our new friends and there was a part where we had to get out so that our guides could machete through a tree that had fallen in the way of the rock-n-roll rapids on the day before. The scenery was out of a postcard and we floated by little houses in the middle of NOWHERE.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDP6wXkT_TgG5ea58HQMsvJCKGv7wXpMyl3fgTS49zJ5oG7V_Fuw30ZdeoyX0f64x4nE9oorTSYPxhBaPiw1iDQocLHMxrh8STaO10r2wYvYIM6du7UWloJ2HYEagbZjmUNK0asPeQIwE/s1600/P3290158.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDP6wXkT_TgG5ea58HQMsvJCKGv7wXpMyl3fgTS49zJ5oG7V_Fuw30ZdeoyX0f64x4nE9oorTSYPxhBaPiw1iDQocLHMxrh8STaO10r2wYvYIM6du7UWloJ2HYEagbZjmUNK0asPeQIwE/s400/P3290158.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600513139641009810" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />There were 3 bridges crossing the river that were rope and boards. We saw 2 guys backpacking rice bags on the edge of the river and when they got to their family on the other side they tossed down their bags and built a raft out of driftwood so they could get across. All the kids and their wives had come down to greet them. It seemed so totally primitive I couldn't believe it.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQdLOv04OrBmayOLZvZIv_d2A6k-GAiu2OUNIdx5vq2EVK6SVzogsMiz3pMrD8AKyzcxY0jVzrx51Jsa7Z-HNO1NhQRo3qx_kImzbQPsoBrufs-AFnNQIVnqh2wsCUtB4wAoHP-MlW5I/s1600/P3300180.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQdLOv04OrBmayOLZvZIv_d2A6k-GAiu2OUNIdx5vq2EVK6SVzogsMiz3pMrD8AKyzcxY0jVzrx51Jsa7Z-HNO1NhQRo3qx_kImzbQPsoBrufs-AFnNQIVnqh2wsCUtB4wAoHP-MlW5I/s400/P3300180.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600515095220176946" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtipW9pzbE7fd7wg_0HkwIlUNZjaPUzYXv5vE1E2XIdKq27ttf9HlnQU5T9TbGbEwZBEKBNIq45q6iB7qPjhvUiI0qZCjAoVrZLhWelzgVqVLTEo8lXsZAbOCT-gDsREMNWhfAJzrMaI/s1600/P3300178.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtipW9pzbE7fd7wg_0HkwIlUNZjaPUzYXv5vE1E2XIdKq27ttf9HlnQU5T9TbGbEwZBEKBNIq45q6iB7qPjhvUiI0qZCjAoVrZLhWelzgVqVLTEo8lXsZAbOCT-gDsREMNWhfAJzrMaI/s400/P3300178.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600515089067882610" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Kylee and I have these funky sunburns so we were trying to stay covered up...but rafting and sunburns don't mix. Oh well! Our new friends were so nice, they live in Guatemala City and gave us their phone number and said that if Kylee ever needs anything - a chauffer, a friend, a place to stay, whatever...to give them a call. (I don't know what it is with chauffers - EVERY lower-middle class family has one. They couldn't believe WE didn't. Heavens, we wouldn't want our poor children stuck with public transport...did I mention Kylee rides the bus to school, 40 minutes away?) Anyway, they were really nice.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnxNUB_u_XxkbqWSdX4auKHJjWiL7giDvpFQFNI_158byu_m9AeIU3Bb4n3xYV3bHQIzBI9gm0ASHVm-OsnBBLJz8VP0kdmloQA3fTR-HktSiI_VoP2n14-1D3V2ri2ep9eNUio6CMHA/s1600/P3290159.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnxNUB_u_XxkbqWSdX4auKHJjWiL7giDvpFQFNI_158byu_m9AeIU3Bb4n3xYV3bHQIzBI9gm0ASHVm-OsnBBLJz8VP0kdmloQA3fTR-HktSiI_VoP2n14-1D3V2ri2ep9eNUio6CMHA/s400/P3290159.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600513147023977682" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />One of the sisters had a daughter when she was 19 and her boyfriend was killed in car accident so her parents have been helping her raise her daughter for the past 13 years. She was very nice and very cute - but she scared me by inviting Kylee to hang out with her and her friends at nightclubs...little drinking, partying...no big. Yep, 13 years old. Anyway, we were glad they were there...6 hours on the river with no food or drink, you kind of want to like who you're stuck with! Yes, we were starving and thirsty by the time we stopped but we all lived. It was kind of a good plan because by the time they served us "lunch" it didn't matter what it was, it was delicious. It was chicken salad sandwiches guat style. (mayo and ketchup mixed in who knows what) served on bread with shredded carrots and sliced tomato. Yum. :) We were too hungry to care that the mayo mixture had been out in the sun all day and was swarming with flies...(we tried not to think about how stupid we were when we woke up that night s-i-c-k!)<br /><br />We rode the pickup truck over dirt roads (standing up in the back) an hour back to our cabins where we picked up our suitcases, said goodbye to our new friends, exchanged phone numbers, and then caught a ride back to our new lodging - El Retiro. We are hoping and praying we don't share our beds with the spider and bugs tonight but I think it's inevitable. The couple next door killed a huge spider and we trapped a cockroach in our bathroom because both of us were too chicken to smash it. Ugh and Yuck.<br /><br />For dinner we walked down to Champey Resaurant in town and Kylee had pancakes with bananas and I had Nachos...again. This time they actually resembled Nachos a little bit except instead of giving me a pile of chips they gave me 6 chips laid out in a row with a pile of stuff on each individual one. How is it that everyone has a different idea for Nachos? For dessert we had chocolate covered cinnamon bears melted and smashed together in a big lump. They've been in my backpack for 4 days now. Still going strong.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-31336594825607264602010-04-29T23:33:00.000-07:002010-05-03T11:57:16.507-07:00Guatemala, bottom to top! Day 2 & 3Day 2:<br />Panajachel, Guatemala<br /><br />We woke up this morning at 8:00. Our first day to sleep in! Our beds were so hard that we didn't sleep much but it felt good to just lay there and be. We got ready for the day and went to the free breakfast buffet at the hotel. It was typical Guatemalan style with a couple of attempts at American style. There was an omelet chef but his ingredients were sauteed onions, sauteed tomatoes, sliced american cheese cut into little strips, and ham. I suspect that the ham was actually balogne but who knows... And the wierdest thing, they had green and red salsa on the side but it was steaming HOT. Not spicey, just hot. They had fruit, which is always good, and frijoles, fried bananas, queso (white pourous stuff that is NOT cheese), corn flakes and granola (not our granola)<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=08-08ravenswood-guatemalan.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/08-08ravenswood-guatemalan.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=IMG_2670-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/IMG_2670-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />I still can't eat anything associated with a Guatemalan breakfast because of my last bout with food poisoning, in fact just looking at it makes me feel seriously nauseated. Especially the queso. I wish it wasn't so.<br /><br />Then we hit the road to make our reservations for tomorrow (shuttle to Cabon) and to get on a boat. There's a big market in Chichicastenango but we wanted to stay far away from that. It's only w days a week and tomorrow is one of those days - it will be REALLY crowded. We wanted to go to the little island in the middle of the lake (it's a big lake) but we were told that it is private. :( Of course a guy on the street latched onto us right away and wanted to arrange our transportation. He wanted us to do a boat tour with 2 stops, Santiago and San Pedro for 350Q. We just about did it and then I felt like it was too expensive so we were going to go back to the hotel and ask them. Of course the guy came running back and said we could go just to San Pedro for 25Q per person, each way. That's 100 Q total instead of 350 Q per person. That's a big difference!<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3270048-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3270048-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />It was a beautiful boat ride for 30 minutes and then we were at San Pedro. We were immediately approached by a tour guide but didn't know what we wanted to do. First we asked about renting scooters. He gave us a motorcycle but it was too scary.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3270057.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3270057.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br />This is the motorcycle. You shift by lifting up a jagged metal bar with your foot. We were in flip-flops and swimsuits... Ouch! I rode up and down the street but Kylee refused to get on with me :) Smart girl.<br /><br />Then we tried bikes. We rented them for 2 hours...but 5 minutes down the street, Kylee was done. And by done I mean turned around and heading back to the guy that rented them to us. It WAS hot and the streets were really steep. We got half our money back ($6.50 US) So then we decided to do a horse ride to the beach. 1 hour to the beach, 1 hour at the beach, and 1 hour back. $225Q. (less than $20 apiece) We waited, then we followed a little boy through town and around many corners to rural San Pedro<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3280075.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3280075.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3270060-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3270060-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3270058.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3270058.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br />This is where we started out trip.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3270059-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3270059-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br />I thought this Spanish school in the middle of nowhere was pretty cool. Can you imagine showing up to your first day of classes here?<br /><br />Amazingly, they put us on 2 very pretty horses. Kylee was in heaven. Our trip to the beach was a really cool trail. We went on back roads for the first part and then up and down trails through the mountains. It was so pretty, and totally inaccessible by car. Plus, our horses were good, they would canter and run so it was fun.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3280071.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3280071.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br />Kylee's horse was faster than mine. If a car came by, he would chase it. Mine wanted to be in the middle of the road all the time so I had to talk him into moving to the side and not getting run over.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3280078.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3280078.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br />This is why you think twice about swimming in the lake. It is a laundry, bathroom, and trash can. But it's also big and very inviting so what the heck.<br /><br />The "beach" was funny. They said it was the best beach around, beautiful black sand on a stretch of the lake. Well, it was and it wasn't. The black sand was coarse and the beach was dirty and a little bit crowded.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3280070.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3280070.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />Plus, we stuck out like a white thumb. But we were hot and it was sunny so we headed to the water. As we got closer, it was so WINDY that suddenly we weren't so quick to get in the water.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3280068.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3280068.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3280069.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3280069.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />It was chilly and we were missing our towels and beach chairs and sunbrella's! Luckily we had our books so we planted it in the sand and read for an hour. We had a great ride back and were really glad we had done it. We both felt like we sunblocked really well but as we waited for our return boat to Panajachel we realized we were fried. Shoulders, necks, tops of legs...ouch!<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3270050-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3270050-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3280109-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3280109-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />This necklace sunburn stayed for our entire trip. No matter what we did witht he sunblock...it was always there! One of the Guatemalan tour guides told us that was the only safe jewelry to wear. :)<br /><br />We got back to Panajachel hungry as usual...showered and dressed then went out to eat. Oh man, we tried a restaurant by the lake and really wanted a plate of nachos. Nachos are pretty common, but they always use a liquid cheese. It's weird. Anyway, we explained that we wanted nachos with chicken and beans and salsa and guacamole and everything. We thought he had the right idea, but what we got was a few chips, fried chicken, a spoonfull of beans, that nasty rectangle of queso, and guacamole. ugh. Two whole plates of it! So, we ate the chips with the quacamole, picked at the chicken and that was it. Wouldn't have been so bad but then they charged us 200Q!! ($25) Outrageous, but what can you do. Still hungry, we went shopping. We are collecting bracelets so we got one in San Pedro and one in Panajachel. Then we looked at tennis shoes but no one has Kylee's size (10) There is so much street food that we experimented. A taco here, some fried corn there...it was fun!<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3280106.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3280106.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br />Everyone has told Kylee not to eat the street food so she is really paranoid. I ate more than she did. At one place we ordered a chicken quesadilla on a flour tortilla. The lady gave us a flour tortilla, smeared it with sour cream and hot sauce, a little liquid cheese, and then stuck a big old leg of chicken in it - on the bone. In my broken spanish I asked her to cut the meat off the bone so she cut it off and then stuck the bone back in it! Oh well, it was still pretty yummy. The meat was really good.<br /><br />Kylee and I get "talked at" a lot when we are out. The guatemalan boys like my tall almost-blonde-again daughter. This time, one guy was following us and saying stuff then I heard him say "hey, I have good ganja, really, good stuff. Ganja for you" I couldn't believe he was offering us pot while I was with my daughter! I turned around and said "hey, su esta diece ses! Su es muy joven, sheesh!" which I hope meant "hey, she is 16 years old! She is very young so back off!" He left real quick. It was funny. The boys around here are short so they are always shocked to hear how young Kylee is. In fact, our horse guide was could not believe that she was a teenager. He assumed we were just friends travelling together. When I told him she was sixteen he didn't believe me. Finally he said I am one year older but she is muy muy alto! (very very tall) It was funny. When his dad was getting the horses saddled up for us he had to adjust the straps longer because he didn't usually get such "muy grande chicas." Love it.<br /><br />Anyway, it was such a beautiful night that when we got back to the hotel we grabbed our books and our headlamps and went out to the hammocks overlooking the lake. I'm sure we looked like dorky Americans. It was perfect.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3280111.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3280111.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br />Me at 6:00am waiting for the shuttle to come pick us up. We were sad to leave Jardin de la Lago. :(<br /><br /><br />Day 3<br />Lanquin<br /><br />We were in the bus all day today! It was supposed to be 6-7 hours but it was 10. We hit traffic and got a flat tire.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3290116.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3290116.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br />This is us in the "bus." It's really just a van. We were the last ones in so we didn't even get to sit by each other. No A/C but the windows are usually open and there's a good breeze.<br /><br />It wasn't as bad as we thought it was going to be but man was it long. I do enjoy driving through Guatemala though. It is so cool and just really pretty. The little towns are usually dirty and squallid but they are in some fantastic scenery. The people are so different. I love how the women ALWAYS have their children with them. Whether they're working, or shopping or walking through town, they are always with their babies. Alot of times they are strapped on, even the big ones. I don't know how they do it. I think that their lifestyle really emphasized the family unit. It's not about the parents working, it's about the family working.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3280091.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3280091.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3290129.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3290129.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br />There's a child in there. They're walking home from a restaurant where she works. Ouch.<br /><br />Anyway, we arrived in Lanquin at 4pm and checked into El Recreo. No hot water, lots of bugs. We reserved a room in El Retiro (the OTHER hotel) for tomorrow night and they are on opposite sides of town. Opposite sides of the hilly, muddy, long town. In fact if it were on a map it would look like: El Recreo, mud hill mud hill, Town, mud hill mud hill, El Retiro.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=21261569821very-muddy-roads-on-the-.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/21261569821very-muddy-roads-on-the-.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br />Now picture little smashed frogs with their guts on the road. Gross.<br /><br />El Retiro is prettier but they are both impossible to make reservations at. I think they have something against telephones. They are really really rural, kind of like cabins next to each other.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3290123.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3290123.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3290125.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3290125.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br />We took a picture of the bathroom feeling sorry for ourselves that it wasn't the Ritz-Carlton. Little did we know that soon we would look at that picture longing to have one that we didn't have to share with 20 other people. And hot water?...only as a distant memory!<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3290133.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3290133.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br />This is dinner. It is a "grilled cheese sandwich" Not quite what we expected, but when you're hungry, it works.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=P3290135.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3290135.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br />We ordered a Mango shake but didn't realize that it would be WARM! It didn't taste bad, but it was REALLY creamy.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3290138-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3290138-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />This is Kylee tucked in for the night...it wasn't cold, but she was afraid of mosquito's!<br /><br />Tomorrow we are white water rafting on the Cahabon River. We are very excited! The next day we are touring some caves and going to Semuc Champey. Woo hoo!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-73875011603851237022010-04-26T22:08:00.001-07:002010-04-29T23:32:56.037-07:00Guatemala, bottom to top! Day 1Most of you know that Kylee has been in Guatemala for the Semester going to high school in Guatemala City and living with a very nice family that we met through a family in our ward. <br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P1020027-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P1020027-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />This is Estrid, Mama, Kylee and Heather. Estrid and Kylee share a room:<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P1030072-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P1030072-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P1040092-1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P1040092-1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />This is Louis and Sariah. They belong to Estrid's sister and live a couple miles away but they stay with their grandparents a lot because their mom works long hours at the hospital. When I stay with Kylee they laugh at my futile attempts at spanish and then try to help me understand by talking really slow and di-st-i-nc-t. They don't realize that as long as it's spanish, it doestn't matter how they say it...I'm not going to get it. Better off with charades. <br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P1010006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P1010006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />This is in Antigua at one of the ruins. They are pretty cool. That's Kylee, Estrid, Heather, and Mama. And yes, my 16 year old is a giant, even when she's slouching.<br /><br />As luck would have it, Kylee had the week of April 26th through May 4th off of school. A little thing called Semana Santa (Holy Week.) This is a very serious celebration in Central America. Thank heavens we don't have it in the States or I would have to call it "Holy Cow, Can You PLEASE Go Back to School" Week. Yep, no work...no school. I was worried about Kylee having nothing to do for a week (except party with her school friends) so I took the opportunity to go entertain her. I planned our trip to start in southern Guatemala and work our way to the far north while seeing all that we could in between. <br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=guatemala_map.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/guatemala_map.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />This is going to be long, it's a travellogue. I wrote it as we travelled. <br /><br />Day 1 - Antigua & Pacaya Volcano<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=antigua-guatemala.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/antigua-guatemala.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> This is central park in Antigua. You can see the volcano Acatenango in the background.<br /> <br />Today we got up at 4:00 so that we could be in Antigua at 6:00 for a tour/hike up Pacaya Volcano. Guatemala is full of volcanos. Literally. It seems like everywhere you look, boom, there's a volcano. To me, they are especially cool when they are active. The active ones have smoke poofing out of them like a factory. They also make the occasional loud boom. It is fascinating.<br /><br />I wanted to see lava. Bad. So I booked us a tour up Pacaya. We met our van at 6:00 (lucky because we never solidified our reservations and were just lucky enough to slip in) and left our bags at the office...always a little scary...then squeezed into a 12 passenger van with 12 other people. Worse than an airplane it is so tight. The hour it takes to get to the base is bumpy and windey so you have to pay attention or you will be laying on the person next to you. The drivers drive fast and the traffic in Guatemala is CRAZY. Seriously CRAZY. <br /> <br />At the base of the mountain, we bought walking sticks for 5Q each ( .70 us) and boy were we glad. <br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3260006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3260006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The walk is occasionally steep and the rocks are loose. We had a woman in our group that was older (58) and a smoker. She lasted about 10 minutes before she opted for a "taxi" which was really a horse guided by a young boy. They follow the groups and wait for someone to wuss out. Thank heavens too...we would have been really really slow if she tried walking. Our path went through pretty greenery and past a lot of farmland. The view around every corner was amazing. There is a sister volcano called "Acatenango" (I think) that was like a postcard. <br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3260010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3260010.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /> <br />Pacaya last erupted in 2006. When you get about half way up the trail, it is all lava rock. Once we got there, you can't take the horses any further so we had to slow down. The most surprising thing about the lava rock was the sound and feel of it. It feels hollow, like you are walking on fake rocks. It was cool. Kylee kept asking if she could just sit and wait for me. Her little face was all red and sweaty and she was not having a good time.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3260018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3260018.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I kept telling her it would be worth it. It is probably the only time in her life she will be on an active volcano and see real live lava. She pushed through it and made it! Dirt trail + horses = dirty and sweaty. Seriously dirty and seriously sweaty. In spite of the very pleasant breeze and beautiful weather. And it really was beautiful. Once we got to the lava flow it got really really windy. The lava was flowing out of the side of the mountain like someone had punched a hole in the side to let it out.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3260028.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3260028.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />It was so amazing to see! As we got closer and closer the air got really really warm and then hot. When the wind blew our direction it blew toxic fumes from the lava. I think those fumes could actually kill you. You can't see them, but they are so so strong that you can't actually breath them. You have to take short shallow breaths until the wind blows some fresh air your way. It makes you cough and singes your nose hairs. I got close enough to throw a rock on the lava but it was so hot that my legs were burning and my necklace was burning my neck! Crazy!<br /><br />I had to try several times to hit the lava because first of all, the rocks are really light, and second of all, they are burning hot. I had to find rocks that were not facing the direct heat and then throw them very quickly. When a rock hit the lava it floated on top because the lava was so thick. It was so cool to see. The rock just floated over the top like a log in a stream. <br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3260027.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3260027.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Check out my hair blowing in the wind. You can't see how hot it is right here, but it is HOT.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3260023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3260023.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> She's hiding it, but she is super excited.<br /> <br />We hiked down the volcano at a slow pace because old smoker woman was without a taxi. Kylee and I had to purchase water at a little hut on the side of the path because my daughter who in her words "hardly ever drinks" drank the entire camelback full of water by the time she got to the lava. :) Lesson learned, haha. Luckily, some guatemalans had a little booth set up selling water and snacks for this very reason. The water is cheap and plentiful, thank heavens, and we also purchased little apple cookies because by this time it was noon and we hadn't eaten anything. We were hungry! As we chatted with some of the other hikers, we talked to a girl that was in one of the Jesus processions in Antigua (that's what they call them) and had her wallet stolen. She said 2 little girls squished in on each side of her and sliced the bottom of her backpack with a knife, then stole her wallet. Huh? Note to self...be more careful.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=alfombras-de-la-antigua-guatemalaSS.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/alfombras-de-la-antigua-guatemalaSS.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />This is a Jesus Procession. Those are real flowers decorating the walkway for the procession to walk on. A big truck follows behind and picks up all the smashed flowers. Such a waste!<br /> <br />After the hike, we rode the van back to Antigua and were determined to get food. We had to pick up our suitcases first and they were at the travel agency/hotel office. We had just decided to find a hotel with a swimming pool and stay the night, thus skipping our planned trip to Lake Atitlan and instead head straight to Coban in the morning when the van dropped us all off in the middle of the city and we had no idea where we were or where our suitcases were. Kylee paid 3Q to use a public bathroom (.50 US) and then we exchanged some of our money at a crowded bank and started walking down the street to where we were told our tour agency was. We got there safely and were just pulling our suitcases out of the office when a lady came up to us and told us our "bus" was here. Our bus? Apparently Astrid had made plans for us to go straight to Lake Atitlan and the "bus" was waiting for us. Kylee and I looked at each other like "hmmm, what are we going to do?" The little guatemalan lady was quite anxious for us to pay for the "bus" - which I told you was really a 12 passenger van AND we didn't want to get back in one! But we looked in it an there were only 5 other people in it so we said what the heck, let's go to Atitlan! You have to appreciate the timing of everything and see what a miracle it was that we ever even went to Atitlan. SO glad we did!<br /> <br />Know how we thought we had just 5 other passengers? We picked a few more up on the way. Yep, all 13 of us in a 12 passenger van for a 3 hour ride. And there is me and Kylee in our dirt covered clothing and sweaty, dirty hair. We had dirt rings around our ankles and eyes. It was pretty. It was especially nice when we picked up the smokers (I think people smoke more in foreign countries...not that there's anything wrong with that...) and the DOG! Yep, a big slobbery dog. It was fine though, not as bad as we expected. We just sat there and read our books.<br /> <br />When we got to Atitlan (that's the name of the lake, the actual city is Panajachel) We didn't have a hotel so we looked at a couple of billboards and decided to try one. A guatemalan tour operator grabbed us the minute we got off the bus and wanted to arrange our transportation so we let him grab a "tuk tuk" for us. <br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=337.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/337.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />This is a tuk tuk. The inside of this thing looks like a scooter, handlebars and hand brakes and all.<br /><br />When the tuk tuk driver realized we were debating about a hotel, he jumped in and suggested a hotel that was "very nice, on the lake" so we got in the tuk tuk and gave the driver 15Q (almost $2) ...and he drove us around the corner. LITERALLY around the corner - about 10 steps. So funny. But he was right, we loved the place and it was $10 cheaper than the other places we were looking at and included breakfast. It cost $64 per night which is expensive for Guatemala, but compared to the States it is a steal. Our room was quaint and comfortable and all we cared about was the fact that it had a shower! A shower! Woo hoo!! When we were all clean, we went out to the hammocks and relaxed by the lake.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3270036-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3270036-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3270032-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3270032-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />We thought it was funny that our room had an actual "key" just like the olden days, so we took a picture. After our 3rd or 4th hotel with the same key, it became normal and we began to wonder why we took this picture...<br /><br />It was an absolutely incredible view. The hotel is Jardines del Lago which is gardens by the lake and it really was. Every time we go outside I can't believe the place! <br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3270035-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3270035-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3270038-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3270038-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /> <br />We were starving so we went exploring. Down the street and around the corner was a huge market place so we chose a restaurant at random. We were so lucky. Yum. I have to say though, chips are weird, thick and deep fried and tortillas are thick and made from corn. Don't bother asking for a flour tortilla, they will look at you like you are a foreigner, which you are, and like you're crazy, which you might be. I have found that their guacamole is always good and salsa is always a 50-50 chance of getting straight hot sauce, like tabasco. Salsa dulce is ketchup and it is WAY sweeter than our American ketchup.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3270041-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3270041-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />This is their idea of nachos. Yes, it has liquid cheese on it. <br /><br />While we were shopping we decided to start collecting bracelets. It is not unusual for the Guatamalans to have bracelets all the way up their arm, so to fit in, we decided to pick one out in every city we visited. In Panajachel we got one for Antigua and Panajachel. We had a blast shopping and went to bed exhausted.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=P3270046-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/P3270046-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-47393017165905362332009-11-10T14:31:00.000-08:002009-11-10T15:03:24.288-08:00The Bunny and the Dinosaur/BatThese two are the best of friends. Seriously, they love each other. They say things like "Addie, you're my best friend, right?" or "Trigger we're going to be best friends forever, huh?" "Cuz we are best friends."<br /><br />It is so cute.<br /><br />I don't remember this conversation exactly, but Dave took these two to preschool in their costumes and while he was driving he said "Trigg, do you know what dinosaurs eat?" Trigg says "Chicken." Dave says "Nope, they eat bunny rabbits" Trigg and Addie look at each other across the seat and Addie says "You won't eat me?!" and Trigg says "I'll just eat chicken."<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=IMG_8139.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/IMG_8139.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=IMG_8141.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/IMG_8141.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=IMG_8142-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/IMG_8142-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />This hug ended up in a heap on the ground!<br /><br />Trigg was a bat for Halloween night. I wish I had a better picture of his costume. They were so perfect, the bunny and the bat, lightness and darkness, yin and yang.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=IMG_8204-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/IMG_8204-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I don't know why I didn't manage to get a family picture. <br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=IMG_8187.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/IMG_8187.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />"Smile." "What?" "Smile!" "What?!"<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=IMG_8190.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/IMG_8190.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />Ah Saydie...the happiest, most laid-back hippie-chick ever!<br /><br />Kylee and her friends worked in a haunted house for our ward party. They were doctors, sooooo scary!<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=IMG_8208.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/IMG_8208.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=IMG_8227.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/IMG_8227.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=IMG_8229.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/IMG_8229.jpg" border="0" alt="Halloween"></a><br /><br />This is a hit every year! A little optical illusion...<br /><br />I do love Halloween, I really, really do. It's just fun and pointless. Next year I vow to take more pictures. I'll take pictures of our family party with the kids bobbing for apples and all of the soup and bread and carving of pumpkins...I'll take pictures of our neighborhood frybread party and the ward chili cook-off...I'll take pictures of the Mason's very scary Halloween house with my Addie begging not to go in and showing me how she's going to hide on my neck (oh, I love it) I will take pictures, I will!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-73350267710172192252009-11-10T13:36:00.001-08:002009-11-10T14:24:28.232-08:00Death-Day<a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=PA260002-1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/PA260002-1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />S<span style="font-style:italic;">OME</span> people, who shall remain nameless...think that it is morbid to gather on my Dad's death-day. But my Dad's death day falls in the perfect place, just 6 months from his birthday - so I love that we get to gather on that day and think of him. It's more than just thinking about him, it's aknowledging that we're all thinking of him together. Because I think of him a lot. And when I think about him I get a big knot in my throat, because I can only barely remember what his voice sounded like when he would open my front door and yell "Reb?!" Oh yes, I can still hear it.<br /><br />One of my last memories of my dad was a hike he went on with my little family. We were practically out the door and he came over and invited himself along (not that I wouldn't have invited him, I just hadn't thought of it) I am so happy he did that! I'm so happy that he just dropped whatever he had planned for the day, pulled his sweat-band out of the car and came with us! He cheered the kids on when they started whining and even carried not-so-little Saydie (she was 5 years old for pete's sake!) I love my dad, and man do I miss him!!<br /><br />We had a picnic on his grave. Not literally on his grave because it was in the sun, but instead we parked it in the shade nearby. We ate KFC and cookies and talked about life. He would have liked it and he wouldn't care if you thought it was morbid, so there!<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=PA260003-2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/PA260003-2-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-66290165958253016672009-11-01T21:22:00.000-08:002009-11-02T18:36:23.174-08:00Home, Sweet Home!Joy, my sister, and I bought this house together. We plan on building 2 houses on the other side of the house (currently the back yard) and then demolishing this one - to the ground! Until then, we co-habitate. It's not what you think, we're not SHARING...it's a duplex. On 2.5 acres. WOO HOO! We Love it.<div><br /></div><div>The door you see on the left is hers, and the one over to the right of the garage, that you can't see very well, is mine. At first we thought it would be convenient if we could get to each other through the house, so we busted a hole through a wall and built a doorway. Those were the days...<br /><br />A few months ago, when we realized we were going to be in this situation for an undetermined amount of time, we closed the door, and blocked it off.<br /><br />Peace ensued.<br /><br />Somehow I got lucky, I'm in the big side. She is in the small side and I don't know how she does it! This post is just about MY side of scary house.<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=PB020054.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/PB020054.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br /><div>So, this is my house. When we bought it (RIGHT before prices fell away into nothingness - that's just the way we do it, we like to help people out) we knew we would have to live here, but we thought it would be just long enough to get a house built. In fact, technically, we didn't even buy a house. We just bought land. We procured a "bridge loan" covering just 1 year so that it could be converted to a construction loan asap. No home inspection, no warranty...that's just how we do it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Check out the roof. Believe it or not, it doesn't leak. Yet. I took a picture with the garage door open because we only close it at night. It doesn't have an opener and it's too old to program a universal opener to so we just leave it open. Of course no one ever comes ALL THE WAY back here, to our property...so we feel pretty safe. You would have to be crazy to burglarize a home in a rural neighborhood like this. These people have WEAPONS, and TOOLS, and they are NOT afraid to use them...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=PB020055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/PB020055.jpg" border="0" alt="House with yard" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>You probably can't see it, but Greg is currently digging a big pit to sink our trampolines. We are doing 2 rectangle ones end to end and the kids are dying to get it done. The tractor belongs to our neighbors - and that is the kind of neighbors we have. They have lots and lots of toys and they are the most generous people in the world. It is Greg's dream come true! Just a man and his tractor. Seriously, we love this neighborhood.</div><div><br />There are so many pictures coming that I have to warn you. This post is mostly for me and my posterity. It is our chance to look back at the scary house with love. And even though we call it the scary house, it's not really "scary" it was just scary to think about living in it. That's how it got it's name. Like some things do, the name STUCK. LIKE. GLUE. Despite our efforts, and the fact that we may be living here for the next couple of years...it will always be the scary house. But <i>now</i> we say it with affection.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is what we see just inside the front door (during Halloween.) In this picture it looks like a really nice hardwood floor. Wouldn't that be nice... It's laminate - and NOT the good kind that they make now. It's tearing back in some places and is stapled down into the plywood underneath it. So cool.<br /><br />At the end of this hallway, it splits to the left into the kitchen and to the right to a hallway leading to bedrooms. It is a step down to go either direction. What we will ALL remember the most about this feature of the house is the number of times we would hear Dax's voice, the sound of 5 year-old feet running down the hallway, then SMACK. And 5 year-old crying. Like a recording. Every time. He trips on the step between the hallway and the kitchen, EVERY TIME. So sad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbKJ2rS4BymO5Y_wVOVMezM28ZLvdizGkt3gr-qepPmLOlrHHAfTaCiKD-CCK2g_ZDIbELUd2ymGOYwI3G9Mlt4TxTkzUe_jaVriqQRYOZQSNWHEpWOjLgi7NR-sgYrbdGJk5SEsYJoY/s1600-h/IMG_8145.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbKJ2rS4BymO5Y_wVOVMezM28ZLvdizGkt3gr-qepPmLOlrHHAfTaCiKD-CCK2g_ZDIbELUd2ymGOYwI3G9Mlt4TxTkzUe_jaVriqQRYOZQSNWHEpWOjLgi7NR-sgYrbdGJk5SEsYJoY/s400/IMG_8145.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399389545824946178" /></a><br /><br />This is the step and the rip that always gets Dax. Ah, poor little buddy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOT3dZEkhHndQzCezrJEtwXmUsgdtW_GFrttqor-QBp7TccY9nVspsXiM8nXM8kMTF3Kygiupx0QAccRoea6a7tn1RO44-C6lcGIyZndXtQHU4Poimf1fCHqCj50BsL8z9fwWUpiQVt74/s1600-h/Picture+023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOT3dZEkhHndQzCezrJEtwXmUsgdtW_GFrttqor-QBp7TccY9nVspsXiM8nXM8kMTF3Kygiupx0QAccRoea6a7tn1RO44-C6lcGIyZndXtQHU4Poimf1fCHqCj50BsL8z9fwWUpiQVt74/s400/Picture+023.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399685234920144690" /></a><br /><br />Just to the right when you walk in the front door is the living room. Greg had to cut out the hole in the wall straight ahead because I was going crazy with the tightness of it. I like it much better now. We didn't paint any of these walls. The whole house is done in different shades of green. If I ever get to build a house, I think green will be banned. In every shade.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo63wuaWTQz-4yf5mN3oHP2Pa_I7-x9QsMehwsBBYSzMcm39n6OE87LOkmg7AAQmrUF7oq-wD50Uv9rLBl73d1MP9f_c3kEWapMBYn6kcvNAy_0Mojs8BBfIPSFmCucLKbtQoGXydWrd0/s1600-h/IMG_8149.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo63wuaWTQz-4yf5mN3oHP2Pa_I7-x9QsMehwsBBYSzMcm39n6OE87LOkmg7AAQmrUF7oq-wD50Uv9rLBl73d1MP9f_c3kEWapMBYn6kcvNAy_0Mojs8BBfIPSFmCucLKbtQoGXydWrd0/s400/IMG_8149.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399389555522576914" /></a>This is the living room from the other angle. It's too bad you can't get the full effect of the hanging light in the corner. It's awesome. Goes all the way up to the vaulted ceiling and hangs with a swoop. Totally vintage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rDZ2ARqPeWH041mPHmQafJKb2bZqQ9olNzWBDvZoB_FkG2ScB2J8sVi_GZIyVIzAR94Lb88_NvCTEBURuPZoFf7l8KNxSXmtzmrjzlUUH14d6yIebkMvxTZxD9hVwXhiWQBFkAXVXCg/s1600-h/IMG_8151.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rDZ2ARqPeWH041mPHmQafJKb2bZqQ9olNzWBDvZoB_FkG2ScB2J8sVi_GZIyVIzAR94Lb88_NvCTEBURuPZoFf7l8KNxSXmtzmrjzlUUH14d6yIebkMvxTZxD9hVwXhiWQBFkAXVXCg/s400/IMG_8151.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399628988185247426" /></a>Just to the left of the entryway is my office. We try to share it, Greg and I, but he usually gets squeezed into the corner with his laptop. So sad.</div><div><br /></div><div>Everyone is always surprised that we took the time to decorate any of the walls in this house. The fact of the matter is, everything has to go somewhere and it is much easier to put it on the wall than try to find a storage space for it. "The Creation" painting used to be in our bedroom. Hey, don't judge me.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZHQew8MGcITeC493fhc2NYLVhc2JWiaHoFBar1-wMpCGiYNEtgL7RtCbx8nncaVugpbwy5NzIwgAAm9ha3lm7v7Qns-d9NKm4CMN2hy2t7WblAkcsIv_58BkIX5Xan9gv634v2A1oyw/s1600-h/Picture+010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZHQew8MGcITeC493fhc2NYLVhc2JWiaHoFBar1-wMpCGiYNEtgL7RtCbx8nncaVugpbwy5NzIwgAAm9ha3lm7v7Qns-d9NKm4CMN2hy2t7WblAkcsIv_58BkIX5Xan9gv634v2A1oyw/s400/Picture+010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399553167908531554" /></a>Do you see my office through that little door? This picture is taken from the kitchen. Yep, stairs in the kitchen going down to the basement. Extra wide stairs that I love, if only they weren't in my kitchen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI4UXH-NYi2rubBXqS-hKtViCGT5TOIwaAFaxtovGFPORsXkCiB4M4puhd-w8lmU3wRDr_XQp7jeGqUqYg3Ve9qOGTxXOfoCuVIHSmOjzrQ1VIpNKeip0T9wFh0mcIb7mUfWT0-Pdteo/s1600-h/Picture+020.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI4UXH-NYi2rubBXqS-hKtViCGT5TOIwaAFaxtovGFPORsXkCiB4M4puhd-w8lmU3wRDr_XQp7jeGqUqYg3Ve9qOGTxXOfoCuVIHSmOjzrQ1VIpNKeip0T9wFh0mcIb7mUfWT0-Pdteo/s400/Picture+020.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399553189798445666" /></a><br />This picture is blurry, but I had to include the coal-burning stove. It works, but we don't use it. To get perspective, that is my office door on the far far left - and the stairs. Straight ahead is a guest bathroom, and the door to the garage is just past the coal-burner. Looking straight ahead, you are facing Joy's side of the house. We got smart and blocked it off so that you have to access her side from her door. Too much togetherness.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i50EKX1SyDbyHlsmqLgibpV4P0sX5Y9s39MUeuagDteB33ATOfmhDnqbioZi465l2cV6nBWwSwgFKQoyEYKDxG72dWO2OqWgweArb2j-xYrF-IshFC6Hd4fP8dalz9ckZPFE-8rJzwQ/s1600-h/Picture+019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i50EKX1SyDbyHlsmqLgibpV4P0sX5Y9s39MUeuagDteB33ATOfmhDnqbioZi465l2cV6nBWwSwgFKQoyEYKDxG72dWO2OqWgweArb2j-xYrF-IshFC6Hd4fP8dalz9ckZPFE-8rJzwQ/s400/Picture+019.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399632547326257506" /></a>Ah, my kitchen. Before the idea of greatrooms occured to anyone, they just made a big kitchen that you could plop your table in the middle of. It is so awkward. Anytime my children want to be around me, they have to sit at the table. No kicking back in front of the tv, or playing on the carpet...it's green linoleum for pete's sake. Shades of green, that is. Wood laminate countertop and fake brick wallpaper. NOT that there's anything wrong with it. Check out the hanging globe lights. Totally vintage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoO1nkJ06YVmcnxBCeRej6xfiQ6dn4DDgJwAKL2tu9UcsRlNBonljPaBfAl54jYOv6VvxWkW6-z58nuUhOfsw-tvnssBT1WKkNL03ZrM9ov5i_UvbpVKC5d9BTJnP5GUAz_ZIpSi-elEE/s1600-h/Picture+017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoO1nkJ06YVmcnxBCeRej6xfiQ6dn4DDgJwAKL2tu9UcsRlNBonljPaBfAl54jYOv6VvxWkW6-z58nuUhOfsw-tvnssBT1WKkNL03ZrM9ov5i_UvbpVKC5d9BTJnP5GUAz_ZIpSi-elEE/s400/Picture+017.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399553178832635634" /></a>I had to take a picture of the ceiling. Two of these flourescent lights, and 2 speakers that aren't hooked up to anything. I'm sure in the day they had some sweet surround sound.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx53O_4OMT-nOMPpfjFaWOqNO_Z5YIitVfQKewGpzNs9n7Jd8WgGE8iyr1Cg3rHZP7nPsm19vglOoM7UH8QTDTVJJFOBR28nbvLwJ7kZLIN9c0uG9g_2V13m68tWl63pFETrnGVN0gU8c/s1600-h/Picture+016.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx53O_4OMT-nOMPpfjFaWOqNO_Z5YIitVfQKewGpzNs9n7Jd8WgGE8iyr1Cg3rHZP7nPsm19vglOoM7UH8QTDTVJJFOBR28nbvLwJ7kZLIN9c0uG9g_2V13m68tWl63pFETrnGVN0gU8c/s400/Picture+016.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399553170608552050" /></a><br />The guest bathroom off the kitchen. No those aren't bricks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5e_VUQ2cpLI-O5_BAgEPM1ep_Ft_CkcqjHrZTuYKzsjIMsJ8Y_Jf-2MQsgzAV5SEXm7PMoum5xgzvFdaqY_RozUN3Vm_e-a29RVpj3Zcr5tsx_Nj9l0Tei1QtFA_HU3uxaB5NcgD2pxE/s1600-h/Picture+045.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5e_VUQ2cpLI-O5_BAgEPM1ep_Ft_CkcqjHrZTuYKzsjIMsJ8Y_Jf-2MQsgzAV5SEXm7PMoum5xgzvFdaqY_RozUN3Vm_e-a29RVpj3Zcr5tsx_Nj9l0Tei1QtFA_HU3uxaB5NcgD2pxE/s400/Picture+045.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399635578961718258" /></a><br />This is the basement. Down the stairs in the kitchen. This basement is big and the kids love it. The back corner by the fireplace has a game table and the wall that's hidden (around the corner) has stacks and stacks of games on it. Also, the video games from the office are on the far left of the picture. The great thing about this basement is that the kids can disappear for awhile. (That is also the bad thing about it...)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzDGh-mnjuCxnHDLe2jgMGhe8_o3wYeazuFIyMcS_eCtOpcNpnfZuGv2ehOd-_F0Pke0uVxg25Ry3zREQnyGIC164S3aLwDGXEg-DIctH6o3QpzpESwzQS58AeiXpP2QDy-TeRw5xua0/s1600-h/Picture+072.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzDGh-mnjuCxnHDLe2jgMGhe8_o3wYeazuFIyMcS_eCtOpcNpnfZuGv2ehOd-_F0Pke0uVxg25Ry3zREQnyGIC164S3aLwDGXEg-DIctH6o3QpzpESwzQS58AeiXpP2QDy-TeRw5xua0/s400/Picture+072.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399635489928722034" /></a><br />On the wall that you can't see (on the far left) there is an entertainment center and 2 doors. One to Kylee's room and one to Kinsey's.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is Kylee's room. Because that wall is solid concrete, we put sheet metal on it so Kylee could put stuff on it. Can't nail into it. It's SOLID. </div><div><br /></div><div>That is a hammock seat hanging above her bed. Her idea, don't ask me!</div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQ2pMAR6pOkiVs3D5f3zvJ_MpatxwRQP2nMlkD0QeSLZSOw_Ff1ETPeUOSWFNAsAy8CreXampG-Q2wo8z4vZkBE_UlDOfie3MOMiCv8g68t7HDk6Uc3PV4eRaUJVjNlD1loJGg6Y403w/s1600-h/IMG_8171.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQ2pMAR6pOkiVs3D5f3zvJ_MpatxwRQP2nMlkD0QeSLZSOw_Ff1ETPeUOSWFNAsAy8CreXampG-Q2wo8z4vZkBE_UlDOfie3MOMiCv8g68t7HDk6Uc3PV4eRaUJVjNlD1loJGg6Y403w/s400/IMG_8171.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399641139005140482" /></a><br />Between Kylee's room and Kinsey's room there is a jack-and-jill bathroom. I'm pretty sure it's one of the first one's ever made! This is Kylee's vanity. Real bricks, painted red and white with green vines running up the side. Yep, vintage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBxrwo4V9xWxOcr15ZVlJ7kF4frjpAQ9ET4HCzXvzPtdr-bADu3Y6jEg6kyVOnguIymSe_LAjtnBIk8_0vyBwOkJyd7ZoY5r9zibb9Tiev45zAkcojlrDCxFWO_5F9LzG1sT3ZeTwqJQ/s1600-h/Picture+081.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBxrwo4V9xWxOcr15ZVlJ7kF4frjpAQ9ET4HCzXvzPtdr-bADu3Y6jEg6kyVOnguIymSe_LAjtnBIk8_0vyBwOkJyd7ZoY5r9zibb9Tiev45zAkcojlrDCxFWO_5F9LzG1sT3ZeTwqJQ/s400/Picture+081.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399640291782581922" /></a>Directly opposite is her closet...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb0ocZXINLkVRBQP-EsLBc8cL8aTVN91hld7tIBZoB90qh1h6iby5SiHpkBR-DwJ7jUz5iE4YRbcNu5anrufk2Y-vsMQ-iLE9Xvk0fJif-esT7fuR9oE5i8FzlIM9yTYiW3H4-QnkZJg/s1600-h/Picture+082.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb0ocZXINLkVRBQP-EsLBc8cL8aTVN91hld7tIBZoB90qh1h6iby5SiHpkBR-DwJ7jUz5iE4YRbcNu5anrufk2Y-vsMQ-iLE9Xvk0fJif-esT7fuR9oE5i8FzlIM9yTYiW3H4-QnkZJg/s400/Picture+082.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399640296718207986" /></a><br />This is where it connects through Kinsey's room.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HrP65n9UDyb7iiPyl4fQyr1i8RRZS9EbB8bV8TmM_z7pRxw3-P-SHHtf-5Pl9NY0FGSeuhwlsRb3nzSJdAc5D_DS850dfyzwb5S8tq4DmpXdO4fLok__B1yYTFYuUMKf6CR2-MaDYGg/s1600-h/IMG_8180.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HrP65n9UDyb7iiPyl4fQyr1i8RRZS9EbB8bV8TmM_z7pRxw3-P-SHHtf-5Pl9NY0FGSeuhwlsRb3nzSJdAc5D_DS850dfyzwb5S8tq4DmpXdO4fLok__B1yYTFYuUMKf6CR2-MaDYGg/s400/IMG_8180.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399640303894103746" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Kinsey's vanity and closet is just like Kylee's...minus the vine painting on the brick wall. Real bricks this time, painted white.</span></span></span></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaDioxQGZutM1Fdqldb29mnYkvEpi7SwlNMaguzWyQPd9SLnHslvkXiZv5mpVvnaPzW3g_QjrpxLNONqv0wgov43pfeh_s1YvAL0Wu_MRmP-jqxXkbN8TGGZhkLe6NOJDpfm0xBPFrjU/s1600-h/IMG_8179.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaDioxQGZutM1Fdqldb29mnYkvEpi7SwlNMaguzWyQPd9SLnHslvkXiZv5mpVvnaPzW3g_QjrpxLNONqv0wgov43pfeh_s1YvAL0Wu_MRmP-jqxXkbN8TGGZhkLe6NOJDpfm0xBPFrjU/s400/IMG_8179.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399552722389040786" /></a>This is Kinsey's room. I don't know how I caught it clean. You usually can't see the floor. After she cleans it, 10 minutes and it looks like a hurricane hit it. Just a talent of hers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWie69LiDAlUzxJzDnKpr11udh39VdKffzAJa8ivxeEYGxbJNAlXexRlCxb7tanpn47WW_GEL6m2rPFtEjQFxTQ8czkvYy9G3GSjqyZKZdhKfsKxVb382GZfg-rI_48YVuMA74nINdv4/s1600-h/IMG_8176.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWie69LiDAlUzxJzDnKpr11udh39VdKffzAJa8ivxeEYGxbJNAlXexRlCxb7tanpn47WW_GEL6m2rPFtEjQFxTQ8czkvYy9G3GSjqyZKZdhKfsKxVb382GZfg-rI_48YVuMA74nINdv4/s400/IMG_8176.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399552708673100066" /></a>Another view of Kinsey's room. All concrete walls. Impenetrable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbG2g6nO-5dCd5IQjflKGJsMBF6s_pGluxtj6oQ4J7htrKai3JMWG9njK1O4hpktw9QaZdIsP2GLtkUE6EMYeEfpW26zNZQLfKtGcqEIeHcMgh_iNo7Az_HY92untTcYAQNBHTsPU0cM/s1600-h/IMG_8178.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbG2g6nO-5dCd5IQjflKGJsMBF6s_pGluxtj6oQ4J7htrKai3JMWG9njK1O4hpktw9QaZdIsP2GLtkUE6EMYeEfpW26zNZQLfKtGcqEIeHcMgh_iNo7Az_HY92untTcYAQNBHTsPU0cM/s400/IMG_8178.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399552713186011058" /></a><br />When we decided to move into this house, Kinsey begged to move into the bedroom under the stairs. Well, it is not a bedroom and it is not under the stairs - but since she wanted to...we put Saydie and Janee in the bedroom and moved Kinsey to this very special room. This rooms turns a sharp left at the end and has room for a bed. Here is the closet space...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfsoryAy_vj5vvAEL8AULMIjxvN6MLkTmR1FAMerEcZ2slZA4RxP4qBVrqieYZH1Ezvkqo87sstv4g5hDv-qzvtUS7PiBuM8ibxyb3OpMcXMBHsH7CdHMVeckv-jZnWVGJ1PdY3-taIA/s1600-h/Picture+086.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfsoryAy_vj5vvAEL8AULMIjxvN6MLkTmR1FAMerEcZ2slZA4RxP4qBVrqieYZH1Ezvkqo87sstv4g5hDv-qzvtUS7PiBuM8ibxyb3OpMcXMBHsH7CdHMVeckv-jZnWVGJ1PdY3-taIA/s400/Picture+086.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399680853718656546" /></a>Here is the bed, complete with ladder and slide.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ja7Byz6F9tYLSLX0df8CuyretOxYJI02j4Xp_J3Zte3FqVtHPLhakJ-6miskP3EkK4-_1wDBeEh-D6UsdRnT6p9XphPkM3KPcpILJWqK51n-Rpu8lZgF8DaJE17KdfQgoBF3z5pu1vc/s1600-h/Picture+088.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ja7Byz6F9tYLSLX0df8CuyretOxYJI02j4Xp_J3Zte3FqVtHPLhakJ-6miskP3EkK4-_1wDBeEh-D6UsdRnT6p9XphPkM3KPcpILJWqK51n-Rpu8lZgF8DaJE17KdfQgoBF3z5pu1vc/s400/Picture+088.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399680859703929106" /></a><br />Under her bed was some sort of cave. This is what we found on the walls...Graffiti!! I wish I could keep it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqxAlUzqr5ihMZHiNpDuimIVMFgqhGaskHtZUYw1pnCxgkb_3VUduy73Oqd9y81PCDSO3JtCFv0n9QtmH-o1Kr5Xz1fRDKNy47WTu_hT-WfEe89oT_c_F9V8kPhTtSw8o2DhT60bvUnI/s1600-h/IMG_8164.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqxAlUzqr5ihMZHiNpDuimIVMFgqhGaskHtZUYw1pnCxgkb_3VUduy73Oqd9y81PCDSO3JtCFv0n9QtmH-o1Kr5Xz1fRDKNy47WTu_hT-WfEe89oT_c_F9V8kPhTtSw8o2DhT60bvUnI/s400/IMG_8164.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399552696315168498" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">When we moved Kinsey out, we turned this space into a toy closet. Much better!</div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54aDCuPIBFJXohWUQX0-KygWjB2XW4J2soeM3lz1_Kja-vBE2JfZMw0-8ivLUimkDbS7kd1J0Ld_Zzt5_-m3ERYqv8ZgjweiiTRJl6-McQnwKX7OlZjO09LLrDsJUuxePCm-WHkxI9MM/s1600-h/IMG_8161.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54aDCuPIBFJXohWUQX0-KygWjB2XW4J2soeM3lz1_Kja-vBE2JfZMw0-8ivLUimkDbS7kd1J0Ld_Zzt5_-m3ERYqv8ZgjweiiTRJl6-McQnwKX7OlZjO09LLrDsJUuxePCm-WHkxI9MM/s400/IMG_8161.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399680866230257746" /></a><br />That's the end of the basement. </div><div><br /></div><div>Back upstairs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Down the hallway to the right of the entryway is the kid's bathroom. I think they re-did this bathroom before they moved out of the house. Not EVEN scary.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0YcA6w1bB0QdcXtafjVrfvhxRPjnqeQik4u2B9M155mDzOvY2AiUnBxYtwusiswmZk-Tz7ShVIJE_iWTmjJ3yY92ovxwR7VVtpkrvPtSIuNkEkp5jWgg_PcDcCdHww-UAcG3_ABIAcA/s1600-h/Picture+025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0YcA6w1bB0QdcXtafjVrfvhxRPjnqeQik4u2B9M155mDzOvY2AiUnBxYtwusiswmZk-Tz7ShVIJE_iWTmjJ3yY92ovxwR7VVtpkrvPtSIuNkEkp5jWgg_PcDcCdHww-UAcG3_ABIAcA/s400/Picture+025.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399685239636517730" /></a><br />Down the hall on the right hand side, sort of in the corner is a big bedroom that we put Dax and Saydie in. I took this picture when it was Dax and Jarem's (Joy's son) room. Now it is half boy and half princess. You'll have to picture that. It's pretty sweet.<br /><br /> </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcLa0gybZHKvbEpkoNgpfmvzGZdFAUPG9iBJqTYciBzP-MpNNRb7uClImJSMxPj3z7j86W8VBwK2mnizN_a7JLQyfL-TnbB3HO8oC-LutU5EZABpIoYQm42F_VRnzmCruLNOfbpUqzFI/s1600-h/Picture+028.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcLa0gybZHKvbEpkoNgpfmvzGZdFAUPG9iBJqTYciBzP-MpNNRb7uClImJSMxPj3z7j86W8VBwK2mnizN_a7JLQyfL-TnbB3HO8oC-LutU5EZABpIoYQm42F_VRnzmCruLNOfbpUqzFI/s400/Picture+028.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399685242015355074" /></a><br />Turn the corner and down the hallway to the right again is Addie's room. For some reason I didn't take a picture of the other half of the room with the dresser and armoir. Oh well. Those girl pictures above her bed are part of a set of 4 that I had hanging in my room when I was a little girl. My sister's and I would choose which one we were. I was always that snow girl on the left with the brown hair and the fluffy white headband. Every time I see those pictures I think of my sisters. I love it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU8YZ36RrqsPl-Pg-A6mgUG-t5_mUPLhKgEGl-nmPshXk-OuSbiJUF2VN-ep5b4ElyvL4u-3oztGluuFsYPyIBzghqwgwV0lI8kVvVRYJaiHncl55dbXGgDXjqLN2OcBeA8kVhUNtQTo/s1600-h/Picture+035.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU8YZ36RrqsPl-Pg-A6mgUG-t5_mUPLhKgEGl-nmPshXk-OuSbiJUF2VN-ep5b4ElyvL4u-3oztGluuFsYPyIBzghqwgwV0lI8kVvVRYJaiHncl55dbXGgDXjqLN2OcBeA8kVhUNtQTo/s400/Picture+035.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399687049187546546" /></a><br />MY BEDROOM! Don't judge me...</div><div><br /></div><div>All my favorite books, right by my head!<br /><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0k4SxGb26fBItCPeHVEjEtgzX-EtiwGOpN6wP1sxcdcSrOUfUrv9ejkn0PYn_RYwmXct-vDkeCEwOKGwrGv70lahrQV5Bjqw3LG6h0bUoJM1cQiqvpq2V-frVXrwDxPG1qERABnAoew/s1600-h/Picture+038.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0k4SxGb26fBItCPeHVEjEtgzX-EtiwGOpN6wP1sxcdcSrOUfUrv9ejkn0PYn_RYwmXct-vDkeCEwOKGwrGv70lahrQV5Bjqw3LG6h0bUoJM1cQiqvpq2V-frVXrwDxPG1qERABnAoew/s400/Picture+038.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399635588503999538" /></a><br />This bathroom is the best. That vanity has to be at least 30 years old. Jan, Joy, Sherry...check out MamaGinger's "dog" to the left of the picture. I know you want him!! It's a piece of petrified wood that my grandma (MamaGinger) loves, but when it comes right down to it, she wanted to kick him out of her house! But NOT GET RID OF IT! No. Way. So here he lives. Addie loves him and so do I.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKXZwpccjeD4JnDeCd-RhJSrA2wURPfnYii9EjduKvYCfTNl9-GhwqYHYwLcflL3APyy8rviKXjX9XGbLIG_Vkl2HpHkso0izhh650juu2EtraX_rcMe7qYUwSGw7C8bkq1s6QxIuBAE/s1600-h/Picture+039.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKXZwpccjeD4JnDeCd-RhJSrA2wURPfnYii9EjduKvYCfTNl9-GhwqYHYwLcflL3APyy8rviKXjX9XGbLIG_Vkl2HpHkso0izhh650juu2EtraX_rcMe7qYUwSGw7C8bkq1s6QxIuBAE/s400/Picture+039.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399635506997551474" /></a><br />A close up of the cultured marble coutertops. No this ain't your momma's marble (okay, yes it is. Swirls of blue and all.) Just in case you missed it, I'm going to point out the shell shaped sinks. Vintage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_V4DSKiPgPNkjaWPv3Pl9AJZaKND-jdf7PVCQUajLbowDGjxyTFeYbb9Ca4NkBrnNdn7jc68v3I1zmXjzsrp5CIk6h3jXEL8GeHPzPENgwsXcvbizCaW3-IXB8AoJ0ojCilepdu9ZxE/s1600-h/Picture+041.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_V4DSKiPgPNkjaWPv3Pl9AJZaKND-jdf7PVCQUajLbowDGjxyTFeYbb9Ca4NkBrnNdn7jc68v3I1zmXjzsrp5CIk6h3jXEL8GeHPzPENgwsXcvbizCaW3-IXB8AoJ0ojCilepdu9ZxE/s400/Picture+041.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399635498854704498" /></a><br />My Bro-in-law was selling iron doors at a home show and afterward as everyone was packing up, someone was getting rid of a vanity. How could I pass it up? It doesn't fit, and it's a little WT (if you don't know, I won't tell you) but NEW VANITY. YES!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Greg loves it when I give him things like this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi705T3LSGOVjpgRlhG0WUeT6__pQL2GSgeGe0uBoICfVDWQp6tCwqymj20sylqlR0Eoo08m_X4wbokwvzkWU6X3ooqXzABBoUU9pEtby6lsQYJe5IsB93ZiDNScGZ0S01jY3KyFkz95ws/s1600-h/IMG_8157.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi705T3LSGOVjpgRlhG0WUeT6__pQL2GSgeGe0uBoICfVDWQp6tCwqymj20sylqlR0Eoo08m_X4wbokwvzkWU6X3ooqXzABBoUU9pEtby6lsQYJe5IsB93ZiDNScGZ0S01jY3KyFkz95ws/s400/IMG_8157.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399389569891815458" /></a><br /></div><div>End of Tour!! I know how sad you must be! You bloggers, I don't know how you do it. I'm exhausted. Who knew that it would take so long to post about the scary house.</div><div><br /></div><div>One thing I know, scary or not...these girls love it!!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view&current=IMG_7893.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/IMG_7893.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-19842550675074005132009-05-05T16:13:00.001-07:002009-05-05T22:45:23.857-07:00Beach House!Man, I love this place. This is the third year that I have decided to play hookey from life and just hang out in this little beach house for the month of May. Yes, I take the kids out of school. (Not all of them, and not the whole time.) But yes, they can miss 20 some-odd days of school and still advance to the next grade. They are KIDS. Greg comes up for long weekends. I LOVE, love, love it!<br />This is the porch:<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=BeachHouse7-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/BeachHouse7-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />My Project Table in the Family room (the only time you'll see it empty)<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=083a-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/083a-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />The Living Room Window (great place to work on a puzzle)<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=084a-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/084a-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I love chillin' in my beach chair (that's my head)<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=106-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/106-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I love the view to the left:<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=134-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/134-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I love the view to the right:<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=135-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/135-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I even love the rocks, (and so does Addie!):<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=169-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/169-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />and Dax...<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/019.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I love that the kids always dig holes to play in:<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=120-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/120-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I love that Addie thinks she's helping them with her very own shovel:<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=131.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/131.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />I love how she leaves a trail of little baby holes, like footprints, dug in the sand.<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=139-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/139-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I love that she never gets tired of throwing little rocks into the hole and watching them splash.<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=126-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/126-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br /><br />I love dripping popsicles and smiling faces;<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=097-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/097-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I don't even care that instead of being up in her bed where I left her, she's here instead! <br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=196-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/196-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I mean, if there's one thing I 'get' it's being lured by the sound of the ocean...it's in my blood, and I got it from my MOMMA!<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/016.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />I DON'T love sand-balls in the house:<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=BeachHouse2-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/BeachHouse2-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />But I do LOVE this girl!<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=167-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/167-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Thank you GREG for letting me do this again!<br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=144.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/144.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br />I love you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-57977081166294110142009-04-01T08:24:00.000-07:002009-05-05T16:13:07.434-07:00Yep, that's me!<a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=Picture003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/Picture003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />For Spring Break, we always go to Utah for a ski vacation. Well, the first day we decided to board because...well, just because. Sadly, Greg was a little weary of his recently replaced ACL, so he decided not to jump. Or do trees. Or go down moguls. So, he pulled out the camera (which we almost NEVER do.) Don't ask me how, but somehow he got this picture of me jumping. It made us laugh so hard when we saw it. First of all, I've never seen myself jump...the arm straight up in the air, the little frontside grab, my jacket matches the sky...it's just too much. This one is even better:<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=Picture103.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/Picture103.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />That's me coming down from a backscratcher. Which is really a "backside" scratcher since you physically can't reach your back with a snowboard. It's more like a hiney kicker, I like that, hiney kicker can be it's new name. Do you like the arms straight up in the air? I look like I'm doing a hail mary! My board matches my outfit. Yesssss! That only happened because it was so HOT that I wasn't wearing a jacket. Yes I said HOT, it was stinkin' ARIZONA hot, (IN UTAH!) You know, I'm sure this jump was more attractive at the peak of the hiney kicker. Yeah, I'm gonna go with that. <br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=Picture116.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/Picture116.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Me coming out of the trees. I think Greg was bored of waiting for me so he pulled out the camera. What can I say? Those trees are treacherous...I was a little slow.<br /><br />We skiied a couple times (no pictures) then got back on our boards. By then, Greg was ready to play!<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=Picture187-1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/Picture187-1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Of COURSE, Greg is a better jumper than me. Too bad he's also a better photographer!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fCWae4Novg-bUyMeCChmwCTa4164lMaIHnE3m4DJGi5wEGYqvjttxJxt63rREMcyQCUqeHX-H0eF4QnkI0efNnpRYTkLBwlwZKkhHS8r3A5mE0-uBTTCHjPu5vgDWiqX_K6M28li5Yg/s1600-h/Picture+186.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fCWae4Novg-bUyMeCChmwCTa4164lMaIHnE3m4DJGi5wEGYqvjttxJxt63rREMcyQCUqeHX-H0eF4QnkI0efNnpRYTkLBwlwZKkhHS8r3A5mE0-uBTTCHjPu5vgDWiqX_K6M28li5Yg/s400/Picture+186.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319748599784542642" /></a><br /><br />(Tree Hugger...)<br /><br />We did catch up with the kids for a few minutes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ywNriWxLtcVhanc6S2qV1ia3Aa9V3DOYsJo-tNyTbxf14G5JlPsj551w3bT916qePMbUVCW2vNP9KTLl1NkrNHoA6VFZ2rgA46vgP2TK_X_kYij7yHXRSAVL1p6j0ZZhOylGWwN6L70/s1600-h/Picture+166.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ywNriWxLtcVhanc6S2qV1ia3Aa9V3DOYsJo-tNyTbxf14G5JlPsj551w3bT916qePMbUVCW2vNP9KTLl1NkrNHoA6VFZ2rgA46vgP2TK_X_kYij7yHXRSAVL1p6j0ZZhOylGWwN6L70/s400/Picture+166.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319947000431800082" /></a><br /><br />First time for Dax! He did awesome. Almost no crying. Almost. That might be a lie, I'd have to ask his instructor -- but he did say he loved it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbrK_nvaSLWrcrIgpPKURKip61RjoJkjiuEKWjNVHWolUGsGZVW7gY_8YDRNNlDlLAQXCfgVFSyMySTT1QVrE_VaMMKgwzTvIK1VjX2WOu6IVZZ9AW59On0MM3HR1dYC1PGE-_hPL6MI/s1600-h/Picture+198.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbrK_nvaSLWrcrIgpPKURKip61RjoJkjiuEKWjNVHWolUGsGZVW7gY_8YDRNNlDlLAQXCfgVFSyMySTT1QVrE_VaMMKgwzTvIK1VjX2WOu6IVZZ9AW59On0MM3HR1dYC1PGE-_hPL6MI/s400/Picture+198.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319947009276181506" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvocYlj4FBp1Aa9EGAhApoRie7C4dzxJQuEIHeAl0_wkyNyPfopYSqLUMNTv9TlfD4k2sqxiAhmI8XB3RtLgndlzNz-oLOrw736bZTE0RdaNcdAy2YTrHae5GTjpgFAzs38Xmlxamxgh8/s1600-h/Picture+172.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvocYlj4FBp1Aa9EGAhApoRie7C4dzxJQuEIHeAl0_wkyNyPfopYSqLUMNTv9TlfD4k2sqxiAhmI8XB3RtLgndlzNz-oLOrw736bZTE0RdaNcdAy2YTrHae5GTjpgFAzs38Xmlxamxgh8/s400/Picture+172.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319947011861266978" /></a><br /><br />Kylee and Kinsey weren't very good about waiting for pictures so we had to catch them on the lift!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_nceOQf-q0aaOjleM1ftSDRUH5Y-OVtYoja1FcH7u3ZczittcR-9uVvXIpk7APYTkEkBDfUQn79dKCXNBq-a7VUmunIQ27EbBUKlk-z9D-Izi0MTbHAwWEwLhwBX3Oe7jSFsoi7udi4/s1600-h/Picture+169.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_nceOQf-q0aaOjleM1ftSDRUH5Y-OVtYoja1FcH7u3ZczittcR-9uVvXIpk7APYTkEkBDfUQn79dKCXNBq-a7VUmunIQ27EbBUKlk-z9D-Izi0MTbHAwWEwLhwBX3Oe7jSFsoi7udi4/s400/Picture+169.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319947005632053346" /></a><br /><br />A little family pileup...this might be why we we don't ski with the kids all day. I have friends that ski with their kids all day. Maybe someday we'll be that old...maybe next year. Maybe not.<br /><br />A common sight: Kinsey in front, Sadie following on her trail.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem5lbNHHkWi1T2uwBrIy9i7JAyPcPc8shl-NOd7rQ4vgAp8HaKS1iK-1w9FI9ObnkECKIJ2Zl0tq_BXfOMD6Tj0lsdJyPBsXUWzRUrTfp8GqbWtDSGGeOWusoGb0ArvOVQka872hVt0Q/s1600-h/Picture+168cropped.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem5lbNHHkWi1T2uwBrIy9i7JAyPcPc8shl-NOd7rQ4vgAp8HaKS1iK-1w9FI9ObnkECKIJ2Zl0tq_BXfOMD6Tj0lsdJyPBsXUWzRUrTfp8GqbWtDSGGeOWusoGb0ArvOVQka872hVt0Q/s400/Picture+168cropped.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319947001206039954" /></a><br /><br />Then of course there's LUNCH. One of the best parts of skiing! Hot Chili in a bread bowl with tons of cheese. And a Diet Coke. Mmmhmmmm, even the wipeouts are worth it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wbZ7mD105aZ43uzY4WwVPLNhwSEaYanr73QUJvKabQkwsWon8kSQ_bh9T3Xy9Arfx5S0JdUexYbNYjs_rs3iMiEEfcKlJkwY-jco09-PoBwopkYM567xTyTHC8niTwtTmqV_fQggGhg/s1600-h/Picture+146.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wbZ7mD105aZ43uzY4WwVPLNhwSEaYanr73QUJvKabQkwsWon8kSQ_bh9T3Xy9Arfx5S0JdUexYbNYjs_rs3iMiEEfcKlJkwY-jco09-PoBwopkYM567xTyTHC8niTwtTmqV_fQggGhg/s400/Picture+146.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319950030521501042" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5H6Q3Ryd_gGTDVhITVAFGsJQIPnAEcrYPi6G5T4fmF3hzpPUVpENPyqMy7Jgnk4-0JMPu8Q56U0i6gCjrjZTzIQ1lTgCPVyLxA9G1y_yjtaJvijnpPTTFT65WUbU87-SGRldfmDl4jsk/s1600-h/Picture+152.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5H6Q3Ryd_gGTDVhITVAFGsJQIPnAEcrYPi6G5T4fmF3hzpPUVpENPyqMy7Jgnk4-0JMPu8Q56U0i6gCjrjZTzIQ1lTgCPVyLxA9G1y_yjtaJvijnpPTTFT65WUbU87-SGRldfmDl4jsk/s400/Picture+152.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319950029972524114" /></a><br /><br />I don't even want to KNOW how much money these represent...and this isn't even half of them. I close my eyes when I pay the credit card bill.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHmrjZbZmBEbzDdRrOfZgqClMR5GLWn_u_QAAIAtDSC6DCTpiwpSNaWeFuMZYeCchg1jCUQwGnr1R6EKimyAto7K5K0aBlWx2WNGh2pjKc8SbQ1oTcjZJ-0erLmnKJDRxI34mPuxah9s/s1600-h/spring+brea+010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHmrjZbZmBEbzDdRrOfZgqClMR5GLWn_u_QAAIAtDSC6DCTpiwpSNaWeFuMZYeCchg1jCUQwGnr1R6EKimyAto7K5K0aBlWx2WNGh2pjKc8SbQ1oTcjZJ-0erLmnKJDRxI34mPuxah9s/s400/spring+brea+010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319954440061816226" /></a><br /><br />Our BFF's Heather and Kurt Christensen went up to Brighton with us one day. One of these days they're going to figure out how to go up to Brighton with us EVERY day. I mean, come on guys...you LIVE there! Snow! Mountain! Wasted...<br /><br /><a href="http://s628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/?action=view¤t=Picture177-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu8/rebgarn/Picture177-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Of course, this is what my Mom was doing while we were partying on the mountain...(no that's not my tiny baby...it's Cassie's. She won't let me have her.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLWvWb8U1wc08StZQ1auW-ZabglvRPJdjoclXpks8JojuvlkONYyfv6GX13cbKTPzmhKnzB9zY6wJtN00YiFZkbHQxL_EqT2IZ1e2ruKMWjgjBtPA38bisdLBQ6rrm806DeAfaCuKrNM/s1600-h/spring+brea+007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLWvWb8U1wc08StZQ1auW-ZabglvRPJdjoclXpks8JojuvlkONYyfv6GX13cbKTPzmhKnzB9zY6wJtN00YiFZkbHQxL_EqT2IZ1e2ruKMWjgjBtPA38bisdLBQ6rrm806DeAfaCuKrNM/s400/spring+brea+007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319950036706860194" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7YAtbVEEpf5HkGDpliL_s5vNxO83LGtNykKf0pisbg-qUrpr_kKHgrxRVChtXoEH-7RQZ0s738EIbjaV4AwZu7RE1WJ82LTtlTrTpudTY0gE9H3hzAlafIrKGnIC6O5Q1RzsBj4d2Sc/s1600-h/052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7YAtbVEEpf5HkGDpliL_s5vNxO83LGtNykKf0pisbg-qUrpr_kKHgrxRVChtXoEH-7RQZ0s738EIbjaV4AwZu7RE1WJ82LTtlTrTpudTY0gE9H3hzAlafIrKGnIC6O5Q1RzsBj4d2Sc/s400/052.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319950032601836098" /></a><br /><br />Addie liked to "help" my mom with her puzzle by sticking random pieces together in random places. After a few days of this, my mom took her to Walmart and bought her a Diego puzzle of her very own. See her working on it right next to my Mom? Cutest thing ever. <br /><br />I love my Mom, she's the BEST. Thanks Mom!<br /><br />This is the puzzle in it's completed form. It was HARD. Took us a long time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJU5fzbaKivGThn1gsBBvI71h4_11QY0O-_KHWWDE6BPcnTYUj8U_jDJ1-JH0a5gxq8Iyj866Y2abqPy_HhM90DKYQly739HRAYsupsx3eQ7DGLFdXkrQXJsUL30XNly0ibpima5IbY0/s1600-h/spring+brea+008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJU5fzbaKivGThn1gsBBvI71h4_11QY0O-_KHWWDE6BPcnTYUj8U_jDJ1-JH0a5gxq8Iyj866Y2abqPy_HhM90DKYQly739HRAYsupsx3eQ7DGLFdXkrQXJsUL30XNly0ibpima5IbY0/s400/spring+brea+008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319955279206622162" /></a><br /><br />One final picture to leave you with. See, Kylee and I usually have a hundred layers tucked into our ski pants. But it was so warm...we had no layers. Just baggy, saggy ski pant. We were tugging at them all day long...like mother like daughter!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJ2s4SHKTv_VgakBdM8bKeFNiy2w8-rabUD4WsRKW-_Eb6IATauzKHVxbRWrRIs-vxcsd5Po0Fqja5jH8j37ODtNzRm-yQUhauj6T-A3seVBUHNjO-Ahd_a_c4F7_-OGvHLa6UFmuWgk/s1600-h/Picture+148.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJ2s4SHKTv_VgakBdM8bKeFNiy2w8-rabUD4WsRKW-_Eb6IATauzKHVxbRWrRIs-vxcsd5Po0Fqja5jH8j37ODtNzRm-yQUhauj6T-A3seVBUHNjO-Ahd_a_c4F7_-OGvHLa6UFmuWgk/s400/Picture+148.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319958793098678898" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-60073725889236152762009-03-31T21:37:00.000-07:002009-03-31T23:20:38.342-07:00Sweet Diggs...Yes, we were in Utah for Spring Break. With the rest of the mormon exodus from Arizona. EVERY year, we do a ski vacation to Utah. EVERY year, we stay in the cutest little cabin in Brighton. It's an OLD A-frame cottage right at the base of the resort. We love, love, love it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJpqrF3tupwFVIf9_KtRWll9kB8BOTQFYvVViQIrPb1vfD73ZmklaU29hasZOUU5W45TrT_Vx80BqPRgD6q8GvkBohUJgqtukkTF_e5vWf9Z7l9KPo8TZU_XMet5Hyib4h_A1s5PFeDg/s1600-h/March+2007+Spring+Break+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJpqrF3tupwFVIf9_KtRWll9kB8BOTQFYvVViQIrPb1vfD73ZmklaU29hasZOUU5W45TrT_Vx80BqPRgD6q8GvkBohUJgqtukkTF_e5vWf9Z7l9KPo8TZU_XMet5Hyib4h_A1s5PFeDg/s400/March+2007+Spring+Break+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319579332510494002" /></a><br /><br />Man oh man, I'm sad just looking at it. Sad? Yes, because they SOLD IT! <br /><br />Ouch.<br /><br />Check out this snow. (LAST YEAR)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BTdq9NT-ROrbUrspg4KMDoAT8BRkS_4LyBhRTHLC7L4dLUMA3SAe0qzjEoxypa9bqgW3A4f2lWZjLm9DCdollFc1ehM0n6UG9dyuDpY2DkMsgEXSQ98-uhGV_nyzwQOlh-nQ9AAvJXU/s1600-h/2008_03170002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BTdq9NT-ROrbUrspg4KMDoAT8BRkS_4LyBhRTHLC7L4dLUMA3SAe0qzjEoxypa9bqgW3A4f2lWZjLm9DCdollFc1ehM0n6UG9dyuDpY2DkMsgEXSQ98-uhGV_nyzwQOlh-nQ9AAvJXU/s400/2008_03170002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319584659480594882" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH2jssyuW-7S2Xfq77tUORprpB0RcKh5OhJNdVq0wIs6JIahng2jbMxHz4Bm0XFHH3k9J4El6vZeaxoY2Cj2kJJ-38OzWvE3FbYJhbSSq9AzHrf-rOVV7u-VgXW1ecwfUCzA0SwgsyDc/s1600-h/2008_03170013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH2jssyuW-7S2Xfq77tUORprpB0RcKh5OhJNdVq0wIs6JIahng2jbMxHz4Bm0XFHH3k9J4El6vZeaxoY2Cj2kJJ-38OzWvE3FbYJhbSSq9AzHrf-rOVV7u-VgXW1ecwfUCzA0SwgsyDc/s400/2008_03170013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319583720833455426" /></a><br /><br />This is out in front of the cabin last year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-wB3RxVRJNaSoLqTW-4G0DosYZCFrDj-f97aqMciJVm6BZkQudk8iDaOw9Un3xoxrsM5otETe8RR0podlzeJ9sgQByMO9tcsnfoOoLmQ08aKqFDvd9KU5fL8ttpPXBBcVc4vJQGdX7s/s1600-h/2008_03170026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-wB3RxVRJNaSoLqTW-4G0DosYZCFrDj-f97aqMciJVm6BZkQudk8iDaOw9Un3xoxrsM5otETe8RR0podlzeJ9sgQByMO9tcsnfoOoLmQ08aKqFDvd9KU5fL8ttpPXBBcVc4vJQGdX7s/s400/2008_03170026.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319583714666284914" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8_14sL88RmDq4XYBGEBCUc8sUERt07uXSmR5-_TR9LoMJTUJ3rfuailI8kazYEQmVOk10IHHCWuYyVo5BP5noy9IE6FrhMsUSLVkHuaMO0dxMymO-y9Wk7NRf01QDUJnjh0Vflx-5Wc/s1600-h/2008_03170033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8_14sL88RmDq4XYBGEBCUc8sUERt07uXSmR5-_TR9LoMJTUJ3rfuailI8kazYEQmVOk10IHHCWuYyVo5BP5noy9IE6FrhMsUSLVkHuaMO0dxMymO-y9Wk7NRf01QDUJnjh0Vflx-5Wc/s400/2008_03170033.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319584669735857474" /></a><br /><br />Yes, that's Greg. Brilliant idea huh? Good way to tear your ACL?...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyuv-GF0lTvTATzH-WH4fQXc5GSwV6lMxtRqAoyyez4WLE-HQWkTQ2MnVZRpQneesZ8QXaybbp4tU54vdYzx1nqyUt7CCd3inLo7AnAyTPePtAAthuhxLogPmfC4G1bgBLU8tGC5g6wc/s1600-h/2008_03170038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyuv-GF0lTvTATzH-WH4fQXc5GSwV6lMxtRqAoyyez4WLE-HQWkTQ2MnVZRpQneesZ8QXaybbp4tU54vdYzx1nqyUt7CCd3inLo7AnAyTPePtAAthuhxLogPmfC4G1bgBLU8tGC5g6wc/s400/2008_03170038.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319583725148114050" /></a><br /><br />Who are these OLD people??? WHEN did that HAPPEN?<br /><br />So this year, we stayed in a cabin at Sundance. We've never stayed there before, and our friends, Mike and Charlene Ford, let us stay there for a steal. The cabin was huge. I wish I had taken pictures downstairs because it had big stand-up video games (MS. PACMAN!) and pool, and ping-pong, and double-hoop (or whatever it's called.) Major full-time entertainment! It was so much fun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcF_UmB1geyQQ_ABBpfUVwWbjjghyiC3MIAAIpFlDb-R45H2jIv3w1lcJ3TAG_6Wzg1B5SJkhI-215WIusIWVpEk2m0hxBjK5BErGtIaMqB_IXLVl5zYPk_d9BSO2RKZOTfgZeL2igVb0/s1600-h/spring+brea+003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcF_UmB1geyQQ_ABBpfUVwWbjjghyiC3MIAAIpFlDb-R45H2jIv3w1lcJ3TAG_6Wzg1B5SJkhI-215WIusIWVpEk2m0hxBjK5BErGtIaMqB_IXLVl5zYPk_d9BSO2RKZOTfgZeL2igVb0/s400/spring+brea+003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319593772169489618" /></a><br /><br />Perfect cabin scene. I love it.<br /><br />But the snow? Not so much... It was hot and sunny, EVERY day. Well, every day but Sunday (isn't that usually the other way around?) So we went to Sundance and took pictures! Of course!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO_maN89PBt_7Xn5xsJfwDd2UIuIfc_Nuf2nXyJtrOHgVTJUXaIHaMlJS8yD90ft7fKqlEytuKkvE698wQzW_JySbGmU8wDbdyFAhb95lcga1uIflRc4CeZJNcay2JKSQfWcD0BBGhGY/s1600-h/063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO_maN89PBt_7Xn5xsJfwDd2UIuIfc_Nuf2nXyJtrOHgVTJUXaIHaMlJS8yD90ft7fKqlEytuKkvE698wQzW_JySbGmU8wDbdyFAhb95lcga1uIflRc4CeZJNcay2JKSQfWcD0BBGhGY/s400/063.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319598945288791106" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdPcMua9qRQE5s1nD1dMm0jKoBd9S_Vjtnt0yJBCp5uOLjAynwk48tFg5I67sg5N6ZsgKX-AepwrAARabU2t_-HaOgZHuqW52BVuwTkzpddE94WMt_L_MqoeA5XXr6W-468EkeXGPJUk/s1600-h/216.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdPcMua9qRQE5s1nD1dMm0jKoBd9S_Vjtnt0yJBCp5uOLjAynwk48tFg5I67sg5N6ZsgKX-AepwrAARabU2t_-HaOgZHuqW52BVuwTkzpddE94WMt_L_MqoeA5XXr6W-468EkeXGPJUk/s400/216.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319599687764737986" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeTy-2p2dOz1ZRhTwlV2k5gBjcgsfmQ2GJy4_d7UJBh524rJF3Hh_BW7912hZmlTk4A5nZOerHAUsvfBQMfyZ0jCYYio4xRtIAQTjQmgK5DoNCavn20vyBO5FCfU1CNiH3Og3eB6ke6Q/s1600-h/143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeTy-2p2dOz1ZRhTwlV2k5gBjcgsfmQ2GJy4_d7UJBh524rJF3Hh_BW7912hZmlTk4A5nZOerHAUsvfBQMfyZ0jCYYio4xRtIAQTjQmgK5DoNCavn20vyBO5FCfU1CNiH3Og3eB6ke6Q/s400/143.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319598960332448386" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCSJCJK-T_Ogk29Ffank4IheBftUeSO8ozQv1e0gGPSwKDXQp25mWJhWkP9ehjr5ae5qen5-HQIP2vg_dZOpXEiplw0U6tCqfRwUajZCdlnj6xKeZ9evVu88r22FirbFsh1kjy2eeB4w/s1600-h/117.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCSJCJK-T_Ogk29Ffank4IheBftUeSO8ozQv1e0gGPSwKDXQp25mWJhWkP9ehjr5ae5qen5-HQIP2vg_dZOpXEiplw0U6tCqfRwUajZCdlnj6xKeZ9evVu88r22FirbFsh1kjy2eeB4w/s400/117.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319598952840702162" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZe3yt92RLqq4j_W9zGnMJCZP5fFDC0XHh9cEGr8sTJ9otSOKoULBbB3Yj6E6co1bKfhyAHW-xDD5R_7je6sLGWvuMu9W7eElScQFtJhO0qLItvy3ujMCSuRX-70epRUYYhRBvPvdvhc/s1600-h/110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZe3yt92RLqq4j_W9zGnMJCZP5fFDC0XHh9cEGr8sTJ9otSOKoULBbB3Yj6E6co1bKfhyAHW-xDD5R_7je6sLGWvuMu9W7eElScQFtJhO0qLItvy3ujMCSuRX-70epRUYYhRBvPvdvhc/s400/110.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319598952533908050" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmnWB2NVUNrNwwFNesY6R_LHnDdYv0VeB6oUNznU9UtiY0SLDIa4AZqs2WDUYsTW6jlbSkJqw_EXhPzHMfwWhi6BhZ9uPZAUN1IsACQpY5E1FPKHT52TjilN96iIfx75FtC4gEOXKOY8/s1600-h/199.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmnWB2NVUNrNwwFNesY6R_LHnDdYv0VeB6oUNznU9UtiY0SLDIa4AZqs2WDUYsTW6jlbSkJqw_EXhPzHMfwWhi6BhZ9uPZAUN1IsACQpY5E1FPKHT52TjilN96iIfx75FtC4gEOXKOY8/s400/199.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319599687938819106" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiye9VEhkWsfUyWV7OkeQGUPQAqW4LJE5jbRWujjKonPQUDY5J4GpI5C9mBg6z1EpMpotBtRBmEXfAgvoraoRUkWEd2GX9R2KrvXoqJ3HsSb7TzsrJFp89jlfCJLx1ZMZD1gAvKIoAikuQ/s1600-h/186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiye9VEhkWsfUyWV7OkeQGUPQAqW4LJE5jbRWujjKonPQUDY5J4GpI5C9mBg6z1EpMpotBtRBmEXfAgvoraoRUkWEd2GX9R2KrvXoqJ3HsSb7TzsrJFp89jlfCJLx1ZMZD1gAvKIoAikuQ/s400/186.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319599680924974082" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wD_ESmZUA21k3NiBCw_SVLGGG2lHZOV8ZMNETbbo8fZdN5TS8X8mjbjORPyUWl1_MN3F0OAAcBHcRN924zBSMChuo0tdsv6l2Fyyc2kPjouPN4Zne-G1gTZL88J-D8KR6grvD9n5P-s/s1600-h/155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wD_ESmZUA21k3NiBCw_SVLGGG2lHZOV8ZMNETbbo8fZdN5TS8X8mjbjORPyUWl1_MN3F0OAAcBHcRN924zBSMChuo0tdsv6l2Fyyc2kPjouPN4Zne-G1gTZL88J-D8KR6grvD9n5P-s/s400/155.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319599673875631266" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAJjQRTmXSyh0cXvf16vf0rhoFtTtqyQuiNdlQcmyiTq0kz-25vuZrr2qG_GoPlGa8VLci68t4QsLNPz7u-0X33YtFdNOAREdOM1MGyM66KJOt2KuqMQXkEAGlJFvlKhdSR9tnVrVFp0/s1600-h/237.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAJjQRTmXSyh0cXvf16vf0rhoFtTtqyQuiNdlQcmyiTq0kz-25vuZrr2qG_GoPlGa8VLci68t4QsLNPz7u-0X33YtFdNOAREdOM1MGyM66KJOt2KuqMQXkEAGlJFvlKhdSR9tnVrVFp0/s400/237.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319599882813800434" /></a><br /><br />Sometimes Greg takes some weird pictures. What was he thinking with this one? I don't know, but I kind of like it. I love to hold this little girl's hand. I know my time is short, she's growing so fast! I still carry her around every chance I get.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKOTXy-7zPvB203a8jD8b1laHmgQfPJCUK1OWzMDnKDR3SmPZRmqJO-6ym1RDAlvYnJ8b5tAaffanzC2c90vwwAVr9N4FCS0HuJK1gYp9b7_tnf2rZSGbBOOW23URsjYx2z9JG-az9CQ/s1600-h/222.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKOTXy-7zPvB203a8jD8b1laHmgQfPJCUK1OWzMDnKDR3SmPZRmqJO-6ym1RDAlvYnJ8b5tAaffanzC2c90vwwAVr9N4FCS0HuJK1gYp9b7_tnf2rZSGbBOOW23URsjYx2z9JG-az9CQ/s400/222.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319599690932423554" /></a><br /><br />I can't believe this beautiful girl is my daughter. I know she sort of looks like me now, but I didn't look a thing like this at her age! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiti7BOcq2HkSp0Lwt-YqdkQC0bx9747hlwDS8PSDUGC3Rvn9oLdzLeHx0K6Gw482GIK9ES5U2LZamBmNtedpagC2cxX__nqt-0c6C9k0VRirCL6ei5n9XkIcKHtu3QWqUshOahh_izlG4/s1600-h/088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiti7BOcq2HkSp0Lwt-YqdkQC0bx9747hlwDS8PSDUGC3Rvn9oLdzLeHx0K6Gw482GIK9ES5U2LZamBmNtedpagC2cxX__nqt-0c6C9k0VRirCL6ei5n9XkIcKHtu3QWqUshOahh_izlG4/s400/088.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319598948448524690" /></a><br /><br />Notice the lack of snow...<br /><br />To find snow, we drove to Salt Lake every day. Deer Valley, Brighton and Solitude. Fodder for a new Post!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-53263606690162967012009-03-06T10:46:00.001-08:002009-03-08T16:06:45.293-07:00DISNEYLAND!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNYKwJYeSa9lU_g33BECXceZdXtccCZAiXQZLcFgMhLNbYXKvnTQlv-YxpXJZd_3aYUB7C2DUSRludWXcXExAPS23yswJ0S_UCiA7SGnIuRZxTpU3OqOWBXjWTZ3-Q8xM2n1i8jqwN00/s1600-h/Photo_022709_004+name2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNYKwJYeSa9lU_g33BECXceZdXtccCZAiXQZLcFgMhLNbYXKvnTQlv-YxpXJZd_3aYUB7C2DUSRludWXcXExAPS23yswJ0S_UCiA7SGnIuRZxTpU3OqOWBXjWTZ3-Q8xM2n1i8jqwN00/s400/Photo_022709_004+name2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310918033989347058" /></a><br /><br />Saydie's dance group did a performance at Disneyland. I wanted to send Saydie with Joy and her family because they were doing the whole 3-day Disneyland extravaganza and I REALLY didn't want to do it. (we did a 7 day trip to Disney<em>world</em> a few years back and ever since...let's just say that Disneyland is NOT my happiest place on earth.) But I felt too guilty pawning Saydie off on Joy so I decided to hop on up there, just me, Dax and Saydie.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqo7FY-cozMdxI7-noMpN_sy8pSAsYumol5_Yv6wnoLryf47VqMboPPhaGispu1X2uvfVvdkKry6GIPam6c0LiuqWYCARwLkDQKaNP53rASvWKBRxjd1vJM57MBok3zLeNbaJ11B2WGM/s1600-h/Photo_022609_002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqo7FY-cozMdxI7-noMpN_sy8pSAsYumol5_Yv6wnoLryf47VqMboPPhaGispu1X2uvfVvdkKry6GIPam6c0LiuqWYCARwLkDQKaNP53rASvWKBRxjd1vJM57MBok3zLeNbaJ11B2WGM/s400/Photo_022609_002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310570075231528706" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73KuMILOf6q3sssJeyG480DLJdGfuPhlBjh8dQn26g1GnL_is8yHsjvb9WTjef4jRXtyQoz44kUK2NWUJZrW6OaBCsqlVxVz-BsMsragdyXxZ0aqK75cmeuGYFaYkRVQW1XjPutl2zwo/s1600-h/Photo_022609_004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73KuMILOf6q3sssJeyG480DLJdGfuPhlBjh8dQn26g1GnL_is8yHsjvb9WTjef4jRXtyQoz44kUK2NWUJZrW6OaBCsqlVxVz-BsMsragdyXxZ0aqK75cmeuGYFaYkRVQW1XjPutl2zwo/s400/Photo_022609_004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310911976744789922" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx2pLUujgzi32BOQACPkuDTXQAKeTFzoW3ylqjUcH3cWxUO807ypEDa9rY9uV8-b6eQjoyTsbKPj22Zi7OEZ0GNfLRmYv3IoOpDtxZVMPyLxJL5zMCg7Wb4JFy0_rGGPeapqVEHkn8-0/s1600-h/Photo_022609_005faces.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx2pLUujgzi32BOQACPkuDTXQAKeTFzoW3ylqjUcH3cWxUO807ypEDa9rY9uV8-b6eQjoyTsbKPj22Zi7OEZ0GNfLRmYv3IoOpDtxZVMPyLxJL5zMCg7Wb4JFy0_rGGPeapqVEHkn8-0/s400/Photo_022609_005faces.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310918808722554242" /></a><br /><br />Guess what?...it was actually FUN! That is totally the way to do a theme park; just 2 measley kids, not too old for the classics (like Tarzan's tree house,) <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIj5wyNKbXO41CgR3rOWUkBR7LJ5kZZO7sbWZia1AFALlykH3KHHXAQWaWfZw9SuS1NEg8wpXLZA7gd6wRlHnIfJla7CeGfR7KR4fT5Oxj6bKh5a-Nqxbo5bHIy1F6fExuSprbnQYMPQ/s1600-h/Photo_022609_031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIj5wyNKbXO41CgR3rOWUkBR7LJ5kZZO7sbWZia1AFALlykH3KHHXAQWaWfZw9SuS1NEg8wpXLZA7gd6wRlHnIfJla7CeGfR7KR4fT5Oxj6bKh5a-Nqxbo5bHIy1F6fExuSprbnQYMPQ/s400/Photo_022609_031.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310911991550698834" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VsSodDeTYhiLI-GxctYEoLsmTDvc6LDzP56z5KLK3LmtTC5SLS_aTpx6IIiEGbcn2vWMQPlNCL44bPIUzI9nb0QTeAwwtEb5V9L-06FGsJk3dmOO_c3R-TpRXszL2HJd0mpAZPzW1i4/s1600-h/Photo_022609_036.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 349px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VsSodDeTYhiLI-GxctYEoLsmTDvc6LDzP56z5KLK3LmtTC5SLS_aTpx6IIiEGbcn2vWMQPlNCL44bPIUzI9nb0QTeAwwtEb5V9L-06FGsJk3dmOO_c3R-TpRXszL2HJd0mpAZPzW1i4/s400/Photo_022609_036.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310911965670268626" /></a><br /><br />and not too young for the bigger roller coasters (like Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWhUuh4ijrMg0rbkfAooKexvfNFlok6rWXnFoJywovSy94VQp_kUgfTqjXLq7uDas7_m-DWHr2irgzodDYTFg_gcHfdf9IwwIyZ51Nuhwxk084aIdssseoTAzWVTE8XJ3Dzd_CzGKu0U/s1600-h/Photo_022609_029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWhUuh4ijrMg0rbkfAooKexvfNFlok6rWXnFoJywovSy94VQp_kUgfTqjXLq7uDas7_m-DWHr2irgzodDYTFg_gcHfdf9IwwIyZ51Nuhwxk084aIdssseoTAzWVTE8XJ3Dzd_CzGKu0U/s400/Photo_022609_029.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310911979950467698" /></a><br /><br />We just wandered around without anyone spazzing out to get a zillion rides on their favorite roller coaster or freaking out because they didn't get minnie mouse ears (reference to Disneyworld trip.) We ate when we were hungry, shopped when we saw cute things in a store front...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkNe1VvbHx5wvA7ToB7ehjBtSC1wHua2qRdyLQQ7vaWQaPrb1fxiALiH-SSSP2puFhCh88rT7RjZAhz4t4DTMG6dY2_wvFZAmDD44lbekNliOyIpRgZ_W_VePBfi4reiI1szsiUpAyTk/s1600-h/Photo_022709_009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkNe1VvbHx5wvA7ToB7ehjBtSC1wHua2qRdyLQQ7vaWQaPrb1fxiALiH-SSSP2puFhCh88rT7RjZAhz4t4DTMG6dY2_wvFZAmDD44lbekNliOyIpRgZ_W_VePBfi4reiI1szsiUpAyTk/s400/Photo_022709_009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310570092435179122" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkrFUVagpcPCTf6v2llynd4YPqQdd0FC6YGqw2FmgUzLo3Q9UTQDT_Q72AcMiGBY2ro9m3IC8hUY2vgiz95iYp77nlDJh9BUi6jDXefgDIibk6HtPbADwYaCeOGUme_pX_rkTUstICVM/s1600-h/Photo_022709_010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkrFUVagpcPCTf6v2llynd4YPqQdd0FC6YGqw2FmgUzLo3Q9UTQDT_Q72AcMiGBY2ro9m3IC8hUY2vgiz95iYp77nlDJh9BUi6jDXefgDIibk6HtPbADwYaCeOGUme_pX_rkTUstICVM/s400/Photo_022709_010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310570095771178754" /></a><br /><br />It was pretty chill. And when you are buying things (like cotton candy) for 2 kids instead of FIVE...it feels downright CHEAP!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOWMaG_hAl1Lt0qLxJEBEbhxRgTbgxH4C-qsBG8Pu_8DlBp4Y9LkmzOghBdCIDh4-7i6L5XRfzvjj3Z3o6DZKSUo01r3hyfmKxYILV4anpg3aMHwUD8NjXe_QzOBRGWtpM5DJZ7AbbZs/s1600-h/Photo_022709_018a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOWMaG_hAl1Lt0qLxJEBEbhxRgTbgxH4C-qsBG8Pu_8DlBp4Y9LkmzOghBdCIDh4-7i6L5XRfzvjj3Z3o6DZKSUo01r3hyfmKxYILV4anpg3aMHwUD8NjXe_QzOBRGWtpM5DJZ7AbbZs/s400/Photo_022709_018a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310915596441242594" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXX7s5dioUsoNqgNNknSFfmyEBTLoEnxc4RE147RxfZ1_dSDGyVf_11GkBHjlrel0izNcXystI90ApvC6VeNmEcBIQVcUtA5bGXQ1oJEqAcAlTRfC00niwqCkWi9vgP-HlkWrZi-eZ0bc/s1600-h/Photo_022709_023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXX7s5dioUsoNqgNNknSFfmyEBTLoEnxc4RE147RxfZ1_dSDGyVf_11GkBHjlrel0izNcXystI90ApvC6VeNmEcBIQVcUtA5bGXQ1oJEqAcAlTRfC00niwqCkWi9vgP-HlkWrZi-eZ0bc/s400/Photo_022709_023.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310915517864552194" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpaU0K922LwpP_dlA831Rm7625MqOj1HPQkJC-srNLhDSHgTlhErY9SQ8GTNIZeES-jwsiaN4OnYqmwTFS5xojJrvihxKxyZSRk-y-P4BVIOW7jV1E1DdWoZ6dRDxkXC7Qj_e7SdSFk0/s1600-h/Photo_022609_007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpaU0K922LwpP_dlA831Rm7625MqOj1HPQkJC-srNLhDSHgTlhErY9SQ8GTNIZeES-jwsiaN4OnYqmwTFS5xojJrvihxKxyZSRk-y-P4BVIOW7jV1E1DdWoZ6dRDxkXC7Qj_e7SdSFk0/s400/Photo_022609_007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310911986735492994" /></a><br /><br />This is how Dax stands in line:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOj3SVgp3mKq0VpYyOVU_17szfNCuIC0vcV6lAvSZArWva473VnC12cG3ahsbwCdWc4INwGdU6vmmp_A3wJInTrhuSxW31ABtc5D9kT5wg1z6psi4imury3YSu04CHTP35R8yDoo4SlQ/s1600-h/Photo_022609_026.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOj3SVgp3mKq0VpYyOVU_17szfNCuIC0vcV6lAvSZArWva473VnC12cG3ahsbwCdWc4INwGdU6vmmp_A3wJInTrhuSxW31ABtc5D9kT5wg1z6psi4imury3YSu04CHTP35R8yDoo4SlQ/s400/Photo_022609_026.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310914563192257346" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5wFVEAu12uyhwWRZsoEIFS2ExGHNc6jxoiCqkz4juGWq7xv_h317kc5Eufhd_Soyvk5SGodMc7oVeV1VDldIraOwkY4UTMgv_7ZtsFogO2jhhvUf4GzmaRo84wuOvvrTB3eDN5jpzyo/s1600-h/Photo_022609_035.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5wFVEAu12uyhwWRZsoEIFS2ExGHNc6jxoiCqkz4juGWq7xv_h317kc5Eufhd_Soyvk5SGodMc7oVeV1VDldIraOwkY4UTMgv_7ZtsFogO2jhhvUf4GzmaRo84wuOvvrTB3eDN5jpzyo/s400/Photo_022609_035.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310914572004455202" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjjh_fErFADQON106dzvHy6vAMf7o6W8n44BxR33obzsLVCDeKlIyzjgmwOvGo8IvofNEiTYgVZYwnTOAvzrjX6Lr7fZNsTlDbsb1PERswUlaAtVQUgWvmzcjt1thh4882uAUPVS944A/s1600-h/Photo_022709_006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjjh_fErFADQON106dzvHy6vAMf7o6W8n44BxR33obzsLVCDeKlIyzjgmwOvGo8IvofNEiTYgVZYwnTOAvzrjX6Lr7fZNsTlDbsb1PERswUlaAtVQUgWvmzcjt1thh4882uAUPVS944A/s400/Photo_022709_006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310914572830620946" /></a><br /><br />It only looks like he is sitting sedately on a rock...he's actually climbing all over it at a million miles an hour. I can't tell you how many times someone told him to get off something. Here's a video of Dax at full speed (on a surfboard in a little play area.) <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-jlDzMpJkSA&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-jlDzMpJkSA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Did I mention that I forgot to bring my camera? Yep, these pictures (and video) are courtesy of my cell phone. Pathetic, I know. <br /><br />I'm just going to add this in there because it's funny. This is at Knott's Berry Farm over the summer. I told Dax that this roller coaster was "scary <em>fun</em>", not "scary <em>scary</em>" Watch his face, he starts saying "It's scary-scary! It's scary-scary!" so I tell him to close his eyes and he won't be scared. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1YiYRuYtkNM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1YiYRuYtkNM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Pay no attention to that crazy lady sitting next to him. I think it's one of my sisters...Yep, definitely one of my sisters.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-47543312804706793392009-03-01T19:11:00.000-08:002009-03-01T21:54:58.981-08:00IWAN<A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjm5NZQp7unm6Ousv9Rsg3g-2p_L2PF2Q9skenxarTYP4VQ7yHceGxKxp5xpVVCS7fhrklBs07ckYXBeOew7Cu0-5oN_R41453Wtzdfwi4GnAlR-N6dDrNqwD67iru8jfvjqbMIAcOYWo/s1600-h/June+2006+077.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308439396939557218 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjm5NZQp7unm6Ousv9Rsg3g-2p_L2PF2Q9skenxarTYP4VQ7yHceGxKxp5xpVVCS7fhrklBs07ckYXBeOew7Cu0-5oN_R41453Wtzdfwi4GnAlR-N6dDrNqwD67iru8jfvjqbMIAcOYWo/s400/June+2006+077.jpg" border=0></A> <br /><br />I. Want. A. Newborn.<br /><br />Crazy as it is, I going to have to join <A href="http://www.71toes.blogspot.com/">Shawni's</A> club. At first I thought she was crazy, but when I went to disneyland this weekend with just my Saydie(8) and my Dax (5) I kept seeing these teeny tiny newborn babies...and I wanted to join that club. Bad. I wanted to have one of those things strapped to my chest, her little legs and arms flapping in the wind. I wanted to put her in the stroller and do laps around the roller coaster because she wouldn't sleep. I wanted to have to stop and sit in the shade to nurse her. I wanted to get out the bottle and talk the coffee guy into giving me hot water so I didn't have to get water out of the bathroom (gross) for her formula. I wanted to snuggle one of those things right up into my neck where they love to fall asleep and then wait for MY arms to fall asleep. I know it's hormonal and this feeling will pass, but for a minute there I really really really W.A.N.!<br /><br />I have to keep telling myself, it's not my turn. I got to do all that good stuff, and I loved every minute of it (I think...) I KNOW I did with Addie. I knew I would never get those baby moments again, so I savored every second of every minute of every feeding and every rocking and every fussy, crying, throwing a fit yummy goodness. I still watch her and try to consciously burn her every cuteness into my memory so I don't forget it. Ever. Needless to say, Addie is horribly spoiled...I can't help it. I just wish I could reverse time to do THIS over again.<br /><br /> <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEf3_WajEUpWOe-DBjtjNUMtWT3bTS6ok4mUwgEyWJNkkaXNBAqDG_tNTxJwn4VUSmuy99dPJwfO6i6WpIh7sgfavWBI90bCe4L-zBcsJ207Lo1Oy8YnHoLEGtm9dDBOmR-Bm7LybSMcw/s1600-h/Beach+Vacation+Aug+2006+032.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308440001904958162 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEf3_WajEUpWOe-DBjtjNUMtWT3bTS6ok4mUwgEyWJNkkaXNBAqDG_tNTxJwn4VUSmuy99dPJwfO6i6WpIh7sgfavWBI90bCe4L-zBcsJ207Lo1Oy8YnHoLEGtm9dDBOmR-Bm7LybSMcw/s400/Beach+Vacation+Aug+2006+032.jpg" border=0></A> <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdIcjBqseKZccNIZByuwH7PPgqvSIMnFjBeJM1t0t7_iDBDn2hTMD938ZNN-8Lh9LtWnlkx6zSTl9S_kOEuKr0UQsODaOVWtUJ557KcQUbSvvNJ4PgWORkStrWoKva3j-Bc70g1m742Y/s1600-h/2006+October+089.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308439388263650210 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdIcjBqseKZccNIZByuwH7PPgqvSIMnFjBeJM1t0t7_iDBDn2hTMD938ZNN-8Lh9LtWnlkx6zSTl9S_kOEuKr0UQsODaOVWtUJ557KcQUbSvvNJ4PgWORkStrWoKva3j-Bc70g1m742Y/s400/2006+October+089.jpg" border=0></A> <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8glM0i3GyjNrhgil3pLnaP50MaWENVS0GKhJEXkFSzJV6arx3FuurbjtsDiTGdRpDZmfjM018NtUqkt7z4E26cWpjH4inoIbf-PIy_3clnbhnrhvfQcHpc_Egep7_GPoyqC8PWGC67VM/s1600-h/Baby+Adalyn+106.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308439377965013394 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8glM0i3GyjNrhgil3pLnaP50MaWENVS0GKhJEXkFSzJV6arx3FuurbjtsDiTGdRpDZmfjM018NtUqkt7z4E26cWpjH4inoIbf-PIy_3clnbhnrhvfQcHpc_Egep7_GPoyqC8PWGC67VM/s400/Baby+Adalyn+106.jpg" border=0></A> <br /><br />(SIGH...)<br />Not that I wouldn't miss these dance moves...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sZt77uU5be4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sZt77uU5be4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />(Warning: This is Kinsey following Addie around with her PHONE VIDEO while Addie wanders aimlessly around the yard, dancing and singing a song she was making up as she went. It's a bit long and you can hear Kinsey snickering in the background, but I love the opening dance moves. A little bootie shake and a kick. Yeah, I'm pretty sure she gets those moves from her Dad...)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194870837904259574.post-82140412232201989052009-02-21T15:46:00.001-08:002009-02-21T16:52:48.801-08:00Our SwampSay what you will about my Scary House, but I'll bet <em>your</em> kids don't come home to DUCKS swimming in the front yard!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGu09cF3GxMWJgQDyx149kXdSdiGUuMIkd36Jdk33zApqhNLzxPncOhFTifbtSMGwvjWAuBp5FHL7DU-XuOPKva85JgoQ2Io2LADgA-Of9C4KKEtnE72ke-EXWg42d-gqd3RcLc_XLNA/s1600-h/IMG_6688a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGu09cF3GxMWJgQDyx149kXdSdiGUuMIkd36Jdk33zApqhNLzxPncOhFTifbtSMGwvjWAuBp5FHL7DU-XuOPKva85JgoQ2Io2LADgA-Of9C4KKEtnE72ke-EXWg42d-gqd3RcLc_XLNA/s400/IMG_6688a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305402975038250946" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66q9J81xK0LxyiKQZv8mKtO58bOUVg45yGrVuJZErbdPbZGL4es4GBi4yiFu0VyRelOPI7lCuMpZF6Oj-9Cl0xseWQdPt6-GRN6XRjx4Sydn7Ay-0OnQTO24AiWEG8E51Y1-OYWW0ch8/s1600-h/IMG_6698a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66q9J81xK0LxyiKQZv8mKtO58bOUVg45yGrVuJZErbdPbZGL4es4GBi4yiFu0VyRelOPI7lCuMpZF6Oj-9Cl0xseWQdPt6-GRN6XRjx4Sydn7Ay-0OnQTO24AiWEG8E51Y1-OYWW0ch8/s400/IMG_6698a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305403428634465538" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-RZlCXjLdvvtNCX7atPU__Qc7H7m3zdUtKvv4r1nGGgqARXaOvBWkDVifAQWvVL72W3cAVNKMD7aJE01yIGpfLE1qdgmXRRVI1WUALD-Mqeseu2-3JjjUbH2-ZZxXAcC5N4g9nqroTg/s1600-h/IMG_6695.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-RZlCXjLdvvtNCX7atPU__Qc7H7m3zdUtKvv4r1nGGgqARXaOvBWkDVifAQWvVL72W3cAVNKMD7aJE01yIGpfLE1qdgmXRRVI1WUALD-Mqeseu2-3JjjUbH2-ZZxXAcC5N4g9nqroTg/s400/IMG_6695.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305402984045694178" /></a><br /><br />Oh yes, those are bunny slippers...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSbJhX7276baUwKQt1MVn5kF22Cr70RAOgw97qCgSH9c5OQVmhn_JQq_pV6HxHsvVC2NRWbbOq_ZMdb19scHx1GetUYm2m6fzqxIEZ4j9SSzvjWfgh4cqxXplpdp0LytVc3bzSzgqta8/s1600-h/IMG_6707a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSbJhX7276baUwKQt1MVn5kF22Cr70RAOgw97qCgSH9c5OQVmhn_JQq_pV6HxHsvVC2NRWbbOq_ZMdb19scHx1GetUYm2m6fzqxIEZ4j9SSzvjWfgh4cqxXplpdp0LytVc3bzSzgqta8/s400/IMG_6707a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305403439349675666" /></a><br />A precious, precious feather. She tried to "fix" it (it had a piece sticking out) and pulled it all to peices.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5