The Good, The Bad & The Not So Ugly

Hi All,

Here are some more pictures from the time Grady's parents and my parents were here visiting. They left on Monday and we miss them already.

First, we have a picture of the Good Grandmas with the kids. Then comes the Bad Boys in their
Guatemalan hats. Next is a picture of Pa and Eli at Hotel Antigua. Lastly, is Kylee swinging at Hotel Antigua.

Update on our case: We are not out of PGN yet but we are with the second reviewer (that's not so ugly).

Visitors

It is so good to have visitors. My parents are here for two weeks while Camille and Mark are staying for a week. The parents have been on coffee tours and volcano hikes but the the thing they love the most is spending time with the kids.

I have also included a photo of a typical day in Guatemala; you have a truck loaded down with bananas, a child riding in the drivers seat and a couple kissing on the street.

Update on our case: still with the first reviewer

Child's Play

Here are a couple pictures of the children. Kylee had just finished finger-painting. As you can see, as much paint is on her as was on the paper. Eli had just gotten out of the bath and his hair was perfect for spiking.

Eli started crawling today. Right now he is slow enough so I can still keep up with him. However, he is a ball of energy and will soon be all over the place.

My parents are visiting and soon Mark and Camille will be here. Visitors are always welcome:)

WE ARE IN

I called and found out today that we are back in PGN. We were resubmitted on the 13th of February. Our adoption is finally starting to move forward. We are with the first reviewer, next we go to the second reviewer and then we need to get signed off by the big guy. If all goes well, in 6-8 weeks we will be approved.

Here are some pictures I took today of Eli. Also, is a picture of a "chicken" bus.

Friends

Good Evening,

Friends are so precious to us all. I know I am making some wonderful friends here. The kids are also becoming very close to one another. Here are just a few pictures of them together. In the top picture is Milo (6 months), Erick (1 year) and of course Elijah (9 months). In the lower picture is Andrea (16 months) and Kylee. Notice how Kylee is holding her arm and walking her around the streets of Antigua.

The lower pictures shows how many of the women here carry stuff around, good balance.

Uniquely Guatemalan:
The Chicken Buses. Brightly painted, retired US school buses packed tight with people, hence the nickname. Or, others say they are called "chicken" buses because people bring all their groceries on the bus including live chickens.

The New Central Authority

We found out today that we have been registered with the new Central
Authority. Another step in the adoption process that the Guatemalan govenment has implemented since we started, delaying many families from entering PGN. Now we wait to be issued a document that allows us to enter PGN. It is just one big waiting game. However, the kids don't seem to mind the wait. They are busy having fun as usual. Here is a picture of Kylee feeding her baby; she is such a good mother:) Also here, a picture of Eli enjoying a birthday party. Note that he is wearing the typical Grady outfit, jeans and a gray hoodie.

I have posted a few pictures of our trip to the market today. It is amazingly cheap. I paid close to one dollar for a watermelon and a cantalope. 50 cents each! Five mangos for about $1.25. Well you get the point, fresh produce for super cheap.

Uniquely Guatemalan:
Hearing fireworks at the crack of dawn. The Guatemalans love fireworks and light them off all the time for every kind of celebration.

Guatemala: Land of Eternal Spring

The weather here has been beautiful. We have been enjoying 70 degree days and the flowers are constantly in bloom. Our days are filled with shopping at the outdoor market where the Mayan women have a beautiful display of produce, eating fresh baked banana bread, and finding new locations for the children to play. Oh yea, there is also potty training, crying (both at the same time), pollution, and impossible road/sidewalks for pushing a stroller. There are some many good things about Antigua and very few bad things. One thing you don't see in the States is a women with a baby tied on her front riding a motorcycle with two small children hanging on in back. I will start posting more pictures of the people and sights of Antigua.

Update on our case:
Our case is ready to go back into PGN but the (newly setup) Central Authority is making it impossible for cases to enter PGN. It is very complicated but many, many lawyer are filing suit saying what they are doing is illegal. We are hoping the problem gets solved in the next few weeks and we re-enter PGN.