On Our Own

First Sunday on our own, we were going to take a taxi, but we were ready so early we decided to walk to church instead.

As the weeks have passed by we have sent the children on home ahead of us.  First the boys and a few weeks later the girls.  Wow! This adoption thing is harder than I ever thought imaginable.  We are here for almost 9 weeks now.  We have been just the three of for about two weeks.  At first things were a little rough for Ale (missing all her sisters, and she had not yet attached to me or Kevin at all.)  We were sending prayers like crazy and had many people praying for us trying to help us through this time.  Going for a lot of walks helped to fill in the time for the first 4 days.  Dad was ready for an outing on our own without any help from outsiders.  Brianna would be so proud.  We decided on a bus trip to Otavalo.  We took a taxi to the bus station, get our tickets and on the bus we go.  It was a long 2 hour trip.  Kevin described it as a roller coaster ride. I felt my stomach a little.  But the view was gorgeous, when I could look out the window.  Ale sat and colored most of the way.

This was some of the scenery on the way up, down and around.

Ale and her new scarf like "Harmony" in front of the market

 Mom and dad and their new hats, dad loves hats, mom.... I am not sure.

We made it the bus station on time and we were ready for another crazy ride, well thank goodness the traffic was very heavy and it slowed the driver down quite a bit, he was rather daring on the mountain passes.  The worst part the trip was the x-rated movie they played both ways.  Thank goodness the seat was to high for Ale to see.  The taxi ride home took a very long time traffic was the heaviest  we have seen.  All in all we had a very good time and learned alot on our own.  Ale was starting to enjoy time with just mom and dad.

Parque de Metropolitian

Kevin decided we needed to try a different park.  It was a long walk and he lost his map on the way, but God had a plan, we met an English speaking man that helped us, we were headed in the right direction, if you are going to get lost, Kevin is a good person to get lost with.

Ale loves this swing, but it was not the same without Hope and Harmony

Ale loves taking pictures of Mami and papi.

She just keeps snapping and snapping, saying no, not yet.

Taking pictures of papi doing some exercises....

she thought it was pretty funny.

And then some of mami, it is kind of nice to have a picture of me once in a while, I am always the one on the other side of the camera.

ok enough of that.

This park is a much quieter park than the other on, not as much going on at all, and there is alot of walking, hiking and looking more than anything.

Kevin likes this park better, I like the other one better.

Kevin likes the sights and hiking....

I like the people and all the action.

Ale was helping take some pictures.

That's my girl!

ale wanted to go up so bad, but was so afraid, so mami said lets go.

Papi and Ale showing how big the trees are.

Ale would not even climb on this because it was so big.

On the way home it was getting a little dark so we were trying to hurry, we took alittle different way home going mostly on instinct, plus a little help from someone who could tell we needed it.  We walked some flower shops and papi and Ale picked flowers for mami.  I am so loved.  It is good to be reminded how much love there is.  Because God's love is even more.  Wow!  That is a lot of love.

Parque de Carolina

This park has been the most visited place during this whole entire time we are here.  And every time there is something new to see.  Or do. Or experience.  Just this past Sunday when we went it the busiest we have seen it yet.  There was so many people and so much going on.  Games of all sorts in all the fields and courts, nothing was empty.  There was hundreds of vendors everywhere, selling everything imaginable. (I found a beautiful shirt)  And kids, oh my.  How do they keep track of them.

This a paddle boat area, we tried this a couple of times so far, It was alot of work with a little girl fighting to steer the boat on a boat with bad steering.

This time we went in the botanical garden it was gorgeous.

Hope trying to see if the fish will come, but yet afraid of the bite she might feel.

There was an awesome cafe inside.  And he spoke English too.

They make great sisters!

A rose from the cafe, I have never gotten so many flowers in my life.  They were greatly appreciated.

Trying some of the apples and fruit in the park.

On this particular trip, the sky was looking a little dark.

Having there ice-es that they love so much.

As the storm progressed we found out that Miss Ale does not like storms! At All!

We ended up buying some umbrellas and hanging out at the mall for quite a while, getting stares from people as the thunder crashed and Ale screamed.

When the storm let up, we headed home.

Harmony enjoying every minute...

And Ale waiting to get home.

First trip with just the three of us, a little boring at first but as we walked we found things of interest to take our minds off our family that just left.

Ale loves to dance, so when they started danicing she was gone.

Ale loves to watch the skateboarders.....

 And take pictures too.

Trying some fruit than we have been looking at for a while.  Brianna would be so proud of us.  It was pretty good. Hope would have loved the sourness and the salt.  The next day they we seen they put vinegar and salt of them.  The next day when we went it was the busy day and we forgot our camera.   But we had a very good day and that is the most important.