El Salvador: The Finale

We all knew going into it that this would be the last year we go to El Salvador.  Our family has just gotten too big, but here's to many more wonderful years of making fun summer memories together! 

 

Forgot to mention.  Colt did his eagle project 2 years ago (?) but never had an Eagle Court of Honor so we surprised him with one in El Salvador.  We set up a seating/stage area/sound and all applauded when he came walking out.  Everyone helped with the program, Gen made a slideshow and Kate entertained us with tribute stories.
ABOVE: the Eagle's nest (missing Lorin who was working) + one cute wannabe

 

Oh Coatepeque I miss you already.

El Salvador: The Horse Ranch

 



A



or B?

We were sitting and watching everyone ride and Bradshaw said something about the sun being hot and then, "may I mur sunbluck pweeze?"  Pretty sure he's the only toddler who is adamant about sunblock.  :)



El Salvador: The Beach House

occassionally she'd jump to me...just not for the camera

see Bradshaw 2008

attempt at a family picture
see pict from 2008



this picture cracks me up. 
I'm quite sure Genny had no intention of catching him.



but he knows his Genny loves him :)



El Salvador: The Lake House

My family has been visiting El Salvador for 6 or 7 years.  Each year, my dad's friend has generously opened his home to the 13 of us.

my brother Colt doesn't like when I take pictures of him, but isn't he sooo handsome?

below: This was at church.  Olivia giving some love to one of the little girls.  Too cute. 

Everyone was calling Olivia "nina cielita" because she's so fair.

At one point when we were sitting and waiting for the meeting to start, I beckoned my brother (whom we affectionately call 'too tall Nelson') over to translate.  He (discretely) stepped over the row of folding chairs to come help, and the people beside me, who were about the height of Nelson's waist, oh you should've seen their jaws drop when they saw those forever long legs!!!  Their reaction was hilarious.  

 Every morning we had smooth water and blue skies and every evening a beautiful tropical storm rolled in. 

...which we, of course, enjoyed from the hot tub.  :)

the soon-to-be misionera:

[more to come later]
see El Salvador 2008 here here here & here

We've spent the last two weeks vacationing divinely in tropical El Salvador and a beautiful lake in Montana. 
Posts & pictures to come. :)

El Salvador: La Playa

Isn't it beautiful?

Glad I caught this moment.
And this one. Nelson is so tender with him.
There was a shallow part of the pool for sun-bathing. Bradshaw loved it.
Family Picture
The wind was so strong that Lindy & Nelson were leaning on it.

VIDEO: Sorry, I recorded it sideways! (How annoying.)

However, you can still tell:
A. how much Bradshaw loved it
B. how strong the current was

This is my last El Salvador post. Hasta la vista El Salvador!

El Salvador: D befriends a hippo

Since we've been home from El Salvador, there is one thing D keeps talking about: Chato, Chato, Chato.

One of my dad's Salvadorean friends, owns a zoo. Or he has a lot of big exotic pets in his yard. He has a pygmy hippo (or baby hippo, we weren't sure which) named Chato. Now, I know from my mission that hippos are considered the most dangerous animal in Africa. They can easily outrun a human and are very aggressive.

Chato has been raised from birth as a pet. You could get him to roll over in the water and spin his ears 36o degrees. Dustinn patted him on the nose and got him to open up his mouth.

D also managed to make Mama Lion very angry. (He was standing on top of her cage.)

El Salvador:The Miracle Baby

Our favorite part of visiting El Salvador is Agape.

Agape started as a soup kitchen and in the process recognized many other community needs. Then it grew and grew. There is a medical center, a home for the Elderly, skills training just to name a few.

...The people involved in Agape are truly saints.

Agape also includes a children's home. Many of the children have families but they are brought to Agape because they are sick or malnourished.

This little girl was so stoic. I was trying every trick to get her to smile and right as the corners of her mouth would start to pull back--BAM--her eyebrows would be furrowed, her lips pouted and brown little angry eyes would be staring at me. I couldn't help but laugh. She was SOOO serious.

I was asking the care takers about her and they said when she arrived 2 months ago she weighed 3 kilos. That's crazy! She was two years old and under 7 pounds! (Don't worry, she's a healthy weight now.)

Here are some of the other beautiful babies at Agape:

El Salvador:

In mid-August; D, B and I went with my family to El Salvador. We were fortunate enough to be hosted by some very magnanimous family friends. This trip was monumental for 3 reasons:

1. We got to see Nelson for the first time in TWO YEARS! He returned from his mission to Long Beach, CA just days before the trip. What a happy reunion!

2. The entire family (all 13 of us) were able to be there! Coordinating all the demanding work schedules was quite an accomplishment.

3. While we were there, we celebrated my parents 30th wedding anniversary. Way to go Mom & Dad!

The house where we stayed was right on the edge of a volcanic lake. The water was very clear, smooth and warm.


They have a dock out on the lake and we spent most of our time there: talking, reading, eating, diving off and watching family members get towed behind the boat. One of our favorite activities is tubing wars: 2 tubes are pulled (and thrown around) behind the boat. The goal is to have your opponent fall off while you remain strong.

At one point, all 8 of my dad's children were on the boat and we decided to see if we could get everyone on the tubes. Lorin, Nelson and Colton were on one tube; while the five girls (me, Katy, Genny, Lindy & Polly) were piled on the other. We didn't last long.

Later on, we watched the video of "the spills" and laughed until our eyes were watery (especially Nelson's superhero move: his 6'5" body flying straight up into the air and then flipping and bouncing across the water.)

(I really love this beautiful little face)

While we were in El Salvador, B began standing up on his own. (Since this video, he has mastered standing and has begun taking steps.)

Do I have a positive, encouraging family or what?

Next posts: Dustinn Befriends a Hippo and The Miracle Baby