kate's last day

i think mia really likes kate...

on the streets of antigua

group shot!

kate's visit...

laurie, kate and mia
at the cafe condesa.

hello from the dogs...

oliver and zeke are really wondering where laurie is these days... and they asked me to write to you about them. they want you to know that they wake up in the morning and do their usual routine, but at night when i come home and walk zeke, oliver stays at the front door and waits for you. he sometimes hears a neighbor's car door and barks diligently thinking that you will be walking through the door at any moment.

they are doing just fine. both sleep much of the day, and play in the yard in the evenings as usual. zeke's ear is better now that he has had a full week of drops, and truth be told, ollie is still more interested in snausages than waiting at the front door... little does he know that when you do walk through that door you will have mia with you, and as much as i tell him all about her, i'm sure he will be confused by that.

bottom line is the dogs miss you, they are happy, and well taken care of... and they know you are on your way home soon...

xoxo

oliie & zeke

likes the neighbor's toys better than her own...

mia has fallen in love with lucita's swing, she is facinated with the little green fish.

kate took this photo of mia's first tuk-tuk ride. a tuk tuk is a small moped-taxi service that is really bouncy... as you can see she slept the whole way.

mia with laurie in central park 

Life in Antigua with boiled bottles

Hello Everyone,

Hope everyone is doing well. We had a great day today. The weather was beautiful and we spent the afternoon at the park in central square. It is a very active part of Antigua and filled with vendors and people just relaxing. Mia loves to watch all the people go by. She has discovered that screaming at the top of her little lungs is very funny and makes everyone laugh. She does this about every 15-20 minutes. I´m hoping it is just a phase and she will move on to an activity that is a little less noisy. I´m starting to pick up Spanish just by living here since Mia´s nanny doesn´t speak english. It is very funny watching both of us try to communicate. Somehow it is working out just fine and she is teaching me many things that I didn´t know. Most importantly, that you need to boil the bottles in Guatemala. I found that out a little late, but Mia made it through okay. We´re boiling everything now :)

We were able to resubmit the missing document thanks to the help of a few fast acting people in Minneapolis. I´m hoping things will be back on track soon. I just try to remind myself that this is a very special experience and I need to enjoy my time in Antigua with Mia.

Good-bye Kate!

Hello Everyone,

Hope all is well. We found out today that the embassy misplaced a document needed to complete the adoption process. I'm working to get a new document created. I'm not sure how much this will put us behind, but we are remaining optimistic. Kate left today and we are very sad. Mia really liked her singing and dancing. She was such a huge help and a great cappuccino partner at Cafe Condessa.

It is nice to have company...that is a hint for anyone that has extra vacation and nothing better to do than visit Antigua.

More soon

momma & mia 

poppa & mia...  

lola at the local dona lola with little mia 

laurie witrh olfa & ruth, sisters who sell their weaves at the local open air market on saturdays 

view of fire volcano from sta. rosa apartments 

little mia in her sun protection on the streets of antigua 

Back in Minneapolis

Well,

I left Antigua, Guatemala yesterday morning at 8:45am with Edwin, the english taxi-driver, and arrived here in Minneapolis late last evening to find both Oliver and Zeke safe, sound and sleeping in the house. They have no idea what's about to happen to their little worlds... I thought i would post a few more images from my last day in-country.

I certainly miss Laurie and Mia.

Antigua Lunch Hour 

The Apartment Entrance 

Antigua 

Antigua Street