Kids Dancing - They Take After Their Momma :)

Bye Bye valledupar

We have made a decision to return to Bogata for the remainder of the time while waiting for sentencia. Living in a hotel that we can't go to the pool, can't walk out the front door without a guide for security reasons basically confines us to the room. You could only imagine what that would be like after 11 days with children. We will be staying at Bettys Place in Bogata. It's more of a residence style hotel with large bedrooms, family rooms and a playground for the kids. Wendy and I both agree this will be much better for the kids. We will have greater freedom to go out as well and I could return for a visit (something I culd not do if we stayed in Valledupar as I would lose two full days and one night and the price is double). We leave tonight about 7pm. Please pray for a smooth transaction.

Yesterday we spent the morning going to ICBF to get the necessary paperwork for the move. We had a nice lunch with Luci and Dolly before returning to the room where the kids took a nap. Later after dinner Luci picked us up and we went to a couple of Fiesta's (parties). We had a good time. It was wonderful to spend time with her family and experience true culture here in Valledupar. Everone at the hotel has been very nice and friendly with great service. They have gone above and beyond their call of duty catering to us and making us feel at home knowing we do not speak the language. Thanks to the manager Gladys and the staff at the Vajamar for taking such good care of us.

Dolly stated that she expects for us to recieve our Sentencia around July 7th. This is much longer than we anticipated although she said it's possible it could happen sooner. Upon the receipt of sentencia Wendy would need to travel back to Valledupar in the morning, sign and return in the evening. We have made arrangements for someone to watch the children while she travels. Steve plans to return over July 4th weekend. Thanks to everyone for all your continued support and the prayers. Please continue to pray for us!

Just another day

We went to the barbeque yesterday. It was held outside of town on a very large piece of property. There was a big house, a swimming pool, a cabana and a bar area complete with grill , outside showers and bathrooms. There was also a soccer fields and a playground for the children. There were several other estates surrounding the property. These were the only single family type residences (with lawns) we have seen here in Colombia. When we left we dropped off two little girls and went to areas we have not been before so it was like a tour for us.

The kids had fun. JP swam almost the entire time. Maria ran around playing with the other kids. There were mango trees everywhere. Whenever you wanted one you just plucked it from the tree. The first bite was like......OK i'm not sure about this although after several bites it was good. We left a little after 2pm, came back to the room, washed the kids and put them down for a nap. They didnt wake until 5. Wendy put on Sound of Music for them and they really liked it. About 6:30 we went for dinner. We horsed around the room for about an hour after dinner then the kids went back to bed. It's 7:45 now and the kids have just awakened.

Today we are suppost to meet Dolly at 10 am. Hopefully we have great news. I need to notorize several forms today giving Wendy permission to travel with the kids back to the States without me. It's the Colombian law. Without this she would not be able to travel with the kids.

I leave Sunday to return home. My flight is at 9 am and I arrive in Bogata at 10pm. I dont leave Bogata unil 8pm. Over 10 hours in a an airport that no one speaks English bymyself is not goint to be a fun day! Oh well. I'll update later if we hear any news this morning.

School's Out!

Wendy-Yesterday was the children's last day in school. Steve and I took some time to catch up with some phone calls, emails and went down to the pool. The children came home around 12:30 today. Juan Pablo (J.P.) was funny, he did not want to leave the taxi. :) I think he had too much fun at school. After lunch we came up to the room. We want to start teaching them more English so we are trying very hard to speak more to them in just English. One thing we did is teach Maria the Hokey Pokey. I do not think she has ever laughed so much at her crazy parents (yes, Steve too!). I catch her "singing" it (the best she can) every so often. I also sat down with her and went through the alphabet both in printed and written, upper and lower case. I wrote everything down for her and she would redo a line under me. She is VERY eager to learn. She is VERY smart and is going to be a great student.

Steve-We went to a unique restaraunt called El Hueco last night for empanadas, arepas and some cheese things. It was all cooked in a large pot. The restaraunt was basically outside with a brick wall around it and a small roof above preperation area and a couple of tables. See pictures. After dinner we went to a park where the children played. They had great fun. We came back to the room where they had showers, played for a little while then went to bed. Wendy and I watched a movie on JP's portable DVD player althouth began falling asleep about 30 minutes into it. I guess we we worn out as well.

Today at 8:30 we are going to a picnic at school to celebrate thier month long break.

We have not heard from Dolly as of yet. The Italian couple is still here so she is busy working on thier case. The judge has not sighned thier Sentencia yet so they are unable to leave. Dolly is suppose to travel to Aguachica today for them so I assume it was sighned yesterday. She is suppose to be back and meet with us tonight at 5:00 pm. Hopefuly. It is a danagerous and long drive.

Fiesta!

Last night we went to Manual's fiesta (party). We had a good time. There were many people there including the principle of the school. There were other children there to play with the kids. We stayed until about 10 pm. This is the latest that the kids has stayed up and they need to be ready by 7:15 this morning to go back to school. Wendy is getting Maria dressed now. Juan is still sleeping although will have to be awakened soon. We will be on our own again this morning. It gives us some alone time to rest together. The kids seemed to really enjoy school yesterday. They were excited about going again today. Unfortunatly today is the last day before a month long break.

The family from Italy recieved thier sentencia yesterday afternoon and had left for Bogata. They arrived in Valludepar June 20 for a total of 28 days. We have been here for in Valludepar 7 days. Hopefully we will be much less than 28 days. Keep praying.

Today we are suppose to meet with Dolly who will hopefully have a target date when she thinks we will be finished. I believe she will go to court today. We are hoping to be on step 2 (the 10 days). She had represented the other family so yesterday she spent the day trying to get thier Sentencia completed before close so they can fly out. They had been delayed several times and were very fustrated.

Several of you asked how Maria broke her arm. She had fallen while playing on a playground about 2 weeks prior to us comming to get her. Well it's time for breakfast. I will post pictures later.

School is in.

I want to thank Luci for loaning us her camera. Without it we would not be able to share our wonderful moments with all of you. Also thanks to everyone else who has shown support through blog comments and emails. Even though we are a long way from home in a place that is much diffenrent with people speaking a language we dont understand it makes us feel like we are are close to home.

Today the kids are going to school. They will be going to the private school where Luci teaches that we visited yesterday. Her neighbor is going to pick them up at 7:45 and dropping them off at 12:45. It will be nice for Wendy and I to have some along time together. We are planning to relax a little by the pool. They will also attend tommarow and then Thursday is the barbeque at school. After that the kids will be on a month long break.

This evening we are planning on celebrating Manuel's (Luci's husband) birthday. We will be going for cake and drinks.

Last night we went out for chicken with Luci, Manuel and their two boys. Food is very resonable here. The entire meal for all of us with drinks was less than $20 US. Some things are quite expensive here and others are much cheaper than the US.

We were talking yesterday to Luci and she said the kids have not once asked for there foster mother. This is unusual as most kids begin asking for her. The kids have been calling us Mommy and Papi from day one. They have totally accepted us as thier parents which doesn't suprise us as this entire process was orchestrated by God himself.

We met with Dolly yesterday. She will be going back to court on Wednesday and will hopefully have a date when things will be finalized. So far things are ahead of schedule. Paperwork was submitted Friday. It arrived to were it goes by Monday. This typically takes 3 days. The first step is a 5 day process. Hopefully this will be completed by Wed. Then the next step can take up to 10 business days. We need prayes this step goes quickly. Then Dolly will travel to Aguchica to get the birthcertificates and passports for the children. This will take 2-3 more days. After that Wendy will fly to Bogata with the kids and get Visas with the US embassy and have physicals with the kids, another 3 business days and they are not opened on Friday. Then back to Florida!!! So on the long end it could take 3 more weeks. On the short end about 1.5 weeks.

Hasta Luego