Lots of Fun Pictures

As our time here is getting shorter, we are trying to spend all we can with the people we love.  So, we are having all kinds of mini-adventures.

Three of the Castillo kids!!

Alfredo.  He refused to give up the water toy.

Christian.  He starts Infant 1 next year.

Diego

Fish photo bomb!

Our girl, Thalia

Good one of Lucia!

Dennis looks like he is flying up behind Lucy.

Cute picture of Alfredo.

We spent the day at the inland Blue Hole.  We have been here quite a bit.  The first time we visited the steps were not here.  We were here when they were putting them in.  They did a great job.

Can't go anywhere without a few rocks to take home.  This is a little collage that the kids put together.

This looks just like one of our own holiday photos at Christmas.  Not exactly sure what Thalia is doing, Alfredo has gum in his mouth, Diego is laughing, Dora (mom) is ready to smack a child and Julio (dad) is just wanting the whole thing to be over.

This one is better.

Driving home in the old church van from Greater Life Church.

We had a really nice time.  Thalia had been looking forward to this day since before Christmas!  It was the first time we were able to go somewhere with the whole family.

Thinking of friends and family in Tennessee.  We miss you all and look forward to our return.

Love you guys!

Happy Birthday Blanca Lorena Campos!!!!

March 31 was Loren's 24th birthday!!!  Hooray!!  She says that she is almost half of fifty...I guess that makes me over halfway to 100.

We are so proud of our Loren for choosing to go to high school at her age.  I haven't heard of anyone else who has done this in this part of the world.  She graduates from Eden High School in May!

We asked Loren what she wanted to do for her birthday and she said "Go to the ocean and collect shells!"

We went to a place called Hopkins Beach.  We had been there before with Grant and Ashley Dew, and we knew that we could probably find some shells.  And hmmmmm...apparently a log.

 

There I am again, looking all gringa like!  The area we were in was extremely nice.  You can see the condos and beach houses of all the "wealthy people" behind us.  We kind of crashed the local restaurant and bar.  They don't mind as long as you eat there! 

So we would like to introduce Oscar!  He is Loren's boyfriend, and a really nice guy!

Notice this time that it's not me who gets the sunburn!

This is a panorama view while sitting in the restaurant.  Looks quite tropically doesn't it!!!

That is Loren and Oscar way out there.  At this beach you can walk out really far and still not be in water over your head.  

It was fun to see them enjoying themselves!

It only takes about two hours to get here but the drive is always very "interesting".  We endured high temperatures and road construction and many crazy drivers, not to mention some bridges that make you wince as you cross them.  There are some one-lane bridges here that have cement walls for railing.  It looks like the cars are going to scrape the sides.  But apparently everyone makes it across, even the oil trucks and buses!  

We had a very memorable day and were blessed to have such beautiful scenery. God took care of us on the drive and provided an amazing warm tropical ocean to play in.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOREN!

Love you guys!

Easter Vacation Part 2

I decided to break these up a little because there are many photos that I want to share.  Dennis and I are having a great time.  Whether staying at home or going out to swim somewhere, we are having such a fun time with the kids.  We are trying to get in as many visits as we can before we leave in July.  As we are sharing with the kids we know that it will be very difficult to leave.

Enil, who told me he needs a haircut.

Laura

Ingris

We had an unexpected group of visitors on this day.  I went to pick up three young ladies from the village and they weren't there.  So, I found these guys and we went home and ate lunch and watched movies.

These are some of the younger kids from Standard 3.  They made some of those yummy No-Bake Chocolate Peanutbutter cookies.  They were awesome!

Looking in through the back window.  Larry, Estefany, Tania, and Emely.

This is still another day with Dayrin, Zuly Jonathan and Gabriel.

The kids always rush to the back veranda to get the binoculars!

Jonathan and Gabriel

We took the long drive out to Big Rock Falls with Yeslin and Jeldin.  The drive is only about 35 miles but it takes forever, and it's really out in the middle of no where.  We have known these two since before we actually moved down here. 

The water seemed extra clear today.

Jeldin was heading for a large rock that is ahead of him just under the water.  When he stood on the rock he realized that he had a tiny worm on his arm.  He showed it to Yeslin and you should have seen her face.  She turned around quickly and asked me to help her out of the water.  It was almost like she had seen a snake or shark in the water.  So, now we know what scares Yeslin....little, tiny worms.

The falls appear very small here, but we are a long way down stream.

Then we started to have fun with the underwater features of the camera!

This doesn't even look like Jeldin!!

We sat on those rocks in the foreground and watched some crazy guys jump down from the sides of the falls.  Unfortunately, we did not get a picture of them jumping!

Nice picture showing how clear the water was.

Had to get Jeldin and Yeslin to join the Belize Jumpers Club! That is my white leg in the back.

Yeslin, who didn't seem to care that much about worms anymore.

They got me to slide down the rocks.  Lots of fun!

Doesn't the water look so refreshing!   It was a great break from the heat.

The mist from the falls on Jeldin's face.

A bunch of touristy gringos showed up and we chatted with them for a bit.  A very nice lady took this final picture for us.  Yes, I am that white.

There are many things to do here.  We have been here long enough to know where to go when you don't have much money and Big Rock Falls is one of our favorites!

Easter vacation is quickly coming to a close!  We have had a lot of fun with our kids and still look forward to fun times!

Love you guys!

Look for Part 3 coming soon!