I think Daddy is bored in Guatemala!

Today we went out shopping again but this time ended up coming home with lots...a big quilt, a hammock, coffee, a purse for Auri, 2 dolls for Auri, 2 wall hangings and flip flops for me! Brent was the one doing all the buying---imagine that! They saw him coming! We also met up with Melodie, her girls and her mom for lunch at the Monoloco. It was very good and Brent was happy he finally got to have a beer! (I guess he is missing poker night and bowling with the boys!) Anyway as we were getting Auri ready for bed Brent decided to go to as "there is nothing to do here"!!! Above are some pics from lunch and Auri and Fernanda strolling their babies around!

Life with mommy and daddy!

Daddy bought me a pink dog!!!

(Okay i just realized I don't have the pic of the dog yet to support the title...working on it!!!)

Well we made it here yesterday afternoon and on time! Our driver took us to Auri's foster mom's house to pick her up. It was nice to see where she was living for the past year. We also met the baby Auri is always talking about...little Sarah! Her mom must work in Marta's store that is attached to her house.

Marta told us she did not have money to throw Auri a birthday party so we are planning to celebrate in a few days with Eliana too since both their daddy's are here!

Today we ventured out shopping. Brent spotted a painted pink dog for Auri's room...its quite comical! We plan to get her a painted Tuk Tuk too but they didn't have the right color! There are so many neat things we want to get to take back with us...but we have lots of time to shop yet, so we are pacing ourselves!

We brought strollers back for the girls and their little baby dolls...it is too much watching the girls pushing them around the house! I think someone got a picture so I will try and post it later.

Still in Pittsburgh

For those of you wondering...we are still in Pittsburgh. Our flight got cancelled so we are headed out tomorrow morning. We have been running around all day today picking up things we forgot to get yesterday, getting power of attorney's etc etc! If anyone is in need of a Jeep Liberty let us know! It will be for sale as soon as Brent gets back!

Home Sweet Home

Well we made it back from the beach and we are exhausted! I think our dog Chloe has forgotten who I am!!! Our friend/Brent's co-worker Kelly watched Chloe...and spoiled her while we were gone! She has 2 boxer's, a doggy door and a camp! Chloe just stared out the back window of the truck as we pulled away from the camp! Now she and Brent are passed out in bed! I am bonding with my Peppy...playing with the cat laser! Thankfully Carl of course came over and gave Peppy a little TLC while we were gone---so he wasn't too lonely without us and her best friend Chloe!

Well tomorrow its time to tie up the lose ends again and pack. Its so hard...I would love to just stay home but to miss out on the little things...like Auri crawling around making monster noises, watching her pull imaginary candy out of her pocket and eat it to having her give me kiss after kiss when I tell her I love her...is so worth it!

So Monday we will be off again...and I have no idea how long I will being staying. Maybe you could all go out and by me an instant lottery ticket so maybe I can stay until she can get on that plan to the USA with me! Basically I am just going to live life one day at a time...but I will be praying and praying for a miracle!

and this is what he caught...

Happy Birthday...well a few days late!

Happy Birthday Auri!!!

(We tried and tried to connect to the internet Sunday and well I finally figured out if I sit on the front top deck...I can connect to someone elses internet!!!)

BYE BYE SWEET AURI

Mommy don't leave...please!!! Auri didn't want to leave me this time...it makes me feel so good she realizes who I am. (this pic is actually from one of her tantrums- for no reason!) But her big 2nd birthday is on Sunday and her foster mom is throwing her a party! Auri and I also went shopping at the party store at the mall earlier today and got a banner for her party when we return!
This was the little light show the kids threw us last night. Auri laughed her head off when I stuck the glow sticks in my hair...so of course she had to do it too! Also she didn't want to share these with the other kids...we really need to work on that!
Oh yes...what is a stay at the Grand Tikal without a Happy Meal at McDonalds! You would not believe how unbelievable friendly the staff is here. They open the door when you enter, they carry your tray to your table, they put your kid in the high chair, put the bib on them and push them to the table. They come around and take orders for dessert and they throw your trash out for you! There is one girl by the name of Claudia who helps me everytime. I tried to tip her and she would not take it! I will get her next time! I did tip the other girl who helped me and she wouldn't take it until I demanded! Oh ya and the place is very clean...the go around mopping non stop!!!
Auri spotted the Universal camera crew at the hotel so she is strutting her stuff! She even tried to take her clothes off! Sorry can't post that pic!
She won their hearts with this one!

Dancing with my hands in the air!

Ready to go home!

Looking cute in my pigtails!

Out for a walk...wait till you see what fun we had on this walk once we met up with Lee Ann and Erick...

There's a trampoline in our neighborhood! You should have heard the kids laughing! We also saw 2 puppies and 2 big dogs today. Fernanda was very frightened, Auri only got concerned once she noticed Fernanda was. She was okay with the big dogs with the owner had them sit and she could pet them.

Play Play and Play some more!

Well basically we play ALL day! Yesterday we met some other moms Emily, Lee Ann and Melissa (& Melissa's sister Virginia) and their tots to play at Hotel Antigua which is awesome...but it started to rain! So off to a different Pollo Campero to play at an indoor playground and we all had so much fun!

For my dad....

We made it through WEEK ONE!

Well we made it through week 1! Of course nothing new with our case. Frustrating but we are used to it! Today Melodie Stacie and I decided to take the kids to Pollo Campero for lunch b/c they have a nice outdoor play area...well we ate lunch and then it poured! Poor kiddos! Then we headed over to the grocery store for a few things and then off to the computer guy for our router (in the rain)...of course he forgot to get it! He told us to head over towards the park to that computer store but it was raining too hard so we just headed home!

The kids are all starting to play. Auri and Fernanda are close in age and are so cute together! Of course Auri loves all the little ones too but forgets they are just that littlier! I catch her pushing Andrew, hugging and knocking over Eliana or laying next to Rosa acting like a baby!

Auri finally got to see her daddy on Skype! She was soooo excited! She was talking, blowing kisses and trying to reach him through the computer! Hopefully we can get the rest of the family connected so they can all spend a little time chatting with her too!

Well I can't think of anything else...the days all kind of run together! Good night!

Well since we can't get our skype cams up & running....

here are more pics for daddy!!!

Not sure who this child is...doesn't look much like mine!

Okay well I recognize a sippy cup always being in her mouth but she still looks a little different...

Okay now this is MY DAUGHTER!!!

Update on why DNA and Court did not take place...

Our agency called today and said our birth mother lost her ID so she needs to request this herself. She also advised she cannot get another day off for 15 days. So once again we face more delays. Depending on when she gets into PGN I may need to come home at the end of September so that I may return to get her. I hate to do that because it is so hard for Auri to adjust from her foster family to family at the big house! Well she is napping now so I am trying to catch up on emails. We found a place that said they would have a wireless router for us today so hopefully that will all work out so I can spend more time on the internet in the morning and evenings while Auri is in bed. We have a very steep spiral staircase that are cement and I am aftaid Auri may wake up and tumble down them or pull the key out of the door and lock herself in! Well here are a few pics:

Auri, Eliana in front, Rosa crawling and Fern laying back...

Missing is Andrew he was prob staying as far from the girls as possible!

All smiles this morning eating my yogurt puffs!

Auri getting ready to lay a big ole' kiss on Eliana.

I tried to snap a pic of the kiss but it basically looks like Auri has Eliana in a headlock!