Friday, October 15, 2010

FFF- You Pick-Fun with friends old and new!

We haven't participated in FFF for a while. I blame it on a fun and busy summer! Speaking of fun we just returned from the first annual Florida Guatfest. It was held in Orlando at the Nickelodeon Hotel which is a kid paradise. It was great to reconnect with old friends and meet some new friends. There are so many pictures to choose from so we will share a couple of our favorites.

Crazy kids at dinner!


Collin meeting Diego.


Kids enjoying the character breakfast-what a bunch of cuties!!


Collin's girlfriend Dora and friends.


Reconnecting with good friends from Guat gatherings past =*)


And meeting new friends!!


To see more FFF, click here and check out our friends!

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Thursday, October 14, 2010

Collin eating a "baby burger" aka White Castle!
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School picture day-wearing a red shirt of course!!
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The last day of soccer. 
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I'm pretty certain Collin has a crush on Dora. 
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Collin with Pablo and Ming Ming. 
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Nick or Treat!
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Collin managed to find a Dino Dash aka Running Dinosaur in the arcade at the Nick Hotel. What a nightmare. The kid is obsessed!
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Oh.. And the Lego store!
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I know it's hard to believe but Collin made out at the Disney store!
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Collin got his Guatfest shirt and didn't want to wear anything else!
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Arriving at the Nickelodeon Hotel for Guatfest!
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We stopped at dinosaur world on the way back to Orlando. Collin loved it!
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Collin loves his spaghetti!!  We ate really late and poor Collin was worn out and starving. The waiter came to take our order and Collin asked if they had any " pepperwonies". The waiter told him no so he asked if they had any meatballs and he said no again. I looked at Collin and he had the most pathetic look on his face. Tears started welling up in his eyes and he started balling-why they don't have meatballs Mama??? OMG I wanted to die! It was hilarious and incredibly sad at the same time!! All over a meatball. 
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Outside our room in Anna Maria Island. 
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Collins breakfast- tilapia, sausage, fruit and toast. Interesting!
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While eating at a restaraunt a girl walked by and kicked the pigeon aka Collins friend. He jumped up in his chair and said " hey, don't kick my friend, you'll hurt him" lol!!  Of course, the girl had a slightly obese brother and Collin kept saying ( not quietly) " mama look at his big belly, whoa he's got a really BIG belly" OMG!!  He then proceeded to school a 1 year old who was coughing by telling him "cover your mouth"! And last but not least he advised a woman that cut in front of him " excuse me, use your manners".  All this in a span of 2 hours.  I can't wait to see what the rest of the day brings !
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We stopped at the grocery for a couple of things and Collin devoured a yellow pepper in the cart!! 
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Finally made it to the beach! Anna Maria Island
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Landing in Orlando. 
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Life is good!
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Studying the safety card in the seat pocket in front of him- lol! I wish he listened to me like that!
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Off to Guatfest!
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Guatoberfest Cruise 2009

My soapbox about the Advent Conspiracy

I came across this video on another blog. I have to admit I only looked at it for entertainment value. I assumed with a title like that, it had to be some wacko conspiracy theory and who doesn't need a good laugh. Suprisingly enough it really touched me and made me think. It didn't grab my interest because of it's religious value, because that's not really my thing. I am not the type of person that flaunts religion or believes in pushing your beliefs onto others. It touched me because of it's human value and because it shows me how quickly I forget.

When we were in Guatemala it was truly a life changing experience for a myriad of reasons, only one of which was bringing home a baby! We saw poverty that we could never imagine in this country. I remember thinking when I was there that despite all of the stress of the situation, I was more at peace than I had ever felt in my life. Among other things, there was no pressure to have more...there was nothing to have. People just lived their lives. Families worked together, lived together in cramped housing-if they had a roof over their heads at all-and they were happy! We were forced to enjoy eachother without our "creature comforts" and I loved it. I now remember hoping that once we got home, I would never lose that idea that we don't really need much at all. I realized our society makes us think we need more but we really don't. And after watching the video it makes me realize that I have failed miserably.


I had made up my mind that in order to honor my new found attitude and our sons heritage, we would sponsor a Guatemalan family every year so that they could have food and heat and their children could go to school-things we take for granted on a daily basis. For some reason I can never seem to find the money to do that- BUT- I can find the money to buy coffee every day, sometimes several times a day, Collin will see a room full of gifts on Christmas morning, I can go out to eat, I can do whatever I want for the most part. My priorities have gone right back to where they were before I experienced Guatemala and it makes me sad. That is the reason that I am posting the video in a permenant spot on the blog, so that I am constantly reminded, not only during Christmas but all year to give PRESENCE to my friends and family not PRESENTS and to give back to something that I feel very strongly about. I don't write this to push Guatemalan charity or any charity but to encourage anyone reading this to slow down and take a look at your life and see what means the most to you and see where it takes you.

Advent Conspiracy