This and That

We had a great time with our company over the last ten days.  We stayed pretty busy everyday and I think we were all tired by the last day.  I just wanted to share a few last pictures from our visit.


This was taken on Tuesday when we went up the mountain.  I know, I know, how many times can you take a picture of a volcano?  It never gets old to me.  It was so clear from the top of the mountain that we were able to see 5 volcanoes that day.

Megan made Shannon breakfast for his birthday yesterday all by herself.  French toast and sausage.  Ok, I made the sausage but she did everything else.  It was really good.  Then last night Shannon and I made dinner and after dinner we went to Crepes and Waffles for ice cream.  I didn't take any pictures there because I was just too tired.

French toast with a candle.  This was before the syrup and the powder sugar.

Yesterday afternoon we went to the park across the street and I took a few pics of the kids playing.

I have no idea what kind of tree this is but it's beautiful.

Hmm, I'm not sure if I like this picture or not.  She looks so old!

And I even managed to get this shot of Ethan.  

Surprise!

Shannon preached Sunday and after service the church surprised him with a birthday cake.  It was a very nice surprise. Tomorrow is his birthday so I'm sure I'll have more pictures but for now hope you enjoy these.

All the kids came into the sanctuary carrying balloons.

The famous stick your face in the cake.

He was a good sport.

Our pastor's wife dressed up because the church celebrated "dia de niño."

The Virgin

Here is the virgin that overlooks Quito.  Virgin monuments are very common here because of the catholic religion.  

The views were amazing, the pictures really don't do it justice.  

Macen had to have McDonalds for lunch and I snapped this picture of her there.

Madison at the virgin.

Shannon and Shonda at the virgin.

Ethan, Megan, and our adopted daughter Moriah at the virgin.

Middle of the World and Cotopaxi

Here we are on the equator at the middle of the world.  

Macen at the middle of the world.

Megan balanced an egg on the equator.

The girls.

Ethan and Macen enjoying a coke.

Sheila and the grandkids.

Sheila, Shannon, Shonda and the kids.

Megan has the world in her hands.

Cotopaxi.  This is the volcano that I have posted lots of pictures of because we can see it from our living room window.  It's only about an hour and a half from our house. 

And the snow is beginning.  We were trying to think of the last time that we had seen snow, maybe two and a half years ago.

Ethan and Macen playing in the snow.

Check out Megan's snowball.

Macen is freezing.

This was at the refuge.  We were at about 13,000 feet.

Happy 3 years!

Today marks the third year of my blog.  It's been a great three years and I'm so glad that I decided to do a blog because I will always have the memories of this great adventure that we are on.  (the good, the bad, the ugly)

Shannon's mom, sister, and our two nieces are here and we have been busy with them and I haven't had much time for blogging.  Seems like I've been saying that a lot here lately.  We are actually about to leave to go to the middle of the world. So, I'm sure I will have lots of pictures latter.

They have arrived!

Finally made it through customs.

Ethan having his first Mt. Dew in nine months.

Macen bought this hat at the market and she loves it.

Mindo Ecuador

Took a little trip to Mindo to do a little ziplining with Moriah.  Moriah has been living with us for the last two weeks studying abroad for college credit.  We have been having a great time with her and laughing a lot.  Mindo is in the middle of the rain forrest or the cloud forrest, whichever you prefer.  So, it rained on us most of the time we were there.  And this was the closest to camping that I have ever gotten.  I'm going to show you a picture of the cabin that we stayed in but it was not luxury by no means.  There was wooden furniture to sit on and holes everywhere, but I will have to say that we enjoyed some great laughter there.

Here's the cabin that we stayed in.  

Moriah and I enjoying the freezing rain and nature.

Megan, Moriah, and Ethan.

Getting ready to go ziplining.

Have you ever seen these?  Pink bananas.

When we got home from Mindo we all showered and got ready to go to the church for youth.   We had to take a few people home so this is where we rode.  

Moriah and I all cleaned up and enjoying life back in Quito and our piña juice.  

Oh happy day!

Ok, well actually the "happy day" was last Thursday but I've been really busy and haven't had much time for blogging. Shannon and I passed our drivers tests and are now officially legal drivers here in Ecuador.  I'm not going to lie, I was really nervous.  I was the only gringa taking the test and I was the first one finished.  Oh and get this, the girl sitting next to me (she was from here) asked me an answer to one of the questions on the test.  Why would you ask a white girl that?  I thought it was funny.

Here is the expensive little jewel ($200).  Nice mug shot, huh?  And of course I blurred out my personal information.  

And on to some random pictures that I took last week.

This little guy is helping his mom sell fruit on the street. There are three lanes of traffic on each side.  

And a picture that I took at the park on Saturday.

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