Earthquake

These pictures are for our niece Macen and her class in West Fork Arkansas.

Over the weekend Flat Stanley was in a 4.0 earthquake.  It was scary.

Flat Stanley hid under the table for safety.  (I'm pretty sure that that's not the safest place to be in an earthquake, so do not follow Flat Stanley's example.  If you're in an earthquake get in a corner or under a doorframe.)

We are happy to say that Flat Stanley is safe and there was no damage from the quake.

Flat Stanley will be going to the middle of the world this week so stay tuned for more pictures.

Colada Morada

Colada Morada is a traditional drink here that is drank during the holiday "dia de los muertos."  No it's not a satanic holiday like Halloween in the states, it's a holiday that would be compared to decorations in the states.  You know where you go to the cemetery once a year and put new flowers on the grave.

So the tradition here is to drink colada morada and eat bread dolls.  And I must say that the colada morada is very good.  If I had to compare it to something in the states it would kinda be like berry cobbler filling.  In honor of the holiday our church made colada morada Saturday afternoon for after the service today, and Shannon and I went to the church to watch them make it.  It was a great experience and I'm so glad that we went.  I mean how often would I ever get to do that?

There's lots of different fruits in Colada Morada.  

This is babaco and is only grown here in Ecuador.

This is black corn flour that turns purple when water is added.  This is where the drink gets its color, purple.  And this does not stain, how cool is that?

Here are the spices.  

Shannon getting in on some of the action.  

The ladies cutting up all the fruit.  During this holiday families get together and make this drink and it is a very special occasion.  I think it's cool.  (how many times have I used the word cool?)

More fruit, pineapple and strawberries.  

Cooking the moras.  (Moras are like blackberries) 

The finished product and it's very good. 

Here are the guaguas.  Guagua is Quechua and it means baby or small child. (Quechua is an indian language spoken here.) In English we would call them bread dolls.

Here's a better picture of a doll, not me. 

Megan enjoying Colada Morada.

A guilty pleasure.

Who likes a corn dog every now and again?  When you live in a different country you seem to crave the things that you can't have.  I don't think I would eat a corn dog in the states "just because", but since seeing these delicious things on Pioneer Woman, we decided we would give them a try.  We both tried to decide how long it had been since we ate a corn dog and came up with, at least over three years.  Corn dogs seem to be a "kid food" and Ethan was very excited about having them.  He actually ate three of them.  He also said he couldn't wait to go to school and tell his friends that he had corn dogs.  See, I told you it was a kid food.

These corn dogs were so good!  They tasted like a corn dog that you would get at the fair.  Ethan said that he thought they were better than the frozen ones.  And Shannon said that he would never be able to eat a frozen corn dog again.

I know that they are more work than the frozen ones but they are well worth your extra effort.

Don't even look or think about all that grease.   Don't even think about it.

Almost done.

The final outcome.  It's pure deliciousness.  Now, I probably would not eat this on a weekly basis but it's ok now and again.  Don't worry about all those calories you are consuming.  (it's a guilty pleasure)  And hey since your eating a big fat greasy corn dog, why not add fries to that?

And if that big fat greasy corn dog wasn't enough last night.  Guess what you can do with the leftover batter?  That's right, pancakes.  These were really good too.  They tasted a lot like the pancakes that you would get at McDonalds.

The batter was so good that we almost tried to fry some Oreo's but we decided that we had already consumed enough calories.  Oh well, there is always next time.

Want to make you own corn dogs?  All you need is some corn meal (and we used the corn meal that they make here in Ecuador) and some pancake mix.  Get the recipe here.  We love Pioneer Woman!

Flat Stanley is in the house!

These pictures are for our niece, Macen.  We received Flat Stanley last Friday and will be taking him around Quito and taking pictures.  We just wanted to show Macen that we got him.

He's here!

Shannon hugging Mr. Stanley.

Shannon shaking Flat Stanley's hand.
Ok, this Flat Stanley is getting out of control.

And one more because we thought this one might be Macen's favorite.

Over the weekend Megan and I went to one of her friend's birthday party.  We had a really great time. They played lots of games and ate lots of food.  It was a beautiful day outside and a perfect day for an outdoor party.  Megan is doing really great with her braces and has adjusted really fast.  Unlike her mother, it took me almost a month to adjust.  I guess it just goes to show you that the young do better than the old.

Over the weekend I had to go through a "roadblock" so to speak. A police check point.  By myself.  I was scared to death.  I have no idea why because I knew that I had everything that they would ask for.  It lasted a whole two minutes and I was on my way.  Since living in Ecuador we have never been stopped at one of these points, it has always been the car in front of us. I guess it was just my lucky day.  

Happy Monday!

Slacker

That's me, the slacker.  I've really been neglecting my blog since returning from the states, which was two months ago.  I just can't seem to find the motivation to do it.  I'll do better, I promise.

Things that I've learned living in a foreign country:

1.  While walking in the streets you don't step in anything that's liquid because you really don't know what that liquid is.  Please think the worst and you will probably be right.

2.  When parking at the mall there is no need to park in a parking space, just park anywhere.

3.  If you come to a red-light don't worry about stopping, just continue. (or a stop sign)

4.  If you go to the line "ten items or less", you better have ten items or less because the people behind you are counting.

5.  If someone in the car is throwing up on the side of the street and you are blocking someone's driveway, you will get honked at.

I love living in Ecuador and learning new cultures.  I say this with all honesty.  The people are great.

It's fun.

Plans for the weekend-  taking the kids to parties.

Yes.  More parties.

I guess that's it.


On a more spiritual note:
Update on baby Kai - He is doing great and getting to go home TOMORROW.

Braces times two!

Look who got braces today.  I know it's seems a little strange to get braces on a Saturday, but Saturdays are the days our orthodontist works.  It works out nicely I might add.

And did you notice that I said, "our orthodontist"?  Yep, that's right, I have braces too.  I know that some of you have seen me in my braces and already knew that I had them, but I haven't been too out in the open about them.  I have had them since January of this year.  You may have noticed the awkward smiles in some of my pictures and braces are the reason.  My braces are not as noticeable as Meg's because mine are ceramic and hers are metal. And I must add that there would be no way that we could afford for both of us to have braces if we did not live in Ecuador.  So I thank the Lord for this blessing!

Did I ever in my life imagine having braces with my 13 year old daughter?  No, but she's cool with it.

Candy Thief

We got candy corn in the mail yesterday and we were super excited.  There is no candy corn to be found anywhere in Ecuador.

Two bags of candy corn!  Just having candy corn in October feels like home. As soon as the kids seen that we had candy corn they wanted to open it right then and eat it.

One thing we love to do with candy corn is mix it with peanuts. 

And can you believe that Shannon hid the second bag of candy corn from the kids?  He wants to keep it for himself.  Poor kids!