the trip - post 3 WARNING entering family slideshow territory

In late November, just before Thanksgiving, Michelle and her dad (Dennis) headed to Belize. She spent this time, a few days before the boys and I arrived, learning the routine and learning to care for Alfred.

Hang on, I'm still eating.

Okay, now's fine.

All the kids, even the big ones, enjoyed Michelle reading to them. Alfred has also learned to sit quietly and enjoy reading times.

The play area behind Marla's House of Hope

Mama's turn

Michelle and Dennis picked up the boys and I from the airport in Belize City. On the way to Belmopan we stopped at what would become one of the boy's favorite places to eat. 

He settled on the HUGE bacon cheese burger ... and ate the whole thing!

 Jacob looked at the area around where we were eating and said, "I didn't espect it to be jungly everywhere!"

 The boys look so peaceful sleeping under the mosquito netting ... and, honestly, a little creepy

The grounds at Banana Bank where we stayed for all but two nights.

Meals at Banana Bank. Really, I could get use to walking into a room, sitting down, and having great food brought to me!

apparently Mo agrees

All of us at Marla's

Meeting Alfred (again for me)

Yep son, I took a picture of that...

... and this too!

Playing HARD

M U S T     G   E   T     W D   4 0  ! 

R    E    A   L    L   Y    - -    L      O      T     S     !

Okay! Or this works!!

Watching ...

... Closer ...

... Made it!

hi dennis

The pool at Banana Bank

no - really - we weren't fighting 

 The Belize Zoo - Our first trip out of Marla's with Alfred. 

PLEASE NOTE FOR NEXT TIME: this is not a city zoo filled with jungle animals - this is a jungle zoo with spaces cut out for the people to walk. BUG BITES!

Jacob is showing the bird that it is famous - his picture made it in the zoo map

Day trip to the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich. We had to park in the town and walk a mile in because the river was too high to ferry the vehicle across. It was worth it, we had a great guide who pointed out iguanas, bats, howler monkeys and other animals and specific trees along the way. 

Behind them is the Maya valley near Xunantunich where an estimated 10,000 Mayans once lived

Making life hard for leaf cutter ants 

In the background, above the trees, the top of the Mayan temple 

cute

cuter

  Warming up on the little stuff

They all loved climbing!

Jacob doing his best Uncle Scott pose

In the plaza

The temple

View from the top

Little legs worn out? Not to worry when you have a strong (in so many ways) big brother!

Benny's Kitchen - a great back alley restaurant near Xunantunich in the town of San Jose

brain freeze

waiting for his Gibnut

my beautiful wife - I have fallen in love with her in so many new ways since this adoption - she is wonderfully amazing! 

"Now that's what I call a meal!"

   Pool time with Pa after a horseback riding with Pa while Mom and Dad took Alfred to the Visa appointment

 Back at the favorite restaurant 

Tradewinds Hotel - Placencia, Belize 

A big trip to the beach with Alfred. Together amazing and challenging. 

we spread out into two of the six cabanas located on 5 acres of beach on the southern tip of Placencia

Taken from the steps of the cabana

 Knowing Alfred better, we can now realize how unsettling an fearful this trip likely was for him. That said, it was a needed adventure. 

The hammock was a safe and secure place for Alfred

mighty Mo - in so many ways ... this kid is a true protector and warrior 

 the masterpiece

the peace

the back of our little cabana

  

   While it was a good trip to the beach - it was a hard and heavy trip.
. Back in Belmopan, I need a reminder (or two) of a God who keeps his promises... 

After our time at the beach (through Friday) we thought it best to give Mr. Alfred some downtime on Saturday before we headed back to Texas on Sunday. The boys had such a good time horseback riding with Pa that they wanted us to go with them (thanks for treating us Pa). So while Pa was visiting Kobe Prison (planned visit) we visited the jungle by horseback

the little dude did great

through the water and up a steep hill - this kid rocked it!

Mo was greatly at peace on horseback

Such service - we were delivered right to our room!

and inside found a fun touch from the cleaning ladies

Matthias became and still is Alfred's "security brother"

the pretty but not quiet birds near our room

 At a baptism service for a couple of the girls at Marla's

Alfred with his house mother Ms. Shelly

Bad weather in Dallas pushed our Sunday flight to Tuesday. We needed this extra time as a full family. Also it allowed us to check out the inland "blue hole" and St. Herman's Cave!

Alfred loved the COLD water. He really loved us jumping up and down with him in the water.

on the way to the cave ... more bugs

Let me tell you about this kid - Like Jo and Mo - this little dude has taught me so much about unconditional love and acceptance. Being the smallest, he is the easiest target for getting hit or having his hair pulled by his new brother. However, this has never stopped him from going to Alfred and loving on him. Through this Alfred is learning to be loved on (being hugged by Jacob / snuggling on a mommy or daddy lap with Jacob) without hitting and pulling. He is learning to play (jumping up and down while holding Jacob's hands) without getting too excited and resorting to the bad habits. 

the mamas

travel day

WAIT! You can't sleep yet. We have a 6 hour (make that 9 hr) trip ahead of us. Save some of that sleeping!