Home Sweet Home

It feels so good to be home after four long weeks in Colombia.  We were very tired on Wednesday after traveling since 1am on Tuesday morning and only getting a couple hours of sleep on the airplane.  Samuel did pretty good, but he was not very happy when he woke up in Miami and had to go through Immigration and Customs when he was still very tired.  It was also difficult because we had to carry him a ways and he is very heavy.  He went back to sleep fortunately and woke up in a much better mood.  We went to a gift shop and he got a Mickey Mouse which he carried with him all day at the airport and on the plane.  Our flight was actually almost 20 minutes early to St. Louis and we were greeted by my parents, the kids and my friend Amber and three of her kids.  They were all anxiously waiting for Samuel.  I couldn't believe how big my kids looked after being with Samuel for the past 4 weeks.  I was so happy to see them!  My mom thought Samuel looked smaller than he did in his pictures, but she always says her grandkids look older in their pictures.  They all thought he was very cute, I have to say I think he does look even cuter in person, but I could be biased:) 

When we got home the kids were anxious to see the souvenirs we got them in Colombia.  Then I had Dalton get dressed for his Christmas program and we all went together.  Dalton was so excited we could come and so were we!  I was so happy watching his program that I was almost teary eyed after being gone for so long and being so grateful to be there to see it.  It's funny how everything worked out so well on timing, because we could have had a later travel date and missed it or had a longer stay like some other families, so we were very fortunate to come home after 4 weeks verses the 6-9 weeks some families were there.  When we all got in the car we put Samuel in his car seat and he resisted some, but actually did better than we expected (in Colombia kids do not use car seats).

We let the kids have a day off school on Wednesday so they could spend time with us and Samuel and it was so nice.  Amelia and Dalton are so good with Samuel and they just adore him!  He is pretty crazy over them too!  They taught him ring around the rosies and played in their bedrooms and then showed him all the toys in the basement.  They played Beatles Rock Band and he seemed to like singing and dancing like he's just a pro.  The kids really get a kick out of him. 

Thursday morning when we said good bye to the kids he had a sad face and just stared crying, it was so sad.  He really missed them while they were at school.  He is afraid of our dog Lexie, so that has actually been our biggest challenge since we've been home.  He screams when she gets too close, we have to hold him or her and he seems okay if she's on a leash.  He is getting better though, so hopefully by next week he will be fine with her.  She's not that big of a dog (a miniature Australian Shephard), but to him she probably seems big since he's so small.  She is a very good and smart dog, so I'm sure once he gets used to her they will be buddies.  Amelia and Dalton are a lot of help with Samuel and it's so cute seeing them together.  Samuel was so excited when we picked them up from school and when we came home so they could play with him.

Samuel was so excited because he just got Mickey Mouse at the airport gift shop, a lady on the plane (from Miami), asked if we just went to Disney World and I said we were on our way home from Colombia with our new son:)

Samuel feel asleep in the car on our way home, he had a very long day and we were all so tired!

 

Samuel took Amelia's hat off her and put it on his head backwards, she thought that was pretty cute.

 Amelia and Samuel playing outside together, Dalton was at Cabella's with Grandpa and Daddy.

 Amelia is like a little mother to Samuel and he adores her.  I can not believe how crazy she is over him, it is such a neat thing for me to see how Amelia and Dalton are with their little brother.

Samuel singing "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", we love the Beatles so we're staring him early..lol

Samuel and Dalton playing in the basement together.

Samuel immitating Dalton instead of using the real mic...lol.

I was busy putting away our clothes in my bedroom when I looked over and realized Samuel feel asleep drawing.  It was so funny, he was pretty tired after playing hard with Amelia and Dalton yesterday.  He stayed up late tonight though, which he usually does when he's had a nap.

Tomorrow's a busy day!!!

Tomorrow morning we go to the doctor's office and pick up Samuel's chest x-rays, please pray they will be there and the doctor has them signed.  This is very important because without that we can not get Samuel's Visa.  Our appointment at the Embassy is at 1:30pm, we pray that this goes smoothly so we can get his Visa and finally bring him home!  Obviously we are anxious to bring Samuel home to meet his big brother and sister and his Nana and Grandpa!  Dalton has a Christmas program Tuesday night at 6:30pm and Jeff and I REALLY want to be there!  If we get Samuel's Visa tomorrow and our flight is on time to arrive in St. Louis at 4pm, we should be able to make it.  The kids are very excited about Samuel and spent time today getting some things ready for him and Amelia made something for him.  She is a great artist, so I can't wait to see it!

Last night two more French families arrived at Casa Lanthana.  One of the families were here in 2005 adopting their older son from Monteria (where Samuel is from) and this time they were in another region adopting their 2 year old son.  The brother is getting ready to turn 8 and he is really good with his new little brother.  The other couple adopted their almost 3 year old son. 

Today we took Samuel to the park, on Sundays they close off one of the main streets for people to ride their bikes and jog.  I was surprised how many people there were and kids too. The park was busy today with people playing volleyball and basketball.  I also thought of Amelia when I saw two really pretty dogs playing in the park (she loves dogs).  After the park we came back for lunch and then Samuel played with the other boys.  Later he took a nap, so I walked to a Home Store nearby to buy a few presents for the nice people that have helped us here at Casa Lanthana.  Leena is the owner's daughter and she is very nice.  She speaks Spanish, French and English fluently and we really enjoy visiting with her.  Her birthday is tomorrow, so they are having a party for her here.  We have really enjoyed Bogota and staying at Casa Lanthana this past week, we will visit everyone if we ever come to visit Bogota in the future.  After being here Jeff and I are wanting to continue learning more Spanish and encourage the kids too.

Samuel always shakes his hand real fast when he's excited, we think its cute:)

Can't wait for Amelia and Dalton to meet their little brother and complete this family picture!

 Casa Lanthana

 Samuel and Leena

Leena is the owner's daughter and she is such a sweetheart!

 Leena and Miey

 Samuel and Miey

Amelia and Datlton are missing from this family picture, but we'll be taking one very soon in front of our Christmas tree at home, once we get it and decorate it that is!

 Casa Lanthana

Samuel loves noodles!  We could not believe how much he ate tonight!

Christmas lights at the park!

Since today was a Saturday we had no appointments and could actually enjoy a relaxing day in Bogota.  We started off by going for a nice walk to the kids hair salon to get Samuel's hair cut and then we took him to get ice cream.  He loves vanilla ice cream!  Then we came to Casa Lanthana and had lunch.  After lunch we walked to the mall, it was a couple miles away, but it was good to get some excercise.  Samuel enjoyed riding in the stroller, so that made it much easier for Jeff.  The mall was very nice and big, but we didn't get anything.  The mall was busy because it was Saturday and people are starting their Christmas shopping. 

The meals are included in our price here which is good and bad.  It's nice to have the meals, but sometimes it would be nice to go out.  The food is okay, but we don't know what we're going to get until they bring it to us and today it was tuna fish, I can't even stand the smell of tuna so I didn't even touch mine.  She asked me if I didn't like it (in Spanish) and I told her I wasn't hungry tonight.  After dinner we asked the French family if they wanted to go to the park with us to see the Christmas lights and so we all walked there together.  The lights were beautiful!  It was nice visiting with the French family, but it's funny because the wife and I speak mostly Spanish to one another and a little of French and English.  Jeff and the husband speak French and English to communicate.  I've heard of "Spanglish" but I'm not sure what the mixture of all three are...lol.  They are very nice and it's good for us to practice other languages.  Actually it makes me want to travel abroad more, but next time with all 3 of the kids of course!  I've always wanted to go to France to visit and see all the museums, maybe one day.

Dalton asked me tonight to post a bunch of pictures.  Since Samuel is always on the go and does not like his picture taken partly because of the bright flash so it's very difficult.  I have deleted many blurry pictures and pictures with Samuel's hand reaching out to block the flash or squinting his eyes.  I'm sure he's only had his picture taken a few times before November 7th verses the hundreds Jeff and I have taken the past four weeks!  So these are for you Dalton (and you too Amelia:)!

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Samuel getting ready to get a much needed haircut.

                                                                            Before

After

Samuel playing with Mr. Potato head.

Bogota, mountains in the background.

Samuel pushing the stroller around at the mall.

Samuel with us at the park seeing the Christmas Lights.

Jeff and I bought a lot of Colombian coffee today!  We are not coffee drinkers, but we hear it's the best and we had many requests to bring some home.