All about Little Miss Rylee!

I have caught myself calling her that a lot lately. Little Miss Rylee suits her well these days. I can't believe I have such a Girly Girl! Anyone that knows me well, knows I never wanted a daughter that was "Girly". Well, I have one! And, I just love her girly girlness!

She just loves her baby dolls and screams to the top of her lungs when "Brother" come near them. She has a wonderful motherly instinct.

She's been cooking up some really excellent "imaginary" food for us on her new Dora kitchen lately.

And we have had a great holiday with our little Radio (aka Rylee singing) in the back seat of our car. Old McDonald, Twinkle twinkle, Santa Claus is coming to town, etc.

I think she is going to be a Gymnist. She absolutely love to be hung up side down. Yes, really!

This is Rylee's God Father Greg. He brought her the Dora Dress she is wearing in the above picture.

Oh, and she is our A#1 poser too.

Favorite Foto Friday #15

Mayan Families Christmas Basket for my Sponsored Family

Estela, Analady, Yesmi, Liasa, Becker and Boris!

We had a great Christmas...Hope you did too!

We are one of those families that celebrate Christmas for days!

First we headed to Louisville to spend Christmas with my family.

We had a great time. The kids loved decorating Christmas cookies.

My Mom, my brother Shawn and his better half Theresa were there and my nephew Alex brought his girlfriend, Kat with him too.

The food was great and it was a really nice Christmas.

The kids loved all the gifts they got and they got a lot!

Wyatt got a Scooter and Rylee got a walking talking Cabbage Patch doll.

Then we headed home to get ready for Santa. When we got home we let Wyatt and Rylee open the gifts from us. Sorry, no pictures! Craig took video for that and Santa's gifts the next morning.

After church we headed to Craig's parents house. Everyone was there! Wyatt and Rylee are always happy to see their cousins Lily and Sofie. They get along together so well. Aunt Janelle got the girls tutu's and Wyatt got a pirate costume. They were so cute dressed up in them.

Grandma and Grandma Bell made each of them a quilt. I was blown away! They are all beautiful quilts. I love gifts like that.

I have to throw in a clip of Wyatt on his scooter. He is toooo cute!

Oh, and I almost forgot! This must be the year of the home slippers! LOL!

Favorite Foto Friday #14

I skipped #13 because I am a little superstitious.

I am dedicating this FFF to my wonderful husband that puts food on our dinner table... Literally!

Yesterday was my day off and I spent the whole day wrapping presents. I still think I have to many gifts for the kids. I really want to make some changes. Wyatt especially is spoiled rotten. When Wyatt and Rylee saw all the presents under the tree Wyatt cryed for 1/2 hour wanting to open them. Craig threatened him that he would start taking them back if he did not stop acting like that. See, ROTTEN! Rylee was so funny this morning. As soon as I put Wyatt on the bus I came back in the house and Rylee said to me "Open presents now?" I guess she thought that since Wyatt was gone now it would be alright to open them.

Getting ready for Christmas!

Wyatt's school had their Christmas program on Thursday. I was so cute. He had practiced so much and was so happy he was going to be a king. But putting him up on stage... he had stage fright. He hardly sang a word standing so still, just licking his lips (A nervous habit) and staring out into the audience. Poor little guy, he was so excited about the program.

Sunday was our Company Christmas party and kids are always invited. Working for Holiday World and it being a family oriented park, we always include the kids. Holiday World is the best company I have ever worked for. Will and Mrs Koch are truly wonderful people. Craig got his 5 year with the company award.

Wyatt finally got his magazine subscription. They have all kinds of quick crafty things to do. Here they made sailor hats, colored and decorated them.

I have been busy catching up and getting ready for the 2008 year at work. I was out for a week in Guatemala and now I will be off work for another week between Christmas and the New Year.

Aren't they cute! My family watching Wizard of Oz for the Umpteenth time!
Rylee and Wyatt will both be going to Y Wee Care (Pre-School /Day care) starting in January. Rylee is very excited about it and want so badly to go to school like big brother. I worry of course. I hope she does not plan on eating anymore blue crayons!

The presents have started coming! Thank you Lin and Jerry. The kids love their gifts. We played Zingo last night 8 times. Wyatt really love that game.

That's this past week in a nut shell.

Favorite Foto Friday #12

Beautiful Lake Atitlan

Guatemala

Day 5 our last day in Guatemala

Up bright and early. I was feeling much better. I did not eat much breakfast because I was still a little unsure of my stomach. We hung out mostly at the hotel. Vanessa was there to meet and give gifts to her friends foster families and I was to meet Mirna Rylee's foster mother.

Mirna, her mother and her daughter came about noon. We walked over to the restaurant and ordered lunch. I am so glad Vanessa was there. We discovered little Maria's birthday was the next day and Vanessa ran around everywhere to find someone that could bring her a birthday cake. It showed up right after the lunch. Perfect timing.

Little Maria is such a cutie and it was nice to see her wearing the Rylee's dress that I sent her. She had the cutest little pink boots on and Mirna said she will get some for Rylee too.

Mirna is so sweet. We had a wonderful visit and Mirna said she would be returning later to bring Rylee's boots.

After our visit, Vanessa and I headed off to the market across from the Zoo. We had been there last time we were in Guatemala and knew we could find some good deals there. We were there for about 4 hours and I felt a little silly because Vanessa had about 6 bags and I had only my purse. She was so funny. She said she was beginning to loose feeling in her hands because of the weight of the bags. I helped her carry some to the taxi. And back to the hotel we went.

That evening and Vanessa's lost prescription glasses... God was watching over me!!!!

Vanessa could not find her glasses and thought they had fallen out of the van on the way back from Panajachel. So, we called Sharon, then Oswaldo the driver. No Glasses. Then we called the Hotel K. "No glasses but, Mrs. Koenig left her passport! " OH MY GOSH!

Panajachel is 3 hours one way and my flight leaves in less than 12 hours. I was freaking out. We called Oswaldo to ask if he would bring it to me and he said to call him back in 15 minutes. I called home to tell Craig what was happening and that I would call him back when I figured it all out. Wyatt got on the phone and said "Just one more day mommy and you will be home!" I got all choked up and said "I hope so!"

I went back into the business center to have the receptionist call Oswaldo back for me when she said that the hotel has found someone that will bring my passport to me. It cost me $125.00 but it was worth every penny.

Vanessa went back to the room to get some money for another calling card and her glasses fell out of her suitcase. Thank you God for watching over me!

What a night!

Day 4 and leaving Panajachel

Up very early and we all were ready for our long ride back to the Guatemala City! I miss Pana! I wish I could have stayed a little longer. Well, not really! I wish I had my husband and kids with me then I wish I could have stayed much longer. I want my son to see this beautiful country and realize how blessed he is to have all the things he has. This trip has changed me and I am sorry for my children because they WILL experience a major change in what IS most important this Christmas. They will get gifts but it's the time we spend together that is more important.

Saying a quick goodbye to the hotel staff and we were off!

A Tuk-Tuk driving down the road in front of Hotel K.

We stopped for photos. My camera decided to act up but some of the photos turned out kinda cool.

Me and Vanessa.

Oswaldo our driver.

A stop Oswaldo made so we could take pictures.

The cemetery decorated in all colors.

Some children we met on the side of the road. They were selling worry dolls. We did not buy any but Vanessa and I bought each one a bottle of juice and a bag of chips before we left.

We dropped Christy off at the airport and headed to the Marriott. It was so nice that the room was all ready for us because we both still needed to wrap presents for Rylee's Birth family and Arianna's Foster family. We hurried downstairs and there was Gilda her children and her mother. Soon the translator and Arianna's foster family showed. We all headed off to the restaurant for lunch. The poor translator sat in the middle. We had him translating for for both of us. It was so nice to see Rylee's birth sister, brother and grandmother too. Rylee's birth brother is a cutie! He was so excited to be in the restaurant and see all the decorations they had there. Gilda is a good mother and she was so kind to me. As we walked to the restaurant she held onto my arm while we crossed the streets.

The children are so cute. The children were very shy but very cute.

They loved the gifts and books that I brought for them.

Gilda came back later to the hotel and brought gifts for Rylee and Wyatt. She brought Rylee a beautiful dress and Wyatt a Guatemalan shirt. I am going to get their pictures in them and send the photos to her. I am planning to learn Spanish and I think she would like to learn English. I hope next time we meet face to face we will both be able to communicate better.

After our visit Vanessa and I did a little sight seeing and shopping. Vanessa is so funny! She really knows how to shop. I think her suitcases were just as full leaving Guatemala as they were when we got there. When we got back I was feeling very sick to my stomach. I went back to the room and took a little nap. When I woke up it was 2 hours later and I was still sick. Thank goodness I still had one of those pills that Dr. Jennifer had given me. Vanessa was still out and about meeting adoptive parents that were also staying at the Marriott. We both called it an early night.

Casa Hoga Feliz Christmas Party! (still day 3)

The van is here! We got all the gifts for the Casa Hogar Feliz Christmas party loaded in the van and ready to go. Oops, we almost forgot about Cake #1.

Thanks Vanessa! Half way around the block, Oops we forgot Santa ( the pinata ) back in the hotel room. Thanks again Vanessa! Don't forget we need to pick-up Cake #2 &3. We got to Sharon's house and my sponsored girls mother was there with a gift for me! I was so excited. The children all drew pictures for me and Estela brought me a handmade fabric that she had made. It is beautiful! She also gave me photos of Laisa's Graduation last year. I respect Estela immensely! She is a single mom and it is obvious her children's education is most important to her. It was a very quick and sad visit. They are always in my thoughts and prayers.

We had to hurry and pick up the rest of the crew for the party. Somehow, there ended up be about 15 extra people. Good thing we had 3 cakes.

Oh No, tummy trouble! Yes, Vanessa and I both started not to feel well. I was not nearly as bad as Vanessa. By the time we got to the orphanage Vanessa was throwing up.

Thank Goodness for one extra person. Dr. Jennifer has this miracle drug. Within 1/2 hour we were both feeling much better. What a party saver!

The children were eating when we arrived then quickly cleaned up the tables and started getting ready.

We learned quickly that the children were planning to put on a show for us.

The home was nice and clean. Each child has their own bed.

Juan Carlo and Sergio were in their room working on the electric guitar. Sergio is very friendly and he played the guitar for me.


Obed was as adorable as ever. I caught him doing a little dance.

I was so happy to meet Unn-Lisbet. She truly has a gift with the children and many of them call her "Mama" They all love her dearly. Lisbet told me that she was once a music teacher and she feels music is very important for the children. I got the impression that the children like to put on shows and play music.

Olga was there also. She is the mother of Christy's sponsored child. She also has a special relationship to the children.

I noticed glances from many of the children to Olga, looking for her approvement in what they were doing. She is a remarkable person.

The children were so cute putting on the show for us. Nahum is a real cutie!

We were all taking turns taking pictures in front of the tree and he was the one everyone wanted a photo with. Many of the children were very shy and it is understandable from their history it would take much more time than we had for them to warm up to us.

The show started and the children were so cute. The music was really good too.


After the show the clowns came out. Even in Spanish it was very funny. The children were laughing so much and I loved seeing them so happy and laughing.

The children had so much fun with the pinata too. I have to admit it did not take long at all before it was in pieces. I was lucky to get a photo!

The crowd went crazy when Santa came out. They children were so excited. First they handed out the toy gifts to the children then the clothing that I brought for them. They were very surprised to see they were all going to open more gifts.

They love everything! They were all smiling and running around showing each other what they received. Then we brought out the gifts for Unn-Lisbet.

We all gave her the gifts that were for the orphanage. She opened gifts of books, educational toys and kitchen items. All the children sat on the ground around Lisbet as she opened each item and showed them to the children. I am so happy the children have her. She is their mom, it is plain to see!

After all the gifts were opened. We HAD to get a photo with Santa!

Vanessa, Me, Santa, Christy and Unn-Lisbet.

The cakes were HUGE and there were 3 of them!

That is actually a picnic table they are on. The children had pieces larger than they could ever eat but they did the best they could. It was sad to say goodbye but I hope to stay in contact with Unn-Lisbet and see them all again next year.

Heading back to Sharon's was sad. This would be our last day in Panajachel. It had been such a full 3 days and I felt I had not done enough to help. I look forward to next year. These children will be in my dreams and my prayers until I see them again.

Back at hotel K. Vanessa had a wonderful idea of taking a bag of candy and toys out to the children in the streets of Panajachel. Vanessa and I got 2 bags full of all the candy and toys we had left and walked down the street handing candy, play-doh, socks, t-shirts, etc out to the children. Before we knew it the word was out and we had a trail of kids behind us. It was so much fun and everyone was so happy to get a little something.