Peace but not so Quiet

Sometimes I can hear John destroying something but I decide that the peace the destruction affords me is worth it. Once I decide to intervene I usually tense up as I round the corner to see what was actually destroyed wondering if the peace really was worth it.

This was one of the times that was worth it. John got into a package of Saltines by ripping it with his teeth then proceeded to dump the contents of the package, which he had crumbled in the process, all over the floor. But the clean-up was minimal (thanks to Haydee's help) and John was occupied for a moment so I got a little "peace."

December Catch Up

This is what we've been doing since we got back from Panama.

Looking for a tree, John was a big fan of the tree lot

Oohing like the trees are fireworks or something

First day of nursery, we couldn't be happier and John has done just great

Playing in the snow (and not being able to get up once he falls down)

Which results in this face

Sledding in the backyard

and in case you haven't seen me, I'm a brunette!

Panama Day 8

Day 8 was big because we got to come home to this little guy.

I had a great time in Panama but it was so nice to see John again. I definitely gained a new appreciation for the menial tasks I do every day as a mom. It was actually nice to do these things again because it meant I was spending time with John. I'm still kind of riding that high, we'll see how much longer that will last.

Panama Day 7

BEACH DAY! Our drive there was not fun. There was a wreck so we were stopped for about 20 minutes waiting for that to get cleared up then we got to our favorite beach but it was being developed and was no longer available to the public. We hit another beach we used to go to only to find out it was only open on Saturday and Sunday. After a few other dead ends we finally found this one.

Even seeing this didn't instantly take the pain of that drive away

Luckily, it didn't take too much time for me to be basking in the glory that is the beach. Really as far as I'm concerned there is nothing better than sand, sun, and water.

The beach was part black sand and part white

This was on one side of us

And this was on the other

My dad helping some fishermen (who own the shacks) get their boats beached

Panama Day 6

Day 6 was Thanksgiving day, we spent the day at the Pacific side locks, touring Amador (the fort we used to live on), going to the temple, and enjoying "Thanksgiving dinner."

A view of Panama City from an island just off of Amador

The islands are connected to Amador by this causeway

The whole time we were on Amador I was marveling over the fact that I used to live there. It was so pretty and the Panamanians had done such a great job keeping it up, even making improvements.

Family picture in front of our old house

Actually getting to our old house was quite the fiasco. It was privately owned and completely gated off with guards at the entrance. My dad went and talked to the guards but they wouldn't let us in, even after he tried a little bribe. He talked to them for awhile and it wasn't looking like they were going to let us in but their boss finally came and said we could go in. We had a little escort the whole time who wouldn't let us go very far but we did get to see our old house and street, which has been turned into a street of bars and night clubs.

This looks completely different but as reference the houses on the left are where I was standing in my swimming suit. The buildings on the right have recently been added.

After Amador we headed to the temple.

Angel Moroni

Group shot outside the temple

After the temple we enjoyed our "Thanksgiving dinner" at a Chinese restaurant called the Golden Unicorn. We had a private room which was very nice. It felt very much like A Christmas Story to be eating at a Chinese restaurant on Thanksgiving the only thing missing was being serenaded with fa-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra.

Dinner at the Golden Unicorn

Panama Day 5

Day 5 was scuba day. This was my first time scuba diving and I definitely see more dives in my future.

Me scuba diving

Kevin "scoomer" diving
(You have to be a friend from Price to get this one)

In between dives Chris knocked some coconuts out of a palm tree. It was quite entertaining to watch them try to get into the coconuts. They were eventually saved by one of the dive employees who used his machete to break them open. Then another employee climbed up a tree to get us more. We got to enjoy coconuts and their milk at three stages of ripeness green, orange, and brown.

Chris and Chet breaking into their coconuts

A beach house at the scuba place

After the dives we drove around Portobelo and visited more ruins.

This is Panamanian public transportation

Enjoying some refreshing drinks in glass bottles

Panamanian house

Katheryn and Rik

Chet and Mary

We went to dinner back in Panama City. The restaurant we wanted to go to was supposed to be a mile away so we decided to walk. It was more than a mile away and there were times I didn't think we were going to make it, not because it was scary but because it was taking so much longer than it should have. In the end we did make it and it was neat to walk through Panama City.

Panama Day 4

On Tuesday we went to El Valle. It is up in the mountains about 2 hours from Panama City. The trip we took to El Valle when we lived in Panama is something my family still talks about today, not so much for how great the trip was but for how bad the road we took to get there and the hotel we stayed in were. For the road think endless potholes bigger than you've ever seen and our station wagon scraping bottom, for the hotel think your worst nightmare then add twenty more worst nightmares. You may be wondering why we went there the first time and why we had any desire to return. We went there the first time for the great market they had there, we returned because they've improved the road and developed the area with neat things to see. Despite the six straight hours of rain we were very glad we went back.

We started with a little shopping. There was a mini-market there and we got some great souvenirs. Then we went on a hike through the jungle to get to a series of four zip lines.

Kevin and me mid hike

Caitlyn and me getting ready for the zip line

Kevin on the zip line

Caitlyn, Chris, Me, and Chet

The waterfall behind us was gorgeous! We got to go right past it on the zip line then we got to swim at the base of it, which was a dream come true. I seriously have always wanted to swim at the base of a waterfall. I had a huge smile on my face the whole time I don't have those picture yet, I'll have to share them when I do.

Next we had lunch at the best Panamanian restaurant. I have no words to describe how good the arroz con pollo was. During lunch the rain started and like I mentioned earlier it didn't stop for six hours. After lunch we went to a zoo/garden. There were a ton of cool birds and animals and the garden was beautiful.

Toucan Sam

Pretty waterfall

These flowers look cool but the best part of them is their amazing smell

This was called Swan Lake, they had a white and black swan here

My parents arrived at about 10:00 that night it was so good to have them with us again and I don't think it was a coincidence that with their arrival the rain stopped and we had sunny days for the rest of the trip.

Panama Day 3

I'll start with a warning, day 3 was by far my biggest picture taking day so grab a snack and prepare yourself for the longest blog post ever.

We spent day 3 in and around Colon on the Atlantic side. Panama City (where our hotel was and where we used to live) is on the Pacific side, it takes about an hour to get from the Pacific side to the Atlantic side. My Uncle Rik and Aunt Katheryn lived in Colon forty years ago when they were in the army.

We got to Colon via a train through the jungle. I have no pictures that even come close to showing how cool that train ride was.

Kevin feeling the breeze in his hair

Caitlyn, Chet, Mary, Kevin
Aunt Katheryn, Uncle Bob, Aunt Janet
in front of the train

After the train we drove through Colon which was very interesting and a little scary which made it all the more interesting. I don't have any pictures of Colon because I was too scared to get out of the car or even roll down my window for that matter. Looking back I kind of wish I would have. I was probably a little more scared than I needed to be.

After driving through Colon we went to the Gatun locks. I remember hating going to the locks as a nine year old. It was a much more pleasant and interesting experience at 28.

A ship leaving the locks. I cannot get over how big the ships are.

The gates, notice the difference in water level

Rik, Chet, Mary, Kevin, Bob, Melanie, Chris, Caitlyn
Katheryn, Janet

After the locks we ate lunch at Shelter Bay Marina. As we were driving there we passed through some beach houses I stayed at with some friends. It was cool because it was something I didn't remember at all until I saw the beach houses then as soon as I saw them all the memories came rushing back. It was kind of surreal and I got really excited about it, to the point that Kevin became convinced he was married to a crazy person.

Next we went to San Lorenzo, more ruins. This was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Whoever picked the spot for this fort was onto something. We also learned a little family history while we were there. It turns out Sir Edwards Vernon captured this fort in 1740. I don't actually know if I am related to Sir Vernon but I would like to think I am.

Info on Sir Vernon

Entrance to San Lorenzo

View of the Chagres River

A watch tower, this is the closest I was able to get to capturing how pretty this place was and it doesn't even show the ocean which is a huge part of the beauty

Another view

Cannons

A monkey spotted by Kevin's eagle eye

This guys outfit was priceless: no shirt, swimming suit, rubber boots and a machete. As retribution for posting this picture I hope some Panamanian took a picture of me while I was there and is now laughing at the crazy gringo.

Janet holding a very cool bird's nest

A failed attempt at capturing the beauty and thickness of the jungle

And yes we did get a flat tire

Congrats, you made it to the end of day 3, thanks for enduring.