Nap Time After a Big Breakfast and Running

The boys are sleeping now after a busy morning of Christmas and eating and running and running and crashing cars and pulling ears.

After our Christmas celebration, Kelli was in the bathroom finishing her hair. The boys were running in and out showing her all their toys. Then they noticed the bathtub and began taking off their clothes. You may remember how hard it was for us to get them in the tub the last time we were here. Before long, they were in the tub jumping up and down yelling, "Agua! Agua!" Once we got the toy trucks out of the tub and got the bubble bath, which was in a Lightening McQueen Motor Oil-looking container; we started the water. They had a great time and did not want to get out until finally they looked like prunes.

Once we were all clean, we headed for breakfast. We had potatoes, scrambled eggs with tomato, sausage, and muffins. I am either going to get fat or skip lunch. The boys had fruit, pancakes, sausage and butter. I had to tell Mateo that he had to eat the butter on his muffin. .

Kelli wanted to check out one of the hotel stores because she wanted to get more bird ornaments. I took the boys out of the store, and they headed for the outside garden where they ran last time we were here. As soon as they stepped through the door, the race was on. They ran and ran and ran. Soon another couple with a baby in a stroller came into the garden. When Kelli arrived, we met the couple who are from Minnesota. They were very nice and enjoyed watching the boys. They said they could tell that Daniel and Mateo were brothers. That was right when Mateo pushed Daniel down as they were running.

Back in the room, I spent an hour trying to get the last post done. Most of the time was trying to get the layout right. While I was doing that, Kelli was entertaining the boys, and they were entertaining her. It is clear that both boys have minds of their own and don't mind pounding on each other. Danny got even with Mateo's earlier push by trying to remove his right ear. Mateo didn't seem to mind, but we said, "No!" I have learned that if I scoop Daniel up and kiss his neck as I am telling him, "No!" that he takes it much better.



Both boys spend time looking out the window at the city. Last September, we had a room that looked at another side of the hotel. This time we are on the ninth floor with a 180 degree view of Guatemala City. I must say that Kelli and I enjoy looking as well. We are both much more relaxed about the city - although I am not ready for a run out into it. I still see high fences and walls around the businesses, but I do not see the razor wire from here, nor do I see any armed guards. The traffic is pretty heavy and the people are working and walking. Things look pretty normal. It was also helpful that the gauntlet at the airport was changed. Instead of walking right through all the people, passengers now exit to the right, and the "greeters" are behind plastic fencing. In addition, as passengers exit to the right they can see the people waiting for them through windows. That meant we saw Walter from Mayan Tours before we walked out the door.

Kelli just slipped out to do some shopping, and Danny started waking up a few moments after she left. That is what Ben used to do.

Both boys are now awake, and Kelli is back. It is time for a story...