Victor Returns to U.S.

Good evening! It's been a busy day for the Fettes family! Victor left Antigua this morning around 9 a.m., and safely returned home around 5 p.m. this afternoon. It was sad for all of us, but trust me - we are counting the days until he returns to Antigua!

I felt it was important for myself and the kids to start our routine instead of just staying sad all day. So, we started back to home-schooling, mostly a review of where we left off, but of course, now accommodating a new student! It will definitely be an adjustment in my daily school schedule!! After school wrapped up, we ate lunch and headed out. My goal was to locate the local library. Good news, I found it, and I was excited that for 100Q, or about $13, our family could purchase an annual membership. Each person can check out up to 3 books at a time, and they had a decent selection of English and Spanish children's books. It took about 2 minutes for each kiddo to select their 3 books, but it took about 10 minutes to get "checked out." Computerized check out services have not made it to Antigua, Guatemala, and the librarian had to pain-stakingly write out a card for each person, and list the title and author of each book. By the time we left, Chris had already finished reading one of the books he borrowed! Anyways, I am super grateful for any semblance of a library, so please don't take my comments as a complaint!

On the way home, we stopped for helado - "ice cream." This is typical because the promise of a delicious treat always motivates everyone to go for a 1 or 2 hour walk! Then, we found a different bread shop which was rumored to have the best bread within three blocks of our apartment. We'll test our purchases out for breakfast.

We returned home with several hours of the afternoon still available for free time. I decided to have a go at soccer with the boys, and was pleasantly surprised that Luis might be ready for RUSH soccer next year. He's pretty good! And after maybe six months of playing soccer with him, I might be ready for it too! We had a lot of fun and playing soccer actually gave us a lot of bonding time - high fives and muy biens all around. Caroline spent the afternoon sitting in the swing outside reading a book. Such a book worm!

Later, we were invited to join Kathy (another adopting mom) and kids (three adopted kids from Casa, but not all Kathy's) at Antigua's McDonalds for dinner. I was nervous about being out after dark, but decided ahead of time that we'd walk there but catch a tuk tuk or taxi home. That worked out wonderfully, the kids and I had a great time. Please include all of these adopted kids as well as our family in your prayers. We all need to get home to the US and Kathy and/or her husband have been in Guatemala since around the end of March. Ugh.

Now the kids have gone to bed and I will be heading there also. Tomorrow is another amazing day with my three kids! Buenas Noches!!!