Kicking Off Our Christmas Break 2024

Our last day of school before Christmas break was Thursday, December 19.  It had felt like a long semester so we were all counting down the days until we got a much needed, extended break. 

 

We started the morning with a fun Christmas themed breakfast. 

 

 

We took our annual "end of the semester" Christmas photo.

 

 

That afternoon we drove into Guatemala City to celebrate.  Look at that beautiful sunset view!

 

 

We had supper at TGI Friday's at the Avia building in Zone 10. TGI Friday's has always been my favorite place to eat when we visit the city.

 

 

Afterwards, we walked through Fontabella to see their Christmas decorations.

 

 

The next morning we had plans to go ride go-carts in San José Pinula.  On the drive there we stopped by Condado Concepción, which is another beautiful mall in Guatemala City, to see their Christmas decorations and to eat lunch at the food court.

 

 

We then headed to Loops for some family fun.

 

 

As a Christmas gift, they always ask for a visit to the go-cart park.  It has become a Christmas break tradition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a video of our time riding go-carts

 

 

That evening we visited Oakland Mall.  It is so pretty and fancy at Christmas.

 

 

a video of some of the mall decorations

 

 

 

 

We had plans to go bowling, but there was a three hour wait.  Instead, the boys chose to visit the trampoline park in the new part of the mall called Oakland Place.  It was fantastic!  We'll definitely go back, but David and I will jump with them next time. 

 

 

the boys ready to jump

 

Their favorite part was the slides.

 

 

a video of the boys at the trampoline park

 

 

We ate supper at the food court and picked up some Dunkin' Donuts to go before leaving the mall.

 

 

A beautiful view of the volcanoes from Guatemala City (Zone 10).  From where we were, you could see Agua, Fuego, Acatenango, and to the left was Pacaya.

 

 

Guatemala City views

 

We had a wonderful time, and it was a fun way to kick off our Christmas break.  I love this annual trip that we make each year.  We all look forward to it, and it always creates some wonderful memories.  It is a family Christmas gift, and probably my favorite gift of all.

 

On a good day it should only have taken us 1.5 hours to drive back home.  This particular day, though, it took almost four hours!!  Guatemala traffic is terrible all year long, but at Christmastime it is insane! 

Life Lately September 2023

I began the month of September by decorating the house for fall.  We do not have seasons here like in the States but I still decorate.  Fall is my favorite time of the year.  I love the colors, the smells, and all the fun that comes with it.  I miss being in the States during this time of year so creating it in my home makes me feel happy.

 

our dining room

 

 

a YouTube video I made of our decorations

 

 

We watch a lot of football on Saturdays.  One recent Saturday night while watching a game, the boys got out their old Magic Tracks and played for the longest time.  They will say they are too old for some of their toys but every now and then they will get them out and play.  It makes me smile.

 

The boys go to a youth group in San Cristobal near Guatemala City on Wednesday nights.  We carpool with another family and take turns driving them. We saw this beautiful rainbow on a recent drive there.

 

I did a lot of baking in September.  I made my first pumpkin pie of the season.

 

I also baked some chocolate chip, pecan, pumpkin bread.

 

a sunset view from our terrace

 

our flowers are in full bloom

 

another view of Agua volcano from our terrace

 

The boys had a blast on a Saturday youth outing to Loops with Union Church in Guatemala City.  They did bowling, skating, go-carts and more.  It was a fun day for them.

 

 

Cruz doing Science a experiment.  His Physical Science curriculum this year is filled with fun experiments. 

 

Here is a video of him clowning around while making a 3D Atomic model.

 

 

having fun with water

 

 

Ben on a recent school day.

 

We celebrated Guatemala's Independence Day on the 15th of September.

 

 

Here is a YouTube video of one of the Independence Day parades.

 

 

We enjoyed a family bowling outing in Guatemala City.

 

We love 1890 Bowling inside Miraflores Mall.

 

 

bowling video

 

 

a video of Guatemala City Zone 10

 

 

We were in four churches during the month of September. Here we are walking up the hill to church in San Rafael.

 

David preached three times in September.  Here he is on one of those times.

 

 

a video of our drive to San Rafael one Sunday morning

 

 

another video of a family feeding their cows in San Rafael 

 

We had a visit from Miguel,

He was our ministry partner when we lived in Chiquimula.

 

 

Lastly, at the end of the month Cruz volunteered to work at a Kid's Day carnival at a church in Antigua.  He volunteered all on his own and spent the day there working. He was responsible for the basketball game.  He had a wonderful time!  It made us proud to see him want to serve.