The Tap Tap

I got to ride on a tap tap for the first time the other day. 

It was not one of the traditional ones that is a painted up pick-up truck with what looks like a kiddie pool over the top. 

It was a van, just me and 19 other Haitians. 

An experience I want to remember. 

A tale of two cars

- Our car here had a broken water pump. Our friend Leon came to fix the car, to our house, on his crutches up our really steep hill, took the bad part out then came back the next day to install the part. 

Done at our house, in 24 hours for less than $300 which included tearing out the front half of the engine.

This is our friend Leon, who does our car repairs. 

- Our car at home was hit by a really bad hail storm. The estimated repair is 5K and will take over 3 weeks.

Thank goodness we have insurance in the states. 

It just kind of made me laugh that the repair was so fast, convenient and cheap (relatively speaking) here. 

I guess some things in Haiti are easier. 

My Lil' Haitian

It's official this guy is almost a real Haitian.

Fathers Day 2012

Happy Fathers Day to some of the best fathers, whom we get to claim as our own. 

The kids worked all morning on a banner for Justin, well and you too Dean (Velo's Dad).

It was a great arts and craft morning for us.  

I even let Roxy put her paw print on the banner. And yes you are seeing that right her paws are as big as my hands.

To the best father of her children a girl could ask for. 

It is only fitting that we had an extra in this pictures as he truly has been a father to the fatherless. 

Don't mind the fact that the children are in their PJ's and all looking like orphans. 

I did not say he dressed them well, just cared for the well.

The Countdown

We are down to weeks before we return "home". 

We are fearful of the great reverse culture shock that is going to occur. 

The things we are looking forward to
Justin
1- Sleeping in my own bed
2- Drinking water out of the faucet
3- Running
4- Cooking on the grill
5- Teaching CT how to mow the lawn

Me

1- Costco, yep that is how shallow I am

2- Brushing my teeth with sink water

3- Showering in water that does not make my hair fall out in clumps, literally clumps

4- Not wondering if the latest mosquito bite my children have will give them Malaria
5- School, for all 6 of them!

CT

1- Seeing relatives

2- Playing with friends at recess

3- Holding Sunshine, his lizard.

4- Going to school

5- Going to the park/pool
6- Electricity all the time

IS

1- Getting braces

2- Going to our Family Reunion

3- Taking Roxy to training school

4- Going to school

5- Bringing Roselie to visit

TJ

1- Getting a turtle

2- Going to our Family Reunion

3- Ride in an airplane

4- Seeing my Family

5- Play Legos with Ryan

Babies

1-To buy a pool (clearly there has been a miscommunication here)

2-Play legos, animals, toys (naming all the things on our toy shelf here)

Bottom line, these kids don't know what "home" is

Things we will Miss
Justin
1- Chauffeurs
2- My news paper selling friend I see every day on my way to work
3- Sights on the street
4- Being stared at from people in the back of tap-taps
5- The feeding clinic and orphanage  kids

Me

1- Seeing Gods hand daily, literally daily (I know this is still possible at home just harder, for me anyway)

2- Really good quality time with my kidos
3- My kidos not having friends to play with which has forced them to be best friends
4- Buying produce without ever getting out of the car
5- The oh so yummy bread

CT
1- Getting bananas off the street
2- Going in our backyard to see a waterfall, TIC
3- Dancing and gathering seashells at the beach
4- Going to the orphanage and throwing stuff at rats
5- Johnny, who is a giant kid

IS
1- My room in this house
2- Home school
3- The beach
4- People visiting us and bringing surprises
5- The orphanage kids and Johnny

TJ
1- No seat belts
2- Having a soccer field in my back yard
3- The beach
4- Sleeping in my mosquito net
5- Kinley, the cat.

Beautiful Things Today

Amongst all the suffering in Haiti there is still so much beauty to be found.

For example;

This beautiful woman we ran into while walking this morning.

Later she knocked on our gate asking for clothes for the baby she is going to have in 3 months.

Luckily, thanks to good friends, I had some to give her. 

 This tree, I am not sure what it is called. But, it is everywhere right now and I love it. It only has leaves and flowers at the very top. 

 We live at the bottom of a VERY steep hill. We are always picking people up to help them to the top. I know stranger danger...

Anyway, this little boy and his mother were so adorable. 

He was just leaving the hospital from getting stitches.

 Roselie. 

Okay this picture is more of a mug shot than a glamour shot.

But, it is for her Visa. 

Today we got her passport, and are hoping and praying she can come and visit us in the US. 

The Orphanage This Week

There is a new Nanny at the O named Kettley. I really like her. When we arrived this week, many of the kids were outside playing on riding toys. 

 Baby Nora and I

(I will try and get a better one before I leave, Angie) 

 My kids and Stevenson playing with the parachute, everyone else looking at us like we were nuts 

 Amy, I hope you are ready to battle this hair!

I love baby Nicolas smiles! Especially when they are accompanied by open arms running to me. 

 IS and Nora, she is really going to miss this baby

 Baby Giselle is going home so soon, we are so excited for her and her wonderful family!