All by Myself!

When I went to Guate to pick up the girls... I went all by myself. No husband... no friend...no sister...no one but me. I took the advice of a little known genius and hired Victor. He was to pick me up from the airport , to and from the embassy and take me out shopping. He emailed my husband and told him that he also had available a prepaid cell phone if I needed it. We agreed on all of this and I flew to Guate.
As soon as I got there he was waiting . He guided me through the mobs of people and ushered me into a vehicle which was pristine. Victor Lopez handed me a cell phone and some bottled water. He spoke awesome English and was a joy to be around! He took me out shopping and taught me facts about Guatemala. While shopping he negotiated with the merchants and did all the overall interpreting.
For the Embassy appointment he was INVALUABLE... you can not put a price on how WONDERFUL Victor Lopez is as a friend. At the Embassy he stood in the lines for me and helped me with the paperwork. When it was absolutely nessassary for me to be present he played with the girls and walked them around. Victor being a father of two he knew the girls were getting bored. Being the gem of a man when he wasn't helping me, or waiting in line, or interpreting, or paying on my behalf, or wasn't singing with the girls... he was helping an old woman with some form that she couldn't understand.... He is priceless.
He was the best Rent-A-Husband that anyone could ask for...Acutally, truth be told he was better then having my husband because he knew everything and spoke the language. Hiring him was the best money I have spent in a long time. He is also the only person in this adoption process who wasn't scamming us.. and who didn't ask for enough money... Victor Lopez is very underpaid for the quality of work he does. I never could have completed this adoption without him!
He offers many other services that I didn't take advantage of.. because of time restraints.. However if you are going to Guate he is absolutly crucial to having a relaxed time!

A woman we talked with at the market.

Yes she is pouring water out of a boot....and *WHY* is she pouring water out of a boot...well... our 2gallon watering can is ridiculously big to her. She was very determined to wash off the beetle....She would pour a bootful over it and then check... finally she resigned herself to the boot just not working. Still determined to wash off the little beetle she got the watering can... Success!



The girls and all of the kids, for that matter, are settling in really well. It has worked out tremendously well for us, as we already have a 5 and 3 year old. We can determine what is and isn't age related. Overall having 6kids isn't ALOT of KIDS... it feels really normal. Don't get me wrong there are plenty of times of the day where our family rhythm is blown right out of the water... but overall it is really good...and I am really really happy with my family.