On Wednesday, April 8 we headed with friends down to the Auto Safari towards the beach. This is the best highway in the country (very nice...really) and one of the views that we are going to miss heading back to the flatlands of Michigan. (Volcan Agua)
Our beloved Pacaya (the smoking volcano on the right).
Another view of Agua with the town of Palin in the foreground.
A sight of Michigan, here in Guatemala. Very rare here and reminded us of times past, and hopefully times to come.
The toll booth is more like a party zone, music blaring, venders shouting and anything you want to buy available right at your car window!
On the way to the beach!
Turning off the main highway in sugar cane country (the beginning of the season).
Typical mode of transportation in Guatemala. And not even that many people in the vehicle.
The drive into the Auto Safari.
Our first animal encounter. Zebra.
Water Buffalo & school bus of tourists. We just wove through the park following the line of cars & assorted vehicles.
Emu...didn't trust this thing. Rolled up my window with it only about 5 feet away.
That was one big sheep! 
Our first lifer in the park. (Wild bird we had never seen before...yes he was wild!) Boat-billed Heron.
Lifer # 2...Northern Jacana...so cool!
Lifer #3-Groove-billed Ani. Just hopping around on the ground and in the trees...Wow!
The children in this photo pulled their heads in the car and then the giraffe reached down to their car and stuck his tongue in the window! Maya was not impressed.
Maya's in the back seat saying "Dad, that giraffe is looking at you, you better roll up your window." It was pretty cool, but we didn't get any tongues in our car.
Spider monkey just chilling with a snack!
Then we got to the lions. Wow...obviously we had to have the windows rolled up (a little dusty to take pictures through). They roared for us too...it was incredible.
And then they were off and we drove with them as they walked to a different patch of shade.
Play break. Lily's swinging and has her friends around to join her!
Part of the group...minus some explorers (Aaron, Caden, Lil, Amanda Agrellas & Eric Larimer). Generally families from left to right are the Agrellas', Soderlings, Kinmans, & Larimers.
Classic end of our safari picture. Then off to lunch & more exploring.
Caden found a large tree to hang out in!
Our tickets included a boat ride and we had the privilege of sharing our boat with our friends the Larimers. 
This little monkey was so close to the boat, Maya thought for sure we were going to be boarded. And he probably could have. But he was a very cooperative monkey!
This is one of the large iguanas that ran wild all over the Auto Zoo. Every feed trough had a lizard and most seemed well fed like this big guy. It was a great day and we enjoyed our time to explore. Thus ended our planned activities for the week. Little did we know one more was in the works for Aaron. (which he will share about soon.)
A late lunch at the mall on our way home from Casa Bernabe. Adobo burritos...burritos as big as your head and delicioso...Caden's first...what a big boy he is!
Girls happy with their Mc'y D's.
Later at supper (still dark here by 6:15ish) and Caden's cake. And it was pretty good if I do say so myself!
Here is the whole family showing off the presents Caden got (soccer fans, note the Chelsea jersey in the back). And yes those are socks...good Dutch family we are. It was a good day and we continue to pray that God bless Cade with many years to celebrate ahead.
This is a very random picture for the beginning of this blog but this is the first picture of our two day experience at the orphanage Casa Bernabe. This is Greg Malczewski (he & his wife are our host family) and the smile on his face is his realizing there is a Wendy's in Guatemala City...and this after three years of living here! It's the simple things in life, man! But this is our only picture of the day because honestly we were just too busy to do anything the first day besides wrangle kids. The Malczewski's joined us on our first day of helping out at the orphanage...and when the house mom, Betty said, "why don't you just take the kids outside to play" (and out they sent us with 16 kids, our very limited Spanish, and they only speak Spanish, to "play")...it basically took us a whole morning just to figure out what was and was not good for them to do! Henceforth...no pictures.
The second day was much better, though it still took all of our energy. Here from left to right are Carolina, Manuelito, & Juliana. This is in the play yard of the 3months to 2 year-olds house. The kids we watched were ages 2-6 and lived in the house just up the hill from here. (Aaron knows the exact number of steps for he went up and down them most).
This is Aaron and he was Maya's big buddy. He was two and very cute!
This is just a glimpse of the group that we were in charge of...everyone playing very nice at the time. Phrases like "No pegue." (don't beat them up-we should have said "no golpe"-don't hit-but it was effective none the less.) and "Aqui, por favor" (here please) were used many times!
These two little cuties are standing in the "sand box" (dusty white gravel) with their communal sippy cup & play things (styrofoam cups and plastic spoons we brought on day two).
Snack time...quiet and rest for at least 3 whole minutes.
Aaron, with his buddies Brian (standing in back), then left to right Lily, Dulce, Juan Carlos, and a little boy I whose name I can't remember (he was a very good listener and I didn't have to use it often!).
Aaron with Alex and Brian while Caden in the sheet at the bottom of the photo is a tackling bag for Rubia. They did have a lot of fun!
Carolina and I enjoying some resting time, watching a Dora the Exploradora video.
The kids loving on each other. This is a person who helped on the Tuesday as well. She was from Canada, teaching at one of the international school in the city for a few months, and helping out at Casa Bernabe during her week-long break. She was delightful to work with.
My favorite picture of the day, Maya with Aaron. I hope our kids continue to be servants, helpers here in God's world & in God's plan. What a blessing to serve with them. And what a memorable Monday & Tuesday of Spring Break week in 2009.
