Sunday, September 16, 2007

Saturday: Part 1



Yes, you read that right. 'Guat Fest 07' Can you even believe it?! I am in love with this occasion! From my understanding, one of the moms who's adopted three boys from Guatemala arranges this get-together each year (possibly more, not sure of the details yet). Check this out:


(It's a little harder to find Eliot is this crowd, huh? he he he, he's the one close to the front with red shoes and a white shirt looking sleepy...)

Do you see this??? Does it make you cry or just me? All these sweet brown faces came from Guatemala and now live in the St. Louis area! AH! This kills me! There were over 40 adopted Guatemalans there ranging in ages from 6 months to 25 years old! What a celebration to hold!

This was, of course, the day that Eliot decided he didn't need a nap, so he was a little on the testy side but we had a great time. I've never seen so many soccer balls in my life! =) We met some really nice families that I'm hoping to see more often than once a year. It was such a blessing to chat with other families, especially those that had been to Antigua at least for a visit! I found myself a little desperate to hear of familiar places, like Santa Domingo.

There's a big group photo coming soon, but as we were sitting down for the pic, the lady sitting next to me asked me how old Eliot was. So, we started chatting and her son was sitting in her lap so I asked him how old he was, to which he replied, "I'm five. I'm from Guatemala." He was so proud of this that it made me tear up a little. I pray that we instill a pride for Eliot's country in him like this mom did for her son. In the meantime, he wasn't so happy being a fire-fighter...


But he got over it when a cute little Guatemalan girl came over and gave him a soccer ball...weird...


And to finish off this post: the sight that makes me squeeze Eliot possibly until his head pops off...Eliot in cozy clothes. Oh my...I can hardly stop from eating his little cheeks right off his little brown face. This is my new favorite pic of him. I just couldn't be more blessed!

8 comments:

Amanda said...

So fun!!! I can't wait to hear more about this event.

Sharon said...

Hey- I know those shoes!!!

Scott & Melissa Davis said...

Hey, I know those shoes too!!!!!! Madi's don't stay on her at all..what did you do to yours, safety pin them???
I love this...every part of it and especially the part that ends with El in cozy clothes...I love cozy clothes on him!! Is there a limit to how many times you can pop a child's head off...because I need you to squeeze him a big one for me, too!

L Gencarella said...

What a great event!!!! I am glad to know that I am not the only one the gets "desperate" to hear about familiar places in Antigua. I thought I was getting a little obsessive compulsive on everyone.

I miss everyone and all those sweet brown children! (You don't see a lot of them in Idaho) (Maybe I should move to St. Louis)

Deb said...

How awesome to have a community like this in St. Louis! I'm sure Eliot will grow to appreciate it as much as you do! (And wouldn't you know, as is typical in St. Lou, just when we get the cozy clothes out, it goes back into the 90s!!!)

Anonymous said...

I LOVE those little red Crocs. Ali has a pair from Santa last year and she wears them ALL the time. So stinkin' cute :)

Amanda

nicaudfamily said...

SOOOOOOOOO cute in his cozy clothes!!! Really SO cute in any clothes.You know I am right with you on the familiar places in Antiga.
Jodi

Nikki....Gabi's Mama said...

I love that you guys have this. I love the pic of Eliot in his fire hat...just the right amount of attitude and still so adorable at the same time. Cute cute.

Nikki & Gab Gab