Ecuador, part 1

I haven't posted any pictures from our trip yet, because we've been on another trip since then. BUT I guess I'll get started. I feel super behind on everything right now, but luckily, none of it is urgent--including posting things on this blog.

We went to Ecuador for three weeks over Thanksgiving to visit my parents. It was really a great trip. I am convinced that the only way to travel (especially with kids) is to go somewhere you know somebody so you have someone to stay with and to be your tour guide and chauffeur. It worked out great for us! (Thanks, Mom and Dad :)

We got a direct flight from Dallas to Quito (yay!) but it left at 5 pm and landed around midnight (boo!). Dane and Lucy fell asleep eventually but Graham held on and stayed up the entire flight. He was transfixed by the in-seat TV screens. 

We were happy to see Grandma and Papa there when we came out of customs! My dad got this cute shot of Dane coming out and seeing him. 

Lucy didn't know what she thought about these people.

We were happy to see Cole the next day after he got home from school.

We also visited their grocery store and got to see all the awesome fruits they sold there. Graham, our resident fruit fanatic, was impressed!

We really liked the guanabana juice we got there!

Lucy's brand of flour.

My parents had several awesome parks within walking distance of their house, which of course ended up being the main thing we did while we were there.

Lucy was scooting everywhere and ended up under their couches several times.

So cute! They all loved the barstools in their kitchen.

One of the mountains (really, a volcano) behind my parents' house has a tram ride you can take up to the top and get a great view of Quito. It was absolutely stunning from the top. Apparently there are usually horses up there which you can take for a ride, but we didn't see any, sadly. Oh well.

Making cookies with Grandma, just like in Irvine. But this time they were for the missionaries.

Waiting for Cole to come home after school outside their apartment building.

Lucy warmed up to Papa and Grandma after a few days.

Cole played a piano piece at a recital at his school, so we got to go see his school and hear him play. It was awesome, and really cool to see his school, which we've heard so much about.