You're Suppose To Watch Movies?

Ok, so I realize that I haven't exactly been the most consistent blogger as of late, but if you were living in this home, you wouldn't be either. I know what you're thinking.. "Well, Karen sure seems to be able to post them." And it's not that you're incorrect... it's just that I do so much more work than Jen and Karen do. haha. I'm just kidding. I just actually want to sleep. They choose not to. I think I've made the right decision personally. Anyway, since I've got a few minutes, I figure that I'd write a little something on this.. just to throw everyone off. I'm not going to lie though, most days are about the same as the rest since the kids have been here and they're on a schedule and all. However, we did get to do something out of the ordinary on Sunday. Terry Reeve's group did something really cool; they had about 20 adults go out to Didasko, pick up almost all the kids (some were in trouble and couldn't go), and bring them to church in the Valley of Angels. We also took our kids out to church there along with Carlos, Eduardo, and Saul (Deisy's kids). So, there were quite a many children at worship Sunday morning. But then we got to do the coolest thing in the lives of many of the kids... we took them to the mall to eat and then to see the movie "Cars" that was dubbed in Spanish. I would say that the VAST majority, if not all the kids, had never been to the mall before let alone the movies. So, they were some pretty happy campers.... mostly. You see, my little friend Francisco wasn't exactly a big fan of the movie. In fact, he started squirming about 2 minutes after the previews were FINALLY over. And then when I didn't let him run around the auditorium like a maniac, he started throwing one of his little fits. Well, since I couldn't have him disturbing everyone else, I took him outside of the auditorium thinking that he would be fine in a few minutes. Oh no my friends... no no. For about the first half or so of the movie, I had followed him at least 15 times in and out of the auditorium (he never wanted to stay in for longer than 30 seconds), carried him up and down the hallway several times, watched him run back and forth from one auditorium entrance to another across the hall, and had him just about cry on me (he was tired and hadn't really had his nap for the day). What a movie. Anyway, about halfway through the movie, Jen comes out with Marvin (who was getting restless) to go get some popcorn and stuff. So, of course Francisco wanted to go up to the counter with all the lights and food (he's 2). So we get up there, get the stuff, and Jen carries him back into the auditorium while I walked with Marvin (who's 7). And that's when I found out that there is apparently one universal truth... 2 year olds love popcorn. If you know my nephew, Ryley, he will seriously just sit and shovel popcorn in his mouth one hand after another when he's at the movies. And wouldn't you know it, Francisco was perfectly content watching the movie now that he had popcorn and pop to drink. Such a "stinker" (is this ok?) sometimes. So after that, and some going back and forth from Jen to me a few times, he finally fell asleep on me (which I don't know how that is comfortable) for the rest of the movie... which was about 15-20 minutes. And then we headed out. Now, outside of my little adventure (and it was just because it was new and he is so young), all the kids that came were totally glued to the screen. Yovani and Eduardo were literally on the edge of their seats watching the movie. Just so excited. So, that was really good that all these kids could be apart of this and that Terry's group would be willing to do it. I'm sure they won't be forgetting it for quite a while. And, considering that we only lost 3 of the Didasko kids, I'd say we ended the day on a pretty good note. haha. I'm just kidding, they didn't lose any of the kids. Just thought I'd throw that in there for shock factor... if anyone actually believed it.

Other than that little trip, we took one more. Jen and I took the 4 "older" boys (basically, we left the baby with Karen) to the airport to greet Donna when her flight came in with Sam and JT. Jen even got them prepared to say "Hola Tia Donna" when she came around that wall in the airport. Precious. The boys definitely enjoyed that trip too. And then just yesterday, Jen went and picked up Kelsey from the airport. So now we've got a four-person Belpre crew here. Well, that is until a week from today when Karen leaves... and then I leave the next week. Oh well, for now, the kids have plenty of people to be with them. So, we're gonna make the most of it. I'm sorry I don't ever post pictures on here, but I don't have a camera. Therefore, you're gonna have to go to Karen or Jen's blogs to see some.

Fatherhood In Question

So I don't really have a lot of time to post right now, and let me tell you why. There are kids here now. They're cute and sweet... well, unless you have to punish them for doing something they're not suppose to be doing. Luckily, I let the "mothers" take care of that... you know, because the boys need to be shown their authority. At least, that's what I say so I don't have to do it. Anyway, I'm sure that Jen and Karen will be keeping a much more extensive blog about the boys. So there's not really a need for me to do the same. Plus, so far, all the days have been pretty similar and basically uneventful. However, it has seriously hurt my "adventure" possibilities having them here. Yes, yes "it's an adventure having them." That's true.... if by adventure you mean being tired all the time but still having them full of energy wanting you to pick them up and throw them around. I mean, there's four of us here for crying out loud, and we're ALL exhausted by the end of the day. It's crazy. Now, I don't want to make it sound like it's horrible or anything, because Lord knows it's not. There are plenty of fun times, and they have very contagious laughs. But I must say that I take comfort in the fact that I know that I'm going am going back to the States on August 2nd. And I only say that because I know that I'll be able to sleep for 8 hours again. Though I must admit, I'm totally sitting over here typing this while the girls are taking care of the boys.

Alright, so the only things I've done since the boys got here were 1. Take Mike to the airport to go back to the States, and 2. Went out to Didasko to drop off some presents. The airport journey was pretty uneventful. Ok, so Jen and Karen just maybe had an issue with the bit of a scratch and dent that Gracie got while on that trip, but I really don't think it was a big deal. I mean, that parked truck's bumper really just came right out and hit her. Alright, so maybe I should have taken the turn a little wider, but it was a VERY tight fit.... and Gracie is fine. I'm sure if you wash her, you'll never even see it.... yeah, that's a lie. But it could have been worse. Oh, and it was just Nicole Tindall and I who took him back. And we kinda got a little lost trying to get back. BUT, we totally figured it out.... and it worked out well since we needed to go to the store anyway. You see, we were looking for like a big bowl to bath the baby in, but it wasn't at the first store we went to. But, since we took the road we did, there was another store on the road that DID having a bowl/tub thing that we could use. See, it all worked out well. Nothing to worry about.

At Didasko, we took the two older boys with us (Jen, Nicole, and I) and left the 3 younger ones with Karen and Fabiola. They seemed to enjoy the trip there and everything... even the black holes that litter the road along the way to the home. Have you driven out there in anything other than a bus?! It's RIDICULOUS! You seriously need a 4-wheel drive vehicle with PLENTY of clearance to traverse that tremendously terrorizing terrain (like that alliteration?). So, when we got out there, the boys seemed pretty nervous... which is odd since they were very talkative and energetic on the drive over. We're guessing that they may have initially thought that we were going to leave them there or something. Maybe not, but they were pretty shy. Jen and I got to give some presents to Norma (my parents' adopted girl there), and the three of us took a picture together. Apparently it was precious, but I have my doubts when I'm in the picture. Anyway, she was very happy with the gifts she got, and the others that I had from people at home, I left with Jorge and Rosa to give to the kids (since I didn't know who they were and I didn't want to just hand out presents to like three kids) later. Oh, we took Norma off to a room by ourselves to give her gifts to her just FYI. But, the boys weren't really big fans of staying there, even though there was going to be a pinata. So, we headed out and came back here. That's about the extent of the things I've been a part of since the boys got here.

Oh, but one thing about the baby. It cries... all the time. And you know one thing that makes him cry? ME! That's right, if he ever makes eye contact with me, he starts crying. If I get within a certain distance of him, he starts crying. Which proves my previous theory... babies hate me. haha. The 2-year old is fine, but apparently below that, they have "Hate Jeff" woven into their DNA.