Lucas birthday party

Lucas birthday we arranged this year in the north of Quito in a small farm like place where the kids could play and see the animals. As my parents were here they also got to see some of Lucas classmates that came.

Some of Lucas classmates as well as Ritas son Alex to the left

Kiara with her grand father and first cousin Camiel

A hen on the head was a popular thing to do for the kids. Here Lucas got one.

And of course Kiara had to try this too

Kiara and Camiel playing while Dana was looking

Typical for a birthday party here in Ecuador is to make two teams with kids and parents to have them compete in different games

Mom and dad enjoying the shadow for a while

Kiara in one of the games where you had to run with a ball in a wheelbarrow 

Lucas ready to blow out the candles so everybody can get some cake.

Lucas with a new friend

Dana starts to get tired so she took a break

Cotopaxi volcano

We passed a group of ours with a lunchbox that they needed for the day and took the chance to visit Cotopaxi National Park with my parents as the weather was so beautiful though we didnt attempt the 1 hour hike to the top cabin. The group came here the day after and had a snow storm

Yarina lodge

Lucas ready to make faces for the camera after a nights sleep.

Dana with her grandfather at the lodge.

Mom at the lodge ready for a hike in the forest

After the hike Kiara wanted to rest a bit with her grandmother

While Kiara fell asleep in the hammock

But as soon as Kiara woke up she had to start playing and waking up Dana as well

Rita with our 3 devils playing with the hammock at the lodge

Dana ready for discovering all the butterflies and bugs around the lodge.

Mom and my wife hiding from the sun for a bit

Kiara the monkey

 

Dana, Lucas and Kiara ready for a trip on the river.

Lucas and Laura with our guide Jaime that is an old colleague of Laura from when she was a jungle guide

While looking for a lagoon we came across these kids that lived in the area and while their parents went to Coca for the day they had to take care of themselves in the house.

Yarina lodge

Lucas must have been half asleep as he didnt make any faces

But Kiara was ready for some pictures

My parents came over for Christmas and New Year so we decided to take them to the Amazon this time. Here Dana is falling asleep in grandfathers arms during the canoe trip from Coca to Yarina lodge.

Our guide explains a bit about life along the Napo river

Lucas and Kiara curiously looking for anything that moves as we take the last small river in to the lodging

 

Dancing day at Lucas school

Lucas school had a program and his class got to show their dance moves though the boys were mostly interested in playing games and have fun.

Visit to Mindo

Lucas having fun in the air on the way to Faviola's finca outside Mindo

And soon Kiara joined in on the fun

Lucas and Kiara taking a ride with a canoe in the lagoon at Faviola's finca

Faviola and her daughter Tamara getting some tips in the kitchen of my wife

Lucas is crazy about fishing at the lagoons where they grow trout for the restaurant

And every time Lucas pulls up 5-10 poor fishes that happily gets thrown into the water again

Kiara playing with Faviola's son Daniel