New Year 2006/2007

New years morning and Laura got breakfast in bed for a change. Lucas who was happy he could valk by himself was exploring everything again. For the day nothing was planed exept a lunch/dinner upstairs with the family and then se the fireworks while burning the doll.













Me and Lucas at Lauras moms Appartment.











At night me, Ligia, Becky with mom and kid sister and Jon with friend took a walk to Amazonas street where there as usual was full of people, food and drinks.









A bunch of teams is competing in building the best set of dolls. I dont know what the winners get but at 00:00 they will all burn.










Here is the new president smiling and the one that lost in the final voting crying.










Jon is following the tradition that boys dress out like widows on new years eve and beg for money from other boys and men. Jon must have been too ugly though because he only managed to get like 35 cents.









At 00:00 Ecuador is burning with dolls. Its a tradicion to burn this home made dolls that is suppose to represent all bad things in the past year and I think like 95% is the president of Ecuador, just like ours was.








Jon is making sure that the president burns untill nothing is left.











The Fernandez family. From left: Ines, Ligia, Becky, Laura, Jon

Lucas baptism

Saturday the 23rd of December Lucas got his baptism. Although he was happy most of the time talking and walking arround in the church he was the only kid of 6 that cryed while getting water on his head. Otherwise everything went fine and it was all over in les than 1 hour. Afterwords we went to Mirians appartment for dinner and some champagne.....
The pictures is a bit blurry because I didnt bring my camera so all the pictures comes from Lauras old pocket camera.










Lucas and the preast doing his thing. Havent been to a baptism before, not even my own, so I have no idea what everything meens.










The god parents Patricio and Zulema with Laura, me and Lucas as the baptism finnished.










Lucas with cousin Ligia.















The godfather Federico and Lauras mom America with Lucas after the baptism.















From left: Me, Mirian, Lucas godfather Federico (our dentist), Patricio, Laura and Lucas godmother Zulema (Lauras friend)










To the left a couple that lives in the building and to the right Lauras sister Ines with husband










Jon and Ligias "boyfriend maybe to be" are doing some salsa.















Jon, Fabio, Andrea and Ligia at the youth table.

Lucas first Christmas

For his first Christmas, his babtism and first bithday Lucas got a police car from Lauras friend. He dont understand it yet but that time will come. It was with electric motor, sirens, light and blinkers. He also got some other tous and clothing from Mom and Dad in Sweden.

First step

Finaly the 19th of December Lucas started to walk by himself. Here he goes for Laura and safety. He is still a bit chicken to do it and need a gentle push but then he wont stop untill he hit a wall, furniture or a person.








He could probably have done it before because on the 4th try he walked 10-15 meters following his cousin Jon.

Lucas walker

Back in our appartment in Quito we ran the first day to by a walker for Lucas and ever sense then....














....we wonder how we could have survived without one. Lucas is running arround and playing by himself and we can do something else for a minute or two.

Tripp to Sweden

September 23 to October 23 Laura, Lucas and me went to Sweden to see my family and friends. Here we are at Mom and Dad for the first time in their appartment in Strangnas.








Dad playing with Oliver and Lucas who tryed a walker for the first time. He seemed to love it and the freedom to go where he wanted.














Lucas getting ready for a photo taken by Dad.










Oliver and Lucas got along well but Oliver had a hard time to understand that Lucas was to small to toss around like the buddys at the daycare center.









We had a party at Walis place and here everybody still is in nice shape sitting down at the table.









Lucas is getting tired but as usual he doesnt want to sleep when thers people around to see. Here with Julia who might wish for a baby of her own from Santa Claus.














Lucas in Lauras knee having a blast, I wonder if the acohol fumes got to his head....









Laura and Lucas are playing around in the sofa. Its getting wery close to when he can walk by him self and we will have other problems on our minds.









Checking out the Internet modem at Walis appartment. I wonder if he will be an electrician when he grows up.














We went for a walk in Stockholm a warm and nice day, even Laura took of her jacket.















We stoped at a cafe for lunch and Lucas protected his bottle with his life.














Lucas was sleeping half of the time in town.















A walk around in Oslo, Norway. We went here to see if we could find any organication to work with. Laura was frezing as usual but Lucas didnt care to much for the cold.














On the way with the sub to the university so talk to some people about volunteer work in Ecuador.









Mom helps Lucas on one of his walkabout to inspect the appartment.










Laura is playing around with Lucas at mom and dads place while dad stands for security from behind.









Oliver and Lucas got along just fine but sometimes Oliver didnt understand that Lucas was smaler and couldnt play as rough as him.














Dad and Lucas resting, its been a day of playing and Lucas is a bit sick after the trip to Oslo, Norway.














Mom and Lucas saying godbye before we left for Stockholm and som last shoping before going home to Ecuador.

Walk over old Quito by night

Ligia and I took 2 German exchange students for a walk to se old Quito from above by night. We started by taking the trollybus to Plaza Grande where we had to chase a taxi for 20 min to take use up to the statue who gards from above.













A view just south of old Quito where the busterminal is located.















Ligia and the students with the center of old Quito in the background. Not to many taxis by this hour so we had to walk down for half a hour to a bigger road. At least its nice and quiet and i wouldnt mind bying a house here.








The central part of old Quito where the president palace, the cathedral and city hall etc is located. Its wery beatifull but in daytime thers to many busses and cars so the smog realy gets to you.

Trying dads cap

Trying out dadys hat that hes been chasing for 6 months. Dont know whats so funny about it but anything to please him and keep him calm and happy....what dont you do as a parent to have some peace and cuiet!!!!

A day tripp to the volcano Pichincha

Me, Laura and a friend of Laura, Ingolf from Germany, took a short trip over the mountains close to Quito to the foot ocf the vulcano Pichincha. Just on the other side of the mountain or 15 min with a buss i Quito.....hard to belive right??







Stright ahead is the vulcano Pichincha and around here people live on farming and on the few turists that wants to rent a horse. I can imagine how this place will look in another 10 or 15 years when the rich has taken over to build their weekend houses avay from the smog and polution in Quito.







In Ecuador thay have a law to prevent big landowners but sometimes people use the law in a bad way. 2 familys who probably found out that the farm on the picture above was abandond decided to take over the land by living thare for a certain time and then claim it thair own, everything in the name of the law. To bad for the kids who have to live like this in tents for a long time!!!!!! And imagine the owner coming back after 2 years or something to find out that he doesnt own the land any more!!!