All of us are doing well. The weather is great. We are getting ready for a big fireworks display tonight. We have been told that the New Years Eve fireworks display is larger and louder than the Christmas Eve display. Dad can't wait! There have been no more earthquake tremors.
We just experienced a minor earthquake a few minutes ago. The entire building shook for a few seconds. No damage and everyone is fine. This was our first experience with an earthquake. We are not sure about how many times Nora has experienced it.
WOW, what a Christmas morning. Last night, Pam and I played with Nora on the floor with her toys to the sounds of Christmas music played over the internet on our lap top. I then read the Christmas story from the bible and then we watched some fireworks being shot off by the public. At 9:00 p.m., we fed Nora and then all of us went to bed. At 12:10 a.m., I was awaken abruptly from a sound sleep by a sound that I can only describe as the opening seen from the movie Saving Private Ryan. The sound was that loud and intense. I ran to the window to witness the largest fireworks display I have ever seen. We are on the 11th floor of the hotel and the entire 180 degree view was the large major fireworks going off across the entire city sky line with smaller fireworks going off amongst them. The fireworks intensity lasted for 15 minutes and finally subsided enough for Pam and I to go back to sleep around 12:50 a.m.. The smoke from the fireworks was a like a large fog bank engulfing the city. It was unbelievable. I'll never forget this moment. Nora slept through the whole thing. I like how Guatemala celebrates Jesus birthday. I am starting this tradition in Texas. Here are some videos from this morning:
Another gorgeous day in Guatemala and another great day with Nora. Shooting fireworks is a traditional activity during Christmas down here. They were shooting fireworks until 5:00 a.m. this morning. Nora is talking more but we still can't figure her out.
It was another gorgeous day in Guatemala. Temperatures were in the mid 70's. The sunset was beautiful. It made all the volcano's in the west visible but Dad left his camera in the case. Nora has been getting free gifts from the clerks in the hotel gift shop. We have been in there twice and she has received a hand made maraca each time so now we are starting a collection. Everything is decorated for Christmas just like in the US. They are even playing US Christmas songs in the hotel. Everyone is doing well and having a great time. Dad has not broken anything in the hotel today so he is doing good. Tonight the hotel brought Christmas cookies to each room.
Nora did very well today but Dad didn't. First thing this morning, Dad breaks the drain stopper in the bath tub requiring two maintenance men to fix it. This afternoon, Dad flushed the toilet and did not wait around to see it stop running and then everyone took a nap. We were awaken by the hotel staff pounding on the door because the toilet had overflowed into part of our room, out the hallway, and down into several floors below. They did not throw us out of the hotel and moved us into another room. Who knows what will happen when we check out!
Things are going much better than we expected. Nora fussed a little for a couple of minutes then started playing with us and her toys. She is eating well and laughing a lot. She can support herself with her legs and can sit with little assistance. She also has learned to shake her head no. She has no teeth yet.