Well we made it home safe and sound on Tuesday night to Bogota. Our flight was smooth and on time, and the kids did well. Unfortunately Cecilia forgot to make arrangements to pick us up at the airport as we had talked about the day before, so we had to sit outside with the skycap for an hour until they got there. Not fun with two sleepy kids, a bunch of luggage, and chilly weather. Anyhow we were safe and just inconvenienced.
Yesterday we just hung out at the hotel and did laundry, and took lots of naps to get back on schedule. It was rainy and gloomy (something new) in Bogota, so a good day to stick around.
Today Andy and I had a guys day. After breakfast we went to the Santa Fe Mall, which is just a few years old and about a 15 minute drive from here. They have this awesome place called Divercity. (www.divercity.com.co) In there is approximately 45 different occupations and workplaces that kids can go to "work" in and earn some Divercity cash to buy a prize at the end.
When we got there, there was about 4 school groups lined up and about 400 kids in their matching uniforms. Pretty cool looking. Anyhow I thought that this is going to be fun, a giant American, and his little blond boy in this mass of kids under 10, and I was right! The first hour Andy was scared and didn't get out of my arms, and just about every kid pointed or asked me in Spanish "how tall are you?". Anyhow the kids were so cute, gentle, and pretty well behaved that I was impressed.
We had an English speaking guide take us around to all of the worksites and explain what they were, and he even volunteered to take Andy with him, as adults aren't allowed in. Andy refused and we let him go back to his other duties. Anyhow we sat in the middle and watched all of the fun being had by all the others and Andy finally made up his mind that he wanted to try the Chocolate Factory. Great! We were off. I knew if he tried one that he would like it, and sure enough, he had a good time. Most of his group at the first stop were in 6th grade and could speak a little English and took Andy under their wing. He had a good time and wanted to do the next one which was the Alpina milk factory. Another hit. His third stop was the Pasta factory. I think he was hungry, as all three of these gave out a sample of the food. So Andy got a little chocolate bar, yogurt, and a small plate of mac-n-cheese.
Each area is sponsored by a company, and of course it is great marketing to the kids and their parents waiting outside. There was a Coke bottling factory, Cheetos bus, Banc of Colombia Bank, local TV station sponsored the TV station, vet clinic, hair clinic, etc.... It is in two stories, and about the size of a small department store. Very large and could easily handle 500+ kids at a time.
Andy's last stop and his favorite was being a Pilot on an Avianca jet. They had a small jet cut in half and built into the wall. Unfortunately I wasn't able to see inside to take a picture, but Andy got to dress in a captain suit, and they have a flight similator computer for the kids to take a practice flight. We bought the picture that they took as a souveneir, and Andy looks so handsome in his suit and hat. Jodie is hoping that he becomes a pilot in the future so we can fly for a discount in retirement! Good thinking.
Here are some pictures from the last couple of days. Enjoy
A new family at Las Palmas from Belgium. Pedro was adopted last week and he is 7. His older sister is 10 and also adopted from Colombia. It is amazing how they have bonded already! Here they invited Andy to join in on their painting.
Dana started rolling over. When we first got her, her foster mother said that she had rolled over several times. We haven't seen it until today. Anyhow we are off to the races now and have to keep her well away from the edge of the bed during tummy time.
Andy enjoying a spin on the Cheeto's bus. He rode this twice around Divercity.
Andy waiting in line for the Cheetos bus. You can see some of the uniforms for the different schools. The kids were adorable.
Andy at the Pasta factory, learing about cooking Mac-n-Cheese, like he couldn't make that in his sleep.
Andy listening intently.
In the cholcolate factory with a chocolate machine (ficticious). There were a lot of levers, pulleys, handles to turn, etc. All this work for a chocolate bar and $3,000 Pesos at the end! Yahoo!!
Sorry about the glare. This is taken through glass walls. Andy is putting on his lab jacket.
Tuesday 6-17. Hanging out at the pool with his friend Sara.
Bathing beauties!
Andy is laying down the ground rules with Sara. ;)
Catching a little shade to cool off. It was a very hot last day. 
Playing catch. They counted together, and it was pretty cute.
Andy and his posse. Sara is 2nd from Left. 1st is her cousin 12, and then Sara 8, and then her middle sister 14, and then her older sister 16. They just loved Andy and his blond hair. Andy was sitting on the edge of the kiddy pool, and they were all circled around him asking him questions in their basic English. Andy loved every second of it. 
Our last night on Monday. We went to Piso 12 at the top of one of the buildings. It was pretty hot up there, and Andy was winding down for the day. Dana was still wide awake.
Last night photo. The sunset was pretty gorgeous, but it doesn't really show too well in the picture. We asked a nice family to take our picture, and it turns out that their daughter was with them and lives in Miami. Small world.
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