Mages' Take on the DR, Round 2!

The whole crew in front of Santa Ana!

So, I have to say these past two weeks have been some of the best since I’ve been in the DR. Saying I had a BLAST with my family here doesn’t even begin to describe just how much fun we all had. Every minute of it was perfect! Here’s our trip in a nutshell…I’m going to throw in LOTS of photos!

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Suzanne, Michelle, and best friend Becca got here the afternoon of Tuesday, the 8^th! We picked them up at the airport and brought them straight back to the orphanage to immediately start hanging out with the kids. Becca has a godchild, Jacqueline, here and my family sponsors, Wilson, so we hung out with those two kids and just got reacquainted with each other that first night! Then while we were making supper in the Visitor House later on, we had an unexpected guest. Nothing says ‘Welcome to the DR’ like a huge rat running around your kitchen…

Wilson made a 'Welcome Sign'!

Becca with goddaughter, Jacqueline!

Suzanne and I with our godson, Wilson!

The unexpected visitor...on top of a cabinet...he was quite the acrobat...

Slightly freaked out as we decide how to kill said rat...

He's a goner...

Day 2 was pretty chill since the kids were in school. The highlight of the day was going to the San Pedro Estrellas baseball game that night. Baseball here is THE sport…nothing beats its popularity. It was fun to be at the game sitting in the dollar section and being a part of something so Dominican.

Chilling on the roof...

Gearing up for the game...

Yummy sandwiches!

PLAY BALLLLLLL!!!

Since the kids had school, we decided to take two days away from the home and hit up the beach! So on Thursday morning, we took off to Juan Dolio. We checked into our hotel, spent the day soaking up the sun at the pool, and bought some wine, cheese, and bread for a supper on the beach! The next day was spent in similar fashion at the beach and pool…rough life here in the Caribbean! We even got a little sunburned…(not too much though, mom!)

Coffee at the poolside bar!

SISTAS!

We promise that there are swimsuits underneath...

Sunset walk along the beach...

Michelle: 'Quick, take a picture while Suzanne's not looking!'
Suzanne (in the background): 'Hey look, guys! A crab in the sand!'

All four of us!

Paradise at the playa!

Saturday morning we all headed back to NPH to spend the weekend with the kids. There was a big event going on here in the multiusos on Saturday morning, so we joined in on that. We spent a lot of time hanging out in the park and Michelle even played some basketball with the kids. Sunday morning there was mass at 9:00am and we celebrated the January birthdays in my house since it happened to Cristela’s birthday. We also got in a game of Bingo with my girls that afternoon and then went into town that evening to Paco Taco (one of the only two restaurants in San Pedro!) Later on, we even got in some dancing!

Moto rides back to the orphanage!

Wilson and Becca!

Becca and Suzanne with some of the kids!

Little Saul...he's our youngest here!

Suzanne and Becca with Josi and Anita!

Goddaughter/godmother!

Suzanne and bestie, Valentina!

My girls took them all on a tour of the farm area and to see the pigs!

Dancing!

Feliz Cumple! Tia Elena, Cristela, and Katerin all had birthdays this month!

Cristela was so excited to celebrate her birthday with all of us!

When Cristela turned 12 in 2012 and now 13 in 2013!

BINGO! Interestingly enough, the girls didn't know how to play, so it was certainly a learning experience, but they all really loved it!

Michelle and Carmencita!

Maria del Carmen!

Out for supper in San Pedro!

Besties!

We found the music!

Monday and Tuesday were pretty chill days again spent at NPH with the kids in school. This time around, I put the girls to work and had them helping out in the office translating letters from the kids to their godparents to English as well as helping organize some donations and take photos. At 4:00pm on Tuesday, we took Wilson and Jacqueline into San Pedro. We checked out the cathedral and got some yummy pizza for supper. It was a blast!

Working away at my desk!

Suzanne and Becca translating letters!

Suzanne and Valentina again!

We did our Christmas again to show the girls! It was the merengue version of 'Last Christmas' and we all remembered it surprisingly well!

Here's the crew!

Michlle, Adonis, and Becca helping with some donations!

Visiting the cathedral in San Pedro!

Oh yeah, hard core!

The cathedral! Hands down, the prettiest thing in San Pedro!

Wednesday, the 16^th, was an exciting day! Us girls got up early and headed to the capital and spent the morning just wandering around Zona Colonial. We saw the oldest cathedral in the Caribbean, window-shopped, and had some delicious passion fruit smoothies. We then hopped over to the airport to get my mom and dad and best friend Abby! We rented a car, stopped in quickly at the home to drop off some bags, and headed over to our resort in Dominicus. We got there just in time for the ‘evening meal’ and the nighttime show!

Plaza Espana!

Plaza Espana Part 2!

Coffee at the DR's oldest cafe!

BON. Frozen yogurt. YUM.

Pretty street in front of the Caribbean's oldest cathedral!

All packed in the rental car and ready to go!

The 'extra' daughters were demoted to the back :)

All the ladies chilling before the show!

We spent all day Thursday at the resort…we started off the day at the beach and even got in on a water aerobics class and merengue lesson. That evening, we played some cards in true Mages fashion, ate supper at the Italian restaurant, and caught the evening show, which was a dance production of Aladdin!

Lunch with mom and Abby!

The grounds at the resort were gorgeous!

Dad reading on the beach with not one, but two pairs of glasses!

Water aerobics class in the ocean!

Besties reunited!

Mom and me!

Michelle wandering around!

Everything at the resort was so nice!

View from the poolside bed!

These beds were SO cool!

All the 'daughters' dressed up for supper!

Suzanne and Becca!

Playing 'Grandma's Game!'

For our last day in Dominicus, we did an excursion to Isla Saona, which is said to be the best place for snorkeling in the DR and not to mention, a paradise. We took off at 8:00am, boarded the boat, and were off. It took about an hour to reach the island where we stopped for a lobster lunch on the beach. In the afternoon, we went to two different snorkeling locations…it was awesome! That evening, we played some more cards, ate on the beach at the Mediterranean restaurant, and went to the Kumbayah show and got in some poolside dancing.

The crew with all our snorkeling gear!

The ladies on the boat!

Swimming around the ocean and checking out the starfish!

Mom and dad!

The girls on the beach!

One word: paradise!

Besties! (We kind of look like we're two different nationalities, huh?)

Photo shoot on the beach!

Riding through the waves!

Abby and Michelle all ready to go!

Dad with his lobster lunch!

Beautiful beach!

Besties chilling the sand!

Snorkeling round 2!

Drinks by the pool!

Me with my lovely parents!

Family photo! First in 13 months!

Candlelight supper on the beach!

On Saturday morning, we headed back to NPH again to spend the weekend with the kids. Saturday, the 19^th, was actually our huge 10^th anniversary celebration, so I was super glad that the family got to be a part of all the festivities. It all began with mass at 11:00am, followed by lunch in the park, a dance program, and activities outside. We were able to spend lots of time with Wilson, which was awesome!

Wilson and dad!

Twins! Mellizas!

Wilson, Jofran, and Becca!

Dancing for all!

Saul somehow fell asleep amidst the music!

Abby and Paola!

Our kids dancing!

Dad and I dancing merengue!

Abby and little Samuel!

Sleepy Saul and Reyna picking her nose in the background!

The whole crew in the park!

Family photo!

Parachute!

Sunday was our last full day at NPH, so it was a little bittersweet, but we certainly lived it up. The day started out with mass again and then lunch in the houses. After lunch, we gave my girls some gifts that Abby and mom had brought along. Abby’s aunt has a glass-making business and she sent a gorgeous glass heart necklace along for each of my girls…they LOVED them! On a practical note, my mom brought them each a bar of soap, deodorant, and some tissues. The girls got quite lucky! Then that afternoon, all of us took sixteen of the girls plus Wilson to the nearby batey. We walked over and went house to house visiting some of the NPH employees and ended in the park for awhile drinking some pop and playing some games. It was a lot of fun and quite an outing for the girls! On a funny note, Avriel and I are nearly always referred to as being twins around here (MELLIZAS!) Well, I always kind of figured that was a Dominican slip until my dad actually got Avriel mixed up for me this day…In his defense, we were dressed nearly the same (not planned, I promise), but still…!

Lucy and I!

Gift-giving to the girls!

Hanging out before mass!

All of the girls with Abby and their new necklaces!

Katerin looked awesome!

Anita and Abby!

Abby and Tia Elena!

Giving some candy to the oldest girls in San Esteban!

Katerin, Jacqueline, and Becca!

Erika, Suzanne, and Ofemia!

Santos, Becca, Wilson, Suzanne, and Katerin in the park!

Melkis looked awesome in Abby's glasses!

Would you mistake us as twins??

On Monday morning, there was once again mass (it was the Virgen of Altagracia Day, a nationwide holiday). After mass, we packed up the car and said some very teary goodbyes with the kids. It was especially hard on Wilson…I think he really enjoyed being part of a complete family for a few days. Overall, it was an amazing family vacation…it couldn’t have gone any better. We definitely made some awesome memories that will last a lifetime!