We're leaving on a jet plane!

This is it folks! Our last week in Asuncion for a little while. We fly out on Friday afternoon and arrive in America Saturday morning, bright and early. We are super excited to go home and spend some time with family and friends but before we can do that, let's tell you about our week.

The biggest news of the week: OUR CAR IS FIXED!! We picked it up after work on Wednesday and we are so happy to have it back. Best part, working AC so now when we drive we aren't sweating within minutes. Yes, it's still very hot here.

However, the weather did change this weekend. We got our first rain storm in 5 weeks on Saturday and it only kind of cooled things down. It was still in the 80s but on Sunday it was slightly pleasant so that was nice.

We also got one of our last shipments from Amazon this week of American goods. You guys don't know how good you have it! Thick toilet paper, paper towels that actually soak up messes, Bisquick, decent box mac and cheese and other bad-for-you-but-oh-so-yummy snacks. We will be getting our fill of these things in a week to be sure but are happy nonetheless to have them in our home right now.

Tuesday was a holiday so we used the day off to drive our sponsor family around to see some of Asuncion. We ended up at a mall and let the kids run around the ball pit. Then we ate dinner at the food court. It was a decently successful outing. There sadly isn't a whole lot to do or see here but they are liking it so far.

She let Mom do more than a high ponytail!! She dislikes getting her hair done because she has to sit still.

Thursday evening we had our neighbors over to play some Harry Potter expansion and we lost. We knew the end was eminent after about 45 minutes of play but trudged through to the end. We'll try again but probably not until July. Then on Friday night we got out of the house for dinner at Walhburger for burgers, dogs and cheesy fries. So American!

The cheesy fries are called, "papas Joes". Because Joe is clearly American.

On Saturday Scott and Kiersten attended a trivia night, our first ever and it was a blast. It was put on by the Embassy so it was in English (thank goodness) but that doesn't mean it was easy. We were spilt into random teams and the two of us were separated. Kiersten's team had the wives of both the Ambassador and Chief Deputy of Mission along with another State Dept employee. Scott had the Ambassador on his team and he is a very smart man. Needless to say, Scott's team won by one point and Kiersten's team... didn't come in last! Next time, there needs to be more movie trivia!

This was the only picture we captured of the night. Scott sitting with his team.

Sunday afternoon we hosted a Welcome to Asuncion asado for the family we sponsored and lots of people came. We decided to hold it at the Embassy since there was more space for all the kids to run around. Mackenzie was wired from not napping earlier in the day so was incredibly cranky. We survived it all and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. This family has been here one full week now and we feel a little guilty we are leaving so soon for so long but take comfort that we have such a strong Embassy community. We all help each other out. They also live in between two other Embassy families so we know they are in good hands.

Cool enough to hang outside for a spell.

Misadventures in Baking:

• Since we are leaving soon we haven't been doing much cooking. It's more cleaning out the fridge.

The Mackenzie Update:

• Remember last week when we said she doesn't need the pacifier? Well she doesn't but she's had it for so long that when we put her down she still makes the sucking motion to tell us she wants it. It's a little sad to disappoint her but it's gone! Oh and either because of not having the pacifier or another issue entirely, she has almost cried herself to sleep for the last 5 nights.... Toddlers.
• She has a large stuffed giraffe which is really a decoration for her room but she loves to "put it to bed". And she won't use a blanket. No. She uses small hand towels. The thing is the same size as her! Weirdy.

  

  She does use a lot of them though to cover Matilda (yes we named the giraffe).

• The word "hands" is also how she says "here" so you've got to pay attention. She says "dirty hans" when her hands are dirty but then she'll also say, "Mama hans" and point to a chair or the floor or pat the space next to here indicating she wants you to sit here. We've tried to get her to say "mano" and "aqui" respectively because in Spanish they are very different.

  

  Playing with Daddy while waiting for our dinner. She was vigorously rubbing her face on his beard.

• Hitting... it's still a problem. It's tough to be almost articulate but still not quite communicating.

That about wraps it up this week. It's funny, right before a big trip you suddenly have a ton of things to accomplish and people who want to meet with you. We will be very busy this week leading up to our departure and we hope we remember all the little things we want to bring home with us. Next week we'll be coming to you from VIRGINIA!! Until then!