Nicaragua 2018!

The new year, as always, started off busy!  Lee took his annual trip to Nicaragua with VOSH Connecticut.  He went by himself this time and enjoyed it.  Though I think we both agree it would have been more fun having both of us there!

First off, before Nicaragua pictures, I bought some rock salt lamps for our nightstands.  They're great!  We don't use them much, but I still like them.


We've had our share of crazy weather this winter!  60 one day, 30 the next.  Snow skiffs here and there.  It's been a little weird.  But it's always nice having hot cocoa!


It was pretty cold for several days that part of the river froze.




One day school was canceled...lots of snow, right?  We were in Harrisonburg and went to a park.  Surprisingly (not really) no one was there but us.  Clark had a run down the hill with the sled.




Lee's sister Lynn sent us a fun Christmas gift, a Robertson blanket.  Elden's birth month isn't correct, but who will notice but us? 


Yes, we generally keep our Christmas decorations up a couple weeks into the new year.  And Elden missed Santa Claus I guess, and had to bring him back.


Clark and Cal did lots of cooking in January and February for the cooking merit badge.  We found an awesome merit badge counselor in Harrisonburg! 




Lee made it to Nicaragua!  He took a chance this year (saving a few hundred dollars) and flew down there with Spirit Airlines.  The downside is that the plane arrived at the airport at 1am or so.  He slept in the airport for a little while, got a cab and went straight to church.  While at church in one of the meetings the teacher was talking about sacrifice.  He looked over at Lee and said something about Lee sacrificing and being at church that day.  Lee didn't think much of being at church, because that is just what we do on Sundays.  He was there at church, suitcase and all.  God comes first!

Here is a Catholic church (I am guessing?) in San Juan Del Sur.


After church Lee helped set up the clinic at the school there.  Then they started seeing patients Monday morning, giving them free eye exams, and free glasses (if needed).


This is Lee's security guard/helper.


This looks like a new ice cream place in San Juan.  I don't remember seeing it last year.  I'm hoping it was good!


You can buy crazy big water bottles there.  They are huge!


Monday evening he took a run up to the Christ Statue.








Lots of people came everyday!


Back at the ranch, we had a rousing game of Monopoly that we left out for a few days.


And Haley made and left this sweet thank you note on our dresser.  Thank you Haley!  It was so thoughtful.  Disney World was tons of fun and I'm so glad she had a great time....and said thank you!




There was some Pokemon creating going on as well with an egg.  I think Cal did this.


Lee's mom and a few of her friends and volunteers made thousands of eye glass cases.  The VOSH people were so grateful!  She sewed most of them and did a wonderful job! 


Lee's dinner that night.  One fun thing about going to Nicaragua is eating out all the time.  Though I can't stand that diet all the time (we love eating at home too much!) it is fun for one week!


Breakfast at the Barrio Cafe.  Something he got every morning included in his stay.  The cafe has about 4 or 5 "hotel" rooms.  It's a cute place to stay.


And a random picture of us in the Virginia cold.  So thankful for warm houses!


Patient numbers for the first two days in San Juan.


Lee's optometry students that came.  Hyder, the one kneeling, was with Lee last year and this year.  Too bad he can't come a third year!  We really like him.








It's tradition for the doctors to treat their students to dinner one night.  It's a fun evening of talking and giving some advice.  The younger "security guards" that are local young men come as well.


Yum Lee.  I'm glad you enjoyed that because I wouldn't have, haha.










Finally done!






One night there is also a fancy dinner for the whole group at the Pelican...a nice resort hotel in San Juan. 


They spelled VOSH wrong, but did get Connecticut correct!








Lee had a free day Friday and went to island with the two volcanoes, Ometepe. He served the last three months of his mission on this island.




Lee thought it was funny seeing these two boys playing a game on the dirty floor.


Cars packed in tight on the boat!




Lee discovered a new place on the island, a natural water reserve.  It's very pretty and I want to go there!












Some infestation on a tree....maybe a termite hill?














Lee made it home safely!  And random, but sometimes Shanna likes to play "restaurant" on the weekend and will make Elden and Cal "Carolina Reaper" eggs.  She dumps TONS of pepper on them.

End of Year Parties

Our last full day in Florida was a Sunday.  After we went to church we hung out at the house.  I completely forgot that I had food for everyone for lunch, so we ate quite late.  Lena had a couple of fun games.  One was to open a box with oven mitts only.  But when the person next to you rolled a certain number on the dice then you had to pass the box and the mitts.
















Lee was the lucky guy that found the prize!  Some fun candy in the box.


Mike made some fun crossbows and Lee bought one.




Lena also brought Guesstures, which is really fun.




Now that I was 38 and 1 day, we celebrated my birthday with brownies and ice cream.  Lee put on trick candles so I had quite the time blowing them out.  I wonder what candles he'll get on his birthday...






I got some awesome chocolate from Cal!!!


Lee gave me a year subscription to the N-Style box by Nikki!!! 


We had lots of snacks and treats that night!




At one point near midnight Paul had fallen asleep with his phone in his hand.  We slipped it out and put a banana in there instead.  We busted up laughing.  Ahhh...sorry Paul.  But we couldn't resist!


Happy New Year!




At midnight of Monday January 1st, 2018, the kids rang in the new year by jumping into the pool.  It was pretty awesome!








Shanna wanted to jump in the pool as well, but was fast asleep.  She FINALLY woke up and wasn't happy that she missed the midnight jumping, but finally got in the pool.








A few hours later Monday morning I took my parents to the airport around 5am or so.  I slept a little bit, but not much.  I also did a little laundry before taking off.  Good thing too because when we arrived home some parts on the washer were frozen.  Monday morning was crazy.  I got my parents to the airport just fine, but then the scooter company never came and picked up the scooters my parents rented.  So Lee finally brought them to their store.  We didn't know about a charger that was left at the house and Lee had to turn around to pick that up before going to the store.  We left at 10:02, with a guy from the rental company waiting out front for us.  Our goodbyes to the Bunkers were very quick and we were out of there.  It was crazy cleaning up, telling the kids to eat whatever they wanted, even ice cream, throwing a bunch of food away, and packing.  I even forgot our shampoo and conditioner there.  Boo!  My wallet was misplaced but thankfully it was in our suburban.  Plus Clark and Cal were gone with Lee to the scooter store...I could have really used their help.  Our full deposit was refunded though....WHEW!  I got back all $600 ($300 per house-I put the deposit down on the two rental houses we used).

Thankfully we had an un-eventful drive home.  The kids wanted us to stop somewhere to buy dinner, but we had so much food that we just ate that.  On the way down we stopped in Raleigh for Anthon's Eagle Court of Honor. Lee met us there later after work, which meant we had a second vehicle there.  Thankfully my parents were flying into Raleigh and driving back via our house so my mom offered to drive the Mercury home.  It was such a blessing to go straight home!  We were both really tired too so we had to switch driving a lot.  Thanks Mom!

We had lots of fun mail to go through the next day.


Plus a huge mess.  The effects of travel!  Happy New Year everyone!