Oh, and It's Nathan's Birthday

Let me just tell you all, we came to Belize during the rainy season. Which means, we came during the hottest and muggiest time of the year. Here in the sub-tropics, the humidity builds and builds until the air and land can't take it any longer. When you are sure you are going to melt into a pile of sweat-soaked clothing, the thunder crashes, the clouds rush in and it pours.

Now, I am from Washington you guys, and we know rain. We know the difference between showers, sprinkles, light rain, pouring rain, misty rain, hail, etc. But there is no rain like Belizean rain. One moment the sun is baking you and the air is so thick you are sure you can part it with your hands. The next moment, the rain falls. It pelts down on the metal roofs and pours over the gutters (ok, that's not true, they don't even bother with gutters here). The buildings are surrounded by pools of water and the ditches on the sides of the roads are flowing over. Then, 10 minutes or so, the clouds leave and the sun is back out. In another hour, everything is dry, leaving the break in humidity as the only clue that the rain had come.

We picked this very hot day to take Corban to Lamanai. Lamanai is a Mayan ruin that is very nearby-- only about an hour drive. Which, on these bumpy, limestone roads, translates to about 25 miles. We did a very quick tour. We trampled through the jungle, Corban pointed out all of the ants that crossed our path, we showed him his first howler monkey. Oddly, he was too busy marveling at the ants to care to look up and see those curious little black monkeys looking down at us. We climbed the 3 largest temples and took some great pictures.

For dinner, we went to visit a family who were very dear friends to us during our time here-- Dave and Daphne. They had just purchased 2 new cows at an auction earlier that day. Corban saw his first cow yesterday and called them "Doggies." Today, when he saw them up close, Dave and Nathan finally taught him to say "Cow." Although, he has to put his own spin on it and calls it a "Pow." But he is very confident now and by the end of the evening, every time he heard one mooing he would point outside and say, "Powww!"

He also saw his first chicken. I was inside helping with dinner, so I didn't witness the hilarity, but Nathan captured a few pictures. There stood the chicken, looking up at Corban and there stood Corban, still as a statue-- pointer finger outstretched with a huge grin on his face. In the photos he was wearing an expression as if to say, "Seriously, you guys? Are you seeing this? This has got to be the ugliest cat I have ever seen!" It was a great night with a wonderful family. It is so nice to get connected again.

Tomorrow the village is holding a potluck for us at the local park. The invitation went out saying, "Anyone who knows the Lemanskis or would like to know them is invited." I can't wait to see everyone!

Photo evidence of my difficulty acclimating to this humid weather. But wow, does Corban take a great picture!

The Fam in the Jungle.

Nearly to the top of the Temple of the Jaguar

About halfway up the High Temple-- This one is H U G E people!