New Passports

Raúl picked us up this morning at our apartment at 9:00.  We went to the passport office (located in a parking garage) handing them our new birth certificates and our passports in order to get expedited to the appropriate office.  We then went to an office that checked our paperwork and verified the children's birthdays and names, while a woman entered them in a computer.  Next, we went to the office next door for the photographs.  Then we waited.  And waited.  Within the estimated hour, we were called to pick up their ready passports.  Considering in the States you have to wait six weeks, it wasn't bad at all.  Then, Raúl drove us to the SNA office for us to sign a couple post-placement adoption forms.  Then, Dave and Raúl, Xavier, and Lizet walked to have photo copies made for Raúl.  Next, Raúl dropped off the received papers from the adoption office to have them translated.  Finally, he dropped us off at the Anglican church where Susan and John Park reside, as they had invited us over for lunch.  Their house is situated within the confines of the church.  A man opened the gated door and led us to their front door, ringing the bell.  John welcomed us, donned in his Anglican attire, collar and cross.  John is a very warm man, a gentleman, and a friend.  We chatted as the children played Legos; Angela perused a coffee table book.  We had a lunch of pizza from the neighborhood Pizza Hut and Susan made cherry Kool-Aid for the kids.  I tried iced tea (green) that was quite tasty.  After having pizza, Susan presented the children with cookies.  After much visiting, Susan gave us a tour of the church.  Good Shepherd is beautiful.  I wasn’t surprised since I first admired the church windows through their living room windows.  They seem only three feet away from the living room.  Susan told us the history of the church while I admired the stained glass.  After departing, the five of us headed to a local grocery store called Wong's.  The market is filled with employees dressed in Asian attire which were bright red shirts and pants outfits with squared-off red hats.  Their uniforms reminded me of the chefs at P.F. Chang's.  We collected several items for the week.  Dave surprised me with a can of Dr Pepper that is only sold at Wong's.  After returning to the condo, Angela, Lizet, and I chilled out watching cartoons while Dave and Xavier walked to the beach.  Xavier was so excited to bring back a handful of rocks to show me.  It was cold and there weren't many people there, according to Dave.  For dinner, we had Dave's homemade meatballs and bucatini pasta with sauce. We are now watching our favorite program: Al Fondo hay Sitio.  Buenos noches.