Colyer World

Emily is 4 years old today

Loads of pink Princess presents from Aunt Denise, Uncle Paul, Kyle & Alexis

Emily excited to open her very first BD present

OH MY! It’s flat & hard. What could it be? What could it be?

Anticipation …

SILVERLICIOUS!!

OH! PINK LEGOS!!

Max helps her open the next one! A PRINCESS PUZZLE!! COOL!! They put it together straight away.

Princess Aurora earrings, necklace & bracelet!

Next is a cool seek & find Princess book! Thanks Aunt Denise, Uncle Paul, Kyle & Alexis!!!

Next up is a beautiful pale pink & white striped smocked sundress from the Oma!!

GORGEOUS DRESS from United Colors of Benetton! Pictures forthcoming. THANKS OMA!

Daddy helps Emily open her gift from Grandpa Dale

It’s a beautiful doll with long blonde hair! THANKS GRANDPA DALE! And, for the pink & purple Princess tricycle & matching helmet that you got for her earlier this year.

We temporarily interrupt the “Chronicles of Ecuador” to report on TEAM ROBB!

Jeff, Madison & Matthew participated in a Half Marathon from Napa to Sonoma on Sunday, July 17, 2011 benefiting Crohn’s & Colitis Research

Meet Kathy, wife of Jeff, mama of Madison & Matthew and THEIR BIGGEST FAN/SUPPORTER!

Dad flew out from Pennsylvania for the event to support TEAM ROBB!

Signage was made!

Emily wishes Madison luck in the upcoming race! GO MADDY!

Max wishes Matthew luck in the upcoming race! GO MATT!

GO TEAM ROBB!

Waiting at the half way point in the race to give “our runners” support along the way.

This is Steve. He was hanging out along side the road with us waiting for the Robb Family to zoom past!

Max was having fun giving runners high fives as they passed by. He said, “Look at this mommy” and he stuck his hand out. Runners with huge smiles would give him HIGH FIVES as they ran by!

Emily getting excited to see her cousins come through the 1/2 way point!

Max says “GO MADDY”

Jeff arrives at the HALF WAY MARK looking strong, and slightly sweaty, with a smile on his face! Way to go, Jeff!!

Matt arrives at the HALF WAY MARK looking good!! He even picked Max up and ran with him for awhile. Max was thrilled! Matt was exhausted!

Madison arrives at the HALF WAY MARK grabbing water in one hand and Emily’s hand in another! Looking good! How do you look so beautiful after 7 miles of running?

Jeff arrives at the finish line at 2:10:08!! OH YEA! That’s my cuz! Okay, truth be told, this is not exactly how he looked as he crossed the line! The guy ran the entire way at a good steady clip! I thought he was going to pass out when I saw him.

Matt arrives at the finish line at 2:33:54!! YES!!

Emily gives Matt a squeeze & gazes at him lovingly! She is so proud of her cousin!

Madison coming in for a strong finish!

Madison arrives at the finish line at 3:14:47 with support from her brother, Matt, & a fellow Denver Team Challenge member!! OH YEA!!

Her mom, Kathy, gives her a BIG HUG!

Max gives her a kiss for an incredible job!!

Emily & Madison

Team Robb with two of their supporters: Mark (holding sign), Emily (being held by Madison)

Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis – IBD – impacts over one million Americans and millions world-wide, but many suffer in silence because the symptoms are not something that are typically discussed. Crohn’s has affected the lives of my cousins and we support them! Jeff, Madison and Matthew each raised $3600 for the benefit of Crohn’s & Colitis Research. GO TEAM ROBB! YOU ROCK!

View of Napo River from our room at La Casa del Suizo

Max enjoying the hammock on the back porch

Emily & David playing “dolphin” in the baby pool

Wallace being attacked by the kids!

Papa Dave & Max on the Jungle Excursion

Dorian, Charlie, Alex & Aunt Claudia

Although the Napo River had pirhanas, these were not pirhanas!

Max saying “hello” to a tortoise at an animal sanctuary

These were all injured & rescued animals of the jungle

Toucan

Aunt Claudia getting ready for white water rafting in the pirhana infested Napo River. According to the guide, the pirhanas are well fed so they don’t tend to bite people! Max went white water rafting in Wallace’s lap just to be safe!

Sean

We went to a Butterfly Garden in the nearby jungle town of Ahuano (about a 15 minute walk from the hotel)

We sat down for a minute before our guide came to take us into the butterfly garden & in seconds Miss Em was asleep on Papa Dave’s lap

Gorgeous butterflies!

The butterfly was attracted to the cardinal on Charlie’s shirt

Alex hot, tired & trying to remain still so a butterfly would land on him too

Norma in the hot baths at Termas de Papallacta

David in paradise

Norma & John enjoying some alone time with me & my camera

Mary, Emma & Sean (hiding)

Max & Emily’s front yard: thermal hot baths!

Max & Emily enjoying their private hot bath in their room before heading off to the Jungle

On the road again
Goin’ places that I’ve never been

First stop was a lovely lunch spot featuring hummingbirds

Alex, Emily & Charlie hanging out on the couch before lunch was served

Lunch menu. Surprisingly enough black pepper ice cream with basil sauce is pretty darn good!

Vicky (our tour guide), Normita & Fernando (our driver)

Wallace embracing his mama

Emily walking down a path to the hummingbird feeding stations

Charlie, Emily, Alex, Max & Nick watching the hummingbirds

We arrived at the bank of the Napo River in the evening to take our canoe ride to Casa del Suizo Hotel

Great Uncle Dorian (aka “GUD”) deeted up in an attempt to repel the mosquitos

David ready to go! He probably needed to deet up a little more than he did ’cause he was eaten alive by the mosquitos

Part of the group heading over in the canoe

Our luggage took an entire canoe!!

The beautiful La Casa del Suizo hotel as we arrived via canoe

We stayed here in the jungle at La Casa del Suizo for 3 nights

On the road again,
Goin’ places that I’ve never been

Seein’ things that I may never see again
And I can’t wait to get on the road again

Wallace, Emily, cute Ecuadorian boy and beautiful llama

Sarah, Max, Emily, cute Ecuadorian boy and beautiful llama

Emily loved this animal

We had a difficult time dragging her away

Baby Sheep

Emily doesn’t hesitate to introduce herself and she’s in that Christmas dress again today!

Then we headed to the Otavalo Market for some serious shopping. Clearly the kids are absolutely thrilled to be here! It was a quick stop ’cause it was raining and the kids were NOT having it!

Back on the bus to head to lunch to make our 3:00pm’ish lunch reservation at the Hacienda.

I bought Max & Emily a baby alpaca stuffed animal. I think I was more excited about them than they were. Oma bought Emily this adorable hand-knitted kitty hat & Max got an adorable green frog hat!

FINALLY! Lunch @ the Hosteria Hacienda Pinsaqui.

Now for the tough part. What to order for these finicky eaters?!?!

Dorian, David, Vicky (our lovely tour guide) & Fernando (our safe, steadfast & loyal driver) enjoying a peaceful lunch

Need I say that the atmosphere was a little different at the other table …

Mark & Claudia having a romantic, candle-lit lunch. Not really, Alex & Charlie are off harassing the Hacienda peacock.

Dorian & David heading back to the bus after lunch.

We are off to Cotacachi, also referred to as the leather capitol of Ecuador, to buy a new leather jacket for Wallace

Dad enjoying a little shopping before we headed to see the weavers in a small nearby town

Arrived late evening at our hotel, “Cabanas del Lago”, overlooking the magnificent San Pablo Lake.

The next day we jumped on the tour bus again and headed to Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World)

Check it out! 0 degrees-0′-0″

The Krasnoff Family straddling the equator

David, Norma, Wallace & Max straddling the equator

Mary & Sean straddling the equator

Wallace & Sarah straddling the equator

Emily thrilled to be holding a rhinoceros beetle

Max a little freaked out about it which is kind of funny because he is having a reptile/bug/beetle party for his 6th Birthday next month!

Happy Emily

She wasn’t phased at all

She even touched & petted the beetles.

David was the first to attempt the “beetle thing”.

Emily wanted to do this too, but her face was smaller than the beetle

John & Dorian — a quick stop at a scenic view after Mitad del Mundo

Max at the scenic view

Solar Museum

Here we are as a group on the equator at the Solar Museum

Mark successfully balances an egg on it’s small end on the equator. Yeah Mark!

Then we headed to Maria Elena’s house for what they refer to as “lunch” at 4pm’ish.

Max & Emily had fun on the teeter totter

Alex, Nick, Sean & Max all on the teeter totter!

And, there was a rope swing here too!

Emily loved it!

Max did too!

Charlie too!

Sean too!

They even had a white pet rabbit which was a big hit with Max & Emily

Emily fell in love with the bunny rabbit!!

We stayed in downtown Quito the first four nights,

at the Lugano Suites Hotel

The cousins were happy to see each other!

Emily was quite popular with Charlie & Alex.

We started our trip with a tour of Quito. Here is a beautiful cathedral. Wish I could remember it’s name.

The handsome gentlemen hanging out on the wall outside the cathedral (Dorian de Wind, Dale Colyer, John Williams & Dave Glick)

We even got to see the President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa! He made an appearance for us! LOL! He was elected in late 2006 and took office in January 2007.

That evening we went to Denise & her husband’s lovely home in Tumbaco for dinner.

This is their beautiful view from their back patio!

Claudia, Denise & Bernardo

Norma & David

Wallace & Marta

The kids had a great time on the rope swing! Ooops! That’s not a kid! That’s my DAD!!!

Truth be told, all of the adults took a turn or two on the rope swing: me, Mark, Claudia, & Evan! It was too dark and the evidence isn’t clear.

Charlie upside down on the rope swing!

Max on the rope swing!

Emily enjoyed using Papa Dave’s binoculars. Better get use to this red Christmas dress! You’ll be seeing it a lot!!!

We traveled through Ecuador for 16 days with 15 of our closest friends & family members to include a total of 19 travelers in our group. Here are the individuals in no particular order:

Cousin Nick

Cousin Alex

Cousin Charlie

Aunt Claudia

Uncle Mark

Brave Cousin David

Great Uncle Dorian (aka “GUD”)

Grandpa Dale

The Oma

John

Papa Dave

Friend Mary

Friend Evan

Friend Emma Jane

Friend Sean

Emily

Max

Wallace

And, here begins the tale …

Wallace decides to try out Emily on the Tandem Bicycle

She was so excited about it

Ready to roll

Happy Emily

Max, Wallace & Emily head off down the Los Gatos Trail. I assume that I will see them in about 5 minutes.

Some pics from our Great America outing on Sunday.

Max, Emily, Snoopy & another Peanuts character (can’t remember his name!)

Emily on the caroussel

Emily & Charlie Brown’s sister! What is her name? My mind is going …

Emily was thrilled to spend the afternoon at Great America.

She tried “Dipping Dots” for the first time and absolutely loved them!

Sweet, pensive Max.

Emily after the log ride!

Wallace & Max on a mini-roller coaster