Tanner Journal: April 2023

Lots going on this month! We can't believe we have been here 8 months on the 25th. We are still learning and struggling with the language, but getting more comfortable here. To start off, April Fools day was a fun one with lots of pranks around our house.

Half full of water... how did they do that?

We also enjoyed watching General conference. Several brought their mattresses out to be more comfy.

Doggie snuggles!

John and Savannah had fun trying on our clothes

We love Willow

And Emmett too!

We love to paint our bread and eat it too...

Foam spray from Carnaval

John lost his other tooth!! Both of the adult teeth were growing in so good thing these are out!

Every morning on our way to school, John loves to pet all the dogs along the way. This is Loki.

We don't know her name, so have named her Princesa

John's school

I've been doing a lot of yoga, and when I'm lucky, I have some fun companions join me.

Dying easter eggs. None of them really started white, but we still had fun coloring them.

Good Friday is a national holiday here and most of the city shuts down. Mark and I went on a date that night and joined a procession. It was a new thing for us, but we enjoying participating.

People dressed up for the Easter holiday

We went to dinner in the centro up on the top floor with an amazing view.

Yay for Sarah! I'm on a roll!!

American Easter with the bunny and baskets is not a thing here so we did our best to improvise. One basket for all the kids.

Our fist annual Sedar meal. I had done one in Jerusalem as a college student and wanted to share this with my family. We made a few changes, but still learned a lot about the passover and also related it to the New Testament and the last supper The Savior had with his Apostles.

Abigail also made some delicious Challah bread!

Fun date with Dad

These cute boys love their climbing class and playing after.

Everyone at school loves John!

A big celebration at the school to commemorate the foundation of Cuenca

Savannah got chosen in her class to tell something she likes about Cuenca. She said she likes the rain. She was so brave to do this in front of the whole school.

Ice cream date!

I took the older girls to my favorite Spa and Baños. We did the underground section with several different mud baths, hot and cold bath, exfoliated our skin with salt and coffee and then some nice relaxing in the pool.

Snacks at the end!

Our mummy John

He's alive!!

Christine made a poster for a contest at the bank. It was about the importance of learning about money.

John got to meet Spiderman!!

Primary activity at the petting zoo. We all had a great time!

I think I see 2 monkeys in this picture.

We went to an orphanage to play with the kids and play some music for them too.

I think Adriana needs to grow a bigger lap.

Adriana's date with Mark was very arty. She picked out a great one!

John made his own 'mask'

My scar is looking pretty good

Elena's date with Mark. A new bookstore that has a whole section for Harry Potter

I finally found a tape dispenser!!! This was a happy day!

Mark and I took a quick trip to Quito to attend the temple.

Delicious lunch after at a Mexican restaurant

Christine's dance class. Our neighbor is the owner. She has really enjoyed being back into dance.

More rock climbing for this boy! He has made great progress and loves going all the way to the top (3 stories)

Now that the puppies are more trained, the kids like to take turns sleeping with them.

Baños with the cousins!

Mark and I went ziplining in the Cuenca mountains and it was awesome!! Great view!

More of the puppies as they grow.

Progress on the tree work in the backyard. Lots of wood and they still aren't done.

Emmett 6 months old

Willow 6 months old

Chocolate guinea pig anyone?

I spotted this huge moth after church!

We all picked a secret person for Easter to do nice things for. Elena had me and printed all these pictures and put them by our bed. We love looking at them.