Almost feels like home!

Hi guys! On Sunday we moved to a farm outside of Patate. Have you ever walked into a house and it just feels like home? That's how it felt to walk into Luis and Charito Timpe's house. They live on a beautiful farm where they grow avocados, beans, and varieties of citrus. We harvested green and yellow beans yesterday for dinner, and the kids are excited about the citrus harvest tomorrow morning and then selling the produce at the market on Thursday.

The Timpe family has been in this valley for generations. They are like those dream grandparents who just want everyone to be happy and well fed. And they have a treehouse, dogs, horses, a MINI HORSE, pigs, and endless fresh fruit, so the kids are over the moon. I just wish the kids weren't sooo comfortable here. They are lacking that wonderful shyness that keeps kids moderately well behaved in someone else's home.

Yesterday, Luis (the abuelo) closed off a section of his huge yard and let the kids gallop around on a horse named Frijolito. I haven't seen Baker that calm and focused in a long time, which was really refreshing. I even took a spin!

In the afternoon, we hiked out to Cascada de Mundug. It is this amazing waterfall at the end of a super muddy, nondescript trail. I absolutely would have turned around early if we didn't have Luis promising something awesome at the end. He was right. It was awesome.

Today we went to Baños, which has become the adventure capital of Ecuador. Our first stop was a zip line over a valley and river. Ginny was PUMPED to do it, so we went for it. When in Baños, I guess. The little kids had fun too, going on the "longest slide in South America" (it wasn't that long), and stepping out on a glass-bottom observation deck.

I sure look happy and carefree, but I miss home much more than I wish I did. I had hoped I would just fearlessly embrace this experience from the first day, but man, it's hard. I see danger everywhere, and I miss all the things that make me feel safe and comfortable at home. I'm working on it every day, but if someone could just send me my treadmill and a bodyguard for the kids I'd super appreciate it.

All my love,

Madeline