Another One Survived

On the train down to krakow we sat next to two Israeli men also visiting Poland for the first time. One of them also had an amazing story of his mother making it through the war. It started with her jumping out the window of a moving train on her transfer to a camp. Then she took on a "Christian" name and persona. When things got really hot, a German officer advised her to get her papers, which she couldn't because she was Jewish. So, she marched down to the district hall and confidently barked at the young clerk boy about how slow and disorganized their system is, because of course she submitted her papers weeks ago and still not hadn't received her identification card. So, she demanded that she get her card. Then on the spot she got her ID card, under a false name, stamped with the Nazi seal of approval. And that is how she survived the war. What chutzpah!

- The Latimer's

The Train Down

Most pictures are courtesy of Hahnna









































- The Latimer's

Warsaw

It was quite cold, so hot chocolate hit the spot.












Noah threw up a couple of times, not totally sure why. He never acted sick and was all smiles.



The apartment, perfect for us.





What's left of the Ghetto.



The synagogue.

- The Latimer Tribe

Retracing My Polish Roots

Seventeen years to the day, March 30th 2013, after recording his journey of fleeing from the Nazi's, we set off on our own journey to discover the places that shaped Philip and Ann Raby and brought us to where we are today.









Nothing quite like 9.5 hours of movie watching for Zion. He was loving it. This is exactly why we don't have a TV.


The night goes quickly when you are flying into it.


14 hours after take off and he is still going strong. No nap needed for this guy.


Arrived to a swirling snow flurry. The boys loved it and hitting me repeatedly with whatever they could hold.


Then we all zonked out. Sleep finally caught up to Zion in the middle of eating a bite of food.

Welcome to Poland!!!

- The Latimers

Goodbye Hawaii (for now)

Our last couple days in the Hawaiian paradise were ethereal. We went to Hanama bay, and found ourselves a nice little cove under the cliffs edge to set up our family. The boys played with the crashing waves, tempting them to try to catch them or they sat with their feet in a natural hot tub build for their feet alone. Naphtali made eyes at the lady next to us. Eliza and I swam with the fish. It was like being in a fish tank. Life was swarming around us. It seemed so tame until I swam next to a Morray Eel, which reminded me we this was still the wild.



Then to finish off our time we were fortunate enough to join our friend Kawika to surf at one of the most amazingly peaceful beaches. I was giddy like a school girl (Isn't that how the saying goes). Eliza and I both tried. I got up a few of times, I want to do this everyday. I wish the water in Washington was this warm. We have very few pictures of this day, which is evident of how relaxing and fun it was.

There is a First For Everything

This trip is now coming to an end...but it wasn't with out many new "Firsts" for our family.

Liam's first trip out or the state.
(Hawaii actually feels like a different country)

Got his first six teeth

First tan
(a little birth mark on his hand we didn't know was there)

Tasted his first food, pita bread

Noah's first time touching the ocean and sand

Zion's first time dunking his head many times under the water

Building sand castles




Eliza's first time to Hawaii.

First time trying surfing

Natanels first time trying mangosteen

Trying surfing andboogie boarding

liam's life lately: the good and bad

In December 2012 I took the boys to the pediatrician for a round of vaccines since our insurance was soon to be obsolete when Natanel would move on from SRI. Liam hadn't been to a doctor since his follow ups at Children's hospital around 3 months of age. At 15 months old, he weighed 19 pounds. This was less than the 1%. What really concerned us, too is that in Hawaii we weighed him in the condo and (though rough and not super accurate) he weighed 19 pounds then, too. So, we got his frenulum clipped by the expert, Dr. Maryanne O'Hara. She said it was a severe tongue tie and very tight and posterior. Nothing seemed to improve or change though and 2 weeks ago I took him back for a second clipping. :(
Around New Years, Liam took his first steps. Then when he rounded the bend of 16 months of age, he really took off walking. We are all happy about it.
Just this week he started answering my questions with shaking his head if the answer is no.
He also started hitting me when upset.
When I use the dust buster, he says a loud "ah"sound just like the vacuum.
He loves wielding a sword or light saber in the nightly duels.
He likes to eat by sucking, so we make lots of smoothies.
He points and puts his little fingers out like guns shooting, just to be like one of the guys.                
Yesterday the horrible event occurred...the one we had been hoping would never happen. Liam tumbled all the way down our sharp wooden stairs down to the cement basement and landed splat on his face. That last part was the worst. It makes me shudder just thinking about it. He chipped a bottom tooth and got a big, bruised egg on his forehead. The look on Natanel's face and the sound of his voice as he called out my name (I was downstairs) was equally as horrifying, honestly. I have never seen him like that. And then... today he got hurt again. He spilt burning tea on his right forearm. Poor little guy.
He has lots of teeth. His molars are all in and his 15 and 16th tooth just broke thru.
This is one little boy that sure does keep us praying!