SENTENCIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At long last, we have Sentencia! We went to the court this morning, as Cecilia had called me early this morning to say that the judge had signed off on our documents. When we arrived at the court, I reviewed the paperwork, signed, and then the attorney signed. There was a final signature required from the Defender of Minors, so our attorney went to find the person who needed to sign. She came back stating that he was in a training session this morning, but that she would hang around the court, to catch him after his training. Since this signature is required to process the final document, we were not able to do anything more today. We travelled to the Notary, but the notary was not in, so we are planning to go there on Tuesday morning. The Notary, will prepare the birth certificates for each of the boys, with our last name, and will list Eric and Joyce as the parents. The birth certificates will read, Diego Alexander Christy Rindfleisch, and Jeferson Gustavo Christy Rindfleisch- Colombians always have 2 last names. Once in the US, the Rindfleisch name will be dropped from their last names.

About 20 minutes after returning to the hotel, I received a call from Cecilia, to say that the Defender of Minors signed the document, so Sentencia is complete!!! Cecilia also stopped by the hotel later in the afternoon, to drop off the copies of the documents. So, since Monday is a holiday here in Bogota, we won't be able to complete anymore until Tuesday. We have to get the new Birth Certificates from the Notary, each of the boys will need a physical in order to immigrate to the US, they will need a Colombian Passport in order to travel, (they will get a US passport once back in the US) and they will also need a VISA form the US Embassy in order to enter into the US. So, Tuesday will be a busy day for us. If all gets completed on Tuesday, then we should be able to pick up the VISA on Wednesday, and return home on Thursday or Friday. (Wow that sounds so great to say).

Tia Jeanne arrived last night. When we got back to the hotel, Diego was still awake, so he got to meet her last night already. He was so happy to see her, and greeted her with a huge hug. He has seen many pictures of her prior to her arrival. Jeferson was sleeping last night, so he met her when he awoke this morning. He first looked at me, then at Jeanne, then at me. I think he was wondering why there was 2 of me, and was confused. I then told him that Tia Jeanne was here, and then he smiled at her, and ran up to her with a big hug. Both boys warmed up to her immediately. It, is a good thing, because since I had to go to the courts this morning, Jeanne was roped into watching the boys, her first morning here. Thanks Tia Jeanne!!

Happy Halloween!! Diego and Jeferson with Nana and Emma in her pumpkin costume.




The boys woke up at 7AM this morning, and took a shower, and then put on their costumes. They couldn't wait to wear them. When we went to Breakfast, the other boy who is also at the hotel, also had his costume on. He was a Ninja. They spent the entire day in their costumes. About 3:00 we headed over to the mall for Trick or Treating. It was fun, but crazy. The halls were wall to wall parents and children, all Trick or Treating. The phrase here is "Tricky Tricky Halloween! Quera dulces para me!" (I want candy for me). They also had some activities for children. Tia Jeanne was such a big help. The boys were so excited, and since we trick or treated in the stores, they were sometimes more interested in the items in the store, than the trick or treating itself. We were there for about 2 hours, ate dinner at Crepes and Waffles, and then because we couldn't catch an available cab, we walked back to the hotel. We must have worn Tia Jeanne out, because she was sleeping by 9PM along with the boys. Wow, what a busy day!!

Jeferson caught eating candy even before breakfast this morning.



No worry, here comes Spiderman!!!!





One of the jugglers at the mall.




Below, Taking a break from all the trick or treating by riding on the merry go round at the mall.

Tomorrow, if the weather is nice, we are going to visit the Botanical Gardens. We have heard that they are beautiful.

We thank everyone for all of the prayers and support you have given to our family.

We are looking forward to being at home soon!

Joyce, Eric, Jeferson and Diego