IASK - Trip to Haiti

Haiti

February 6-14, 2010  

Sampson went on a Humanitarian trip with an organization called IASK.  They flew into the Dominican Republic because the Port Au Prince airport is not accepting international flights yet.  They then took an 11 hour bus ride to the city of Leogane which is about 20 miles west of Port Au Prince.  This city is located close to the Epicenter of the earthquake.

 

The Destruction of Haiti

 

 

  

  

  

 

Haitian Tent Communities

  

  

  

  

IASK

International Aid Serving Kids

 As a student and EMT, Sampson went with a group of doctors, dentists, nurses, paramedics, and dental assistants to assist the people of Haiti.  They were able to care for over 1200 people from Monday to Thursday night.  Sampson was in charge of Triage (he assessed and prioritized the people based on the severity of their condition).   

  

  

  

  

  

  

Once there was a snowman...

Phoenix's First Snowman

I needed to get my Chick-fil-a fix which meant taking Phoenix to the mall (where Chick-fil-a is located) in a snow storm...yes I like to eat there.  We tried to hurry as to not keep Phoenix in the snow, but we quickly found out that she loves the snow and was laughing the whole time we were running through the parking lot.  She was trying to grab all the snowflakes.  So the next morning we decided to build Phoenix a snowman in the back yard (well I did the deciding and Sampson did the building :) We thought our snowman was pretty awesome until we saw the neighbor down the street build one twice as big.  Oh well Phoenix likes it and that's all that matters.  Phoenix was able to play in the snow for the first time and as soon as she got snow on her bare hand she decided that she didn't like the snow that much anymore. Too cold.  She does love her snowman though.  Every morning we open her blinds to wave at the now half melted snowman. 

 

 

 

  

10 Months

Christmas and New Year's

We spent Christmas in Texas and New Year's in Tennessee.  Phoenix loved going to Brooke's birthday party and watching her tear apart her cake.  She especially loved trying to steal the Dora bike she gave Brooke for her birthday.  Opening presents on Christmas was definitely more about the wrapping paper and the boxes for Phoenix, but she definitely enjoyed watching grandma ride her sweet new dirt bike.  Her favorite thing to do at grandma and grandpa's is to push her shopping cart and play in the playhouse!  In Tennessee, BB and Jefe had planned an amazing trip to an indoor water park.  Phoenix was not scared of the baby pool.  Phoenix went down the slide with Emma, played in the swings, and watched daddy surf on the standing wave.  Phoenix loved to crawl straight into the baby pool with her mouth wide open.  She would go so deep that she would start to choke on the water, but would not stop unless I picked her up.  The kid knows no fear.  Phoenix loved seeing Jonathan and William and watching them walk all over.  We had a great Christmas and we loved being with all of our family, but we some how didn't take very many pictures so I decided to take my own pictures in some of the clothes Phoenix got for Christmas.

 

 

 

 

The Day of Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving in Tennessee

Phoenix had her first Thanksgiving down in Tennessee.  She loved hanging out at the farm, riding dirt bikes, riding with Jefe, playing with Killer, and seeing Nannie and PaPa.  Phoenix had never been around any animals and she loved watching Killer.  Phoenix also loved all the attention from "Auntie" Emma and watching William and Jonathan on their bikes as they took each corner on two wheels.  There was a never ending supply of new toys from Jefe's auction that kept all the kids completely occupied.  We always love going to Tennessee and hanging out at Bebe's house. It is always so much fun!  And thanks to Dan we have some amazing pictures to remember the trip by.