Well friends.....how are you doing? I was looking at the calendar today and realized that February is almost over which means that we have been on Saba for 2 months already!!!!! Can you believe that? Time really is flying by.....only 18 to go......We have had a great week, although it was a bit rainy and windy all week (one of the nights I was fairly certain that we had an unannounced hurricaine!!) The good thing about rain is that it fills the cistern! This is good because then I feel like I can have a teeny bit longer in the shower, or I can flush a little more and not worry about water! The cistern really is a great idea and we are amazed at how little water we really need and how wasteful we once were (when you don't have to worry about running out, you don't pay any attention to how much you use!) I think of all the times that I saw lawns being watered back home and that seems like such an incredible waste now....the weather has actually been pretty good...I was a bit chilly in the wind but i was Saba chilly, not PEI chilly (for those of you out there that aren't sure what that means, it means that I was a little cold from the breeze and the air temp dropping to 25 or so.....ha ha ha) I really really love the climate here.....I was looking at my cousin's facebook pics today and when i saw all the snow in the background, I shuddered for a second and then gave thanks that we are so fortunate to be living here and enjoying summer year round! Of course, some day I will have to return to reality (and freezing cold and snow and ice and winter jackets and layers....yuck) but for now I am going to take every opportunity to be outside soaking up this wonderful weather!
The boys had a pretty good week.....Monty is still struggling a little with adjustment issues but he had a few good things happen this week....he had a friend over to play and a sleepover with that friend....so he was very excited about this....Monty has been mostly hanging around with the teenagers across the street....they are a pretty good group of fellows actually and they love to come over to play on the trampoline....they raise pigs so they have been teaching Monty the ins and outs of that...they also trap crabs to use for fish bait so they have been teaching this to Monty as well....he loves the freedom of roaming the community with the teens.....checking everything out, learning a few new things (like how a pig is butchered) Tonight he said that he is a "real Saba boy " now.....thought that was pretty cute.....he does really enjoy the fellows and they are very nice to him.....his friend that he had over though was his age, a very nice boy, and they had a great time together....so I am hoping that this will develop into a good friend for Monty.....the teens are great, but it would be nice for him to have a few good friends his own age at school....I think of my own special friends that I had in my life at that age and how important it is to have those best friends who you can have fun with, share with, laugh with......that is what I really wish for him.....Christian is still doing great....he is inseperable from his new best friend,Jim....they are like 2 peas in a pod, so alike and they have so much fun together! We went swimming today at a private pool (thanks to our great neighbors up the road who take us there from time to time! Jim's parents...) and Christian is coming so far with his swimming,I can't believe it.....a few weeks ago he would not enter the water without a life jacket on, would cry if a teeny bit of water splashed his face and would still try to cling to me.....today he went over with Jim and his family and I joined them about an hour later and Christian was swimming underwater with his goggles on and no lifejacket!!! I was amazed....each time we go over he gets a little better....he was very excited that he is able to swim on his own now.......
Joe continues to be pretty busy with studying, but he is very happy about it....he loves all the new things that he is learning about the human body and attempts to introduce it often in conversation....of course I think my eyes glaze over and I try to look like I think it is fascinating....but I am not quite there with him!! I love what is going on inside the brain.....but I don't need to know about the bowel and how big it is and what it feels like or smells like when you cut into it....I have lived 37 years without this knowledge quite comfortably and will continue to do so!! Monty , on the other hand is quite interested in what Joe is doing/learning so he asks lots of questions.... of course Joe loves to answer them.....smarty pants!
Our other interesting news is that we added some members to our family this week.....2 baby guinea pigs which the kids have named Aero and Chimchar (what ever happened to names like fluffy and sparky?) the kids have been having a ball with the pigs and I must admit they are adorable......we had them in a temporary rigged cage for the week and it was ok, so this weekend Joey built a deluxe house for them....which was quite a feat given the supplies that he had to work with......in Saba, houses are built with cement and concrete (amazing strength to endure hurricanes) so wood isn't something that you find in abundance here (nor are hardware stores for that matter) so Joe bought a few pieces of 1"X 4" as well as some screws and nails, mesh and a handsaw.....and he was pretty dubious about his ability to make much of a cage without "proper power tools" (I can hear Tim the toolman in the background.....arroooo?) Anyway I was very impressed with his creation (esp since he stated that he was not having anything to do with the guinea pigs!) He built them a deluxe model home that looks great! The kids and I were impressed and the pigs seem to love it too....they were hopping around for joy and squeaking like crazy (or maybe they were concerned for their lives because Tigger kept trying to get in the cage with them?) Anyway it turned out great......esp given what he had to work with....I tell ya, that Joey is amazing (well in my eyes anyway.....maybe the kids didn't quite appreciate how good it was...they were just happy to have the cage finished)
I had a few outings this week without children in tow! It was so nice! Since my job now consists of being around kids all day and then I come home with my own, my adult time has decreased significantly! So I was so excited to have a few "out" times.....I went to the SOS meetiing on Saturday at the park (this is the Significant others of Saba group...all spouses of med students and faculty) We had a "business" (social) meeting......nice group of gals and we sat for an extra hour and chatted.....the president of SOS is trying to convince me to run for president for next term....I am not quite sure....I am thinking about it...might be an interesting experience.....then I got out for band practice (Joe and I were on the worship team this week, well pretty much every week now!) so we had practice so it was a great time jamming with our new church friends, an awesome group! Today I hung out with one of Joe's school mates, Julianna,she is a lady from Nigeria originally but now from Maryland, USA and she is here in school, while her family remains in the US....she is a very neat lady, very passionate and outspoken (my kind of person!!) She has a great sense of humor and she is also an ordained minister.....so we had some very interesting conversation! I told her anytime she wants to have some "girl hangout time" to just give me a call! So I am meeting some very nice and interesting people here.....I have a feeling that when we leave there will be many people whom we will miss......
So overall a great week and we are very pleased about how things are going here.....we are settling into a routine and getting used to the way of life and it suits us just fine.....I don't miss the "big city life" or the conveniences or the fast food or the mall at all (which surprises me!) The only things that I really miss are family and friends, our church and my job and great coworkers.....
I better go and get into bed....it is getting late and morning comes way too early here!!! Dont forget to sign your name in the comment section! I do really like to know who is reading and what your thoughts are of our adventure! Some weeks are more adventurous than others but overall Saba has been a great experience.....nighty night friends, God Bless!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
a cold in the Caribbean? How absurd!
Hey friends!
How has your week been? I am going to start off by saying that I know there are many of you reading this blog and I would like to ask you a favor.....if you wouldn't mind, after you have read the blog, just going to the comment section and letting me know and even saying hello if you wish! I would like to keep this blog as a bit of a rememberance when our time here is done and it would be nice to know who has been reading/following along and your thoughts! Thanks!
We had a great week. Joe's parents came to visit from Calgary for 4 days and we had a wonderful time with them....it flew by and we were sad to see them go :( But alas, all good things must come to an end.....we had many adventures with them while they were here and they absolutely loved Saba...they both thought that it was a very neat place and that we were so lucky to be living here (which of course we agree) We went snorkeling down at the harbor and Grampy and Joe taught Monty how to snorkel, which he had down pat in about 30 seconds....he is now a snorkeling guru! Leave it to Monty...he is always so good at athletics! We went to the tide pools, which was fun and more snorkeling there. The we went on a snorkeling adventure with Sea Saba in about 25 feet of water.....and no one was eaten by a shark! Even I went snorkeling, can you believe it? It was quite the experience, somewhere between the most fascinating crossed with the most terrifying experience of my life! Breathing underwater is quite an activity...your body is screaming "no don't do it, don't take a breath!" but your brain is saying "go ahead, you have a snorkel, you will be fine" So under I would go and I would start to breathe and then I would start to hyperventilate because of course my body was overruling my brain...so up I would come and get my breathing regulated again and then back down to start the process all over again....I would say after about 20 minutes or so, I finally had it.....and wow, once I relaxed long enough to take a look around, I must say it was spectacular....I encountered many beautiful fish and coral.....it was really neat....of course I continued to glance all around for creatures that may be lurking in the dark (sharks, moray eels) but if they were there, they didn't present themselves to me.....Monty was off like a pro with his Dad and Grandpa and they were way far away from me, having a blast....and Monty was having no part of wearing a life jacket....I on the other hand, opted for the life jacket.....it was a bit cumbersome by times, and so , maybe I looked a tad silly, BUT I stayed afloat...and that my dear friends was the goal! Christian got out in the water with his life jacket on as well and he did stick his head under a few times but I think he was a little more like his mother in aptitude....so he just enjoyed swimming around.....we saw 2 turtles from the boat and Joe and his Dad got to swim right over them, they thought that is was cool! We ended our visit with family with an absolutely, to die for, amazing dinner at the Gatehouse, a wonderful, quaint, restaurant with divine cooking.....It was very sad to see them go and it reminded us a little of how far away from home we really are and that we do miss people......my mom and my aunt are coming in 3 more weeks so we are looking ahead to our next guests......
Other than that, things are getting somewhat routine....we hang out in the sun, get some tan, frolic and play in summer, enjoy the heat....oops am I bragging? We feel so blessed to have this summer weather and we are NOT missing winter one little bit.....everyone should live in this climate! Joe is still doing fine in med school...I think he wishes that he could have a little more down time, but overall he is enjoying it and learning tons......the boys are both doing better with their school adjustment....and I am just going along, working when I must and trying to get some relax and sunshine when I can.....
A few other goings-on:
Joe and I are involved with the music at the church so we led worship this week....it was awesome! Joe played guitar of course, I sang, our friend Sam played keys and sang (he is awesome) and Jeff played the jembe drum.....very fun, our church group is a lovely cozy group from all over....we are enjoying getting to know them.
Oh, I have a cold!!!! Can you believe it? A cold in the caribbean! I keep saying a cold is a Canadian winter illness, but apparently a cold knows no boundaries! I am working hard at trying to get rid of it (lots of flintstone vitamins!! ha ha....and chocolate) so I hope it is gone soon!
we are still feeding the baby goat everyday a few times...she is so sweet and growing so fast...when we come over she jumps in the air, gets all excited to see us.....she definitely has stolen our heart! Monty continues to catch several lizards a day......he had gotten very good at it and I keep reminding him that the first week we were here he couldn't catch any and now here he is a pro!
Anyway I better run....it is my monday off (I love Mondays off) and I should try to accomplish a few things today....take c are and don't forget to leave your message in the comment section! God Bless!
How has your week been? I am going to start off by saying that I know there are many of you reading this blog and I would like to ask you a favor.....if you wouldn't mind, after you have read the blog, just going to the comment section and letting me know and even saying hello if you wish! I would like to keep this blog as a bit of a rememberance when our time here is done and it would be nice to know who has been reading/following along and your thoughts! Thanks!
We had a great week. Joe's parents came to visit from Calgary for 4 days and we had a wonderful time with them....it flew by and we were sad to see them go :( But alas, all good things must come to an end.....we had many adventures with them while they were here and they absolutely loved Saba...they both thought that it was a very neat place and that we were so lucky to be living here (which of course we agree) We went snorkeling down at the harbor and Grampy and Joe taught Monty how to snorkel, which he had down pat in about 30 seconds....he is now a snorkeling guru! Leave it to Monty...he is always so good at athletics! We went to the tide pools, which was fun and more snorkeling there. The we went on a snorkeling adventure with Sea Saba in about 25 feet of water.....and no one was eaten by a shark! Even I went snorkeling, can you believe it? It was quite the experience, somewhere between the most fascinating crossed with the most terrifying experience of my life! Breathing underwater is quite an activity...your body is screaming "no don't do it, don't take a breath!" but your brain is saying "go ahead, you have a snorkel, you will be fine" So under I would go and I would start to breathe and then I would start to hyperventilate because of course my body was overruling my brain...so up I would come and get my breathing regulated again and then back down to start the process all over again....I would say after about 20 minutes or so, I finally had it.....and wow, once I relaxed long enough to take a look around, I must say it was spectacular....I encountered many beautiful fish and coral.....it was really neat....of course I continued to glance all around for creatures that may be lurking in the dark (sharks, moray eels) but if they were there, they didn't present themselves to me.....Monty was off like a pro with his Dad and Grandpa and they were way far away from me, having a blast....and Monty was having no part of wearing a life jacket....I on the other hand, opted for the life jacket.....it was a bit cumbersome by times, and so , maybe I looked a tad silly, BUT I stayed afloat...and that my dear friends was the goal! Christian got out in the water with his life jacket on as well and he did stick his head under a few times but I think he was a little more like his mother in aptitude....so he just enjoyed swimming around.....we saw 2 turtles from the boat and Joe and his Dad got to swim right over them, they thought that is was cool! We ended our visit with family with an absolutely, to die for, amazing dinner at the Gatehouse, a wonderful, quaint, restaurant with divine cooking.....It was very sad to see them go and it reminded us a little of how far away from home we really are and that we do miss people......my mom and my aunt are coming in 3 more weeks so we are looking ahead to our next guests......
Other than that, things are getting somewhat routine....we hang out in the sun, get some tan, frolic and play in summer, enjoy the heat....oops am I bragging? We feel so blessed to have this summer weather and we are NOT missing winter one little bit.....everyone should live in this climate! Joe is still doing fine in med school...I think he wishes that he could have a little more down time, but overall he is enjoying it and learning tons......the boys are both doing better with their school adjustment....and I am just going along, working when I must and trying to get some relax and sunshine when I can.....
A few other goings-on:
Joe and I are involved with the music at the church so we led worship this week....it was awesome! Joe played guitar of course, I sang, our friend Sam played keys and sang (he is awesome) and Jeff played the jembe drum.....very fun, our church group is a lovely cozy group from all over....we are enjoying getting to know them.
Oh, I have a cold!!!! Can you believe it? A cold in the caribbean! I keep saying a cold is a Canadian winter illness, but apparently a cold knows no boundaries! I am working hard at trying to get rid of it (lots of flintstone vitamins!! ha ha....and chocolate) so I hope it is gone soon!
we are still feeding the baby goat everyday a few times...she is so sweet and growing so fast...when we come over she jumps in the air, gets all excited to see us.....she definitely has stolen our heart! Monty continues to catch several lizards a day......he had gotten very good at it and I keep reminding him that the first week we were here he couldn't catch any and now here he is a pro!
Anyway I better run....it is my monday off (I love Mondays off) and I should try to accomplish a few things today....take c are and don't forget to leave your message in the comment section! God Bless!
Monday, February 9, 2009
You can't turn the video camera sideways to take video...it is NOT like an Ipod touch!
Howdy friends!
Well, another wonderful weekend in Saba....really they just keep getting better and better.....we had such a great time that we didn't want the fun to end sooooo today I had the day off and I let the kids play hooky (is that so bad?) so that they could enjoy an extra day as well.....Joe's parents are here to visit, they arrived yesterday morning bright and early and they will be here until Thursday....so I figured since they will only be here for 5 days that a day off from school would help maximize their play time together......that is my story and I am sticking to it.....anyway we have been having a great time. Yesterday we went down to the harbor and the fellas (Monty, Joe and Grampy) went snorkeling...the boys were very impressed....Christian went for a swim but didn't snorkel...and I sat contently on the rocks by the water, watching and soaking up the rays (I have been soaking up a few too many rays these days...but I just can't stop....it is kind of like a Lays chip....betcha can't eat just one.....well you can't just hang out in the sun once.....I think that I may be turning into an iguana.....seriously I would just sit out on a hot rock in the sun all day long....so it stings a little....and my skin is florescent red some of the time.....but lately it is turning into a brown red.....so I am thinking that goal #2 (tanned) is well underway! Goal #1 has not been started.....(skinny) I continue to feast regularly on french fries and chocolate (hey gotta have a few vices!) So today we all went down to the tidal pools (well minus Joe because he was writing exams....sucker! ha ha...just kidding dear.....) I drove down for the first time myself.....it was a bit scary but I did it so I am very impressed with myself.....the road is very steep and twisty and you are 1000 feet up so it is a bit of a daunting task....describing it here can in no way give you a clear pic of what I am talking about....but when you come to visit you will see for yourself! (don't look down!)we had a great time climbing around the volcanic rock and then we played in the man made tidal pool for a while...Monty went snorkeling again and they saw lots of fish there as well....tomorrow we are going out on a boat with Sea Saba to go snorkeling in the ocean (It is Snorkel week, didnt you know?) I am a little nervous so haven't decided if I will snorkel....and if I am honest, I am quite anxious to let Monty snorkel there as well...it might have something to do with the depth of the water (23 feet) or the abundant shark population...not sure....but I guess I have to let him do it....he really wants to do and his Dad and Grampy will be out there too.....and maybe his mother if she ever gets up the nerve to get in the water....(is that the jaws music playing in the background?) So today I took lots of pictures and I decided to take some video of Grampy and Monty climbing closer and closer to the tide pool, where huge waves were crashing in through the rocks.....it was quite cool to watch....so I started videoing and I decided that if I turned the camera I could get a better view of the scene....not thinking that now the video was sideways!!! What a spaz....not until we uploaded it onto the computer and I saw the results of my fine cinematography skills did I realize what i had done! What a spaz....I tell you....I thought moving to a new country that the Dawn stories might level off...but they just keep coming! All in all a perfect, sunny +30, fun filled weekend.
A few other highlights for the week:
-The boys were invited to a big birthday party with about 30 kids in the park...their first here on Saba...adn they had a blast! It was a great party.....
-we have been assisting in raising an orphaned baby goat....we are bottle feeding her a few times a day.....she is sooooo sweet, her name is Addy and we just love her (check out the pics on facebook)
-Joe has been studying for block exams (today and tomorrow) so he has been very busy
-I am becoming a real Saba driver and I no longer go under 20 all the time (much to the pleasure of the Saban folk)
-we have become experts at catching lizards
-We have been having a ball on the trampoline!
Anyway lots of fun stuff going on.....only work and school getting in the way of this being one great big party! But I guess those are necessary parts of life as well!!
I better run and get to bed. I have to get up bright and early in the am to get to work....my Grade 6's are writing exams tomorrow....exams that I wrote....tee hee.......
So take care, God Bless and talk to you soon!
Well, another wonderful weekend in Saba....really they just keep getting better and better.....we had such a great time that we didn't want the fun to end sooooo today I had the day off and I let the kids play hooky (is that so bad?) so that they could enjoy an extra day as well.....Joe's parents are here to visit, they arrived yesterday morning bright and early and they will be here until Thursday....so I figured since they will only be here for 5 days that a day off from school would help maximize their play time together......that is my story and I am sticking to it.....anyway we have been having a great time. Yesterday we went down to the harbor and the fellas (Monty, Joe and Grampy) went snorkeling...the boys were very impressed....Christian went for a swim but didn't snorkel...and I sat contently on the rocks by the water, watching and soaking up the rays (I have been soaking up a few too many rays these days...but I just can't stop....it is kind of like a Lays chip....betcha can't eat just one.....well you can't just hang out in the sun once.....I think that I may be turning into an iguana.....seriously I would just sit out on a hot rock in the sun all day long....so it stings a little....and my skin is florescent red some of the time.....but lately it is turning into a brown red.....so I am thinking that goal #2 (tanned) is well underway! Goal #1 has not been started.....(skinny) I continue to feast regularly on french fries and chocolate (hey gotta have a few vices!) So today we all went down to the tidal pools (well minus Joe because he was writing exams....sucker! ha ha...just kidding dear.....) I drove down for the first time myself.....it was a bit scary but I did it so I am very impressed with myself.....the road is very steep and twisty and you are 1000 feet up so it is a bit of a daunting task....describing it here can in no way give you a clear pic of what I am talking about....but when you come to visit you will see for yourself! (don't look down!)we had a great time climbing around the volcanic rock and then we played in the man made tidal pool for a while...Monty went snorkeling again and they saw lots of fish there as well....tomorrow we are going out on a boat with Sea Saba to go snorkeling in the ocean (It is Snorkel week, didnt you know?) I am a little nervous so haven't decided if I will snorkel....and if I am honest, I am quite anxious to let Monty snorkel there as well...it might have something to do with the depth of the water (23 feet) or the abundant shark population...not sure....but I guess I have to let him do it....he really wants to do and his Dad and Grampy will be out there too.....and maybe his mother if she ever gets up the nerve to get in the water....(is that the jaws music playing in the background?) So today I took lots of pictures and I decided to take some video of Grampy and Monty climbing closer and closer to the tide pool, where huge waves were crashing in through the rocks.....it was quite cool to watch....so I started videoing and I decided that if I turned the camera I could get a better view of the scene....not thinking that now the video was sideways!!! What a spaz....not until we uploaded it onto the computer and I saw the results of my fine cinematography skills did I realize what i had done! What a spaz....I tell you....I thought moving to a new country that the Dawn stories might level off...but they just keep coming! All in all a perfect, sunny +30, fun filled weekend.
A few other highlights for the week:
-The boys were invited to a big birthday party with about 30 kids in the park...their first here on Saba...adn they had a blast! It was a great party.....
-we have been assisting in raising an orphaned baby goat....we are bottle feeding her a few times a day.....she is sooooo sweet, her name is Addy and we just love her (check out the pics on facebook)
-Joe has been studying for block exams (today and tomorrow) so he has been very busy
-I am becoming a real Saba driver and I no longer go under 20 all the time (much to the pleasure of the Saban folk)
-we have become experts at catching lizards
-We have been having a ball on the trampoline!
Anyway lots of fun stuff going on.....only work and school getting in the way of this being one great big party! But I guess those are necessary parts of life as well!!
I better run and get to bed. I have to get up bright and early in the am to get to work....my Grade 6's are writing exams tomorrow....exams that I wrote....tee hee.......
So take care, God Bless and talk to you soon!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Another weekend in Paradise
Well good morning friends! How are things in your part of the world? cold? hmmm...I thought so! We had another beautiful weekend here in the Caribbean.....yesterday was +30 out and sunny and hot! I got quite a burn, as did Joe......it was a bit overcast so the sun didn't seem as hot as it was and so we stayed out in it too long! But that is ok....give me sunburn over frost bite anyday of the week!! ha ha.....
We had a great week....we are starting to get a rythym going here, a routine and perhaps we are starting to settle into the idea of "living" here not just on some big vacation. Right now I have Mondays off and I would like to keep it that way...I really enjoy having that one day where i can just veg and enjoy the quiet....I go pick up Christian at 12:15 so I really just have the morning but it is awesome! Tuesday to Friday I work so we are all up about 6:15 getting ready as we have to be out the door around 7:10....it is hard on all of us as we are not early rising kind of people! Back home we used to push snooze several times and finally crawl out close to 7:30! So this is a big change for us! The boys are still working on their adjustment but for the most part they are doing fairly well. They are getting involved in some activities and the lizard hunting is still the favourite activity (well Monty's anyway!!) He has gotten extremely good at catching the poor little guys....occasionally he forgets and grabs one by the tall (and for all of you who know anything about lizards you know that lizards come equip with a slick little defense mechanism that we like to call "drop the tail" so Monty has come up a few times with just a tail! But hey...he is having fun!)
Joe and I went over to St Maarten this weekend , are ya ready.....BY OURSELVES....yes that is right....no kids....some new friends of ours...Billy and Lisa very kindly and generously offered to keep them so that we could over for the day.....Billy is Joe's study buddy and a former chiropractor...and Lisa is his wife, a former electrician...they are from Arizona and are very nice, funny people. I was a little nervous to leave the island and leave the kids behind for the day, but I figured that they were in pretty good hands so away we went. We travelled over on the ferry, which cost us $80 each round trip....it was quite a ride,crossing the open sea in a small vessel. Joe and I sat at the back on the outdoor benches, thinking the fresh air would keep us from being seasick....it worked but Wow what a ride! Imagine a roller coaster that lasts for 2 hours and you get the ferry ride experience.....I didn't mind it at all but some people looked a little greenish.....On the way over we shared the ferry with a group of docs from Toronto who were in Saba on a diving expedition......they were leaving and heading back to the cold! They all raved on about the diving and how amazing Saba is so we felt a little proud and blessed that we live there and get to go back....they were all a little envious of us.....So over in St Maarten the weather was amazing and we wandered around all day in the shopping district in Phillipsburn. It is basically where all the tourists from the cruise ships would spend the day....there were streets and alleys galore with shopping. We knew that we had a few things that we were looking for and a strict budget....but we couldn't help wish a little bit that we had some extra dollars to buy some things....there was incredible deals to be had....one jewelry store had Joe's dream watch....a citizen professional diving watch, one which he has admired for years and usually sells in Canada for around $700 ....it was offered to us for $235 US no taxes (duty free!) it was hard to walk away from that deal! But we had to....alas...in about 10 years Joe can go back and get it...when we are out practicing and the student loans are paid off (ha ha) We had an amazing brunch on an outdoor patio and then wandered around.....we were successful in our shopping.....we got our most important item....a TRAMPOLINE for the boys!! They were so excited!! They have wanted one for a long time and we both felt that it would be a great rec activity to have at the house.....esp since they don't know tons of people and they aren't getting out as much as they used to....it was a hit and Monty jumped on it all day....at one point he looked at us and said I am exhausted....we looked each other and said wow it was worth twice what we paid to hear those words from Monty!!!! So we buy the trampoline at the cost-u-less (basically costco) and a bunch of other items to bring back (fruit rollups and curley wurleys!!) and then we head outside because for Costco to take our items to the ferry it has to be all packaged properly....while outside these young fellows tape up all our boxes and charge us $10 for the service and then a fellow says where do you want these to go, i can take you for $25...dont rely on cost co as they get around to it when is convenient to them.....I look at Joe and he says whatever you think dear.....WHAT? ok Joe, I am a smart, intelligent, capable woman most of the time but I am not an experience world traveller so do we jump in a truck with a strange man and allow him to take us to (our death possibly) err the boat??? Joe is no help so I look the guy over, talk to him, check out his truck, do the fastest social work assessment possible and decide he is ok and say yes...so off we jump crammed into his little truck with our boxes...and then I start to get a little cocky and say "how much extra for you to stop at a pet store so i can buy my son a cage for a lizard?" He says oh sure for $7 more I will do that...I say deal and away we go (I am kind of liking this valet service!! my own personal taxi!) so he takes us and we get to the boat (albeit he was a bit of a wild driver and we had no seatbelts....we are sliding with our safety rules, now partaking in hitchiking, picking up hitchikers, no seatbelts, etc) and he helps us unload everything...on the way to the boat he gives us the lowdown on history and culture of St Maarten from a locals's perspective....so it was an intersting experience! Anyway we really enjoyed our day in St Maarten! It was great.
I better run and get a few things done since it is my day off! I will write again soon! I know that my blog is like an episode of Lost for many of you....h aha just kidding....I do like letting you all know how life is going here though....it is interesting to say the least! Take care dear friends and may God richly bless you in the coming week!
We had a great week....we are starting to get a rythym going here, a routine and perhaps we are starting to settle into the idea of "living" here not just on some big vacation. Right now I have Mondays off and I would like to keep it that way...I really enjoy having that one day where i can just veg and enjoy the quiet....I go pick up Christian at 12:15 so I really just have the morning but it is awesome! Tuesday to Friday I work so we are all up about 6:15 getting ready as we have to be out the door around 7:10....it is hard on all of us as we are not early rising kind of people! Back home we used to push snooze several times and finally crawl out close to 7:30! So this is a big change for us! The boys are still working on their adjustment but for the most part they are doing fairly well. They are getting involved in some activities and the lizard hunting is still the favourite activity (well Monty's anyway!!) He has gotten extremely good at catching the poor little guys....occasionally he forgets and grabs one by the tall (and for all of you who know anything about lizards you know that lizards come equip with a slick little defense mechanism that we like to call "drop the tail" so Monty has come up a few times with just a tail! But hey...he is having fun!)
Joe and I went over to St Maarten this weekend , are ya ready.....BY OURSELVES....yes that is right....no kids....some new friends of ours...Billy and Lisa very kindly and generously offered to keep them so that we could over for the day.....Billy is Joe's study buddy and a former chiropractor...and Lisa is his wife, a former electrician...they are from Arizona and are very nice, funny people. I was a little nervous to leave the island and leave the kids behind for the day, but I figured that they were in pretty good hands so away we went. We travelled over on the ferry, which cost us $80 each round trip....it was quite a ride,crossing the open sea in a small vessel. Joe and I sat at the back on the outdoor benches, thinking the fresh air would keep us from being seasick....it worked but Wow what a ride! Imagine a roller coaster that lasts for 2 hours and you get the ferry ride experience.....I didn't mind it at all but some people looked a little greenish.....On the way over we shared the ferry with a group of docs from Toronto who were in Saba on a diving expedition......they were leaving and heading back to the cold! They all raved on about the diving and how amazing Saba is so we felt a little proud and blessed that we live there and get to go back....they were all a little envious of us.....So over in St Maarten the weather was amazing and we wandered around all day in the shopping district in Phillipsburn. It is basically where all the tourists from the cruise ships would spend the day....there were streets and alleys galore with shopping. We knew that we had a few things that we were looking for and a strict budget....but we couldn't help wish a little bit that we had some extra dollars to buy some things....there was incredible deals to be had....one jewelry store had Joe's dream watch....a citizen professional diving watch, one which he has admired for years and usually sells in Canada for around $700 ....it was offered to us for $235 US no taxes (duty free!) it was hard to walk away from that deal! But we had to....alas...in about 10 years Joe can go back and get it...when we are out practicing and the student loans are paid off (ha ha) We had an amazing brunch on an outdoor patio and then wandered around.....we were successful in our shopping.....we got our most important item....a TRAMPOLINE for the boys!! They were so excited!! They have wanted one for a long time and we both felt that it would be a great rec activity to have at the house.....esp since they don't know tons of people and they aren't getting out as much as they used to....it was a hit and Monty jumped on it all day....at one point he looked at us and said I am exhausted....we looked each other and said wow it was worth twice what we paid to hear those words from Monty!!!! So we buy the trampoline at the cost-u-less (basically costco) and a bunch of other items to bring back (fruit rollups and curley wurleys!!) and then we head outside because for Costco to take our items to the ferry it has to be all packaged properly....while outside these young fellows tape up all our boxes and charge us $10 for the service and then a fellow says where do you want these to go, i can take you for $25...dont rely on cost co as they get around to it when is convenient to them.....I look at Joe and he says whatever you think dear.....WHAT? ok Joe, I am a smart, intelligent, capable woman most of the time but I am not an experience world traveller so do we jump in a truck with a strange man and allow him to take us to (our death possibly) err the boat??? Joe is no help so I look the guy over, talk to him, check out his truck, do the fastest social work assessment possible and decide he is ok and say yes...so off we jump crammed into his little truck with our boxes...and then I start to get a little cocky and say "how much extra for you to stop at a pet store so i can buy my son a cage for a lizard?" He says oh sure for $7 more I will do that...I say deal and away we go (I am kind of liking this valet service!! my own personal taxi!) so he takes us and we get to the boat (albeit he was a bit of a wild driver and we had no seatbelts....we are sliding with our safety rules, now partaking in hitchiking, picking up hitchikers, no seatbelts, etc) and he helps us unload everything...on the way to the boat he gives us the lowdown on history and culture of St Maarten from a locals's perspective....so it was an intersting experience! Anyway we really enjoyed our day in St Maarten! It was great.
I better run and get a few things done since it is my day off! I will write again soon! I know that my blog is like an episode of Lost for many of you....h aha just kidding....I do like letting you all know how life is going here though....it is interesting to say the least! Take care dear friends and may God richly bless you in the coming week!
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