turkey handprints

We made turkey handprints to get some decorations up for Thanksgiving. Both boys did great holding still while I traced their tiny hands. Then they colored them. Hawken did better than he usually does coloring. I cut out a ton of little feathers from paper, and Matix was in charge of the glue.

Here is the finished product. Matix's turkey was COVERED in feathers, but only half of them actually stuck. He glued on the eye and beak for his turkey and Hawken's after I showed him wear the head was. Hawken put on one feather and then was done with it. So his doesn't have any legs either. :) Matix put on his turkey legs all by himself. They turned out pretty well I think. :) Matix's on the left, and Hawken's on the right.

Thanksgiving on the island

So what did we do for Thanksgiving? We had an outdoor, seaside, Thanksgiving picnic!! :) We HAD to do this. It was a great turnout, and so much fun for everyone. There were plenty of kids for the boys to run around with and SO MUCH FOOD!! Here is part of the group. Can you believe we didn't even get everyone in the picture?!

There were quite a few turkeys - cooked to perfection, each with a different flavor, a HUGE tub of mashed potatoes, every vegetable we can get on the island, stuffing, and pumpkin pies forever... YUM! There was a lot of non-traditional Thanksgiving food too, like lasagna, cheese cake, baked beans, and mac-n-cheese. We loved every bit of it! There were 4 tables devoted to food!

The boys wore the "I'm stuffed!" bib, which I think is ADORABLE, although it didn't really help with the mess.

We had such a wonderful time. I am so happy we have such great friends here to share this experience with. Thanksgiving is such a family-type holiday. It was nice that although none of us could be with our extended families, we have our med school family right here. :) Happy Thanksgiving!

pool days

Fun at the pool. This is one of the things I LOVE about Dominica. It is almost December, and we are STILL going to the pool! :) Check out Hawken's soggy diaper. It hangs down to his knees. Did you know diapers could stretch that far?

Matix and Hawken, working as a team to get into trouble. Here they are escaping from the pool area. Hawken knocks on the gate and yells to Matix. Matix runs over, opens the latch and door. They both hurry out, giggling. Oh you boys...

AND... drumroll please... Hawken will be having his 1st birthday party on Friday. Here is the invite. I thought we HAD to have it at the pool, since this December birthday boy will probably never get that chance again! :)

photo booth

Why do I love you Matix? Because on days when I feel sick, you make me laugh. :)

Paul writes a post...

The other Sunday we went to go meet with the Catholic priest in Portsmouth to see if they want to do a singing devotional with our church for Easter. He wasn't there so we took the opportunity to go on a little island detour on our way home. We spotted these really neat painted walls at the Catholic school. One is from Ghandi and a favorite of Jessie's.

Then I found this funky gas lamp post thing, it was like a scene out of a Dominican Narnia, we were on the look out for a Rasta faun. :)

Then Matix found a ''big tuk" and we put him up on the tracks and he thought it was the bee's knees.

Tracy

This is Tracy. She is WAY cuter in person. :) She came over this afternoon and we played around with photo booth for a while... Laughing until we cried. I will miss you Tracy!!! :) You're one of my favorite people, ever.

Paul's b-day

As soon as Paul went to school on Tuesday, we went to work! The boys colored and painted MANY pictures for their favorite guy. It got pretty messy. It was a labor of love. :)

The boys had to shower off before heading onto the next project. Check out Hawken's crooked smile. My little sister, Jolie, used to do that SAME thing. Silly silly!

Family shot. Sadly, this is the only one I got, and it came out all blurry. :( Oh well, you can see some of the decorations that we hung up. The boys pointed to where they wanted things, and I put them up. They were especially excited about the balloons.

Paul came home for lunch and the house was all decorated and the boys gave him his gifts. We sang Happy Birthday to Paul at lunch and dinner. Matix now LOVES the happy birthday song and will sing along. He also started singing it when we were on our way to our Thanksgiving dinner, because I told him it was a party. :)

HaPpY BiRtHdAy PAUL!!!! We love you and we hope you had a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's Thanksgiving!! and we are VERY thankful...

This year Paul is thankful for:

1. my Wifey

2. the Dewds and the Bros

3. help from Heavenly Father to do so well in school

4. spending time with my boys

5. everything

Jessie is thankful for:

1. my hubby!!

2. my sweet little boys

3. being a stay at home mommy

4. good neighbors, friends and family

5. Paul almost being done with the first 2 years of med. school

Matix is thankful for: (we asked him a few times, and these are the things we could recognize of what he said)

1. "fye-ing" (flying) - when we lay down, put our feet on his tummy, and fly him

2. "fens annnnnnnn SANE!" (friends and shane) - his best buddy :)

3. "be" - that's what he calls Hawken now. It used to be "baby", but now, just "be"

4. "gaga an mom" (dada and mom)

5. "i dump-een" (I jumping) He loves jumping. On the floor, off of couches, you name it.

Hawken is thankful for: (according to us :)

1. Matix. He loves his brother SO much.

2. Mommy. He's a momma's boy for sure!

3. Daddy. He loves to play with Paul the moment he walks through the door.

4. Music. He dances like a mad man whenever he hears music.

5. Being outside. He would spend every moment outside if he could.

We are ALL very grateful for the chance we have had to live here in Dominica. It has been an eye opening experience. We have learned so much and grown closer together as a family being here. Happy Thanksgiving!

stylin'

Anyway you look at it, before bath or after, these boys have awesome hair.

Happy Birthday Paul!!!

Today, my handsome hubby turns 28!!! We love you SO much Paul. The boys and I have made a list of our 28 favorite things about you! :)

1. You always give us a reason to smile.
2. You are SO sweet and gentle with the boys when they need a snuggle.
3. You take good care of us and make sure we are happy.
4. You're a hard worker, and hardly ever complain.
5. You love us and tell us so everyday.
6. You are my best friend, and the boys' best friend too.
7. You are silly and in a good mood even in the most boring of situations.
8. You make breakfast in the mornings so that I can sleep a little longer.
9. You have the stamina to outlast our boys, playing repetitive games until THEY are done.
10. You're a good person. Giving of yourself, even when you really don't have anymore to give.
11. You are the boy's favorite playmate. Their eyes light up at the sight of you.
12. You're have mad crazy dance skills. :)
13. You are always in pursuit of the next best thing... The ultimate idea man.
14. You have your own style and won't conform to anyone else's ideals.
15. You are smart, but not a show-off.
16. You are the man of my dreams, and I am more in love with you today than I ever was.
17. You are a softie for kids. Ours, other peoples, doesn't matter.
18. You are musical and can learn to play anything. Very impressive.
19. You are handsome and oh so kissable! :)
20. You can be a cheapskate... but only sometimes.
21. You teach the boys so much.
22. You are in love with surfing, skating, snowboarding, anything that gets you outside.
23. You hike and like adventures.
24. You give everyone 2nd 3rd and 79th chances.
25. You never lie, ever.
26. You are a great story teller, although often get distracted during the story.
27. You insist on date night, family night, and all day sunday every week, just to spend with us.
28. You are the eternal optimist.

You're 28. Husband for 4 and 1/2 years. Father of 2 little boys. Amazing. Wonderful. And you're all OURS! :) We love you!!!

our boys

These little boys are the light of our lives. They make everyday better. We love them so much. Hawken, with his mischievous side, and yet SO sweet, snuggly and a mama's boy through and through. Matix, our big boy, the best big brother, so nurturing and kind, but still, as always, with his daddy's sense of humor, silly all day long.

cooking dinner

While I make dinner, the boys for some reason, have to be near me... Paul sometimes builds a wall out of chairs to make his job (keeping the kids out of the kitchen) a little easier. From my point of view though, it is SO sad. :( Look at their little faces. Completely distraught that I won't hold them.

Don't get me wrong, they don't need to be held by me during most of the day, but when they know I am busy with something else, then they really want me. Also, check out our awesome chairs. :) I will not miss them when we leave. :)

fort

We built this fort in the living room. Hopefully the first of MANY. I loved building forts when I was a kid. The boys really had a great time in it. We just used chairs and a sheet, but one day when we have couch cushions that are not old and gross, we can use those too. :)

Matix's September birthday in November

The birthday continues... Matix turned 2 years old, 2 months ago, but he is STILL getting gifts and cards (thanks to the SLOW mail system in Dominica)... Hooray! :) Thanks to Auntie Robin, Uncle John, and cousins Hans, Nick and Liesl for the AWESOME truck and kite! The truck gets played with at least once a day!

Thanks to Great Grandma Pauline and Great Grandpa George for the "ill book" (little book~that's what he calls cards) and the gift. That was SO thoughtful of you.

Matix loves his family and says "tayns!" (thanks) to everyone! :) We love you.

yum.

Spaghetti anyone?

rainy day

When it rains here... It POURS! :) The boys usually play inside when it does rain, although some days I make an exception. Recently, we were on campus when it started, and there was no escaping it. The boys HAD to play in it.

Notice all the people standing off to the sides, hiding under their umbrellas... and there, in the road, is Hawken (follwed by Paul).

Matix crawling in the deepest part of the run-off. Of course he is.

Then the rain let up, and we made the long, puddly, muddy, slow, walk home...

Finally we arrived and both boys were put in the shower. Clothes and all. :) What would childhood be without days like this, right?

Can you even recognize this little guy?