power's out

With all the rain we have been having lately, the power has been going out a lot. We do have a generator, but waiting for it to be turned on sometimes isn't an option. When the power is out, that means the fans can't run, the air gets thicker and hotter and tired little boys can't sleep.

One evening, it went out just before bedtime for the boys... We decided to go to the CAC to stay cool up there, and kill some time until our generator was running. Matix learned how to play air hockey. He needed to stand on the coffee table, but he really did well.

Hawken just watched. :) He was in a zombie state since he was awake until almost 7pm! That is really late for him.

Matix did fine staying up past his bedtime, until it was time to go back home. He had a meltdown, proving he shouldn't stay up that late and needed to be in bed. :) Sweet boy. When we got home the power was back on and both boys fell asleep within seconds of laying down.

big boy Bros

Our big boy Hawken has recently started doing SO many new things.

He can pull himself up to stand on furniture and now, he can also stand alone without holding anything. As soon as he realizes he is alone, he sits back down, but it's a start. :) He started waving good-bye to people. And he babbles like crazy. How is he so big already?!

indian river hike

About a week ago Stacy, the boys and I went on the Indian River Hike with Kelly, Shane, Jason, Liz and Emmy. I had not been on the hike yet and it was REALLY fun. I was surprised that hiking for a few hours would be fun, but it was. :) Everywhere we looked there were beautiful and amazing things to see.

The hike started out in Glanvilla and ended in Portsmouth were we took a transport back to Picard where we live. Here is a video of the day.

This is the spot where Calypso had her scary house in the Pirates movies. The Dominican government made Disney take it down before they left, although I would rather have seen it up. :)

Just before we got to the part in the river were we went swimming we came to a little snack bar in the middle of the jungle. Go figure. It was really cute. Usually when people go on the Indian River boat trips, they end here.

Swimming in the river was SO refreshing. Matix and Emmy both went all natural... :)

Matix had fun throwing rocks through the drain tunnels with Grandma. I love his little "bum-bum" (as he calls it). :)

When we were ready to finish the hike and leave the river, Matix decided he wanted to be a jungle boy...

Just before getting to the main road we walked through these huge fields of lemon grass. Not lemon grass like in the States, but lemon grass that smells like lemon drops. So yummy. Matix was busy eating his snacks... That is why he looks so silly in this picture. :)

Along the road (and in the jungles) we came across MANY mango trees that had dropped hundreds of mangos on the ground. It was so sad seeing them all just rot away when I would have happily eaten them all. :) Or really, Matix would have eaten them!

It was a great trip and fun to get to spend some time with Emmy, Liz and Jason before they left the island. We will miss them.

football

On Fridays we usually go to the pool in the afternoon. Paul meets us there because Friday night is date night and he doesn't go back to study after dinner. Next to the pool is a field that some guys play football on and Matix has recently taken an interest in it. These are old pictures, but I want to have them posted. Better late than never, right? :)

Even Hawken gets in on the action.

Matix yells when the other people yell and is always trying to get onto the field so he can play too. So cute.

Matix has been really into sports lately and even tonight after we read books, scriptures and said prayers, he sat down in his little chair facing the tv and asked for "bu-ball". Funny boy. He really thought I was going to turn on a game for him to watch instead of going to bed. :)

Emmy

We miss Emmy. :( She left the island with Liz about a week ago, and we miss them already. I can't believe they are done with their time here already. This is a picture of a timeout gone wrong.

Emmy thought she would join Matix while he was on timeout and it ended up being a laugh fest. :) See you guys soon.

rainy season

It takes us anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to walk to church each Sunday... No, we don't have a car here. :( Most of the time though, it is an enjoyable walk. We love the cool breeze, the beautiful ocean, the lazy pace of island life...

EXCEPT when it is rainy season. Which is NOW. This is what we looked like after we arrived back home from church on Sunday. SOAKED.

The boys apparently thought the rain pounding down on us and the crazy fast wind flipping our umbrellas inside out was... relaxing...?! Silly boys. Both sound asleep.

Fun at Batibou Bay

We went to Batibou Bay yesterday and had a WONDERFUL time. On the way there, the boys held hands. Obviously, it was Matix's idea, but Hawken went along with it. Cute boys. :)

The hike down was muddy, but worth it. Even the first glimpse of the bay is breathtaking.

The waves and recent storms made the water murkier than it had been, but still beautiful.

Stacy went out snorkeling for a little while. She saw lots of baby angel fish, a few big yellow and black ones and some big blue fish in the reef. That tiny speck in the middle of the picture is Stacy. She went pretty far out there.

The boys played in the sand...

Well, Matix played in the sand, and Hawken ate the sand. :)

I dug a few holes for the water to fill and make tubs. A beach favorite.

Hawken thought the little walls on the sides of the tub looked yummy and would bend down and take a bite every once in a while. :)

Using coconut shells for sand castle molds. I love Dominica.

Stacy created some sand art sculptures, which Matix promptly stomped on. :)

I find myself saying this often, but I really think that I am jealous of the life these little guys have. Growing up on a tropical island, exploring in the jungle everyday, splashing in the ocean whenever they feel like it...?! I grew up in Wisconsin. Enough said. :)

Before we left, we walked over to the river. It was really not even a river, it was more of a trickle that day. :) The boys had fun, as always. This first picture totally shows Hawken's life right now. He wants SO badly to be able to go wherever Matix goes and do whatever Matix does... Wherever Matix is, Hawken is usually not too far behind.

Clean and ready to go. We love Batibou Bay.

everything

What have the boys been doing lately? Everything with Grandma. They went to the park and played on the swings...

Hawken had a little taste of his swing. :)

They read bedtime stories together...

But the best is going on adventures with Grandma! This is from the Indian River hike we went on. It was SO much fun. More pictures to come!