Well, we continue to learn and adapt to life in the fishbowl. That would be ex-pat life here but I think it well applies anywhere. We've met some more very nice fish and one dear fishy-friend is escaping back to the ocean. We are hosting our first real-live party Sunday, with Natalie's 5th birthday and since it's been well over a year since I put one together, I'm hoping we don't wait till Sunday after church to get things together. I am going to try to avoid that, but somehow, I think we will still end up scrambling! Either way, it will be fun and I pray Natalie will enjoy it!
Speaking of parties, I went last night with Emma, Jane and new acquaintance, Kat, to More Vino for a small going away get-together for Emma. She and her family are moving to Wales, back home to England. I'm going to write about it more on the other blog, but I know our family will dearly miss them. We arrived on the same day and while we've not had near as much drama or tragedy as they have, we've been honored to support them and know them through it all. Jack calls Natalie and Sophia "his girls" and I know they will miss him. Natalie wrote him a letter, which was so sweet. It said:
"Dear Jack - I like your shirt. I love you. I am sad. I like playing with you. Love, Natalie"
Her own words written in her own hand, very sweet. She is on her way to eloquence!
Sophia is just a riot - she keeps us smiling all the time. She gave me several enormous hugs this morning, which makes me feel over the moon. It's nice to be missed, even if it was just one evening! She told us yesterday, in trying to convince us to let her go with her sister to see, in this new restaurant, the fish in the pond, that "I unt touch it, Mommy." In other words, she's heard "Don't touch!" so much, she can now say it herself! Too cute!
Natalie has her 2nd soccer practice today - and I'm so excited - Dave will be able to go with us! And next week..................BARBADOS! It's going to be a fun next 7 days! Look for more pictures soon!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Bend it like Beckham!
Our dear sweet Natalie started soccer today! She showed her true Wakefield roots as she has a cold but insisted we start today. She did great! She is one of 3 girls on the team (the rest are boys) and both girls are good friends. Kyndall actually lives next door! I think she is going to have a really good time. She did tell me today that her ear hurts, deep inside (direct quote). First it was the right ear now it's both. So, I guess we will be going to meet Dr. Charles, the pediatrician everyone uses, tomorrow!
And we all have the cold, it's pretty unfortunate. Dave also chose this week to work past 7 every night this week, so that is challenging as well. We now have a full weekly calendar, Monday is gymnastics, Wednesday is soccer and whatever we can squeeze in the rest of the days, we will!
We've booked our flights home for Christmas--December 14th the girls and I come home and December 19th, we pick up Dave and start our drive to Indy. Back in Houston around the 30th and then he leaves on the 3rd and we leave on the 7th (of January). Things could be adjusted but that's about the long and short of it! I am SO ready.
We go to Barbados in 2 weeks, right after Natalie's 5th birthday! Then Me-Maw and Pa-Paw come 2nd week of November, so we will have a lot of distractions while we wait to come home. :) Ex-pat life is great, but I made queso tonight to ease the hole in my stomach and heart a bit.
Sophia is started to pitch another fit, so I have to get her and her sister to bed! Natalie has actually lost her voice--I didn't know that happened to children under 5!
New pictures of Soccer-Girl coming up soon!
And we all have the cold, it's pretty unfortunate. Dave also chose this week to work past 7 every night this week, so that is challenging as well. We now have a full weekly calendar, Monday is gymnastics, Wednesday is soccer and whatever we can squeeze in the rest of the days, we will!
We've booked our flights home for Christmas--December 14th the girls and I come home and December 19th, we pick up Dave and start our drive to Indy. Back in Houston around the 30th and then he leaves on the 3rd and we leave on the 7th (of January). Things could be adjusted but that's about the long and short of it! I am SO ready.
We go to Barbados in 2 weeks, right after Natalie's 5th birthday! Then Me-Maw and Pa-Paw come 2nd week of November, so we will have a lot of distractions while we wait to come home. :) Ex-pat life is great, but I made queso tonight to ease the hole in my stomach and heart a bit.
Sophia is started to pitch another fit, so I have to get her and her sister to bed! Natalie has actually lost her voice--I didn't know that happened to children under 5!
New pictures of Soccer-Girl coming up soon!
Friday, September 12, 2008
OOPS!
It's been awhile since I blogged! Sorry about that--if only I could connect my facebook page into this....well, it would be a lot more up to date. I'm sitting here sweaty, about to go shower as I'm getting my haircut this morning. The girls? AT SCHOOL! YAY! We are all happy we have something else to do besides be with each other 24x7. They love their school and have some friends there whom we knew already. And it's been good for me to get out to be able to do some stuff too--work out, go to the store, Bible Study, AWC meetings (which by the way, I'm joining the service committee) and most importantly, get my hair cut! :)
Maybe next week I will get a pedicure too--goodness knows I need one! Now that my foot is finally better - although not completely healed - I can actually walk relatively normally!
The new pictures are of this local storytime we go to about once a week and I have met some local Moms who are awesome through it. Also went to my first "More Vino - 2 fer 1 Martini Lime" this week to. So, things are starting to ramp up.
Next week is even busier - the girls start gymnastics on Monday and Natalie starts soccer on Wednesday! There are a few holidays this month to celebrate milestones in the Islamic calendar and then we got to Barbados on October 2nd with the Brzenski's for the weekend!
But before then, my Best Oldest turns 5! Gotta work on planning her party next week - I'm thinking pool & grill party--how easy is that!
So, things are starting to pick up. We are meeting new folks - lots of quality people - and after 3 months of slowness, working towards building a life here. I was told to get us involved so we are!
Enjoy the pics - more soon!
Maybe next week I will get a pedicure too--goodness knows I need one! Now that my foot is finally better - although not completely healed - I can actually walk relatively normally!
The new pictures are of this local storytime we go to about once a week and I have met some local Moms who are awesome through it. Also went to my first "More Vino - 2 fer 1 Martini Lime" this week to. So, things are starting to ramp up.
Next week is even busier - the girls start gymnastics on Monday and Natalie starts soccer on Wednesday! There are a few holidays this month to celebrate milestones in the Islamic calendar and then we got to Barbados on October 2nd with the Brzenski's for the weekend!
But before then, my Best Oldest turns 5! Gotta work on planning her party next week - I'm thinking pool & grill party--how easy is that!
So, things are starting to pick up. We are meeting new folks - lots of quality people - and after 3 months of slowness, working towards building a life here. I was told to get us involved so we are!
Enjoy the pics - more soon!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
BTW--Stuff I miss
In case you were wondering, I do miss a lot of stuff that I can't wait to get back to in the States. I will start a list for you (and in case you were also wondering--this is not in order!! It's just as I thought of it):
1. Texting with Lynn
2. Old Navy/Gap
3. BCUMC
4. Being so close to Mom, Dad, Craig, Maddy & Ryan
5. HEB
6. Being so close to Indiana
7. Pappasito's tortillas and Sangria Swirl Margaritas
8. Velveta for queso
9. Real and various kinds of salsa
10. Deerfield Village, especially the green belt & the playgrounds
11. Target
12. Fairhaven
13. Goode Company BBQ
14. The play places at Chick Fil A
15. Noah's Ark
16. Texas in general
That's all for now, if I think about it too much, I might cry! Life is good here but there is no place like home! Back in just 3 1/2 months for a little while at least! :) To soothe things, the Indiana food here is FANTASTIC and my cooking has stepped up a notch as well! Gotta run!
1. Texting with Lynn
2. Old Navy/Gap
3. BCUMC
4. Being so close to Mom, Dad, Craig, Maddy & Ryan
5. HEB
6. Being so close to Indiana
7. Pappasito's tortillas and Sangria Swirl Margaritas
8. Velveta for queso
9. Real and various kinds of salsa
10. Deerfield Village, especially the green belt & the playgrounds
11. Target
12. Fairhaven
13. Goode Company BBQ
14. The play places at Chick Fil A
15. Noah's Ark
16. Texas in general
That's all for now, if I think about it too much, I might cry! Life is good here but there is no place like home! Back in just 3 1/2 months for a little while at least! :) To soothe things, the Indiana food here is FANTASTIC and my cooking has stepped up a notch as well! Gotta run!
Continued Adventures....
Yesterday morning, about 9 am, we went with a group of ex-pat families, I'd say about 6-8 of them with varying amounts and ages of children, on a hike out at Chaguaramas. We, once again, learned some valuable lessons, the hard way. It was a great hike, Natalie did well, even buzzed out a head of us as I was slow due to my foot still hurting. (Top is still pretty bruised but there is no rest for the weary!) Dave ended up carrying Sophia 90% of the way, minus a few walking patches. She really doesn't like to walk very far!! We didn't have a pack for her so he had pretty much sweated through his shirt when we finished. It was about an hour long walk. We brought the camera but ended up leaving it in the car, which was a good thing. We will do it again when we can let Sophia hang out with someone else for a bit and take some pictures. Really beautiful scenery of Macarepe (sp?) Bay.
We then hung out at the beach (as that was our destination) and then learned, again, the hard way that we should have brought 2 cars, one at the golf course (beginning) one at the beach (end). We walked about a mile back, Dave carrying Sophia and me and my bum foot carrying Natalie. She had blazed a trail but her blaze had run out. I reached some the outer limits of my faithfulness and strength as a mother so it was interesting. "They" say mothers will do just about anything for their children, well, "they" are right! It seemed like an hour, probably only a 20 minute walk, but with the pain and an extra 43 lbs, it took us a bit longer. She did sing to me some silly songs, so that helped not focus on what was going on! And I taught her a very important lesson to think about something else. ;)
We will most definitely do it again, without question. Just next time, we will again be more prepared!
Sophia pooped in the potty for the first time today! HURRAH! The brain-washing in working!! I have her convinced she wants to be a big kid, although her bladder is taking a little more convincing. :)
We start a late afternoon story time today, we will go once a week on average (although it's Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) and Thursday, our church's ladies Bible Study starts. Then next week, the girls start school, American Women's Club starts and then the week of the 15th, the girls start gymnastics and Natalie starts soccer!
We are getting into the full swing of things as real-life, not empty summer life, in Trinidad takes off! More adventures to come!
We then hung out at the beach (as that was our destination) and then learned, again, the hard way that we should have brought 2 cars, one at the golf course (beginning) one at the beach (end). We walked about a mile back, Dave carrying Sophia and me and my bum foot carrying Natalie. She had blazed a trail but her blaze had run out. I reached some the outer limits of my faithfulness and strength as a mother so it was interesting. "They" say mothers will do just about anything for their children, well, "they" are right! It seemed like an hour, probably only a 20 minute walk, but with the pain and an extra 43 lbs, it took us a bit longer. She did sing to me some silly songs, so that helped not focus on what was going on! And I taught her a very important lesson to think about something else. ;)
We will most definitely do it again, without question. Just next time, we will again be more prepared!
Sophia pooped in the potty for the first time today! HURRAH! The brain-washing in working!! I have her convinced she wants to be a big kid, although her bladder is taking a little more convincing. :)
We start a late afternoon story time today, we will go once a week on average (although it's Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) and Thursday, our church's ladies Bible Study starts. Then next week, the girls start school, American Women's Club starts and then the week of the 15th, the girls start gymnastics and Natalie starts soccer!
We are getting into the full swing of things as real-life, not empty summer life, in Trinidad takes off! More adventures to come!
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