welcome back jeff!

We greeted jeff at the airport last night with "welcome home signs." Heather and Charlie wanted to bring flags but i decided that might not be the best idea so we saved those at home. The kids were very excited to watch for jeff to get off the plane and the bus and through the doors of the terminal. Earlier in the day I had a conference with Heather's teacher who commented on what an angel and delight Heather is to have in her class. I wondered if this was the same child who beats up on her brother and listens the third or fourth time i ask something or raise my voice and then considered split personalities ;-). I'm glad she at least knows how to behave and when it is the most appropriate is able to handle it. She is reading at an end of kindergarten grade level and doing very well in all things kindergarten. It looks like she will pass. The kids had a pretty good week despite Jeff being gone. We got into a rhythm and understanding pretty quickly and even Cameron cooperated. We sure are glad to have him back and spent today relaxing and just playing around.

random things

Several random things have come to mind to share in the last few days. Since moving here Cameron has acquired a "girlfriend". She's two months older and so cute--he smiles every time he sees her and the other night they were reaching for each other and would probably have been trying to put the other in their mouth if given the opportunity. It reminded me of Heather and Chalie's first little betrothals. When Heather was 2 she was inseparable from her friend Leif and we walked by his house several times after he left to make sure he wasn't there. Jeff and I also got to take her on her first date when she was 3 with her friend Jack to the bowling alley. We picked him up and they rode in their car seats in the back...His mom and I witnessed their first kiss (lips) of course innocent like little kids are--but still!! Charlie's best friend in MS, Mirabelle, and he still pine for each other despite the distance between them.
We've also been working on valentine's stuff so that relatives get their "love" from the kids. Heather created one particular valentine that she LOVED and was going to keep. I told her that we needed a few more to give to a few people and she started creating. a few minutes later she brought out her prized valentine and said she wanted to give it to...I told her she didn't have to but she said, "it makes me feel good to give it to them." patting her chest (heart). It was so sweet I almost cried.
In today's news Jeff flew off to Germany for a conference. The kids already miss him. Heather drew him some pictures to take with him on the trip. Charlie insisted that we stay to watch the plane take off which was an hour after we left Jeff in the terminal. We waved it all the way off the ground ;-) He'll be back Friday night.

ants, cows and happy baby

I'm not sure that I would trade the animals here for the spiders and fire ants in MS but they sure are crazy! We have ants who have set up came INSIDE our diswasher and seem to stream in except for when the exterminator guy came yesterday. He shared that ususally the ants come in the summer through the sliding glass door so "watch out". Great we apparently just have advanced ants. On the way to work this morning Jeff was dropping us off for a spouses "coffee" and we got stuck in a traffic jam of cows! Approaching the circle turn Jeff was able to pass some of them and get 3/4 of the way around to where we needed to go when they attempted to divide and conquer and some went right and some went left at the circle. Someone really has to teach these cows the rules of the road. I added video to the duck pond as well as cameron rolling over so be sure to scroll down as well!! Cameron started cracking up as the kids jump in front of him and say boo. He thinks they are hilarious!!

yes we can vs mabye vs no you can't

On the historic day that Obama takes office and surely will offer a "yes we will" speech I'm already feeling the rush of a new place wearing off. The long weekend was nice and we enjoyed a nice movie night on Friday with just the family, a cookout with Jeff's co-workers and families (yes CE here has actual families!!) and another trip to the duck pond after trying out a church in the area. Monday we went to the "big school" in Paria where we spoke with the principal (?) about preschool for charlie. He basically said that they didn't offer enrollment after December and that I could get an application in May for the following fall. That was OK for me but is a little frustrating to think that there is nothing offered at the CDC for preschool and the local school doesn't accept kids after December?! Two people offered to help us try to work it out but I'm not sure I want to press the issue and make a big deal about it. The base advertises a "kids craft" time twice a month which is full for this month which was a bummer and I heard that it's the same craft every time...not really an "activity" to get involved in if that's right. Finally I checked on girl scouts at the school and the leader said she wasn't sure they could take more girls...didn't really want to say "no" since we had just gotten here, emphasized that she would have to take part in cookie sales but could not get the rewards (big deal but "huh"), and that she wouldn't be able to go back and do all the things she had missed the first half of the year so she would be half a year behind--again "huh?" isn't this daisies? So i guess for me the newness of the place is wearing off. Heather doesn't want to do girl scouts anyway even to go and see what it is all about (which I can't take Cameron with me and her to see because of "liability" huh?) so maybe we'll just forget about it this year anyway. They're looking for new troup leaders for next year (which I'm sure I have tons of time for) so I guess helping out would ensure she stays up to date and participates ;-) I guess I'd better stop before people start worrying. On a positive note it was a chilly 10 degrees (celcius) today which allowed us to get outside and play--which we will do after we get a new president...

happy 4 month birthday Cameron!

Cameron celebrated his four month birthday in style--rolling over for the first time. He's been threatening, getting up on his side and looking like he knows what he's doing, but hadn't really gotten his arm out of the way. When he gets over his arm is still actually tucked under him but he is definitely on his tummy. I can't believe it's only been 4 months since he was born and don't feel like we've ever been without him. Well OK sometimes I remember that I had a few mornings free a week to go workout or run errands...with Charlie not in preschool I wouldn't have them free here anyway...They don't do 4 month check ups here so I don't know Cameron's official stats but he's a big 4 month old--most commonly I'm asked if hes 8-9 months. He's in 6-9 month clothing already and is currently "calling".

life with kids...

Last week we were at the comissary, Charlie, Cameron, and I and Charlie was helping me pick things out very nicely. We were standing in the soup aisle and he turned around to ask me something and leaned back into the soup cans. Have you ever heard the noise of falling soup cans or seen the domino effect of half a row of soup cans falling over?! The nice Portuguese store guy came running over as we attempted to pick them up and shoed us away (enough damage done?!). We made it the rest of the way through the store without incident and then charlie was helping me unload the shopping cart and dropped a bottle of soy sauce from the cart to the floor. How it didn't spill I'm not sure but I looked up and the store clerk who had helped us was now the cashier!! UGH!
Last night we had a little excitement when in the middle of dinner we were told we had to leave our house due to a suspicious package near a building near our house. We headed to the school and luckliy there was a hs girl's basketball game that we got to watch while they determined it was nothing. Fortunately everyone said that this was the first time this had happened. It was kind of fun to see a bkball game and remember watching my sister play and keeping the book for our HS team.

ony one week?

Has it only been one week that Heather's been in school?! Wow it seems like so much longer than that! We've settled into the routine of school, dad home for lunch, pick up Heather, play, dad home for dinner and evening. I haven't found a preschool for Charlie yet but the search will pick up this week to see if there's anything out there that will work for us this year. Heather seems to enjoy school so far with much more fun special activities and two recesses a day and much less seat work and "boring" stuff. Charlie, Cameron and I went to playgroup on Tuesday but no real friends for Charlie yet. Friday we went to a movie at one of the local churches which was fun although the kids did not want to stay in the kids rooms so they fell asleep watching the movie with us. Saturday we set up the garage as a play space/garage for the kids then went exploring. We visited the middle of the island this time and met some ducks at a duck pond. Heather's comment, "this place is amazing!" it was so full of awe. It was a pretty beautiful place and we were the only ones there...Then we went to the coast on our way home and walked around a swim,ming hole where someone was actually swimming--he looked cold to me. Last night Jeff's CE group had a little dinner gathering which was fun. Not much to do for people so I guess there's lots of "get togethers..."

exploring

We've decided not to waste time at home and spent the weekend exploring. The island is funny--both days we started off in questionable weather but ended with nice days. driving here is crazy the two way streets are barely wide enough for the van and the turns are all blind!! a lack of signs and maps adds to the excitement. We did find some beautiful spots with views, picnic areas, rocks to walk/climb on. it was really fun. The kids took their own cameras and enjoyed snapping thier own pictures. Heather reluctlantly started school today. She was sad and very hesitant. Her teacher seems nice and judging from the way the kids came in very popular. The kids were nice and a few looked sympathetically her direction.

happy new year

We celebrated new years in pretty relaxed fashion. Trying to get the kids adjusted we didn't let them stay up too late but did have some of jeff's co-workers over to play games. Yesterday we explored the island a bit. Jeff took the kids to a tiny beach and they put their feet in (i sat in teh car with Cameron sleeping) and play a bit in the sand. then we drove to the top of a small mountain/high hill and took in the coast. Unfortunately most of the coast is rocky or they are worried about erosion so we are not able to hike along the coast as I had hoped--maybe we'll find a place. The kids also enjoyed a nice playground in a town nearby and we had a nice dinner. Today we did a little walking tour of the base and enjoyed a beautiful day! It was sunny and exceptionally warm for the time of year.