Syndicate Falls

On Saturday August 30th, we went with a group from the school to Syndicate Falls.  Every semester they have a bunch of tours that are directed for the new students, but anyone is welcome to go on them.  We had not seen these falls yet and was very excited to sign up and go.

The whole trip was beautiful.  And the Waterfall was amazing.  

To get there we took a bus, and then hiked into the waterfall.  There were about 5 places where we had to cross the river that was made by the waterfall.  The water never got above our knees, but that meant it was pretty deep on the kids.  Of course they didn't mind.  We kept trying to get Kyler to hold one of our hands and he wasn't having any of that, so Erick started asking him to hold is hand so he (Erick) didn't fall.  Kyler was so proud of himself for helping his dad not fall!!!  This worked like a charm until we got to the last river crossing on the way back.  Erick stepped on a big rock while Kyler went around and Erick slipped!  Erick caught himself, but since he was holding Kyler's hand, Kyler face planted it into the river.  When he got up he said, "Dad, you just fell, but I caught you!  Don't worry dad, I caught your hand."  Still so proud.  Actually I think he liked that he got all wet and got to take his shirt off for the rest of the hike.

Bryn was the best little hiker.  She went through the river every time without help.  She also like to get wet.  Even if there was another way around the river, she chose to go through the river.

We had a great time.  

Enjoy the beautiful pics.

The first river Crossing...

The hike in...

A cool Tree, with crazy roots...

The Waterfall....

The hike out....

Kyler in the pool!

First of all I should preface this post with some information.  We have been moving this last weekend.  We moved out of one house into a smaller apartment further down the hill.  We still live on Banana Trail, however we live a lot closer to the school, and we now have some really great neighbors!:)

After we got everything moved out of our old house and into the new one, Erick took the kids to the pool to give me some time to unpack and settle in.  It was wonderful.  It gave me time to do what I wanted, the way I wanted it done.

When I finished doing what I was doing, I went down to the pool and found that Erick had been teaching Kyler a few new "tricks" in the pool.

Watch this little boy in action....

The birthday party

For Bryn's birthday, we went to Roseau and spent the night at a hotel.  The kids were very excited about the trip long before it was time to go.  So I think in the last for months, that was the longest week we have had!!!

We got up Friday and got ready to go, and was on our way by about 10:00am.  When we got to Roseau, it was almost lunch time.  Bryn decided on KFC for lunch!  It tasted really good, the only fast food we have in Pourtsmouth is subway, so KFC was a really good treat.  After lunch we headed to Titou Gorge, Trafalgar, and screws spas.  The kids did really well in Titou Gorge.  The water of course was freezing, so we brought floaters for the kids to hold on to.  They had fun, until we got to the waterfall.  It is a little dark in there, and Bryn was a little unsure of being in there, and I don't think it helped that Kyler kept saying he could see some fish.  I had been telling Bryn the whole time that there were no fish in there.  She doesn't like the thought of fish swimming with her when she can't see them!!!

Then we headed to trafalgar.  That was really fun.  The kids loved the hike, and then climbing on all the rocks was really exciting for both of them.  

Screws spas was my favorite, and everyone else's least favorite, but they still had a good time.  I told the kids before we got there that the water was going to be yellow and they would not be able to see the bottom in the springs.  Bryn was okay with that, but Kyler kept reminding her the whole hike in.  He would say, "Bryn, the water is going to be yellow and you can't see the bottom, okay?"  

After our nature adventure, we went and found our hotel, had dinner and went to bed.  The hotel was awesome, and dinner was great.  The restaurant was right on the beach, so it was really peaceful to eat dinner with the sounds of the waves crashing on the beach right below you, and the sun was down, so it was nice and cool!

The next morning we went shopping and that was by far Bryn's favorite part.  She picked out a pink bag that said Dominica on it, and some body glitter.  

After we couldn't shop any more we came home and had cupcakes, sang happy birthday, and opened presents.  I think it was a great couple of days for her.  I hope it was.  

Here are some pictures of the events:

        

           

                                 

    

                                  

       

                            

       

                               

         

Our Birthday Girl

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRYN!!!!

We hope you know how much you are loved!  I can't even begin to explain how much joy you bring into our lives.  From the moment you were born, you have been such a little princess.  I could not have asked for a better daughter.  I can't believe that it has been 6 years, you are such a big girl, and a big helper to me.  I always appreciate your help.  There are a few things that I want you to always remember:  First of all I want you to always know how beautiful you are, Inside and out, you are the most beautiful little girl!  I also want you to know that Heavenly Father knew I needed you when he sent you to me.  You have taught me how to be a mom, and I am thankful for that.  I also want you to know that there are so many people in this world that love you.  Your mom and dad and Kyler Love you more that anything.  You have lots of grandmas, and grandpas that love you as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.  And we will always love you no matter what.  We are here for you, and want the very best for you.  And there is also your Heavenly Father, you wants the best for you, and who loves you no matter what.  I hope you will never feel like you are alone, or that there is no one there for you, because that will never be the case.

I always tease you about not getting any older, that I want you to stay 6 forever, so that you never leave me.  And my favorite thing that you tell me is:  "mom, I have to grow up, so I will get married and then live right next to you okay!"  So I am going to remind you of this when that time comes.

Bryn I love you so much, I can't tell you that enough, I just hope you realize how much that is, and I know, because I remember my mom telling me this and it is true, you won't REALLY know until you have a little girl of your own, but I do love you, and I am thankful everyday that I have the opportunity to be your mom!

Love,

Mom.

Worse things could be

So the end of the first semester is in sight!  I can't believe that after tomorrow, Erick will be done with his first semester.  He has one last BIG test at 1pm and then we get him all to ourselves for 2 weeks!  We are all very excited.

Today, I had a list of things to do.  After I dropped off the kids, I was going to fill up our water jugs, go pick up a few groceries, buy some electricity, fill the car with gas, and pick up some bread ( I have been too busy lately to make my own, and yes, I have to make a special stop for bread, you don't buy it at the grocery story here, you go to the bread store!).  Then I was going to go home and make lunch and do a couple other small projects I was in the middle of at home.  Well this is how may day actually went:

I dropped the kids off as planned, things were still on track.  Then I went and filled the water jugs, great- doing well!  Then some how things went amiss.  I was pulling out after getting water, and a lady honked her horn and pulled right up next to me and told me I had a flat tire!  Well that is just great, Erick is studying for the biggest test of the semester the next day, so I don't want to bother him, and I can't change a flat tire!  Just then a employee of the university walked by, and told me to pull down by the campus security and they could help me.  So I pulled down and right when I get out the guys run over to help.  They are just so helpful and willing, I thought, until after I had been there for 45 minutes!  They came running over with the compressor hose, and handed it to me.  I had no idea which way it goes on, and instead of just coming and showing me, he stands over there yelling and trying to get me to understand.  I finally get the hose on, and nothing.  The compressor it not working.  So I just stood there waiting for them to fix it, while 4 other guys sat there on their brake and stared at me.  Lovely!  Finally they got it fixed and the guy came over and started filling it for me.  It was looking full to me, so I ask how he know when it is full.  Of course there is no pressure gage in sight.  He tells me with his eyes.  He said that you have to train your eyes, and then you just know.  I guess my eyes are not trained, because it looks like it is going to pop to me.  But, I get air in my tire, can't complain.   They tell me to take it and have it patched because it has a small leak in it.  So I go to the place he tells me to go to, and they don't fix tires anymore.  So I ask that guy where to go.  He explains how to get there, and then says, "You can't miss it!"  So I am driving along looking for a BIG O, or something I can't miss, and apparently, I can miss it.  I have to stop to ask for directions and finally find the tire place.  I get out, and find someone to help me and tell him the story of my day so far.  So he takes the tire off and does some checking, and then puts it in the water to look for bubbles.  No bubbles.  He tells me it is fine and that there is no leak.  So as he is about to put the tire back on, he checks the pressure and I thought the end was going to shoot right out!  The first guy had not trained his eyes very well I guess.  So the kid lets out some pressure and this takes quite a while.  Well after he gets it down to the right pressure, he sees there is a leak under the rim.  It just wasn't showing up since the tire was so full:)  So he takes it in to fix it and I am left standing there to wait again.  By now it is 11:20, and I don't have anything on my list done after: fill water jugs.  So when he gets the tire fixed, I head back to the school, we end up eating lunch at subway, and then after lunch I still have to go get the groceries, which sets Kyler's nap back.  For dinner we took something down to Erick so he could just study right through, and not have to stop while he went to get something.  And that means that my night routine was completely thrown off.  We counted dinner with Erick as family home evening, and skipped baths all together.

So here I am tonight, looking at a kitchen full of dirty dishes, some unfinished projects and I am thinking about my day and wondering what I accomplished.  And I have decided that nobody went hungry today, and the kids were in bed on time so even though my plans were messed up, I am glad it wasn't any more serious that a flat tire and waiting for most of the day.  I really am learning to be more flexible.  I still don't like my plans to be changed, but I am learning to deal with it when they are.  I am learning the island attitude of "Worse things could be."  

Bryn in the pool

Bryn has been going to the pool everyday.  She goes in the after noon with her summer camp, and then at 3:00 when we pick her up, we head back to the pool, or the beach so Kyler can swim too.  So needless to say she has become an amazing swimmer, and she is learning how to do so many things in the water.  Her newest trick is a hand stand.  She also loves to do flips, which she can do a front and back flip (these are just standing in the water, not off the side- yet!), and she loves to drive for things off the bottom of the pool!  It is really fun to watch her, and she all that she has learned!

Here is a short clip of her doing a hand stand!  It is sort of a one handed one, and then a front flip!  :)

Quick Update

I have not posted for a while, and there is somewhat of a good reason for that.  The power goes out a lot here, and when it does we no longer have internet.  The last time the power went out, when it came back on, the internet was still not working.  We called the landlords, and the cable and wireless company, and after a week they finally got us up and going again!  So with that in mind, I feel like I am a little behind here!

We are at the end of our first semester on medical school!  Classes ended last wednesday August 6, and we are, or I guess I should say Erick is very busy finishing up with tests!  He has a big test this thursday, and then the final for the whole semester is next tuesday on the 19th!  I think we are all looking forward to that.  However, I can't believe it is over, the time has gone so fast for me.  

Kyler's head had healed completely, the bald spot is still there, but the wound is healed, and it doesn't look like it will be too big of a scar.  However, everyone we see that asks what happened, tells Kyler, "Chicks dig scars!"  So either way, I think we are going to make it.

Bryn is very busy with school, we loves the pool and the ocean.  She is now able to dive to the bottom of the pool at the deep end (probably about 7 feet deep) to get things off the bottom.  It is really amazing!

I stay very busy as well.  We have found a turtle, just off the pier, that we love to go watch.  He is amazing.  The first time we saw him, we swam with him for about two hours.  It was so awesome.  I don't have an underwater camera yet, but when I do, I will be taking pictures for sure.  He is awesome!  I can't wait for Erick to have a break, so I can take him and the kids to see him!

As for the weather, it is hurricane season here, and we have had a lot of rain, but that is about it so far!  We are very stocked up on water and canned foods just in case, but so far so good!  And the crazy part- it is still very hot all the time!  I love it, and Erick is ready for the cold:)!

So that is a quick wrap up for now!