Better than skype

[Daddy and Mimi after school]

Glad we came back...

Buy-na-nos!

[The Post-Church Snooze]

For the last couple of months, Mia has been walking around the house shouting "Buy-na-nos!" I haven't been able to figure out what the heck she's talking about. I've tried to give her bananas to eat, blue clothes to wear, and even thought she might be turning from her liquid-diet ways and was asking for pineapple.

It all clicked the other day when she finished the phrase..."Buy-na-nos, Mommie! Everybody, let's go!" Spanish..."Vamanos!" (Let's go!).

Thanks, Dora.

[take a look at that little paw above. toooo cute]

Mia and Purple Magic

Mia has a sweatshirt that she has affectionately named "Purple Magic." She loves to wear it, all the time, everywhere (Kind of like Becky and her black sweatshirt she wears at Christmas time). She loves to wear it so much, that when she was in the bath tonight, actually in the tub playing, she asked for Purple Magic. Of course we said no, and tried to explain that Purple Magic would get wet, but Mia persisted. So, we thought, why not?? She is thinking outside of the box!


We think she had fun! Good move Mommie!!

Thanksgiving 2010

[A new Filhart Thanksgiving tradition...brownies for breakfast]

[Mia liked it a little toooooo much]

Thanksgiving started off awesome. We had a regular breakfast, and then Dave asked for a glass of milk and some brownies. Mia saw them and said "CHO-CO-LATE!!!" I think this will be a new Thanksgiving tradition for us.

Unfortunately, Dave had school. I was really bummed. I really love holidays. So we sent him off to school and turned on the Macy's Day Parade and opened the windows and sliding doors and enjoyed the tropical views and ocean breezes while we baked. It was a beautiful, relaxing day.

For dinner, we headed off to the Allred's for a big gathering that was the perfect way to end the day. We had dinner out on the balcony while the breezes kept the bugs away and we listened to the sounds of the waves crashing. It was a very unique, special Thanksgiving that we will surely remember. In a place where good friends become your family, we are very thankful to be blessed with a great support system here. We love our St. Kitts family!!

[The only bad part about big Thanksgivings like this is you only get the left overs of what you brought. I can't just sneak in the fridge today to get little bites of all the left overs today. I'm missing a lot of yummy food that we had last night!!]

[Dave taking the "stance" to get the ham going]

Pre-show warmup

[Post dinner chat at my house 7:00 pm ]

Dinner tonight was spagetti with homemade sauce. Yum. Feeling full...but not too full for some good eats for Thanksgiving tomorrow. You know it.

19 Months Down...1 to go

Remember this post? Switch that around, and now we're really almost DONE with what I like to call the" Island Phase" of Dave's nightmare...I mean dream.

I read that post now and just laugh. Laugh at my ignorance, laugh at my optimism for island life, and I am amazed at just how far we've made it. We've moved past the "scary oven," we both now kill bugs with our bare hands (no joke), and we have no problem filling up our time with school, kids, beach, and friends.

Dave said the other day that this is nothing short of a miracle. And he's right. Not that we haven't done some creative moves and shakes in the last 19 months to keep things rollin', but I am impressed that Dave hasn't given up on becoming a doctor. He wants it. Really bad. And the road to MD is really really hard..for both of us.

So a month from today, on December 23rd we'll fly outta here for the last time. We're excited and anxious about our next adventure, and after all these 19 months, we find ourselves strangely sad too. Sad to leave our good good friends, and sad to leave the pristine secluded beaches we've looked out our windows and viewed for 19 months straight.

Holy crap I have a lot to do to get off this island in a month. Later.

p.s. did you notice that Mia has doubled in size between these posts? Boo-hoo.

So Much For That

(A Little Piece of Heaven...a.k.a. My Bed)

Taking a nap here for SEVERAL hours would have been fantastic today. It was rainy and stormy and windy and purrrrrfect napping weather. Ho-hum.

Boo-ya

[The Sunday Fake-Out]

Guess I won't be enjoying the last piece of cake I thought was in the fridge.

Good Things Come in Three's

(The Pier at The Beach House Restaurant

with Nevis in the background)

I cheated big time today. We had an awesome day with three phases, so naturally...I couldn't pick just one picture. The day started out as a family at our fav St. Kitts beach...Banana Bay, which as usual...we had all to ourselves. We floated and looked for shells, and talked about how in a few short months we would probably be sitting in snow wishing we could be here. It was Kai's debut at the beach. He slept through the whole thing.

[Banana Bay, St. Kitts, West Indies]

Then phase 2 and 3 began...like we hadn't already had enough fun for one day. Dave and I headed back down the Peninsula [sans babies] for a date at the Spice Mill Restaurant for Lunch, and then to The Beach House Restaurant for some Dessert. Wicked Awesome.

Blow a Kiss...or not

[Bath time]

19 November

Be careful when blowing kisses. Some are innocent and cute, but some are flirty and can incite husbands looking on. As we passed a few kittian construction workers today, they learned to not do that to me...especially with Dave right there. He got a little mad. I got a little panicky. Even though it wasn't a big deal and only words were exchanged...somehow by the end of the day, according to Dave...ninja kicks happened, punches were thrown, and at one point, "the dust settled." I'm sure more embellishments will be added with time.

33 Days and counting til we're back to the U S of A.

Goodness

18 November...Good Day

Goodness is Dave loving our children. Kainoa is holding his head up like a pro. Time is flying. We are both clinging to any baby time we get with him. Mimi constantly sings her ABC's, and now practices all the sounds each letter makes. Flying.

Goodness was the bagger at the grocery store offering extra change to me when I was paying and I was having a hard time trying to dig out EC change that was mixed in my US change while struggling with two kids. Living in a different culture comes with it's set of challenges, and sometimes it's just refreshing to see the good in people that you often have differences with.

Goodness was both kids taking a 3 hour nap at the same time today. I even got to lay down for a little bit too.

Goodness was Dave making his "crazy" chow mein for dinner. Not only was it delish...but it meant I got the night off from cooking.

Good Day.

A Picture A Day

So my darling friend Abby is doing something I love on her blog. For the rest of the year, she's doing a picture a day. As I was checking out her blog...I thought, I should totally do that. I am horrible at documenting all the memories I want to, and this would be a manageable, nice way to finish out the year. Plus Abby is just cool and I want to be like her, so I'm being a big copy-cat basically.

[Our good friends at church]

I didn't take a picture today...but wanted to start it anyway, so I just chose a recent pic that I liked.

I will be amazed if I actually pull it off. Here's to goal setting!

Went Deep Sea Fishing with the Boys!!!

November 13, 2010 - Went Deep Sea Fishing with the Boys!!! This was an awesome trip, definitly worth blogging about!  My buddy Adrian set it all up and it was a great time (Thanks man)! Elder Case was there, Brandon Prince, Jimmy Avance, and Shane Brauchie were there.  We had a blast!  St. Kitts man!!! Here are some action pics! (Beth, I stole some pics from your guys' blog...hope you don't mind....thx!)
p.s. I would especially like to thank the boys for being so gracious as to let me reel one in! Thanks guys!

Halloween

We made it back to the island just in time for Halloween...a holiday that they don't celebrate here. So we figured we'd take our hot, sweaty, costumed bodies to a little community that does "celebrate" it to trick-or-treat there. It's a neighborhood filled with foreigners that sort of get into it, but as with everything here, there's a catch.

You just have to donate some candy to be able to trick or treat. (The things we do...).

Anyway, Mia had a great time, and quickly figured out that all you have to say is "Trick-or-treat" and you get candy. And for my child that only likes to eat chips, chocolate, and milk, this was a piece of cake.

Meanwhile, Kainoa just slept in my arms the whole time probably wondering why I put him in a wool clown fish costume in 90 degree weather. (Because he had to fit my ocean theme and match his mermaid sister of course!)

Here's to bring-your-own-candy Halloweens that the kids won't even remember!!! Hooray!!

A Beautiful Day for a Blessing

[Daddy and Kainoa's Sunday outfits ready to go...]

Last Sunday we had our "Kainoa Bear" (or "Baby Bear" as Mia has affectionately nicknamed our babes) blessed by his Daddy at church. It was a gorgeous day that was very very special. Dave committed to me the night before that not only would we be on time for church, he'd make sure that we were there early. And we were! I was impressed, and very grateful to be prepared and calm for our little Kainoa Bear's blessing.

It was a special event to share with our island family. We were so grateful to have wonderful friends that were willing and able to participate in the blessing.

We are still in love with our littlest addition!!!

[So much for ever getting a decent family pic]

[Kainoa and the Priesthood Brethren from the St. Kitts Branch]