AHHHH...it is finally summer here for us! I know that it has been a really really really really long time since I have posted, there is a good reason...but I am back..and it is summer at last!
The last few months of school/work have been a blur of assignements for the kids, choir programs, end of year awards, graduation (both pre-K and high school) as well as all of the end of the year "paper work" that comes with being a teacher.
The most asked question of expats this time of year around here is "When do you leave and where are you going?" For us, it's an easy answer... "We are not leaving!" Sometimes we get strange looks like "Why would you stay here for the summer..you are Americans..???" Other times we get " Why not, it's a vacation destination anyway!" Mostly we get "oh...that's great..!" We are excited to be hanging around the Caribbean for the summer!
The kids are excited about daily beach runs (taking turns at our three fav. spots), the fruit for dinner, and the ability to stay up late and not have a bed time at all! (Last night they all fell asleep in the living room!!)
I am excited about not setting an alarm clock at all...not having to be up at 5am sure makes me a happier person! I too am excited about our beach time and of course just relaxing at home and not doing anything. (also blogging more :)
Today we headed out to Rum Point...it's a total tourist trap..the cruise ships bus people here throughout the day... but on a Monday w/ only 1 ship in port and all the local kids are still in school we had the palce mostly to ourselves! They have beach chairs and hammocks..a nice bathroom and a food stand (We took a bag of snacks, sandwhiches, and fruit to keep costs down). The best part about Rum Point is the water. Not only is it crystal clear, but the max depth is about 3 feet...and its that deep for about 1000 yards out! The kids can play, "swim" and hang out really far from shore and we don't have to worry about them much at all... Toby stays close to shore naturally...but the others are all tall enough that all they need to do is put their feet down and they are safe..there isn't an undertow!!!
We had a lovely day (with friends to boot!) Our friend Kathryn was with us (along with some new firneds Emily and Chris) she scored a "local discount" on a water tricycle ($20 USD for 6o minutes) and we all got to go for a ride!! It was a quite the workout..but a lot of fun!
We are also looking for a new place to live. We love this house, don't get me wrong..its the best place we've ever lived!! I love the space...the kitchen, the rooms... but the commute is long and the utlities put us just at our budget each month. We started looking for a new place the last day of school (Friday) and have come up with a few options that are literally 100 yards from the school! One option has a pool (it's a complex, a row of townhomes) another is a house (no pool) and another is also a house (no pool, but a huge yard). The savings on rent, gas and ultilies would be great...and give us a cushion. Keighley is excited about walking to school!
This week our kids are in the children's choir musical... Noah, Keighley and Isaac all have main parts... they are doing a great job. Keighley esp. loves this! They have worked since Feb. on this show and it's really come together well.
Rick will be teaching summer school...two days a week...and he has some Cadat Corps stuff this summer too. One of us (both if we can swing it) might go to Orlando to do some shopping for the new school year... other than that...we have no plans... :)
This is our first summer that we both don't have to work full time! It's heaven! We are all on vacation for the next 70 days! The life a teacher is great!! Work really hard for 10 months and get two full months off!
Time to go get ready to see another house and gear up for some stir fry for dinner! YUM!
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