Family Pictures

While on the island we thought it would be a great idea to have family pictures taken. The scenery is always breathtaking and it would be foolish to not have some family pictures taken. One of the teachers at the boys' prep school is a great photographer and we love our pictures!

Sunset at La Flambeau

We try to take a little break and enjoy some family time after Tyler takes a test. This was Tyler's last mini test before his final. We took the boys down to the beach and ate at the little restaurant there  that's called La Flambeau. We went with Kasey and JoEll Carling, the boys had fun playing at the beach swimming and building sand castles and Sam even jumped off the pier today. It started raining a little bit and it made a beautiful rainbow. We ordered our food at the restaurant and enjoyed a stunning sunset, this is a great place to enjoy sunsets. We are all getting excited to go home soon for Christmas. Just one more week!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is obviously not celebrated in Dominica, and because of that it is business as usual around campus. The boys still had school and Tyler had class as well. We did celebrate however with the Ross Spouses Organization. We reserved a large room in the CAC building and had a wonderful potluck dinner. I made a turkey and some rolls, many people made some tasty traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Tyler took a break to eat dinner with us and we also talked to our families that evening. Even though we miss our families, it was nice to eat a lovely dinner and celebrate with our island family.

Aba with Tyler

Aba Wavine has been one the my most favorite hikes and waterfalls on the island. So when Tyler had a Friday test, I knew what hike he had to do over the weekend. Kasey, JoEll, and David went with us to do the hike. Peter was our guide. It was raining pretty hard when we got there so we waited a little while for it to clear up a little. The hike down is so exciting, holding on to tree roots and ropes that are placed down most of the hike. At one point we go down a rope ladder. Tyler and his classmates were so excited to get out of the classroom and experience some beautiful scenery. When we got down to the beach the clouds cleared up and we got to run around the beach and take turns standing underneath the waterfall as it comes from a very tall cliff and cascades it's way down to the beach and into the Atlantic Ocean. When we started back up the hillside we could see a big storm coming in from the ocean, it was an eerie and awesome sight. It hit when we were climbing up. It was exciting climbing up in the pouring rain. Needless to say it made us move a little faster and we made it up the hill in no time.

 

David Bell

 

 

JoEll and Kasey Carling

 

 

Here I go down the hill

Turtles!

Over the first semester break we went to Rosalie Bay in hope to see some of the baby sea turtles hatch. Sadly none of the turtles in that nest survived, it was still a pretty trip but I really wanted to see some baby turtles. So later in November we got the chance to go back and hope that we could see some turtles. We were in luck this time and we got to see four little babies make their way to the ocean. They had already hatched and Simon, the turtle guy, had them in a bucket when we got there. Once everyone was gathered at the beach they released the turtles and they started scooting to the water. They were surprising fast. They made their way over each other and the seaweed on the beach with no problems. The boys had so much fun cheering them on and announcing the little race that was taking place with the little guys. I wish we could hold them, but we weren't allowed to. The boys probably would have taken one home if were up to them. This was a major Dominican experience I wanted to check off my list and was so happy to be able to be there.

 

Levi and Sam checking out the turtles

 

 

Rosalie Bay

 

 

Ethan

 

 

Sam and Levi cheering the turtles on

 

Creole Day

Living in a foreign country has it's benefits, we get to celebrate our holidays and also learn about and celebrate their holidays. On October 31st in Dominica they celebrate Creole Day. The celebration really lasts all weekend. Their is a strong French influence in their country and this is the day that they celebrate that. They wear the tradition madras plaid. The girls wear madras plaid dresses that have many ruffles, and also headbands. The boys wear white shirts, madras vests, and a red sash around their waists. At the prep school they had a group of local kids dressed in their madras come and perform Dominican dances. The boys all wore their madras bow ties to school that day.

 

My handsome boys

 



 

Levi

 

Halloween 2014

Holidays in Dominica feel a lot different from back at home. Halloween was no exception, first off it was a really hot, hot day. Since Halloween isn't a Dominican holiday there isn't trick or treating and costumes are very hard to impossible to find. Some people bring costumes from the states and others make theirs. We got creative and decided to make our own costumes. I got a fun idea from Pinterest and since the boys love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles we decided to make those costumes. I got big disposable roasting pans and spray painted them green and added bandanas and waistbands from material I found a store in Roseau. Then we made their swords from cardboard and tinfoil and Ethan's staff from a broomstick that we covered with brown paper. The boys wore green shirts to complete the look. The University had different locations on campus that all the kids from the prep school went around and went trick or treating. Then that night we had the Kids' Fest party where there was games, face painting and a very popular haunted house. The boys loved their non-traditional Halloween and they want to make their own Halloween costumes again next year.

 

Levi and Sam out trick or treating around campus

 

 

Ethan

 

 

Sam, Ethan, and Levi at the family lounge

 

 

Levi

 

 

Ethan's class

 

 

Sam's class

 

 

Levi was so tired he fell asleep on the way home with a balloon for his pillow

Beach Bash

At the beginning of every semester the school hosts a party at the beach called "Beach Bash". The kids and I headed down to the beach after school, there they had free activities like sailing, tubing behind a boat, and paddle boarding. They also had dinner, juice and Brownie Marley. They had live music and a bonfire as well. Tyler was able to come down for a little bit and hang out with us. The kids had a great time and we got to watch a beautiful sunset on the beach.

 

Ethan in front of the bonfire

 

 

Sam and Mom

 

 

Ethan and his friends Logan and Kai

 

 

Levi