October is a Fun Month!!

Between Halloween, the changing of the seasons (not here, but in other parts of the world I hear), and 2 little girl's birthdays, October keeps us happy and busy! Here's a recap of what we've been up to:

Noelle's Birthday

This month Noelle turned 2! 

She is such a character! Full of energy and always in charge, Noelle knows what she wants. If she wants you to sit or play she does demand it. It doesn't help that Ethan and Analeigh fulfill her every desire. She is, after all, the baby. 

Noelle loves books and loves to be read to. 

She's started talking a lot lately. New words creep into her vocabulary daily, and she is sounding more and more like a big girl. 

I know she was telling me a story about something upsetting at the beach. This bikini is TOO CUTE!

One of Noelle's favorite characters is Elmo. We avoided it with child 1 and 2, but it could not be avoided the 3rd time around. She actually loves all Muppet characters which pleases me greatly. My sister and I will still watch any movie/show involving Muppets. She's a girl after my own heart. 

So this year I did an Elmo cake for my littlest peanut:

We had some of Josh's friends over for cake. 4th term is never-ending and really rough on the students, so not too many people could come. We kept it an intimate affair, but Noelle was happy as could be! 

There are 3 weeks exactly between Noelle and Analeigh's birthdays. We keep busy with all our activities and all our friends.

Analeigh's Birthday!

Analeigh turned 4 this year! Where does the time go?!

10 month old Analeigh playing in the pool with 4 year old Ethan

Analeigh is a sweet girl who loves drama. Maybe it's just this age, but she is full of drama! She loves all things pink and girly, but her favorite past time is swinging on the swings.

Sweet Sisters

She loves playing with her friends, but adores her sister most of all. And of course, she looks up to her big brother too.

Play dates are the best! 

This year for her birthday, Analeigh requested a Cinderella cake. We went with that theme and had a very casual party for her and her friends. They played, did a craft, and had some princess cake.

Cinderella Cake

Eating Lunch

A Princess Craft

Princess Analeigh

With all her friends

A new Barbie - what more does a girl need? 

Halloween 2013

2 days after Analeigh's birthday is Halloween. I did the costumes again, like I try to do every year, because I know someday a homemade costume won't be "cool". 

Ethan wanted to be a Minion from Despicable Me and the girls wanted to be cats. Well.....ok, Analeigh wanted to be a cat and Noelle can say "meow" so it worked out well to do 2 cats. 

We went up to the campus to go Trick-or-Treating. Remember Halloween is actually an American holiday not celebrated by Grenadians, but the University does put on a very nice route from office to office for the kids to trick-or-treat to.

Afterward, the Significant Others Organization had a little Halloween fair for the kids. It was really fun for everyone!

Pretty Kitty

Waiting to get his face painted.

Another Pretty Kitty

Immediately after I took this she dropped the cookie...it was sad. 

I love the look on Noelle's face. This is the costume competition. 

This kitty had her fur rubbed the wrong way. 

There were some really cute costumes this year. Most people either planned ahead and brought a costume, or made one from what they had on hand. For example, Ethan's overall's were once one of Josh's old t shirts. Not bad, eh?

6 More Months...

It is so hard to believe that we only have 6 more months (if all goes well) here on the island. We are actually having a great time. I feel like we have all accepted the fact that this is our life right now, and I can't imagine it being any other way. Sure I still struggle with the whole "stay at home mom" gig, but I really enjoy the fact that we have so many friends. In fact, Sunday may be the only day that I don't get to see my friends. 

View from our front yard. 

At this point, it is easy to dream of a life back in the states after the island, but that is exactly what it seems like...a dream. I feel like once we leave here it will all go back to normal, right? Back to our house, my job, our cars, old responsibilities again...right? As if I wake up and it was really all a dream. 

I may be in a state of denial...or simply just confused.

This could really be a dream come true? 

Luckily for now I don't have to worry about it. Let me just enjoy the few simple days and weeks I have left as a former-teacher-turned-beach-bum living the dream, I mean reality....you get the point. 

Guess it's time for another beer, so I'll talk to you later.....

T