Novice Blogger

Well, I've joined the ranks of bloggers, clogging up the web with my ramblings. I figured I'd been using email as a form of journaling so I might as well take the plunge and add pics, photos, links, possibly a suitably outrageous survey, and the official stamp of legitimacy that is BLOGSPOT to my virtual journal.

So here is my first attempt.

Since January 2006 we've made our home here in Grenada and in 2 months we'll be leaving this place with a mixed bag of emotions. And only now will I start a blog and post some pics of the place we call home. Only problem is I don't really have pics of our house so I took a little video tour. Our huge backyard and the separate playroom for the kids are my 2 favorte things about the place. Besides the fruit trees: mango, guava, ugli fruit, lime and whatnot, we've also got a bunch of spices and other produce which is awesome since all things fresh are incredibly expensive in Grenada.

So this was my first blog attempt but the video took so long to upload that it's no longer the first post, making the title still correct but distorting the timeline.

pumkins in grenada

It's a bit odd that Keahi's first pumpkin carving experience was here in Grenada where no one celebates Halloween. Instead they celebrate All Saints' Day on Nov. 1st when everyone goes to the graveyards to put flowers on loved ones' graves. But we Americans like our commercialized holidays--especially if it involves candy.

So our friends the Weirs introduced Keahi to the joys of carving pumpkins. Or rather acorn squash or some other variety that passes for pumpkin here. At first Keahi's face was very tiny and uncutable--you can see it between the final cut eyes. But eventually this charmingly lopsided quirky jack-o-lantern emerged.

While his big brother scooped seeds, Jarom wandered about or occupied himself with Sara's cabinets. And he broke a vase. Already following in his older brother's destructive footsteps.

He loved it so much we held on to it till bacteria had almost done it in. Actually this last lighting sucked the lid in. I can't wait till next Wed. when Keahi gets to trick or treat on campus.

Farm Fun

Yesterday our Joy School groups went on a fieldtrip to the vetenary school's farm. It was muddy, smelly, and loads of fun for everyone. The kids got to pet a chicken, a blind goat, a newborn (born that morning) calf and a baby donkey. They also got to feed the horses. Lukily there were no injuries--as our guide informed us sometimes they like to lick you with their teeth--and no one fell in the manure. It was cool to see how the babies have grown since we saw them in the summer.

Keahi and Kaia--the early years

I was just thinking about how much Keahi has grown (more metaphorically than physically) this past year and that led me to the fact that he's already had his first BFF--that's Best Friends Forever for the more mature readers. While Kaia lives in England now, she's always close to Keahi's heart, prayers and stories. Whatever the story it always ends up with Keahi flying over to England (not generally in a plane) to play with Kaia. So here's a tribute to Keahi and Kaia BFF.