December 2007 pictures

Happy 2008!

Happy New Year! We had kind of an uneventful Christmas...I had the worst case of intestinal flu ever. I am calling it the "Tembagapura weight loss plan"--this year I didn't gain the typical 3 lbs over the holidays (there is always some good in everything). The kids got just what they wanted. This is good, since Santa had to plan about 6 months in advance! Gary took them to a party on Christmas Eve where they saw Santa and ate lots of candy. Luckily they are still easy to please! Here are some exciting events happening in our lives: Paige has both learned to swim and pump on the swings. Reagan has her first adult tooth coming in (behind the baby tooth, but oh well--braces only means trips to Cairnes for orthodontia). Blaire sits by herself and has decided she likes to eat food/fruit. Ruby only throws one tantrum a day, usually after her nap (hee hee). I have been very homesick, but I guess it could have something to do with laying around for 8 days feeling sorry for myself while sick. The kids still don't go back to school until the 15th, but now we do have new toys to get us through. Next year we will plan a trip over the break. Gary is doing great at work. He really loves it here. This holiday has been a great time for him to just jump right in--all the other people in management for his dept are gone! So he has already been able to take charge. We miss everyone soooo much! Our plan is to come back in June and stay till mid August. See you then! xoxo

The Sheraton in Timika

pictures

The Girls

Just a little more on how the girls are doing. Blaire has finally started eating food and can sit up all by herself. She has such a great disposition and is mostly just happy. She looks like a miniature of her daddy! Ruby wears "tinkerbell big girl panties" for about half an hour each morning. This is how long it takes for her to wet them! Oh well. Sometimes it does get into the potty! Reagan has her first loose tooth! She is just growing up....she has homework (which was exciting for about a week) and can walk home from the bus on her own (with me watching from the window!) She got her first report card ever and is doing great. Paige is still miss personality. She is making lots of friends! They already know her favorite color at school. She is also sounding out words and is starting to write. We are preparing for a nice quiet Christmas here, and will even see Santa Christmas Eve! Merry Christmas! Selamat Hari Natal Here are pictures of the school Christmas program and our rhinocerous beetle "Flower"

We're here!

HELLO! SORRY TO ALL THOSE WHO KEEP CHECKING OUR BLOG WITH NOTHING NEW. THE INTERNET HERE IS VERY SLOW AND EXPENSIVE....YOU PAY ACCORDING TO THE TIME YOU ARE ONLINE.

WE ARE ADJUSTING WELL TO ISLAND LIFE. THE HARDEST PART IS BEING VERY ISOLATED. THERE IS NOTHING HERE BUT JUNGLE ALL AROUND US, AND I MEAN NOTHING. IT IS A ROUGH 2 HOUR DRIVE INTO THE CLOSEST TOWN AND GARY STILL CAN'T DRIVE. (HE'S TESTING TODAY). HOWEVER, WE ARE JUST FINDING OUR ROUTINE AND WORKING IT!

REAGAN & PAIGE LOVE THEIR SCHOOL. I THINK I AM HAVING THE HARDEST TIME ACCEPTING THE NEW SCHOOL JUST BECAUSE WE WERE SO HAPPY AT THE LAST ONE. REAGAN IS DOING AWESOME WITH HER READING AND IS LEARNING AUSTRALIAN CURRENCY. PAIGE IS SOUNDING OUT WORDS LIKE CRAZY AND BOTH OF THEM ARE WRITING LETTERS TO ALL THE KIDS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. RUBY IS A LITTLE BORED, I THINK. SHE DOESN'T START PRESCHOOL UNTIL NEXT YEAR. SHE MISSES SCHOOL, BUT WE ARE GETTING TO SPEND LOTS OF ONE ON ONE TIME TOGETHER THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE. THIS IS GOOD, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT SHE IS TWO ANDA HALF AND VERY MOODY! BLAIRE WILL BE 6 MONTHS OLD NEXT WEEK. IT IS SO HARD TO BELIEVE. SHE IS ROLLING ALL OVER AND CAN SIT UP. SHE FINALLY STARTED EATING FOOD. I HAVE BEEN MAKING BABY FOOD LIKE CRAZY AND FREEZING IT BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO GET VEGETABLES HERE. A HEAD OF BROCCOLI IS ABOUT $6! SO IT IS OUR BIG SPLURGE WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE.

THE FOOD IS HORRIBLE, BUT WE ARE FIGURING OUT WHAT WILL WORK. IT IS AN ART AND YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CREATIVE. WE DO HAVE A LIVE-IN HELPER (PEMBANTU) NAMED JOICE. SHE HAS TAUGHT ME TO MAKE CURRY WHICH WE HAVE EATEN ALMOST EVERY NIGHT SINCE! I AM TRYING TO LEARN TO COOK SOME INDONESIAN FOODS. THERE IS A SMALL CAFE WITH DECENT FOOD AND A SUPPER CLUB CALLED THE LUPA LELA. THE FOOD THERE IS GREAT, AND THEY WILL ALSO SELL YOU FISH, MEAT AND VEGETABLES. HOPEFULLY I WILL BE ABLE TO START A GARDEN SOON SO WE CAN HAVE SALAD!

LOVE TO ALL....I WILL TRY TO KEEP POSTING. TO THOSE THINKING OF A VISIT...BALI IS REALLY GREAT AND THEY ARE VERY HOSPITABLE. THE SHOPPING IS AWESOME BUT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE SOME HEAT. MY SUNGLASSES KEPT FOGGING UP IT IS SO STEAMY! WE PLAN TO GO TO AUSTRALIA IN JANUARY.