Time with Family

My parents arrived last Friday evening. There's lots to say, but I got to get to bed before we head off tomorrow for a one night getaway for our 5th anniversary. So I'll write more about the trip later.
Saturday at the zooCheck out Darton's face!Park on SundayGrandmommie time always means lipstick for Adeline!

We just returned from an all-inclusive resort in Rio San Juan. Lots of fun in the sun!

Adeline Art

Click here to view this photo book larger

Fun New Toy

Pricesmart is our Sam's Club or Costco. In fact, it carries some of the same items and most of everything in the store is imported. It's a store that is supposed to save you money......yeah right! I went in to Pricesmart today for wipes and cheese. I came out with much more including this tent set. The kids are having so much fun! You can tell by the expressions on their faces. There is one more piece, the tent. I think I'll save that for another time when they get bored with the house.

Darton is officially signing! He went full force at exactly 15mths. The most commonly used ones are eat, please, drink, and help.

A few posts ago I wrote about the 90% humidity here. Here's two more humidity facts:

1. When you take your contact out of your eye at 4am and put it on your bed instead of in the trash, you can still put it back into your eye 3 HOURS LATER (after a dash of contact solution).

2. Play-doh does not dry out. Instead you have to have a fan blowing directly on your children when playing with Play-doh so that it doesn't stick to to their hands or the table making it impossible to use.

Banana-Oatmeal Cookies

If you're looking for a moist cookie that doesn't contain sweetener, butter, eggs, or wheat here it is!

Banana-Oatmeal Cookies

Simply Natural Baby Food - Cathe Olson

2 cups rolled oats
2/3 cup almonds
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt (used regular table salt)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (used allspice)
1 1/2 cups mashed banana (3 bananas)
1/4 cup canola or safflower oil
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup raisins (I used chopped dates)

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly oil baking sheet. Grind oats & almonds to a coarse powder in food processor or blener. Stir in baking powder, salt, cinn, & nutmeg.
Beat (or use food processor) bananas, oil, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Add to oat mixture. Stir in raisins.
Drop cookie dough by tablespons on baking sheet. Bake for 13-16minutes or until bottoms are golden brown. (b/tw 2-3 dozen)

Definately worth trying out!

Raising Children

I read a post that prompted me to think and respond with the following: (it would be best if you go to the hyperlink first)

There is nothing small about your sacrifice! I too fight the same battle of computer time and the battle of showing my children the Lord through my actions. I am thankful thought that the Lord is the one who can only change their hearts and I will do my best to raise my children in the admonition of the Lord. I will teach them that God has a hand in everything…ABCs & 123s. I will teach them that He is their Savior if they choose Him as Lord of their life. I will not treat my children as pagans who are on their way to Hell unless I do something about it. No, I will teach my children instead how daily life encorporates living by the Word of God and pray that one day I will get to see fruits of the Holy Spirit working in them. Press on Sister! Don’t be overcome by fear and timidity, but walk in the Spirit and your children will know that God is real.


Now I know this isn't anything profound, but it caused me to put thoughts into words that I hadn't before which helps me to be more grounded in my beliefs.

Hooray! We got water this morning...thankfully my expectations were NOT met!

We Got Nada

We've hit the true Dominican life today...
1. Our generator has been broken for 2wks and we are at the mercy of the city for electricity (not such a good thing especially when they don't pay the power company). We are guaranteed no power at some point during the day/night.
2. Our well broke today and all the water that could be removed from the cistern has been. Flushing toilet, washing hands, brushing teeth...the little things that you just don't think about the amount of water you use. We've been told the well is broken, not the pump. We're thinking if the well is broken then it can't be an afternoon fix.

We have plenty of friends to go to if worse comes to worse. Workmen come tomorrow to look at it...but we've had workmen "looking" at our generator for 2 weeks now. Sigh.

I'm sure most of you have had to experience a similare situation at some point. We'll get through it...nothing can get us too down since my parents will be here on Friday night and then a girlfriend, Mariah, comes on Aug 13! Whoohoo for visitors!

Dominican friends invited us to their 500acre finca (farm) yesterday. I forgot my camera, but it won't be the last time we visit. It was a day of pool time and dune buggies.