Keeping Up with the Joneses...: New Things in the New Year!

As I mentioned in my last post we are super happy in our new place. This week is our first week back to school and routine and we're loving the place even more. It's larger than our old place, 30 sec from the pool a 5 min walk from the beach and 7-8 minutes from school!

Banks and David got much needed hair, and thankfully beard, CUTS...not trims :) Picture of both of them below. There hair is super curly bc of the humidity here and so is mine if you can believe that, although I'm not in picture taking condition today ;). Banks' doesn't look that drastic but I actually took about 3 inches off and even gave her a graduated bob with layers. I like to act like I can cut hair but in reality I'm just lucky that my clients have curly hair and you can't tell :).

My attention was brought to the condition of everyone's hair because when we arrived back on the island there was a lice outbreak among the kids. :/ Luckily and with fingers still crossed, we have not been infected. Another issue we are facing returning to school this week is that the Prep School and Early Learning Center are undergoing MUCH NEEDED renovations, however to know one's surprise they are not finished in time. Not only are they not finished it will be weeks before the kids can enter the new space. The alternative is 3 trailers at the back of the school grounds, with terrible AC and absolutely no toys or space for kids to learn or play. I sent the kids 1 day but have decided to keep them at home with me until the new facility is complete. To give you a better idea...they have babies...I mean 3-9 month babies in a trailer with no cribs and a few mats on the floor. It's not acceptable at all and we mother's have voiced our opinions loud and clear. I'm sure no one is surprised by that :)

I am also considering a new school for Banks. One of the spouses who formerly taught at the prep school here and was a teacher in the U.S. has started an at home pre-K and Kindergarten. I am working with Banks at home but she really loves to be in a structured environment with peers...Peers being the operative word! The early learning center on campus is great and she loves her teachers but I worry it's not challenging enough for her. Since we are in a more relaxed environment the option to start her in Pre-K early has presented itself so I plan to take it!!! We go for a visit on Friday...wish Banks good luck!!

Last but not least...David has been in the pool at 6:30 a.m. every morning for the last 9 days swimming for 30 minutes. I am pretty proud of him!!!

the view from my kitchen window...not bad

If you look in the middle of the picture and see some brown rice looking things...those are the clips hanging on 2 clothes lines that my landlord hung just for me at the bottom of my backdoor steps!! This is a big deal! This spot is feet from my apartment, not in the mud and gets full sun and tons of breeze until 3 pm. Oh and this is our landlord's son and apt complex manager, Marley.

My full size fridge. The pink towels stays there bc the fridge leaks really bad but i refuse to tell the landlord in fear she will replace it. It is unheard of to have a full size fridge in Dominica!!!

clean, white and tons of counter space!

Putting my new rug to use...I love it Bam

The built in closets in both bedrooms...Banks demonstrating her time out chair, although she's not really in time out :)

David and I's bedroom. We have an extra twin mattress in our room bc we moved it out of the front room/bathroom, below, to make room for storage and a very spacious laundry room :)

Sorry David, just realized your drawers, or sundries as you may say, are hanging from the ceiling!! It looks junky but it's the only storage space we have.

hallway...sorry sideways

other view of the laundry room. The landlord calls this a 3rd bedroom with a bath in the room. very weird. makes a great utility room for me :) I just have a twin bed as my side table now.