Mon. 6/22 - Sun. 6/28

So I'd heard hurricane/rainy season started. It seems it REALLY started today. The rain came pouring down and it rained off and on (but mostly on), harder and lighter all the flipping day long.

 Brown water, no power, lots of rain... When do I get to leave this island? Most of a year left? Ugh! Apparently this is how it's going to be a lot of the time from now until NOVEMBER!!! I'm sure there will be sun sometimes too but not today.

I have been very seriously considering moving to an apartment close to campus and IGA. I debated in my mind the pros and cons. I finally decided to call and inquire about it and she said someone had called this morning... I guess it just wasn't meant to be. I guess we'll just stay put for now. Not that my apartment is terrible it's just far away. Especially when walking home uphill in the rain with 4 kids...

Wednesday Mark had his 2nd mini of the semester. He has been spending so much time with SGA and surgery club things lately that he lost a lot of study time. Emma and I waited to meet up with Mark before his exam and a handful of his classmates were there happy to see Emma waving at them.
It was refreshing to observe a group get together and pray before the test.

We went home and I guess I forgot to close the door. I was planning to step back out but I got distracted. A bird flew into the apartment while Emma was napping. (She would've LOVED to see it inside!) It took forever to get it out!! It would fly back and forth from the kitchen to the living room but not out any of the open doors or windows! It was so frustrating! I was afraid I was going to be late leaving the house for lunch because of it! It FINALLY did fly out! 

After Mark's mini he and I went to check out the "man cave" burger we had heard about. Not too shabby. Still not American for sure. Burgers and pizzas just don't cut it for me here. They're edible sure but not as satisfying. 

Thursday the kids went on a hike during school.  (I didn't go but a teacher shared this.)

Saturday I was so excited to be able to go on a hike WITH MARK to Victoria Falls. I heard it was a harder hike where you have to climb over boulders and wade through a river several times. I'd arranged for the kids to be taken care of and off we went. 

I've wondered how a pineapple grows. I'd always assumed they came off a tree. Nope. Today I saw one out in the wild!!

We got to a point where we could see the water fall and I thought we were done. Up ahead there were tons of huge rocks and it didn't look possible to get to the falls. There definitely was not a path to get there. We carried on up, over and between boulders. I loved it! 

The hike was exhausting but SO fun!!

We have GO PRO PICTURES somewhere but I'm not sure where so I'm just going to post this!

Mon. 6/15 - Sun. 6/21

I was looking through Isaac's backpack and noticed that he wrote his full name on his paper. It made me smile. Not to mention he got 100% on this paper. He's our smart Macker Snacker. (nick name). 

Emma was having a great time at the playground pushing around a ball in a Tonka truck. 

The kids had gone with their dad to a place in the river during the break. They wanted to take me there but we heard it was a place locals liked to bathe and a friend told us about a different place up the river. She generally gave us directions and we ventured out to find it. She said, "If you pass the goats you've probably gone too far." I'm still not totally sure if this is the place she was talking about but it's where we went. The kids had fun floating around. Emma slept most of the time we were there and lizards surrounded us. 

Thursday evening I got the kids to bed and Mark was doing an anatomy sutures thing on cadavers for Surgery club. I needed to make bread. I lit the gas oven then sat at the table to look at my computer while the bread was rising and the oven was preheating. I smelled something strange. We live with the windows open and at first I thought it was just something outside. Then I realized it was the gas from the stove. Apparently it didn't actually light like I thought it did (even though I swear I checked to be sure like I always do...) and it had been letting out gas for a while. I needed to hurry and get this bread cooking and done so I could go to bed. I turned off the gas and aired out the oven a bit with the door and my hand waving around. Then I went to light it. Nothing happened. I remembered I had turned off the gas. So I turned the gas back on and again went to light it and BOOOOOOM!!! Like in a movie! I screamed! I'm not sure how I got there but I found myself in the corner by the locked barred screen door. I was in SHOCK! What in the world!?!? I was able to think enough to turn off the gas. I didn't know what to do or how to feel I was so rattled. My toes felt singed but I couldn't look down. I grabbed my phone and called Mark in hysterics. He couldn't understand most of what I said. I was starting to hyperventilate. He told me to sit down and breath and he would come home. He got home in record time. I felt bad and ridiculous for taking him from studying. When he got home he just held me as I cried. He helped me calm down and not feel bad about it. I had been completely TERRIFIED!!! I was certainly watched over!

Friday was technically the kids last day of school. They will start the summer program on Monday. Our schedule won't change at all. I've heard at school they will be mixing up the students and teachers a bit and do group projects.

Emma wanted these in her hair. 

Saturday 

Mark went zip lining with SGA

Rosealie Bay to see baby turtles

Lexi enjoyed finding hermit crabs and showing them to the younger children.

It made me so happy to watch this giggly Kari experience the crab tickling her hands.

The Atlantic side of the island is too rough for swimming. You wouldn't even want to right now with all the seaweed type stuff all over the beach. Ick!

Emma was NOT happy at one point while we were waiting for the excavation to get started. She was just screaming! I left the kids with our group and walked around with Emma and planned to stick her feet in the pool to distract her from whatever her problem was. She calmed down and released some gas. I guess her tummy had been hurting her. I was glad she was feeling better. I was afraid I would miss the baby turtles all together. 

There were only 4 baby turtles alive that needed help out. 

Emma was so excited to see the turtles!

Sunday is Father's day. We love our Daddy so much!!!

Talks at church quoted conference about reading the Book of Mormon everyday everyday everyday...  I admit I really struggle with that. It was awesome that the speaker spoke about the Iron Rod and I had chosen to play Hold to the Rod without any knowledge of the subjects for the meeting! Pretty cool.

Mon. 6/8 - Sun. 6/14

Monday went to Kari's class to observe a potential candidate to replace her teacher who is leaving at the end of the semester. Afterwards, I was part of a small group to interview our candidate.

Tuesday was Beach Bash which is held each semester. The kids and I rode on the banana boat this time while Emma hung out with Mark. The kids enjoyed the bouncy house and free juice.

On Wednesday I hiked with Emma to Syndicate falls.

I  swam around a little in the cold water and went behind the waterfall!! It was slightly scary and really awesome! It was an enjoyable hike. I did however actually fall for the first time while carrying Emma. I've slipped SO many times on hikes but always regained my balance. I hurt my wrist a little but Emma was fine so I was grateful. 

Mango tree

The kids have been wanting to walk down a dirt road we pass daily to see where it goes. We finally went exploring this week. The dirt road took us to a paved road. We then turned toward the sea and found this little ship. We crossed a small river and had an adventure! They loved it! 

The kids were dancing in a line together and I thought it was fun they were all so into it. 

Homemade ice cream in our Blenctec has become our family favorite treat!! Yummy!!

Our backdoor neighbors have a pomegranate tree. I've never seen one and enjoy watching pretty blossoms like this turn into pomegranates.

Emma was enjoying a snack at the family lounge and I was enjoying watching her.

Sunday I walked with the kids a little past our church building to this very interesting looking structure. I makes me think of candy canes. It is pink and white with shells ALL over! Pretty crazy!