Summer 2013 Update

So, I realize that it has been a while since I posted anything and for that I apologize. Honestly, before our vacation, we hadn't done anything worthwhile or exciting for me to talk about. Well, all that has changed now. We just returned from R&R (vacation in the Foreign Service) and I have tons of pictures to show and some stories to tell.

We left the day after school ended for Sofia. Can you tell that we were itching to get away. We spent 2 days traveling to get home and our first Air France experience was really good (not so on the way back, but that is another story). We stayed in Philadelphia, MS for a few days visiting my mom and the rest of the Philly family and doing really boring stuff like going to the eye doctor and dentist and getting hair cuts. These things are important and most people take them for granted, but we were so glad to have clean teeth and short hair. 

Next it was off to Biloxi, MS for a short visit with Dad and Deb. We enjoyed doing really normal stuff like going to Walmart and Sams. We got to visit with great friends (thanks so much to Felica, Marie, Cheree, Carla, Ashley and the guys for making us welcome). I had lunch with a great friend and mentor, Krystyna and we checked out Margaritaville for some average food and pretty good live music. Sofia got to visit with some of her friends and even spent the night with a couple of them while we were in town.

It was back to Philadelphia for a few short days where we got to see even more great friends (thanks for swimming and making a wave pool with us) and had a nice meal with my brother and his family. Mom makes the best ribs ever! We got to spend time with Grandma Sue and Papa and played lots with Anna Katherine, who was very small when I left for Washington in 2012.

Our next adventure began with a trip to Walt Disney World. We took Sofia and my mom and my nephew, Charlie, came along. It was busy and not particularly relaxing, but we had a great time! 

The kids enjoyed swimming and we got some fun shots with our new underwater camera. The camera was a gift from my sweet husband. 

We stayed at a neat resort at Disney World called the Art of Animation. We took this fun shot with Rafiki right outside our hotel building.

Up next, here are some random pictures that we took. 

We went to Epcot and got these fun shots. 

Sofia playing in a fountain in the rain in Germany

Al and the kids enjoying the mariachi music in Mexico

Last up, here are pictures of the kids with some of the Disney characters. There will be more Disney pictures to come, once we get our disc from Disney World in the mail. Wait until you see the ones of Mom dancing and singing with Tigger.

Sofia and Charlie with Chip and Dale

Sofia with Tigger and Pooh

After a busy week at Walt Disney World, Mom and Charlie headed back to Mississippi and we left for a few relaxing days on the Disney Cruise. My dad and stepmom, Deb, came along on this leg of our vacation. It was a bit more relaxing than Disney World. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the cruise.

We took a ride on a catamaran.

Sofia went snorkeling!

Sofia liked snorkeling. I always call her my little fish!

Disney Cruise Line took some professional shots and I wanted to share those. They turned out pretty good. We had a lot of fun on Pirate night!

After our Disney trip, it was time to head back to Yaounde, after a short stop in Philadelphia. We stayed for a couple of nights in Paris to try and get over the jet lag a bit before returning to Cameroon. We saw Notra Dame, the Louvre and took a Seine River cruise. We were really tired and I don't know that Paris is really a city for kids, but here are some good pictures that we got.

We all had fun on our vacation, but we are glad to be back home. We have another year here in Yaounde and then we will be off to our next post. Stay tuned for information on where that will be...I will share it soon!

Until next time....

Sofia's 8th Birthday

We celebrated Sofia's 8th birthday yesterday and it was an excellent party! Sofia had a swim party and she invited many of her friends from school. We had a butterfly theme including a piñata. For everyone who sent gifts, thank you. She has enjoyed playing with her new toys and games.This is evidenced by the fact that they are strewn all over the house right now. 

We had some great Mexican food and good company and her father and I are worn out. It was a truly excellent day! Please enjoy the pictures below.

Sofia showing off her new mosaic butterfly and new golf clothes!

Alberto working the grill to cook the fajitas.

Sofia's rainbow birthday cake

Sofia loved her friends singing to her

Enjoying the cupcakes

Piñata time

Lots of presents

A new monkey to add to the family

Sofia had a great birthday!

A rainbow to bless our birthday girl, right over our house.

Happy Birthday to sweet Sofia!

Easter time...almost

I apologize to everyone right up front. I haven't posted in over a month and I am sorry. Things here are so blissfully normal, that I can't usually think up much to post. We are preparing for Sofia's 8th birthday next weekend and also Easter and the start of her spring break.

Work is work and we are very busy preparing for evaluation season, award season, and several other important deadline driven things. Alberto is busy with work, taking guitar lessons, and has considered playing soccer. He is enjoying the Cameroon-Togo match at the stadium, as I type.

Already plans are underway for our summer R&R trip and I must admit, I am ready for a break. It will be nice to see our family and friends.

I am currently making yogurt, in the crock-pot. For everyone who is following our African adventure, you will know that I have gotten very domestic since coming to Cameroon. I have made sour cream, pizza dough, ice cream, bread, and cinnamon rolls from scratch. Now, I am giving yogurt a shot. I will let everyone know how it goes.

To conclude this post, of course, I have some great pictures of Sofia to share!

Sofia in her new Easter dress.

Sofia with Al before he transformed all the way into the Easter bunny!

Sofia in her Easter dress with her basket.

Honestly, Al makes kind of a creepy Easter bunny, but the kids loved it.

That's all folks. Until next time...

Sorry for the information drought

So I will apologize up front that I haven't posted in a month. Nothing is new, everyone is healthy and we haven't done anything particularly exciting since the last time I posted. Don't despair, we are going to the beach this weekend, which will mean more great pictures and a nice relaxing 3 days for me.

Today is my father's _0th birthday. He doesn't seem too enthused about it, but I tried to cheer him up. I sent him a Geezer t-shirt and reminded him that the alternative to Geezer was much less appealing. Don't know if it worked to cheer him up, but it made me laugh. Happy Birthday Keith Wells! A better father could not be found.

So we are starting to make plans for our R&R trip this summer. For everyone who wants to see us, we will be in Mississippi for 1 week and we have to try and see everyone during that time. We also have to get our teeth cleaned, hair cut, and eyes checked, so please try and be flexible with us. We also have big plans that include Disney World and a Disney Cruise. It will be a whirlwind of a trip, but should be tons of fun.

I have also started planning our second consummables shipment. It is really hard to plan over one year, how much Chef Boyardee ravioli and Ramen, Sofia will consume. Oh, well, I will do me best to guess and otherwise, we will just do without.

Until next time...

Happy New Year

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and New Year! I have been fairly absent from posting because we have been busy enjoying our first major holiday abroad. Christmas was fairly quiet and we spent the morning checking out the neat stuff Santa Claus brought. Sofia enjoyed all her gifts especially the Mermaid Tail from Santa and all the fun new projects from Lita and Buela. Here are some pictures from Christmas morning.

Yes, that is a real mermaid tail!

New Year's Eve was lots of fun! We went to a party that had great music and great friends. We danced and rang in the New Year with our new friends here in Cameroon!

We also took a trip to Kribi, which is a small beach town on the Gulf of Guinea. We enjoyed swimming at the beach and ate lots of seafood. Here are a couple of pictures from that weekend.

We had such a great time at the beach and are already planning when we can go back.

Life pretty much gets back to normal this week, so I will post an update as soon as we have something new to share.

Until next time...

Christmas and Hope

I am sitting here this morning, far away from home, listening to Christmas music, air conditioner blasting since it is already warming up outside and thinking about blessings and hope. Most of you who read this know that I don't usually have deep thoughts and opinions here. However, I think today is going to have a bit of both.

I am blessed to have the opportunity to pursue a career that challenges me and pays me on time. So many people are without work, without prospects, and without hope.

However, each one must live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him.

1 Corinthians 7:17

I am blessed to be in a place where although life is hard, family is important. Time is spent focused on making the best of the situation and loving each other. I get to spend real, quality time with my husband and daughter. So many people don't know the love of God and the love of family, or have hope that there is something better.

For the Lord is good, and His love eternal; His faithfulness ensures through all generations.

Psalm 100:5

 I am blessed that I have a family at home that loves and supports me in my choices. Although we are far apart this Christmas, I know that I am always in their hearts and minds. I know that best wishes are sent to me and mine each day. My family is without us this Christmas, but they are not without us for all time. So many people will never see their children, father, or mother again. They will never have another hug, kiss, or phone call from their loved ones.

For everyone who still has their loved ones near, give them lots of hugs and tell them how much they mean to you during this Christmas season. And when it is no longer Christmas season, tell them again, because love is not just for the holidays it is for all days.

And now, enough deep thinking. I leave you with a picture of my sweet girl. We love and miss everyone at home. 

Have a Merry Christmas!