Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloweeen from our Flower Child

Here we are at Frienship Park with Max and his Dad Mark- who i have known since '69!





Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Back to the Future in the twilight zone!

Above my class room in Ghana- you can see me near the window on the upper picture- we were taking my mom's history test!!! serious business!
This was my 7th grade class in Ghana- i'm in the bottom row, near my friend Almut! ( who i recently saw in Spain!) Mr Teacher was Mrs. Abedi and you cna see her showing me and Alessia(an italian girl) some crafts!

Here's my mom- the meanie history teacher!!! My form 1 class is the top pic- i'm looking sideways- as usual never paying any attention! LOL



Hey!!! can anyone find Aisha!?
5th grade in Tunisia!!!!!!
Amazing to think we just were in jamaica after all these years!
1978!
Not to mention, i am in touch with Lars and Helena who are in the class photo too!


Here's the mind blowing Snapshot of a lifetime!!!!
I was flipping through my mom's album's and i see this shot:
me with Zara--
only i suddenly say to myself- "hey-- why am i only 10 years old?
and how is Zara in that shot with me???"
Well.. of course its not her.. but how weird...i knew her somehow
in the distant past.....
(this little girl was the daughter of an English friend of my mother's who had married a Tunisian. My mom taught with her mom at school!)




Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Victoria's new website!

Here is Zara trying on part of her Halloween costume- our little flower child!
Playing on Granny's piano- one of her favourite past-times... and she can stand up on her own now- she also loves the well-known climbing the stairs activity.

At the mall with Amanda- who used to work with me at the Palm- now she's back in DC (where she should be), and with Smith & Wolensky's Steakhouse instead! Congrats Amanda on your AGM position!


Here's another introduction!!!!

http://iamozbod.com/information/

Vix just sent me her new web address for her cottage industry! Check it out- you'll be so impressed with her commissioned items so far!

Monday, October 27, 2008

Beth's new blog!





HOW amazing is the classic blue sweater in the middle picture...? Eileen, Matt's sister knitted it for Zara and she still can fit into it! We love it! thank you Eileen.
Soon we will all see each other at Greg & Renee wedding in NJ! Yipee!


this is Beth's new blog page. Beth, Matt's other sister, is brilliant and has finally begun her own blog; which, every time I read it, marvel at her creative writing-- and to top it off--am amazed she even has time to write anything at all!
She has seven beautiful and unique children- the youngest is Caleb- very close to Zara's age.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Swimming videos in Jamaica

The Rasta Chef named "Specialist" made us an all vegetarian meal after our full day of swimming in the mineral laden waters of the roaring river and fresh spring pools! His rosemary and lime tree leaves tea was the best I've ever tasted!

Aisha made it back to Holland, she had a tough journey, but she is home and starting treatment on Monday already! Her blog is listed on my favs to watch!

Here is "Fearless Zara" swimming. She even learned how to blow bubbles; which is great b/c now she can soon learn to put her face underwater!

three videos from Jamaica with Aisha and Kiara

my little rasta baby drumming with Kiara "soldier girl!"

downtown action in Montego Bay!

As a rare treat Aisha took us to a Rasta Spiritual healing center to swim in a roaring river and cool spring pools. We even walked into a deep cave and swam in the water flowing underground. It was wild! Afterwards, we had a special meal prepared by "specialist" a rasta chef in his "restaurant". Not exactly the Palm since there is no meat allowed! LOL

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Sad to go, but nice to be home with the Daddy...


Montego Bay memories!

Zara Discovering Jamaica




This amazing view is from a nearby home, you can see the home is still under construction- and we were graciously allowed in to take pictures-
Kiara and Aisha looked so healthy- it is hard to believe that Aisha is fighting cancer. She was full of energy and took us on great jaunts around the city and to a rasta healing center in the savannah lands. Aisha & her budding professional photograher- her daughter Kiara-took a ton of gorgeous shots- i took these with my cell phone, so sadly not great quality- but hope you get the feel of the place!

Jamaica! NO PROBLEM MON!





Zara in Montego Bay! What a perfect visit with Aisha and Kiara!
We did so much in such a short while.
where we stayed. I loved the controlled chaos of it all!
I really loved seeing Kiara and Aisha and meeting their friend Anna and Keriss.
I loved the warm breezy nights under the mosquito net - see pic of our room! Zara slept very well in the humid air- even with numerous dogs barking, music blaring from several homes and one night we even had a crazy "preacher" man with a megaphone shouting from 1-4am!
Poca- Aisha's sister- home is painted in my favorite colors- purple being one of them! Her pool is lovely & Zara loved swimming in such warm water- doubt any of pics do it all justice!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Happy Halloween- but first Jamaica!





Zara enjoying 85 degree weather with all her friends!!! What a perfect October!
Greg and Matt after a hockey game --- Greg & Renee are getting married in
only ONE MONTH's time! WOW
Max and Zara played amongst the pumpkins the other evening- it was amazingly warm out--
Liam- the boy across the street is so excited for Zara to begin walking-
as evidence in shot above!
Lia is Zara best little girlfriend- only a few months younger! She is precious and has the cutest expressions and squeals of delight! Her mother Kara & I hang out alot since we both quit work- we started our club called MWM (moms without money) and spend alot of time
doing free things and looking for cool coupons!

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Sunday Super busy day!





Here is a smattering of pics from today...Zara and Karina in Turtle park; then off to a party to see Laney!!! We haven't seen Laney since she was about 5 months old i think??? It was great to see them all! Also Ruth had come down from NYC for the Jewish holidays and we went out for Thai food at the new place just down the street!

The Munch on the road again, Historic Williamsburg and Norfolk, VA










Zara, Granny Zarr and I opted to take an overnight jaunt down to Norfolk, VA. The trip was prompted by the fact that Chrissy- our birthmother- had been on leave from GITMO, Cuba and was sent to Norfolk for 5 days.


We decided we could walk around Williamsburg, which i havent done since i was in High School, and meet up with Chrissie for a dinner and a lunch. It was actually really nice; i say "actually" because it was alot of driving for one night roundtrip and also Chrissy was so appreciative that we made the effort so it felt well worth it.



We decided to take a great tour of USS Wisconsin Battleship and i hope my mom enjoyed it! Chrissy was very attentive and was in a great mood. Funnily enough, we stayed in the identical hotel room that I had stayed in while in Kansas just over a year ago. Then to top it off, we ended up eating a Hooters (like we did one night in Kansas) -- both times under extreme duress and due to the lack of ANY other places open! Thankfully- Zara is too young to have been tainted by the experience!!! Although not so sure about my poor Mom!( her first experience)!!LOL