Our Vacations

Check out more pictures from Jamaica by clicking here

One Love and Aloha -

We've been back for a week and I have finally found the time to journal the moments we spent with family and each other.

Jamaica was wonderful. We spent the Easter weekend on the go. But the first thing we had to take care of was getting ourselves some fish and festival. So we headed to Ft Clarence Beach and it was YUMMY!

On Sunday we had a wonderful lunch prepared by many and hosted by the Lindo household. Before diving into some delicious food we had the children blessed. Douglas did a beautiful job in leading us through prayer and words to guide us. Then he had three generations (beginning with the youngest) Courtney, Tracey and Auntie Marie give their personal wishes to Malaika and Liam. It was a special evening. Easter Monday we found ourselves all together again but this time we headed to a place that holds alot off meaning for us all. We headed up to Holywell (The Blue Mountain Range) for a picnic and hike.

For the most part the rest of our time was spent in the country at Silver Sands. For Tim his days would go something like this: Eat, swim, eat, boogie board, repeat. Liam hit the Caribbean Sea for the first time.

Leaving the kids in Jamaica was hard but we knew that they were in the best hands. As we've told everyone that was involved - they are all blessings and every parent should have the opportunity to "take off". Our support system made that possible.

Enjoy more of Hawaii by clicking here

When we arrived on Maui we were pampered by Baxter. We spent our first week at the Four Seasons Hotel in Wailea and during that week we played beach volleyball, woke up at 2am to watch the sunrise at the top of Mount Haleakala (10,025 ft) and then biked down, did a little outrigging, snorkeling and kayaking.

After our time in Wailea we headed to the remote town of Hana for one night. Winding roads (some parts just as bad as Jamaica) 50+ bridges, too many waterfalls to count and apparently something like 600 corners and turns.

Our last four days in Hawaii we took it really easy at a lovely condo at the Mahana. From our room we watched the whales (the last for the season), saw the outrigging crews racing by, the dedicated locals hit the waves to surf and the tourist burning their backs as they looked very hard for that sea turtle. We also took some time to learn how to surf (even though I did feel a little like fresh bate waiting for a wave).

I have to admit that I was ready to come back home. We enjoyed our time away but there is nothing like the smell and feel of your own bed. Plus, we missed Malaika and Liam in a BIG way.

We're Off

It's vacation time and this year we are certainly blessed. We're hitting Jamaica for two weeks with the kids. Then Tim and I head back to Seattle for 4 days and then to Hawaii for another 11 days. Crazy I know, I cannot believe I'm leaving my pickney dem in Jamaica for an extra two weeks, without ME!

We just couldn't pass up this opportunity. Tim won this trip through Baxter (3-time trip winner). His first win we took for our honeymoon and the second we couldn't go on due to me being a week away from delivering Malaika.

Our families have been wonderful to help out with the kids and all of the logistics. Will post pictures and stories when we return.

Aloha, Irie, One Love

Save A Life - Shaggy and Friends

Take the time to watch this video, it'll be worth your time!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QJ_7Ey-RDc

Big Up Jamaica in Beijing

Pictures: Jamaica and 1st Birthday

Pictures of Jamaica and birthday

Malaika went in for her one year check up and the doctor only had wonderful things to say. He's also excited to know that he will be taking care of Baby D when he/she arrives. Malaika is 75th percentile in height and weight. She weighs 22lbs 1oz and she's 30.25 in. Apart from walking, waving, giving high 5's, showing you her tongue when you ask for it and blowing kisses she's saying bye bye, hi, ha (for hot), 'eow (for meow), mama, dada and much more. What a fun age, I wish I knew what was going on in that little head (47.7 circumfrence) or maybe not so little head of hers.

Two Weeks At Home

Malaika and I just got back from our two week trip to Jamaica. We went home to celebrate Uncle Donalds life and had the opportunity to stay and visit with family and friends. It was a wonderful time even though we missed daddy and wished he could've been with us. The family is all doing well and I will post pictures for you all at a later date.

Today Tim and I celebrate our 3rd anniversary and tomorrow Malaika will be turning one...so stay tuned there is more to come.

Cancelled

It's been a very frustrating three weeks trying to work with the U. S Citizenship Immigration Services and my immigration lawyer. They have both been absolutely NO help and because of that and my procrastination we had to cancel our two week trip home. Going into the details will just make me even more upset so I'm just going to leave it at that.

We missed Easter with the family and my cousin Rachele's wedding, an event we've been looking forward to for the last 6-months. Is there travel in my future? Well of course there is, I just haven't got a clue as to when. We're going to try to go home for Malaika's first birthday, that will make the trip a bit of a celebration.

It's a sad week for our family - isn't it suppose to be 85 degrees with the sand between our toes....ugh!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

"Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire"
(The Jamaican Version)

Breadfruits roasting on an open fire
Mongrels nipping at your toes
Dancehall songs, being sung by a choir
'An we dress up in we bashment clothes

Everybody knows,
When gungo cook an sorrel flow
Yu dun know seh season brite
Gal an bwoy wid them starlight a glow
Dem nah go waan fe sleep tonite

Dem know seh joyride deh pon the way
With music, rockin' rockin thru de day
'An all the chicken dem a try fi spy
Fi see is which one a dem is gwine to fry

'An so, we want to big up everyone
All kidz from one to 92
Althou money dun
Have 'hole heap a fun

Irie Chrismus, Irie Chrismus . to you.

Fun Trip to Jamaica

We had a blast and we've realized that our trips to Jamaica never seem to get old. We spent our first couple of nights in Kingston and then moved onto Negril for a fun 4 days of jumping the cliffs, parasailing, Malaika having her first dip in the Caribbean Sea and just having good clean fun with family.

We then continued onto Ocho Rios for a family reunion that was cut short by Hurricane Dean. However, this did not spoil our fun as we enjoyed spending time with everyone in Kingston - very few of us got off the island before the hurricane hit. Our week ended with Daniel's 9th birhtday party. (Click on the highlights to see more pictures).

1st Plane Ride

I know it's been all about Malaika for my last 6 posts but that's really what my life has been like since May 22nd. Plus I just can't help myself, I love to talk about her and show pictures of her.

Well, we're heading to Jamaica for two weeks. Malaika's first plane ride. We arrive on Saturday (11th) morning at 11:30am. I will get my hair cut at 2pm while Tim and Malaika are meeting up with all of her cousins (they can't wait to see her). On Sunday Tim's neice and her boyfriend will join us in Kingston and on Monday (13th) we will head to Negril, staying at one of our favourite spots - Catcha Falling Star. We depart Negril on Friday (17th) and head to Ocho Rios for a family reunion. Claire and Sean leave us on Monday (20th) and we will go to Kingston until we depart of Friday (24th).

It's a busy but really fun time with family and friends and I cannot wait to tell you all about our trip when we get back.

Surprise!

Tim and I just returned from our two week trip to Miami and Jamaica. We couldn't write about it before we left because of the 4 maybe 5 people that read my blog my mother is one of them and our trip home was a surprise for her. Mummy turned 75 on February 2nd and my sisters and I planned a celebration in her honour.

We spent two days in Miami visiting with family and friends. My cousins even threw us a baby shower to celebrate the wee one. On January 25th, along with my cousin Mari and my Aunt Gem from Miami we headed to Jamaica for about 8 days. Upon our arrival we surprised mummy at her office. We told her that we were having a shower for me on the Sunday. However, we surprised her with a birthday party. Other aspects of our trip included a family trip to the beach, time spent with the neice and nephews, a tour of the Bob Marley Museum, dinner with good friends and a yup a shower for Tim and I which included more of my closest friends.

Share in the fun by checking out our pictures, click here.

Out With The Old, In With The New

I'm in the process of renewing my Jamaican passport and I have to tell you it has been as painful as getting my teeth pulled. This process started about 4-weeks ago and I am still trying to make the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, DC happy. Seattle does not have very many Jamaicans living here so we have one consulate that is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays ONLY and she's in Kent. Mercy!

Hmm, I wonder if I could become a Jamaican Consul?

The Jamaica Trip Continues...

On Monday morning Tim and I headed down to Negril. I'd never been to the place we were staying at so we were a little worried. However, Catcha Falling Star ended up being wonderful. Our first evening in Negril we swam in the beautiful Caribbean Sea, had dinner from a roadside diner and drank wine under the stars. We were in heaven.

On our second day we decided to go snorkeling. I must admit that I got a little bored and I drove Tim crazy. After some Ackee and Saltfish for breakfast, we headed into town to look for a game of beach volleyball, we came up empty. Instead we got into a minor fender bender. So, we ate lunch at Cosmos, bought some local art and then headed back to our abode. Tim spent the evening jumping off the cliffs, I read my book. That evening we ate at the Rockhouse then relaxed in our patio hammock listening to a concert at Ricks Cafe (4 doors away).

The next day we lazed around, read and played cards. We were having the time of our lives doing whatever WE wanted to do.

Thursday morning we headed to the south coast to stay one night at Jakes in St. Elizabeth. Although we were not as happy with our room, the place is a great little hide away. Their restaurant Jack Sprat (near to the beach) played some really good music so that's where we would spend most of our time.

Heading back into Kingston, the following day, we stopped at Lovers Leap and we ate lunch at Little Ochi. Our final weekend in Jamaica was spent with the family. We even had an opportunity to take the kids to Dunns River Falls, we did have fun.

So that's our vacation, it was a time we both deserved and we both enjoyed.
Mi cay wait fi go back home.
For more pictures check out Shutterfly.

The Food...The Workouts

Steamed Garlic Crab, Jerked Shrimp and Bammy

Tim constantly reminds himself how much he loves the food in Jamaica, it is all good and let's just say that our workouts did not exceed the amount of good food we ate. So needless to say we did eat well and we did put on a little weight.

I know I have a triathlon that I'm working towards, so I will share with you my limited time of training. I did a total of 4 workouts while on vacation, my initial plan for my 14 days on the island was to do at least 8, so I was 50% there. I did a 1600m swim, and three runs that were 3-plus miles. I cannot lie it's been a while since I have run in heat like that. I truly missed that amount of sweat running down my face, my back and my arms. I do wish I had done a few more workouts but the hammock just kept on calling my name.

Tomorrow I will share with you our wonderful getaway in Negril at Catcha Falling Star.

Home Sweet Home

Courtney the Performer

Luke the Sports Star

Stuart the Star Baller

I've decided that with the amount of pictures and information I have to share about our trip I'm not going to overwhelm you all at once, so I will give it to you in pieces.

I arrived in Jamaica 4 days before Tim and that time was spent with my family. I had the opportunity to watch my two nephews, Stuart and Luke, play football and on Sunday I went to watch my niece do her synchronize swimming. When Tim arrived late Sunday evening we had ourselves some good Jamaican food (more to come) and a quiet evening with mummy.

Soon Come

Tim and I are going to be in Jamaica for 2 wonderful weeks. I arrive on Thursday (March 2nd)and spend a few days in Kingston with my family. Tim arrives on Sunday, after a business meeting in Miami. We head to Negril (Catcha Falling Star) on Monday morning for 4 nights and then we will spend one night in St. Elizabeth at Jakes. Our final weekend in town we plan on seeing family and friends. During the entire visit, I plan on eating as much good Jamaican food as I can.

As for my training, the good news is that my sister, Lisa, is also training for a triathlon so I plan on tagging along with her. When I'm off in the country I will play tennis and run.

I'm not sure how much blogging I plan on doing, you might get an update on the trip and then again I am in Jamaica so you might not.

Layta