Friday, August 31

Playing Tennis

Since Fati and Vai arrived last Saturday, we have been playing tennis at the park almost everyday. Fati has a new job with the American Samoa Consulate and starts on September 4th. They move into their new home on Sunday, which is going to be exciting for all, especially now that we have friends and another place to hang out at (bring on the bbqs!). Maddy is also enjoying the time at the park (his most favorite thing to do nowadays) and is learning fast! Here is the latest pictures of Maddy and Daddy getting ready to play tennis :)




and Umm next time I sound fobby in my posts, please tell me LOL I just went through this one and edited it bigtime hahahahaha~

Open Day At Stenwood Elementary School

Yesterday was the Open Day for Maddys School. It was very crowded with parents introducing their kids to their new school. We met his teacher and instructional assistant who will be helping out in his class of 26 students. His teachers name is Miss Tara Weatherholtz, a native of Waynesboro, VA and has recently graduated from James Madison University. The instructional teachers name is Mrs Sarah Rearick who has previously worked in special education over the past seven years. They both seemed like really nice ladies and very keen and eager to get started.

Maddy loved his new classroom. He found his desk with his name on it, and a information package for mommy and daddy. They were given treasure hunt sheets to find things in the classroom while the parents spoke with the teacher/s.

We then went on a tour of the school and saw the music lab, computer lab, gymnasium, playground (maddys favorite of all), the main office, and also met the school counselor and Principal.

Overall it was a great Open Day. Maddy was very excited and couldn't wait to start already!. I think I am more nervous/anxious than anything and not sure what I should buy him for his first day school outfit. There are lots of sales this weekend and even though sports shorts and tees would be ideal and comfortable, I noticed most parents dressed their kids up in cargo shorts, polo tops and sandals LOL He does have these but they have been worn a lot so it might be a good excuse to buy some more or at least a few outfits for his first week of school (and also for me LOL).

Friday, August 24

11 More Days ...

... before Maddy starts school - Hooray!.

We just received in the mail a welcome notice and information brochure about the Open Day scheduled for next Thursday for all the newcomers. We will be meeting his teacher, finding out which class he belongs in, and deposit funds into his lunch account. Each student has a lunch account with the school and its up to us to keep it topped up every week. Maddy gets to order his own lunch at a cost of $2.15 per day which also includes milk. Parents can also join their children for lunch at a cost of $3.15 per adult. I asked Maddy whether he would like me to come and have lunch with him from time to time and he shook his head and said that his school is not for Adults, so to me that means "NO". Oh well :(

The lunch menu for the first day of school is :

Chicken Nuggest w/Muffin
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich
Yoghurt w/Pretzel

Choice of two:
Vegetarian Baked Beans
Celery/Baby Carrots w/Dip
Chilled Pears w/Cherry
Dried Cherries

I am happy that there are a few items on the lunch menu that he does like i.e all of the first four except pretzels (don't think he has tried those). Back in my day, my mom made my lunches and they were not as exciting as what he will be eating at school.

His school even provides several websites like "keep in touch"(receive timely information about the school system and other schools) and "wecare@school" (a secure access site where we update emergency care information for Maddy) and "parent view" (where we can view Maddys school work progress, home assignments and other communications with the teacher and school). Pretty neat I say having access to all of this. It means I can monitor Maddys progress and be kept up to date with what is happening at the school.

We even received a list of the bus routes and have figured out that I only have to walk Maddy around the corner to catch his bus at 8.06am. Looks like bedtime will have to change just so he is up and ready and had breakfast by at least 7.45am.

I hope that I don't get teary eyed when he goes to school. I know he is very excited (just like we are) and he can't wait to start.

Happy Birthday Aunty Lagi



Hope you have a lovely birthday today and hope you win the finals for the Volleyball Nationals :0) Good Luck !!!

Love Us xxox

Tuesday, August 21

Maddy licking his shoulder

I'm wondering if everyone can play this video or if it's like the other one that gets stuck on 'loading'? Let me know please :)

Saturday, August 18

Paper, Rock, Scissors And BBQ

One of Maddy's favorite games to play with Daddy. We spent lunch at Pizza Hut on Wednesday and for the first 20 minutes before our food arrived, Maddy and Daddy played Paper, Rock and Scissors. It was fun watching them play and Maddy laughing all the time.






Yesterday afternoon we were invited to Matts work bbq and it was wondeful. We all had lots to eat and a nice fruit punch to drink and then sat around listening to all the stories the team shared about their trips to Africa and other places. Maddy was the oldest there and had three children following him everywhere. He was like a big brother to them all.

Adam, Candi, Mark, Chris, Seth and his son

Maddy, Stella and her Mom Lauren

Stella, Lauren, Seth and his son, Sakib and his wife and son and Roseanne

Saturday, August 11

More Pictures of Our Vacation

In the lobby of our hotel

Aah this is the life!



Having fun in the pool

Fake tatoos

At Mini Golf


Waiting for the Shamu evening show to begin

At Orlando Florida Airport, on our way home

Orlando Florida and Seaworld

We had so much fun in Orlando Florida staying at the World Center Hotel and Resort - Marriott, which was very flash I might add. Matt managed to find us a reasonably priced package which included our hotel stay for 5 days and 4 nights as well as our Seaworld tickets for the duration of our stay. The hotel was primo and the view from our room on the 8th floor was awesome.

We arrived Monday afternoon after picking up a rental car, and headed straight for the pool. We had a quick tour of the hotel and resort, checked out the restaurants and then went for a swim. We had dinner at one of the hotel restaurants called Solaris and then watched a family movie on tv in our hotel room. It was nice and cool and the beds were very comfortable. The mini bar was stocked with yummy goodies like pringle chips, peanuts, chocolate and sorts that we made use of.






The next morning, I awoke at 6am and headed downstairs to Starbucks for my daily dash of coffee (Dulce Le Leche Latte) and walked around and looked at the souvenir shops. I got Maddy and Matt up and ready for our trip to Seaworld which was only 10 minutes away.

Seaworld was very crowded but we had fun anyways. We saw dolphins, sharks, penguins and all sorts of sea creatures and spent a good four hours looking at all the attractions before we headed out for dinner. It was really really hot on our first visit to Seaworld so we decided that since we had three more days to go, that we would do the Shamu the Whale shows the next day. We played games and won toys for Maddy too, a baby penguin and several baby whales and dolphins. We left the purple dragon at the hotel because it was wayyy too big to bring home on the plane.



On Wednesday we went back to Solaris for a buffet breakfast which was very yummy then headed off to Seaworld for the 2x Shamu shows. We waited until the afternoon as the temperature hit the 90's. The Shamu shows rocked especially the evening show, where we got splashed (soaked more like it) and sang along with the crowd to all the songs they played. We had so much fun.


We stayed for the fireworks afterwards and then headed back to the hotel.

On Thursday we spent all morning in the pool and then headed for the outlet shops and bought some clothes and shoes for Maddy (since he will be starting school in September) . We then went to lunch at Taco Bell then found a mini golf and family adventure park to play at.




By the end of it all, Mommy and Daddy were all tired out and Maddy was still rearing to go. Thursday night was spent relaxing in the room, packing and getting ourselves ready to head on home the next day. We managed to squeeze in breakfast and a two hour swim before returning our rental car and heading to the airport for our flight at 4.45pm to DC.
We had such a great first family vacation together and the most enjoyable feature of the trip that Maddy really really liked besides Seaworld, was swimming in the pool. I need to get him into some swimming lessons.





Wednesday, August 8

Happy Birthday Nanna


Happy Birthday Nanna, hope you enjoyed your See's Candy :)
Love Maddy, Daddy and Mommy

Thursday, August 2

More Pics At The Barber Shop

More pictures of Maddy playing around at the barber shop and Daddy getting his haircut too.



Hair Cut Time

Maddy gets his very first haircut today at Daddy's barber shop. He did well by sitting still and listening to the barber. The barber did a really good job and cut his hair really nicely. Here are some pictures of Maddy getting his hair cut.






Our handsome boy - He looks so grown up now that he is 5.

Happy Birthday Papa!


Happy Happy Birthday Papa.
Hope you have a wonderful birthday today.
Lots of Love from Maddy, Daddy and Mommy.