No new pictures for this blog, but some updates on what we have been up to. On Sunday, Jeff and I dove twice. On the first dive we did a couple of swim throughs in the reef and at the end of the dive saw two sting-rays, that was really neat to see, as we were ascending Jeff saw an Eagleray which I would have love to seen. The second dive I was constantly looking for more rays but didn't see any :(. This was a shallower dive and without having seen the reefs before the hurricane, I would say this is the one that was most noticeably effected, due to sand being washed upon it. It was still a gorgeous dive with lots of wildlife. After we were done diving, we drove around the island as a family. Blade had a great time "treasure hunting". He was disappointed when we had to leave, especially when we wouldn't take a coconut that he had found. On Monday morning, we traveled to the other side of the island again to play on the beaches and look for shells. I found a hermit crab that the boys had a fun time playing with. On our way back into town, we stopped at a little restaurant that we had found in one of the neighborhoods and it was probably the best meal that I have had on the island, it was fantastic! We did a twilight and a night dive, back to the same place that we did our first dive. On the twilight dive we were in the sand specifically looking for seahorses. We saw three seahorses, many pipefish which look like a little snake with a seahorse face, a couple of sand crabs, two puffer fish, two yellow rays, shrimp, a little octopus that blended in with the vegetation, many little flounders. On the night dive we many octopus, crabs, lobsters, eels. The rest of the fish were hiding under the rocks and laying on the sand, they almost looked dead. What a difference to see the same location in the day and again at night. It was just as exhilarating to dive it at night as during the day. Today we plan to go to the local shops and possibly take the boys to a museum where I've been told that they have many of the fish that we've seen for the boys to see.

Happy Birthday Matt! We love you and wish that you were here! Have a great day!

Hola! from Cozumel

Tarek got his first hair cut just before we left to Mexico. Also, just before we left Tarek started to say I Love you!, It sounds more like "I LA", but it sure is sweet and melts his mamma's heart.

Tarek hangin' out with dad as we were getting ready to board the plane to Cancun.

The boy's first plane trip. They did excellent! The plane in the background is the plane that we took from Seattle to Cancun.

The boy's first view of the ocean as we were ready to board the ferry in Cancun.

We went to Carlos N' Charlies for lunch and a clown made these for the boys.

Blade jammin' out connected to nothing... in his birthday suit. That has been the norm so far on this trip.

So far, we are having a great time. Jeff and I have made 3 dives. The first to Paradise Reef, Wow! What an incredible sight! We saw 2 sea horses, a huge lobster and an abundant amount of beautiful fish, coral and sponges. It was so much different getting use to a drift dive, I constantly felt like I might be swept into the coral. Today we did two dives, on Palancar reef. The first was more of a wall reef- we went to about 85', we saw two green turtles, a barracuda as long as me (yikes!), and more of the same fish and sponges. The third dive we saw an small octopus hiding in cave, a hawkbill turtle. We are looking forward to diving again in the morning and on Monday we are doing a twilight and a night dive to Paradise reef again.
The one of the two cruise ports is just out our window and we have enjoyed watching the ships come in, in the morning and leaving in the evening. It has also been neat watching the sunset from our balcony. Blade and Tarek have also been enjoying playing in the hot tub in our room. Blade is "diving" for his plastic fish in the bottom of the tub.

Happy 30th Birthday Dad!!!

Brother, let me help you put your shoes on.


Tarek 19 months, Ethan 6 1/2 months, Blade 4

Out to dinner with dad on his 30th Birthday!

Hangin' out!

Getting to snuggle dad!


The boys continue to grow too fast. Blade is spelling his name B-l-a-d-e. :) He is recognizing the capital letters B, L, A, T and little t on signs all around town!
Tarek saw a helicopter the other day and said "helicopter", it wasn't as clear as could be, but you could understand what he was trying to say.
Jeff did his drysuit dives and got to see the salmon run in Lake MacDonald. I wish I could have been under water with him, to cold in a 7mm suit.

17 day until we go to Mexico. We are all really excited!

It's a ZOO around here!

Sailors like Uncle Matt! We love you!
Trying to get them both to stay and look at the camera is a challenge!

We love Halloween!

We went to the Russell's Halloween Carnival. The boys had a lot of fun!

Flying High

Jeff and Blade took a helicopter ride, "like Mater", at the Plains Fair in September. They loved it!

Go Griz! Blade 4, Tarek 18 month, Cousin "Nethan" 5 month.

"Nethan" is what Blade calls Ethan.

Oct. 24, 2007

Newest Developments in the last week: Blade is able to say the Pledge of Allegiance, flawlessly. Tarek is jumping and so proud of himself.

I tried to upload more pictures but this is the only one that I could get. It's one of my favorites.

First Posting! Blade 4, Tarek 18 months

The boys are doing great! They are growing fast and changing daily. Blade is now recognizing his letter B and Tarek's letter T, on signs, billboards and books. He is also doing a good job writing them too. He loves pre-school. They have been talking about hiberating and migrating and he is telling me, "A bear hibernates", "Birds migrate,... to Mexico". He is also quite fascinated with Mexico, because we are going to Cozumel in December. This will be the boys first time on a plane.
Tarek is starting to talk. He has several words- water, bear, dear, more, dog, moose and a few others. He signs please, thank you and more. He is climbing out of his crib (AARRRGGHHH!). Most of the time if Blade is in the room in bed he will stay there, but if not he will crawl out. Also in the morning he will crawl out if he is the first away and go and snuggle Blade, so sweet. He loves to give Blade hugs in the morning.