Back In Basti

We are happy to be back home.  We loved visiting everyone back in the USA and we love being home.  It's a good, balanced feeling.  

He is a fire ninja warrior.
Obviously.

It's just more fun in one tub

The tea set and the new silks are
getting a lot of playtime

Standard Mopping Outfit

Headed to Wizards with Dad

We tried school on Bocas for a few months before we left for the USA.  It went ok.  Woody didn't always love going, I wasn't super impressed with anything they were doing.  It seemed like a huge effort to get him to Bocas by 8am three days a week.  In the New Year it seemed a bit like a bigger effort than benefit for Woody so we have decided to start homeschooling.  It is going. . . good.  Some days are magic and I am so proud of him and me and I am so convinced that this is definitely the best decision for our family and some days are hard.  It's challenging for him and me at times.  But we are both working on staying calm, positive and respectful.  And if that's not beneficial enough, we are also learning reading and math. 

Of course, Tohi thinks she should be involved as well.  She hustles herself to her chair when I tell Woody it's time to start school and looks around like "What can I touch??"

On days like this we postpone school start time til after our morning swim

Pre "Move to David to wait to have a baby" luncheon with these fabulous friends of mine.  

Flour and water:  an unbelievably delicious (and time consuming) activity for a toddler

A man and his chainsaw

Our Life in Videos

I don't take a ton of videos.  But I came across this random one of Woody from July 2014, so he is about 2 and a half.  A friend of ours gave us caterpillars in a net and we excitedly watched them eat the fennel, make cocoons, and then turn into butterflies which we then released into our yard.  It was very cool.  We checked the net everyday and waited with anticipation for the butterflies to emerge.  I took a video of Woody updating our "caterpillar watch" simply to text to our friend, Lauren.  The video is such a snippet of the sweetness and silliness of Woody at that age.  After I stumbled across it in our archives of random photos, I watched it over and over, smiling.  I just love his little voice and the innocence in his face.  Most of the time, video captures more than a photo.  I want more videos of little Elwood and I plan on taking more of "big boy" Elwood and our little Tohi girl so I can watch them years from now and revel in all the details that videos save.  

The video that has prompted me to take and post more videos:

  "The caterpillars, Lauren!"

Our Current Life in Videos

Our sweet little Elwood loved everything about Christmas.  After we decorated Jerren and Pat's tree he asked if we could all hold hands around the tree and sway and sing like they do in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Woody learned how to ride a bike while in the USA! There were a few tears of fear while learning and some lower back aches for Conor but when everything finally clicked we couldn't stop this guy! 

Home for the Holidays

The magazines on Air Panama are super interesting

The following two pictures sum up the flights: "Get out of my personal space", followed seconds later by "I just love you!"

Leaving hotel to catch our middle of the night flight from Panama City to FL, tired but excited!

Arrival in the USA!
First Stop:  Dunkin Donuts 

Nothing bonds cousins together faster
 than a love of candy. 

Besties!

. . . sort of

That's the best my family could give.  Not exactly Christmas picture gold.
However, we can see the start of the bump that will be making us a family of five in the New Year!

Woody just loves his cousins, and they love him.  It just warmed my heart hearing them talk about everything and nothing, laughing and playing as if they had not just been apart for a year and a half.  

Publix:
Where shopping is an absolute organic pleasure

Con and Wood man out on a boys surf morning

Thanksgiving at Oma's House

Almost Conor's entire family gathered to celebrate and give thanks 

Jer and Pat bought their Christmas Tree at a fun place that made fake snow out of bubbles.  These Floridians/Panamanians thought it was awesome!

When prompted by the big man in red, Woody politely asked for "a Christmas Tree for Christmas."  . . . um, done buddy, you helped pick it out already.  

Just perfect lighting, showcasing our little angel

I can hardly stand the
 cuteness of the miniature wet suit.  

The bench we placed in the botanical gardens of FIT in honor of my brother.  We miss you every single day, Michael.  

Our house sitters in Panama sent us this picture.  We will have a slightly different view from our porch when we return!

Seeing some movies in the
theater while in the USA

This little adorable elf was all about the Christmas spirit.  Just riding around in the car, elf hat on while quietly reading a Christmas book, happy as can be.  

Meeting some friends in
St. Augustine for the weekend

My Man and a Full Moon

Ladies Night Out

Woody and all his gal pals

almost a whole adult shot

After almost 2 months being with family and friends we were headed back to Panama.  

It was a long travel day

Happy to be Home