Catamaran Boat Trip

Over the break we took a around the island Catamaran boat trip, which visited two island 'Tintamarre' and Creole Rock'. We departed the Great Bay Docks (right by the cruise ship) at 8:30am and got back at 4:40pm.Loved seeing St.Maarten from a different view point.  At each island stop we got to swim, snorkel or go play in the sand.  We had a lunch stop at Grand Case at Calmos Cafe. Both kids had a nap in the afternoon, sailing the east side of the island. We all had a great day together in the hot sun!

Calmos Cafe

 Lincoln loves snorkling and seeing all the fish.

 When we got off the boat lincoln had this to say about our day - "That was good, I think we should do that again tomorrow"

Lacey kept saying - " boat fun"

Palm Trees

Kool Baii Villas has quite a few palm trees, every so often Kool Baii Management has some garden keeper come trim the palm tree leaves and coconuts. So we have no falling palm tree leaves and coconuts falling on people as they walk below. After the leaves and coconuts have all been cut down the kids like going and collecting a few coconuts to bring home before they clean them all up.The kids love opening up the coconuts with dad but still aren't to sure of drinking the coconut milk. Fun island adventures!

Every Day Life

As of the end of last semester we are the last Statia family on St. Maarten. We miss our friends who have already finished their time here on St. Maarten. The island isn’t quit the same.

We had a cool day this week of 28'c, feel like temp 38. I  never thought I would think this is a cool day but it felt nice and cool, a little break from the intense heat. Plus it was a great baking days as we didn't sweat to death baking in the kitchen.

Lincoln and mommy time while Lacey naps and dad studies. Playing with shells and dinosaurs.

Yes Josh did study a bit over break each afternoon.

 Mom's kitchen helper.

Lincoln- "dad your sweating like in primary”… Lincoln told Josh this when he had sweat running down his forhead. Sad when this reminds Lincoln of Primary. Yes primary is that hot with no A/C and fans that just stir up the hot air some more.

Lincoln has master catching little lizards with his hands. It’s crazy and he loves it. He’s so proud of himself. He loves catching them and putting in his lizard cage.

Lacey is Lacey. Some days I do not understand this girl. Lacey will not keep her shoes on when we are out, even with lots of reminding and encouragement. Then when we arrive home Lacey will not take her shoes off when we finally get home…. Time outs also mean nothing to Lacey. She likes the time out chair. If we give Lincoln a time out she pulls a chair up beside him like its the cool thing to do.

Food we miss from back home: dill chips (kayla), ketchup chips ( Josh), lipton chicken noodle soup, rice chips, fresh fruit and vegetables  that's fresh, dairy milk…. We could go on but I willn’t. It’s crazy the things you miss when you don’t have access to them for a while (16 months).

Mullet Beach, CupeCoy Beach and Burgeaux Beach

Mullet/ CupeCoy Beach - This trip to the beach wasn’t planned we were just out driving around. Stopped at Mullet Beach (Top picture) to check out the big waves, since it was very windy out. But there was no big waves. Then Lincoln said he wanted to check out the small natural pools at CupeCoy. The kids loves the small natural pools, plus is a great way to spend a couple house together with family. As the beach trip wasn't plan so we had no swim suit so the kids same in their clothes.

 Burgeaux Beach- is a small rocky beach between Simpson Bay and Maho Beach. It’s Beacon Hills area. There wasn’t much to the beach as it was very tinny with large rocks, most of the sand had been washed off the beach, so it was a quick stop. It was still neat to check out another beach.

The Poop Truck

We've given the Septic Trucks the nick name, Poop trucks. Poop trucks are something we see or smell almost every time you go out. Theres quit a few on the island as most houses have septic tanks.

While we are driving if the kids spot the poop truck they show out "poop truck", follow with "stinky."  The heat just makes the smell so much worse. The island smells are so gross, lincoln says they smell like bacon. Lincoln doesn’t really know what bacon actually is as we don’t eat it here, its $8 per lbs, to expensive for our pocket. So we try to explain to him that the poop truck smells nothing like bacon.

Cruiser Point & Fort William

The next few posts will cover Josh's semester break we just had from August 14th - September 1st. We had lots of fun exploring the island some more, visited a new fort, beaches and more.

We started the break off with the 5th term grad. The University will not be the same without all of these students leaving.

We went to Cruiser Point which is located on Point Blanche. Point Blanche is just west of where the cruise ships dock. It has an amazing view of Great Bay. When we went to Cruiser point there wasn't any Cruise ships in that day so we came back when there was.

We hiked to the third fort on this island, Fort william. It wasn't a easy hike in this heat, plus Josh and I had to carry both kids as it was a step rocky hike. Fort William, overlooking Great Bay, the Salt Pond and Fort Amsterdam. Theres not much left of Fort William, as you can see from the pictures above. 

Theres a few stores that have the same names of ones back home. There is also banks that look that same as ones back home but aren't like CIBC (Fist Caribbean International Bank), Scotia Bank and RBC (Royal Bank of the Caribbean). Heres a few pictures to show you they aren't any thing like the ones back home, just the same name. Above: Safe Way

Bath and Body Works. I wish it was a Bath and Body Works from back home.

Family Pictures

I'm so glad we were able to get family pictures done down here.  To help capture our family memories we have made in the Caribbean.  I'm so happy with how they turned out and love them all. I love my little family, they mean everything to me.