Hurricane Noel

We have a tropical depression upon us and all is well. It has been raining heavily since last Thurs Oct 25 but other than wet clothes we are doing fine.
On Friday Oct 26 was our Halloween day. We went to the nicest neighborhood where we had a map of the houses that were participating in the fun. It started at 4 and went to 6. There were many firsts for me as a true halloween spirit. First the fun began 5 days early. Second it was in broad daylight,(which actually was kind of nice) Third at a few houses they had cotton candy and snow cones and popcorn that the kids would be able to eat along the way. Unfortunately there were only about 15 houses that played in the fun and one thought it began at 6, so no candy there another thought it was on Oct 31 so no candy there either, another one thought it started at 5 and was out getting her candy. Thus we had only 12 houses to scare. We also thought it would be on Wed Oct 31 so Missy was back at the states with Mariah's costume that was ordered on line. Drew and I came up with something. We were hoping to make her a pirate but it turned out to be an American school girl, as she wore her best dress. Drew was a baseball player with his Albert Pujols jersey, simple enough.
On Monday Missy and I saw the funniest sight. First with this rain at the school we saw a couple walking their child to school with a Deck Umbrella then leaving the school we saw a very tall Dominican with a child's very small yellow with pink flowers umbrella. The contrast was just so comical, of course you would have to see it to really understand the humor of it.

I am glad that during most of my soccer days I would have the teams practice in the rain. Well we do the same here too, so Drew is very accustom to playing and practicing in the rain. He is doing very well with the team as they are a mix of 6th to 12th graders. I of course feel pain after every practice as we scrimmage all together for 30 or 40 minutes. I started working out at the gym with my partner William who is doing a fabulous job on being my personal trainer and helping me get my get up and go back.

Again all is well here in the DR. We hope to hear from you and now we have Skype for phone calls which will help out alot. If you do not have it, it is simple to get on the internet.

love and peace to all

Doug and Missy Drew and Mariah

happenings

I am traveling today back to the states. I leave later in the afternoon and wanted post before I jet out of here. I will be traveling to Durham, Little Rock, Orlando and back to Sousa between now and next Sunday Oct 28.
Things have been happening here, Doug arrived last Tue, Mariah busted her head open on a hot dog boat, I fried my legs in the sun pretty bad, Drew has a common cold as he put it, 2 awful accidents back to back Wed and Thur and 4 guys dead I saw the immediate aftermath of one.
How can such a beautiful place have so much death and trauma? Sitting here at my desk I look out over the awesome landscape of the lush green peaceful country side and hear the leaves of all the trees and feel so at peace but 2 minutes away is such craziness but I guess I just have to except this as the world we live in.
Drew is doing super in school and continues to get great grades and unbelievable reports from his teacher he is studying very hard and we are so proud of him. Mariah is very happy here and tries her best to stay out of trouble at school, she loves chasing the older kids and hitting them, bothering the chickens and not listening when the teacher says to stop, climbing on top of the play structure where it is to high and off limits, taking things that don't belong to her and so on, but in spite of all of this and her punishment she is in love with school and adores her teacher and friends and wants to be here forever. She is learning to read and write and she enjoys this so much.
I am happy to say I will attend the wedding of a great friend, the anniversary of 2 of my all time favorite people in the world, see my mom I hope she reads this blog because she has no idea I am coming to visit, attend the Fred Astaire National DanceSport Championships and see all my great buds.
Gotta run and get my bag packed. Peace, Love and Happiness to all who are keeping up with our blog!!
Missy

Dancing With The Stars!!!

Are you watching dancing with the stars??? NO?? Don't miss this great show. I am loving this season and I wonder who will get kicked tonight. Why am I enjoying this season more than others...This is my weekly entertainment, I put Riah to sleep turn the fans on high grab a soda and just enjoy. I miss dancing much more than I thought I would, I would love to take a lesson, teach a lesson or even watch a lesson. I also enjoy The Bachelor this is such a interesting show I can't wait for Monday night to see both of these and chill.
Dancingly Yours,
M

2 RAINBOW'S IN 1 WEEK!!!

We are happy to report that we have seen 2 awesome rainbow's this past week. Mariah said that she had never seen a rainbow and Drew loved telling a story about 2 friends Chess and Corey who almost found the gold at the end of the rainbow. As most of you are starting to see the change in the leaves, we are starting to experience the rainy season. It has rained in the afternoon for the past few days and the locals say this should be the case for the rest of the month, afternoon showers really make me want to chill and have a nap.
The kids have been busy with sports, parties and play dates just like back in the states only on the play dates they are treated like royalty with nannies, maids, cooks, gardener's, drivers meeting there every need and want. It is a different experience, I do drive my kids to and from school, get them ready for school, help with homework, make sure they are showered, tuck them in at night, take them to all there activities ect. This is the exception for most families here, it seems most folks have a full staff and guess what folks there staff DONT DANCE!!
Only one more week until Doug arrives!!! YEAH!!! The director at the school ask me when he was returning I told him and he said he is ready to have soccer help...so get ready dougie...
I have to tell you that I am so sick of the construction going on next door at my neighbors...they have this massive mansion and are adding a pool house, art room, BBQ area etc and it is getting on my nerves they take up the entire road with there crap because she doesn't want to mess up her yard it was ok for a while but now the missy niceness has worn off and well I am going to tell they guys that it is after 5 and the work day is OVER**
Breath and enjoy your day,
Missy

welcome to october

is it really october? is fall here? well this is something i will miss .... enjoying the different seasons .... i love all seasons and the changes we get to experience ... i like shopping for the season ... not any more or at least for this year its hot and on some days hotter. people say the rainy season is coming and it will be cold but these folks don't know cold. 70's is not cold.
the country had a nation wide strike to protest the gas prices and drew was very concerned that we would have problems going to school, all was well and i even made a trip to puerto plata and things were cool. drew said that 6 kids were absent from his class so it was a quite day. so thank goodness no road blocks, tire burning, rock throwing and random shooting.
i must close now i want to put mariah to bed and watch DANCING WITH THE STARS
watch and vote for tony and jane
smiles
missy