!!!!!MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Sending you a Merry Christmas full of LOVE, PEACE AND HAPPINESS...
The kids and I arrived home from Florida last night and were happy to see Doug after his 18 day stint away in the states. Florida was good a bit cold but nice.
The kids were off to bed early last night so in case Santa came early. We had no idea what time he usually delivers things in Dominican Republic.
We were jolted out of bed early to find lots of cool things and especially Rock Band complete with drums, guitar and mic oh boy so much fun.
We have clouds and a gray sky now but the weather feels great, we slept with the ac last night because it feels so muggy here.
I am being called to sing in the band. Gotta run.
I will update you more later. We are excited about Oksana and crew arriving later this afternoon.
Peace to all,
Missy

SHOULD WE STAY OR SHOULD WE GO?

This is a post that should have been written in November, however, I still want to write about it now. The title of this blog is the same as the song I would end my DJ jobs with by the Knack, should I stay or should I go. I usually played a couple of songs after depending on the dance floor but in our case here it was pretty questionable whether we should stay in the DR and finish out the school year or move back to Durham and weather the cold and craziness of a new school and comfort living.
While I was in Durham in November and Missy and the kids were in the DR, we were having construction on the house and many more things happening around the house that Missy was just fed up. She was tired of feeling like we are camping out,(and if you knew how much she despises camping out you would be amazed that we have lasted this long) So she started the ball rolling on moving back to Durham.
Cancel the school in the DR (to get our money back that we paid upfront for the school and the food), research all the schools in Durham and print out their applications and have me go and interview them while I am in the states. Get all the pertinant info for all the fees. Write a letter to our landlord there in the DR after we have paid for our rent until July 31 09(and getting money back in the DR will be ever so slight but we will try) I of course will do whatever will make Missy happy so I did my part and she did hers. Then Missy went to Ohio for the largest pro/am competition in November where the tempature was around 19 degrees, and dealing with all the prima dona professional dance people she was over that too for that bit of time. I on the other hand went back to the DR and was wondering if we could move or just make the house that was once nice, nice again couldn't we just make it till the end of the school year with out all the changes.
WELL when Missy returned to the DR on Thanksgiving day she was so happy to be back that we did finally make a decision to stay the remaining part of the school year. YEAH, as Drew and I said. Mariah on the other hand was whatever. I do feel sort of sad though as Drew and Mariah have not come back to the states since a few days in Sept when we went to my Dad's memorial service. They did not get back to Durham though. Whereas, Missy and I have come back quite regularly. I of course have to take care of our US responsiblities and my Mom and brother and Missy likes to feel useful with the dance dress business. But we are STAYING PUT FOR NOW.
I write this as I am about to leave Durham in the morning to go back to the DR until Jan 10th when I must return to the states. But Christmas will be in the Dominican Republic this year.
MERRY CHISTMAS TO ALL AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
FELIZ NAVIDAD Y FELIZ NUEVO ANOS

Bad Cat Luck...

We have LOST not one but both of the cats we or should I say Doug and the kids got. I am not a cat fan and was not thrilled to have come home from the states to meet not 1 cat but 2 YEAH... Bite the bullet and pretend to be happy and all will be OK. The first thing for me was the cats HAD to go OUT SIDE period not comments or questions. Well Waffle ran a way and approx 1 month later Pancake flipped out at the Vet and ran off. This was last Thur we have gone almost daily to the Vet and she has set traps to try and catch the cat. Drew has been extremely upset and sad and Mariah is in search of another kitten..go figure. Will we get more cats? I don't know but I'm thinking 2 strikes is pretty bad.
How's your luck with cats?
Missy

HOLIDAYS

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year ......Sorry so long in posting. I can't exactly say what I have been up to since the end of Oct but I feel like it has been ALOT. We are doing great and are excited to take a break from school. I can't seem to get into the Christmas spirit maybe the weather is to warm or there is not an organized church to attend. We also attended a Holiday program at school where Mariah sang and Drew danced. Doug and I loved it and even captured it on video. I can only say it just doesn't feel like Christmas. We do have a tree with lights and many ornaments and we had loads of candy canes on the tree but the kids have gobbled them up and we have to replenish them when we go to Miami tomorrow.
I feel as if our house drama has slowed down no leaks I can see or feel today, we want count the pool that's another story with its on steady leak.
Doug has been away in the states since Dec 6 and will return Dec 20. The kids and I go to FL tomorrow and will return to the DR Christmas Eve.
We wish everyone a great Holiday and a New Year that is full of happiness.
Peace to all,
Missy