Our little artist

Our little boy is not just a sport jock! He loves to paint.  He is always asking me to paint.  So the other day I gave in and this is what we got.  I must take credit for the rainbow (I was teaching him ;).  He was so excited for dad to come home and show him what he had done.  

4th Semester Banquet

Ross has a dinner for the outgoing students each semester.  Yea it was our turn :)  We went to a "Mansion" up in the hills and enjoyed a nice night.  It was a real dinner with appetizers, a full course dinner with STEAK!!! (I finally had my steak I have been craving since Christmas!) and desserts.  Cort and I enjoyed our second night out without Metz.  By the way, I had cute ringlets in my hair before we left the apartment . . . two minutes later they were gone.  Oh well, should have taken a picture then.  
Our good friends Chris and Fleur.  They were the first people we met when we arrived on the island and have enjoyed a nice friendship ever since :).  
Annex buddies :).  Cort studies at the Annex each night (it is a few blocks from the main campus, but 2 minutes from our apartment) and here are the buddies from his class that study there too.  Honestly Cort has spent more time with these people than anyone else.  Glad he has some good friends.  

THE ROAST

This roast was no small feat. The boys (that is what I call the guys who live upstairs) had to dig out and construct the pit. They also talked to a guy, who knew a guy that could get them a pig. This wasn't one of those look it up in the phone book and have it delivered pigs. It was a lot of work to get it together but worth it. The pig was constantly basted in a few pounds of butter (which they used all of it) and bbq sauce. The pig also received a brown sugar glaze about a half an hour before it was done. This was no low calorie meal.
Cort was the pig cooker. He began at 1 p.m. and kept watch until 9 p.m. He was busy basting, turning and making coals to keep the pig roasting beautifully.
Metz was our big helper. Once he was up from his nap he went to work. He worked with daddy until 9 and was so infatuated with the pig and the whole process.
The first taste. He liked it and asked for more. Notice the tennis ball in his hand. All boy.
See I'm eating it mom and I like it :).

Freeing the Pig

The pig fresh off the bbq! That would be chicken wire holding that thing in.  Yes, we live in Dominica.  
Very few injuries from freeing the pig.  Luckily just a few burns.  That is Josh on the left and Audriano on the right.  The three pig musketeers.  
Just a quick break for a taste test.  Delicious.  At least that is what I kept hearing.
Metz was our official light holder.  He was infatuated with the pig and was excited to try what dad handed him.  Another proud moment for Cort.
The transportation.  Yes it took five men to move that guy in the house.  

THE FEAST

Ta-Da.  THE PIG.
The boys got to work and couldn't have been happier.  Once they got into the meat there was pork flying everywhere.  If you were in the kitchen you were required to have meat in your mouth.  There was no avoiding it.
As Metz would say "Um, Um, Um Yummy"!
The apple.  Of course the pig had to have an apple in his mouth and I sacrificed my last green apple I had in the fridge.  But all in the name of a delicious pig roast.
Yes that would be the tail.  Sorry folks.  That would be Audriano (one of the guys from upstairs) and host of the party.  The tail got passed around along with legs and a ton of meat.  Cort is pretty sure he ate at least a pound of meat.  We also took home quite a bit which Cort enjoyed for a few days.  I don't think Cort will be craving pork any time soon.  Thanks guys for a fun night. 

ICE CREAM!!

Now I know all you in the states can drive less than two miles and pick up a half gallon of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream anytime but here in Dominica it is a very special treat.  I was lucky and found some in the capital a little while ago and we had been saving it for a special occasion.  Well we found one, I had borrowed a friends blender and we made grasshopper shakes!!! It was Metz's first time having one so it was so fun to watch.  He kept licking his lips saying "Um, Um, Um, Yummy" and it was.  

By the way, notice the circle of ice cream around his face?  He dumped every bit of that ice cream in his mouth.  

Ouch

A few weeks ago Metz hit his head on something and decided he wanted  a sticker for it.  Well if Metz needs it so does his bear.  Too cute of a picture to pass up.  

Mama, where's my golf club?

I guess those words should send shivers down my spine, but it doesn't.  I love when Metz tees off at the end of our hallway.  He finds his club, "tee", and golf balls Uncle Cason had sent down and he is ready to go.   It keeps him busy and beside having to duck while I work in the kitchen it is fun to watch.
I mean look at that! Who wouldn't be proud.  Cort (my avid golfer) is so proud when he sees Metz golfing or talking about it.  Metz is our little sports kid.  If it involves a ball he can't get enough of it.  

Happy 4th of July

Football - while the grill got going Metz and Cort were able to throw the ball around and play.  What a treat for Metz since Cort took some extra time off to be with us. 
Friends - Great friends that go along with my ideas.  Thanks to each of the girls that cooked, found butcher paper, cut out stars, and just went along with my crazy idea that we could have a traditional 4th of July.  You guys are the best.
Food - Great Food.  Metz enjoying one of the many cookies he ate that night.  We all went home full and happy.  We are very lucky to have good friends.   It really felt like the 4th of July which I think is amazing when you live in the middle of the Caribbean Sea.  Hope everyone had a great 4th!

4th of July -THE FOOD-

What a delicious night.  We enjoyed hot dogs (that I had saved from the beginning of the year, I froze them) with homemade relish from the states.  DELICIOUS.  Thank you Jan for sending it down it was quite the hit.
Look at that spread.  I think we did an excellent job especially for where we live! Hot dogs (with homemade buns), baked beans, potato salad, pasta salad and fresh fruit!!! SO GOOD!! And everything from scratch, no short cuts here.
Star sugar cookies and cupcakes for dessert.  Metz loved these he kept sneaking them.  Love the sprinkles, thanks Blake.
Look a table full of delicious food.  Thanks everyone for coming, cooking and being great company.  It actually felt like the 4th.  

Metz, the Master of the Grill

Metz always the helper asked Keith if he could help put the coals in the bbq.  
He loved it and thought it was so cool to do.  Thanks Keith! Metz was infatuated with the grill. He was excited when there was a fire and when they started cooking.  He just loved the whole experience.
He was so proud of this moment.  He felt like the chef.  I think he has a new favorite past time.
Guess you can see where he gets it from.  Cort was our grill master for the evening.  He did a great job.  There is just something about hot dogs on a grill, delicious!! What a fun night.

SURPRISE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHRIS :)

Chris turned 26 on July 3rd and so we had a surprise birthday dinner for him.  Navajo tacos! They are the best, unhealthy-yes, delicious-YES!
Everyone enjoying the meal.  Chris' cute wife Fleur had to help me keep this a secret.  Well we are both terrible liars so even with planned lies I ended up with some disease and a random request for Subway cookies that had to be delivered to my house around dinner time.  Luckily we were able to explain ourselves.  
Metz and Christian.  They are almost exactly a year apart.  Metz was born 12/26 and Christian on 12/25 the following year.  They are buddies.  Love chasing each other around, mimicking each other and just having fun.  Sure cute.
Chocolate Cream Pie.  Not the prettiest thing I've ever made but sure tasted good. Thanks Jan for teaching me this one, it has come in handy.
Christian pretty much saying "Don't mess with me I'm eating pie".   Metz also enjoyed the pie, he had been staring at it all day and amazingly I kept his sticky fingers from touching it.  Good kid.  Happy Birthday Chris :)!!