Heard Around the House: June 2013

Noah, on Moto drivers (motorcyle drivers for hire):  

Moto drivers always look so cool.  You can't stick a nerd on one of those things, it's just not possible.

Noah's bedtime commentary:  

"When I have a wife, and it's summer time and she says 'I'm hot', I'll be like, 'You're always hot.'  I know it's disrespectful to say a girl is hot, but not if it's your wife.  I'm not going to be all kissy kissy and 'hey babe' with my wife, cause that's just not my style.  Like you and Dad.  Maybe a funny nickname, but then I'll just be like, 'Hi.'  Not all mushy and junk."

 Haiti on Ice... c'mon, that's just funny

 Gary, burning his big ole' pile of dried mango leaves.  He is so pleased with himself.

Singin, and dancin', in the rain.

Back in the Saddle

Some thoughts on our first week home in Haiti...

*  Our house became infested with spiders.  Straight up Arachnaphobia up in here.  They took up residence in every conceivable space, such as inside my rain boots, across every doorway (yes, I got a web to the face as I walk into one room), and in all the cooking pots.  Let the shuddering begin.

*  The roads got worse.  I'm pretty sure it isn't just my imagination and five weeks of driving on well maintained asphalt that is playing mind tricks.  I'm blaming the rain for washing away at least 9% of our drivable roads.

*  It does not seem as hot.  I mean it is hot, and very sweaty, but I'm not dying.  Many Arizona friends have tried to comiserate alongside us... but I have news for those Arizona cry babies:  Just go inside to your air conditioned homes and places of business if you're so darn hot outside.  It is not apples to apples when a country doesn't really have air conditioning or consistent power.  Meanwhile, I'll be hot everywhere, except in our car.  That sweet ride has air.

*  My reunion with mosquito bites was not as joyous as one might expect.

*  The GNO kids were glad to see us, like running and jumping, and shouting as we rolled in.  I'm glad they missed us as much as we missed them.

*  Today Woodley, a nine year old boy from Good Neighbor, was wearing a shirt that said, "Who are all these children and why are they calling me mom?"  It made me smile.  I'm still kicking myself for not getting a picture.

*  We've used our generator three times in four days.  I am still ever so grateful each time we fire that bad boy up.  I will never take him for granted.

*  Our neighbor, Ginette, owns a little tiny shop near our house.  This is our preferred stop to buy Haitian Coke in glass bottles.  If you've never had a Haitian Coke in a glass bottle, you are missing out. When Gary stopped over yesterday to buy us some cokes for the "After the Children Have Gone to Bed Happy Hour", she was so excited to see him and started spewing forth excited Kreyol.  Gary gathered she was happy to see him and wondered how Michaela and the kids were.  I will gladly stop over to see her tomorrow.  She has the greatest smile, and treats us so kindly.  

The Mitten

Time spent in The Mitten with our Michigan family and friends was wonderful.  I may or may not have fallen in love with Grand Rapids, Mi.  The Crazies continued their love affair with basements.  They have severe basement envy, especially of Uncle Michael and Aunt Leeshy Poo's.    Noah's dream home will inevitably include a basement.  Lucky for them, everyone they know in Michigan has one.  They spent a lot of time underground.

Highlights:

*  Baby Jan!  The kids' one and only cousin who also happens to be the world's cutest toddler
*  Bacon cheesy dogs a la' Uncle Michael
*  Grand Haven beach
*  Ice cream and Pronto Pups corndogs with The Longs
*  Riding on the ranger at Grandpa and Grandma's (Presley called it the "Power Ranger")
*  Lunch with the extended Krull family
*  Spending time with Aunties, Uncles, and Grandparents
*  Spending the weekend with some of the greatest friends on earth
*  Almost daily Starbucks
*  Grandma's fish fry
*  Fishing (Gary's highlight, not mine ;)
*  Basements, obviously.

Stats on Eleven Years

Today we celebrated eleven years of marriage.  I love being married to Gary.  Here are some statistics of our history.

Anniversary date night #11

18+:  Number of months of friendship while I secretly pined and plotted to make him mine

224: Number of days of dating
60:  Number of days as an engaged couple

4,015: Number of days of Marriage so far

3:  Number of Crazies that we have birthed

4:  Number of local moves

1:  Number of international moves

4: Number of emergency room visits

2:  Number of losses of loved ones 

6:  Number of job changes
0:  Number of times I have ever not wanted to be married to this particular man