Pictures with friends, Judo & More

We really wanted to have pictures of some very special friends we have made here on the island.  We wanted pictures for ourselves but also to give our sweet friends a special gift before we left. Our friends Niz and Zay however ended up leaving the island just over a month before us.  I took the kids out to a few different sites around the island to have a go at some photography.  We went to a little shack down town, a land stranded boat that came up on land during the first hurricane we were there for in September 2010, and then to the beach!  We took a whole bunch but I just picked out some favorites and some funnies. These are also NOT Photo shopped or anything.

Katie and Niz

Here is the little gift we gave them with their pictures in it along with a copy of all the pictures we took.

The kids last day of Judo.  They were sad to have their last day with Teacher Vienna but it was such a wonderful experience.  They worked so hard each judo practice and learned a lot about some of the techniques and some of the Japanese language used in judo.  There is so much more to learn but we have been so proud of their progress!

Teacher Vienna has been so proud of the kids too.  She even gave Courtney a special award for always trying 110% at each practice!  To top it all three kids received an orange belt!  Skipping the yellow belt completely.  Tr. Vienna said to Courtney now don’t be scared but I think you have earned this! In Judo they receive belt levels for both physical knowledge of the sport, technical and the theory.  They all did so well!

Getting their new Judo Belts!

All the students just LOVE Sensie Vienna!

Jase getting his new belt!

Arnold, Sharique & Jase! Good Judo Buddies!

Getting Tr. Vienna to sign their memory books.

Ahmed 'fighting' with Courtney!  It was really cute to watch. Courtney totally took him down!

Katie and I took these pictures while we were going around town one afternoon.  This is outside Julie’s Store.  We went here to get groceries quite often.  Great price on fresh fruit, tomatoes, and eggs!

Looking down the street - you can see our little white car on the right hand side.

And we got a picture on one of our beach dates!  The mermaid!!

We had some special last beach time/late night with Niz and Zay before they were to leave Statia for good.  Niz’s Mom – Anike – was so sweet and gave her kids money to go into Mazinga on the Bay to buy a nice gift to remember each other by.  The girls bought some cute sundresses and the boys bought matching man bracelets! I got a picture of the girls but the boys were of course to busy to pose for a picture!

Boys at the beach - Vino, Zay, Jason & Jase.

Marta Came and joined us at the beach!

Zay fell asleep at our late night!  We had so much fun and there has been so much going on these last few days everyone has been exhausted!

And showing Anike the gift for the kids.  We miss you so much xoxo.

Then the next day we celebrated Canada Day!  It was a whirlwind of non stop everything!  Thanks to the Sala family who threw a Canada Day Party for some of us Canadians!

The Families – Sala, Harker, Farrell, Bridge, Ramkissoon and Erickson!