2nd semester blues + trip back to the states

Heyyy..long time, no blog!! Shortly after the break between 1st semester and 2nd semester, I started experiencing a sadness feeling that I've dubbed the "2nd semester blues"..I can't really explain it, but I missed my normalcy. I missed working, I missed my best friend, I missed my family. I missed random convenient American things. If you know me personally you know that I am usually a very positive person and almost always optimistic so this was not a good feeling for me. I decided to take a trip back to the states for a month. 

Let me tell you..travelling with 2 kids is not for the weak. I'm done with travelling for at least another 6 months! We first flew to Orlando to stay with my sister for 2 days. We went to Disneyworld's Magic Kingdom and had a blast. We were at the park the entire day and had a great time together! The next day we went to lunch, shopped and just spent time together. The next day we flew from Orlando to Wichita (our hometown) to stay for the next 4 weeks. We decided to stay in Pretty Prairie, KS with my aunt and uncle in law, and then randomly spend the night in Wichita during the week. Bradley loves Pretty Prairie and just being outdoors with Aunt Tiffy and Uncle Tom. 

We were able to do a lot of fun things in Kansas- we visited my bestie's brand new house she had built and stayed there for a weekend. We went to her co-worker's pool party, played at Chik-fil-a, met with my friend Maggie and her sweet kiddos at the McDonald's Playplace, went on a garage sale scavenger hunt with Aunt Tiffy and cousin Devin, travelled to Oklahoma City one day with my mom and grandma to visit my Aunt Karen and 2nd cousin Mason (2 years old), ate a lot of delicious food, went to Chuck E. Cheese, decided to bypass my 10 year HS reunion and just have a day out with my bestie instead, participated in a Home Depot kids workshop with Uncle Lance and cousin Isaiah, went to see Finding Dory with Aunt Lindsay, Uncle Josh and cousins Ari and Eli, had a family game night at Mom and Dad's, went to the zoo with my grandmother in law. The kids were babysat by Aunt Tiffy a few times while I ran some errands. This allowed for some ME time that I've been desperately needing and very thankful for. My sister also watched the boys while I got my hair done. I also met with my adviser at Wichita State to enroll in some classes to finish my Bachelor's Degree. This is something I put on hold when I was pregnant with Ian and we were gearing up to move to St. Maarten, but I'm so close to being finished that I just need to buckle down. Anyway, I was also able to do some embroidery which was much needed also. I sincerely miss running my business!! I'm sure I'm missing some of the other fun things we did, but the 4 weeks went by too fast of course. Overall, it was an awesome trip and I was so grateful to be surrounded by so much love and support. If you'd like to see pictures from our trip, search the hashtag #marshallsonthemainland on instagram. My personal instagram is: alliemarshall627

Blogger is not letting my upload any photos into this post for whatever reason!! Grr

We flew back to Orlando for a day then back to St. Maarten, just in time for me and Jordan's 7 year anniversary. I will do a separate blog post on our anniversary :)

I feel like my 2nd semester blues are lessening. I'm trying to take it day by day with a smile on my face, because it doesn't benefit anyone if Mom is down in the dumps. Instead I'll enjoy the sunshine and this time while my kids are little :)

Start of 2nd semester + Birthdays galore

Well we are back in the swing of things for 2nd semester and so far so good! Jordan has classes in the mornings from 8am-11:20am then on Mondays he's a Teacher Assistant (TA) for Anatomy in the cadaver lab in the afternoon. I can't believe it's already block week! His class will take their 1st set of blocks on Monday, May 24th. In the meantime we are staying busy with Bradley back in preschool Tuesdays and Thursdays, playgroups, meal planning, cooking and cleaning! Ian has hit so many developmental milestones lately it's been so fun to witness first hand. We have also been celebrating a lot of our island friends' birthdays!
Last week we celebrated Ugo's 2nd birthday at the Tradewinds Pool. He had a SpongeBob theme, and it was great celebrating such a fun boy!





Last weekend we celebrated Avery and Samara's 6th birthday  with a beach party at Le Galion. I've mentioned before that Le Galion is our favorite beach to go to, especially with the kids. They can run in and out of the water, and I don't have to worry about them being tackled by a huge wave. We had a great time with friends, and Bradley loved hitting the piñata. He has specifically requested a piñata at his 4th birthday party!

Later that night we invited some of Jordan's friends over for card games and pineapple upside down cake to celebrate a little early for Jordan's 31st birthday. We feel so fortunate that we've developed such a great group of friends that our apartment was FULL of people! We all just mingled and talked and laughed so much that my face literally HURT. I haven't felt like that in a long time. I also wanted to mention how thankful I am for the friendships we've made even though we have two little boys. Almost all of the friends we've made do not have kids, or spouses, but they treat us just the same, and understand that sometimes we need to keep the conversation a little kid friendlier or keep the noise level down. In fact we've been told that they're only our friends so that they can be around Bradley and Ian :)

  I headed upstairs early to get the kids to sleep so I missed out on card games, but it was still a fun time. Today is Jordan's birthday so here's a big Blog shoutout:

 

HAPPY 31st BIRTHDAY, JORDAN!!!!! We love you and appreciate everything you do for us! Enjoy your special day!

The rest of Break

The second week of break my parents and grandmother came for a visit. It was refreshing having a piece of "home" come to us. It was a very nice visit. We still went and did things around the island everyday, but it was also relaxed and not rushed. It's been about 2 weeks since they went home, but I'll try me best to recap their visit..
We waited all day Friday to pick them up from the airport in the evening. Of course it was so hard for Bradley to contain his excitement. He asked me about every 30 minutes when they'd be arriving. It just so happens that we walked into the airport the exact moment they walked into the arrivals section of the airport so it was super convenient. Problem- they were starving from their long travel day and almost everything was closed! We got them checked into their hotel at The Summit and luckily a restaurant nearby, BB's, was still serving dinner. 
The next morning we packed up our cooler, went for breakfast at The Green Monkey and then spent the afternoon at Le Galion beach. Sadly, I did not take any photos at the beach! But it was a GREAT time. We love Le Galion. We grilled hamburgers at the hotel for dinner that night. That night my mom, grandma and I went to the Starz casino nearby for some .01 cent gambling. I ended up doubling my money and my grandma won $100!!
The next day we got up early and got ready to head down to Front Street in Phillipsburg. We ate lunch at a familiar place- Hard Rock Cafe!! They had fountain Dr. Pepper!!...for $12.00, but...it seemed worth it :) Afterwards we did some tourist-y stuff on Front Street like pose for pictures with everything imaginable and look at endless booths of the same souvenirs.

That night we swam at our complex's pool and then the ladies went back to the casino, but this time we went to Casino Royale in Maho. After we left the casino we found that our rental car had a flat tire, which is another crazy story in itself! 

The next day we got up early to head to Marigot on the french side. We wanted to take my family to our favorite little spot to get some french treats at, Sarafina's. Everything there is so delicious- never disappointed!! Afterwards my dad, Jordan and Bradley went to hike up Fort Saint Luis while my mom, grandma, me and Ian checked out the souviner shops in Marigot. We all met back up and headed back to swim at our complex. It was such a hot day so the pool was perfect. We ordered pizza for dinner and back to the casino at night for the ladies :)

The next day we went to do something I've wanted since we got to the island. We went to check out the abandoned hotel La Belle Creole. It is quite the walk, but it is really interesting. There is quite the history with this hotel- the original owner started building in the 1960's, but ran out of money. It was then bought by the Hilton and wasn't completed until 1988. Then it was destroyed in the hurricane of 1995 and never rebuilt. There is a lot of urban legend that the land it was built on is cursed. If you're visiting La Belle be very careful- there's broken glass everywhere! 

That night we decided to go down to Maho for dinner at Cheri's. They do a show with a lot of audience interaction- it was a good time! Except the table next to us had some drunk ladies who were obviously having a good time, but quite obnoxious!! We stayed for about an hour after our meal to watch the show, but it's more adult oriented, not so appropriate for the children :) Afterwards we got ice cream.

Our last day together was spent at Kimsha beach in Simpson Bay. We rented chairs and umbrellas for $5 each and spent all day out there. At one point Ian and I even fell asleep on the beach! Pure relaxation. We packed our cooler with sandwich stuff and drinks, so it was a really affordable day. After the beach we ate dinner at Pizza Del Sol in Simpson Bay- it was really good! We ended our night with gelato at Carousel. Then we had to say good-bye to our family until next month! I will be traveling home with the boys for a month long visit in June so we are really looking forward to being back in the states for a bit to visit with family and friends in Kansas.

Again, it was a really nice visit. Thanks for visiting us Dad, Mom & B! We loved our time together!

Island Boat Tour

Over the break we decided we wanted to splurge and do one big thing we've been wanting to do around the island. Many people had recommended the Santino Round the Island Cruise through Aqua Mania. Luckily Aqua Mania gives a 20% discount to AUC students, spouses and children so it ended up being a really nice and affordable all inclusive day excursion with friends.
We met up with Alejandro, Duy and Aimee at Aqua Mania and were happy to see that another island family we've become friends with, the Hayden's, were also going on the tour. Once on the boat we were served Rum Punch, beer, sodas and water throughout the day. 

We set sail out of Simpson Bay and made our 1st stop on Long Bay Beach on the French side. It was just a quick stop to cool off. I stayed on board with Ian, but quickly regretted that, because it was a hot day!! Next we sailed to Creole Rock for snorkeling. Snorkeling gear was provided by Aqua Mania was nice and they had child sizes. Again, I stayed on board with Ian (I think he was napping by this time) but I was able to watch Bradley with Jordan. I actually welled up with some tears watching Bradley just out in the open water swimming..looking like such a big KID. So proud. Jordan was able to snorkel and see some cool underwater stuff! He saw a family of sea turtles, a sting ray and coral reef.

Next, we stopped at Grand Case for lunch. You can either bring your own lunch, or eat at one of the many restaurants available as soon as you get off of the boat. The restaurants are ready and waiting for you when you get off the boat! We ate...somewhere..don't quite remember the restaurants name, but I had bbq chicken, Bradley had spaghetti and Jordan ate a whole FISH! Grand Case is beautiful. I can't wait to go back for an actual all day beach day there.

Our next stop was at Tintamarre Island. This is where my calm, easy-going attitude changed a bit. I was finally ready to head into the water myself! I got into the water with a pool noodle and had Jordan hand Ian to me in his life jacket. Little guy was not having it. Ian just screamed whenever we put the life vest on him. He also wanted to nurse for comfort as soon as we got into the water which I just couldn't do. So I was getting a little flustered trying to calm my little baby down. Then I was totally out of breath from trying to tread water to keep myself above water with an infant. I may or may not have had a slight panic attack. I wanted back on the boat ASAP. So I got back on the boat with Ian and got him all calmed down, but if I'm being 100% honest with myself I was completely tense the rest of the boat trip after that experience. I still enjoyed myself, but quickly realized swimming in open water was not for me.

We stopped at Pinel Island quickly before making our way back to Simpson Bay. It was super shallow so I felt comfortable in the water. We ordered some ice cream to enjoy and then back on the boat to round out the tour. On our way back to Simpson Bay we went through some really rough water! Luckily no one on our boat got seasick so I can definitely understand why some do, especially if they've had a little too much to drink! The waves didn't bother Bradley though! He fell asleep on the last leg of the cruise- poor boy played so hard all day! The cruise was from 10am to 6pm so it's definitely an all day affair. By the time we docked and got to our car we were so exhausted! We were all asleep for the evening by 9:30pm! 

Ian Alexander- 6mos old

Half a year?!

Happy 6 months, Ian!

I could probably say this every month, but where does time go?! Seriously. I cannot believe Ian is already half a year old. Maybe because he was only 8 weeks old when we got to the island, but it feels like time has just been going by so quickly! I'm cherishing every moment. Ian, you are still wearing 6-9mos clothes. You are kind of in between sizes..some 6 month clothes are a little snug, and some 9 months are way too big. You are still in size 3 diapers..we're guessing you still weigh around 16 pounds!

This month we introduced some baby food. We gave you some rice cereal, and some jarred baby food. You didn't seem too interested, so no biggie. We'll keep working on it! I prefer the baby lead weaning method of feeding versus purees with a spoon anyway. We got you a little highchair that straps onto the chair at the kitchen table and you love sitting at the table with us. You can sit now! We are still working on balance a little bit, but I'd say you can sit up unassisted 80% of the time. 

One thing I've noticed this past month is how much you love your brother Bradley! He can get you to laugh better than anyone else! You track him everywhere in the room and always reach out to him. It is really sweet to watch. My wish, as your mom, is that you and Bradley's bond stays strong your whole life! You are also playing with toys! If there's one you like, you sure have a tight grip on it! We still have some attachment issues, but it seems like they have lessened a little bit. You seem to be getting more comfortable with your daddy- you stayed with him for 2 hours while I was getting my hair done, and you even took a bottle from him. 

Again, happy 1/2 birthday sweet baby! We love you so much, Ian!

1st Semester break so far

Now that our car is legal to drive on the road we have been taking advantage of it! Monday after Jordan's final we had lunch at BarCode and then over to our friend's new apartment at Rainbow Beach Club. They just moved into a 2bedroom apartment and it is beautiful! One of the things I love most about Rainbow Beach Club is the private access to the beach and caves. They had a get together of students celebrating the end of the semester. It started down-pouring, but it was still fun being out there. We stayed for an hour or so until the kids got tired. It was great celebrating everyone's success! It has been an awesome 1st semester at AUC.

Another fun thing we did earlier in the week was check out the Caribbean Cinemas. We went to see The Jungle Book, and really enjoyed it! Ian nursed and slept the entire time, which was awesome because that allowed me to actually be able to sit and watch the movie as well. We also to the Carousel in Simpson Bay for more gelato. This was our 3rd time to Carousel, but we love it just the same as the first time we went. Bradley rode the teacup all by himself!

We have had such a great break so far {still 3 days left!}. I'm going to do separate entries on some of the bigger days we had so stay tuned!

Block 4 + Riu Palace

Whoo-hoo! Block 4 wrapped up this past week which means 1st semester of medical school is nearly over! Jordan has one last final on Monday then he's on break for 12 days. It seems like most of our friends are going home over break, but my parents and grandma are coming for a visit, so a piece of "home" will be coming to us. We are excited for a break to really enjoy the island.
Anyway, after the Block we did our traditional eating dinner out. After every block we've tried out a new restaurant, and that has been just about the only time we've dined out. This time we tried out BarCode, which is literally right down the street from our apartment. Food was really good and fairly inexpensive. About 10-15 other classmates joined us at dinner so it was nice to have some company.

After dinner some friends came over for some card games after our kids went to sleep. Good times as always. I think I've said it before, but the friendships we've gained is my most cherished part of medical school so far.

 

On Wednesday, the Spouses Organization hosted a "5th semester send off" all inclusive day event at the Riu Palace resort. It was such an awesome day. We were at the resort for 8 hours, hanging out at the pool and Anse Marcel beach. I have to brag on Bradley a bit..he has really GROWN into a KID this past semester. He doesn't even seem like a toddler anymore. He swims without me and engages with all the other kids. He is polite and very well behaved..he makes my life as a mom pretty..dare I say..EASY. I am so proud. Anyway! Lunch was good, and drinks were flowing. I would definitely recommend the Riu Palace to anyone visiting St. Maarten. This past semester we have met some of the greatest 5th semester families, and are sad to see them leave. We will miss you and the kids, Marcie and Jillian!! Good luck on clinicals back in the states!

If you think my hands are full, you should see my heart!
The boys and I enjoying our day at the Riu Palace