Ankle Deep

Has anybody seen Diego, our animal rescuer? We could use some people rescuing as a bunch of us are now inside a pool of water in a deep, dark cave, filled with bats, with no end in sight. Quick take a picture. We don't want to have to do this again.

Ripple effect

Stick a couple of toes into some cave water and the next thing you know, everyone wants to join in. Hey Glamma, you better get in there next. The bats won't get you when you're in the water.

Hello down there

In the caves of the "Three Eyes", there is much to behold, besides a mittful of steps. It's actually a nice cool refuge from the heat of the city. And it literally is in the city.

I Spy...

...with my little eye, somebody with a crazy, yellow hat. And I spy, two people with curly, wavy hair. Maybe this is where Darius gets his hair.

Scuba Dance

They call me Soren, Soren Cousteau. It's never too early to learn a little underwater safety. I just happen to have a little pool to practice my art.

Feast for the Fist

For those who approve of the meal, show me the fist! Hey, Glamma and Mommy, what is it, the potatoes you don't like?

Turkey for Mommy

Yes, even the regular photographer got to enjoy the Christmas feast, complete with Grandma's cranberries, Glamma's dressing, Papa's carrots and Mommy's everything else.

Christmas Dinner

Wow, looks good. It looks like they do have turkey in the DR. Although, it could be a butterball, imported from the USA. Either way, it is special to have Shells and Cheese for Xmas dinner.

Even more special is eating outside on Dec 25. Can't do that everywhere.

Christmas Baseball

While people in Canada would spend their entire time indoors, enjoying the warmth of their internal heating, elsewhere in the world, people can be outside playing anything they want. In our case, the baseball feeder was a great excuse to be outside.

Olympic Photo

Daddy's so hyped up for the Olympics that he is even wearing the official toque of the Games in +25 degrees temperature. This team will be ready to head home for the best Olympics ever.

Olympian Down

Let's hope it's not a sign of the Own the Podium project. With a couple of months to go before Vancouver 2010, we already have one junior Olympian down for the count.

Team Canada

Yes, the leadup to Vancouver 2010 starts in Santo Domingo. The sweat coming from this team, though, is not from hard training, but rather, the tropical climate. Not exactly a winter like Christmas down here.

A Drummer and a Knight

Spiderman and Diego are multi-talented, in this case showcasing their swordsmanship and rhythmn. On Christmas day, it seems, anyone can do anything.

New Biker

A new biker in the family. What a great gift! Now he can ride the rough Dominican streets with his older brother. Hope those tires are built to last.

What's in the box?

This was a special gift for Darius from his big brother Soren. Of course, he couldn't let him simply open the gift himself. He had to help him all the way. I wonder what it is?

Spidey Plates

Gosh! I didn't realize Santa had spidey senses too. How did he know I was hoping to get Spiderman plates to enjoy my food a little bit more.

Sorenator

Never too early to start bulking up. Just ask Arnold, the Governator.

The Stuffers

Those sure don't look like stockings, unless you're a giant from another land. They look more like sacks that Santa might have molded from his own and it looks like they're loaded with goodies.

Not a lump of coal

No Darius, that is a big, blue bouncy ball. It's a gift, not a punishment. You were a good boy this year.

Pop Fly!

This one is going all the way to the wall! It's going, going, gone!

Strike 1

Sweet new batting machine! With an automatic pitcher complete with 3 baseballs, hopefully it will be rare that we have 3 strikes and we're out!

There's the evidence!

There's no better feeling than making up Christmas morning

and getting that first glimpse that Santa has arrived. Without actually seeing what the gifts may be, you just know that there are prizes and that Santa did come. Yay! We were good boys!

They came!

The plates are empty. You know what that means! Santa and the reindeer came last night to deliver some parcels. Quick let's check the tree. Any signs they were here?

Those are for Santa!

Darius, what are you doing? Don't you know Santa gets very hungry going from house to house and he'll need to eat as many cookies as will fit on that plate. The reindeers will certainly love those monster Dominican carrots.

Twas the Night before Christmas

Yes, the famous tale had to be told the night before the big day. Let's hope the reality was true to the tale and Santa would indeed arrive all the way south in Santo Domingo.

Dec 24

The most highly anticipated night of the year. The night that Santa arrives. It was time to put on the Christmas PJs and get the cookies ready for Santa's arrival. Even Marley had on his Christmas bow ready to go.

Lifeguarding

Just in case these old guys were having trouble in the water, I was there monitoring things. That's right, the new house has a jacuzzi and Opa and Papa were making full use of this facility. Safety first though!

Bird's Eye Snooze

These are the first shots of our new house in Bellavista. The move was stressful, but it is far nicer living in a house with running water, without flooding in the floors and ceilings, without gas leaks etc. This new place is so relaxing that sometimes we just nap where we end up.

That's it?

I was hoping for some impromptu sing a long. After all, it was Christmas time and Grandma and Opa came a long way to see me sing.

Proud as punch

I'd say I did pretty good in an off the cuff kind of way. The teacher didn't anticipate my creativity and it was not a show stopper.

Solo time

It's my time to shine. Pass me the mike. What, you won't? Alrighty, I'll take it for myself to show off the vocal chords.

The Triangle

Not all the children were as keen to follow the instructors example, but I knew when to flash the triangle sign.

Show time!

After all the bigger classes got their turn, it was finally the turn of the youngest stars. Unfortunately, Glamma and Papa had their flight delayed a few days and missed this performance for the ages.

Who's on stage?

Wait a second! If both of us are in the crowd with Opa, who is actually on stage ready to perform? Darius, I thought this was your show. Shouldn't you be on stage?

Opa and the Show

It wasn't quite time for my performance so I thought I would relax a little and get a sense of the crowd and the atmosphere for this Christmas play. Opa helped to relax me as well as he knows what it's like to perform in front of a crowd.

Stage Fright

Looks like the pressure has gotten to Darius. Knowing that his grandparents flew all the way from Canada to see his performance was perhaps too much to overcome. Will he overcome this sudden anxiousness?

Anxious Crowd

With Grandma and Opa in the crowd having just arrived in Santo Domingo, there was a nervous buzz in the crowd. Just how would 2 year old Darius and his class perform in front of such a prestigious crowd.

Warmup

The paparazzi was out early this day taking photos of the stars about to perform. Darius and his classmates were scheduled to perform a Christmas sing a long. Does he look nervous to you?

Apartment Life

You can see that life in the apartment was far from ideal. It tired us out as the commute to school and work was longer. We all shared one room and sometimes there wasn't room on the beds.

Plus Marley was not allowed in the apartment which caused other problems.

Dora and Diego

There was one good thing from us staying at the hotel for a week. Our good friends Dora the Explorer and Diego the Animal Rescuer stopped by for a visit. They were actually much bigger in real life. Their friend Boots and that rascal Swiper also stopped by. Darius was too overwhelmed to get into the photo. He was pleased though.

Hey Swiper, no swiping!

Triple Burger

And a colourful and happy one at that. This shot was before all of the house problems which caused us to evacuate our 1st house in Santo Domingo. From there we went into a hotel and then into an apartment before finally settling into our current house.

It was a crazy fall.

By Cavelight

When you have light you have safety. It looks like a great place to hide out for a few days.

Crazy Geology

These rock formations are unbelievable! Fortunately, we encountered some other curious cavers who brought a massive flashlight with them so we could actually enter the caves and see something. Thanks to them, we have some neat photos.

Secret passage

Follow me and I'll show you the secret passages of the caves of the Taino. Just beware of the bats!

Cueva de Penier

Quick, quick, into the caves. The Hurricanes are coming! The Spanish are coming! Many original inhabitants of Hispaniola (the Taino) used these caves as shelter from various things.

You can just barely make out Soren which gives you some perspective on the size of this particular cave.

The Eyes

If there was a doubt before, you can see very clearly from this photo that I have Mommy's eyes and not Daddy's. Apart from the eyes though, there's not much difference.

Circle, Circle, Hop

If Soren can jump from one stone circle to another, then surely I can. I'll just use Osito for a little bit of balance.

Aquarium a la Dominicana

The Santo Domingo Aquarium has a beautiful location right by the sea and has some nice elements to it. But it was hard not to compare to Havana's aquarium with its dolphin show, seal and sea lions show, and its underwater dining show. Oh Havana!

Holy Beluga!

Look at the size of that whale next to the two us. I guess it's time we started eating more fish. Mommy, call up Captain Highliner! Oh sorry, Capitano Altalinea!

Batman

Daddy had to go away on a work trip to a place called Big D or Dallas. However, he didn't forget about us, as he came home just in time with some Halloween costumes. The best of all was the great Batman costume.

The Bowl Cut

Oh, how we miss Mario! Not only because he would make house calls to cut your hair, but he also knew how to cut hair. All we could find in the vicinity was a women's hair salon. It had nice treatment, including a shampoo, but the end product was a little lacking. Case in point, the bowl cut on my head.