Pool side

Luka helping to fill the pool 

We've pretty much established than ever since the little man made his early arrival, he has been tremendously blessed.  We've been over the concept of privilege for even being able to evacuate, to being able to access world-class health care.  Bottom line, we continue to be blessed and fortunate in ways many are not - this weekend was no exception.  Our friend and neighbor has taken the lead on constructing our communal pool in Dili, and this weekend we got to reap the benefits of the labor by watching the pool be filled.  Fortunately for us, Luka was there to lend a much-needed hand....

The boys' first splash in the new pool

Halloween 2012: Bob the Builder (in drag)

So we were invited to a Halloween party for kids last week, which (*gasp*) I actually thought about skipping for lack of a creative costume (for those unfamiliar enough with our current locale - fresh bread is a treat, let alone ready-made cute Halloween costumes).  Fortunately my lovely friend Kay offered an emergency Samurai outfit - which, unfortunately on our tall, tanned, blonde boy, made him look more like someone that should be hanging out at the Playboy mansion with a cigar, than a celebrated Japanese warrior.  Luckily I spotted a 'tool belt' I had bought for Luka eons ago at Ikea if memory serves, so we decided - right, 'handy man' it is - we contemplated the accompanying outfit he should wear, when Chris suggested that 'white onesie' - meaning the designer, expensive, virgin white onesie my mom bought at a lovely shop in SA, which we have never put Luka in because, who  would put Luka in WHITE?

Given his obsession with shoes, Luka proceeded to test out his own footwear for the occasion which ranged from the effortlessly casual flip-flops, to the dependable black court shoe mamma wore to her UK college examinations and graduation ceremony.

Bob the Builder does 'casual'

Bob the Builder in 'drag'

Bob the Builder on the move

Gorgeous little Bob the Builder in a rare
stationary moment with his mamma

Bob the Builder contemplates his next move..

Bob the Builder announces the END of this
party!

You'll have to excuse all the photos being in 'MOTION' - if you have to *ask* - you obviously haven't seen Luka recently....

Mountain-bound to Maubisse

Trouble on two wheels... 

Since a friend and colleague was melting in front of our eyes (he's an East Coaster in some desperate need of 'fall weather'), a group of us decided to pack up and head to the mountains for the long weekend last week.  Here's three things I learned from that trip:

1. Friends don't let friends travel with toddlers alone
2. Yes, we can in fact survive an entire weekend without nannies
3. I want a motorcycle again

Now let's see, where could they have gotten this from? 

On Friday morning (somewhere between 09h00-11h00) we finally set off, the (big) boys on motorbikes, and the (small boys) and girls in two cars - which meant Luka and I were headed off solo - armed with a bucket load of Cheerios, a mountain of Marie biscuits and an iPod full of nursery rhymes for the 2-4 hour drive (roads are terrible, and people's speeds vary so much it is hard to get a good estimate at any given time of how long a particular course would actually take you).

The drive for us was uneventful - Luka fell asleep for 2 hours and I relished in the enjoyable (terrible roads notwithstanding) long drive, by myself, with a sleeping angel, good music and cool weather to match the winding roads up the hillsides.  We briefly stopped for lunch (read: chasing 3 boys around a local restaurant filled with dogs and other interesting things, and trying skillfully to wee in a less-than-stellar bathroom with said boys in tow), and arrived in Maubisse at the Pousada shortly after lunch time.

"My Supreme Court Justice-at-lunch impersonation"

At the Pousada we were thrilled to find that we actually had rooms (apparently reservation doesn't mean much at this destination-with-a-view) and cold beers soon ensued.

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out on our porch where they boys played (and Luka tried to escape either through the door, or by climbing over the strategically placed cooler boxes at the entrance to the porch).  The guys went motorbiking, we did some sight seeing, and generally just chilled out.  Evenings were spent drinking copious quantities of wine, debating the (then) upcoming American election, and all things toddler-hood.  Very nice to sit on a porch in cool fall-like air with awesome friends. 

Kaito showing up the Timorese kids with his skills

"I'm telling you, I KNOW that's where
they hide the cookies...just follow me!"

"Whoa dad!"

"Faster! Faster!"