Places I want to go before we leave Michigan

like how I said that?
WHEN we leave Michigan.
as if I'm not planning on being here for residency.
because I'm not.
Dear Lord Jesus please send us south. please!


So there are the obvious places that we haven't been yet -
Detroit Zoo
Detroit Institute of Arts
Tiger's Game
Lion's Game - if possible
and a Red Wings game too if we can swing it!

Mexican Town- especially the Honeybee's market I'm interested in!

I NEED to see the Fairy doors in Ann Arbor!  How cool is this!!!

Avalon Bread - downtown Detroit.  I hear they have a sea salt, dark chocolate cookie that I've got to try! 

Doc's Sweets' Candy Shop - the largest candy store in Michigan?! what?!

Historic Fort Wayne - and the Tuskegee Airmen Museum is also there.  I won't be too sad if we never go here, but it might be cool!


I do need to explore the western coast of Michigan a bit, who knows, I could love it and don't even know yet!
Here's a list of the best beaches on Michigan's west coast nicknamed the sunset coast. I like the sound of that.
Sand dunes! 

and if we get REALLY adventurous and find ourselves with time off I want to see Mackinac Island and while we're at it we should head further north to the U.P. as the locals call it, the upper peninsula of Michigan where there are MOOSE roaming free and this insanely gorgeous place called Pictured Rocks and they have   2 hour cruises that take you along the shore.  I HAVE TO DO THIS!!!!!

You never know, I may just start to love Michigan.... at least 3 months out of the year.

Get up, pack it in, let me begin

jump jump jump!

You know how when you get a group of friends together and the only logical next idea for a picture is to jump? that happened to Amber and I about every single day she was here.

Only problem is... I legitimately cannot jump. Ask Lee.
Stephanie may have said something like "is that really the best you can do?!" hahaha coming from the gymnast who can still do a perfect toe touch a million knee surgeries later!

nonstop fun

Let me just quickly update you about all the things that I'll have to update about when I find time to sit down and breathe.
Amber and I (and Stephanie!) have been doing EVERYTHING.

Grand Anse Beach
Magazine Beach
Downtown/shopping
Movies
Crab Races
Fireworks!
Prickly Bay
Sunsets
Anandale Waterfalls
Monkeys crawling on our heads (aahhhhhhhhhhh)

 AND
Queen Elizabeth Home
Limes
Limes t-shirt giveaway extravaganza
Limes Birthday party disasterpoluza

AND
photography/videoing every single move. so many pictures to update.



And she still has a whole nother week!!!
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
I am leaving Grenada with a bang.

As soon as Amber leaves I must pack and sell or giveaway all our belongings asap. esh.

Jump! on the on the front back!

Last week the SOs were busy traipsing around Grenada.  We went to a few of my favorite places, with a few of my favorite people, it was a good week.

La Sagesse Beach never disappoints. It is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I've ever been.  I need to squeeze in about 10 more trips there before we leave.
We spent the morning lounging around, scouring the beach for shells and other things (cricket bat anyone?) and ended the afternoon with some impromptu jumping and silliness.

A few of the lovely SOs there that day.
I am so thankful for the SO organization and all these great women here in Grenada!!

ps. 69 days left.
AND if you don't already know... you can read all about Lee and I's love story over at Newlyweds Bliss today! :) 

out of the office

Mom and I are having WAY too much fun to blog.
we do something fun all day, everyday.
beach & pool & out for dinner & watching movies & sunsets & playing with kids & shopping (ish)

I'll tell you all about it next Wednesday when she leaves me :(
Don't go Mom!!
but my Dad really needs her at home. haha. he's helpless without her!

here's a tease of our awesome week so far :)

Mt. Carmel!

Wednesday the SO took a trip to Mt. Carmel... which is in St. Andrews about an hour away (we live in St. George's.. on the very southwestern tip) millage wise, it was probably like 10 miles or something (the island is only 20 miles long total!) but because we drive on crazy little roads that go up mountains and around crazy curves and the top speed is probably 40mph.... it took an hour.

It was well worth it though.  I sat in the front seat of the taxi/van to avoid getting claustrophobia or sick, so I got to see a lot of the countryside and the drive told lots of interesting stories.
The driver was a young guy, probably in his mid 20s.  Had he been born in America he would have been an actor or musician or famous athlete or just plain good looking.... and here he drives a taxi and owns chickens. and he's probably doing really well for himself by their standards. and he is. he was  very nice.

He told me the reason why there was a repulsive smell at one point was because there was a sugar cane factory that shut down one day and left all the sugar cane to rot! uuuuuuugh who knew sugar could smell so bad.
He pointed out some small houses that were given to squatters who lived on government land in St. George's.... and they put them FAR from St. George's. I still don't understand how people get up to these homes, even though he said there were roads.

He told me about rum, the schools, where the rich people live, about owning chickens, mangoes... and laughed at us a lot.... foolish Americans, and Canadians, and lots of other nationalities :)

Everywhere you look here there is an awesome view... the highway runs pretty close to the shoreline because it is so mountainous in the center of the country.  Every time I see the ocean over a hill or around a curve I'm still amazed.

Once we got to Mt. Carmel we hiked to a gorgeous waterfall.

and got under it! 

 

 

 this was supposed to be our panteen pro-v commercial :)

 

 

Sarah, Me, Cristina, Sherry, and Amber... fellow SOs 

Then we hiked to another waterfall not far away... Grenada is over flowing with beauty. I cannot believe so much is contained on one small 20X12 island!

 

lots of people slid down these falls like a slide.... but I didn't.

I was chicken.
I partially regret it and partially feel like if I had gone, I would have been the one to get hurt.

I don't like to take unnecessary risks. especially in foreign countries. and especially when Lee's not around. 

but everyone else had a good time! and we'll go again in the fall so I may go then.... 

Once we came out of the jungle (and yes it is literally a jungle) we saw another amazing view 

aaahhhh I love Grenada.