The Dominican!!

For Christmas 08, Mike's parents bought us tickets to the Dominican. It was designed to be a family trip. Plans were made and we all flew out on January 2nd. We landed in the Dominican at around 5 pm and set off for our resort. We stayed at the Occidental Grand Flamenco because Mike's parents have a time share there. Everything was beautiful. We spent the first day there just relaxing on the beach and taking in the sites.

Every night for supper we would go to a different restaurant.

Sunday was Mexican! (the guys singing would go around to every table and sing a different song. When they were finished they would expect you to tip. If you told them you did not have any money they would not sing for you!)
Monday was Italian! the food was fantastic!

Tuesday was Oriental. The food was good! ( I think I went with all the safe choices)
Wednesday was the beach party! The food was not all that great so we went for pizza and tacos after!

Thursday was Steak and Friday was Lobster. I can't seem to find my pictures of those places so you will just have to use your imagination.
We walked out to a market just outside our resort one day. There were not very many tourists there so when we would walk by a store the people selling stuff would come out and grab your arm and pull you in. They were very persistent and would always say "you the boss, you the boss". I got my hair braided and Mike & I made some purchases there.
On one of the days Rebecca and I went para sailing. It was so much fun. Unfortunately we were to far away from our resort that there are no pictures of us actually up in the air.
We also went snorkling! This was a lot of fun. We got to swim with the fish out in the ocean and we swam with sting rays and nurse sharks. We were also able to feed the fish which was really cool. Included in this package was a chair massage.

We had a really great time out in the Dominican, but when the day came to go home I was ready to go. We left for the airport and boarded the plane for home on Friday at around 5 pm. We got to the end of the runway and started to take off when the captain slammed on the brakes. He told us that a light had come on in the cock pit and that we would go back and try it again. The second time he tried to take off the same thing happened. Only this time when he slammed on the brakes someone at the front of the plane was injured. So we had to go back to the loading gate and have her taken off by stretcher. We then waited on the plane for about an hour while the captain checked on the status of the plane. He then told us that they would have to call in a technician to come in and look at the plane so we would be getting off the plane and waiting in the airport. We decided to go eat supper and then we waited and waited some more. Finally the captain said it was time to board the plane and we would give it one more try. So we did just that. As as the plane was boarded and ready for the doors to be closed, a lady from the back came up the isle saying she did not want to be on that flight. We then had to wait another half hour while they located her luggage. We finally got to the end of the runway just to find out that the light was still going on in the cock pit and that we would not be leaving the Dominican until the next day. By the time the pilot had everything figured out we were the only people left in the airport minus a few security guards. There was no one there to stamp us back into the country and the arrangements were made that we would be going back into the Dominican Republic to stay at one of the resorts. I was really worried that we would be caught, but nothing like that happened. As soon as we found out where we were supposed to be going, Mike's parents went into "The Amazing Race" mode. We needed to get to the resort before everyone else so that we would not have to stand behind 150 people trying to get our room keys. So we took off in the first taxi and made it to a resort and were the first ones there. Half an hour of discussion with the person behind the desk revealed that we were at the wrong resort. By now all of our taxis are gone and there is about 60 people needing to get to this other resort. Mike's dad talked our way onto a bus and we made it to the right place. We stayed the night and were told that our flight would be leaving at 3pm the next day so they were going to pick us all up at 1pm. I thought it might be pushing it a little but I figured that they must have everything under control. We left the resort at 1 the next day and made it to the airport safely, only to find out that we have to stand at the back of an amazingly long line to go through security. Mike's mom did a little budging and we made it to the front of the line. We (the whole flight) was waiting at our terminal to board the plane at 3 and nothing happened. We did not actually board the plane until 430 and then we had to wait a half hour for this unruly woman to stop arguing with the pilot so that we could get going. We finally got into the air! What a great feeling. There were a number of things that happened from the time in the air to the time Mike and I went to sleep in our own beds but that would just make this story long and drawn out ;) If you are really curious, feel free to ask us sometime.

Let's get up to date!!

Since the last time I wrote here, I am not as fond of the nature that I saw in two of the pictures that I have posted. About a month and two weeks ago a deer ran into the side of our car. Yes I said that right, a deer ran into the side of our car. Mike was on his way to basketball and the deer came running out of the ditch and into the side of our car. I think this city needs to be cleared of some of this wildlife.
It took them a month to get our car fixed. It was a good thing we were covered because that would have cost us a whole bunch more than we would have been able to afford. All is well now and we have our car back!

The Wonder of God's creation!!

There is nothing like nature to show you the peacefulness that God intended for us. Here are some pictures of the nature that we see from our back yard!

Back to school!!

So summer has begun and I am hitting the books. What a way to spend my summer holidays:) I am almost a month into my massage therapy studies and I could not be more excited. I love all of my assignments except for the reading of the text book part. I so forgot how boring it is to read about molecules and chemical reactions and chemical bonds and atoms and... the list goes on.
Mike is at his first week of camp and I miss him already. He left on Tuesday and he will be back on Saturday! I can't wait until he gets back. I have been going a little stir crazy in this house all by myself. I do appreciate Mike's willingness to go spend a week at a camp just so we have a little extra money.
This last weekend we had our niece Jada over for a few nights. We had a blast going to the theater, and the mall to buy a Webkinz watching movies and baking cakes!! It was exhausting but fun indeed.

OK so I am not sure if you guys have already given up on ever finding anything new on my blog so if you are reading this, thanks for being persistent! There are some really cool things going on in the lives of Mike and Jenn Peters and I think it is about time I tell you all about it.
Mike and I are the proud new owners of a brand new Mazda 3. At least on paper anyways! They did not have any cars like the one we wanted in all of Canada! They had to order it from the factory so we have to wait longer. Tomorrow is the last day of school and I could not be more excited. I can't remember if I told you about my new voyage I am taking so here goes. I have been accepted into Wellington College of Massage Therapy. I had my orientation on the 14th and 15th and I have already started to dig into the studies. I will be doing the majority of my work through correspondence but I will be required to go into Winnipeg every 4th weekend for seminars. I am so very excited. This summer Mike will be taking three special needs children to camp and then maybe helping out on the farm. In September Mike will be going back to school (although we are not sure which one) to work with new kids. He had to apply for a job at a different school because the school he is at now does not have need of him for next year as they are loosing three of their special needs students. Mike worked with two of those kids so he is waiting to see if and where he will be placed next year so if you think of it just pray for him. I on the other hand will be doing schooling full time so I won't actually have to work and I am actually getting pretty excited about that.
That is pretty much it for now, I will probably have a little more free time this summer and next year so I hope to keep this updated more frequently.

February, March and April Update!!

All right, here is the update for the past three months. I will just write a whole big thing and then I will attach the pictures. There is not much to report for February, we did not do much. In March was spring break and we had our nieces over for a sleep over. It all started with the Manitoba Winter Fair. Kim and Darcy left Rayleen here while they took the other three girls to the fair. We had a great time entertaining Rayleen as well as being entertained by her. In the evening the rest of the kids came over (just in time for bed). In the morning we got up and started the sleepover party. We went to the library and then to Coop where the girls were allowed to pick out any candy they wanted. When we returned to the house we set out to make a cake. When the cake had cooled we were able to put icing on the cake and use my cake decorating set to write the girls names on the cake and to make cool decorations. Then the girls were allowed to put the candy of their choice on to the cake. It was beautiful. We also watched two movies which the girls thought were great and then the girls got to sit in our "hot tub" again which was still soooooooo cool!! They stayed from Wednesday night till Friday morning. On Friday morning I drove them home and picked up my mom and then went to Winnipeg. I had an interview with the head guy from Wellington College. My interview went great and I am still waiting for a reply letter in the mail telling me if I was accepted or not. Mom and I spent the rest of the day shopping, it was a lot of fun.
Two weekends ago Mike and I had our first BBQ. We had some friends over and started up the BBQ. Although the potatoes were a little burned I think everyone had a great time. This last weekend Mike and I were able to get outside and do some yard work. We were able to clean the pond and put some fresh water in there. I was very excited to find out that the pond has a fountain and a waterfall. When the weather gets warmer again I will take a picture and post it so you can see it. On Sunday we went to Austin because Mom and Dad were becoming Deacon's of their church. We spent the day with family and had a great time.
Today when I got home from school I received a message saying that there was an arrangement of flowers waiting for me at Safe-way. They are beautiful and I love them! Thank you again!

Girls Night Out!!

On friday I made some last minute plans to have a bunch of girls over for a girls night out. They all brought snacks and we watched "Take the Lead". It was a hit. Me being the smarty pants that I am, completely forgot to take any pictures so you will just have to use your imaginations. There were about 9 of us which created some good times. Mike did not want to hang around a bunch of girls so he got some guys together and they played poker at the youth pastors house. We both had a great time and said that we should have to do it again sometime (maybe next time I will take some pictures).