Christmas Pajama's

Every year we look forward to the DeRoest tradition of getting new pj's that match. It's a fun tradition that started when I was a child and has been a cool way that keeps us all feeling like we are close even though we all are so far away. For all of the fun pic's go to my parents blog entitled "The Christmas PJ's" at http://tlderoest.blogspot.com/ .

Christmas in Houston

We spent Christmas with the Owuor's in Houston.

Alex is settling into his new home and was kind enough to host us all for some fun family time. First things first, the Christmas tree needed to be set up and everyone pitched in to decorate - even little Kioni! Kiki put together a delicious Christmas Eve meal and after supping and visiting to the wee hours of the night, we went to bed.

Kina and Phyllis joined the crew on Christmas day. We all enjoyed exchanging gifts, playing board games, watching movies, calling family, visiting, and preparing the Christmas dinner together as a family.

Michael and I had to get back to Austin to work the next day so we had to leave Houston on Christmas night. But we really had a good time and would've stayed longer if we could have... Our special thanks to Alex for being a wonderful host, to Kiki for organizing us all, and to everyone for your love and support for a fun holiday. We love ya'll and look forward to getting together again soon!

Costa Rica

Twas the week before Christmas, and the Cisco team in Costa Rica was overdue for their training on a new technology that they would be expected to support. It a technology that has to do with splitting sub-atomic particles while they are in random motion without letting them get radioactive, because we all know what happens when they do..... No actually, the training really was to teach the team just one more way to say welcome to the human network. Getting to San Jose, Costa Rica from Austin, Texas was a quick trip, taking about as much time as it takes to make the trip to San Jose, California. As the plane made the approach, the view from air the was just as breathtaking... the hills and the mountains were just as captivating, but they were also more prominent, higher, the vegetation fuller. It was as though they were were reaching for the skies. The clouds were hovering just above their smoldering peaks. If those clouds knew how active the volcanoes in Costa Rica are, I doubt they would want to be so close... As we taxied, it was interesting to note the crowd of onlookers behind the fence enjoying the goings on on the runway. Yes, for some, aeroplane landing and take-off is an exhilarating spectator sport. I think that if we lived close to an airport I just might enjoy it too. The immigration line was long, and it took two and a half hours to get to the front of the line. It would take about two minutes to process each traveler and I assumed I would be processed just as fast. I didn't count on the fact that most everyone else in the line with me was American. My Kenyan passport evoked a puzzled but friendly glance and I soon figured out that not too many Kenyan passport holders go through the immigration lines at this airport. After some serious consultations, and what seemed to be an eternity, I was eventually declared persona grata. Wohoo! Ticos are very friendly people! Its unmistakable with almost everyone one encounters. From the airport, the people at the car rental place, the hotel staff, everyone... smiles abound and its heartfelt. On the drive to the hotel, it became abundantly clear that Ticos are very friendly people, until they buckle up in the driver's seat of a car! Then its survival for the fittest, and every man for himself.

Between the crowded roads, daring motorcyclists weaving in and out of traffic, and the occassional pedestrian dashing across the road, the experience of driving is enough to rattle a grown man. Yeah, for the rest of the week the rental car earned some frequent parking points, as taxi decidedly became the preferred mode of transportation throughout the rest of the trip. The Cisco team was a fun group of people. They embody the spirit of Pura Vida!.

Training went well, and soon it was time to come back home. I knew it was time to come back when I had a dream about going back home to my girls, including Savannah. In my dream, I remember holding Savannah in my arms and beholding how beautiful she was. As I pondered how amazingly beautiful she was, and how similar she was to her mother, I realized that she was about a year old. In my dream my heart skipped a beat and I turned to Naomi and asked her how it was that she was already a year old.... to which she replied "You're the one that went to Costa Rica!" Its good to be home with my girls.

Naomi's new job title

For those of you who know me, you're aware of my love for children and that I truly enjoy teaching and working with all age groups. Over the past few years it has been an exciting thing for me to find my niche in the work-world and even more exciting to progress in the industry of childcare and education. That being said, I've given up my post as an after-school teacher at Primrose School at Vista Ridge and have accepted a promotion as the Assistant Director there. Of course I miss my class of Explorers but I now have the opportunity to work with the teachers and to check in with all of the kiddo's at Primrose with the goal of improving the education of them all. There is a lot to learn and do but it's been a fun new post so far.