The Anastasi's: Way Too Long!

It has been a very long time since I have blogged and I guess the only excuse I have is that it took me this long to settle into our new life here in Vung Tau, Vietnam. There were many highs and lows about being here and thoughts about wanting to go back 'home' to Texas. I knew this move would be difficult and that we would miss family and friends tremendously but with Vietnam being a 3rd world country, I had many more concerns once we arrived. All those concerns have now calmed down and we are getting more and more confortable here every week.

We have some really good friends, Karen, Michael and Bryson's best mate, Logan. If it were not for them, I don't think that my positive attitude would be so positive. Logan is about 6 months younger than Bryson but they play well together and keep eachother busy...well really, they allow Karen and I to stay busy, entertained and happy! Its a perfect match and I am so grateful for that. Our daily lives consist of Karen and I working out in the mornings, taking the boys to the pool before lunch/naptime, hanging out at Karen's after naps, running arrands together or heading back to the pool....that's about it...we try to stay busy together everyday while the guys are at work. Once a week we try to head to Ho Chi Minh City for a day just to get out of VT for a while. It breaks the week up nicely. Luckily, the company that Karen's husband works for has a private boat that we are able to use so that we don't have to ride the nasty ferrys. The trip takes 1.5 to 2 hours one way, so its a very long day by the time we get home in the evenings but worth it! We were taking the boys to a Kindermusik course in HCMC but that is now over, so we are trying to figure out what else to do with them since there isn't much here in VT. Golf lessons might be the new thing! There is a new private school being built (Singapore International School) that we are going to check out for preschool classes. We shall see!

Since the last blog, we have been back to the States twice. We went for Thanksgiving/early Christmas celebration and back in March unfortunately for the funeral of Cory's grandmother, Charlotte. Bryson turned 2 while we were there, so it was nice to celebrate with family and friends at Zilker Park. He absolutely loved riding the train! Cory ended up having to come back after a week but Bryson and I stayed for 5 more weeks. It was great seeing everyone and being back in good 'ol Texas (the best place in the world!).

Soon after arriving back in Vietnam 3 weeks ago, we planned a trip to a nice beach town 3 hours away called Mui Ne. It was beautiful and CLEAN...for the most part. We went because I was going to do a triathlon but ended up not doing it because of the lack of training during our unexpected trip back home. Karen's husband did the race and we cheered him on! It was a fun weekend and much needed.

Enough chit-chat, here are pictures from the last 8-9 months:

Cousins!

Grandma Charlotte...we miss you!

We really miss our Lola!

Santa's Wonderland in College Station, Tx

He wants to be just like his cousins.

Christmas Day at Karen and Michaels...boy it was hot!

Bryson's room in Vietnam

Binh Chau hot springs and mud bath

Love a muddy kiss!

Gig'em! That's our boy!

Sunset in Vung Tau on Front Beach

Jesus on the mountain

Tet Celebrations

The boat. We take this almost every week to go to Ho Chi Minh for the day...thank goodness we don't have to take the ferry much!

The cows are out again! Actually, this is a completely normal event here. There are no barns, fences, corrals, etc.

A normal play date with the boys..Bryson, Logan and Jack

Singapore Zoo

This was a stunningly beautiful and well designed zoo...probably the best I have ever seen! It was amazing. Im not sure who had more fun, Bryson or myself.