Friday, December 26, 2008

After Christmas Surf. 12.26.08

I do miss the snow, but when it comes to days like these....not really.  I had my first official surf student, Daniel.  As you can see, we are in wetsuits - yes, Brad, it's cold...burrrr.  However, this is the coldest it will get, thankfully =)  Please enjoy these fun picture from the beach - Darlene, thank you so much for being camera girl.
Waxing the boards.
The wetsuit is difficult to get into at first - Tim gives assistance.
Sean makes it look easy with his 9 foot board - I can't wait until the Softop is fixed!!!
This is Georgia - her dad is Cypriot, and her mom is Mexican.  She's a tri-lingual 15 year-old - English, Greek, and Spanish.  I look forward to spending more time with her.
Teaching Daniel how to wax the board.
Surfing is so much fun!
Finding the peak.
Explaining how to keep the board in one piece while walking out into the rocks and waves.
Paddling out.
The line-up...Sean, Daniel, me, John, and Georgia.
Once again, Sean catching another one.
Kony looks like a little puppy here.
The hang out after...eating alway brings people together.
It turned out to be a really fun day.
The race dog.
Emma flinches at Kony's light speeds.
The board hand off.  Tim gives it a go.  Such a fun day - I'm stoked Cyprus has waves!  Thank You Jesus!

Christmas Dinner.

Christmas Dinner was wonderful!  It was very international...England, Scotland, Bangladesh, and America were represented.
Darlene, Claire, and Sue (Abby in the background).
Sean, Bryan, Allan, and Ricci in front.
Bern and Claire.
Buffet on the table tennis board.
Grub-a-dub-dub.
I miss sitting at the kid table - it's always more fun =).
Just before I called my family on Skype to be with them for their Christmas morning.
Spoons...a great group international game.
Plastic spoons don't alway work...but it makes for an exciting game...crack, break, plastic flies...
I brought my computer over with my family on Skype.  Chelsey said, "Stop cheating, Tim."  Then Tim retorted with, "Hey, stop looking at my cards."
Good fun had by all.
Sean took Emma's bike for a spin.
Repoan, Tim, Bryan, and Rivon.
Chatting with Sue and Allan.  Allan is a vet, and I hope to visit the ex-race horses at the sanctuary near his clinic soon.

Christmas Afternoon.

After presents and clean-up, we walked along the sea and the tidepools.  Three days of rain cleared up to give us a beautiful Christmas day.  Please enjoy these!!!
Only a perfect Creator could make such beauty.
This is Kony's famous running stretch.  He is a Whipit (spelling?), which is quite a fast breed.
Kony posing for Abercrombie and Fetch.
The tide pools were a little bit churned from the storm, but it was still so beautiful at the sea.
The entire Mattox Family in one shot.
If you notice, I have gloves on...it was chilly.
In line to see Jesus.  Ha!  I was actually on the phone with my friend Kalvin, who is from Latvia, got saved in Cyprus, moved to Montana for Bible school (where I met him), and now he works in England - our big world can seem so small sometimes.  I actually live in his old room in the Mattox' home.
Tim hops in the back of the line.
Remember this scene?  "I am 16..."
"...going on 17..."
This is the Greek Orthodox church that dings its bells every holiday and Sunday morning.  I love it!  I feel like I'm in the Sound of Music.
Tim is quite strong...
...but not as strong as his girls. =)
Kony waited for us in the car.  He likes the driver's seat.
Thanks for enjoying our Christmas day adventure with us.

Christmas Morning!!! 12.25.08

It was a very Merry Christmas morning in the Mattox home...enjoy!
I think the bean bag chairs were the highlight.
Mrs. Clause.
Kony had to wake up the girls.
He's such a good dog.
We got a package from the states the day before with Aunt Jamima syrup, pancake mix, taco shells, Pringles, Tabasco sauce, almonds from Target.
Thank you McCoy and Olivas Families!!!
The pancakes were a perfect addition to a perfect Christmas morning.
Just before the gift-sighting...
...Alright!!!
We told the girls to pick one, and it worked out pretty well.
"I love this one!" - Emma
Reeces Peanut Butter cups are not very common here.  This was cool.  I think Tim was more excited than me =).
Kony opens his gifts.
Peter Pan Peanut Butter - stoked!
What could it be?!
Tim bought this in France when he was visiting his dad - how perfect is this?  One of the Three Stooges surfing - it's up on my wall.
Thanks Manny and Karey for the warm blanket.
New watches from their grandfather in France.
Stationary...woohoo!
Starbucks.  Tim loves his coffee.
New jacket for Abby.
This progression is classic.
"No Way!"
Darlene thought it was her own printer at first.
She was not expecting a new computer!
So happy!  Good job Tim.
All on footage.
Tim has officially been bit by the surfing bug.
His own surf mag.
Booties to save his feet from the rock dance at Helios.
Darlene bought him a new iPod, 120GB - crazy!!!
Christmas morning livingroom.
Abby and Emma so thankful for their gifts.
Emma wearing one of the skirts I brought from the states.  They loved the dance clothes, Mom.
I am so blessed by this family.  This just feels like home.