September

My how the time has flown!! It is now 2 months that I've been married and 10 months that I've been in Lagos!! September has come already and Christmas will be here before we know it!

Now for an update on the past couple of weeks. I have been busy lately helping out with the Ishahayi Beach School Foundation. They provide funding to operate and expand a school for primary and secondary students. The biggest fundraiser of the year is the silent auction coming up. They have big themed baskets full of donated goods and some are worth almost a thousand dollars! We have been busy putting together these lovely baskets and making posters for the auction. They asked me to be a member of the Board to take over a spot of someone who had left and I was voted in on Friday. I am excited for this new opportunity to help a great cause! I know the kiddos at the school appreciate all the Board has done, from building a new school house to donating a drum set for music lessons. And the money from the auction will help to pay more teachers which allows more kids to attend.
We went to visit the school and clean up the classrooms before school starts again in 2 weeks. There were a lot of kids there to help us.

the older boys just hanging out

the classroom for primary students

the chalkboards that I cleaned

seating in the classroom

more posters in the classroom

the new flag held up better this time

the little ones were watching on

the school principal in the new building

one of the new chalkboards in the new building

the library pre-organizing and cleaning of the books

the principal's son

I still am going to the Living Fountain Orphanage as well. I love getting to play with the babies, and hate to leave them when they have to take their afternoon naps.


baby Daniel is my favorite!



he love to sit on my lap and play for hours

Additionally, the trainers that I work out with rented out a studio so they could hire more instructors and offer more classes. I took a spinning and yoga class for the first time ever. And I loved them both! I am excited to be able to try new things that will work out my body in a whole new way. Now, if only I could control my eating habits....

spinning class

On Wednesday night, we went over to the Martin's house to have a goodbye dinner to an Exxon guy that is leaving Lagos. It started as a fun tex-mex potluck dinner and turned into a party with margaritas, darts, dancing and wee hours of the morning. Since I was up at midnight I decided to join the draft for my fantasy football league. While everyone was still having fun, I spent an hour and a half drafting my team!

drafting during the party!

On Friday afternoon, I hosted a Champagne Friday for a few of my friends. We like to get together in early afternoon to have a glass of champagne and just talk for hours before our husbands start to get home from work. This week we made it special and had the lady come over that does massages. 4 of us took turns and had an hour long massage. It is so nice and relaxing way to end the week!

my spread for the girls

bubblies and homemade ranch oyster crackers

delicious Champagne

Saturday night, we went over to the Kirby's to watch college football. They had a big TV set up by the pool and we were able to stream Slingbox. I was excited that we actually got to see the first part of the Baylor game!!! first one I've seen in a year! It actually started to rain, so we had to quickly gather everything and run inside. But we played some darts and a card/board game called Things inside for a few hours until the early morning, once again!

Jason, Troy and Stephen

watching the TV

all the football watchers

Sunday was a lazy day after a busy week. I decided to make some spinach black bean enchiladas that I have been wanting to make. I have included the recipe, even though I took a shortcut and used some Trader Joe's enchilada sauce I have instead of making it from scratch.
http://www.thegardengrazer.com/2012/03/black-bean-spinach-enchiladas.html