We Made It!!

Just wanted to let everyone know that we made it to Lusaka. I have been pretty jet lagged, but Will has been sleeping like a baby (Don't worry I wake him up when I can't sleep. He loves it). We currently don't have access to the internet on a regular basis. We have to get logged into CIDRZ system which won't be until Tuesday. There is a holiday on Monday so we have been hanging out in their wonderful 70 degree weather. We have been able to go to a market and the grocery store which were both adventures in themselves. Our internet service is stronger than we thought so we will be able to skype and I plan to continue blogging regularly. Hope to have some pictures for you soon.

Weekend Wrap up

So this is a jumbo weekend wrap up. I have missed a couple of weekends and am trying to catch up. Since I last blogged I made a trip to Seattle and celebrated with family at the lake. Let's start with Seattle pics.

I met my friend Kareen for breakfast one morning. 

Meet some Seattle friends for dinner at Toulouse. 

Participated in karoking which is a must.
K.J. rocked Avril Lavigne's complicated.

Hanging at Ozzie's

Madrona friends

This past weekend we spent some time with family. It was so great to get to see everyone and spend time in a familiar place.

Uncle Ken was teaching the girls how to fish

Mimi took them on the big tube.

Snack Time

We have so many wonderful friends and family. We are so glad to have gotten to say bye to so many. We love you all so much and will miss your faces and the sound of your voices in these next 10 months. We are excited but definitely scared of all the new adjustments. I will try to continue my blog while we are in Africa. The biggest factor for me is how fast the internet will be. Patience is not my strong suit and if it takes an hour to upload a picture I will either learn patience or go into fits of rage. Will has created a new blog for Zambia because we have to have password protected blogs. Here is the address http://zambiabystream.tumblr.com/. If you want to follow us email me at rachel.leigh.martin@gmail.com and I will give you the password. If I decide to continue blogging separate from Will I will send the password along when I set it up.

One Year Celebrated!

I mentioned a while back an idea that a friend and I had about our wedding dresses. We decided it is silly to only wear them once and pack them away. Our plan is that we will put our dresses on every year and have one item in the picture that represents where we are as a couple. We chose a globe since we are headed to Africa.

Since I was in Seattle during our anniversary (I am a shoe in for wife of the year) we ate our cake while we were cleaning out our apartment.

The cake still tasted good. I was surprised.

I smashed it in Will's face.

Back Porch Beverages- Chocolate Mint Martini

Tracy came to visit us from Nashville. We created a drink for this week's back porch beverages. I am unsure of the measurements because we dumped all the ingredients in the blender. You will need:

chocolate mint (this ingredient was the inspiration for our beverage)

chocolate ice cream

agave nectar

vodka

We added the vodka and agave to the
mint when we muddled it.

Add ice, ice cream, chocolate mint 

syrup mixture, and more vodka  

Comments: It was a good dessert beverage. I don't know if anyone would want more than one.

Oh, Seattle I have missed you!

Happy One Year Honey!!!

he: likes his coffee black

she: likes hers with creamer

he: squeezes the toothpaste from the bottom

she: squeezes from the middle

he: pushes through a stitch when running

she: does not

he: likes to make breakfast

she: likes eating it

he: likes to eat his cereal with a large spoon

she: likes her with a small spoon

he: wakes up early

she: sleeps in 

he: is a peacemaker

she: likes to address conflict

he: plans his weekends around Auburn football

she: doesn't see the point

he: talks in his sleep and snores

she: laughs and jabs him in the ribs

he: is easily embarrassed by her public outbursts

she: is easily riled up by ignorant drivers

he: doesn't get her obsession with sniffing

she: can't help but sniff

he: likes to cuddle at night

she: likes her space

Back Porch Beverages-Strawberry Basil Martini

This week we are making a yummy strawberry basil martini. The thing that I have enjoyed most about these beverages are the herbs. They give each drink an additional flavor that I am not expecting. Here is what you will need for this back porch beverage done family style.

3 strawberries, plus one for garnish

3 basil leaves

1/2 agave nectar

 Ice

1 ounce Gin

1 ounce Vodka

1/2 fresh lime juice

chop and squeeze people

My brother, sister in law and Will

I think Kim is about to start dancing because
her beverage is so good.

Comments: This drink was sweet but not too sweet for my taste. I think the basil kept the drink from tasting too much like a daiquiri.