Independence Day- Bahamas Style

We spent Bahamian Independence Day with some of our favorite Bahamian friends….s well as friends from Switzerland and Chile.  Unfortunately Allen had to work and then go to the official events, so he didn’t get to come with us.

We headed out of our neighborhood.  These boys do not look like they are having fun, but they really were.

And so were we…

As soon as we got to the beach, the boys did their thing….

And so did we…

Later in the day the clouds were amazing.

Not too long after this we saw a water spout off shore.  {A water spout is a tornado over the water.}  Fortunately for us we could see it from a safe distance.

The lovely clouds turned into a lovely sunset.

One day I hope that they will look at these pictures and see what an amazing life they have lived here.

The sunset made an amazing day even more special.

This special friend of mine is moving away soon.  When we come back from S.C. they will be gone.  It was a bittersweet day since we knew our time was limited.  However, that is a post for another day.

To end our amazing day we all piled back in the boat with tired, hungry, salty bodies and headed back home.  And went through a thunderstorm.

As they say storms can’t last forever.  However I hope our memories of this amazing day will last forever!

Rose Island Days

The day before Allen got home, our friends invited us to go to Rose Island with them and since it would be rude to not go, we joined them.

It was a bit choppy heading over there, but it was such a gorgeous day.  The boys started collecting things to make a fort and were so excited to show us their masterpiece.

This is a straight out of the phone picture with no enhancements…

While we were floating in the water, a little wave knocked me off balance and I put my hand down for balance and I came up with two small sand dollars!  I showed the boys how to dig their toes in the sand and find the sand dollars.  We came home with this.

As soon as I put them out, the flies started cleaning them for me.  Did you know that you don’t have to bleach sand dollars?  You can leave them out in the sun and mother nature will bleach them for you?  Yep.

As we were coming home, I am always so thankful that we live this amazing life with amazing experiences.  My memory is not great, but I never want to forget what it feels like.

2013 Christmas Boat Parade

This year we were fortunate to be able to see the Festival of Lights Parade again this year.  My pictures are all dark or blurry, but I tried!

Taking pictures at night from a boat on the water is a special talent that I don’t posess!

This boat was celebrating 50 years of tourism in the Bahamas.

The Grand Marshall boat.

The Goombay Punch Boat

Geronimo had 2 inflatable snowmen on top

This boat had the Islands of the Bahmas Logo on it!

I think this one was the overall winner.

Some were very elaborate and others were more subdued.

The boys had a blast and even though I have no pictures to show for it, Michele was able to join us this time too!

A big thanks goes to our friend and capable Captain, Scott!

Fishing

Saturday was a really busy day for our family.  We started with 2 soccer games at 9 a.m. Then immediately following that, Allen and Jackson were in a fishing tournament, and that evening we went to the Marine Corps Ball.  Phew!

The Generations Junior Angler Fishing tournament is highly anticipated here because the kids are the entrants and the parents are just the transportation. Entry is by boat and each boat usually has several junior anglers on it.  The boat they were on didn’t win, but they did have a great time.  And in my book, “If you had fun, you won!”

We were fortunate that Allen sent me these pictures as the tournament was ending, because he had an unfortunate Blackberry accident at the end.  {If you know Allen, you realize the trauma that comes with a Blackberry accident!}  He was able to dive in and retrieve it, but even though he rinsed it with fresh water and put it in a bowl of rice for 24 hours, it was a goner.

He also lost his sunglasses too.  Poor guy dropped them as they were trying to get rid of this guy…

He didn’t go after them.  I am picturing this angry shark swimming around with Allen’s Ray Bans on him!

Poor Allen, but he was a good sport about it!

Big Fun!

The tube continues to be a big deal at our house.

But this picture steals the show!