#EDSFTG

Sometimes you just have a day and you think, “Every day should feel this good.”  The folks at Vineyard Vines  have it as their slogan, and I have to agree, when you are having one of those days, you just want it to last forever.

Last Saturday was one of those days.  We didn’t have anything going on, so we went to the beach.  After almost 4 years here, we are still looking at each other all the time saying, “Remember when we didn’t have anything going on when we lived other places and we’d go to Home Depot and run a bunch of errands.  This is sooooo much better than that!”

The water was flat, and the boys and Allen were able to snorkel right off the beach and find lots of baby conchs. 

 

EDSFTG

These are the days that you’ll remember!

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!

Mother’s Day 2014

Every year on Mother’s Day it gets better than the last.  This year Jackson came and loudly told me “Happy Mother’s Day!” at about 6:14 a.m. and was so excited to give me his poem that I couldn’t even be mad.  Miller was right behind him with his Mother’s Day painting of flowers.  So cute!

I have a soft spot in my heart for kids crafts and Mother’s Day kids crafts are just the sweetest!

Allen and the boys made me a fantastic breakfast that we enjoyed al fresco.  While I was waiting for breakfast the boys were hard at work.
Miller decided he was going to clean the windows—with a broom.

Jackson learned to make a terrific latte.  I’m spoiled, right!

Then we packed up a lunch and headed to our favorite beach.

It was so crowded…

We ended the day with a delicious dinner of stone crab legs, filet mignons, and corn on the cob!  I am spoiled!

Thank you Allen, for making it all happen!

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.

Beach Bag

Trust me when I say I put my beach bags to the test!  We are at the beach quite a bit, but mine also goes to the pool and is often on the boat too.  I regularly stuff it to overflowing and carry it, slide it, haul it and throw it in the trunk.

When we moved here, I used one of the LL Bean XL Boat and tote.  Those bags are sturdy and all of mine have held up well.  It’s down side was it’s weight.  Fully loaded it weighed approximately 99 pounds.  Sometimes bigger isn’t better.

About a year later my sister gifted me with a Scout bag.  It is was colorful, light and easy to keep clean.  It was just as big as the LL Bean bag, and I always had it full.  After a while the laminated material started coming apart on the handles.  They looked ok, but left a sticky residue on the hands.  No bueno.

So I decided it was time to actually find the best beach bag I could.

I ordered this darling bag from Land’s End and I love it.  It isn’t as stiff as the LL Bean bags, and it has pockets.  Pockets are important.  Isn’t the kelly green monogram a great touch?

I can fit 3-4 towels and all our other necessities. 

What does a bona fide beach bum need for an afternoon at the beach?

I’m sure you’re eager to hear.I carry several  nylon zippered pouches with lots of sunscreen, goggles and an underwater camera.  I have other pouches that I keep stocked with granola bars, band aids, a few kids water toys, grocery bags to use for trash.  Hats are a real necessity for the strong sun, so I usually have one or two in my bag as well.  Last year I added a Jambox by jawbone to the bag and I love it!  Because I am fancy I also carry my iphone in a  ziplock bag.  {we have several waterproof cases, but sometimes a ziplock is just easier, you know}

I’m really looking forward to getting lots of use from this beach bag.

Beaching It

We are enjoying every minute of Spring Break.  Although the boys and I thrive on schedules, I am enjoying just figuring it out as we go.

We have gone to the beach and although the boys are not enthusiastic about going, they always have a blast while we are there.

This just never gets old…

Jackson’s buddies joined us today.  I think he wants to be their third twin!

We also saw these Spotted Eagle Rays as we walked under the bridge to the beach.

They were pretty small

About 20 feet away there was another group of them.  11 in all!

That never gets old either!

So I am putting the pressure on those of you who have been considering a visit.  We only have a year or so left here, so what are you waiting for?

This and That

The days are flying by and the boys are just growing up so fast.   I had to video the boys doing some of their tricks.  I’m always afraid I’ll forget what it’s like with them.  So here they are at 5 and a half and 7 and a half.

Well I can only get one small snippet to publish on here…They are totally in their element when they are doing their “tricks”!

Miller is constantly going onto the dock and observing the fish and creatures out there.  He never fails to run back inside and yell with total awe that he has seen a _______.  It doesn’t matter if it is a stingray or a minnow, he gets super excited every time.

He’s still doing his signature move…the thumbs up seems to be here to stay!  As are apples.  If he is at home he eats 2-4 a day.

This day he spotted a sea urchin…

an angel fish…

a Nassau grouper…

a baby angel fish ({we call them bumblebee fish}…

and a bonefish.

We later found some bubble bath…they go bonkers for bubble bath!

And that wraps up the most random post of all time!

They boys have Spring break this week, so we will be beaching it and  having lots of time to chill!

Coronado

When were visiting San Diego, I knew I wanted to see Coronado.  I’ve heard amazing things about the Hotel del Coronado as well as the island.  As soon as we drove onto the island I was mesmerized.  There are adorable houses and cottages everywhere you turn.  There is a main shopping street called Orange Ave.  and the hotel was everything I pictured. 

We got off to a rocky start with a little misbehavior from the boys, but they got straightened out and we ended up having a lovely day. 

We parked and walked to the Hotel del and from there we went onto the beach.   There was a guy there who had built this amazing sand castle.  Since he had a website and tip jar strategically placed all around it, I’m guessing he is a pro.

I was eager for the boys to get their feet wet in the Pacific.  They did want to go in, but I knew that water was cold and they didn’t protest too much once they dipped their little piggies in the water.

Can I just tell you how much I love this picture up there?  Do you see how Miller is reaching out to hold Jackson’s hand.  he still likes to hold hands when he is unsure about things.  Jackson is always his first choice for reassurance.  Tender!

As quickly as possible, they had to start climbing on the rocks.  They may be part beach boy, but they are also part mountain goat.

I don’t know where they get it from?

After our visit to the beach and Hotel del, we ate lunch at a great Mexican restaurant.  We love us so Mexican food and Miguel’s Cocina did not disappoint.

It was also National Margarita Day, so bonus!  {Remember what I did last year on National Margarita Day?}

We spent the rest of the day exploring the rest of the island.  Funny story… we saw this little Hummer Golf cart in the lot of a rental car agency.  As I was running inside to see how much it was to rent for the day, Allen points out that it wasn’t a rental car lot, but a public parking lot beside a rental car company.  At this point Jackson had released the brake and was about to drive off!  Allen’s face was so red!

We picked up a real estate guide and the prices for the homes there start at a million.  It was still fun to look, though.

As I said in our last post we blew the budget on the LEGOLAND Hotel.  It was so worth it, but it would have been nice to be able to stay at the Hotel del.  However, we never know what the future holds and maybe that will be in the cards for us in the years to come.