I know I have been slacking. Overall I am exhausted. I feel like everything is happening so fast and before I know it I will be back at school teaching. I get overwhelmed just thinking about it. Even though I love my job, how am I ever going to manage on this boat with two babies?!
Yesterday was really fun with a visit from Auntie Lizzie and Uncle Richie. We went loquat picking and had a ball! I am going to try and muster up the courage to make a Loquat pie this season. I taught Adam how to make them and he made the best... I haven't done one without him yet. I already told Marley I was going to teach her to make pies like Uncle Adam so shes all excited... me too!!! Time to peel and pit :( :(
We did the Argus 5K Walk the Walk today and pledged our money to the Bermuda Sloop Foundation. Later we had yet another princess birthday party... I had to leave early because the swim team I coach at Sandys 360 was hosting a swim meet.
Back to the work week already... where did the weekend go?
Sunday 26 February 2012
Monday 20 February 2012
Exhausted!
With recovering from my week on the Spirit, dealing with sick babies and Mark, plus all the running around I do weekly its too much to think of something witty and fun to say about living on the boat right now. The winds made up again blew 60 last night and all today. We STILL haven't been out and the weekends are passing us by. Hopefully something more exciting to write about by next week.
Wednesday 15 February 2012
We've been hit!
After a great weekend with the kids. Our little floating home has been hit with the Norovirus. It is sweeping around Bermuda plaguing people of all ages with vomiting and diariah. Poor Marley came into our bed Monday night and promptly woke up by vomiting on my pillow at 5am. She threw up 12 more times while I kept her home that Tuesday. Poor thing. She couldn't keep anything down. Not to mention it was Valentines Day and she missed her party at school. She told me all day "mummy see, I ate those crackers, I feel fine... can I go to school now?" By 12:30 she had done what we thought was her last deed and took a late nap. We had made reservations at Salt Rock Grill a nice local sushi place nearby. She was so pumped to go to a resturant with "her family" for Valentines Day. Just as we were about to head out the door all dolled up; it hit again. After the course she said, wiping her face, "I feel fine, we can still go to the resturant!".
Mark and I felt so horrible for her, we didn't want her to think it was her fault we couldn't go so we set up a new plan. We packed both kids into strollers and swaddled them with many many blankets. (Marley had an extra bib just in case) We walked round to Bone Fish a Dockyard resturant and ordered takeout before a little walk. Early on in our walk Marley continued to tell us she was fine and we shold go back to the resturant. Since it was cold and started to sprinkle we turned back around and had a drink there while our takeout was prepared. Marley got a rose from the bar tender and cherries in her water. Not quite the romantic Valentines dinner expected but actually maybe a little more fun!
Today I kept her home just in case and although she didn't eat all day she didn't vomit either. Finally at 5:00pm she filled her empty belly with a P&J sandwich and was back to her old self. Unfortunatly after dropping off the laundry and going for a long walk around Dockyard for fresh air we came home and found Daddy laid up with all the symptoms.
Jacob and I have quarantined ourselves off in the galley/ living room on seperate couches. Hes finally getting into a routine (slept though on Sat, Sun, and Tues nights) so I don't want to get him sick now. Hopefully it doesn't pass to us!!
Mark and I felt so horrible for her, we didn't want her to think it was her fault we couldn't go so we set up a new plan. We packed both kids into strollers and swaddled them with many many blankets. (Marley had an extra bib just in case) We walked round to Bone Fish a Dockyard resturant and ordered takeout before a little walk. Early on in our walk Marley continued to tell us she was fine and we shold go back to the resturant. Since it was cold and started to sprinkle we turned back around and had a drink there while our takeout was prepared. Marley got a rose from the bar tender and cherries in her water. Not quite the romantic Valentines dinner expected but actually maybe a little more fun!
Today I kept her home just in case and although she didn't eat all day she didn't vomit either. Finally at 5:00pm she filled her empty belly with a P&J sandwich and was back to her old self. Unfortunatly after dropping off the laundry and going for a long walk around Dockyard for fresh air we came home and found Daddy laid up with all the symptoms.
Jacob and I have quarantined ourselves off in the galley/ living room on seperate couches. Hes finally getting into a routine (slept though on Sat, Sun, and Tues nights) so I don't want to get him sick now. Hopefully it doesn't pass to us!!
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| "Nothing says I love you more than being thrown up on!" |
Backtracking
Time for a little history.
Bermuda Sloop Foundation Home Page
also check them out on facebook for a more up to date look at their porgrams and even voyages coming up; Spirit of Bermuda facebook page
The next day I had arranged for my school to take a charter boat out to be part of the official arrival of The Spirit of Bermuda with the entire flotilla. It was a charter never to forget, the kids all made signs and our choir even took part in the welcoming presentation at Albouys Point. A short month later my middle school boys were the first middle school voyage to ever sail on Spirit. Another unforgettable voyage. Adam was my watch leader then and then again on following voyages. One of the voyages I will never forget is the "at risk voyage" I helped organize the summer of 2007. We asked for the most 'challenged/ behavioral problems' at each of the 5 middle schools on the island and took them out for 5 days the summer before they would all end up at one of the two only public high schools in Bermuda. It was one of the longest and roughest voyages I have ever been on. I cried every day o f that voyage, I know Adam felt the same struggle too but there was no one else better to lead those kids even though he was only a few years older than them. All my years of teacher training could not compare to the way he was able to relate and get through to the kids. When I wanted to beat my head against a wall or thrown one of them onto the deck he would be calmly teaching them knots or explaining flags. In 2007 I also sailed on Europa on a 2 week voyage from France to Portugal in the Tall Ships race. It made sail training stick with me and made me even more excited about Spirit. Then in 2008 I spoke at the STA Tall Ships conference in Liverpool on behalf of the Bermuda Sloop Foundation on linking sailing to the school curriculum. It was a great networking expereince that solidifed my work with the ship.
It was only fitting that Adam be burried at sea by way of the Spirit. That was not unlike the arrival of her 4 years prior. After his death Mark and I and his family along with the Sloop Foundation (the foundation that is the charity that runs the Spirit) organized a scholarship in Adam's name. Mark works on the Spirit as engineer on charter voyages when he can and is overall still very invested in the program. He finds kids and sometimes apprentices to take part in the overseas voyages and everyone he has recommended has really benifited from the program.
This is why this last week was so important to me. This is why I will continue to sail on my middle school voyages even when it is a double edged sorwd because missing my kids aches but sailing with the future fills my ache for all the children.
Bermuda Sloop Foundation Home Page
also check them out on facebook for a more up to date look at their porgrams and even voyages coming up; Spirit of Bermuda facebook page
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| Adam and I in Maine |
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| Arrival of Spirit 2006 |
We first became involved with the Bermuda Sloop Foundation in 2005 when they had a meeting for people interested in the construction of a Tall Ship for Bermuda. Mark and I both attended and although we were the youngest people there with the least amount of money our hearts were connected to it from the begining. The Spirit of Bermuda is a an 86ft cedar fitted schooner with carbon fibre masts. Historically she is a replical of traditional sailing vesseles built in Bermuda. This purpose built sail training vessle has full classroom amentities including a projector, whiteboard, electronic capabilities like laptops, dvd etc. and is the most beautiful charter vessle anywhere near our waters. In 2006 I had the opportunity to go to Maine just after the launching of Spirit to assist with the development of the school curriculum for voyages. Unfortunatly the maiden voyage was delayed and I had to return for my second year of teaching middle school. Mark was able to fly to Maine where he met Adam who had been there since the launch and finished final preparations for sail and then sailed home to Bermuda together. It was such an amazing expereince seeing Spirit coming in. I remember driving along South Shore the afternoon the arrived in Bermuda waters and calling school for them to announce over the intercom she had arrived. It still gives me chills because all I could think of was how that was what Bermuda's coast would have looked like 400 years ago. A truly amazing expereince!!!
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| First middle school trip |
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| At Risk Voyage 2007 |
It was only fitting that Adam be burried at sea by way of the Spirit. That was not unlike the arrival of her 4 years prior. After his death Mark and I and his family along with the Sloop Foundation (the foundation that is the charity that runs the Spirit) organized a scholarship in Adam's name. Mark works on the Spirit as engineer on charter voyages when he can and is overall still very invested in the program. He finds kids and sometimes apprentices to take part in the overseas voyages and everyone he has recommended has really benifited from the program.
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| Adam's funeral flotilla |
Thursday 9 February 2012
Voyage Day 4
Boys are exhausting! We sailed all day pretty much and it was great. We did a bunch of tacks and jibes out my Murry's Anchorage near the Oil Docks and got the boys really moving with the sails. We had a lady who will be the educator on one of the overseas voyages this summer come and shadow me as the educator. That was a little weird since this isn't really what I normally do when I come aboard and i'm not even sure i'm doing the educator position correctly. I just gave her my pointers and let her do I trial lesson with the boys. The received it well and it was nice to think from a "teaching the teacher" perspective...that always provides insight to your own practice.
Last night I began to really miss Mark and the kids and had a hard time sleeping because of it. It didn't get any better today and I can't wait for tomorrow to be back with them. It was also difficult today doing so much sailing without Adam. There were landmarks that we passed that really reminded me of him and many quiet moments on the ship where I could imagine him double checking lines or talking to one of the kids. I wish so much that he could be here. In order to counter balance that sadness I was determined to teach all the kids that didn't have it down yet the bow line knot. This is one I always struggle with but somehow but the end of each voyage have it mastered. For some reason though by a few weeks later it has left my head. It felt good to be able to sit with a few of them and really master something.
Night watch tonight and then hopefully tomorrow races by so I can be with my babies again.
Last night I began to really miss Mark and the kids and had a hard time sleeping because of it. It didn't get any better today and I can't wait for tomorrow to be back with them. It was also difficult today doing so much sailing without Adam. There were landmarks that we passed that really reminded me of him and many quiet moments on the ship where I could imagine him double checking lines or talking to one of the kids. I wish so much that he could be here. In order to counter balance that sadness I was determined to teach all the kids that didn't have it down yet the bow line knot. This is one I always struggle with but somehow but the end of each voyage have it mastered. For some reason though by a few weeks later it has left my head. It felt good to be able to sit with a few of them and really master something.
Night watch tonight and then hopefully tomorrow races by so I can be with my babies again.
Wednesday 8 February 2012
Voyage Day 3
Last night after watch I slept like a rock. The first time probably in more than 6 months! I enjoyed watch with the girls, it gave me a chance to catch up with them a little as I worked to keep them awake while logging the ships activities. I remember doing watches with Adam and he would always have really interesting and knowledgable things to tell the kids.... we talked about their favorite show "100 ways to die"... I missed him. After watch as soon as my head hit the pillow I was out! I didn't even wake to the rain and the kids having to do their watch right next to my bunk. Mark was not so lucky as he told me this morning.... Jacob decided to stay up until 3am. How lucky I am to have such an incredible man that can manage the two kids on his own. I think they are enjoying their special time with daddy too, maybe thats why Jacob stayed up all night!
Today was switch over day and it was sad to see the girls go but exciting to have a new group of kids. The Clearwater Boys have arrived from the island and they are more than grateful to be on the ship. The weather had turned into rainy and miserable conditions with little wind so we didn't even get in a sail this morning. After a thorough clean and then some lessons below deck we left anchor and arrived at Penno's Wharf before I knew what was happening. I suppose in the back of my mind I knew where we would be docking to pick up the boys but I hadn't actually thought about WHERE that would be. It was the dock where we held Adam's service before we buried him at sea. It was eire being on the dock. A horrible feeling swept over me as I remembered the moments of boarding the Spirit that day going out to burry Adam of all people. The battle within myself was put aside as we had to entertain the students on the dock as the chef had miscalculated timing and we had an extra hour before lunch. We set up obstacle courses for them on the dock and got busy with that.
I'm anxious about the sail tomorrow and now that its on my mind how it will remind me of Adam's burial. Usually when I am at sea I only remember him, not really the details of the events that followed his death. This is tougher than I thought it would be because this is an unexpected memory. I guess I had prepared myself for everything else.
The boys are active and eager enough that I think they will keep me occupied. I lead the bow sprit activity this afternoon where they climb out the the bow sprit and they had me in stitches with their antics. One boy literally crawled out and back! We will see what tomorrow bring... lights out.
Today was switch over day and it was sad to see the girls go but exciting to have a new group of kids. The Clearwater Boys have arrived from the island and they are more than grateful to be on the ship. The weather had turned into rainy and miserable conditions with little wind so we didn't even get in a sail this morning. After a thorough clean and then some lessons below deck we left anchor and arrived at Penno's Wharf before I knew what was happening. I suppose in the back of my mind I knew where we would be docking to pick up the boys but I hadn't actually thought about WHERE that would be. It was the dock where we held Adam's service before we buried him at sea. It was eire being on the dock. A horrible feeling swept over me as I remembered the moments of boarding the Spirit that day going out to burry Adam of all people. The battle within myself was put aside as we had to entertain the students on the dock as the chef had miscalculated timing and we had an extra hour before lunch. We set up obstacle courses for them on the dock and got busy with that.
I'm anxious about the sail tomorrow and now that its on my mind how it will remind me of Adam's burial. Usually when I am at sea I only remember him, not really the details of the events that followed his death. This is tougher than I thought it would be because this is an unexpected memory. I guess I had prepared myself for everything else.
The boys are active and eager enough that I think they will keep me occupied. I lead the bow sprit activity this afternoon where they climb out the the bow sprit and they had me in stitches with their antics. One boy literally crawled out and back! We will see what tomorrow bring... lights out.
Tuesday 7 February 2012
Voyage Day 2
After a wakeful night in the NAV bunk aboard Spirit more of my own fault than the noisy watch changes. I kept thinking I needed to feed Jacob. This morning I had tests at the hospital that I wasn't able to reschedule before coming aboard. I was thankful for the opportunity to be able to relieve Mark a bit and do the ferry run to meet Nana with the kids. After a rough small boat ride ashore I boarded the ferry with Jacob the teddy bear and Marley the boss. She is so organized and in charge... I wonder who she gets that from? Dropping her off to school was a real treat because I got to see her work from school which I missed at the parent teacher conference that was scheduled last night. BOOM! Baby girl knows all her colors and shapes! A+ for mommy and daddy!
I was picked up in town by Spirit... now whats riding in style! Then we headed down north shore for St. Georges. I'm sure there was some educational activity I was supposed to have run but instead the sailing was so perfect that we taught in the moment discussing landmarks and sail techniques. These girls are really impressing me. They are on the ball, the captain was even having so much fun that we went out passed town cut and sailed around for a bit off St. David's head. What a beautiful night after a cold but refreshing swim as the full moon rose and the sun set. We shared "High Tide and Low Tide" which is your highs and lows from the day and the watch I shadowed went really deep with it. I was able to sharing stating that my high was the sail around St. Davids Head and the swim and my low was doing this voyage without Adam although I shared that this group of girls were keeping me very positive because they were doing so well and I was grateful for the opportunity to continue to come aboard on voyages like these. A girl from the watch shared after my turn and said "Don't worry Ms. Brookes; Adam's spirit is here with you and with us all on this trip!"....... BEAUTIFUL, and I couldn't have said it better myself. I haven't really 'felt' him yet but his presence is here on the ship, he is a part of it forever.
This evening I was sent this beautiful picture of my big girl who went to the dentist for the first time today. Although I struggle with missing these 'first moments' at least the world of technology keeps me in contact and abreast to it all. She told me tonight about the "Treasure Chest" they have at the dentist where she got to pick out a ring. Wow she is growing up fast... but beautifully.
Tomorrow we switch over crew, the girls go to the island and the Clearwater boys board spirit. Should make for an interesting day. Perhaps tonight was not the best night to volunteer to give the engineer a break and cover watch duty. I may need my rest!
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| Boarding Spirit in town |
I was picked up in town by Spirit... now whats riding in style! Then we headed down north shore for St. Georges. I'm sure there was some educational activity I was supposed to have run but instead the sailing was so perfect that we taught in the moment discussing landmarks and sail techniques. These girls are really impressing me. They are on the ball, the captain was even having so much fun that we went out passed town cut and sailed around for a bit off St. David's head. What a beautiful night after a cold but refreshing swim as the full moon rose and the sun set. We shared "High Tide and Low Tide" which is your highs and lows from the day and the watch I shadowed went really deep with it. I was able to sharing stating that my high was the sail around St. Davids Head and the swim and my low was doing this voyage without Adam although I shared that this group of girls were keeping me very positive because they were doing so well and I was grateful for the opportunity to continue to come aboard on voyages like these. A girl from the watch shared after my turn and said "Don't worry Ms. Brookes; Adam's spirit is here with you and with us all on this trip!"....... BEAUTIFUL, and I couldn't have said it better myself. I haven't really 'felt' him yet but his presence is here on the ship, he is a part of it forever.
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| Big girl's first dentist visit! |
Tomorrow we switch over crew, the girls go to the island and the Clearwater boys board spirit. Should make for an interesting day. Perhaps tonight was not the best night to volunteer to give the engineer a break and cover watch duty. I may need my rest!
Monday 6 February 2012
Spirit of Bermuda Voyage Day 1
Last night before the voyage I was super anxious; snapping at Mark, stressing about getting the kids to bed early so I could get all the chores done and shower AND pack. Mark had to make me take a 5 min break I was so wired. So it ended up that this morning I was rushing around printing education stuff for the voyage, packing and showering. I said goodbye to Mark and the kids as they headed off to the ferry and got ready. As I walked around to the Spirit I gave myself a little pep talk about what to get out of this voyage. I looked around but there was no crew yet and my anxiety set back in as the first crew member I saw was an unfamiliar face and then another. Could I do this alone? Soon the regular faces showed up and we began simple introductory chat of who we were and why we were here. I got a bit choked up explaining how hard this voyage was going to be for me without Adam as my watch leader, boson, first officer... whatever. The fact was he was not doing to be there, and not because he was off at school.
Once the students arrived and we got through all the introductory stuff and headed underway I felt more relaxed and I had plenty to keep my mind busy. All in all, a great first day with an exceptional group of girls (although I may be a little biased because I taught them when they were in M1 2 years ago!)
Spoke to Mark and the kids (well Marley anyway) before I finished up work as the educator for the night and his play by play of the day sounded about as normal as my days at home are. He is not off completely but he is being Super Dad of the Year for the week. It started with a BBM pic from one of the mommas in my BBM mommas group who bumped into him and the kids on the ferry this morning. Her caption was Dad of the Year! He dropped the kids to Nana who met him at the ferry in town and then they all headed off on their own ways; Marley to school with Jacob and Nana and then Mark back on the ferry back to work. Tonight he caught the ferry from Dockyard and picked the kids up in town again from Nana and then headed back to Watford Bridge. Since he left from Dockyard he had to walk back from Watford Bridge (about a 25 min walk) He had planned it that way and way excited for the wind down time with the kids (much like my morning walks are with them). However Mark is the kind of person who never wants help from anyone but EVERYONE wants to help him. So as he was walking to of our friends from Dockyard who were traveling in the opposite direction turned their cars around to take him, the kids, and the jogger stroller back home to Dockyard. I can just imagine him there at the side of the road with not one but two cars lined up behind him begging him to get it. His play by play of the encounter is much funnier but he was thankful for our generous neighbours as the sun was getting low and Marley was refusing the skateboard ride which makes a walk like that twice as long. They sound good and don't seem like they miss me such yet. Although one sweet thing that Mark told me about when they were coming in on the ferry (they passed Spirit that is anchored just off Watford Bridge) Marley told a lady without any prompting as they approached "My mommies there on the Spirit ship!" The lady conversed with her some more and asked Mark how old our shining daughter was... he replied with a proud "3" and she said how she felt like she was talking to an adult! Bless them, love them. Will post pictures when I get home on Friday.
Once the students arrived and we got through all the introductory stuff and headed underway I felt more relaxed and I had plenty to keep my mind busy. All in all, a great first day with an exceptional group of girls (although I may be a little biased because I taught them when they were in M1 2 years ago!)
Spoke to Mark and the kids (well Marley anyway) before I finished up work as the educator for the night and his play by play of the day sounded about as normal as my days at home are. He is not off completely but he is being Super Dad of the Year for the week. It started with a BBM pic from one of the mommas in my BBM mommas group who bumped into him and the kids on the ferry this morning. Her caption was Dad of the Year! He dropped the kids to Nana who met him at the ferry in town and then they all headed off on their own ways; Marley to school with Jacob and Nana and then Mark back on the ferry back to work. Tonight he caught the ferry from Dockyard and picked the kids up in town again from Nana and then headed back to Watford Bridge. Since he left from Dockyard he had to walk back from Watford Bridge (about a 25 min walk) He had planned it that way and way excited for the wind down time with the kids (much like my morning walks are with them). However Mark is the kind of person who never wants help from anyone but EVERYONE wants to help him. So as he was walking to of our friends from Dockyard who were traveling in the opposite direction turned their cars around to take him, the kids, and the jogger stroller back home to Dockyard. I can just imagine him there at the side of the road with not one but two cars lined up behind him begging him to get it. His play by play of the encounter is much funnier but he was thankful for our generous neighbours as the sun was getting low and Marley was refusing the skateboard ride which makes a walk like that twice as long. They sound good and don't seem like they miss me such yet. Although one sweet thing that Mark told me about when they were coming in on the ferry (they passed Spirit that is anchored just off Watford Bridge) Marley told a lady without any prompting as they approached "My mommies there on the Spirit ship!" The lady conversed with her some more and asked Mark how old our shining daughter was... he replied with a proud "3" and she said how she felt like she was talking to an adult! Bless them, love them. Will post pictures when I get home on Friday.
Bon Voyage
No, we haven't let go of the Blew Horizon lines yet but I am heading out for a week long voyage on Bermuda's tall ship The Spirit of Bermuda.
Will try to update from the ship but will continue to log my expereince as I sail. Will miss the babies so much but need to do this for myself and my school kids. Its going to be hard without Adam around as a watch leader or whatever but i guess thats something that will just take getting used to.
ONE LOVE (Happy Birthday Bob Marley)
Will try to update from the ship but will continue to log my expereince as I sail. Will miss the babies so much but need to do this for myself and my school kids. Its going to be hard without Adam around as a watch leader or whatever but i guess thats something that will just take getting used to.
ONE LOVE (Happy Birthday Bob Marley)
Thursday 2 February 2012
Meet A Mum/Dad Activities
In one corner of the boat we have Marlena Rose weighing in at 30lbs 3ft tall and in the other Jacob Adam at 18lbs, 2ft 2" short!!! We had a dual doc visit on Tues for their check ups and both kids are great. We had a glowing report from the Doctor and all the adoring nurses and both Mark and I couldn't help but walk out with very puffy chests and big heads.... favourite comment of the visit; "She is exceptional.... this is a perfect example of you get out what you put in!".... AHH PRIDE! :)
Today was a very interesting day in that I feel like I met up with the entire MAMA group of Bermuda (Meet A Mum Association). The people I met aren't actually in the group but that seemed the theme of the day. It started of with happy comments and plans for book babies from my BBM Mommas group. These are a bunch of girls around my age with kids of varying ages in Bermuda. We share highs, lows and help each other out with questions and concerns. It is a great support network and I love being a part of it. Then we did our usual morning routine of the 7:30am ferry, this morning one of Mark's work partners was on with his daughter. She was sweet and read Marley her Curious George books on the ride (a good distraction since Dillan didn't show). The walk to school had its usual entertainment with Marley in sneakers, black leggings, a big pink tu-tu, stripped shirt, sweater, and winter hat. Lately she refuses to skateboard the whole way so a lot of the walk is spent beckoning her along as she looks at all the wonderful things we pass. On the way back, I stopped in at Tribe Road Cafe to thank them for taking care of my keys and met up with a mum who's husband knows Mark. We had gotten together a few times before Jacob was born as her daughter is only a month younger than Marley, she also had a son a month after I had Jacob. The girls really connected when we did get them together and its great that both set of kids are so close in age; also they are really cool people. It was good to link back up with her so hopefully we will connect more in the future. The ferry ride back was awesome... there were so many mommies (and daddies (2)) that the poor ferry crew had to orchestrate the 10 or so prams that were blocking all the isles. Clearly not in their job description poor guys ha! Of the bunch was a former colleague from my substitute teaching days. A dynamic teacher who was truly a mentor as I subbed at the school where he ran the learning support department. Teacher turned Mr. Mom.... he is awesome. Told me about after having his adorable son (14 months) how he realised how much more important raising him was and up and quit, cut down on costs and became a full time dad. I told him Mark would be screaming with jealousy; and sure enough when I told him he was! He was surrounded by a group of moms and their babies in buggies and fit right into the group. There was also another smaller mommy group who had decided that today was the perfect day for a ferry ride to Dockyard.... SAHM... taking over the world... or at least the ferries!
Once settled at home and Jacob calmed down from all the mornings excitement, he took a little nap which allowed me to clean and tidy for our playdate with another mum I went to school with who had a little boy a month or so after I had Jacob (really 2011 was the year of the boys!). We had a great little romp on the boat and then headed to the new cafe in Dockyard. It was great to catch up and just talk mom for a bit but time got away from us and we both ended up late. Well worth it though :)
The rest of the afternoon consisted of pick up and a quick house visit to a friend who had ordered me a new blade for my Magic Bullet... more fresh baby food coming right up! We played outside on the dock and then the grass with Marley's strider bike and watched the sun set waiting for dad to come home. Dinner on the bbq and now everyone is in bed for the night (well except Jacob who will be up in a few hours). All in all and excellent day for this Play at Home Mom!!!
Today was a very interesting day in that I feel like I met up with the entire MAMA group of Bermuda (Meet A Mum Association). The people I met aren't actually in the group but that seemed the theme of the day. It started of with happy comments and plans for book babies from my BBM Mommas group. These are a bunch of girls around my age with kids of varying ages in Bermuda. We share highs, lows and help each other out with questions and concerns. It is a great support network and I love being a part of it. Then we did our usual morning routine of the 7:30am ferry, this morning one of Mark's work partners was on with his daughter. She was sweet and read Marley her Curious George books on the ride (a good distraction since Dillan didn't show). The walk to school had its usual entertainment with Marley in sneakers, black leggings, a big pink tu-tu, stripped shirt, sweater, and winter hat. Lately she refuses to skateboard the whole way so a lot of the walk is spent beckoning her along as she looks at all the wonderful things we pass. On the way back, I stopped in at Tribe Road Cafe to thank them for taking care of my keys and met up with a mum who's husband knows Mark. We had gotten together a few times before Jacob was born as her daughter is only a month younger than Marley, she also had a son a month after I had Jacob. The girls really connected when we did get them together and its great that both set of kids are so close in age; also they are really cool people. It was good to link back up with her so hopefully we will connect more in the future. The ferry ride back was awesome... there were so many mommies (and daddies (2)) that the poor ferry crew had to orchestrate the 10 or so prams that were blocking all the isles. Clearly not in their job description poor guys ha! Of the bunch was a former colleague from my substitute teaching days. A dynamic teacher who was truly a mentor as I subbed at the school where he ran the learning support department. Teacher turned Mr. Mom.... he is awesome. Told me about after having his adorable son (14 months) how he realised how much more important raising him was and up and quit, cut down on costs and became a full time dad. I told him Mark would be screaming with jealousy; and sure enough when I told him he was! He was surrounded by a group of moms and their babies in buggies and fit right into the group. There was also another smaller mommy group who had decided that today was the perfect day for a ferry ride to Dockyard.... SAHM... taking over the world... or at least the ferries!
Once settled at home and Jacob calmed down from all the mornings excitement, he took a little nap which allowed me to clean and tidy for our playdate with another mum I went to school with who had a little boy a month or so after I had Jacob (really 2011 was the year of the boys!). We had a great little romp on the boat and then headed to the new cafe in Dockyard. It was great to catch up and just talk mom for a bit but time got away from us and we both ended up late. Well worth it though :)
The rest of the afternoon consisted of pick up and a quick house visit to a friend who had ordered me a new blade for my Magic Bullet... more fresh baby food coming right up! We played outside on the dock and then the grass with Marley's strider bike and watched the sun set waiting for dad to come home. Dinner on the bbq and now everyone is in bed for the night (well except Jacob who will be up in a few hours). All in all and excellent day for this Play at Home Mom!!!
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