Middle to End with a great Ending!

Today I walked the middle to end for the unknown amount of times.  My dad and I usually do it every year, he was an End to End walker but recently has been doing the middle to end.  For my foreign readers, this is an annual fund raiser in Bermuda where people are sponsored to walk from one end of the island to the other (aprox 20 miles) or from half of the island to the other, or make it to the end in a variety of different ways including swimming, biking, at one point skateboarding or horseback riding... check out http://www.bermudaendtoend.bm/ for more details. Somewhere on there you can also pledge me, I'm under the Sandys Secondary Middle School team.
Anyway, after a fairly early hen night in town I arrived home to Jacob ready for some love and attention.  His teeth are still bad, and all he really wants at this point is to be up and have a bottle. So with about 4 hours of sleep Mark, Marley and Jacob dropped me off at the ferry to town where I was meeting my dad for the start of the race.  He is very competitive and does not like to start with all the 'novice walkers' as you then spend half the walk over taking them so we had agreed to meet outside HSBC to get ahead of the mob.  Unforuntatly miscommunication meant I was at the wrong HSBC and we started just before the mob.  Even still it seemed a lot of people had left early this year anyway ad we were overtaking people most of the way.  Including at first my cousins who cheered us on and mocked my dads competitive nature.  He is just over 6ft and me just over 5ft has to do double the work to keep up with him but I was feeling good at the start.  However this did not last long, my dear mum who is a sucker for a gimmick bought us all 'gravity defying sneakers'.  I had practised with them on my morning walks this week and them seemed fine, maybe just a little too roomy.  Once I got to Paget lights I knew I was in for trouble, I could feel blisters beginning and by 1/4 of the way there I had some for sure.  Funny enough it felt better to run.  However, I have not been training to run 13 miles, so a continuous run was out of the question.  I walked-ran for most of it and by the lighthouse I could feel my knee start to hurt.  This was also just after the funniest part of the walk when a group of vagrant men  (who loot the railway trail during the walk to 'observe the walkers') called out how 'fine i was looking'.... la la la... then said to my dad who was a few paces behind me at that point 'I can see why your walking... i'd be walking too if I was behind her!'.  My humoured dad gave them the thumbs up and said 'she looks good don't she?!' at which point I called back; "I'm his DAUGHTER, come on!".  Soon after that my dad got into a strong pace and took off, I just could not keep up with my feet on fire like that. I was so frustrated because physically I felt like I could run most of it but my feet just weren't able.  I guess this is how proper runners feel about a bad race they have, it was really heartbreaking in the moment.  Close to the end Mark had brought the kids along the route to cheer me on, Jacob was asleep but my ever enthusiastic Marley cheered me on and told me that they had lost yet another of Jacobs paccis on the way there! Mark said he was really chuffed with himself as so many people commented on what a great dad he was for bringing his kids out and having a picnic with them.  I agree but the funny thing is, why wouldn't he?  It is sad that so many men wouldn't do that and he gets such props for doing what should be a no brainier! I finally made it to Dockyard, just a little under my usual time with my dad of 4 hours.  Michael Jackson brought me in running to 'beat it' and my loving kids and Mark were there at the finish to greet me! I was in a pretty bad way with my feet after the race and needed lots of recoup time.  I had a nap with Jacob and then decided that handling both kids for the night was going to be a bit much for me to handle; especially as Mark was going to be out at the bachelor party.
When he headed there he took Jacob to Nanas and Marley and I had our very first, very own girls night.  The plan was to go to the Dockyard movie theatre and get popcorn then come back to the boat and watch Cinderella.  But when we got to the theatre, wouldn't you know that there was a PG animated PIRATE movie playing. I asked Marley if she wanted to see the movie instead and she agreed.  It was such an amazing night with her. My little girl is growing up so fast, and she is the most beautiful person I know.  So sincere and humble.  I was grinning from ear to ear at our little adventure, almost to the point of tears and I kind of think she felt the same.
Tomorrow is her first ballet recital.  Where is my baby girl going? AND what was life ever like before her?!  Its a fairly calm night on the boat, i've finished the dishes, bottles, and packing way.  Marley is fast asleep in her bed; she went down after a quick bath so easily.  I really am living the dream; and lucky to be.

From Bad to Worse

Well this morning soon after I woke up late and rushed to get everyone ready to catch the ferry and just to add salt to injury it was Marleys first sports day and she needed to wear a yellow shirt and sneakers. This plus rushing caused one of the worst tantrums I have ever seen out of Marley. Mark literally hed her down while I put her sneakers and she screamed her head off. Later on in the day one of Marks co-workers asked him if Marley survived the morning as he had heard the tantrum from his boat! I also had a peanut gallery to face as we boarded the ferry with Marley still wailing. Once on the ferry I explained to Tom (who lives on our dock and is one of Marleys biggest fans and no doubt would habe loved to play with her on the ferry) that we were not in the best of shape and first needed to settle breakfast on the ride to Rockaway. I calmly explained to Marley (all the while fearing another meltdown) that she needed to get out of the pram so I could sit Jacob down to feed him. She did so without hesitation which was a relief but then began to whine again for her breakfast. I quietly pulled her to me and said in a stern voice how unexceptable it would be for her to act up on the ferry and that she needed to sit down and behave so that she could have her breakfast. I also explained to her that I was really upset and disappointed with the way she behaved on the boat this morning and that no one on the ferry wanted to hear any of that. She responded with an "I'm sorry mommy" and ate her breakfast perfectly while I fed Jacob. From the front of the ferry I heard "you should write a book", not thinking about what just happened I replied, I sort of am; I have a blog! Tom then explained; no a parenting book- you handled that so well. LOL if only he had seen me 5 mins before on the boat! The rest of the morning commute continued fine without incident and when we got to school I turned in her yellow shirt and wished her teacher good luck. Sports Day was great and a good laugh. Marley was in the spirit of it all in her yellow shirt with all her classmates. Pa and daddy even got into it by doing the wheel barrow race at the end of the day!
Mark brought the Scout (boat) into town so I left my car and we planned dinner and a boat ride in celebration of Marley's sports. We took advantage of a winter special at one of the restaurants and walked down playing as we went. Jacob took a little snooze in the pram as Mark flipped and twirled Marley down the street. It wasn't until we were almost at the resturant that we realized that both Marleys pink ribbon and Jacobs pacci had disapeared. Marley screamed and cried but luckily Jacob didn't notice the missing plug. Mark ran back along the last leg of our route to see if he could find either but instead all he brought back was someones discarded easter basket. That was no subatitute for Marleys pink ribbon but truth be told I was feeling more anxious about the pacci sisuation. Jacob isn't really fussy about the pacci as much as Marley was but if he has one there is only one kind that will do. And that was our last one of its kind! Once settled in the returant we managed to distract Marley with pictures from sports day and of her with her ribbon. "Even though we lost the ribbon we will always have this picture of you wearing it". We also found a back up pacci (although not the right kind, but a pacci at least).
Dinner was nice and we even decided on a walk down Front Street for the first Harbour Nights in town before heading to the boat. At home we docked the Scout at the end of the marina and headed to Blew Horizon by foot. Marley was super over tired and Jacob hungry to the tantrums and screaming started again as soon as the hatch was opened. When I couldn't find where the reserve pacci had gotten to I more or less lost it! I looked at Mark on the verge of tears and he calmly came up with a backup plan for the missing pacci. That was definitely a make it or break it moment and without his calmess we wouldn't have gotten both kids to bed and asleep within the hour. Thank goodness for opposites attracting!

Freakin Friday meets Manic Monday

Well enough..........what is going on?!
Friday I drove the car in to take Marley to school because I had finally planned a day to use my A.S.Coopers gift certificate that I got last Christmas! I haven't bought new clothes for myself since I was pregnant with Marley and don't even ask me how long i've been wearing maternity underwear! If they weren't so damn comfy I think mothers would be more motivated to pick up their look a little after having babies.  I also had planned to get a few things at the Black Friday sales they have started now in Bermuda.  Nana had a greed to take Jacob for the morning so I could have this time.

DIVA!

But no doubt my girl got car sick on the way in! Now really come on... motion sickness when you live on a boat... really?! So we get to Nana's for a quick bath before I send her to school (nothings gonna ruin my 'me' morning) and Nana tricks her into playing hookie from school with temptations of painted nails and Ribeana! I didn't want to leave both kids with her, as they are a lot to handle but she insisted.  Off I went and although they were still in the back of my mind the whole 2 hours I was in town I still made out relatively good and got a smoking hot dress for my girl's engagement party this weekend.  First time I felt like a hottie without being a MILF! LOL (the party was a success and I learnt that I could do with dressing myself up a little more often; I may have two kids but i'm not 50!)

my laundry helper

The weather is still not cooperating and so we spent the weekend alongside the dock yet again.  With Jacob's 4 month Dr. apt. and Marley's gymnastics, the 3 loads of laundry that had piled up, plus Mark doing a charter for the Spirit of Bermuda we wouldn't have had time to get away anyway.  We had a great day on Sunday with a walk and a swim at Cooper's Island.  (in case you were wondering Marley did not get carsick from one end of the island to the other; Dockyard to Cooper's Island- apparently its just morning car sickness!) Jacob also had his first food (rice cereal), Marley also said one of the funniest things ever.  Mark woke up with a bit of a 'do' going on as he hasn't cut his hair in over a year and does little to manage his locks at all.  He must have had his first realisation to how offencive this can sometimes be when he caught himself in the mirror.  He asked Marley; "Daddy's hair is a bit scary huh?" Her innocent reply was "It's just a part of you Daddy, its ok." This just about killed me with laughter because no matter how many times we have all told him about his hair he has refused to realise... Marley said it all with such simple words! Love this girl!
Monday came all too fast and I awoke to my phone still missing.  I lost it at some point Sunday night getting back to the boat or on the way to Frog and Onion for dinner.  I tossed and turned worrying about its fate all night and stressing over the importance that I have allowed this little device to have over my life.  Mark left before work to see if he could find it in our tracks as I prepared for another car ride in as I needed to get my car fixed today.  He came back with the phone! He also came with a neighbour who needed a ride into work which was on our way.  We all filled into the car and I went to turn the key and sure enough... click, click, click.  The battery was dead!  Mark and I knew I would need a new one soon, but of all times to go!  The poor neighbour was not having much of a good start either and was now late to work.  Luckily I saw someone else who could give her a ride while Mark went to get a jumper pack from work. 

Jacob and I at Coopers island

All is sorted now, I took Marley into school and left the car running throughout the drop off then took the car into the shop and picked up another battery on my way.  I think our bad luck has run out for now.  The phone is on charge and Jacob is peacefully asleep (although thumb sucking as I forgot the pacci on the boat!)  I should really get to work on my various projects for the holidays but think i'll take just an hour or two more of 'me' time and sneak in a nap too!