Sail!

We took our second sailing lesson.  The wind was a little calmer and we slightly knew what we were doing, making this trip out easier.  Marc is terrific (and handsome) as captain.

I was an awkward and ungainly first mate, and was unable to find a life jacket to encompass my 36 week girth.  It sat on top of my belly, standing up around my neck and nearly covering my ears.  So no good belly pictures of me on the boat, you will have to make do with this one of me swimming afterwards:

Patriot

Case loves a good parade, flags (someone kindly gave him two for maximum waving powers), and the Star Spangled Banner, so the September 11th parade is his kind of morning.  I am touched by how much joy, hope and love these kids show. 

Misirlou

 Kind of an old picture (January) but every time it comes up on my slideshow it cracks me up.  It looks like he's ready to play bass for Dick Dale. 

I'm on a boat!

After a busy summer full of exercise after exercise, Marc is finally home and took this last week off of work.  It was terrific.  We celebrated by dropping the boy off at school and taking a sailing lesson.  Thank you government sponsored child care; I can not possibly take care of that lunatic every single second. 

 Our ship was a Rhodes 19, a fun little boat full of yar and other nautical terms.  I was unprepared for how very very complicated sailing is.  Ropes everywhere.  You turn one way to go the other.  If you are nervous about something there is no good way to do it really slowly.  And I was only in charge of the jib. 

But it was a lot of fun, even if the life vest does fit me rather bizarrely.  It was beautiful and blue.  You are constantly creating a breeze, so it's never too hot.  There were lots of turtles out, and in a sail boat you sometimes sneak up on them causing a terrific startle reaction.  Our next lesson is in a couple weeks.  Hopefully we will maintain our zero collision rating.