So we’ve had a great time with Aunt Mamie! Grissom will NOT let her leave his sight. He gets SO attached to all our visitors and I think it’s the only way he’s got to show that he REALLY misses home. She asked him if he wanted to come home with her and he said, “Yes…I get me shoes!” Poor me, my baby would rather go home with his aunt then stay with me!! Oh, well!
Ella and I picked her up from the airport while Daddy and the boys cleaned apartment and got her bed ready. We HAD to stop at Panda Express for lunch…poor Jamie had never eaten there!
That afternoon we were all tired. The kids and I from our trip North that past weekend and Jamie just because she’d been flying all day…so we called it a NAP time! Then we did a Wal-Mart run for food and had a late dinner!
Ella's Creative Craft!!
Wednesday was a beautiful sunny day AND warm…windy but life can still happen. So we took Jamie to the beach! The kids and her had a ball. Ella, Keegan, and Jamie went looking for shells on a nice long walk while Mark and I played ‘hit-ball’ (a.k.a. football) and other serious sport with JUST Grissom. I’m not sure he knew what to do having ALL of both of our attentions just on him…he got to laughing so hard he had to sit down!
Later that night we took the kids to Awanas and Shoreline had there once a month Wednesday night worship service. Jamie has been the ONLY visitor (just kidding, Riah went with us...she's the only family member) who’s gotten to take part in any kind of our Shoreline Church out here, so I was super excited to have her with me. We sang some great music and then Kevin talked casually about Revelations it took me back to Campus House @ Purdue when we had TNT (Thursday Night Thing). Both these events involved the preacher simply reading through every verse and chapter of a certain book and then sharing commentary about it – I LOVE that!!
Now the part I forgot to mention was that we’d started the day off just like every other day…we had cream of wheat and the water was running just fine…but then we found that we no longer had ANY WATER! In fact after calling the office we learned that a main had broken and they would be doing their best to get the water back on but our entire complex was out of luck! SO after the beach we came home hoping to shower and be fresh for church…NO GOOD…so we sat in the back at church so no one could smell us…we seriously looked homeless! Ha!!
We had a big day planned for Thursday…WHALE WATCHING!
Now let me take you back to over 10 years ago. Carlie and I were on Spring Break from College and Jamie took a weeks’ vacation and we headed south to stay with Mamaw and Papaw for the week. During this time Papaw took us sailing, which I discovered the year prior with him and LOVED it and couldn’t WAIT for my sisters to try it! This sailing trip was crazy awesome!! BUT it was a bit wavy that day…so wavy that Jamie started first and wouldn’t stop (puking) then Carlie joined in…so I got to sit there drinking my wine while both sisters were hanging over the side of the boat letting lose! I TOTALLY made fun of BOTH of them…even to this day. It didn't bother me...I loved the waves!
Now back to this story:
I wasn’t sold on taking Jamie out on the seas again, BUT with the time of year and season out here the ocean acts more like a lake with very small if any waves. So the ocean has been very calm and quiet which gave me hope that she would do just great so we went. We DID have her permission this wasn’t something I wanted to surprise her with JUST in case. As we are driving I noticed that the waves were breaking into the shore and they weren’t as calm and quiet as they’ve been every other day…but what do we have to lose? So we get there pretty early, paid and were ready to load the boat. We had some time to kill so we showed Jamie around. She got to see and smell the seals and sea lions. And we all got to watch a mamma otter swim on her back while her baby hung tight to her laying on her tummy. It was SO cute!
We are SOOOO ready to see some whales!
Look closely at these next few pictures. As we were standing at the rales in the picture above we noticed something in the water...these next 3 pictures are a mamma otter swimming and holding her baby in her arms!! It was SOOOO cute!
This was only 1 of the 20 sea lions hanging out next to our boat:
Mark noticed a Starbucks on our way in so we went to grab us a nice pumpkin Spice Latte for the ride…too bad their espresso machine wasn’t working. So we settled with pumpkin spice chi and boy did it taste SOOOOO good. Jamie grabbed one too…my thought was, “not sure that’s a good move, but whatever…” We got on the boat. Ella and Keegan were both given a life jacket and Grissom was buckled into the backpack tightly strapped to Mark’s back. Everyone had their warm clothes on and their big jackets/sweatshirts. We formed a buddy system: I had Keegan, Ella had Mamie, and Grissom stuck with (or to) Mark…so we were ready to go. All was great starting out. There were a total of prolly about 25-30 people total on this boat and all the seats were taken so we were fine to hang out at the back of the boat where the wind could hit us with the fresh air and the kids would have a great view of any possible dolphins that could follow (which didn’t happen).
The problem came the second after we left the bay area and we were out in the ocean a nice 5 minutes into the ride. Mark looked over at Jamie and said to me, “I give her 5 minutes!” I smacked his arm and told him to leave her alone and encourage her so she’ll be ok! The problem was that the boat was hitting WAVES…and when I say waves I’m not exaggerating when I tell you I’m talking 9-11 footers every 10-15 seconds or so…I had such a tight hold on both Ella and Keegan with my arms weaved around the back bar of the boat so I wouldn’t fall. Mark had wedged himself into the back corner holding on with both hands. The boat’s tip was straight into the air and then straight down…it was crazy. NO one was able to walk around the boat. If someone had to move they had to hold onto something or someone or they fell. I felt horrible! Of ALL the stinking days to be out on this water…it HAD to be the one day the waves were crazy! Jamie didn’t make it very long…she started ‘feeding the fish’ from the back of the boat…and she couldn’t stop. I wanted SO badly to turn the boat around and let her get off…but we’d just started.
I was really enjoying the wind and the waves along with the kids. Mark had to help take Keegan so I could help Ella stay upright. Not long after Jamie 2 other people got sick as well so I felt a little better for Jamie. I was thanking God that I felt fine…remember I’ve NEVER been on a boat while being pregnant. We went prepared with the sea bands on and Jamie even had taken Dramamine. I wanted so badly to see a stupid whale so we could hurry back but we kept going and going and going farther into the fog to the point where we couldn’t see land any longer. The boat slowed down because a whale was thought to have been spotted but it was a seal and we got to see a HUGE sting ray! Ella was so thrilled and excited, Keegan too, but Ella just couldn’t believe that she REALLY saw a sting ray in the wild ocean!
The next round of puking came as the boat started back up…we thought the waves and the up and down was bad as we went along in the water?? NO WAY!! The worst part was when the boat sat still (or tried to) everyone was clinging to the sides and rails of the boat…it looked like the scene in the Titanic when the boat was upright ready to take it's final plunge into the deep sea and people were literally haning from the railing! (ok...so maybe that's a slight exageration!) But I swore the thing was close to tipping a few times! We had to hold onto the kids and I was SO glad to have Grissom in the backpack so Mark could help me hold the other two cause Jamie was back to feeding those fish again! I also had the camera in hand to try to catch whatever we saw on film so that just added to the mess of trying to keep the kids safe. But don’t worry…THEY (the kids) came first!
We went on a ways more still waving…I have a feeling about 3-4 of the guys got sick as well. You’d see them head to the front of the boat all white and they’d be licking and wiping their faces as they made their way back to where they were before. I KNOW they were hiding the fact that they were getting sick – ha! But Jamie and her friends were in on this too. I had a moment of weakness where I thought for sure I was going to join…so I prepared and after spitting a few times off the back I was totally fine! Close call I kept telling myself hang in there…you CAN’T lose it!
The boat stopped yet again…but this time it wasn’t a false alarm…there was a REAL beautiful whale…a hump back whale…and I think you can see in the picture below.
This boat stop caused Keegan to feed the fish as well. Poor little guy. He’d done SO well…but the look on his face as he said,”Mom, is it ok if I need to throw up too?” I said, “Absolutely…go over there to dad!” I know you are thinking I couldn’t’ handle it, but I couldn’t…plus the man sitting got up and offered me his seat so I was sitting in the middle of the boat while Mark was at the edge. I was holding on for dear life…trying to take a picture of this stupid whale before I fell into the sea! We sat and watched the whale for what seemed like forever. I was starting to NOT feel good and was also ready to head back.
Poor Jamie just kept those fish following us but next to her was a little Chinese gal who was doing to same. This scene on this boat was almost morbid! You could tell that everyone was having a blast watching this whale. I KNOW that whale was laughing as he swam around us in circles watching all the puke hit the water from EVERY angle! Keegan finished looked right up to Mark and said, “Did you see that whale?” All the kids were super excited to see it! Ella’s screaming, “There it is…mom did you get the picture?” while Grissom, still on Mark’s back yells, “Shark, right there…I see it!!” I managed to grab a few pictures by holding the camera up in the air and shooting at the area of the whale! Once I was able to stand (with help from the man who’d given me his seat) I was also able to see it and really get a picture of it.
I’d never heard anything sweeter then the captain say, “Well, folks, I’d love to keep you out here watching this guy, but we need to start heading back to the dock!” I think everyone sat up just a little taller at that announcement! But sure enough as we started moving again the puking started up again…this time I was one of them! I just prayed, “Lord…If I don’t puke it’s going to hurt so much worst…PLEASE let me get this up so I can feel better!” and sure enough the second I finished this prayer was the second He answered it! I can brag only enough to say I got it all out in 1 shot…and I felt SO much better…BUT I did have to swallow a bit of pride and climb aboard Jamie’s side!!
Keegan totally fell asleep on me, while Ella sat on Mark’s feet holding onto his legs; Jamie kept her post at the back of the boat while Mark held onto Grissom. He’d gotten too cold and prolly a little sick on the back so we took him out (the boat ride back was a little calmer) but Mark held onto Grissom with ALL his might! He also claimed that he almost lost it a few times on the way back!
This is the bay as we pulled in:
So we pulled into the boat slip and no one felt happier!
Keegan totally passed out...and I'd be lieing if I didn't tell you that I was just glad that it was over!
We took our time getting off the boat cause it took so long to get the life jackets off the kids, but I think Jamie was the first one off this boat!
See...we didn't look TOO bad once it was over...hahaha!!
So the stats are 50% lost their cookies while 50% held tight and were super strong! I’m a little sad…I feel like I’ve let my Papaw Mc down and lost my sea legs…BUT I’m totally blaming it on the pregnancy!!
Afterwards we headed for Me’N Ed’s because when you leave it all in the ocean…you feel empty! It’s a good thing we rested the rest of the evening because everyone was still rocking back and forth up and down ALL night! Mark even called from work to see if he was the only one feeling ‘still on the boat!’ hahaha!!
EVERYONE slept great that night!!
Mark had to get up early AGAIN and head to work after only a nice 4 hours or less for sleep, but he was determined because when he came home he took ME out on a date…yep, Jamie was awesome enough to hold down the fort so Mark could take me on a REAL DATE!! We only had a few hours cause Mark had to go BACK into work at normal time; 4 p.m. but we ran with the time we had! We went to Cannery Row to a new restaurant; Louie Linguini’s where we sat out on the porch and watched the ocean. What was funny was how CALM the ocean was and how the waves were almost NON-existent just a day after our whale watching event! Oh, did I tell you that Thursday night’s weather man claimed that day as a real wind guster and huge ocean waves that were out of season?? Ha!! Go figure!!
Ok…so we sat on the porch and sat and sat and sat…we were basically forgotten! Once we had someone stop at our table we ordered EVERYTHING and asked for the check JUST in case the man didn’t come back…and he really didn’t until it was time to collect! We had to beg other waiters for refills, etc. After lunch we just walked. We ran past a couple stores and just hung out and talked without any child interruption…IT WAS AWESOME!! We got home just in time for Mark to head straight to work…again! Jamie had taken the kids to the park down the street and the kids had a ball…Ella was very busy making flower necklaces and bracelets for all us gals! Once I got Mark out the door we loaded up and took Jamie to the Moss landing Street side Market. She got to see ALL the fruit and veggies that we basically LIVE off of out here…then we took her to the ‘other’ side where we showed her all the sea shells! I wanted to drive her down south a little and show her more beach area, but we had to feed the kids and then it ended up being too late to see much of anything, so we had a cuddle with Mamie night!!
We ALL took Mamie to the airport Saturday. I was able to wedge my bottom in-between the kids’ booster seats in the back of the van. Not a pretty sight! Keegan was SO cute! He just cuddled with me the whole way there! We had a little bit of chaos as Jamie got out and started saying good bye at the airport. Jamie got out; Mark jumped out to get her bag and help pull me out of the back seat so I could get into the front. But with all this going on Grissom got really panicked and confused at who was going where. He started screaming, “Daddy!!!!!! No Mommy!!!!!!! Wait, Mamie!!!!” We said our good-byes and Mark and I quickly got back into the van to show Grissom it was just Jamie going home, but he wasn’t satisfied. He calmed down for a nice few seconds then asked for his lovie and Ga-ga…OOPS!!!! I wasn’t thinking!! When I told him I was sorry that I didn’t bring them he fell apart completely! It only took him about 20 minutes to stop his hysteria and when he did we noticed that he’d passed out asleep! Poor guy! I'm NOT looking forward to the day we have to head home withOUT daddy!!
We knew like always we needed a little family fun to get our minds off of another visitor leaving…so we stopped at In & Out Burger for some yummy lunch! We got to sit outside in the beautiful HOT sunshine and eat together as a family! Then we headed over to the Halloween store to see if we could find the Ninja costumes the boys were wanting to dress as (Grissom says he wants to be a, “Hi-ya for Ween!”) We also ran into a Sport Clips…SO Grissom got his first BIG boy haircut!! And Keegan’s going to be the RED Ninja and Grissom is going to be the Blue Hi-ya (Ninja)!! Ella and mommy are making her costume; she’s going to be the Snow Queen!
We got home took baths then played a bit while I fixed dinner...SUPER crazy but tons of loud funness!
Daddy and Girssom played Racecars while Keegan played with his sword in the kids' room:
And Ella and Mommy painted nails...
this is VERY seriousl business...
Keegan didn't last long and joined into the racecar fun...
Sunday was a funny kind of day. Church was nice and after church it was super sunny so we planned a BEACH day!
Oh, don’t let me forget the funny of this day! Ok…lets go back to before church in fact it was before 7 a.m. (so Mark and I were still sleeping…kind of) we heard the fighting but ignored it later finding out that Keegan ripped Ella’s name tag sticker off of her Awanas book and now she didn’t have one that belonged to just her. It was such a horible tragedy!! Keegan did this because he could not his book (which was sitting in PLAIN view on the table!). This fight was one we basically encouraged the kids to get through without us! Then right after church we were hanging out eating the doughnuts Shoreline provides and talking about what everyone learned at Sunday school. Ella was showing us the scroll she’d made and explaining that they learned about forgiveness. She unrolls this scroll and on the top she drew a wonderful picture of Jesus next to a heart ‘helping’ her…then on the bottom of the scroll she’d drawn a picture of her and Keegan. And she says, “Jesus helps me forgive Keegan for ripping my name off my book…” She was looking right at Keegan showing him the picture (it was one of those moments a parent dreams of…you imagine Keegan throwing his arms around Ella thanking her for forgiving him, etc…) Keegan looks at the picture closer and says, “I don’t have that much hair!!” I about lost it!! Mark had to walk to other direction…we laughed SO hard!! There was a guy standing close enough to us that he heard the entire thing as well and even he lost it!! Keegan was so worried about the art work that he paid NO attention to the fact that this was Ella’s way of telling him that she forgave him let’s move on type thing…he caught on with help of course but it was SO Keegan!
We ran home after church ate a super fast lunch and headed out to the beach…JUST in time for the fog to roll on in…we took a nice long walk on the beach came back to our spot sat down to enjoy the afternoon AND it started raining! HA!! Go figure!! So we just headed home…after all we had to prepare for the COLT’S game!! Mark took off for Wingstop to get our family pack of wings while we held down the fort!! We had a great night even thought the Colt’s didn’t win it was SO nice to get to watch them!
