Sea Breeze Lounge, Bermuda 2013

This might be my new favorite restaurant in BDA.  I can't decide what I love best - the views, the food, or the vibe.  We spent a lot of summer nights here this year.  With the extended summers of Bermuda, I'm glad we get to enjoy this outdoor restaurant a while longer.

You can't go wrong.

I love that you can bring your kids here in the early evenings.  When they get tired of grown up talk, they have a wide open grass field to run around in - adjacent to the restaurant. 

I love the sangria and swizzle pitchers.  I love the tapas and sushi menus.

And I adore the view.



A full moon over the ocean at Elbow Beach .. warm South Shore breezes over the balcony.. just dreamy.



My brother Osman, took this pic of Mina while the moon came out. Such amazing light.

We did learn one lesson though - never moisturize your kid's face with Aquaphor before a trip out here.  Yes, I realize this is one of those lessons that is of marginal value to most people.. but maybe it will help someone out there.

Jordan, in his infinite wisdom, decided to face plant on the beach during a romp around before feeding time.  We had conveniently moisturized him with a heavy duty dollop of Aquaphor (great for eczema!) before we left the house because we are just crazy like that.

Big mistake.

He came up looking like he was wearing a beautiful pink, sandy mask.  Washing that off was fun.

Easing into Monday.

One word - organization.

Lunchboxes disinfected and ready to be packed?
Hot lunch tickets cut out and put in lunchbox?
Tupperware out on the counter with all the inner compartment boxes ready to go?
Water bottles clean?
Uniforms ready?
Gym uniforms (a/k/a "kits") clean and in the bags?
Confirmed they have sneakers at school, if not then packed?
Backpacks in their place?
Reading logs signed?
School pouches in the backpack?

Yes?

Ok then.. you can lounge on the couch before bedtime and watch "House Hunters International."



Happy Mondays when the work is done the night before. 

Mina takes after me.  Look at the system she's developed for keeping her water bottle and gym bag within easy reach at drop off.  Love it.



I'd much rather lounge on the couch on a Sunday night than do more stuff... but...

As much as I hate Mondays.. especially Monday mornings... I hate being rushed around feeling disorganized even more.

Halloween odds and ends.

"Mommy, what's your faaavorite holiday?"  Mina likes to ask.

Funny, you should ask.. it happens to be HALLOWEEN!!!  I just love this holiday.  It fits in with all the things most precious to my soul ... candy, dressing up, scary movies ... candy..  chocolate.

My kids are still pretty young, and easily scared .. unfortunately. 

I contrast this with myself, as I distinctly recall one of my earliest childhood memories.

There we were - my mom and I in a small kitchen dining table in Queens, NY.  She was telling me in vivid detail, all about her fun night during which she, my father, and another couple had decided to go out an watch the "The Exorcist." 

Yeah, the original.  I'm seriously that old.

But I remember my eyes getting progressively bigger as she told me all about it.  The child who turns into a demon.. the priest leaping out the window.. the head spinning around.

And then I remember hiding under the table.

She dragged me out so that she could drop me off at pre school.  Thanks Mom.

But fast forward to this day.. I still love scary movies.  And Halloween. 

I don't torment my kids that way though.. and we still decorate cutesy in this house.  Although, I am waiting for the day when I can sneak in more creepy décor.



Cute little ceramic animals and a happy pumpkin house?  Smiling jack o'lanterns? Yes, yes...



Sparkly-eyed spiders made in school?  Of course..



Yard sale finds and Grandma H's hand me downs from teaching days?  Sure!



Cut out masks from the back of Pillsbury fake bake boxes?  You betcha!



Cute little witch with googley eyes, magic wand and a pretty purple dress? Aww!



I did sneak in two new items this year for outside.. I snagged two of these LED purple and green light up glitter spiders. If I can find some hay bales somewhere on this godforsaken island, I thought they'd look slightly creepy outside.. lit up next to the carved jack o lanterns we'll make. Slowly but surely.. maybe one of these days we'll do those cool tombstone scenes I see all over the Halloween Pinterest boards!! 

I can see my kids running already.

Oscar arrives at Saltus.

It was nice that the custom of "Show & Tell" is still alive in schools, including those here in Bermuda. Jordan came home last week and told me he wanted to bring in something for his class show and tell. He debated between two things - his flag book, or Oscar.

I know, Oscar. It hardly seems like a debate. I mean, come on. Look at this guy... how can a flag book compete with this thing?

On the big day, I made sure Oscar looked presentable. With real chicken treats in hand, his leash and water bowl, we were armed and ready to go. It's not apparent from this picture, but Oscar is actually wearing Jeff's black tuxedo tie, under the purple leash.

Jordan hadn't told me what, if anything, he planned to say about Oscar, but I figured at the least, Oscar could do his one trick.

He can sit.

He is very good at sitting. Yep. And sleeping all day too, come to think of it.

Oscar poses in the shade. Naturally we picked the hottest day of the year to show up.

Everything worked out well. The kids adored Oscar.  The teacher led the discussion by asking Jordan some questions about Oscar. The kids followed up with some more questions. Oscar gave a little demonstration of sitting; and Jordan gave him a piece of chicken as a reward. Oscar drove home with me, grinning from one doggy ear to the other. Was this the best day ever, or what?!?"

Why can't I go to school every day?  I'll be good!  I promise!