Tim Daggett Invitational - January 2016

Jordan just got back from his first gymnastics meet of the year.  Together with his team, he travelled to Springfield, MA for the Tim Daggett Invitational.  He competed again in level 5.  Jeff accompanied him abroad over the weekend of January 29th - 31st.Grandma H and Grandpa Michael joined them (and shot some of these great pictures too.)



Jordan was excited.  He's worked hard all summer through the fall and winter, after recovering from pneumonia in August.  He sprang back though, and has been working on perfecting all the events and bonus points.

Back home, Mina, Theo and I anxiously awaited results.  I refreshed the online meet scores at least twenty times, and was glued to my phone, texting Jeff for the details.

"How is he?  Is he nervous?  Does he seem nervous?  What did he eat for breakfast?  Remember not to give him a huge lunch before he competes!  Stick with a big protein breakfast in the morning, and keep him away from junky snacks!"

I was obviously more worried than Jordan.  He did amazingly well.  Out of six events, he medaled in four of them.  His scores were high enough to put him in the top ten gymnasts in his division.  Out of 47 boys, he ranked 9th.

It hasn't been forgotten that this meet came on the same week as the anniversary of Jordan's heart transplant (January 26 - 11 years ago.)

Our heart angel, Breanna, lives on and lives strong.  I hope she would be proud of what her guy is up to.

This is what a transplant patient can do.

3



5













Breakdown:
Floor - 9.5 (11th)
Pommel - 10.2 (8th)
Rings - 10.8 (6th)
Vault - 9.5 (12th)
Parallel Bars -9.9 (11th)
High Bar - 8.9 (12th)
All Around - 58.8 (9th)

Random Disney Moments, October 2015

Because I know how much I love looking back on great memories.



Jeff strolling down Main Street expressing faux Disney happiness and trying not to think about how much this is all costing.

As an aside, I absolutely loved fall Disney décor.  The orange and black and pumpkins and yellow mums everywhere - love!  Halloween is my favorite holiday, and spending it at Disney during a rare school week off that doesn't coincide with any of the American holidays was priceless.  Very unlikely to happen again, so I savored it all.

Disney during the Christmas season is pretty amazing too.  I still remember Main Street's Osbourne Festival of Lights and the snow falling.  I've read they are going to phase that out this year.  So sad.  But if I know Disney, they will find a way to make something else magical happen.




Theo is not a big tv watcher.  He just doesn't have the attention span.  But he loves Woody and Buzz, from A Toy Story.  Not that he can sit through a whole movie.  He loves them because his pediatrician's office has these larger than life murals of them on the wall.  When we walk in there for appointments, his face light up.

Getting to see the characters at Disney was such a kick.  He was at the perfect age for it too - I know at some point the little kids get scared of these enormous characters, right up there in your face.  Theo was spellbound.



The Barnstormer - Jordan's favorite ride.  He rode it over and over again.  At last count - 6 times in a row.  Thank goodness it was raining and the crowds had dispersed and there was no line.



Of course he dragged Grace, Jason and Mina along too.



Exiting triumphantly from the ride for the umpteenth time.  This was the first year we let Jordan and Mina have more independence as far as rides and splitting up and meeting us at designated locations.  It is a far cry from years past when I never let them out of my sight.



and then there's this guy - riding Dumbo for the first time.  Kristen took such a great shot of the three of us from the Dumbo in front.



Jordan's windswept look on Test Track.



Theo waking up to lunch at Rainforest Café.  I can't even imagine what was going on in his head when he awoke to the animatronic creatures and jungle rainstorms around him.

Disney 2015 - Vacationing in the land of the Mouse (with three kids.)

We just returned from a Walt Disney vacation in Florida, and I already want to go back.  I have become such a Disney junkie over the years.  I think I may love it more than the kids.

We went during our "Mid-term break."  This is a distinctly UK tradition that is followed here in Bermuda, wherein the kids get a week off in October.  Since no school in the US has this holiday, it is wonderful time to go visit massive theme parks like Disney.  I personally lost track of how many Brit accents I heard whilst we were wandering the parks.  (Yes, whilst is a word.  See what I did there?)  Did I use it right?  Brit friends, help me out.

It is an especially fantastic time to go if you want to see Disney done up for the fall.



This is our dear friend K, who is the absolute best person in the world to travel with, bar none. Seriously. When the sh-t hits the fan in my own life, I ask myself .. how would K handle this? She is that good.
 

I'm not really sure why I love this place so.   Disney is over the top, expensive as heck, and absolutely mental in terms of planning, hyper stimulation and consumer spending ... but still...

We had the best time.

Does is make any sense to bring a one year old?  Heck yeah.

Did we have an awesome time with our fabulous friends?  Oh yeah.

Was trick or treating at Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party cool?  Yes!!!!  (even in the rain.)

Does Disney think of crafty ways to get you to buy their products. (I'm looking at you Memory Maker.)

Kidding aside, I do love Disney.  They know how go do it well.  All of it.  We have done it with the kids several times now, and each time, it seems to become more fluid.  Our first time was a complete disaster, of course... Jordan in the Disney hospital with a raging fever, flu across the board spread to friends with us, money wasted .. Etc.  

Since then, we've worked out some kinks...

I'm not going to pretend it was easy traveling with a 13/14 month old.  The airline flights alone (for us, it meant two plane rides both ways) were brutal enough to make the most seasoned parent nervous.  While it's nice that his entry into the parks is free, throwing him into this mix meant accepting some sleepness night, some overstimulation, and some fussiness from the extreme change in routine.

And he was constipated.  Enough said. 

But we kept our expectations low and were lucky to be with understanding friends who pinched in and helped make the experience memorable for all of us.  And on the plus side ... His screaming in the security lines at the airport became a fast pass of its own.  I am not joking.  They pulled us out and got us through longer lines than I have ever seen.  

And of course, at Disney, having an infant means you can legitimately use the rider switch program.  Combined with a fast pass, it is just about the quickest way for a group like ours to go.  Extra bonus points for the kids tall enough to go as solo riders.. (I am telling you, our friends have taught us the best Disney tips.)

Added discovery - the infant care centers located in each park.  I took advantage of one on our first day at Epcot, and brought Theo in there for a diaper change, a cuddle and some down time because he was over stimulated.  The place was amazing - quiet and serene in the midst of KA-POW happening outside.  Anything you need for a baby is there (diapers, formula, baby food, basic first aid care, changing tables, little bathrooms.)

Apart from private nursing rooms,  they also had a room set to the side with Disney movies playing on a low volume to keep the slightly older siblings occupied.  I had read about these in the Unofficial Walt Disney Guide, and was so glad I remembered.  After the big kids and adults had finished their ride, they met Theo and I and we regrouped.  Theo was calm again and we could venture forth.

We visited the parks we wanted to see, prioritized our rides and adventures, and made the most of what time we had.  The magic band system, particularly when used as a guest at an on site resort, is awesome.  Our super savvy Floridian friends booked us all at a great on site hotel (Tree house villas - the three bedroom option for those staying at the Saratoga Springs Disney resort).  With our own cars, traveling between the parks and the room was much simplified.
 

There's so much to say about each individual park, and the best way of navigating them.  Much of it depends on what your group consists of and what your priorities are.  Like I said, I really kept my expectations low.  Since we have done Disney before, done the character breakfasts and reservations at fancy restaurants .. for this trip, my only goal was getting Theo to see Buzz and Woody. 

Really.  That is it. 



Having accomplished that, I sat back and watched in awe as my big kids ran off and tackled the Tower of Terror, Test Track and Mount Everest expeditions. We let them run off and do their rides and meet us back at designated locations, so I could manage the baby.



 And just as I thought they had all and grown on me, I saw this happen:



 Disney brings out the kid in all of us.  Even the kids. 

Especially the kids.

Other highlights:

 - The Food and Wine day at Epcot.  Yes, I would like the three wine pairing and cheese tray, thank you.  Sushi and pineapple sake?  Go on then...

-  Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party fireworks and Boo to You Parade;

-  The Kilamanjaro safari ride at Animal Kingdom (done this three times and I still love it.);

-  Beating Jeff's score  on the Toy Story Mania Ride;

-  The creepy crawly effects on the "It's Tough to be a Bug" ride at Animal Kingdom. Very cool.



All I want for Christmas is a Disney Annual Pass.  I know, in fact, I am quite certain, I can make it economically feasible within  year. 

Off to camp!

The big kids are off to camp, and we had the usual routine:

Loads of packing to get us through the month.



Travel adventure stories made more memorable with the arrival of this guy.



Reaching home base at Grandmas and waking up to this.



Loads of food.











Family Game night. 


And finally, drop off.

To make it easier, we split up this year.  Jeff took Mina. 



And I took Jordan.



Saying goodbye was not easy.



And I am already weepy thinking about it.  They've only been gone three days.  I really don't know what I am going to do when they go off to college.  I told Jeff maybe I would feel differently by then since they will be teenagers, and I'll be sick of them. 

But I doubt it.

Weekend in NYC. Happy Mother's Day 2015!

Mother's Day has passed, but I have to highlight the awesome gift I received from Jeff and the kiddos - a solo trip to NYC!



Jeff booked the tickets to coincide with the Memorial Day weekend, which also happens to be a long weekend in Bermuda. With the kids and Jeff both off from work and school, I was happy to fly off relatively guilt free. 

Check out the fabulous view of Times Square in the morning, taken from the concierge lounge at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel. 

And check out the other ubiquitous NYC shot- pidgeons, per Jordan's request. 

"Mommy, take a picture of the NYC pidgeons!"  

He still likes birds. NYC pidgeons deserve their own screen time, I guess. 

There you go, Jordan. I wonder if he remembers the story I told him about the time I saw a flock of them ripping apart hot dogs in the street that someone had tossed from a hot dog cart. 

The trip didn't start out too well. I guess everyone on the island was trying to get off that day, so I wound up literally in the back of the plane.  I mean, exactly the back of the plane.  Right next to the toilet. 

Ugh.

Double ugh, was the fact that the passenger sitting next to me took up almost half of my seat.  I tried hard not to look miffed about it, because I'm sure she was just as uncomfortable as I was.  There's got to be some easy way to break the tension in situations like this. There's no ignoring the obvious size issue. We're both annoyed - neither of us is comfortable, we're both crammed in. What's the point of being a jerk about it? Everyone on the plane is miserable. What can you do?

Turns out, the absolutely horrific turbulence we experienced wound up breaking the ice as we both sat there panicking out loud.  Each time one of us gripped the arm rest, sharing looks of fear, the minor issue of lack of space became meaningless.

When the passenger seated across from me started throwing up from air sickness, I really started praying.  So was my seat mate. Nothing like a shared plane crash to initiate a friendship.

We landed, thank God, and as soon as possible, I charged out of there - ready to start my adventures.

People approach NYC trips differently.  Some go for the Broadway shows and tourist stuff.  I go to see friends, shop and eat.

A lot.

My one desire was to indulge on these guys. And loads of them.  Fresh oysters are non existent in Bermuda, at least to my knowledge. When I've asked about it, I've been told they bring them in frozen. 

Not the same. 

I also haven't had any as last seasons pregnancy got in the way of my normal eating habits.  

Needless to say, this craving has taken on a life of its own. 

So, after checking into the hotel, I headed downtown about twenty blocks to Chelsea. Home of one of my favorites: John Dory Oyster Bar. 

 

It's a great oyster place that I managed to visit twice in my weekend in NYC.  Yes, twice.  So gluttonous.  Jeff and I went there once on a rare kid free weekend. It wasn't quite the same without my oyster buddy.



But I soldiered on. He would be proud.

That first night, I met up with good sorority friends/ex housemates from college.  

 One of the main reasons I stay active on Facebook is because it's a great way of maintaining connections when you live abroad. With the ease of a few messages  to friends, I was able to set up the weekend. I'm lucky enough to have a handful of friends who actually make the effort too. They are the best!

Of course, it's a little tricky fitting in everyone and everything into just a couple days. Which is why I clearly need to do trips abroad more often!

My Leonia girls met me out to celebrate among the rooftops at sunset.  I suggested this place I read about called "Gallow Green."



Really lovely garden setting atop the old McKittrick Hotel. The Highline is right next door and it's a gorgeous spot of foliage in an otherwise urban landscape. 

We did some damage, as we caught up on town gossip and eyed the hipsters around us.  Ok, we may not be 20 something whippersnappers, but we're obviously comfortable enough in our dotage to command an entire table for hours on end and rate a chilled wine bucket from the bartender. We got some looks on that one.

 No standing in line at the bar for single beers for us, thank you.  We're old, tired and have earned the right to sit down. 

The departure however, was slightly more macabre than I am used to. Remind me to read up on interactive theatrical productions ("Sleep No More" is the show being performed downstairs) before I drag my poor unsuspecting friends through one of these again. Oh NYC, you never disappoint.



Sundays used to mean brunch for us. So what better way to spend it than with this guy- who trained it in from CT.   We had a lovely, chic lunch at the Nomad hotel.  It was so chic that I had to go get more food immediately after.

Yes, that's me.  Eating my second brunch.  Secondies?  At John Dory again. 

It's especially convenient because it's right next to this place!!



EATALY!!  The lines turned out to be too long, so we wandered further uptown and found a gelato place that was just as good.

Eating my way through NYC continued that evening as I met some friends out for    dinner in the west village. Oysters first, of course. At a tiny little niche called "Virgola."

It was a challenge finding the place because 1. I have no sense of direction; and 2.  Because it is a tiny place. 

But if you can get there (28 Greenwich Ave x 9th ave)  the oysters are worth it. The manager was also incredibly nice to us. First, he discussed oysters with me in a way that helped educate me without being condescending. And despite the fact that the reservation I made was for two only, he didn't make a fuss when two more friends showed up just to sit for a bit, drink prosecco and leave. Very gracious as the tables are right up on each other and seating was coveted. We tipped accordingly. 

After, we headed over for dinner at Agave  - a lovely Mexican/Southwestern place not far from NYU.  A friend picked it out and my only criterion was "I want a place where the maître d' isn't telling me that I am being too loud."

It delivered. Great food, great company. And they stuck us in the back so I could cackle to my heart's content.  I have a loud laugh. What can I say?

Of course, in between all this gluttony, I did do the very specific shopping I had in mind (running shoes and American Girl merchandise for my daughter's upcoming birthday). 

The American Girl store deserves it's own post, no doubt. I was overwhelmed. I did manage to buy the things I knew my birthday girl has been asking for since last Christmas. So I hope she will appreciate that I used my very limited overseas duty exemption to cart this stuff back on the island. 

Without a doubt, one of the most extravagant Mother's Day gifts ever. I have the best family ever!

P.s.  

As an addendum, for those of you confused about how to behave on an air

plane and why, read this:  How to be a good person on an airplane

 

I cracked up.