Sept 28, 2010

Dahlia's birthday was very low key! While I do think that one's birthday is a special day to celebrate, I also think that we go overboard with gifts and material items. So much so, that kids think that a birthday/or any other gift giving holiday is about just that....gifts! We have vowed not to do that with Dahlia. Unfortunately, with Deason we had started out on that path of overwhelming gift giving when he was little, but have reined it in and dwindled down on the quantity of gifts over the past few years. For some reason we have convinced ourselves that kids need multiple gifts????? When really one is more than enough.

We had recently watched a video from his 3rd birthday, and I cringed the whole time I was watching it. I had only invited a few friends and family, but it is amazing how many gifts that accumulates, especially for a 3 year old. I kept thrusting presents at him, insisting he open "just one more...just one more", when he wanted to be done after the first two. As it was he was overwhelmed with the two presents he got, he just wanted to play! Dahlia received a stuffed kitty from Deason, of which, he bought with his own money, and two new board books from Mom and Dad! She was happy as a clam in mud! Especially with the cupcake!

Sept 23, 2010

It is official, we are staying the winter. We will stay on board as long as we can. The plan is to get a winter rental through April, and put the boat back in the water in May. I think, if we make it to the end of October living on board, it will be a miracle, unless the weather remains mild. So far, I can't complain about the weather, September has been beautiful. We went apple picking last Sunday and it was a classically perfect September day.

Dahlia will be one year old tomorrow! I can't believe it! I know how cliche it sounds to say, "time flies by", and I use to hate when people would say that, but it really is true. I just hope this winter continues to go by quickly.

Deason is still loving living on a boat, he continues to help out (and follow around) many of the people who work here at MacDougalls. He had lost interest in fishing for a while, but has gotten back into it. He even caught a scup today.

Sept 15, 2010

I can't believe how fast the summer has come and gone. People keep asking us when we are leaving, unfortunately, we still don't know! We are going to talk to a few people at the Newport boat show about doing the repower. Hopefully, we will have some answers after that.
Dahlia is almost one year old! She is walking like an old pro, has six and a half teeth, and babbles...mama, dada, and hello! She got an early birthday present from Grammi and Grampy in Florida. She loved the baby doll, until is started to cry. Who makes a baby doll that cries? People don't even like when a real baby cries, why make a fake one that does that too? It all worked out in the end, the sound box was removable, and Dahlia had completely forgotten that the very same baby doll had just scared her only minutes before. Once the scary sounds were gone, she loved her new doll and showered her with open mouth kisses!

Sept 12, 2010

It is getting cold here. I wish that I was certain that we are actually heading south. Right now, we are still having issues with our generator. We have tried to go on some trips, and each time, we have had over heating issues with the generator. When we returned to the dock on each of these failed excursion Chris went through the generator thinking each time he had cured it of its ailments. Yet, somehow it is still overheating, we are stumped!
As I look out at this grey sky, I can't help but think, if need be, I will swim my family south. The reality is, that I am not certain that the boat will make it to Florida in its current state. We plan to have a repower done there, for many reasons, but mainly because this diesel/electric system is not what we want. The tough decision is...do we put money into this system, in order for us to get there to have the repower done?....or....do we suck it up, get the repower done up here, and spend one more winter being cold, where I am already working? My brain is telling me to be prudent and stay here, while my body is telling me to find more sunshine!

Sept 5, 2010

For the past two days the wind has been blowing harder than when Earl came by here. We did get a lot of rain with Earl. When the wind finally decides to die down we will be able to put the genoa and bimini back up. Until then, the boat will look fairly naked.

We have recently discovered that Dahlia loves baby dolls. We were at Nana's house when she picked the baby doll out of a number of toys, and kissed and hugged it. I don't know why it never occured to me that she might like dolls, maybe because on the boat she would rather play with remote controls, and cell phones than any of the toys that she has. Also, Dahlia will not keep a hat or hood on her head for more than a fraction of a second, but when presented with a tiara, it was a different story. Apparently, the tiara is a perfectly acceptable headress!

Sept 3, 2010

Well, we are about as ready as we can get for hurricane Earl. We have taken down the head sail, lashed down the main sail to the boom, and removed the bimini top. We have also moved the boat from the end dock to an inside slip. Hopefully, this hurricane keeps getting down graded and we just get some wind and rain.
When I was a kid I actually looked forward to hurricanes. I can't imagine why I thought it would be a good thing to have a hurricane hit the Cape, but I can remember being excited about hurricane Bob years ago! Amazing, how a couple of years, and the responsibility of having a family, can change your perspective. Needless to say, I am not looking forward to Earl coming to Cape Cod!
I do think Deason is feeling the same as I had, he has been helping the dock master, and dock attendants for the past couple of days. He worked 13+ hours yesterday, helping with dock lines and fenders, and driving the skiff back and forth with the dock master while they tow boats over to the travel lift. I have never seen him more excited. They even gave him a MacDougalls shirt and hat.
Deason, Dahlia, and I have left the boat and will be staying in Plymouth at Kristin's house, and Chris will be staying at the Landing (guest facilities house) at MacDougalls. That way he can help out, and adjust lines as needed when Earl comes through. I am optimistic that everything will be fine!