It's a different world out here! Or is it?

I know I’m long over due for a post, but we’ve been busy flying!   Jake and I finally made it to the States.  We had a wonderful week in sunny California with my parents (we even got to spend an afternoon with our friends Sue and Ginger that we met in Palau) and we’re now enjoying the solitude of rural Oklahoma with Andy’s family.   

Being here is kind of surreal because in reality, it isn’t that much different from being on the boat and in some ways, its even more isolated.  The nearest grocery store is a 20-minute drive away…if I had to walk like we do in Palau, I don’t believe I would worried about these extra pounds I’ve packed on!  The new cell phone I bought doesn’t get service out here…in Palau we even get service in the Rock Islands!  There isn’t a ton of outside stimulation so for entertainment, you have to either turn inward, or get back to nature.  Jake now knows the difference between a steer, bull, heifer and a plain old cow.  There seems to be a hostile takeover going on by the grasshoppers, so we spent one afternoon counting them in the driveway (well over 60 by the way) and trying to identify all the different kinds and putting a name to them.  We even saw a pair mating.  It’s a very peaceful place and while on the surface it seems to be a lifestyle in direct opposition of our own, it actually didn’t take that much getting used to.  Instead of dinghies there are four wheelers and tractors!

Unfortunately, my time here is coming to an end.  I finally received a start date for my job in Virginia and I’ll be flying out sometime next week, leaving Jake to enjoy the rest of his summer with his cousins, aunt and uncle and grandparents.  I would love to show you some pictures of all of the little people together but I left two key items back on the boat…1) my camera charger and 2) the card reader I use to upload to my computer.  So…those will have to wait. 

This will be the first time I’ve left Jake for more than two weeks.  I’ve no doubt he’ll benefit from the experience (I’ve already seen that happen in some of the ways the he’s resolving his conflicts), but I have to say, this mommy is going to need a few extra prayers.  I’m lucky that I’ll be distracted by a job as well as some old friends.  Now I guess I’ll get a taste of what Andy went through all those years on deployment (and vice versa…I’m sure he’ll be hearing a lot more “daddy, daddy, daddy” than usual ;) ).

Close Encounters with the Dolphins

I realize we’ve had a lot of posts lately about Jake, but everything seems to have revolved around him lately - I guess that's a good thing.  Just when you think he’s done it all…  Jake was invited by his friend Charlie and his family to go swim with the dolphins last week.  The dolphins we’re talking about were rescued from Japan (where they were to be slaughtered) and are kept in a fairly large, enclosed part of the lagoon/bay here.  They have trainers and are used as a form of tourism to help heighten awareness of the ocean environment.  They offer a series of encounters with the dolphins to involve both petting and swimming with them.  It’s a win-win for both the dolphins and Palauans.

I wasn’t sure Jake could be impressed by anything these days but he came back with the biggest smile on his face I have seen in a while.  They not only swam with the dolphins but they were able to hold on to their fin and take a ride as well!  AND I WASN’T THERE TO SEE IT!  Jake assures me that he will take me back to get my turn.  We were really grateful to our friends Chuck and Ivy for providing this opportunity for him.  His last day for a while with Charlie and Carla was well spent!  

Jake, Chuck, Charlie, Carla and Ivy

Jake and Chuck up close with the dolphins.

Really?  It will be hard to top this one with the little guy.

My time with the dolphins is going to have to wait a while…Jake wants to spend the rest of the summer with his grandparents and cousins in Oklahoma.  He spends so much time with us, I think this will be a great experience for him (and his grandparents!).  So, in order to fund that little adventure (among other things), I have decided to try to find a short term contract in the States.   It’s looking good for me, so we’re flying out next week and heading home!  Andy will pick Jake up in September while I stay on and finish my contract.  I’m excited, nervous, and a bit depressed all at the same time.  We just spent 5 months apart from Andy last year and now I’ve signed up to do it again.  Only this time, I’ll be apart from Jake as well…something that has never happened for more than two weeks at a time.  So, wish me luck, say a prayer and cross your fingers…

Junior Kayak Races in Palau...guess who won?

He was determined to make it all the way.

Wednesday, the Royal Belau Yacht Club put on it's first ever Junior Kayak Races in front of Sam's Tours.  Jake, believe it or not, is not very skilled in kayaking so he was a little hesitant to join.  With a little persistence we finally convinced him to try it out.  It was a really fun day.  Andy volunteered to be the buoy the kids paddled around as well as take pictures and I volunteered to help with sign up and basic chicken herding, um...I mean gathering the kids up.  There were four categories: 6-9 years, 10-14 years, 15-18 years, and then doubles, which mostly consisted of the younger kids paired up with an older kid.  The skills varied from non-existent to pretty darn good.  It was a blast to watch.  Everyone had a chance to paddle two races (or 4 if you participated in singles and doubles).  Jake placed 3rd in the first race and 4th in the second race, but due to some kids only paddling in one race and one girl getting disqualified for not following the course, he actually ended up taking the first place prize home (and no, it wasn't because his mom was helping with the scoring...I was actually lobbying against him). He won a $25 gift certificate at a local store here.  Think miniature (very miniature) Walmart.  Jake was a bit miffed that he won, so we turned it into a lesson:  if you don't give up and you try to follow the rules, most of the time, you'll be rewarded.

We had a great turn out and I don't doubt that we'll do another one soon.

The "Winners" Circle

Aside from his racing debut, Jake has been playing with some of the local kids pretty much non-stop and yesterday, Charlie arrived back in town so it was 'game on' for those two today.

After the race, coming to our boat to ask us if he could play onshore.

We have some potential news but I'm going to leave you hanging for a week or so while it gets finalized (how else am I sure you'll come back and read another post?)...

Enjoy the pics!

Our First Judo Tournament

Warming up...

Jake had his first Judo tournament a few weeks ago.  None of us had any idea what to expect.  The practices the week before the tournament were unorganized and the last day, they didn’t even fight each other.  Things are a bit more laid back here and even after all these years of sailing the islands, it takes some getting used to.  So our expectations were pretty low for the tournament.  We were pleasantly surprised.

Explaining the rules...

First off, they actually started on time.   That’s unheard of around here for any event.  Secondly, they were very organized in their registration and when it came time for Jake to fight, he was evenly matched. 

"And in this corner....JAKE!!!!"

Now I don’t want to bad mouth my kid, but he’s only been doing this for a couple of months (and coordinated is NOT his middle name), so my expectations for him were even lower than the tournament itself.  He, too surprised me!  No, he didn’t win any of his fights, but he didn’t let anyone take him down either (he went down, but they both just fell).  Both fights went the full three minutes and he lost by ½ point.  Considering Jake doesn’t have a mean bone in his body and he’s the least aggressive kid I’ve ever seen, I think he did pretty good.  He was a little disappointed but I was pretty darn proud.  He showed improvement, good defense, and good sportsmanship.

Jake was determined not to get pinned (even if he had to lose his clothes).

I enjoyed watching the other kids too.  The little girls are the spit fires.  I think they won more matches than the boys.

Anyway, its still something he’s having fun at and I foresee another tournament in our future.

More pics from our visit

It's been a week since Jennie and Jett left and the whole mood on the boat is a bit somber. :(  Jennie went back to real life with a real job and real stresses.  I think it might be awhile before she's able to get around to her guest post so I'm going to go ahead post the rest of our pictures.  

We have a lot going on as well and have lots of things to write about, so it shouldn't be too long before our next post.  Provided I get motivated.....

Enjoy the photos (excuse the hair...still working on growing it back)...

They're so stinkin' cute!  We caught a small tuna on our way out to the Rock Islands.

Both Jett and Jennie tried my tuna poke.  Jennie actually
liked it!  Jett....no so much.  But he was a good sport (that's not his
beer, by the way)!

More Jellyfish Lake...

We had this beach all to ourselves.  The boys got all dressed up as pirates and went to look for their treasure.

We introduced Jennie to our favorite coconut drink...

Sunset with my best bud.

One of the best parts of the trip were our nightly paddles...

and our morning paddles...

They actually kind of look alike, huh?

Jennie rolling in the jib, with my supervision of course.  Do I look like
I'm giving good advice??  :)  Any chance I can get to unload
my duties...

Me and the absolute best husband in the world!

Fun in the Sun with Friends

Best buds...

We've just completed what I think might be one of the best weeks yet on Savannah.  Why, you ask?  A week with my best friend and her son, my amazing husband and son, and perfect weather in the Rock Islands.  That's why!

I'm not going to give all the details in this post as Jennie surprised me and said she would like to write a little guest post with her perspective on things.  I thought that was a great idea and seeing as I have no idea what she's going to write, I don't want to tell you all about it and spoil her debut.  BUT, there are a few grandparents out there dying to see some pictures, so I'm going to tease them with just a few...

Jake and Jett playing on the beach

Pirate Jett going to chop open his coconut.

Relaxing as we drive by the Natural Arch.

Jellyfish Lake

Andy and I taking a self portrait in Jellyfish Lake

Jake, swimming with the jellyfish

Chillin' out in Palau

I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything and you would think I had a good excuse, but I don’t.  We’ve been staying busy with T-Ball, Judo, and exploring Nikko Bay.  We participated in a Cinco de Mayo cook off (and won third place!) and we met some new friends who are vacationing here and have been spending a fair amount of time with them.  We've found our own little "jellyfish lake" and even had more fun play dates with Charlie and Carla.  Sadly, no pictures of any of it (it might have something to do with my new haircut).

But the big thing we’ve been doing is preparing for our first ever non-family visitors (and our first visitors at all since Mexico)!  My friend Jennie and her son Jett are making the long, boring, and expensive flight from the US to Palau…just to play with us!  We are so excited and not sure we can actually wait the 6 more days until they get here.  Jake has all kinds of activities planned for Jett and I have a zillion different ways to show Jennie how to relax and break free from her hectic world (at least for a week).  Andy is all ready to play with the kids and cater to us women.  Next week promises to bring lots of pictures and stories, so bear with me…