Happy Birthday, Jake!

Warning!!!  Sappy alert! I swear I’ll write about cruising stuff again some day….

I do believe someone is happy to see his daddy.

As I was standing on the beach watching a Daughtry concert a few weeks ago (really great concert, by the way), he started singing his hit song “I’m going home.”  I wondered…what does that really mean?  While I admit, it wasn’t exactly an event where I would expect to dig deep into my thoughts, but the question is one I think about all the time.  Particularly while I’m here in VA, Andy and Jake are in OK (Andy arrived yesterday), and our boat is in Palau.

My first response used to be, “Well, home is Atlanta of course!”  because that’s where I grew up, where I went to school, and where my brother and his family still live.  Once I got married and had a kid, of course home was always with them, but I still felt a sense of going “home” whenever I would go to see my parents, even though they were in California.  Moms always make you feel like you’re home no matter where you are, right?  Once we moved onto the boat, going “home” meant back to the US.  But then when we got back here, a whole different question of home presents itself.  Last year, I realized another place I call “home” is VA.  This is where I met Andy, got married, bought our first house together, and had our son.  It’s where the majority of my friends are and where I still run into people in the grocery store that I haven’t seen in years.  I like to call it my “adult home.”

But now that Andy has landed in OK and he and Jake are back together, I feel really far from home.  Today is Jake’s birthday and that makes it even harder. 

I think it's been almost 10 years
since they've all been together.

Jake and Natalie...a cousin he's meeting for the first time.

Jake and Jet...Aunt Shannon's "baby"

Part of my little "family" here in Virginia.

I think anyone who travels or has moved around a lot probably goes through a point where they don’t quite know where home is.  And in the end, I think it always comes down to family.  It can be your immediate family, or it can be your extended family, or it can be the friends that feel like family.  But all in all, it’s where you feel loved.  Given that definition, I’m going to put my big girl pants on today and quit feeling sorry for myself (and guilty) for missing Jake’s birthday.  Because while I am far away from both my immediate family and my extended family, I am constantly surrounded by friends here that feel like family and make me feel very loved.  And I know without a doubt that Jake is feeling love today too, surrounded by ALL of his [McKaskle] aunts and uncles (even Uncle Matt made it for the celebration all the way from TN), almost all of his cousins, his grandmother, grandfather, great grandfather and most importantly of all, his Daddy.   He has grown up so much since we left California 3 ½ years ago.  He’s a confident, happy, smart little boy with an amazing imagination and a quirky little personality.  This summer he has grown even more (literally, about an inch, I think).  He’s grown more independent not only in what he does but in his thinking and decision making as well.  He’s made some very good decisions on his own regarding relationships, learning and even deciding what should be deleted on the iPad (“It was just the right thing to do, mommy” – insert mother’s shock here).  I couldn’t be a prouder mom.  It’s a day for celebration.  Happy Birthday, Sweetie! 

Life around the world

I know I’ve been neglectful of the blog lately, but honestly, it’s really hard to come up with anything interesting and relevant when we’re all three in different areas.  So, I thought I would just give a little update on how we’re all handling things and show a few pictures from Jake’s time on the farm.

 I get a lot of comments from other mothers along the lines of “I could never leave my kids that long,” “I don’t know how you’re doing this” or “I can’t even imagine being away from my little ones.”  While I certainly miss Jake with all of my being, I had a conversation with my mother-in-law yesterday that confirmed my suspicions…Jake is thriving being away from us for a little while.  He’s becoming comfortable with his surroundings and all parts of the family – aunts, uncles, cousins, great aunts, 2^nd-3^rd cousins, papas, grandmas, great grand-dads…you name it.  He’s becoming more independent, learning conflict resolution skills, learning how to communicate to people that don’t read his mind (mommy had gotten pretty good at that)…I couldn’t be more proud.  So, while I may be a bit uncomfortable with the distance, I truly believe this is turning out to be a wonderful experience for him while developing a bond with the family he wouldn’t get otherwise.

I think his goal is to get to the top of this huge stump. 

Luke and Jake

Ice Cream!

Keeping cool and helping water something??

The reason I ran 9:31 min/mile...running with
my good friend Ray (he slacked off for me).
Thanks to my other good friend, Glenda for sending
me the pic.

As for mommy, I finally started my job.  I wasn’t sure that was ever going to happen…  I’m enjoying going into the office every day, getting a little socialization of my own, dressing up (except for the heels), and using my brain in a way that hasn’t happened in quite some time (I forgot how large my co-worker’s vocabulary actually was!).  On the after hours side, well, I’m going to start being a grown up next week.  I think without Jake and Andy and any real responsibilities, I forgot I was pushing 40 and not 25.  Aside from my extensive time with friends, I’ve really gotten into my running (I completed a 5K this weekend and actually ran a 9:31 min mile….I’m a slow poke and normally can’t break 10 min.) and I joined a Crossfit Gym.  I’m hoping to dazzle Andy when I get back with my transformation J.

How is Andy handling his newfound freedom?  He’s been to the Rock Islands a couple of times, hanging out with the other bachelor in the anchorage.  He’s done some diving/picture taking, of course.  But I think mostly he’s been working on the boat.  He’s repainted our deck, refinished our countertops, and fixed numerous mechanical issues that have popped up recently.  Oh yea, the list wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t tell you he flooded the water tanks again and has spent a fair amount of time cleaning up (not sure when he’ll learn that lesson!).  Overall, I think he’s doing fine.  He’s kind of the loner in the group so all in all, he might be getting some peace he didn’t know he was craving (or maybe he did?).  He’ll head out in another 3 weeks or so and pick Jake up from OK and bring him back to Palau.

So there you have it, the latest update.  Apologies for the lack of pictures…if I ever get paid, I plan on buying another camera complete with ability to upload pictures.  In the meantime, thanks to my mother-in-law for keeping us posted with pictures of Jake!

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!