Yo-ho, Yo-ho...This Boy is Four

 Preface: 

This boy is 1/2Italian, 1/4Spanish, 1/4Irish....

it's no wonder that he makes faces like this

sometimes in real life!  He has an international gene tornado within!  It's a good thing he has some easy going Irish thrown into the mix (ha-ha..i can say this, it's my blog!)  to temper the other two hot-blooded nationalities.   Oops....wait a minute on that thought...I just googled "temperament of the Irish"... so maybe throw out that "easy going" characteristic.

“The so-called Irish temperament is a mixture of flaming ego, hot temper, stubbornness" 

 Oh...wait another minute...it goes on to say... 

"great personal charm and warmth, and a wit that shines through adversity.

An irrepressible buoyancy, a vivacious spirit, a kindliness

 and tolerance for the common frailties of man"

So maybe we can use that "easy going" adjective.

We'll hone in on these traits!

 

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This young, geography-lesson-lineage boy is now FOUR

and the only down side to this fact is he now needs a ticket for the Victory boat ride.

 

Otherwise, his excitement over this milestone is contagious...

 

 

A raucous pirate celebration was held

with a scavenger hunt,

 

walking the plank, finding treasure,

and the well-known pirate tradition of the photo booth...

which was a requirement to get the official "pirate certification"!

 

 

 

  

 

 



  

 

 

 

The pirate apprentices receiving their eyepatch and pirate bandanas...



 

 

Lucas,

welcome to the world of 4 year olds!

All of your pirate cohorts

wish that all the planks you walk in life will be straight and lead to shallow, peaceful waters,

and that you find the treasure that matters

every day of your life.

 

"I will give you hidden treasures,

 riches stored in secret places,

 so that you may know that I am the LORD,

 the God of Israel, who summons you by name."

Isaiah 45:3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The VICTORY Was...well....a Victory

"Mimi and Nana's Adventure Tours"

With four little ones in tow,

all under the age of four,

we knew

the Victory III

would be a big hit.

 

 

 

And it was!

 

This is a great hour-plus scenic ride starting at the city marina,

traveling up the Matanzas River, around the St. Augustine Inlet,

and then down Salt Run.

 

It goes under the Bridge of Lions,

passes the Castillo De San Marcos,

and from almost every turn, you can glimpse

our beloved lighthouse, which seemed to be the kids' favorite.

Throughout the ride,

 one of them would excitedly shout out "I see the lighthouse!"

                                                                                                                                                                                      (Picture credit-Sherry)

and all heads would turn.

 

During the ride, you see a beautiful view of the historic district skyline,
 and I can't forget to mention that we

coast pass Sherry's Vilano.

Did I mention that St. John's County residents are half price
and kids under four are free!
win/win

 

                                          going under the Bridge of Lions

 

 

 

 

                                          Spotting the fort...

 

                                          "A pirate ship!"

 

  

 

It was an adventure I'm sure we will recreate!



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Post boat ride,

thank you "Monkey Ball"

for being so entertaining while we waited for our food...

no money involved...lol!

And this reminds me why I could NEVER EVER

be a professional child photographer...

 

even with an assistant...



 

 What a wonderful time that was had by all

and, as a bonus,

 home in time for naps!

 

 

 

 

 

 



When the Ocean Calls

When the ocean calls,

 

 



you answer.

 

 

Because  

 

 

  

getting sand between your toes

 

 

 

 

is so worth it!

 

 

 

 

 

Feel the Earth. Touch the Sky.

Asheville...



 

 



And that is exactly what I did for a few days this past week! 

 

 



 Because....



In my opinion, Asheville and St. Augustine are sister-cities, fraternal twins.  One touching the sky, the other touching the sea.  Which is better?  Neither, of course.  They are both magical in their own right. But let's focus on A-ville for the moment. Old architecture, streets and alleys lined with art galleries and shops...you do not want to pass up one!  This town is filled with locals and tourists mingling together with "hellos" and a "how ya doing?" (sound familiar...twins!), and one particular sentence that I heard over and over in this little city surrounded by mountains..."I LOVE your daughter!"

 I agree...

 

 

This girl may be Florida-born, but she has found her roots in the mountains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and the Blue Ridge surrounds her and hugs her as do the people in her town!

 



 

 

But I can hear Rachel now...

"Mom, enough about me!"

 

OK, so I'll expand...

to the man that she loves

 

 

and the pets she adores...

 

 

 

 

 

and the food that we ate...

and ate...and ate...

 

 

 

 

 

 

This town is accommodating...

 

 

 

and it's always hard to leave...

 



But,

I know there will always be a seat waiting for me upon my return!

 

Rachel,

 

I hope your wish is the same as mine...

 

that these two 

 

just get to spend more and more time

 

 together!

 

P.S.
A big thank you to Susan for letting me hop in her car! (and a BIG congratulations  to you on CONQUERING a MOUNTAIN!)














P.P.S.S.
This poor hummingbird kept trying to get necter our of a seed feeder...(thus the pic above of Rachel hanging out a hummingbird feeder...a task added to our list of things to do...don't trick the hummingbirds!!!!)