Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
My Parent's Arrive!
We've been telling people for months that we're going to London for a "special wedding in April" and you wouldn't believe the looks we get from people who think we mean the ROYAL wedding! We think Louise and Richard are right up there with Kate and Prince William!
It turns out we'll miss the royal wedding by two weeks, but we're hoping to see the preparations!
So, if you'll bear with us, Our BVI Adventure will be Our UK Adventure for the next week! We'll be sure to post what my parents have been up to as well... This will be their first time navigating the island of Tortola on their own!
Off to St. Thomas to catch our flight!
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Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Off the Rock
Michael and I got off the rock this past weekend. While it was hard to leave THIS:
It was completely worth it! The purpose of the trip was to surprise my grandmother for her 90th birthday! She was surprised, and not just by my appearance... Her three children, six of her seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild all surprised her with a birthday party! What fun!
It was a cold weekend in Memphis, especially for me! I think my blood has thinned after a year in the BVI We even got some of the white stuff!
Huge thanks to my sister for keeping my travel plans a secret, my Aunt Karen and Uncle Max for their hospitality, Brian and Beth for allowing me to stay at their home even while they were out of town, and lastly my in-laws for mailing some winter clothes to Memphis for me! I had nothing - no coat, no sweater, no scarf! Ha!
It was completely worth it! The purpose of the trip was to surprise my grandmother for her 90th birthday! She was surprised, and not just by my appearance... Her three children, six of her seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild all surprised her with a birthday party! What fun!
It was a cold weekend in Memphis, especially for me! I think my blood has thinned after a year in the BVI We even got some of the white stuff!
{Can you tell I was excited? Ha! And yes, I realize that I look a little ridiculous with a tan in the snow!}
Huge thanks to my sister for keeping my travel plans a secret, my Aunt Karen and Uncle Max for their hospitality, Brian and Beth for allowing me to stay at their home even while they were out of town, and lastly my in-laws for mailing some winter clothes to Memphis for me! I had nothing - no coat, no sweater, no scarf! Ha!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Day 374: More Family Arrives!
My parents and sister arrived on Christmas Day!
What we thought would be a slow travel day turned out to be a pretty busy one! The airport was packed! Fortunately, all of their luggage made it which meant we could exchange Christmas presents on Christmas night! Oh, and look who accompanied us to the airport to greet them... Can you spot little Mills in the back seat? :)
Oh, and I must give a quick "shout out" to Margaret from New York! She came up to me in the aiport, as we were waiting on my family. She said she had been reading Our BVI Adventure in advance of her trip to the BVI! It was great meeting you Margaret and thanks for reading! Hope your BVI adventure is a great one!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Day 358: Oh Christmas Tree!
Over the past several weeks, Christmas decorations have been popping up all over Road Town. Michael and I were itching to get in the spirit ourselves, so on Day 358, we set out to get a live Christmas tree. And no your eyes aren't playing tricks on you, you read it right. We wanted a live tree, just like we used to have at home.
We'd heard that Bobby's (a grocery store) had the best selection in the BVI, so that was our first stop. We chose a tall tree from a large refridgerated container and we were on our way!
A couple of weeks ago, I started making ornaments for the tree, based on ones I saw on MarthaStewart.com. The ornaments are made completely of paper and ink.
We'd heard that Bobby's (a grocery store) had the best selection in the BVI, so that was our first stop. We chose a tall tree from a large refridgerated container and we were on our way!
When it comes to Christmas, I'm a traditionalist. Since we started dating in 2004, Michael and I have always gotten our Christmas tree at the same lot in Knoxville - the one in front of Stir Fry in the Gallery shopping center if you were wondering. ;) And that was just the beginning...we also used to wear these hilarious Christmas sweaters year after year. We would take cheesy photos, documenting the entire process from selection of the perfect tree, cutting it, wrapping it and tying it to the top of the car...
Unfortunately, those sweaters didn't make it to the BVI. They must be in storage somewhere, along with all of our ornaments. {If you know me well, you know where this is going...}
I designed them using Scrapblog and had them professionally printed. That's when the real work began. I had to cut the paper into squares, fold each side and then use a glue stick to attach all six pieces together. I also used a needle and thread to create an almost invisible loop at the top from which to hang the ornament.
Along with Christmas greetings and lyrics from some of our favorite Christmas songs. you'll notice black and white photos on the ornaments. This is a way to have our family members and friends around us, even though 2,000+ miles separate most of us. I can't help but smile when I look at the tree, filled with memories of the past year.
Here's a shot of the entire tree (minus the bow for the top that I hadn't yet made when I snapped this photo!)
Now all that's left to do is have a little party and pop some holiday bubbly! (Oh, and finish up my online shopping and get to wrapping!)
Even though it's 80 degrees outside it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the BVI!
Monday, July 19, 2010
We're back!
What a week and a half "back in the states!" Let's do this by the numbers...
16 flights
4 states (5 if you count Maryland for our layover in Baltimore)
2 weddings
Countless memories!
I went ahead of Michael to spend some time with my mom. She drove down to Orlando so we could go shopping and enjoy little luxuries like air-conditioning, Chick-fil-A, and Starbucks!
Next stop was Waynesville, North Carolina by way of the Asheville Regional Airport. Our friends Parrish and Jonathan had a destination wedding in this adorable mountain town, peppered with lush green golf courses with picturesque backdrops of the Great Smoky Mountains. We had an absolute blast!!! Thanks to Ashley and Gordon for being our traveling companions!
Michael's brother, Matt was kind enough to pick us up in North Carolina and take us to Knoxville, where our friends and family were gathered in Market Square. This was our first time back in 8+ months! I was able to go into work and see all of my colleagues. We even went to lunch together at Aubrey's, our favorite lunch spot.
Michael and I also spent some valuable time with our two beautiful nieces, Avery and Gracen. They are the sweetest things alive!!!
As we visited our way through Knoxville, my sister Whitney made her way to the BVI. She was so kind to take care of Milly while we continued our US adventure! We left our car at the airport for her. While she had been to the BVI for two previous visits, she had never driven...that was probably the toughest part for her! {We'll find out in her exit survey - coming soon!}
Our last stop was Cleveland, Ohio for our friend Richard's wedding. Neither of us had been to Cleveland before and we were pleasantly surprised! We left out of Nashville, on the same flight as our friends Kevin and Lauren who visited the BVI last month! We had an absolute blast!
An alternate title for this post could easily be "Collage Crazy" because apparently, that is what I am! I have just started to organize my photos with Flickr and use Picture2Life to create these collages...still figuring it out.
Congrats to Parrish & Jonathan and Anne & Richard! Thanks to all of our family and friends who made our visit so special. We hope to see you again soon, whether it's here in the BVI or stateside. Love to you all!
Off to find out what Tropical Storm Bonnie has in store...
16 flights
4 states (5 if you count Maryland for our layover in Baltimore)
2 weddings
Countless memories!
I went ahead of Michael to spend some time with my mom. She drove down to Orlando so we could go shopping and enjoy little luxuries like air-conditioning, Chick-fil-A, and Starbucks!
Next stop was Waynesville, North Carolina by way of the Asheville Regional Airport. Our friends Parrish and Jonathan had a destination wedding in this adorable mountain town, peppered with lush green golf courses with picturesque backdrops of the Great Smoky Mountains. We had an absolute blast!!! Thanks to Ashley and Gordon for being our traveling companions!
Our last stop was Cleveland, Ohio for our friend Richard's wedding. Neither of us had been to Cleveland before and we were pleasantly surprised! We left out of Nashville, on the same flight as our friends Kevin and Lauren who visited the BVI last month! We had an absolute blast!
An alternate title for this post could easily be "Collage Crazy" because apparently, that is what I am! I have just started to organize my photos with Flickr and use Picture2Life to create these collages...still figuring it out.
Congrats to Parrish & Jonathan and Anne & Richard! Thanks to all of our family and friends who made our visit so special. We hope to see you again soon, whether it's here in the BVI or stateside. Love to you all!
Off to find out what Tropical Storm Bonnie has in store...
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Exit Survey: My mom and dad (John and Kay)
Of the five Pusser's locations, which ones did you visit on your trip?
Answer: We visited Pusser’s East, Road Town Pub and Soper’s Hole
This is us outside Pusser's Roadtown Pub on Friday night...
How many cruise ships did you see pass by Gecko Manor?
Answer: We saw ZERO! The cruise ship season is over for Tortola…
Can you name all of the islands you visited during this trip? Which one was your favorite?
Answers(s): Puerto Rico, Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Norman, St. John
This photo is of a small island off of Jost...
Answer continued: My favorite is Tortola…I loved going to Smuggler’s Cove and Nanny Cay. Smuggler’s Cove for the native feel of being on a secluded island and the view across to Jost Van Dyke. Nanny Cay for the developed amenities: pool, bar, restaurants, bar, marina, bar, ice cream parlor, lounge-chairs, bar, umbrellas, bar...
Here is the ice cream menu at the Nutty Banana at Nanny Cay...
Answer: The huge iguana on the roof of the restaurant in St. John while eating lunch certainly got my attention!
Another bizarre thing that we saw was the dog at The Last Resort. He was inside the restaurant while we were eating and then jumped onto the bow of our ferry boat on our return from The Last Resort. He was so confident, content and unafraid to be lying there in the dark of night as the boat raced across the water. Some Dog!
How would you best describe Michael's boating skills?
A) Expert
B) Good
C) Safe
D) Novice
E) Michael? You mean, Captain Drinky Pants???
Answer: c. He is a very safe driver and not so much Captain Drinky Pants this trip! Thank you Captain Mike!
What was your favorite dining experience?
Answer: This trip, my favorite dining experience was BRANDYWINE BAY RESTAURANT although the cuisine served at Gecko Manor is unequaled. The delicious waffles for breakfast were a treat! Thank you Amelia!
What was your favorite drink?
Answer: The lemon pina colada at Pusser's in Road Town! It tasted like drinking a lemon cheese cake! Yummy!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Day 170: Snorkeling the Indians and So Much More!
Our favorite snorkeling spot in the BVI, the Indians did not disappoint on Day 170.
Thanks to a water-proof case for my camera that my dad gave me, we were able to take some underwater photos.
It was a beautiful day, above water and below...
We headed over to Pirate's Bight on nearby Norman Island for lunch.
Wait a minute, I think it's quintuplets! There's a 5th jumper on the back left corner of the boat! Did you see him the first time? I didn't!
We also went to Peter Island, and then across the Sir Francis Drake Channel to get a look at our house from the water. {That's it on the left!}
What a day!
I was so proud of my mother, who was a bit wary of snorkeling here or anywhere for that matter. A few deep and calming breaths and she was on her way.
You can see from this photo {below} where the boat was moored and how far we had to swim to reach the reef. We snorkeled around the entire group of rocks and saw a wide variety of fish and coral. There were a few tense moments...from ill-fitting masks that had to be refitted in the water to a jellyfish that stared down Michael. But overall it was a wonderful experience.
We were all so proud of my mom for overcoming her fears! We were all smiles after completing the loop.
We stopped off at Willy T's too. Check out this quadruple jump from the top of the boat!
Wait a minute, I think it's quintuplets! There's a 5th jumper on the back left corner of the boat! Did you see him the first time? I didn't!
We also went to Peter Island, and then across the Sir Francis Drake Channel to get a look at our house from the water. {That's it on the left!}
What a day!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Day 168: Friday Nights at the Pub
Friday night at the pub was extra special. We were able to introduce my parents to Charles and vice versa! Since Christmas fell on a Friday this past year, there was no "Friday night at the pub" which meant they didn't get a chance to meet during their last visit.
We had a great time...Andre was behind the bar as usual, mixing up some delicious drinks, including this lemon-colada, which tasted like a lemon cheesecake!
While my mom and I enjoyed our cocktails...
So many of Charles and Joanna's friends stopped by the pub! It was a great time!
...the boys charted our course for Saturday and Sunday on the boat. Okay, so maybe they enjoyed their cocktails while looking at the maps. ;)
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Day 166: Sir Richard Branson and My Parents
What do they have in common? Well, they all landed at the Beef Island Airport today...within minutes of each other actually! Here's our neighbor, Sir Branson! {wink! wink!}
Apologies for the angle...an attempt at being discrete. Everyone in the airport played it so cool - that is, except for me. I just couldn't justify taking a papparazi-like photo...
This one is much cuter, isn't it?
Only my mother would wear 4 inch red patent leather peep toe wedges through three airports! :) The apple does not fall far from the tree, does it???
It is so good to see my parents - it's been almost 5 months! If you've been following our adventure since the beginning you may remember that they were here at Christmas. We had only lived here for seven days! We know so much more about the island now and our goal for their visit will be to avoid any repeats! Except of course Smuggler's Cove!
Apologies for the angle...an attempt at being discrete. Everyone in the airport played it so cool - that is, except for me. I just couldn't justify taking a papparazi-like photo...
This one is much cuter, isn't it?
It is so good to see my parents - it's been almost 5 months! If you've been following our adventure since the beginning you may remember that they were here at Christmas. We had only lived here for seven days! We know so much more about the island now and our goal for their visit will be to avoid any repeats! Except of course Smuggler's Cove!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Day 17: Time to Say Goodbye
After a wonderful Christmas holiday in the Caribbean, it was time to bid farewell to my family.
We dropped them off at the airport on Wednesday morning. Unfortunately, some of the volcanic activity on the nearby island of Montserrat caused their American Eagle flight to be cancelled.
They were put on an 6-seater to Puerto Rico and my mom sat in the cockpit with the pilot! {There's no photo of this because they put all of the carry on luggage in the back which meant my dad had no access to his camera.}
While they eventually made it through San Juan and onto Miami, they all missed their connecting flights home. American Eagle was able to get them on later flights though, so no one had to sleep in the airport.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Day 5: Unpacking
After the mess that was customs yesterday, we woke up this morning with our own things...including the Keurig single cup brew. Coffee has never tasted soooooo good!
We still have quite a bit of unpacking to do, but we'll get there. We started with the office and the living room. I'm so happy with the way the living room has turned out. What do you think?
My mother-in-law and I made the monogrammed pillow. Our inspiration was Leontine Linens in New Orleans. I made the other pillows from a mix of Pottery Barn fabrics and napkins from Home Goods.
I still have a ways to go with the office. Will post photos of it soon...Nothing beats the incredible views from this place. The entire back of the house is windows. Check it out:
Michael is back in the office today, so it's pretty quiet around here. I have plenty of work to get done, so I'm fine with it. This afternoon however, we will head down to Pusser's at Road Town. {You can see us there if you click on the webcams.} Apparently, Charles, the owner of Pusser's, posts up there every Friday afternoon. This ritual is quite legendary; even tourists hear about it and show up hoping to meet Charles and drink grog with the old man.
My family comes in on Sunday, and with them they will be bringing Milly! I can't wait to see her!!! I wonder what she will think of our BVI adventure...
We still have quite a bit of unpacking to do, but we'll get there. We started with the office and the living room. I'm so happy with the way the living room has turned out. What do you think?
I still have a ways to go with the office. Will post photos of it soon...Nothing beats the incredible views from this place. The entire back of the house is windows. Check it out:
My family comes in on Sunday, and with them they will be bringing Milly! I can't wait to see her!!! I wonder what she will think of our BVI adventure...
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