This particular end of April saw Eric turn three. He awoke on the day saying, "I'm not two any more!"
His transition to three-ness has been presaged by all sorts of milestones in recent months. Alisa threw the very well-used stroller away in Napier. Eric's out of nappies, and our upcoming sail from New Zealand to the tropics will be our first-ever passage without diaper buckets lashed on deck.
Eric's premier gift this year was a stuffed royal albatross. The fact that it's a royal is important, as Eric can tell a royal from a shy albatross, and the royals are the ones that he calls "my friends." That's not a smile above, by the way. That's his royal albatross imitation.
Alisa did a penguin cake. That's a smile, by the way, not a penguin imitation.
Then, the beginning of May saw Alisa turning 39. (Again.)
I managed to struggle through the process of making a cake (from a box!) and dinner (mjeddrah, with real-time instructions from Alisa). The boys rose to the occasion, and I think Alisa got what she asked for - a happy day.
After dinner we had a dance party.
That part was Elias' idea.
great story, mike. would love to join in on one of those maritime milestone festivals, they seem just like the sort of fun i always love! cheers from holland!
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul - and yes, we'd LOVE to have you at our next dance party...
DeleteIt is a joy to see these pictures of such happy birthdays! Can't wait to see you all--just one week from tomorrow! Love to all!
ReplyDeleteevery day we have to talk the boys out of packing - they're dead keen.
DeleteThose dance party photos are GOLD - who's the hot chick with the long hair, Alex wants to know?? When did Eric get so BIG, and Elias so mature? What did we miss?
ReplyDeleteyou'll hardly recognize us when we finally share an anchorage somewhere in the Pacific. It's all happening in front of my eyes, but it still surprises me..
DeleteHappy Birthday to Eric(the big 3) and Alisa, enjoy NZ.
ReplyDeletethanks guys - wish our time in NZ had overlapped with yours...
DeleteA late happy birthday to Alisa and Eric, Solveig and Hans are still asking when they will see you again ;-) Looks like Alisa got the new pan she was looking for, I hope it works like intended.
ReplyDeleteSeems like you have quite bad weather over the weekend, but on the map it looks like you're in a very nice little bay on Great Barrier to be sheltered from what's coming.
All the best from all in Napier
yes, it's a big system with really tight isobars coming through. We just had an amazing squall - so much rain! so much wind! But we're super-snug in this little anchorage. Hi to Hans and Solveig and Flora!
DeleteHappy belated birthdays to you all! dance party! just had a flashback of one dance party at the Halibut Cove cabin. :) Hugs to you all.
ReplyDelete