Still in the Bahamas

Well.....life is good. We're still in the Bahamas--Day 8--and everyone's having a great time. We've been to Manjack, Sanddollar island, Gullam Bay, Treasure Cay (pronounced KEY)---and we've explored every corner of Green Turtle Cay--including Black Sound, White Sound, The Bluff House, The Green Turtle Club and New Plymouth!

We went dancing last Wednesday night at the Green Turtle Club---it was a hoot. The kids were throwing back the Shirley Temples and dancing to the Gully Roosters--the number 1 band in the ABACOS! (That's their line--not mine--but they ARE GOOD!)

We went and had dinner on Thursday at the Bluff House---and it was great--with a great view of White Sound. It was wonderful to just sit and enjoy the wonder of how the sun and sea seem to just merge into one.

They boys continue to catch lots of fish--and they're having a ball doing it...except everyone gets real scarce when it's time to clean 'em...hmmmm...wonder why???

We're planning a day trip over to Marsh Harbor tomorrow. It should be interesting--I haven't been to Marsh in years--and it is definitely the most commercialized of the Abaco Islands--with chain stores, furniture stores etc---stuff that is non-existant on this little island. It will be interesting to see how much it's grown!

I'll be sure to post some pics when we get back to G'ville....

Bummin' in the Bahamas

Well, it's our first official day in the Bahamas--we flew in late yesterday afternoon and got all settled in and then woke to the beauty of the Bahamas this morning!!!

The boys (Dad, his friend, Eddison, Mark, Heston and our nephew, Justin) decided to go fishing after breakfast....did I mention that slept until 8:45am??? (it really IS better in the Bahamas!!) Anyway, the boys went fishing and McKenna and I decided to just go hang at the beach--a short golf cart ride away. We had a great time...playing in the crystal clear water, floating on rafts and just relaxing. It was all relaxing until my Dad showed up telling us that we weren't answering the VHF radio (our "handle" is "Gator Girls"....Mark's is Humpeye, Heston's is little man, Dad's is, of course, Royhamas) He told us that Heston had caught a SHARK and they needed the camera. I told him to go ahead and take it and we'd be right behind him. Apparently, that's were the problem came in----as Dad was coming to get us--something happened to his golf cart (his pimped out cart---with ROYHAMAS painted on it and Gator logos on each side--and big honking 4 wheel tires that look like you could put 'em on a pick up truck). Apparently something broke underneath and jammed the tire into the front end---and is now none-working. He had to leave it by the side of the road and walk the rest of the way to get us. Can I tell you, I am really sorry about his beloved golf cart--really I am--but I'm SOO thankful that I wasn't driving it!!! Thank the LORD!

Okay--so back to the story--
Heston caught a 20 pound SHARK!!!! He's so excited he's just about ready to BUST! He's also thrilled to know that we are eating the fruits of his labor---or rather---the shark steaks of his labor!! Hooray!!

Having a GREAT time....and I was hoping to be able to post some pictures---however, I can't from Mark's laptop--but I'm going to see if I can from Dad's computer.

I'll post again soon.....

McKenna's July 4th Message

Harley Humphries II

Okay--so apparently all one must due to find a lost hamster is start a blog!! Then POOF! The missing rat shows up in the kids bathroom!

I promised Heston that I would tell EVERYONE that HE found the hamster in the bathroom. So there...Heston found it this morning when he woke up. However, the "original" Harley needs a little bit (okay, a LOT) of calming medication---and quite honestly, I'm not willing to share mine!!

Harley (I) was PSYCHO when we found it---when we put it back in it's cage, it began leaping--and I'm not kidding here---leaping from side to side---like it was in a padded cell. (perhaps it needed to be). So we loaded Harley I into the car with the cage (of which she's escaped from TWICE) and headed back to PETCO. I explained to the manager about our hamster with "issues" and we were allowed to exchange Harley and the great escape cage for others. SO, now we have Harley Humphries the Hamster II---who is ACTUALLY a girl--which McKenna is SURE will make her much nicer. She's adorable--and has only bitten one person--Me. How sweet.

So here's the new addition---Harley II---as Heston holds her. McKenna's not too sure about her just yet....but she's warming to her.

Here goes nothing

Well, it's almost 6am and I've been up for at least 3 hours--after going to bed after midnight. Man, am I going to be a hurting pup tomorrow. Why, you ask, can't I sleep? I'm so glad you asked--thank you! Here's the story:
My daughter, McKenna (age 4 1/2 ) got a hamster a few weeks ago. I had a weak moment--after just getting out of the hospital and took her to the pet store for a hermit crab. She picked out the one she wanted--a big honking thing--and she coddled it in her sweet little hand, it bit the crap out of her. So, like any good mother would do, I bribed her to stop squealing by offering to buy her another pet--a hamster. She was thrilled! Her dad--my husband--loving man that he is--not so much.
Anyway, Harley Humphries the Hamster has been living a pretty good life until yesterday--when Harley turned into Houdini....yes, my friends, the rat has left the cage! Somehow the thing got out and is hiding out somewhere. I can't tell you how MUCH that creeps me out--on SO many levels. McKenna wouldn't even sleep in her bed last night because she said, "Harley never really liked me much anyway--I know she's going to climb up on my bed and BITE me!!!" Which is of course, sounds completely rational to me....
So, I googled "how to find a lost hamster" (being the resourceful mom that I am) and have planted a trail of sunflower seeds leading back to Harley's cage. Oh, and by the way, Harley's really a boy--but McKenna wanted a girl--so she "switched it". Just FYI...

Because little Hellcat the Hamster is nocturnal---I've been getting up every few hours with a flashlight, walking down the hall and counting sunflower seeds---in hopes that Harley returns to her plush estate. Where may you ask, is my darling husband?? He's out of town with work, of course. I'm really hoping that this thing turns up--ALIVE---'cause I just can't even imagine otherwise...

So, that's the story....at least for today.

Pray for search and rescue mission of one Harley Humphries the Hamster.