Sunday, November 25, 2012

All work and no play...

Mark is still working away on our plumbing. He ordered all the copper pipe, tubing and fittings and was getting ready to redo our water system because of course, you can not install the fuel lines until you do the water because of the way the boat has been laid out. To his credit, he did not bemoan the fact that he can not install his AWESOME fuel system until he did the water system, he just got on with it.

In another example of But Of Course!!, after all the plumbing supplies arrived he realized he ordered the parts based on measurements of the pipe size which is great except he needed the fittings for tubing. And they are measured differently, which he knew (I didn't! and if you don't you can see what's up here) but he was in his ordering groove and got so focused on ticking boxes that he forget this important detail. Whoops. Its times like this that I wonder how they can even allow people like Mark and I to own a boat, let alone sail it around other boats. I guess the fact that the water is wide is a very good thing. So now while we are waiting for the proper sized fittings to arrive, Mark and I are debating the merits of deck layouts while he tidies up the bilge in preparation for the install.

My sister endured a full day of judging Junior High Shakespearean acting duets which included a catered lunch of Totino's pizza for which she was compensated with tickets to the Texas Renaissance Festival and would we like to go with her and my adorable nephews Jackson and Liam? Oh heck yes. These kids need to see something other than a never ending parade of boat projects.

Kitty was absolutely gobsmacked. The gates looked like a CASTLE! There were pirates and princesses and swords and real elephants! Everything our wee girl loves all in one place. I spent a small fortune on elephant rides, llama rides, petting zoo trips and pony ride after pony ride. It was totally worth it as Kitty's face still lights up when she talks about it. When she wasn't bonding with critters big and small, she was dancing- nonstop. All day long. She was perfect, even without a nap. Maura had a great time with sword fighting lessons, and falconry demonstrations, games, listening to music, seeing old friends and just having a ball. It was a much needed break for the kids and big thanks to my sister for making it happen. Kitty was absolutely unconscious before we even got out of the parking lot.

And then, it was back to bilges and boat sewing projects. Huzzah.




8 comments:

  1. Doh! Ugh it totally sucks to order the wrong size, how frustrating. I hope you were able to send it back for a return!

    Boat Jenga...can't do this with doing that, or this, or this!

    Happy you are getting on with your plumbing.

    Your kids are so precious:)

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    1. Thanks Dani! Things are at a crawl just now with Mark's work schedule but we will get there.

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  2. Elephant ride? No way!! What a fun day, and I am hoping for you and Mark that you will still be sailing far away from the dock, when Maura 'comes of age' because that is one beautiful girl. She'll have to have some time to learn how to handle that kind of beauty.
    I remember pointy hats with long trailing scarves. Claire had one she wore all the time. She would ask her dad to carry her to bed with her 'hair hanging down like a princess', wearing the hat. Hey, maybe that's what you can tell Kitty that will help her remember not to cut her own hair! Laughing right out loud!
    We did Medieval fairs with Andrew until he owned all the swords made anywhere. He is now an archaeology major, heading towards being an ancient tool and weapon specialist. This should be dead easy for him since he already knows all about that stuff from being completely focused on it during his entire childhood.
    I love seeing the things you do with your kids. It brings it all back!

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    1. Archaeology major seems like a fantastic outcome! Could have been much worse. He could have decided to pursuit a career as the Beer Knight at Medieval Times.

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  3. That last shot of Kitty is a framer! Oh yes, I remember how expensive the elephant rides are at the RenFest. Last 3 years the boys have gone solo. I am not ready to venture in with Naia just yet. Maybe, maybe... next year.

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    1. After years and years of working the show, I was over it. Then I took a 2 year old and say again how magical it can be to littles. Take her!! She will have a blast.

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  4. Oh that does look wonderful! And Kitty looks like she's having such a wonderful time! I've only been once - back in 1990 when I first moved to Houston.

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