Weekend escape (almost!)

As my time back in Everett is coming to an end, we finally were able to get underway for the weekend!  We left Friday night under a clear sky with winds out of the north and decided somewhere around the end of Jetty Island that we should head south to Poulsbo and take advantage of some nice downwind sailing.  We sailed into the night, with the moon rising in a glow of amber and stars all around.  We didn't anchor until 10:30, but it was a nice night. 

Saturday morning I got contacted by work to let me know that I had to come in to work for some urgent tasking.  Ugh!  Winds were not favorable for a gentle return to Everett, a cab/bus/ferry would take forever, and I just really didn't want to abandon my family weekend!  In the end, we decided Sunday afternoon would do.  So we spend Saturday hopping around Poulsbo, enjoying some end-of-summer sales and treats for the kids.  It was a beautiful day and we had a great time kayaking.  After dinner back on the boat, we went for another paddle to check out some seals and were surprised by a plethora of jellyfish!  They were literally everywhere.  Trent touched a few, but Katreina certainly would not!  Such a great day on and around the water, and I will totally miss days like that.

Sunday we busted back to Everett, another great day of downwind sailing (though I'll admit I got a little sick early in the day!) that got us back around noon.  I rushed over to the ship while Frank was Super Frank and cleaned up the entire boat, pumped tanks, and filled water.  He's a machine!  I managed to finish up at work in enough time for us to hit the Farmer's Market for a few minutes, then the kids and I ran around the grassy area to give Frank some "Dad time."  And what did he do?  To heck with relaxing!  He tore apart the shower drain pump in the kids bath that's been broke and proceeded to repair it. 

We capped the weekend off with a nice walk down the pier after the kids went to bed.  It was a perfect evening.  I can't wait to do it all again!

Visits and repairs

I'm back to work today after a nice visit from my parents.  It was pretty low-key, but we did get underway Saturday and caught a few crab.  The kids really enjoyed all the extra attention and Frank and I really enjoyed date night! 

On a slightly bad note, the boat does not seem to be happy about my unexpected return.  Since my arrival less than a week ago one of the shower pumps had a membrane go bad, the TV died, and now our freshwater pump completely died.  All are easy enough fixes (we hope), but it's kind of a bummer!

Woo hoo!

Ok, obviously I should be working but instead I am celebrating the fact that I can actually upload photos to the blog from the ship!  I hope it stays this way when we're underway.  This is one of many awesome photos taken in June when we had Kristin Harris come take pics of our family.

I got home yesterday afternoon and am VERY happy to be back!  Trent is talking way more than he was a month ago and Katreina is getting great at spelling.  We had a nice dinner out in the cockpit of the boat and then went for a dinghy ride.  The kids were very cuddly and the night went way too fast, but I'm looking forward to many more nights like that.

Slight communications vent

I try not to complain because we have it way better than sailors did even a decade ago, but GEEZ!  I ordered my pictures on July 8th and I still don't have them!  I'm going to see my babies in person before I get those darn pictures in my hand!  And why is it that ABE seems to be the only ship the the US Navy that won't let people (other than Media department and some super big-wigs) use Facebook underway???  And why, oh why, am I unable to upload photos to my blog on this network???  WHY??  WHY?!?!?!!??

Ok, I feel better now.  Thanks for listening!

Since we pulled into San Diego today I got to call home and talk to everyone and it was great!  Katreina hogged the phone mercilessly, but we had a nice conversation.  She let her brother talk for about a minute, then got back on the phone and told me that when she sees me she's going to give me the biggest, biggest hug and lots of kisses.  If she only knew how much I'm looking forward to that!  Then she said, "See you soon!"  That's kind of funny since Frank hasn't told them that I'm coming home yet.  I can't wait to surprise them at school that day!