It's Christmas Time!

We're packing up for snow and frost and getting ready to leave our sunny rasta island


and palm tree porch



castle clouds

and orange walks at sunset.


(look- the Queen Mary 2 - largest cruise ship in the world!)


turquoise and goggles

and sixteen hour days spent studying.


One semester complete. . .

Sweet Boy...

Calvin's First Boat Ride!

A boat full of sunshine took us to the island of Nevis last weekend. Nevis was so mellow, calm, and quiet that it felt like culture shock to step back onto the crowded streets of Basseterre.


His first boat ride!



Cozy nook for lunch



Home sweet home


Andrew's histology professor snapped this view of our isle

First Swimpool Swim

Thanksgiving Day





On Thanksgiving Day while Andrew was in class, we sat under breezy palms and thought about our myriad gratefulls. The sun is abundant on our watery island, but we can't help thinking about the snowy cozy homes that hold all our most precious people. Vicariously we have thick socked feet and marzipan cinnamon rolls full in our bellies.

Some kicks and wiggles, watery squirms. Calvin's a water boy just like his mom and dad.

Happy Thanksgiving

Swim Club

Swim Club is my water therapy.
We meet Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays for swims out to Dolphin Cove where we find turtles and rays along the way. This weekend we had a swim meet. Salt water took the place of chlorine, touching a buoy replaced flip turns, and seashells were the ribbons. Calvin and Andrew cheered from the shore and received salty kisses when I was finished.





Sue and Amy


Me and Sue

A Journey to the Sea

Time with a newborn passes quick like dessert and change has seemed to be the one consistent thing in our lives. Change has lived and grown in such abundance these past four (13) months that I'm just now taking a deep breath of salty sea air and feeling my toes on the sandy ground. I marvel at how my life has changed in the past year and think of what I use to accomplish by 9 in the morning in Boulder and what I accomplish now by the sea. In my old life by 9 a.m. I would have taken the pups on a walk, made and eaten breakfast with Andrew, showered, made and packed a lunch, greeted 28 ten year olds, written 2 emails, applied 1 bandaid, given 10 hugs, planned one lesson, taught half a math lesson, returned a phone call, listened to various stories of children's weekend plans and dreams from the night before, said the Pledge of Allegiance, and told 28 ten year olds I believe in them. Now by 9 a.m. I've fed and cuddled Calvin and if I'm really lucky, I've brushed my hair. I'm learning that the snail paced way of island/mother life is a gift though. Instead of lesson plans and to-do lists, I have swim club, snorkeling, and staring at Calvin to my heart's content. Some days I feel like my ribs are going to break with all the love I've grown for him, and when I'm feeling lonely and missing home (which is nearly every day) something wise tells me I'd be robbed of the most sacred moments of my life if I had to spend my time any other way. Andrew is thriving at filling his mind with animal medicine and is balancing school with his beloved surf sessions and time with me and Calvin. His happy eyes shine bluer than I've ever seen. His dreams are coming true. We are finding happiness in all this change...


Our cozy little nook. Here's a view of the Atlantic from our porch and the golf course where nightly walks are brimming with castle clouds. We face East so morning skies are brimming with sunrise.


Timothy Buttons is our favorite beach. I have swim club here every weekend while Andrew has coffee and Calvi Cake.


Our personal fairy godmothers, Ansy and Aunt Zilly, flew to the island upon arrival to snuggle us safely in.


A walk on the beach at sunset.


Andrew's life is complete!

Calvin: Boy Wonder

He's learning to laugh and serenades us with new songs. He's growing and sleeping, standing, smiling, rolling and more loving than any other thing we know. Parzoon angel.

Oh Thank You Thank You . . .

Fairy Godmother Ansy sanded and polished and silvered us bright so we could feel safe in our new island home.








Fairy Godsister Zilly healed and reikied and sistered us gold so we could be snuggly and wiggly as bugs in a rug.










Richard made Calvin laugh the most he's ever laughed, spoiled his grandson and gave him googly face grins.







Danielle cooed and cuddled and hugged Calvin in love. Bright Grandma smiles and fancy gifts too.