Tuesday, December 31, 2013

EZ-Traveler

There is a children's book called "Burt Dow - Deep Water Man". Eden and I enjoy it because it so reminds us of our Jonny. Around here, we have begun to affectionately refer to him as our 'deep water man'. When I met Jon he was running fishing boats. I often wonder if he would still be running boats were it not for me. He has been on boats most his life and has always dreamed of having a boat of his own. This dream somehow transferred into Eden's dream as well, to the point that every time she made a wish in a fountain {since the age of two} she wished for a boat. After years of searching, Jon found his boat right in our back yard. It had been sitting in a dry dock in Dana Point for over ten years, possibly not even put in the water for over 10 years. Jon all but stalked the owner of this boat, leaving messages for him for months, then negotiating with him for months until he and the owner finally agreed on a price. Just before we left for Kauai Jon purchased the boat, not knowing if the two motors that were on it would ever run, not knowing if we would even be able to afford new motors in the near future if they did not run. Since we have been home Jon and his Dad have been able to work on the motors and miraculously...they ran. Today we went for a maiden voyage on this boat of ours which we have named the EZ-Traveler in honor of the kids' names. It ran perfectly, and we were all left longing for our next boat ride and the adventures to come.

Trespassing in the dry dock dreaming of making it our own.
Shortly after purchasing the boat Jon had about a week to work on it in the dry dock before towing it home. 
We were really nervous about whether or not we could back it up our drive.
Everyone was so excited to have it at home.

Below Eden has a front row seat to the first time Jonny tried to start the engines. There was a lot of smoke and a lot of noise.
Reading books and resting with Eden in the inside cab while Jon and Poppi fine tune the motors.

The Day of the Maiden Voyage 12/31/13

Eden and Zion peaking through the fence to spy the boat sitting in the water.
Zion was in heaven!

Friday, December 27, 2013

Christmas Cookies

Zi and I had a quiet morning at the house last Friday making Christmas cookies while Eden was at school. It was such a fun opportunity to bake with Zi, something that Eden normally has seniority for. Zi and I both cherished the special time together. Then later in the day we gathered with the Walla cousins to decorate cookies. Had all the cousins not been running around and playing, Eden probably could have sat and decorated those cookies all day.

This is something Eden and Zi had set up. Eden was reading to Zi, but as soon as I went in to take a picture I broke the magic spell.