dragonboat racing

Since the girls were super duper little, actually this goes back to when I only had one daughter, I have always wanted them to find a pastime that they love to do that had ties to their heritage.  We have studied Mandarin, both oral and written but the only other thing I have found is Chinese dancing and can we say that that isn't their cup of tea. I inquired about dragon boat racing but was always told, they are too small and we don't have junior teams.

A couple of months ago we were at an Asian festival and we met some members of a dragon boat team and were told to come down and see if we like it and in Rosies case, if she was tall enough, otherwise she could drum. Rosie vehemently said NO to the drumming idea, and I didn't blame her.


One little 2 hour practice and Rosie magically conjures up her inner ancestors and shows what she's got. The very next week she is moved the the very front of the boat as stroker and the Coach is all about competitions and blah blah blah. This kid is a natural. Lily and I remain in the very last row and I expect at any moment to be thrown overboard and used as a permanent anchor.

Fast forward 7 weeks and we are headed to Sarasota for our first dragon boat race, well I was required to go as the parent of the athlete and Lily came too cos we had to support our girl. Rosie wasn't up to par as a paddler in a race where qualifying time secured your place in Paris next year but she sure as hell could be the drummer and get the feel of a big race.


My child was amazeballs. truly.

She wanted it, she worked for it and through her blood and sweat bought home 2 golds and a bronze. Hearing this tiny little person screaming, they're coming to a team of adults and pounding on that drum whilst getting bruised battered and a nice case of whiplash, made me so proud.

Coach said she would get a feel for it and she did. She loved it.

It was also a very tiny Asian festival. I was walking back to our tents and noticed a familiar face learning to do a dragon dance. 

winner winner, chicken dinner. 

Coach Dennis and all the ladies eligible to drum

Little drummer girl

that smile

didn't hurt that the boat she was on a lot was orange.

warm ups

bringing them home to a gold in the 500m
Holding on for dear life

Resting

A high 5 from all the teams, it was neat hearing them tell her she was awesome.

that one there, she's mine!

Warm ups

this team came form all over the USA the members are all part of the National team. 

This is Alice, she gave her heart to Ro in the form of a lesson on drumming. Her and her hubby flew down from NY to help Coach Dennis. Billy was steerer and a nicer couple can't be found.

A huge event

Kim and Alice

the team of Alice and Billy 

I don't think it is possible to meet a more fun, and kind group of people. Every walk of like, every age. Its fun.. If you are local and you want to try it, let me know especially if you have little people that would like to have a go.

We practice, all of us, on a Sunday morning for 2-3 hours. We love it. The workout is intense.

  🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉

~~The photos for this post are all over the place but if I try and work out what the heck I have done it could be another year before a blogpost appears. You're welcome. ~~

national junior honor society

Last week Rosie was inducted into the NJHS. It was a really great evening filled with just the right amount of pomp and a splattering of fun. I love her school and consider both girls extremely lucky to attend or as is Lily's case, attended

Never have worked out how she never set anyone or thing on fire 

look at the candle angle 

Love this photo

my smart girl

a little levity

this man is the bomb. Truly the best assistant principal there is. He deserves  his own school but I hope not quite yet. 

💕

12. t.w.e.l.v.e.

Twelve.

Seems a little rude to me how my baby girl is just charging through life and tearing it up and getting older and bigger and shockingly independent.

Rose, if nothing else, is a creature of habit, you just need to look back on her birthday posts and you'll see her, year after year at Miami Childrens Museum, then with a little coaxing she tried Lion Country Safari and that then became her go to. I asked if she would like something else this year and she did, Dave and Busters in Boca so she could drive a Go-Kart. But then a friend suggested a place up in Deerfield and Rose thought it sounded fantastical so we signed our liability wavers online and drove North.

Fun. Fun. Fun.

Roses birthday, Chinese New year and Valentines Day all collided this year so the decorating was way way way over the top.

Yes that is a valentines day tree, your point? 

so much jumping, it was fabulous

One of about 12 Rock walls

This crazy child decided to do the hardest one first.

ding ding ding, we have a winner

without a shadow of a doubt the ropes course was the best part...for them.

True grit got her around it

this one was a ninja on it.

You get by with a little help from a friend

Oh.My.God. How did you get that tangled up?

big sis to the rescue. 

It was a fantastic day. 5 hours flew by. We will be going back for sure. The birthday girl had a wonderful day and that is all that matters.

hasta la vista 2018

I am tardy with this post but that's ok, you just need to look at my history of blogging and you'll realize that a post of any sort is borderline miraculous.


This year, like all of them contained highs and lows, positives and negatives and a sprinkling of family shite.   C'est la vie

January

we headed to colder climes with a road trip to Tennessee and had fantastic time.

little cabin in the woods

Nashville

February

my baby turned 11. That's just wrong. She was also not quite herself and her celebrations had to be muted as partying with bronchitis and walking pneumonia isn't a priority.

cupcakes are always her choice. 

a b-ball hoop is right up her alley

Houndish also celebrates her birthday in February and she turned FIVE and kicked up her paws

March 

March bought us a hound that had been with us for a year and lots of little day trips.

love those smiles

one of my all time favorite photos

able>

houndy fits right in, she shares our love of water

April

April was a tough month as one of Lily's friends mum was diagnosed with widespread cancer and a poor prognosis and our lives were about to take a huge detour.

Easter bought a sense of normalcy and the 3 kids baked some amazing cookies.

there was flour EVERYWHERE

impressive

May

Lily's friend moved in with us and we got used to being a family of 3 kids not 2.  I decided it was time to  change things up and I went back to school. And my little pickle made the principals honor roll for the first time. She worked her tush off and was so proud. Me too.

Food in this country is harmful and basically unregulated. I decided it was time to attend The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. IIN

So damn proud of this one, she worked so hard.

June

Lily turned 16, I turned 54 and we headed across the ocean, stopping in Canada, to route to the UK.

A day late with the celebrations as I ended up in the hospital on the day. But cake is cake and birthdays are always celebrated.

Another country to cross off our list.

July

my father turned 80 on July 4th. We surprised him and it was one of the best things we could have done.

Upon arrival Lily and Milly became great friends.

the finer things in life and an old car. 

some outlandishly fun times with my sister

80 requires a different approach to celebrating

a quite day spent on the river in the beautiful British countryside

The birthday boy, the legend, my daddio

August

so much fun was had in August with the girls cousins coming to stay and then on a more sobering note the beginning of school at the end of the month.

Our worst weather is in august and september but I couldn't let that stop us from having fun. Kayaking in a freakish somewhat rogue storm. Ooopsie

Lily got her hand bitten by a tarpon at Robbies

More rain 

big arse lobster attack

The Pickle started Middle school but in the same school she has always gone to. She entered the upper academy as it is a K8

Lily reentered regular school after homeschooling for 2 years. She is attending SAS and goes to college int he mornings and high school in the afternoons. She is so happy and has a circle of like minded friends

September

I found this month to be one of introspection, I pulled away from social media and tried to focus only on positive things. I took up yoga and meditation and found my self etching out my future plans and the future of my little family. Life has been so much better since not allowing my reactions to situations that I can't control, get the better of me.


October 

a day spent alone with my big and halloween

my beautiful girl #icouldhavemissedthis

Perez art museum

halloween pretties

November

my sister and brother in law came for a visit.
my girls were over the moon.

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Crazy Auntie Sally and Mad Uncle Andy took the girls go Karting, Rosie was allowed to drive for the first time.

December

Christmas, Cirque Du Soleil on ice and Luna finally makes a friend.

je t'aime

Luna and her running buddy and all round bestie, Dusty

sweetness

backstage with @acrojames at Cirque Crystal

a family photo..yes, I'm shocked too

Silly Lunes, that is not yours

And so we move onwards and upwards into 2019.
Many plans for all of us.