500Jerk

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

British Virgin Islands

The 500Jerk clan traveled to the BVI over spring break with friends.

Regatta off Virgin Gorda

Not only did the Spouse hook us up with extremely nice hotel accommodations, but he also rented a boat, so we could travel between islands.

Skipper

First Mate

Here's the thing about renting a boat in the BVI: nobody cares if you have boating credentials. Or life vests. If you're fool enough to take a boat out in the ocean without experience, that's completely your call. We had a bit of a . . . learning curve. I hummed the theme song to Gilligan's Island basically the entire time we were there. Somehow, we survived.

View from a Tortola dock:

No docks on Jost Van Dyke at the Soggy Dollar Bar. Hook up to a mooring ball and work for your lunch by swimming in; hence, the name. Watch out for the topless ladies.

The kids loved the boat. Including the ocean swells.

Only one was brave enough to jump off a party boat, though.

Beautiful sunsets.

We spent one fun evening on Marina Cay, eyeing the desserts through a ViewMaster while the younger kids fell asleep.

Miss M loved the water and having friends with her.

Little Dix Bay, which we visited solely for the t-shirts.

The Boy eyeing the Hobie Cats at The Bitter End Yacht Club.

Maybe one day we'll get back for some lessons.

Mugging for the camera.

From the top of Scrub Island, where we stayed, looking out toward Tortola.

A decidedly British feel.

Suddenly shy Boy Wonder.

The motley crew.

A fun time.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Boy Wonder Is 10

Boy Wonder recently turned 10, and we celebrated his big move into double digits (10!) with an overnight visit to Gatlinburg.

Birthday pancakes at The Pancake Pantry, oh yeah.

We jumped on the hotel beds, visited arcades, and played laser tag. Laser tag is surprisingly fun, you know.

Daylong birthday amnesty by usually testy older sister.

For that matter, so is Gatlinburg. Despite its reputation as a tacky tourist destination, I rather enjoyed it. I am seriously mellowing in my old age.

The gaggle.

We had four hotel rooms, and I was awakened near dawn by whoops and thumps from the boys' room next door. There are worse ways to wake up.

My BFF and her sleepy boy.

We headed directly to The Pancake Pantry, then to the arcades. There was a pause for pizza, then back to the arcades. And of course, we didn't miss an opportunity to visit Kilwin's, an old-timey candy and ice cream shop.

Posturing tweens.

Whoopee cushion-related merriment.

It was a very fun day, and we were glad to be able to celebrate it on a day off from school. Happy Birthday, Boy Wonder, we love you!

Dumpling Fest with Dom Perignon

We recently received a pricey bottle of champagne, and so combined our annual Chinese dumpling fest with some high-class bubbly. Good champagne is fine, light, and refreshing, very different from much of the champagne I've imbibed over the years. And of course, we were glad to share the Dom with some of our besties.

As in past years, we almost ate our body weight in Chinese pork dumplings, handmade and carefully fried by the Big Genie. The kids were ecstatic to have access to unlimited numbers of dumplings, a contrast with our experiences in restaurants, where a small number of dumplings must be split and haggled over so that each person has an equal share. A good time was had by all.

Cheers!