Malachi preparing for the holiday

Although we’re not in the beautiful bay I imagined (we decided to stay in the marina), it is fun to decorate the boat and our little tree. The boys have endless questions about how Santa will find us and get in the boat. I tell them we’ll leave the companionway unlocked but that maybe he’ll come through a hatch. “Whatever you do,” I warn them, “stay in your berth if you hear any noise.” “Why?” they ask. “He’s an old man,” I reply, “You don’t want to give him a heart attack, do you? Besides, if you scare the reindeer, they might fall in the water and I’m not sure they can swim. It would be terribly sad if Rudolph ended up drowning.” The boys look appalled and solemnly promise to stay in their berths. They have been drawing endless pictures lately.

The main theme is Santa’s reindeer flying over a sailboat

Joshua wrote to Santa requesting a flashlight and 40 feet of rope. Malachi said he couldn’t think of anything he wanted. This, my friends, is the joy of not owning a television. These children have no idea what kind of loot Santa can provide.

As always, Christmas morning is a blast. We have no

Moko Jumbi dancers during lunch

stockings so we hung bags and sun hats. Santa fills them all. Joshua says this is the best Christmas ever. After opening presents and getting high on sugar, we walk to church. We come back to the marina and get dressed for a Christmas buffet lunch at Little Dix Bay Resort. We’ve been there before and it is gorgeous. They have Moko Jumbi dancers and a great buffet. We are a little surprised by the bill ($250) since kids are half-price and our drinks are water and one iced tea, but it makes more sense when I later find out that their hotel rooms start at $1,200 a night.

The boys and I at lunch

We decide that the lunch bill entitles us to full use of the resort. The boys swim, I lounge in a chair and stare at the water, Matt tries to catch a Cleveland game on the big screen TV. Overall, it has been a lovely Christmas.

(I will post more photos of Matt once his St. John haircut grows back in!)

[We later realize we could make pretty good money by anchoring in their bay and renting out a berth for $500 a night].