During our third visit to St. Martin, we arrived from Antigua and Barbuda and were greeted by the familiar sight of SV Poly and SV Dark Horse, two polish boats. Excited to reconnect, we spent the initial days socializing and catching up with our fellow sailors. As we prepared for the arrival of our guests, we dedicated lots of time to cleaning our boatl. While the boys decided to volunteer at SXM Paws, a local dog shelter, I couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and trepidation. Thankfully, they returned empty-handed, having resisted the urge to adopt a furry friend.

While bravely tackling the kids' messy bedroom, I stumbled upon a surprising houseguest—a live hermit crab chillin' in their rock box. Talk about an unexpected roomie! After a moment of shock, I scooped up the sneaky critter ans embarked on a crash course in hermit crab care. Tuns out the crab was our guest since we left Antigua. It was being fed with apples and fresh water by the two conspirators. I. The end our illegal immigrant was safely delivered to St. Martin beach, where tears were shed and last goodbyes said.

The day has arrived and our guests from Alabama arrived. Wiola and her 2 boys: Alex and Adam. They were born in Pullman, four months after our little Ian made his grand entrance into the world. For the first couple of years, they were like peas in a pod, causing havoc and spreading laughter wherever they went. But alas, life had other plans for Viola and Krzysiek. They bid farewell to Pullman and set their sights on Athens, GA, leaving behind a trail of unforgettable memories and a bunch of bewildered neighbors scratching their heads. After initial shock, everybody adapted to a boat life, se we could start planing the next weeks of fun.

On day 1 of Wiola's visit we embarked on an unforgettable adventure, squeezing all four energetic boys into the backseat of our teeny-tiny rental car. It was like watching a clown car act in action, but somehow we made it work. Our destination: Parotte Ville in St. Martin, the parrot paradise! Armed with cups of birdseed and a dash of bravery, we entered the colorful world of squawking feathery friends. Those parrots had appetites like never before! Feeding them was like participating in a high-stakes eating competition. Once we'd had our fill of avian antics, we dashed over to Maho Beach, known for its proximity to the airport runway. Boys were amazed as planes would make their grand entrance, swooping over our heads with a thunderous roar. We couldn't help but laugh as the sand flew around us like a mini sandstorm, turning our beach outing into an unexpected adventure. Who needs a water park when you have Maho Beach and its airborne surprises?

Later that evening we got to meet with our old friend Aga. After hearing about best sushi in town (at Roxy) we finally visited the restaurant where Davide (Aga's SO) is a chef. Food was fenomenal and the boys agreed that should was simply the best.

Ah, the joys of stocking up on French delights before setting sail! With fridges, freezers, and every nook and cranny loaded with delicious food, produce, and wine, we embarked on a journey to Pinel Island. The views were absolutely breathtaking, but little did I know that my inexperience as a wing foiler would soon make the adventure even more memorable. The wind had its mischievous plans and propelled me straight towards treacherous rocks. After a valiant struggle to disentangle my foil from its rocky prison, I finally managed to reach a nearby beach. With my dignity slightly deflated I made the call to Greg for a rescue. Just as he was nearing the beach, a colossal wave emerged out of nowhere, flipping our dinghy and causing chaos. The engine was rendered useless, and my \240iPhone 14 Pro tragically met its watery demise, slipping out of Greg's dry bag (phone was "safely" tucked away in a mesh side pocket). After short mourning, determined to find a solution, I convinced the folks at the Orient Beach jetski rental to come to our aid. \240Thankfully, all of our boys were safe and sound on a friendly Yellow Beach, eagerly awaiting Greg's return. They were hungry!! Little did they know, that their trip back from was about to become more exhilarating than planned. All 4 of them got a very fast ride on the back of the jetski.

Due to drowned phone, all pictures are gone.

Lesson 1: purchase apple care + theft and loss

Lesson 2: place valuables INSIDE of the dry bag

Once the initial fury subsided and the air cleared of a whole dictionary's worth of colorful language, Greg took it upon himself to become the resident outboard mechanic extraordinaire. He spent the majority of the evening tackling the flooded engine situation like a true hero in oily swimshorts. \240Armed with buckets of WD40, isopropyl alcohol and engine oil, he diligently flushed, cleaned, and treated the engine. He put all his faith in the knowledge gleaned from YouTube tutorials. The following morning brought news that filled us with both relief and a touch of dismay. The engine had resurrected itself, sputtering back to life, but alas, the tachometer, depth meter, and even the once-reliable start button decided to join the rebellious party and cease their functional duties.

Luckily, the next morning the engine was functional enough for Greg to take Wiola and I to Aga's 40th bday party. We had a great time relaxing at Morgan resort with 15 other girls.

Greg did a great job taking care of the boys, exploiting them in boat cleaning duties and teaching them to dive. They had a great time and even cleaned up after dinner, while mommies had a well deserved girls only party.

We set sail from Pinel to Tintamare and guess what? We stumbled upon our old mate Piotrek, and he brought along local SXM/ polish friends: Ada, Dawid, and their adorable little one, Ania. We decided to have a Polish-style bonfire on the beach. We grilled some mouthwatering kielbasa, flipped delicious pierogi, and danced our worries away around the crackling fire. JK,no dances or pierogies were involved, instead lots of rum, and beach sand. The night was filled with laughter, stories, and the sweet sound of waves crashing nearby.

In a wihirlwind of laughter and good times, the last few days of our guests' visit aboard Tenacity transformed into a mishmash of homeschooling, exploration, eating ice cream and French pastry. Oh, the heavenly French baked goods! We indulged in flaky croissants and buttery pastries that tantalized our taste buds, abandoning all worries about calorie counts with each delectable bite. But the real highlight was our epic hike to the fort, where we conquered rugged trails and wind-swept cliffs, capturing panoramic views of the shimmering sea. Serendipity led us to a vibrant group of Polish locals, and with open hearts and open sails, we instantly connected. Polish kiełbasa made by Monika surely facilitated the instant connection.

As the last day of our guests' visit dawned, tears streamed down our faces, and promises of daily phone calls were exchanged between the boys, who were reluctantly leaving the beautiful island of St. Martin. The silence that enveloped our home was palpable, and after a day of adjusting to this new normal, we quickly fell back into our routines and boat projects. It was as if nothing had ever happened. The boys still detested school work, and our beloved boat seemed to be plagued with more and more issues. The oil pan had rusted completely, causing a steadily growing puddle of oil in the engine compartment. Our Polish friend Grzegorz kindly offered to fix it, but just like everything else on the islands, boat projects seemed to happen at a snail's pace. Meanwhile, I found out that I needed to travel to Pullman for a two-week period to replace Nova during her vacation. My excitement skyrocketed when I discovered that I could go skiing. I was in stitches with joy, relishing the prospect of hitting the slopes and even experiencing a day of powder skiing.

Before my trip to Pullman, we managed to hunt some Easter egss at Rusty Parrot and, we had the pleasure of attending a traditional Polish Easter feast at Monika and Grzegorz's house. The table was overflowing with a smorgasbord of homemade delights: deli, sausages, hams, salceson, żurek, pates, krokiety, you name it! We indulged in an epic food marathon, devouring plate after plate until we could barely roll ourselves out of their home. It was a feast fit for kings and queens. And to ensure our Polish food cravings were satisfied even after we left, we went all out and bought a whopping 40 kilograms of sausages, hams, pierogies, krokiety, sour kraut, and more. Our freezer was bursting at the seams, but hey, at least we were prepared for any future Polish food emergencies (or zombie apocalypse).

After my return we hiked the nearby peak with a few other boat families.

In the last couple of weeks of our already prolonged stay in St. Martin, we found ourselves surrounded by a lively group of Polish friends. Aga, Piotrek, and the newly acquainted Beata and Jarek became our partners in crime. Together, we embarked on a mission to empty countless bottles of rosé, engaging in spirited conversations and laughter. But the real highlight was Jarek's impromptu bread-making lessons. Armed with his expertise, he guided me through the art of crafting the most heavenly rye and wheat fermented bread. As our culinary adventures continued, we stumbled upon a newly opened poke bowl restaurant called Kaz a Poke, owned by none other than a Polish chef named Marcin and his wife. The flavors exploded in our mouths, and just when we thought it couldn't get any better, Marcin surprised us with a shot of zobrowka liquor—a toast to our unforgettable times together. The combination of delicious food, friendship, and unexpected shots made those moments truly unforgettable