OK, here goes. I think I'll have to break this up into parts because I don't think I have enough time to finish in one sitting. A little context. It's 8am (ET) on New Year's Day. My brood returned home at 1:30am, 6am and 7am respectively. There are currently 3 teenagers and 4 twenty-somethings asleep somewhere in this house and we expect a group for our traditional chili and football gathering this afternoon. Go Badgers! So I figured this was the perfect time to begin.

Some family info (as per Coden!):
M - husband
L - me
D - Son #1 (21)
A - Son #2 (19)
S - Daughter (17)
A arrived home from school at 8:45pm on Thursday the 21st. Once we picked him up at the airport I felt a little more relieved because weather in NY (home) or St. Louis (school) had been my worst nightmare. You see the car was picking us up to go to the airport at 4:45am. Anyway, A came home, said hi and promptly went out with his friends (he's been gone since August). His parting words were, "Mom, how long does it take to pack a bathing suit, 2 pairs of shorts and a toothbrush?" Anyway, while he was out gallivanting the rest of us finished packing and tried to get some sleep. Apparently he came home about 3am, but true to his word was showered and packed and ready to go at 4:45. Ah to be 19 again!

Car was here right on time and we headed for JFK. No traffic at that hour and the airport was quite tame as well. We had 5 small checked bags and everyone had a small carry-on. We were checked in and having breakfast by 6am. The gate was a zoo. We had switched to the nonstop in October and had seats all over the plane. Tried to move, but other than jockeying with a family with small children who too had seats all over the plane, pretty much stayed put. We haven't travelled at Christmas for a very long time and I had forgotten how many small children with their families travel at that time. No problems though. A was able to snare an aisle seat (he's 6'2"+), though with a small child next to him. Compromise is the name of the game!

Anyway flight was full, left on-time and arrived in STT early. Deplaned, all grabbed their first rum punch and we proceeded to baggage claim. Bags out quickly and it looked like we would make the 1pm ferry out of Charlotte Amalie. Hopped in a taxi with one other family and made the ferry with time to spare. Called the Caribbean Villas office from the taxi and they said to look for them at the dock. BTW, cost for 5 with bags as described above was $40 for the taxi and $60 for the ferry. If you can make the downtown ferry I highly recommend it. It's a quick 10 minute drive to town and the ferry ride was quite enjoyable on a warm afternoon. We felt like the trip had a picture perfect beginning as we left St.Thomas and St. John came into view.

We grabbed our bags as we departed the ferry and at the end of the dock a smiling Sean waited with his CV sign. M and I hopeed in his jeep, leaving the kids on the dock with the bags, and headed to Paris Car Rental to get our Jeep Liberty. We filled out the paperwork quickly (Patsy was a doll), M did the damage check and we followed Sean back to the dock to pick up the kids. Whoa, first time on the left in town was a little harrowing. Especially the corner by the Texaco station. We became old hands by the end of the week, but that first time was something else. Anyway, picked up the kids (5 people, all essentially adults) and the bags fit, though maybe not too comfortably, in the Jeep Liberty. We then started part 2 of our introduction to driving on St. John following Sean through town and out the South Shore Road to Orchid Villa.

Now those who have read my posts and questions know that I have been pretty nervous about everything since this is the first time we rented a villa. Would it be as beautiful as the pictures, would everything work, would my family look at me and say, "Mom, what the h... have you done?" Well, it was, it did and they did..with enormous smiles on their faces. The villa sits right above Klein Bay. You can hear the waves lapping up on the stone beach. The views to the left of Ditliff Point and out to the horizon are beyond spectacular. There were boats moored in the bay all week and we just sat and enjoyed the view many times. I will post a villa review separately, but suffice it to say that though a little worn and dated, Orchid Villa was aperfect introduction to villa life for us. M & I took the upper MBR in the br pod, A somehow got the lower MBR (his siblings just don't like to fight with him, plus he is the largest of my 3)and D and S shared the loft. The MBRs are air conditioned (and have garden showers), and the living pod and loft have 5 fans. This week in particular iit wasn't an issue, but I think the main pod could get quite warm in the summer. Anyway, between the 2 pods is a small dipping pool (5ft. deep) and 4 lounge chairs, a table and 6 chairs and much foliage. The decks off the 2 MBRs both had comfortable chairs and the deck off the living area had a gas bbq and a glass table with 4 chairs. The rattan chairs in the living area left a LOT to be desired both in space for sitting and comfort, but they look very island-like. TV's in living room and both MBRs, with great reception. Kitchen fully equipped and the washer /dryer (in a utility closet off the main deck) worked beautifully. The approach (driveway) was steep, but nothing compared to others I saw during the week. Sean went over all the details of the house, left us a canvas CV bag with a VI book and lots of info, went over the island maps with us to give us our bearings and bid us adieu. We did tip him...he was so nice,and helpful, and it was Christmas!

I think I need to stop here and get breakfast together for when the hordes wake up! Happy New Year all, be back with more later.