The scrapbook

I didn't take a ton of photos, but to give you a glimpse of Nantucket, here are some of the finest (I might take some more on my last day tomorrow, in which case I'll update!)

View of the harbor 

The Lynx- a huge sail boat we got to ride around on while getting historical info about the boat

The Nantucket lightboat (a lighthouse on the water)

My very first clam bake! Yes, I ate that lobster, believe it or not!

I don't know the name of this, but it's a very important tourist attraction for photographing

The Harbor again

Downtown harbor sign

I'm pretty sure that this is a statue of me (given the  love of mail)

The standard/ "normal" Nantucket house

Me on a boat, passing by the lightboat

Sunset at Madaket

Until next time!

Rachel 

Nanny-tucket updates

Still in Nantucket, and still loving it! I have turned a shade of brown which I didn't realize could exist within my skin tone spectrum. So Mickey and Minnie (the husband and wife of the family I nanny for) have hosted a few families during their time here in Nantucket. One of the families included three young and highly energetic boys. So one day I'm out at the pool, making sure Jack and Jill don't have any issues while they are catapulting off the diving board and swimming around. One of the three visiting boys cannon-balls off the diving board, and jack and jill's dog (who we shall call Pluto) dives in right on top of him in an effort to save him. The little boy couldn't get out from under the dog, and in a flash I am diving into the pool fully-clothed to get the little boy. When I got out my heart was racing, and my knees were visibly shaking. The boy was coughing and crying and I think we both had adrenaline and nerves just coursing through us. I went upstairs and found a new outfit and when I came back the three boys were all hooping and hollering and telling me what a great "saver" I was. The little boy ran over and hugged me and said "Miss Rachel, thanks for saving me." It was so adorable. And hopefully that ends my career as life-guard. (Not that I mind watching kids in the pool, but I'm not so fond of the terror that courses through me in times of panic- so I would like to avoid those in the future). 

Two young couples (one with a baby) just left the house this morning, which was really sad actually. Having them around was so much fun- they know Jack and Jill really well as they are their ski instructors, so they were a great help in watching the kids and setting an example for me on how to discipline and step in with behavior issues that arise. Not to mention while they were here we had many crafting sessions, baking/cooking lessons, many conversations about pinterest and our great finds there, an adorable two-year-old girl who was just so fun to play with, and just an all-in-all great time! 

Today's a beach day, which means I best go get ready! (Did I mention I have magically taken on a tan-tone? Who knew that was possible?)

Until next time, 

Rachel

Nanny-tucket

So, in case you weren't so quick on the title, I am now in Nantucket! I traveled with the family here, and as they are on vacation, I'm here to help out as well! Nantucket is quite the cool location...Everything is wood-shingled and very picturesque and quaint. And everyone bikes. Yesterday I went out exploring via bike after dropping the kids at sailing camp. (Oh, I've decided to call the kids "Jack and Jill"- I'm going to refrain from using their real names simply as a measure to preserve anonymity.) 

The house we're staying at is absolutely beautiful. We have a pool and a hot tub in the back yard, and there are two little cabins back there too. I have my own room on the third level (I do actually appreciate having the extra stairs for exercise, and I am up and down them all day, so that's great!), but since my room is the top level (there's no attic) the walls are slanted, and I have walked into a wall about 4 times so far. I'm expecting many more. It sounds dumb, as you think you would adjust, but your perception gets so skewed with the slant (or at least mine does...does that happen to normal people?!). 

We've gone to the beach once, spent a lot of time in the pool, and spent a few afternoons in town. On Sunday I actually went to Catholic mass with the family (I'm not Catholic, so that's not a regular occurrence for me), but it was good. And cute little Jill- she came and sat with me when there wasn't room for all of us to sit together in one pew. She's the most precious little girl you ever did meet! 

My final thing to describe: today was awesome! I went alone to pick up Jack and Jill from sailing camp (that's an experience all on its own...let me just say, SUV and tiny narrow dead-end dirt road make for a difficult exit), and while we were leaving, we saw THE coolest thing ever:

"Oh a sun? You saw a sun?" you might be thinking...well my friends, that ring around the sun is not a glare or anything...it's a rainbow. A ring-rainbow that went all the way around the sun. That is, by far, my most unique rainbow experience. I think everyone knows how I feel about rainbows, whether from past blogs or personal experiences with me- so this was a pretty big deal. Okay, I'm wiped and my alarm is set for 7:30 tomorrow! I'll post more Nantucket pics soon! 

xoxo

Rachel 

Oh Apple, Oh Plum, Au Pair

So I know I haven't kept everyone posted with my life and plans for the future. But it's about that time that everyone be up to speed on my latest adventure in life. I have moved to the Washington D.C. area to become a live-in nanny! I just moved in on Sunday (Monday was my first official day on the job). I nanny for two kids, a girl and a boy, which means I basically make sure to get them to all their activities and obligations, and then help them out with things like homework, and making them dinner. And so far, I am loving it. The highlight thus far: I asked the girl on Sunday night what her favorite thing to do was, and she responded "play with you". She also introduced me to her friend as her new nanny who is super nice, so funny, and has the most beautiful long hair. Both kids are just so great though, constantly happy and energetic, just the way kids should be!


The family has a 2-yr old yellow lab, so that's been an adjustment. Fortunately for me he doesn't jump or bark really, so I have remained very calm, and might I say me and the dog may even have a potential friendship in the future. (Anyone who knows me realizes this is like a superhuman feat for me). 


One thing that is less easy to adjust to is DC driving. See, I'm well versed in NH driving, which means the craziest thing that happens to you is that you get stuck behind a tractor for 10 miles. So this whole merging onto highways, getting onto the beltway, parallel parking downtown, that's all a lot to adjust to. (My success story was parallel parking at noon today on NJ Ave. let's all celebrate that one). Oh also, there is this concept which is so foreign to me, there are roads which prohibit turns during certain times of the day, which can make for some unfortunate errors. Also, people drive psychotically- they use horns liberally, so you never really know who they're honking at or if you're the target of their full-fledged horn attack, they don't use blinkers (to the point that I'm really not sure if their cars even have blinker features) so you never really know where they're going, and they seem to take yellow lights as a personal challenge and speed up if a light turns yellow (I've been honked at for stopping at yellow lights- and I never slam on the brakes for yellow lights, so it's not like I'm posing a hazard by stopping). But alas, so far I'm surviving the driving, so I figure it only gets easier from here (right?). 


I have passed Georgetown cupcakes twice now, so I figure its only a matter of time before I break down and hit them up, yum yum yum. 


That's all for now!
Rachel