NEW AND IMPROVED FAMILY BLOG

We have changed our Kirkaldy family blog site to www.kirkaldy.tumblr.com.
Please click on this link to check it out!

GOOD TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY . . . . . . .

RYAN AND TAYLOR FLY WITH SANTA

DEC 4th The thrill of lifetime! Ryan and Taylor got to ride in the Helicopter with Santa for his appearance at the Governors Square Christmas event. The magic lives on...

DAVID RIDES WITH GARMIN-CERVELO

DECEMBER 2ND. The team to be known as Garmin-Cervelo in 2011 brought the entire roster of riders, which include some of the worlds top cyclists, to Cayman for a preseason team building camp. Massive Equipment was a sponsor for this event. Part of the sponsor package was an appurtunity to ride with the pros. David, the avid cyclist and big fan of lyrca, enjoyed a 36 mile ride with the rock stars of the cycling world: Thor Hushvod (2010 World Road Cycle #1), Peter Stetina, Tyler Farrar, Christian Vande Velde, David Millar, David Zabriskie, to name but a few. David was quite pleased; he did not finish last. www.slipstreamsports.com http://www.caymancycling.com/ride-with-the-pros.html

WE DID IT

OCT 29 - 31, 2010. The Caymanites did it! After months of training and fundraising, The Caymanites exceeded the team goal and raised over $65,000, ranking the team as the 6th highest fundraisers for this event! I was pleased to exceed my personal goal of $10,000. http://www.the3day.org/goto/Christina.Kirkaldy (some wording below has been taken from the SGK site) . The 2010 Susan G. Komen Tampa Bay 3-Day for the Cure began with an emotional Opening Ceremony at picturesque Sand Key Park, just steps from the Gulf of Mexico. Our team captain was a flag bearer for the ceremony while 1,600 walkers gathered, stretched, and prepared for the day to begin. Mild temperatures, waterfront views and cheers of support from the St. Jude Honor Society and Shorecrest Preparatory students made for a great morning. A few miles into the route, we walked through the streets of beautiful Belleair. Tall trees at Taylor Park provided shade at lunchtime. After eating, we enjoyed a trip through the Florida Botanical Gardens and ended the day along the gulf beaches of Indian Shores before an air conditioned bus ride to Walter Fuller Park in St. Petersburg, our home away from home for the weekend. We arose early on Saturday morning, ready to hit the trail. We passed Bay Pines Veterans Hospital and then headed north. Firefighters with the City of Seminole were ready and waiting to support us and snap a few photos. Cheerleaders encouraged us to add some pep to our step. Saturday’s lunch was served on the water at Madeira Beach Fundamental School. A few miles later, we found even more love than usual at John's Pass Fishing Village, a Tampa Bay favorite. Saturday’s route took us across a few Treasure Island bridges and through the winding streets of the Jungle Prada. That evening, we gathered back at camp for fun, games, and a dance party. Sprinklers going off at 3am did not dampen spirits as we arose on Sunday for our final day of walking. Support was everywhere along Sunday’s route, from St. Petersburg firefighters, student athletes from Saint Leo University and Girl Scouts. Friends and family lined the sidewalk at Woodlawn Park. We enjoyed shade on the lawn and lakefront views during lunch at Crescent Lake Park. Coffee Pot Park and the palm-tree lined boulevard brought us to our final destination, where we were welcomed by hundreds of supporters, the 300 crew members, and a band of pirates with the Krewe of Seville. Crystal blue skies overhead and cool Florida fall temperatures set the stage for a beautiful Closing Ceremony, where one of our own Caymanites participated in the Survivors Circle. Words cannot adequately describe the emotion of this weekend. The outpouring of love, support and gratitude from strangers, and the amazing stories of survival and loss has forever touched me. http://ww5.komen.org/ http://www.the3day.org/site/PageServer

THE CAYMANITES ... WALKING FOR A CURE NEXT WEEK

Next week we're off! After months of training and logging over 35 miles in some weeks, The Caymanites are heading to Tampa, FL October 29 - 31 to walk for the cure. http://ww5.komen.org/ . Thousands of women and men are going to walk 60 miles over the course of three days in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure to raise money for breast cancer research and community programs.We will be walking with thousands of men and women and sleeping in tents during this 3 day journey. As a team, we have raised almost $60,000 and are currently listed in the top 10 fundraising teams for this event. Because every woman is at risk for breast cancer - a disease that strikes at random and for which the causes and cures are still unknown - I know that every moment counts. One person is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes in the United States. We can't wait to make a difference. I love that a team from our small Island can make such a difference; I love these women that I am honoured to walk with; and I love that I can teach ,y kids that charity is about "doing" as much as it is about "giving". The journey has been hard, but well worth every blister and sore muscle.

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS

Taylor's very belated birthday celebration consisted of 6 school friends and 24 hours of total girly madness!!! After being scooped up from school on Friday afternoon, the girls came back to the house and enjoyed swimming in the pool, games of giant twister and connect 4, an impromptu fashion show and dance competition, and a boat ride over to Camana Bay. After a full day of excitement, Daddy's super special homemade pizza was the icing on the cake (or maybe the cupcakes were the icing - who knows). Quiet was finally finally achieved at 11:30pm. On Saturday morning, by 7am the giggles and chatter of the girls finally woke us up. While waiting for Daddy's pancakes, the conversation that took place was priceless. They started discussing nationalities. Between these 7 girls the following countries were represented : Barbados, England, Australia, South Africa, Portugal, England, Spain, France, Scotland, Cayman, Colombia, Nicaragua and Jamaica! What a wonderful little melting pot we live in. A field trip to the "magical pond" in Barkers, more pool time and general girly fun (nails, hair, fashion shows), the excitement finally came to an end at 1pm on Saturday afternoon.

THE CAYMANITES GET SUPPORT WALKING FOR A CURE

Saturday October 2nd, 2010. Hosted at the Lighthouse Restaurant http://www.lighthouse.ky , friends and family came out to support The Caymanites with the upcoming Walk for a Cure in Tampa, FL on October 29 - 31. Over 70 women enjoyed a delicious menu created by The Lighthouse, and the afternoon was filled with love, laughter, and a few tears when survivors and those touched by breast cancer were recognised. The afternoon was a huge success. The 12 women of The Caymanites continue to train and inspire each other as we make this last push towards our ultimate goal. The blisters and long hours of training are worth the bonds and friendships that have formed on this journey.

SEPTEMBER

SUMMERTIME FUN

AUGUST 2010 Gokarting with David's cousins and lazy days of summer with family and friends.

BECK'S VISIT ON A CRUISE SHIP

JULY 14TH. My college roommate, Michelle, and her family visited Cayman on a cruise ship. Though their time was too short with us, we had enough time to take them to swim with the stingrays. Dylan was brave enough to feed the rays. Chad was a little more cautious!

ATLANTA

JUNE 30 - JULY 6 A quick trip to Atlanta during the move into our house was just the break we needed. In GA for Rachel's 40th birthday celebration hosted by Steven, we enjoyed a concert in Chastain Park (REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar - gotta love the 80's), a day on Lake Lanier on Ragamuffin, a fabulous party for the birthday girl at the Buckhead Club, and a 4th of July bbq and fireworks. Such a fabulous week of celebration before we had to return to reality of boxes and bubble wrap.