Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Thank you all for enduring through all my photos. There were just so many that I loved and since I don't write in a journal this is like one for me. I hope you enjoyed all the pictures as much as I do.

Old San Juan Fort



I love this picture!

Standing in front of the entrance at the second fort
I'm thinking of redoing my boys room like this. What do you think?

Second fort in the background



Me standing in one of the many lookout towers








The Old San Juan Fort. My boys would have loved this.

Joe rock climbing on the ship


Another beautiful sunset

A sand crab Joe caught for everyone to torment


Leaving Barbados



Crane beach in Barbados






Joe & I at Orient beach. You have to love those finger shots




Sunset at sea


The Grand Pitons in St. Lucia
Leaving St. Lucia



Looking up 9 stories inside the ship


Looking down 9 stories


The beach at St. Lucia





















St. Lucia
Joe playing with the camera


I couldn't post all my pictures without including one of these


Leaving St. Lucia






Antigua






Getting ready to board the huge cafeteria.







Formal night

St. Thomas

Our cruise ship






Joe & I at the overlook on St. Thomas
Trunk Bay



Water Taxi ride to St. John's

San Juan







CARIBBEAN

Gotta love those muster drills.
Joe and I just got back from a 7 day Southern Caribbean cruise. We had a blast! It was nice to get away just the two of us and get a break from reality.
On Friday we flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico. After spending the night there we left in the afternoon to catch our boat. Before leaving the Hotel and boarding our shuttle bus the entertainment show started. While waiting to board the bus there was a homeless man, supposedly, that kept approaching people in our group for money or trying to sell other items, if you know what I mean. The Taxi drivers told him to stop hassling us. When he did not and continued to remain there one of the taxi drivers decided to take it into his own hands and punched him. He hit him so hard he fell to the ground.
I thought that would be enough for the man to leave. Whatever he was high on overcame him and he kept trying to go after the taxi driver. Even taking it to the extreme and grabbing a beer bottle out of the garbage can. He then proceeded to go after the taxi driver with the bottle. That is when all the other fellow drivers stepped in to protect the one and the guy decided he had had enough and staggered down the street. It was quite the way to start out our vacation.
Our first stop was St. Thomas where we took a taxi, then a water taxi and last another taxi to get to St. John's. We went to a beach called trunk bay. They have a marked snorkel trail around a little island in the ocean. It was a relaxing day to just snorkel and lay on the beach. There were a few small rain storms and they moved out as quickly as the moved in.
Second was St. Maarten and we took a taxi over to Orient Bayon the French side. You have to understand that there are 3 dress codes on this beach. One end is fully clothed, the middle is partial clothes and the other end is completely naked. Of course we went to the fully clothed side. But, it did not matter there were still lots of topless women and men to be seen. Upon arriving at the beach we witnessed an elderly couple only wearing sandals and thongs. Their thongs were more like strings. When they say you are going sight seeing that is not what I had in mind.
Third day we spent in Antigua. Beautiful island to bad we didn't have more money. We spent the day walking around the island. We even found the Branch office for the church.
Fourth day was St. Lucia. Again beautiful but did not get to see much. We slept in and then took a taxi to a beach. There were lots of sand crabs & garbage to be found. The beach was not very clean so we crossed over some rocks into a cleaner one. To find out it was an exclusive beach for the sandals resort. One of the locals on the beach told us if we wanted to get a drink to go sit at the bar and order. With it being an all inclusive resort they would think you were one of their guests.
Fifth and final island was Barbados. This island was the cleanest of all of them and the beach was amazing. The sand is pink and it is so fine it is like flour. It was my favorite out of all of them. The only downside is that I got a really bad sunburn even though I applied sunscreen. I wasn't the only one. There were a lot of people that got burned that day. We heard someone say that the sun was a lot more intense on that day.
Last day was a day at sea and I spent most of the day recovering from the sun, applying lotion to my sunburn and trying to walk without too much pain.
Saturday we arrived back in San Juan and since our flight did not leave till later that afternoon we went and toured the Old San Juan fort. It was amazing to see how large it was and to think it was built that long ago. I could not imagine those soldiers keeping watch so that pirates would not invade.
After 9 hours in the air we arrived safely home late Saturday night. It was a great week and I miss the warm weather already.

AMERICAN IDOL 2008

Watch out American Idol I have some of the next winners. Rylee loves to get his microphone, did I mention it doesn't work, and belt out anything he can. He likes to have music playing in the background but he doesn't follow it. I finally caught him with 2 of his brothers singing Sponge Bob. I don't know how they know the song because we don't have cable and never watch the show. It just goes to show you kids will do and say what they want!

HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS

Christmas morning started around 7:30 for us. My kids have never been ones to get up real early on Christmas and I thank them for that. Santa did come to our house although I think a few of my kids probably deserved coal. I guess all children deserve something.

Tyler had an orange Christmas. He received an orange chair, watch, tie, shirt and even a chocolate orange. Can anyone guess his favorite color?

Brayden received a science kit, Legos, books, rolling pin (yes he loves to help me in the kitchen) & too many others to mention.

Kaleb received a monster bank to store all his many riches in, a blanket & some really cool building magnets.

Last but not least Rylee received blankets, books, trucks (his favorite) & a phone he carries with him everywhere. I think he is trying to be like his Dad.

As for Joe and I we had a great Christmas and tried to keep it simple. We loved seeing the joy and excitement on our kids faces Christmas morning. I hope all of you had a great Christmas as well.










Rylee

Lilypie 4th Birthday PicLilypie 4th Birthday Ticker

Kaleb

Lilypie 6th to 18th PicLilypie 6th to 18th Ticker

Brayden

Lilypie 6th to 18th PicLilypie 6th to 18th Ticker

Tyler

Lilypie 6th to 18th PicLilypie 6th to 18th Ticker

Songs