La Paz

Port #3: La Paz  

We went snorkeling at "Los Isolotes".  It was a 1 1/2 hour boat ride to a little area where hundreds of Sea Lions lived.  We were able to snorkel/swim next to them!  It was definitely a highlight of our trip.  I took a bunch of pics with our cheapo underwater camera - some of them are ok!  A baby sea lion played with Shayne - even kissed him on the nose!  He also played with my flippers - it was like having a little puppy playing with us.

Shayne wasn't timid about touching this little guy - and the sea lion loved him!

He decided to play with me - I didn't dare touch him, but he loved my flippers (yeah, Shayne had flippers on too, but mine must have smelled better)

Mazatlan

Port #2: Mazatlan

We arranged to go on an excursion to "Stone Island" which in the end, is not an island at all.  It was a rather funny experience - they loaded us into a boat and we took a 45 minute boat ride (thinking we're going to a great island in the middle of the ocean) and we turn around and park the boat across the bay from the cruise ship.  Ahhhhhh, sweet memories.  We were guests at a little restaurant (the last picture) and had the option of two activities.  We chose horse riding and a banana boat ride.  The horse ride was more like donkeys, but still nice....  not quite the "black stallion on a beach image" I was daydreaming about! 

The banana boat ride was hilarious...  just see the below image of the "speed boat."  We spent the day on the beach, reading and relaxing.  

Puerta Vallarta

Port #1: Puerta Vallarta 

Excursion: Canopy Zip-Line  (why are all the companies called "canopy"?)  

The views were SPECTACULAR and the mosquito bites are STILL ITCHING (it's been over 9 days since that day... those are some mean mosquitoes).  Puerta Vallarta was very picturesque and beautiful. 

 

Heading off to Mexico

We boarded the Carnival Spirit in San Diego and then we were off for the Mexican Riviera.  We had 2 sea days on our way to the first port in Puerta Vallarta (I probably spelt those wrong).  Shayne won the basketball tourney (speed) and got himself a fancy medal.  We played miniature golf and basically relaxed to our hearts' content.  I read three books during this trip, plus I even learned and beat (it was an easy one) an Ipod game that Shayne wanted me to try.  I definitely had time on my hands and it felt AWESOME.

To go on a cruise...

First, hubby finds the deal of all deals (a Shayne-deal)

Second, make sure you have a support network to take care of those wee-ones while we are gone.

Then it's time to plan and prepare....

Shayne did all the homework on the ports and activities.  He booked several of the excursions prior to the cruise saving us as much as 75% off the cruise ship prices.... yeah, he rocks.  

Me, I made sure I had the grandparents schedules in-sync, got a few neighbors to pitch in too and honestly, I worried about making the schedules, coordinating rides, and having doctor information all ready if there were to be an emergency.  I made a great diagram of my "typical" week to help the grandparents see what they were in for and then I left my kids in their hands.  I knew they were loved, watched over, and they would enjoy the vacation from me as much as we needed one as Mommy/Daddy.  

Our phone service worked while in Mexico, but it would have cost an arm and a leg for 2 minutes of yapping.  So - no calls, just trusting all was fine unless they did call!  I don't remember relaxing this much, EVER.  

Now for the pics and recaps of our adventure... 

My grandparents

This past week, my granddaddy passed away.  He was my last surviving grandparent and he reached the ripe age of 95, I believe.  As I've been reflecting on my experiences with him and my grandmother, Meme, I can't help but to think about how each of my grandparents have been role models for me.  So, don't mind my rambling, but I wanted to write a few of these thoughts down.

Grandaddy:  He was a quiet man and when I think of him, the first word(s) that comes to mind is work ethic.  I've been told stories that he was a VERY hardworking man.  In fact, there's the tale of him being so sick that he couldn't go to work 1 day.  His secretary called and thought for sure he had died - this man NEVER missed work.  Diligent is another word that comes to mind - diligent to his career but also a very diligent father and husband.  I had opportunities to visit my grandparents as a teenager (they lived in Florida) and I remember him always reaching out and holding my grandmother's hand.  He alway had that gleam in his eye of true love.  I hope Shayne still looks at me that way after 60 years of marriage.

Meme:  FYI She didn't want to be "grandma" so her nickname was based on her first and middle name initials.  Meme was an incredible and AVID reader.  We use to get newspaper clippings from her in the mail - even as young kids.  I remember watching her read the paper daily and she could remember so much.  I want to be a thinker like she was - always aware of what was going on around her.  She was a brilliant woman.  I remember bringing a book with me during my spring break that I was suppose to finish before my return home.  I was enjoying the book and suggested she should read it too.  She asked if she could look at it as I was heading to bed.  The next morning she handed it back to me and said it was a very good book.  I was completely stupefied that someone could read a book that fast.  Maybe you'll think she stayed up late?  Nope, if you sat by her side - she'd have two pages read when I read one paragraph.  

Grandma: I got to know my Grandma best because she lived in SLC while I was attending BYU.  I tried to visit her as often as I could because I had never lived so close to a grandparent.  She was in poor health for the majority of my life and she passed away in 2002 - a few months before Hunter was born.  With all of her health issues, she NEVER COMPLAINED.  This is a hard example to follow - I know how to complain.  She never complained about anything.  She never talked bad about ANYONE and she always had a little chuckle as she talked.  One time I went to visit her in a health care facility - her kidneys were failing, her vision was gone, and she was struggling with so many other ailments.  When I walked into the room she said, "Lea, so nice to see you!  Well, it would be nice if I could see you!  Hee hee hee"  And not another word was said about what she was suffering.  She was a hoot.  Here's a picture of us together at my graduation.

Grandpa: He passed away when I was young but I've heard stories about him always stopping to help people.  He was the type of guy who couldn't pass someone in need of help without being the one to stop and offer.  I guess cell phones and scary murder stories have changed that kind of helpful mentality.  A story that stands out is one about him stopping to help a family while they were boating on Lake Powell.  They spent their afternoon helping another family with boat problems.  On their drive home, their car broke down and guess who ended up pulling over to help them?  The same family they had helped on the Lake!  The story got even better that he was an owner of Granite Furniture and helped my grandparents get their AWESOME teal, metal cupboards.  Those cupboards were classic.  (and I'm sure they were the coolest thing back in their day)

I'm grateful for each of my grandparents.  I'm especially grateful for the children they raised to become my parents.  Grandaddy, you'll be missed by your children, grandchildren and your great-grandchildren.  I'm sorry that you didn't get to meet Cole or Danny - I wish that could have worked out differently.  I remember you holding Hunter in your lap and you were such a sweet great-grandpa.  He made you laugh and you made him laugh.  It was priceless.  I'm grateful that you are now with Meme - your true love.  Your love story is something I should share another day - friends won't believe that story!  I'm certain that you are with her.  I send my love to my mom and her siblings at this time - wishing them comfort in the fact that life does continue after death.  We will be with him again.   

Book character day

The boys' school is part of the Jazz Reading Challenge this month.  Basically, we're counting EVERY SINGLE MORSEL of reading for the sake of reaching an all-time goal of 2 million minutes as a school.  Their school typically places in the top ranks of the competition and in the end, a Jazz Player will come and read with them and do some silly things (ie throw a pie at the principal).  To kick off the week, they had a "dress as your favorite book character day."  Hunter chose to be Harry Potter.  I think we pulled that off pretty good with just the attire in our closets and some paint for the glasses.  

Now, for the best part - Cole.  Cole insisted it was "pajama" day in his class.  I suggested it was "character day" just like Hunter said and every single newsletter I had read in the past 2 weeks - but no, he was adament that it was pajama day.  I pick my fights.
I went to school that morning with Cole because I was the assigned volunteer for that morning.  As we waited for the first bell at the playground, I mentioned "I don't see very many pajamas Cole."
Cole - that's because not many of these kids are in my class.
Next, we are ushered into the classroom.  NOT ONE OTHER KID has on PJ's and I'm watching Cole.  He notices quickly and slowly and slyly, he leaves his coat on and hunkers into his chair, almost hiding under the table.  The teacher asks kids to stand up to show their "costumes" since it was hard to know who was dressed up or not.  Cole kept his head down.
When it was time to leave for the assembly, the teacher asked Cole to hang up his coat.  He reluctantly did as he was asked - came back to the line - arms hugged tight to his chest and chin down.  IT WAS SO SAD!  and yet funny - I'm telling you - that kid was adament in his decision to wear his pj's.  As he left, I mentioned quietly - "if someone asks who you are, you can say you are Max from the book where the boy stays in his pajamas the whole time."  He kinda smiled and gave me an exasperated shake of the head....
When he returned from the assembly, he looked like he had the time of his life and well, he didn't care what he was wearing.
Is it wrong that I got such a laugh from this?

Sweet Georgia

I had the luxury of visiting my sister all by MYSELF!!  I was gone for 7 days and luckily, everyone survived.  Lara was concerned on day 1 though, every time I mentioned my kids names I started to cry... seriously, I was excited for the break... why was I a weeping willow?  So now for a few pics to remember the fun.

Lara's driveway... I arrived 2 days after the worst ice storm Atlanta has seen in FOREVER.  In fact, when Lara picked me up from the airport, 1 lane on the highway was still iced over.  Can you just ignore lanes when there are ice storms?  I understand that resources were limited and it's the south... but that was weird.

We headed south - just an hour or so - to visit the "Little White House" of F.D.R.  I knew nothing of this former president (except for his singing of "Tomorrow" on Annie) and it was a very enlightening excursion.

(that's the house in the background.... gosh, I almost missed it!)

There was a natural spring there (hence the town name, Warm Springs) and F.D.R. created a foundation and facility for victims of Polio.  The pools aren't filled anymore, but there were lots of exhibits to look at.  This one really caught my attention - the "IRON LUNG".

The "Iron Lung" helped those who couldn't breathe on their own - it was used for a matter of days, or a year, or some people had to sleep in it every night for the rest of their lives.  I'm grateful for modern day medicine - that looks horrific.  And I'm also grateful for the Polio vaccine.

 The pools - they still fill them on Memorial Day and Labor Day.  The water is a warm 83 degrees constantly and also filled with minerals that gave great relief to all who swam in it.

We visited a spot that F.D.R. liked to picnic at and look over the valley.  Wait, Valley????  There really are mountains in South Georgia.  Who knew?  (I didn't.)  It was very pretty... I wish I could visit in the Spring and see everything in bloom!

That weekend we went to Roswell to visit 3 old homes - plantation homes.  Well, they weren't "technically" plantation homes, considering they were townsfolk and only had slaves to manage the household.  One home had over 48 slaves just for the household - no wonder I'm always tired!  It's a lot of work to keep a house in order.  I had seen 2 of these homes before, but thoroughly enjoyed revisiting them.  The stories of slavery in the south really gets your blood boiling - there was a lot of hardship in those homes.
Can you imagine a nice bubble bath here tonight?

We had the honor of seeing the attic in one of the homes (no, it wasn't part of the tour).  Lara and Greg were convinced it was haunted based on 'factual' stories.  Sad to say, the tour guide informed them that the stories were not true.  Bummer - there were a couple of good ghost stories for this place!

This is the Smith Plantation home - actually the most plain and simple home of the three.  I'm sorry I didn't take a picture of the front of the other two.  I loved this house though... there's too much to write.  If you really want to hear about it, just ask, I'm sure to tell all I know.

The Smith home started tours in 1998 and ??? (I forgot her name!! ARGH!) was still living in the home caring for it.  Check out the stove - Shayne's grandma uses this same stove - today!!  Evidently, it's considered an antique.... when will my appliances become valuable again?

We took a golf-cart tour on Sunday evening.  It was almost warm.... almost.  In case you didn't know, EVERYONE in Peach Tree City owns a golf cart... it's the way to get around town.  Lara and Greg have named their newest addition "Obama" - Shayne still regrets we didn't take advantage of that government program that paid for high electric vehicles.  Can you imagine me driving my boys to school in a golf cart....  it just wouldn't work here.

Greg's fancy camera work - I was doing the driving.

On MLK day, we went to see a local parade.  We both got a little teary eyed when we heard the band coming down the street.... sweet memories.  One of the floats had people giving out candy... they didn't throw it to me, that gave it to me.  How nice.

I did a photo shoot for Miss La-La.  Isn't she beeeeautiful?

And I had to do something useful while I was there, I managed to break down the ice from Lara's side of the driveway.  It was NOT melting.  Maybe it would have the next week.  Lara did feel bad watching me - so she joined in on the fun.  It was my workout for the day.

Lara, I love you and I'm so glad I got to hang out with you!  Next time, I expect Atlanta to be WARM.  No more of this, "wow, this is the coldest it's every been" business.