5 Year Trip - Part 2

My husband isn't really one who loves to just "lay out" on the beach all day like I can.  

He gets a bit antsy.  So, one day he planned something for us.  I was just along for the ride.

It turned out to be great and quite an adventure.    

We rented a jeep for the day.  Got a map, found 3 places on the island we wanted to go visit (we only ended up making it to 2), and we were off!  I wish I had a picture of the map because it wasn't super helpful.  Lets be honest, I haven't used a map lots (considering our phones and the internet tell us how to get anywhere), but I can use them.  However, this wasn't your typical map.  It looked more like roads on a board game with pictures of traffic lights, stop signs, and landmarks to get you places.  At times, the board game map made it easier and at times made no sense at all. 

Oh yea, and we (John) drove on the wrong side of the road.  Steering wheel on the right too.  

We were doing great, cruising along the coast for about 30 mins.  All of a sudden, we realized our last turn didn't seem right as the road was quickly becoming dirt and rocks.  But, when we made that turn we were also now behind another jeep that we were not previously following.  The jeep in front stops and the guy gets out of the car and comes to ask us where we are headed.  I think he immediately knew we didn't know where we were headed.    

We tell him English Harbor and he quickly says, "No, no follow me."  He points up to an antenna on the highest peak of a mountain I can see and says, "That is where I am headed."  John was in heaven at this point.  One of his favorite things about traveling is meeting locals and going where locals like to go.  So, I didn't even have to ask if we were going to follow this guy or not. 

Turns out he was right.  Following him was worth it and the view was incredible.  Behind us and down below in this pic was English Harbor (where we were trying to go originally).  

Our new local friend then gave us some good directions and sent us to this spot to eat lunch on our way to the beach for the afternoon.

We spent the rest of the afternoon here, at Half Moon Bay.  There used to be a resort here, but it was washed away in a hurricane many years ago.  Now, it is deserted, but is considered a great public beach spot. The whole day was perfect for cruising the island, hanging out at the beach and discovering other new places and people.        

I really cannot put into words or pictures how much fun we had on this trip.  It always comes and goes too quickly.  We are so grateful for the time and opportunity to be able to do something so special. 

Now, we cannot wait for our 10 year trip!  

5 Year Trip - Part 1

If you know us or have read this blog for a while, then you know we love to travel.  Pretty much anywhere too.  We also love surprises and we like to celebrate special occasions.

We traveled a lot our first couple years of marriage.  One of those trips being a ski trip for our 1st anniversary.  On that trip, we came up with this idea.  We decided we wanted to take a big trip every 5 years of marriage.  We could do something smaller scale on the other years, but if possible, try to take several days to getaway and go to a place we have never been on the bigger years.  We also alternate who plans our anniversary celebration each year.  That way we can each take turns planning and surprising the other.  So, John plans the even years and I plan the odd years.      

Well,  last February was our 5 year anniversary.  My year to plan our first big trip!

We decided to do our trip in the summer because Annie was only two months old in February. 

So, a few weeks ago we spent 6 days in paradise at CoCo Bay.  CoCo Bay is in Antigua and it was exactly what we wanted for this trip.  We like small places that are not huge touristy resorts with tons of people.  There were probably only 45 or so people at CoCo Bay and mostly European.  

We love to travel with people from all over.  

It was a little harder to take this trip than I expected.  I know you are thinking, "how hard can it be to go vacation on an island for 6 days?"  Logistically, it was crazy preparing to leave the country and have everything taken care of for the girls for a week.  We leave our girls fairly often for weddings and others events, but this was different.  It was the longest trip and farthest and we didn't talk to them once except a few picture texts every couple days.   

Even though we missed the girls like crazy, it was so good.  

Good for me, for John, our kids, and most importantly, our marriage.  

No tv, no internet, no phones.  We each read 2 books, spent long days at the beach and poolside watching the sunset with absolutely no agenda and no idea what was happening anywhere in the world.   

The weather was great which is always a bonus when you risk traveling at the end of hurricane season.  I didn't prepare or clean up one meal for a week.  We were spoiled on homemade omelets and fresh fish everyday.     

I celebrated my 28th birthday while we were there as well.  And besides not seeing my girls, there was really nothing more I could have asked for that day.  

Since we were there  5 nights, each night at dinner we reminisced a year of our marriage starting with 2007.  A bit cheesy, yes, but it was something we really enjoyed.  It always brings us to a great place of perspective.  Showing us more gratefulness and blessings than we could imagine.  A look back at hard times where we didn't understand the Lord's purpose or plan in the moment, but now we can looking back.  

We stayed at CoCo Bay everyday, but one.  A few pics from that day to come in the next post.  

Sleeping updates, visitors, and preschool

I am nervous to even share this good news for fear I may be sticking my foot in my mouth.  But, I really appreciated all the tips and advice people shared and wanted to give an update.  

We are going on almost 3 straight weeks of back to normal sleeping for C!

In the bed, door closed, lights out (night light on).

She still wants to know exactly where we will be when she is sleeping, but something all of sudden made her feel more comfortable.  We did put a child lock on the door handle of the inside of her room so she can't open the door.  I really thought this would scare her more, but we told her about it, and even "practiced" showing her how it worked one afternoon.  She would go in her room and and try to open it and realize she couldn't.  Then, we would open the door and tell her we are right here and can open it if you need something.   Maybe it worked, maybe not, but I can tell you we are not changing anything right now!  

We also got a kids clock that sits by her bed.  Through the night it is a picture of a cow sleeping (also serves as a nightlight).  We set it for 7am and at 7 another picture lights up of the cow awake, dancing and sun is up.  So, C knows if she wakes up and the cow is still sleeping it is not time to get up.  It makes no noise though so incase she is still sleeping at 7 it doesn't wake her up.   She LOVES it and loves to call for us and say, "Mommy, Mommy the cow waked up!" 

Needless to say, we LOVE the cow too! 

In other news, Matt and Natalie came in town for a couple nights in late August to visit.  

We loved having them here! 

Caroline thought Matt was so funny and I think Matt thought C was pretty silly too.

Baby Davis is here!

Davis DiCristina was born August 27.

He is precious and his momma is a champ!

C started preschool this week - wearing big girl undies everyday and being dropped off/picked up in carpool too.  Where did my baby go? 

We love, love, love her sweet preschool. 

When I picked her up today, she asked if she was going to school tomorrow.  I told her not until Tuesday (even though she has no idea how many days away that is) and she responded with, 

"I will be so excited when it is Tuesday!"     

And it has been great to have some mornings with just this adorable munchkin.  She is melting my heart more everyday.  Cannot believe she will be 9 months next week!

Erin's Weekend

A few weeks ago we had a fun girls weekend to celebrate the latest bride-to-be, Erin.  

I love this girl.  

She brings fun, spunk, and craziness anywhere she goes, so her bachelorette party did not disappoint. 

We give her a hard time about her love and obsession for all these technology.  

Which made for a social media themed bachelorette party.   

Of course, there was plenty of the usual lounging pool side and coffee drinking mornings as well.  

We wanted to make sure all the best apps were included.

Our latest favorite...

Instagram photo booth.

Skyping with Mel and sweet baby Catherine in HK.

And the usual Sunday brunch before we have to depart and say our goodbyes.  

So happy for Erin and Bubba and thrilled to celebrate them even more at the end of the month!

End of Summer

Here are some phone pics to capture most of August

 We spend a lot of days at the pool in August.  I love it because it is never crowded.  

Farmer's Market 

Big kids...

and little ones

Annie and Graham 

These little ones are about 9 days apart.  Graham's mommy was my pregnancy buddy.

A trip to the Aquarium

My grandmother and C 

One of my favorite pictures - Caroline loves my grandmother

These girls love their Daddy.  I love him too!  Have I mentioned he kept both girls all BY HIMSELF this weekend! 

Sunday evening pool time, pizza, and pjs.  Does it get any better?

Is this a potty in the back of my car? Why, yes it is.

Necessary at times? Yes.

Redneck? Yes.

8 months

We are loving this sweet and smiley 8.5 month old! 

Lots of changes since her 7 month post. 

Annie has two teeth now.  

She started crawling about a week before she turned 8 months and she is all over the place.   

She had her first high fever 2 weeks ago when she got roseola for a few days.  

She is trying so hard to pull up on anything.  I did walk in her room one day after a nap and she was standing in her crib, but hasn't happened again since.  

Still eating baby food 3x a day and 4 bottles a day.  Started on puffs and some cheerios as well.  

This girl is still LOUD.  She squeals and makes it known she is around if she needs some attention.  

We love seeing more and more personality everyday though.  

Ok, ready to jump off this chair now!

Matt's Homecoming

This time last week my brother, Matt, returned from an 8 month long deployment.  He flies for the Navy and has been on the USS Lincoln.  This deployment was only supposed to be 5 months, but was extended another 3 months from May.  I had not seen him since November (when I was exactly 4 weeks away from having Annie).   And he left exactly 1 week before she was born.  So, it really felt like he was gone a long time this go around!

First sighting of the ship!

The homecoming was in Norfolk, VA.  Thanks to my rock star sister-in-law, Natalie, I used a buddy pass and flew up for a very quick 24 hours to join the celebration. 

These pictures do not do justice for how enormous the ship is.  Puts a cruise ship to shame.  Typically, there are 20ish jets on the deck as well, but those had all been flown back to the west coast.  

Natalie (below) getting excited as we see the ship

This was quite a moment when the ship finally pulled in, sailors seeing the crowds, American flag is flying, patriotic music playing, and families shouting with excitement to see their loved ones. 

This is really an event everyone should attend at some point in their lives.  Even if you never have a friend or family member to welcome home, it is an incredible picture of the sacrifices these men, women, and families make for our country.  While we waited to see Matt, it was amazing to watch all these families reunite with their dads, spouses, etc.  We were just in tears seeing the happy occasions.   

Natalie and her mom 

Matt up on the deck waving!

The sign Caroline made for him 

Welcome home brother!

The welcome home crew

G, mom, Natalie, me, and Debbie

Matt's friends who were there too.

A wonderful celebratory dinner all together that night!

So glad I was able to be a part of this special day.