Just a Dream

It did feel like a dream because it was weeks ago, but we actually took a real vacation, not to Utah!* Around December, Travis came home and told me that he could take a week off of work in February.

This is what I thought...

February? February in Missouri is awful. We have to go somewhere! But where? Utah? No, lets try something new. Some place nice and warm. Hawaii?

Enter Sid and Tam.

I know its kind of spoiled of me, but when I got the idea I just thought for a minute. Sid and Tam have time shares, they have time (sort of), they love their grandchildren, and they were going to come out at the end of January for Brooklyn's birthday anyways, so really I would be doing them a favor by not making them come to freezing, icy Missouri. 

When my Mom answered the phone I just threw the idea out there in a joking tone to see what she thought. The seed was planted. After doing a little bit of research and finding great deals, our destination vacation came true.

Nassau Bahamas

It was wonderful. 

Our vacation consisted of 4 main things

1) The beach

Getting ready was half the fun

This was their first time meeting the ocean

And this was her first beach time out

I wish I could have a beach time out

She loved it and said she wanted to move to a pink house on the island

And then they discovered the sand

Avery wanted to build a castle with her dad. I left to go get some lunch and this is what I came back to.

I didn't know that I married an architect

Beachin' it was a blast. Brooklyn gave it her all

And we took advantage of Subway's $7 foot long special. Jeez!

And my Mom took advantage of this man in a speedo. 

 She is such a perv.

Avery discovered that sand gets EVERYWHERE!

2) Sid and Tam

They were a hoot. Mom, I don't know why, but I just have to make fun of you all of the time when I'm around you. Sorry. And Dad, you are hilarious to play games with. I thought you two were going to file for a divorce after teaching us that one game. We had so much fun with you two. Our girls adore you. And Mom, Avery keeps talking about King Triton's jewels. We love you.

3) Uncle Wes

This is so random! When we found out we were going to Nassau, we called Trav's brother, Wes. He works one week out of the year in Nassau. It so happened that his trip was planned for two weeks after we were there. He made a few calls (and practically moved Heaven and Earth) and arranged it so he would be there while we were there. This is a shout out to his 8 month pregnant wife and their 2 year old son. Thank you for letting him come. We know that he had to neglect you so that he could make this happen. And I promise he worked a little bit while he was here! Wes, we saw all the hoops you had to jump through so you could be with us. You are the greatest!

This man made our trip amazing. He knew the ins and outs, the people, the secrets of the island and he even let us know where we could go and not get mugged. Thanks brother in law.

4) The Adventures

Besides beaching it and being lazy, we felt like we needed to venture around the island 

Our future home. Only $3 mil

We celebrated my birthday

Birthday breakfast

You really have to watch Brooklyn these days

Birthday dinner

We spotted a shark swimming right behind us, meanwhile, we saw a man unknowingly swimming towards that shark and while we were trying to warn the man, we may or may not have lost Avery for a minute. Don't worry, we found her knocking on some one's bungalow. 

Wes has friends in high places on this island, so we got hooked up with basically free day passes to Atlantis 

and I got a wedgie going down this slide, almost an atomic one I think

We saw their famous aquarium

While at Atlantis, Brooklyn discovered that she loves raisins

And feeding them to the birds

We had good times

And not so good times at Altantis

And the best day, hands down, of our trip was the day that Wes's friend let us take his boat and his other friend came as our tour guide (side note: the friend's name is Shawn, he was Pierce Brosnan's body double in 007). He took us to secret snorkeling locations and a private beach. Seriously Wes, how can we ever repay you? Oh wait, I did when I let you beat me on a foot race on the private beach. I'm getting closer to beating your "A." I think another 5 years and you're done for.

PS the island was totally secluded minus the 60 year old nudist couple... Awesome

our island

Before

After

Maybe I should get a noise maker with beach sounds, it seems to work

I know I have used this word a lot, but all I can think of is wonderful.

A couple of things we learned on this trip

1) Milk costs a lot on islands

2) Kids don't sleep in on vacations

3) No matter how many things you have packed on your carry on, there is never enough to entertain a 1 year old on an 8 hour travel event

4) Delta airlines hates customers who have children (that's a whole other post)

5) Never leave your carry on suitcase with your nice camera in the middle of the airport terminal in the Bahamas (we got it back, but sprouted a few grays)

6) Food tastes better on the beach

7) Going on vacation with loved ones is the best! I think we already knew that one though

THE END

*Utah, don't be offended or jealous, its just that sometimes we need to go other places.