Aruba

Beware, this is a very, very long post with lots and lots of pictures!  Turn back now if you think you might get bored. 

This past November Dave and I were unexpectedly blessed with a six day trip to Aruba.  Amazingly, it took place over our anniversary and I finally got my long awaited honeymoon. 

Kohler Equipment was awarded this trip by Kawasaki Engines for being in the top twenty dealerships in the country. Graciously, Gary and Terry gave the trip to us. 

Neither one of us had passports and Dave realized he never owned an official birth certificate, so begins the scramble to obtain them.  Boy was I in a panic, I really, really, wanted to go to Aruba. Yes, I was totally freaking out. 

Then to figure out what to do with the kids, that's kind of a big one.  So I asked my stepmom Marilyn and my Dad, (Grandma and Grandpa) if they would like to spend a week with the kids.  Of course, the answer was yes.

This was the view from our hotel room that awaited us when we arrived Tuesday afternoon.  Absolutely stunning!  The weather was 82 degrees, hot, humid and the sun extremely intense. 

Very neat pool with a swim up bar.  This pool was shaded by the tall swaying trees in the picture above.  The water was almost bath water warm,  not exactly refreshing when you're hot.  On our way to breakfast in the morning, people would already be lounging by the pool.  Even though we didn't, guests were permitted to put their towel on a lounge chair at 7am.

The beige and silver colored bands wrapped around the trees were to prevent the iguanas from climbing and destroying them. 

These adorable creatures were everywhere, walking around the pool, crossing our path.  This particular one was being fed by everyone around the pool. 

One of the many docks where you could partake in any number of activities.  Yes, the water truly is turquoise blue and the sand is remarkably white, clean and very soft.  Being a coral island, the sand does not become hot as coral does not absorb heat. 

We stayed at the Marriott Resort which is the u-shaped white hotel in the middle. The yellow hotel to the left, which is in the process of being built, will be the last luxury high-rise hotel on the island.  The beaches were fairly full during the day, but come dark, they become completely deserted.  I thought this to be a little odd, as I assumed people, mainly honeymooners, would want to walk the beach under the moonlight, it was so beautiful and romantic. 

So ... I asked a cab driver, who by the way, drive like lunatics.

I asked curiously, "Why are the beaches empty at night?  It would be so pretty, but there's no one."

Without hesitating, she replied in her strong Aruba accent, "Do not walk the beach at night. Especially with your wallet on you.  Stay with your husband."
I promptly said, "OK."

La Trottoria, an Italian restaurant situated at the base of the California Lighthouse on the northwest end of the island. The view was truly breathtaking, as it overlooked the island and ocean. A perfect location!  Reservations were made for five in the evening as to be able to watch the sunset. Just beautiful!

We met Doug and Denean at the Welcome Reception on the first night.  They invited us to join them for dinner at La Trottoria.  We pretty much spent the rest of the week together, I'm sure they were sick of us.

The view from our table on the patio at the restaurant. 

On Thursday we took a Jeep Safari Excursion with the Kawasaki group to the Natural Bridge and Natural Pool.  It was a great way to navigate the island without a map. Although when it was over I told Dave I really needed to go to the chiropractor.

The California Lighthouse was the first stop on the Jeep Excursion.  Here you could purchase a coconut with a hole drilled in the top, then fill it with a drink of your choice.  Not for me though, I can't stand coconut flakes. I am my father's daughter.

The story goes, fishermen from hundreds of years ago would discover great fishing spots.  They would then pile rocks in order to find the location again.  Soon it became a tradition for anyone who visited Aruba.

The north end of the island is a stark contrast from the south side. The northeast coast, while exposed to the Atlantic, has extremely rough seas with treacherous currents and a rocky coastline.  Lots of steep cliffs everywhere on the North side.

 

Several who have seen this picture comment,"Wow, you are really sunburned on your face." 

 

Actually I'm not burned.  It's dirt!  Yep, dirt from riding in the four-wheel drive jeep. 

 

Mental note: Next time get in jeep number one, not jeep number four. 

After returning from the jeep excursion we took a leisurely walk down the beach to find a late lunch.  We stopped at a small restaurant  located at the end of one of the docks.  Dave, for the first time ordered ceviche, which is a dish of raw seafood marinated in a citrus sauce. I'm boring, I ordered shrimp cocktail.

My Man! Lunch on the dock.

Another view from the hotel. These huts could be reserved in the evening for the following day and they were always full. 

 

Dave surprised me with dinner on the beach at Simply Fish for our anniversary.  Again, the view was spectacular.

Please excuse the no makeup!  I should have known, it was our anniversary. Again, another picture of me holding my hair because of the wind.

 

The pool at 7pm, when everyone leaves to go out on the town for the evening. 

Kawasaki top twenty group the last evening.

The view every evening. 

 

I cannot even come close to adequately describing what a fabulous time we had.  I loved every moment and every second of our five nights and six days in Aruba.  I would go back in a heartbeat.

And The Winner Is .........

RACHEL!!!

I am one proud and excited mama right now. 

Rachel's Classical Conversations Challenge B class participated in a Science Fair several weeks ago.  Anxiously waiting we finally heard the results this week in class.  You guessed it, she won!!!!!  And yes, I cried.  She was so embarrassed.

Her project was titled, This Battery Is A Lemon. 

The project examined whether or not one lemon can produce enough voltage to light a 10mm LED bulb, when using a penny, galvanized nail, copperwire and alligator clips.  Though the hypothesis was proven wrong the 10mm did light up with a combination of four lemons and two oranges. 

Science Fair Day

All I can say is, thank you Lord for Daddy and Grandpa.  Rachel couldn't have done it without their many, many hours of help. 

The Most Random Pictures Found On Our Computer

Posted by Rachel

I was looking through photos on my computer and my mom's and I came across some odd pictures. I will share a few, but there are just too many to post them all, my computer would probably overload.

This was taken in December of 2010. Elise was three and she already knew how to put a doll sweater on her head!

We are in Utah in June of 2010. Elise has just polished off her Fat Boy.

Little hands and little feet, God made children oh so.... sticky?

My cousin Missy demonstrating how lambs are beheaded. Long story and that's a post for later.

 

 

No, Missy is not trying to help me up, she is trying to push me OVER. I spilled water on her notebook and this is what I get. Just a little tiny drop of water.

 

I'm not sure what I'm doing here, but Missy has her pouting face on. 

 

I'm actually not sure what this is.

 

Elise looks like a grasshopper.

 

Wow. Just wow.

 

 

I hope you've enjoyed my nutshell of crazy pictures! Most of them are of Elise, she is our clown! Even though most of us are afraid of clowns, especially my mom and Joseph (not me though, for the record).

Thirty Something

At some point this past week I turned thirty something. 

Elise keeps asking me if I can still drive.  Not sure what that means. 

Dave never fails to let me know I am one year away from being halfway to my death.  Not sure how to take that one either. 

Clearly, I'm giving away my thirty something age.

On my special day I was blessed with my favorite seafood marinara for dinner, which Dave cooked, from scratch.  Delicious!

Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.

Lots of cards.

A beautiful picture frame from my best friend, Keri. Thank you Ker! 

Thank you all for the many text messages, emails, and phone calls. 

I am soooo loved!

DollBaby turns 14!

Here we are celebrating another birthday in the Gay household.

Rachel turns 14 today and never forgets to remind me that she will be able to obtain her learner's driving permit at 15 years and 6 months.  I then remind her it's not about age but maturity.  "Yeah whatever Mom," she replies, with the added effect of eye rolling.  Then turns around and asks when can she get an iPhone. 

Since the beginning of time (all of 14 years) Grammy has called her "Dollbaby" and it has stuck ever since.   Rachel has blossomed into a beautiful young lady and she is now taller than I am at 5' 6''. 

When did this happened?  Of course it happened this past year when I blinked. 

Summer 1999 at Cedar Shores Condo

School pictures 2006. Love those blue eyes.

Frisco, NC 2012

Rachel sighting in her new .243 rifle.

 

Happy Birthday Dollbaby!  You are so precious to us and we love you so much.

My Favorite Son Turns Eleven

It's that time again.  Birthdays with Christmas right around the corner. 

It seems like yesterday that Joseph jumped into the world of double digits and here we are, already another year and turning 11.

Joseph is a ball of energy that NEVER stops. Always has a question to ask and a comment to give.  He is growing into such a wonderful handsome young man who can not wait to be taller than his big sister. 

This year I let him pick out three of his favorite pictures and I chose the last one.

Halloween 2006

With Puppy, aka Charlotte in 2009

Of course we have to show-off what we received for Christmas 2009

Joseph could stand here for hours and hours, and he did.  Frisco, NC

 

Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy!

50 Things That Make Me Smile

Posted by Rachel

 Things That Make Me Smile

 

International Coffee House Delight in French Vanilla

Christmas

Gummy Bears

Cape Hatteras

Piranhas Swim Team

Olympic Sized Pools

Snow Days (yes, I LOVE snow)

Texting

Reading

Land's End Down Coats

Making Earrings

 Smells of Christmas

Bonfires

Hallmark Christmas movies

Ballroom Dancing

Championship Swim Meets

Pedicures

Cedar Shores Condos

Fish Tail braids

Playing Pranks with my cousin

Root Beer

Trampolines

Junior High Adventures in Ministry (I'll post on that later)

Ice Skating

Massanutten Indoor Water Park with my whole Youth Group

My cousin Missy

Changing my Aunt's clock in the middle of the night, only to find out she was awake

My Aunt short-sheeting my bed, because we changed her clock

ASentenceWithoutSpaces

New notebooks

Trying to talk my dad into paying for my future Aruba Wedding

Fun House Mirrors

Sweet Frog

Allowance

Spinach Pizza

Trying to find my dorm at JAM

 Trying to learn to use chopsticks

 Made up words

The smell of popcorn

Frosty the Snowman

Dutch Braids

Being an angel in Follow the Star

Figuring out my Christmas present

Christmas Eve
Elise singing "If I Die Young"
My dad
My new .243
Venison Tenderloin
Painting Christmas decorations for church
Thinking of Eternity in Heaven


 



Fifteen Years Ago

This month Dave and I will celebrate fifteen years of marriage.  Let's take a look back in only fifteen pictures.  Trust me, it was difficult to choose. 

Yes, I look like a baby, and at 18 I was.  All dressed up for Halloween 1992. 

Dave has yet to put on his costume ... he was a woman. 

Dave clothed in his Marine Corps uniform, 1992.

All I know is we are in Crystal City, VA, 1993 and I'm wearing a pink sweater tucked inside navy blue corduroy stretchy pants.  Remember it was 1993.

Wedding Day at Emmanuel Baptist in Manassas, VA.  November 8, 1997.

 

This picture makes everyone laugh.  Clearly, I'm already barking orders at Dave.  He's such a lucky guy.

Obviously, we didn't waste anytime procreating, so life quickly begins as a parent.  Here Rachel is barely 24 hours old, December 1998.  For the first four months of her life Dave called her "the Kid".  I finally looked at him one day and said, "Her name is Rachel."

Dinner at Marco Polo for Bob and Margaret's 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1999.

 

Christmas 1999.

Dave was best man at his best friend George's wedding in 2001.

Little did I know, Joseph would look like this for the first three months of his life.  December 2001. And yes I had two babies in December. 

Our niece, Susan's wedding in 2003.

 Another Christmas card opportunity. I can't get over the white tights I'm wearing.  What was I thinking?  Sheer?  Nude?  Anything is better than white tights.

A night out at Logan's Roadhouse with my brother Mike and his family in 2002.  The painted woman in the background always makes me laugh.

Frisco, NC 2012

 

Our silly family picture we always take the last night of our vacation, 2012.  Of course Dave has to totally freak me out with his Tom Petty look. 

 

Happy Anniversary,  I love you!

Five Years, Five Pictures

Elise turns five today.
Five!  I can't believe it.
She's not a baby anymore.  No more crib. No more diapers.  No more packing up diaper bags.  No more spit-up all over me.

I do miss being able to hold a tiny, sleeping, baby, yet I revel in the fact that it is becoming a bit easier to go places.  Gone are the days of packing multiple bags to make sure we had everything for every scenerio possible. 

Elise is such a joy to our family.  She is silly, goofy, sweet, and best of all, she makes us laugh so hard. 

When asked what she wants for birthday she said, "Gum, tape, and dark chocolate."

Here she is at 4 months prepared for surgery at Children's Hospital.  Love those eyes!

I know, I know!  The fourth child to suck on their fingers.  As someone at Grace Church said,"It must be a genetic thing."

This is my all time favorite picture of Elise.

As always, goofing off in Bethany Beach.

A day at the beach in Frisco, NC.

 

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

The Butter Show

Posted by Rachel

Hello everybody.
In the beginning of time, in June 2012, my cousin and I created a video. Usually when we get together we make ridiculous videos of us being ridiculously silly. We decided to put this one on YouTube. The video was made to mimic a certain someone, should I say, a certain chef who is in love with butter.

Check this out.
Enjoy.
We are open to more suggestions for videos.  We will continue going by the screen names Paula and Marg.