Family Photos

Punta Cana Part Dos

We all got in our groove the last part of our Thanksgiving trip.  Mom got in her sunrises, sunsets, and full moon risings. Pop got in the pool, we took in shows and enjoyed the island life. We had amazing weather and we were all very happy with our resort choice - reserve was the way to go - nice, big rooms, kids zone care included, and less people at the restaurant, the pool, and our exclusive part of the beach. 

Wednesday was family pictures and dinner at Ventó for the adults and older kids. Thursday, Jaima and I took a sushi making tips session with Mom and Dad before we all ate “Thanksgiving lunch” at the beach buffet. Then the entire family went to the beach with some napping and some playing in the waves. The older boys did paint ball in the mangroves while the younger boys enjoyed kids zone and adults had happy hour at the pool. We ate at Bana for our family and the Geisert family and then took in the Lion King show. It was cheesy, but it was fun to see staff from the day in the performance. We played cards in the lobby which was fun and something all ages can do. 

On Friday (which also happened to be our niece’s birthday), we booked a snorkeling and natural pool boat trip which was the highlight for many and also fun that we could all do it together. We wrapped up the last day at the pool and dinner over at The Grille and then a Cirque type show on the beach under a full moon. Some exploding kittens in the bar wrapped up the day - and here we are - sittting in the plane in Punta Cana waiting for maintenance. Real life is here.😉

Sushi making 

Moon over the pool

Lion King 

Boat ride 

watching the cirque show on the beach 

Cirque show 

Cards before bed 

A few last minutes in the pool on Saturday morning 

Time for Christmas 

Da Boys

At the beach

So big 

Loving his shades 

Paradisus Punta Cana

Even though Marshall hates it, I always try to remember what we did on trips like these. And much like other trips, whether they are to the beach or the cabin, I still try to keep track even though many days are the same.  

In a nutshell, we had Saturday to chill before the rest of the family arrived (with a shuttle hiccup thanks to our flight hiccup). Sunday was time at the pool and the beach. Monday and Tuesday T-man and I were up earlier and had breakfast with the Marshall family and Nana and Pop. We then had time at the kid pool on Monday and the Punta Cana pool today. We ended up at the beach on Monday (T-man enjoyed the waves with Uncle Sean and Grant) and then a few of us went to the Naos buffet before I joined Marshall and D-man at the beach for some fun times in the waves. 

Sunday night was Fuego for Marshall, me, Jaima, and Cam and Aqua for some and Mole for others. Some of us ended up listening to live music and having drinks - it was fun! Monday was an adult only dinner at Bana. Tuesday was a split dinner as well, but each group enjoyed time at the foam party at each pool (kids did the teen club and had a good time). We also listened to music on the beach after dinner for a bit before playing some games and cards. And no vacation with 16 people is complete without illness- bug bites, stomach big, and tonight - poor T-man with fever and vomiting. Here’s hoping he is much better tomorrow. 

Cabana time 

Resort at night 

Sisters 

Beach time 

D-man on the beach 

Main pool 

Pool party 

Foam parties! 

Kid foam party 

Saxo beach 

 

Handsome boy 

Mi esposo guapo 


Mi familia 

Sometimes......

.....,...your mistakes work out. When I came home from work on Thursday, we discovered our Thanksgiving flight was actually a day earlier than I thought. After stressing out for a moment, we all spring into action. Stressful, but not as stressful as missing the flight....:: 

View from our $73 room 

With drinks! 

We made it! 

It’s Hard

Tonight was rough. I’m not gonna lie. Watching your child suffer (even when it is about 9th grade basketball) is terrible. You feel helpless. You feel upset. You feel sad. And your heart breaks because there is really nothing you can do or say in that moment that will help. And yet, you try. You try to say the right thing. You try to give encouragement. You try to make a joke.  You confirm that it really does suck. And you don’t tell them that it will be better or that in the bigger picture, it really isn’t that big a deal because that doesn’t help right now. You stumble. But you try. 

And you want to cry because you are hurting for your child, but you don’t. You wait to break down with your sister, your husband and your friend. You know that making the team is all your child wants in that moment (made even harder by the fact that all his friends made the team). And you know this is not the last disappointment we will have to deal with.  And you know this won’t be the last time you feel like this. But, you really wish it would be.  Cuz feeling like you can’t help your child is a terrible feeling. 

Birthday Mystery

We had a low key birthday celebration on Tuesday for Marshall as we had a lot of family things going on. Marshall and I enjoyed a before dinner cocktail and then we had a casual dinner once D-man got back from basketball. We opened presents and had birthday cake (with frosting made by the birthday boy). 

The entertainment for the day was someone (unknown number) sending Marshall a picture of a bumper sticker on his car (not appropriate to post).......which stumped Marshall all day. And even more mysterious? When he got back to his car, the bumper sticker was gone...... and yet, got a picture of it on the car again later that night...... still no answer as of the night of the 14th. Stay tuned! 

It’s gone! 

Birthday boy 

Happy birthday babe