I can finally breathe a sigh of relief because...

our HONEYMOON IS BOOKED!

Thanks to my so very gracious in-laws-to-be, we have a week of relaxation booked {aka: the down payment taken care of, but still have to pay for the rest of it} for the Couples Swept Away resort in Jamaica. I heard about this place through a patient at work {she's going there for her honeymoon this year, too!} and decided to look it up and oh.my.gosh!

It is pure honeymoon perfection.

I am most looking forward to being able to relax on that beautiful beach with my HUSBAND {holy cow, that sounds so good when I say it out loud!} without having to worry about anything except when to get up from my beach chair for another pina colada. {And I might not even have to worry about that because they give you a little flag to wave if you want a staff member to get you another drink or something to eat!}

We picked this resort because it seemed like the absolute best deal for us. It is 100% all inclusive {even the gratuities are included, so we don't have to worry about that!}. There are 6 restaurants, 8 bars (including a swim-up one!), 5 Jacuzzis, and 3 pools! There's even a massive fitness center and spa. Complimentary excursions include: a trip to Sunset Bar, a ride on a glass bottom boat, scuba diving, a sunset cruise, a trip to Margaritaville, and a shopping shuttle. It is going to be so. much. fun!

& the best part? This specific resort offers a Honeymoon Registry. So, instead of our wedding guests purchasing gifts from Target or Bed, Bath, & Beyond {that we don't really need because we already have an established home together} - they can help put money towards our honeymoon! How awesome is that?!

So... is it October yet? ;)

xo,

Sara

Turks and Caicos: Day 2

I figured that it was about time I finished up this whole vacation recap - that we took this past July... oops! Hey, editing pictures takes a longggg time, okay?! Okay. Here we go:

The morning of the second day of our trip, my sister and I had to wake up early to be at the marina in order to get on the boat for our first set of open water dives! Papa Ron was also up early to head out for his first day of scuba diving as well. Unfortunately, we did not take a single camera with us {because we no longer have an underwater camera that can go deep enough for diving, womp womp} and we just didn't think to bring one of the regular ones with us. I wish we would have, though, because that morning on our way out to the first dive site we saw JoJo, the dolphin! He's a MASSIVE dolphin that is local to the island and is always coming up to the boats to see who's aboard {he must love propellers because his whole head/back is scratched up from getting too close to them}.

Anyways, we had to do four open water dives to complete our scuba course and the first two were that morning. We didn't get much time to just explore the amazing-ness that is the Caribbean ocean floor that day because we spent the majority of the time underwater going over all of our techniques and lessons, etc.

While Jen, Dad, and I were all out diving - Peyton, Nick, and Gigi had a little adventure of their own and went out to the condo's private beach for a little fun in the sun.

 

We returned and scarfed down something to eat quick {diving and being out on a boat makes me surprisingly hungry!} before making our way down to the condo's pool for some relaxation time.

 

 

Relaxation time soon turned into naptime on the screened-in porch.

 

 

 

 

After all of the divers returned and some food made it's way into our bellies, we all high-tailed it back out to the beach and walked and walked and walked until we found a good spot to test out our tent and enjoy some snorkeling!

 

 

Look how tan my man is! Can you believe it? When we went to the Cayman Islands a few years ago, he was Casper-white. We both did a little pre-tanning this time so we were sure to NOT turn in to lobster-mobsters, ha.

 

*sigh* this view never gets old. NEVER.

 

Papa Ron attempting to set up the tent. The hat? The speedos? Our condo key secured around his neck so we didn't lose it?
Priceless.

 

A certain little someone cough*Peyton*cough, fell asleep on the beach while everyone was taking turns snorkeling. Therefore she was carried the whole way back home. Must be nice ;)

 

Me & Momma (the birthday girl!)

For dinner that evening we decided to head back out to the marina to a restaurant called Tiki Hut.



That bottom picture? Oh lord. I'm pretty sure she made that pose and then I just went with it, haha.

Papa Ron allowing Peyton to dance on tables while we waited for our food, ha.

Peyton picked a flower for my hair, of course.

I made everyone take a picture with their food. I believe I had a cuban panini and it was just "eh". Everyone else loved theirs, though!

After dinner, we hit up the grocery story to find a birthday cake suitable for Momma's big day!

 

And then we sang to her, of course :) -- sorry for the low quality picture below. I took it while I was also recording the whole sha-bang.

 

Love you, GiGi. To the Moon & back!

 

This concludes Day 2.



Turks and Caicos: Day 1

Soooo, it's been approximately 53409863094 days one month since we've gone on vacation... and I am just now getting around to re-capping our trip. Please forgive me? My procrastination knows no bounds. Seriously.

 

I have come to the conclusion that these recap posts are just going to be huge photo dumps, so I hope youre' ready! :)

This first one is going to be, well, all about Day Numero Uno!

I was so worried about how Peyton was going to do as a traveler. Since a good portion of our outings result in her wanting to be carried after five minutes or so. However, much to my surprise, she did AWESOME. She rolled her own suitcase everywhere we went. She even carried her own backpack {Boy, do I have a story about that darn backpack! But that's not til day 10}. I really don't think I could have asked for a more agreeable traveling toddler. Of course, she made friends where ever we went and reminded me constantly that she's "a big girl" and that she needed to "hand the lady my own passport... Where's my passport, mom?!"
 
The plane rides went SO smoothly with her. She slept for a portion of the flight from Charlotte to Turks and she had no issues whatsoever with pressure in her ears or having to sit still for two flights. THANK GOODNESS!
 

1// Headed to the shuttle at BWI. 2// Little girl in a BIG airport. 3// Handing the flight attendant her passport in Charlotte. 4// About to board! 5// Making friends with the airport staff :) 6// Taking off {she was mad that I wouldn't let her put her seat tray down yet}. 7// Watching them load up our plane before we took off in Charlotte. 8// Blue skies for daysss. 9// Taking a quick power nap.

We arrived on Provo. close to 2 or 3pm {I forget at this point}, hopped in our cab, and headed for our villa! After we got everything unloaded and settled into the house, the Dadda went to get our rental car {only a short walk from our villa, as was the marina}. Then, with our rental car, "Cupid", in our possession, Dad, Jenna and I made our way down to the dive shop to check in for our dives the next day {so exciting!}. Of course we then had to stop at Jimmy's Dive Bar for the first drinks of the trip! ;)



1// Our first glimpse of the water on our way to our villa! 2// Cheesin' with Aunt Nenna in our cab. 3// And again with GiGi. 4// One view from our screened in porch. 5// First drinks! I don't remember what I got, but I do remember it was better than Jenna's :P 6// Cheeseface, Papa Ron. 7// Our first grocery run! 8// Our "we made it!" pose.

 

At some point that day, there was a grocery shopping trip. I'm thinking it was after the trip to the beach, and before going out for dinner. That haul that you see up there in the shopping cart? Close to $200! Geeeesh! Grocery prices were absolutely ridiculous, I tell you! A box of cereal was like $12, c'monnnn!

 

Throughout the trip, Nick and Peyton were constantly on the lookout for lizards. It was kind of like a bonding experience for them, and I couldn't have been happier to witness such a thing. :) Our villa wasn't technically "on the water", but the other half of the villas that were across the road were! So within a 5 minute walk, we were on our own beautiful beach and enjoying the most gorgeous, clear blue water.



1// Me, GiGi and Peyton walking from our villa to our beach. 2// The little pathway to the beach. 3// Lizard hunting! 4// One of my absolute favorite pictures from the whole trip {Thanks, Jen!} 5// Jen getting ready to go snorkeling. 6// Stubby-tailed CurlyTail. 7// GiGi and Pey testing out the water. 8// My studly stud. I would take this view, anyday! ;) 

When you go on a vacation with my Dad, you basically need a vacation after the vacation. We are constantly doing things and we are all about getting in the water and seeing as much marine life as we can! These were just a few of the creatures we saw that first day! --->

1// Hawksbill Turtle. 2// Honeycomb Cowfish. 3// Little Porcupine Fish! 4// Beautiful QueenAngelfish, Jen's favorite. 5// Crazy-looking Hogfish; Can you see him?

After the festivities of that afternoon, we all cleaned up and decided on Sharkbite Bar & Grill for dinner. Since it was located in/on the marina, we just had ourselves maybe a 10 minute walk from our villa to the restaurant. Apparently, it's called Sharkbite because, at night, sharks come into the marina and you can see them from the restaurant. Although, we never did see any sharks in the marina for our trip. :(





1// Walking to Sharkbite -- If you're wondering what Nick is doing... Well, I have no clue, haha. 2// Papa Ron & Babygirl. 3// We got a pitcher of the island draught, Turks Head: Amber. Stella glasses for the ladies and regular glasses for the guys. 4// Peyton and her pineapple juice {that took about nearly 15 minutes and 3 requests to get}. She looks so much older in that picture, I can't stand it! 5// Me & Babygirl with the Hammerhead shark (her fav!). 6// Dirty feets! {Even after they'd showered.}



This concludes Day 1. Only 9 more to go! :)

 

Away we go!

And we're off! 

I'll be missing around these here parts for a little while. Instead, I will be enjoying the Caribbean sun & water with these lovely people. See ya'll again soon!

2 weeks!

You guys, in just TWO WEEKS from today, I'll be waking up in paradise. It seems like we've been waiting for this vacation for forever!

There is so much left to do... And I haven't even made up a single list of what items we'll need to bring for our 10 day adventure. Normally, that's okay at this point... However, this will be our first time taking Peyton with us on a vacation that isn't just a weekend trip.

Do you know what that means?! It means: her first time on a plane! Her first time on a tropical island! Her first time witnessing crystal clear, turquoise water! Her first time snorkeling {fingers crossed that we actually get her to do that}! Hopefully she'll have so many good memories from this trip. I can't wait to see her reactions to... well, to everything.

I've got a LOT of planning and packing to do. I'm sure I'll forget something vital, like underwear or toothbrushes, but that's nothing that can't be fixed with a trip to the store {hopefully!}.

I'm just looking forward to all of the memory-making that's in store for us.

These 2 weeks need to hurry on up!

Something I Miss.

{Day 12 of the Blog Everyday In May Challenge:}
The something I am currently missing is a place. A place known as:

 

My Dad, Sister, Nick, and I all went there as my graduation-from-YTI present.

 {Fun fact:  we were actually there this time two years ago!}

 

 

 We spent countless hours snorkeling and immersing ourselves in the sea life as much as possible.

We spent one night being totally silly/crazy thanks to a very talented {as in got us drunk. fast.} bartender named Segi.

We soaked up the Caribbean Sun and had tan lines {oh, how I miss being tan}.

We ate delicious food.

We swam with and fed stingrays {from our hands!} at Stingray City.

We enjoyed every. single. minute.

 

To say we are long overdue for another vacation is a total understatement.

 

Thankfully, in no less than 52 days, we will all {including Peyton and my mom} be headed to Turks & Caicos for 10 whole days!!

 

I can not wait to take Peyton on the plane, to show her the clear blue waters, and to hopefully get her to do some snorkeling and see all of the beautiful fish under the sea!

It'll be even better than our Grand Cayman trip, I'm sure {and that's saying something!}.