Puerto Rico Day 4-Dec 12

Vieques is known for having a large population of wild horses. Turns out there were also a lot of Wilde horses. ha!

This was the road to the most fantastic beaches ever. Or some of them. This is why they only rent 4-wheel drive vehicles. And almost exclusively Jeep Whatever-we-had.

Totally worth the crappy road. We got to Orchid aka Secret beach and it was so nice. It even came complete with a few little huts. Shade! Somewhere to hang stuff!

Michelle fought off all those who tried to take our hut. (note: there was a few locals girls and their dog who came to surf and then a couple of couples who came later but further down the beach)

Family picture.

Family picture, silly faces. I had to bargain with Hazel to get her to take a nice picture.

I don't know why she is making this face.

Michelle on the cliff. True Fact: Geoff was also taking a picture of Michelle at this location and time, but from the other side of the cliff.

More handstands were done.

I don't remember what else we did. Ate some food, went to other beaches, played games, these are all possibilities, but I don't recall for sure.

Hands down, Orchid Beach was my favorite. I loved the little huts, I loved that it was at the end of a crazy road and when you broke through the foliage, bam! awesome beach. Plus, the fact that we were on Vieques during the low season, and thus never encountered many people didn't hurt.

Puerto Rico Day 3-Dec 11

We took almost no pictures this day, and the ones that were taken are pretty ridiculous.

After a busy day running from beach to beach (and some people getting sunburned), we decided to take it easy in preparation for staying up late to go to the Bioluminescent Bay that night.

There was much dancing and playing of Monopoly Deal and more dancing and reading books and playing on the lawn and walking down to the rocky little beach by our house. But, mostly just hanging out.

Then we went to the Bio Bay. It was fantastic and amazing and magic and there is nothing that I can type or say or photo (ha!) that will even begin to describe the amazingness of it. Every single person should experience it. Preferably on a dark, dark night.

A few stories o' the bay

- It was DARK, almost no moon and very little light pollution from the "city". I was paddling around with Lynne in my boat when we hear Hazel start screaming and then hear Geoff scream. Hazel was already a bit leery of paddling around at night so her scream was not nearly as worrisome as Geoff's. But, when I heard Geoff start, I started paddling. I don't think I have ever paddled as hard or fast in my life. I made Lynne just pull in her paddle (she was not great at it). We get over there just as the guides are using a flashlight to find the needlefish that had jumped in their boat. Of all the boats! Why did it have to jump into that one?? Hazel jumped into the "upper deck" and was straddling the top of the canoe. Funny to me, but she is still not finding the humor...

- It is virtually impossible to take a picture in the bay. It is so dark and the lights are so small and the long exposures that I have seen don't really capture the magic little creatures. Not really a story, but an excuse. And a reason everyone should go to Vieques.

- A rain storm came in and as the storm came over the bay, it would light up as it hit the water. It was so cool. Seriously, there is a reason I work with numbers, I do not have the skillz to describe.

Anyway, it was awesome and awe inspiring and whatever adjectives work in this situation. I am so glad we got to go see it and I hope one day my child realizes how incredible it was and what a fantastic experience she had, even if a scary fish jumped in her boat.

Puerto Rico Day 2-Dec 10

Wow, I am behind...

Everyone made it to Puerto Rico. We got our rental car (a Jeep, that we utilized to the full extent of its off roading capabilities) and some groceries (which were extremely expensive and did not include much produce) and went out to hit the beach.

This was our first beach in PR. I don't know the official name, but we called it Crab Beach. Hazel wrote a story about it in her travel journal and it was adorable. 

As you can tell, we were the only people on the beach. There was a little inlet that was protected and warm and included a nice palm tree for shade.

It was also great for hand stands.

Hazel and Tutu spent a long time covering Hazel in sand. Tutu sacrificed herself to protect the sand. This is where the name of the beach came about. Tutu and Hazel were playing and when Geoff came over he noticed a whole bunch of little crabs in the area. He pointed them out and insanity ensued. A bigger crab showed up and Tutu got pinched (PINCHED!) on the toe. Hard enough that it bled! BLOOD!!

So, we left Crab Beach. And went to Sun Bay. It is the most developed beach on the island, with a few picnic tables and a restroom. It is beautiful and warm and we watched the sun set, until Tutu chummed the water with her bleeding toe and then we went to find food.

Geoff at Crab Beach.

A cute house. I uploaded these pictures a couple weeks ago, so I may not remember why I chose them. But I love this color scheme.

Puerto Rico Day 1

Our day started out nice and early (or late, depending on your point of view). Saturday, December 15, was Crafternoon with friends and then a fabulous evening party AND then we drove to the airport (in a crazy blizzard) for a midnight flight to Georgia JFK. Then, in theory, we had a quick layover and on to San Juan. But then whoever booked the flights (der) booked a later JFK-SJU flight, which would have thrown everything into disarray. So, instead of lazily waiting for our flight we had to run around in a panic trying to move flights and make sure our luggage made it. 

Luckily, we were able to switch to an earlier flight and had a completely boring flight to San Juan.

But not our luggage. whomp, whomp.

Never fear, we had the best luggage agent EVER help us and he promised to send our luggage on the next day, as early as he could do it. Way beyond the call of duty.

Our San Juan to Vieques flight was on a tiny plane. Ten seats, including the pilot. This is by far the smallest plane we have been on.

Hazel was very excited to be on such a tiny plane. She did ask me who was going to serve snacks since there wasn't a flight attendant. She also did not care for the lack of a safety presentation.

Geoff thought it was cool.

The view was amazing.

Beaches on one side, rain forest on the other.

That is our island in the front. See that random dude next to the pilot? Not a co-pilot. Just a dude.

More lovely scenery.

We made this leg of the trip safely. And got to take pictures with the tiny plane.

And the W. For Wilde.

Once making it safely to Vieques, we went to the house we rented. It was awesome. And had pets. This was the iguana named Johnny Marshmallow.

We did not name the spiders.

Since we didn't have luggage, Hazel and I made skirts out of our long-sleeved shirts. Hazel loved her's and wore it again later in the trip. In fairness, she looked adorable in her little shirt-skirt.

Eventually, Tutu and Auntie Michelle made it and we did stuff (maybe ate or read books, I don't know) and then went to bed.

Bike ride!

I love riding bikes and love this trail-a-bike we were gifted from the Wy-Omans. Hazel wanted to ride to Bountiful on Labor Day and it didn't take much to convince me. We took the long way (almost 20 miles) and had a great time. It might be time to get Hazel bike gear, maybe next season.











I don't know why this never published. But I am scheduling it now. Woot! Two blog posts in two days!

Merry Christmas!

Yesterday was the annual Santa party at my work. It was great fun, as always. Santa comes and we take pictures. Hazel said she would only take a picture if I took one too.

I win the most awkward Santa photo of the day. And there were a whole lotta upset kids and parents saving them. I am trying to take off my work badge, but it looks like I am pulling my own hair and bonus! stomach hanging out!

Bonus story: Santa was leaving as we were leaving. He ran down the hallway, jingling all the way. Hazel asked me where he was going and I said I didn't know, but that was the way to the stairs to the roof.

H: Really?
M: Yes, really.
H: Are you joking me, mom?
M: No. That really is the stairs to the roof.
H: I knew it! I thought I heard something up there.

So we go home, yadda yadda yadda. As I am tucking her in she questions me again.

H: Mom, is that really the way to the roof?
M: Yes! It really is the way.
H: Are you telling the truth?? I need to know.
M: Yes.
H: Really?
M: Yes!
H: I knew it! I knew he was going to the roof.

She goes to sleep, this morning comes into my room.

H: MOM! I REALLY need to know if that is the way to the roof.
M: YES!!
H: That is so great.

She is getting older, and starting to not believe in things. But, I will try to keep her believing in Santa as long as possible. I think Santa running to the stairs bought me some belief time.

BTW: It is a coworker in a red suit. And I am pretty sure he was just going to his office. But, the stairs to the roof are down the same hallway.

Happy

These two make me happy.