BVI (British Virgin Islands)

Day 3:
I got a passport for this reason-to go to the BVI!
This boat trip was the day after our day sail. Two straight days without K&K. Good for us but I sure did miss them! This was another once in a life time experience and it was awesome!!
We had to wake up at 6am and sneak out so K&K wouldn't be upset about us leaving. It was sad to sneak out on them and not say goodbye :( Grampa stayed behind for the 2nd day in a row so we could do this (along with the day sail, he had done this excursion before so he didn't mind). It was Randy, my mom, two nieces and me again.
We got to the dock, signed in and off we went. This was a speed boat time of boat and we went with about a dozen or so others. We headed over to Virgin Gorda to check out the famous Baths. They were beautiful!







After that we headed over to the island of Marina Cay which took about 45 minutes. This island was gorgeous and what I loved most was how small it was. It was like we were in the middle of no where. It's only 6 acres in size! Earlier on the boat we were given a menu to look at and pick out lunch which would be waiting for us at Pusser's when we arrived!
I picked a jerk chicken and pineapple quesadilla which was phenomenal and makes my mouth water still. I also got one of the Caribbean's famous drinks called a pain killer-delicious!!! Randy got a jerk hamburger which was spicy but so good.


Right when you get off the boat, on the dock there is a red phone booth like one you would see in London. Very random. Well, a picture is taken every 15 seconds and posted on the Pusser's web site. We went on and found our photo :) Here is one we took:








After lunch we went to Diamond cove, well I didn't but Rand and my niece did :) Then we headed over to the most anticipated spot of the day...The world famous Soggy Dollar Bar. This is a tiny bar on the Island of Jost Van Dyke in the BVI. It's like something straight out of a movie. Here you are, out on the open Caribbean Sea and you see this island in the distance that looks like there's not much on it. As you get closer to shore, all kinds of boats are anchored near it and the only way tot get to it is by jumping off the boat and swimming. Hence the name "Soggy Dollar" because when you get up to the bar, all of your money is soaked :) You get to shore and it's STUNNING. There's pure white sand and tons of turquoise beach chairs and hammocks to relax on.




There's Jimmy Buffet playing and people just having a grand ol' time. We ordered onion rings and I kid you not, they are the best ones I've ever had in my life! It was so cool to be sitting on this tiny beach with a hundred strangers, everyone is just having a blast bc the vibe is so fun and laid back. You feel like you are in the middle of no where but everyone is having the time of their lives!

I couldn't bring my camera due to teh fact that you have to literally swim to shore but my niece brought hers and held it above her head as she swam :) Back on St. Thomas I got this awesome necklace that is made to be filled w/ sand. I filled it with sand from the Soggy Dollar beach! After an hour or so there, it was a very long boat right back to the U.S. Virgin islands where we had to even go through customs. Now I have been to two foreign counties :) Mexico and the BVI!
We had so much fun and I really loved that experience!

Sailing the Caribbean

Our second day in Paradise was spent sailing the beautiful, turquoise seas of the islands.
My parents have been to the Caribbean Islands now for 5 summers in a row. Three of those 5 times they have gone to St. Thomas and on those trips they took a day sail with Captain Ron and Carol. I've heard all about it and seen pictures but could never have imagined how awesome it really was. My parents really wanted us to experience this so my awesome Dad stayed behind and watched Kaden and Kaleiah and they gifted Randy and I this once in a lifetime adventure. We went with my Mom and my two nieces who came on the trip.
We got to the Harbor around 9am and shortly after, Captain Ron picked us up in his dingy and took us over to his sail boat. There we met his wife and first mate Carol :) She is such a sweet lady and Captain Ron is so genuine and friendly. They are an awesome couple. They are from the CA/WA areas and set sail one day on the Atlantic Ocean. They ended up in St. Thomas and loved it so much that they stayed. That was 28 years ago! They have been chartering day sails for all that time and last summer they decided to take a break. They sailed for a year to places like Panama and the Dominican Republic and Columbia. They have so many fascinating stories. My mom contacted them a while back to set up a day sail for this trip but they told her that they were no longer doing it. Turns out they had a change of heart and we were their first charter in a year! I guess we are pretty special :)

We set sail and it couldn't have been a more beautiful day for it. I have to admit, I was apprehensive to go and had some anxiety about Randy and I both leaving the babies for an entire day in an unfamiliar place. I worried that they might be upset or nervous w/ us gone so long but I knew they were in great hands w/ my Dad. I mean, there aren't many Grampa's of twins that have raised their own twins before :) So he knows a thing or two about it :) I told myself to have a great time and remember what a rare experience this was. It forced me to be w/o the twins and to just enjoy myself and the beauty around me. It forced me to catch a break and enjoy a beautiful day with my husband! It was fantastic.
We sailed for probably 30-45 minutes to Hawks Nest Bay on St. John for our first snorkeling stop. Words can not even describe the beauty around us. It was like we were picked up and placed right inside a post card. Absolutely gorgeous turquoise water, lush greenery and sparkling white sand. Nothing but the sounds of the water and the seagulls around us. I am usually not a big fan of snorkeling mainly because I don't like being in the wide, open ocean not knowing what is near or around me. That terrifies me! But I was not going to pass up this kind of experience. So Randy, my two nieces and I got our gear on and jumped into the warm, Caribbean water. So many fish to see! After only 5 minutes of snorkeling we came upon a giant sea turtle.! I love sea turtles! We were shrieking through our masks which I'm sure sounded very funny. I floated above him, just watching in amazement as he graciously swam about, sneaking glances back at us. Then we swam to the shore which is so small that they call it 2 butt beach bc it can only fit 2 butts :) It was spectacular, I could never get over the picturesque scenery!
After snorkeling for an hour or so, it was time for lunch which Captain Ron makes himself. We feasted on a very Caribbean meal of Jerk chicken, some sort of delicious black beans and rice, a yummy salad and to die for plantains! Seriously, amazing. And I think it's so cute that he's down there cooking it for us as we snorkel and play. Did I mention I got to eat in complete peace? A rarity in my life :) As much as I missed my munchkins, it sure was nice to not have anyone begging off and eating half of my food or keeping me so busy that I couldn't eat :)

After lunch, we fed the seagulls (which are so pretty) our scraps! Then it was time to just relax and nap under on hot Caribbean sun as we sailed off to our next snorkeling place. To me, there are fewer relaxing things than being on a boat, surrounded by amazing scenery, basking in the sun as a sail boat gently bobs up and down as it sails. Absolute heaven.

Our next stop was Christmas cove. I decided to pass on snorkeling and just relax. I did jump in at then end though.
This sailing experience was so awesome and Randy and I agree that it was our favorite experience of the whole trip. If you are ever on St. Thomas you just have to do it!

Day 1

We woke up, ate breakfast that Dad made and headed right out to the pool. This was the first time the twins used floaties. They had so much fun swimming and "jumping in." Shortly after we went to the beach which was a stunning bay just steps from the condo. The water was so warm and the color is to die for. Kaden and Kaleiah had so much fun digging and making sand castles with their cousins and going in the water w/ us and Gramma and Grampa. They are total water babies, they love the beach (always have). It was so fun to just take them in and walk around. It wasn't like on a shore at the beach where the waves crash and could wipe you out. It was gentle and calming and just perfect. The beach days down there were some of my most favorite times of the trip!

Kaden and Kaleiah's first airplane ride!!

Day 1, Getting there:
We had to wake up at 6:00am to catch our 8:30am flight. It was only the 2nd time we ever had to wake the babies up for something and I dreaded it! It seems so horrible to wake sleeping angels from their warm, peaceful sleep but they were amazing about it. Kaleiah actually woke up while I was packing my last few things, so that was good :) Daddy had to wake Kaden and it was so sad. He was so out of it :(
We picked up my Mom and niece and headed to the airport (my dad and other niece flew separate from us). The babies were such troopers for having to get up so early. The first flight was about 3 hours to Georgia. They took turns napping which was great. When they were awake they colored and watched the t.v's that were attached to each seat on the plane. They were absolutely perfect babies. We then had to catch another plane from GA to the Caribbean another 3+ hours) and of course we switched times zones so that threw off their schedule,but they adapted better than I could have imagined! It was a life saver having my mom and 18 yr old niece with us. We all sat in a row and took turns holding, playing with and entertaining them! We finally got our luggage, piled in the rental van and after getting lost, finally made it to the condo. We went to bed around 1am island time. I was seriously so proud of how well they did on the plane rides...between being confined for hours, being totally off schedule, and being tired...they were so well behaved. As the plane landed and we all stood up to get our things, passengers around us gave compliments on how impressed they were w/ them and how well behaved they were. One lady even stopped us later in the airport just to tell us she had never flown w/ such good toddlers! Seriously, this is not an easy age (3 mo shy of 2...and more on that later!) so again, we were so impressed and are thankful to have such good babies!!!





I have so many pictures that I'm going to do separate posts!

back!!

We just got back today from our fabulous 10 day vacation in the Caribbean. I have TONS of photos to blog but it will take me a little while to get them up. Here is a sneak peak. It was amazing!