Vacation Recap

We are totally refreshed, relaxed, and not wanting to face reality that on Tuesday we go back to work, oh wait, I go back to work.  Matt doesn’t go back until Saturday when he is greeted with yet another 24 hour duty!  What a way to welcome him back from vacation right?

Jamaica was beautiful.  That is the simplest way to put it.  We had such a wonderful time!  Although our trip did start out a little rocky.  The easiest way to give you a recap is to break it down by each day…which means a long blog.  So prepare yourself…you ready?  Ok here we go:

Day 1

We were up early at 3:30 to catch our 6 am flight out to Phoenix.  Gracie was a champ getting through the airport and even on the plane! I was not getting too excited though, it was only an hour flight, we were still facing a 5 1/2 hour flight out of Phoenix.  Once we arrived in Phoenix, we grabbed breakfast and waited for our next flight.  Phoenix had a “play area” for kids which was great.  It wasn’t what I imagined but it was fun enough for Gracie to keep her entertained.

When we got on our next flight, Gracie proved me wrong yet again.  Here I was so worried about how she would do on the long plane ride and she did GREAT!  There was at least 3 people that told me they didn’t even realize there was a toddler on the plane!  I was ecstatic.  All of those fears and stress was over nothing.  

After we got to the airport in Montego Bay, we were greeted by the resort people and taken to our shuttle.  This is where it got rocky.  In all the research I did, no where did it say we were going to be expected to tip at the airport.  As a matter of fact, everything we read, it was frowned upon to tip period.  But that was just at the resort, not at the airport.  Matt and I very rarely have cash on us, it is just easier to swipe our debit card.  Well, the guy who took our bags out to the shuttle (which by the way we weren’t allowed to take our own baggage) literally stared at Matt through the window after Matt had already told him he didn’t have cash on him for 5 minutes.  Finally the shuttle bus driver clued the guy in on the fact he wasn’t going to get a tip.  Matt was so stressed out.  Eventually we made it to Sandy Bay to find out that we had 7:00 dinner reservations. Do you want to guess what time it was? 6:45 and we had to be “dressed up.”  Well, needless to say we didn’t make the 7:00 reservations, but we got to move it until 8 and it was worth it!  The food was so yummy.  Gracie did remarkably well considering she had been traveling all day and was around people she has never met before. 

Day 2

Our first full day at the beach.  We were able to take it easy in the water.  Gracie loved it.  She didn’t like the waves rolling up on the beach but once we got passed that she was golden.  They had trampolines in the water which Gracie loved sitting and jumping on.  She also got to meet her new friends Sophia and Jordan.  They were 3 peas in a pod by Thursday!  We basically just hung around the resort on the beach and at the water park (which had a lazy river Gracie loved!).

First morning on the beach….can’t you tell how thrilled Gracie is?

Gracie had more then her fair share of pizza and ice cream while in Jamaica!!!!

That night we had the rehearsal dinner.  It was gorgeous.  They had a catered meal for anyone coming to the wedding.  Every one had a great time just sitting down and taking it easy.  In these pictures you will notice how curly Gracie’s hair was.  She had ringlets all week.  I can’t wait until we move some where with humidity!  I am going to get my wish for a little girl with curls!!! 

This picture was taken about .5 seconds before she lost it!

 

We went for a walk on the beach, on the way back we saw this crab on the ground like a foot from our feet!  It was NUTS!

Day 3

We didn’t see Matt hardly at all on Day 3 due to him forming his Best Man duties.  Gracie and I basically hung around on the beach with the girls and then headed back to the hotel to get ready.  After 2 false starts due to rain, the wedding went off without further problems.  It was beautiful.  Even with the storm clouds in the back ground, it was perfect.  The rest of the evening was basically spent with the family celebrating the new Mr. & Mrs. Jason Cunningham!

Day 4

Thursday, our last day in Jamaica, was pretty much the same thing as Tuesday…just hanging out with family.  We also got a chance to spend some time together just the three of us!  Although, I didn’t get as many pictures because even though they said the voltage is the same in Jamaica, it didn’t charge my batteries really fast so I tried to conserve as much as I could.  I did manage to get some cute ones though!

It was a wonderful vacation!  I am not ready to go back to work at all.  Thank goodness I have one more day off before I am forced back into reality.  Matt and I are taking a couple’s day tomorrow and spending the day together.  We are taking Gracie into daycare and probably going to see a movie.  I do have more pictures and have plans to make a Smilebox slideshow that I will share at a later time!  If I don’t get this posted, I will be hearing from Liz and Amy!  :)