One Happy Island ~ Aruba 2009

Here is a photo essay of my trip to Aruba! We snorkeled
Went on a rope swing, once by myself and twice with Juan Carlos, the acrobatic Jolly Pirate.

Got some angel wings temporarily tattooed onto my back.

Went on a Jolly Pirate Ship (which included all you can drink Pirate Poison, swimming snorkeling, and sailing!)

Went 4-wheeling around the whole island sightseeing (looking like the unabomber to protect my skin from the sun)

Got a lovely massage

Convinced Jaimee she could parasail and signed her up!

Saw some beautiful sites

Made some great new friends, (L to R Silvia, Jaimee, me, Cheryl, and Joann)

Sipped some yummy fruity drinks

Swam, sunbathed and lounged around A LOT!

We enjoyed happy hour(s), shopped, relaxed, chatted, and ate like it was our job! We saw a couple shows on the beach with dancer dressed in boas and feathers and shaking their bodies like I have never seen before. We also saw a cool water light show set to music one night. Jaimee and I went to see Obsessed Saturday to curb our sadness about leaving the next day. I know, I know, who goes to the movies in Aruba right?! Well we did and it was a good movie.

There was great food, great friends, and great times in Aruba last week! It is indeed One Happy Island!

I was gonna save these for Wordless Wednesday...

But a VERY funny story now accompanies the photos. And, well, the story requires words!

So I have been planning a trash the dress/try out the new camera with my photographer brother-in-law Ben for sometime now. The Saturday before I left for Aruba (more to come on that adventure soon) it all came together and we had a photo shoot. We went to a consignment shop and bought the white dress for $30 and the veil for $10. Before we went home to put some make-up on me and style my hair, we stopped at Shop'n'Stop for $6 flowers. We then headed to the beach, playground, train tracks, church, and a candy store. Let me tell you the ways as a bride, yes a make believe marrying myself bride, can get hit on! I got beeped at, whistled at, told I was beautiful, complimented on my stained/snagged wedding dress and $6 bouquet and proposed to! Who knew? It was so much fun, I mean what girl doesn't like getting all dressed up sassy and going places?! We celebrated Tracy and Ben's birthday with a marvelous sushi dinner (the reception) and I left for Aruba (my honeymoon) early the following morning. You'll see where I am going with this momentarily.

On Friday morning, almost a week after the photo shoot and I headed to Aruba, my Dad walks into the country store in my little small hometown in Maine. He sees an old acquaintance who starts raving about what a beautiful bride I made. Confused, my dad asks what he means, and said acquaintance takes out his cell phone, (signs onto Facebook) and shows my Dad eight photos with me in full bridal gear! My dad is dumbfounded to say the least. Keep in mind that I am his last single daughter and he knows I am in Aruba. All kinds of things are running through his mind now. Why wasn't I invited? Is she on her honeymoon? She said she was going with friends. Who did she marry?

Poor guy! He didn't mention to anyone all day while he stressed and tried to make sense of it. Neither one of my parents are technologically savvy, and especially not my Dad! When I was studying abroad in England during undergrad, he attempted Instant Messaging me, and this is what it looked like - hitarshahowareyouimissyouhopeyouarehavingagoodtime, which took him over a minute to type. But I digress. While the photos were enough to cause a small panic attack, he did remember seeing Corey Pro on the photos. He decided with four other daughters who always spill the beans, it simply couldn't be true. He called Tracy and giggling he said to her "I just went by some train tracks where my daughter got married." When Tracy was confused, he explained his story of seeing his last daughter married off in pictures and the toll it took on him!

So that's the story of my wedding and honeymoon, I mean my photo shoot and 10 year friendship anniversary vacation with Jaimee! But to my Dad an outsider who only sees a few photos, its a whole different story!

Wordless Wednesday

A Girls got to do what a Girls got to do! Part 2

For 1 week I am trading in my normal routine for something a little different!

Playing race cars for plane rides

Bulky sweaters for bathing suits

School books for sun bathing

Blog world for blue waters

Nannying for naptime(s)

Four wheels for a four wheeler (ATV/Jeep)

Training walks for the Breast Cancer 3Day for tours/walks on the beach (Caribbean) for 7Days

Laundry for lounging

Double stroller for Dutch snorkeling

Chocolate milk for Cosmos/Margaritas

Snugging with one of my babies for spending time with one of my Besties!

And last, but certainly not least,

Facebook/texting for face time!

Alright alright its a lot different, but whose keeping score?! I'm going to Aruba. On this break from my normal routine I will relax a little, play a lot and spend quality time with my great friend Jaimee! While I am sooo very excited to go on this adventure, I also realize and appreciate how very blessed I am to have ALL these things to trade for a week, but come back to after.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for this wonderful adventure I have been afforded! This trip is not only 7 days off from work, or 7 days in a sunny warm place to tan my pale body, but 7 WHOLE DAYS with a great friend! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I realize, especially in these hard economic times, there are others who long for just 7 days of work. I know that each thing I am trading in is more than some people have to begin with. Please grant us traveling mercies and protect us on this adventure. Please send someone sweet and capable to care for Matthew and Aliya while I am away and help me be sweet and fully capable for when I return to them.
In Jesus Name,
Amen