Jamaica: Day 2

The second day started out with a tropical downpour. We got caught in the middle of it when exploring the grounds, but beach vacation attire is pretty well suited for such occurrences.

Lukas doesn’t care what he wears when it rains, as long as he can splash around and catch raindrops on his tongue.

Back at the Villa we tried out the pool. It had been cloudy and rainy for a few days; so it was “count to three and jump in or you will never do it” cold (at least for anyone over five). Lukas quickly decided that he didn’t like using his swim vest or floaty, so thus began a week of me having to carry him around the pool. Katharine had no such issues.

We headed to the beach after lunch. Each Villa comes equipped with two golf carts, and they were an immediate hit with the kids. No seatbelts, no doors, no windows, woohoo! Luckily these things can’t break the 5 MPH barrier, even with Brian “crazy driver” Martel driving (as the kid’s affectionately named him).

The ocean was also cold and still very choppy from the weather system that had just passed through.

Of course, that just made it more fun for the kids.

Lukas, in the grand tradition of 2 year old Doescher children (starting with Katharine back in St. Lucia), immediately decided that he did not like to walk or play on sand and surf, so I had to hold him in the water.

The babies in a rare display of synchronized sleeping,,, at least I think the babies are under there.

After sulking on the lounge chair for a little bit, Lukas braved some nearby sand and managed to eke out a little bit of beach fun with Iria's help.

Aiden took some time out to hang with him, but quickly returned to the action along the shoreline with Katharine, Liam, Ava and the Murphys.

Jamaica: Day 1

This day was mainly spent traveling and settling in. We left early for the first flight to Miami (around 4:30 AM) and met up with the Martels and the Murphys.



Nolan and Lennon got reacquainted.



Katharine and Liam insisted on sitting together on the plane and worked on one of her art books.



Lukas sat next to me and checked out my DS. I was playing a Zelda game, and he was only interested in the intro movie that shows Link riding on a galleon style ship. Every time he sees a boat he shouts out “Captain Hook!”.



We connected to the Jamaica flight in Miami. Our circus procession consisted of 6 adults and 7 children (five and under). Liam and Katharine pave the way for us here.




Liam and Katharine sat together again on the Jamaica flight. I think that their apple juice must have started fermenting, because they got really silly.






Lukas sat with me again and fed me grapes (unfermented, alas), and then we played tug a war with his puppy using our teeth as the plane landed. That helped the ear popping a bit.

We landed and took a short bus trip to the resort. Liam and Katharine got a lei and all the kids were very excited; despite the rain.

We stayed at Half Moon resort. Check it out:

http://www.halfmoon.com/

The crowds are small and the atmosphere is very quiet and peaceful (when we aren’t there J).

Our villa was beautiful. We had a nice view of the ocean, and a private pool.

Aiden and Lukas quickly became inseparable; bounding between putting their noses to the pool on one side of the villa to putting their noses to the ants in the garden on the other side. This was one of the more common sights around the house.

We're back!

Had a lot of fun- despite landing during this storm. The aircraft had to pull up at the last instant during final approach to avoid wind shear, and then we taxied around a bumpy sky for another 1/2 hour until it was deemed safe enough to land. Our kids slept through all of the bumps and barf bags, which is just as well.

I'll start putting up daily updates from the vacation now that I am back. Lots of pictures to share!

Springtime in the front yard

Lukas hunts for bugs,,, Lennon sits up and looks around for any grass that he can grab,,, Katharine gives Lennon big hugs between long bike excursions.

Scarborough Fair

Pictures from the Renaissance Festival.

Lukas loved looking at the animals and eating his pretzel, but the day belonged to the girls: costumes, curtsies, fairies, ponies, flowers, face painting and fun for all.

Katharine has started to read

More growing up for Katharine,,,,

We have been doing words with her at night for quite some time (writing them out on a magnadoodle and having her read them back to us), and now she is starting to read books. Is she ready to move on to 'The Cat in the Hat' yet? He is way cooler than Mac and Tab.

Night perch

Katharine has taken to sleeping on the stairwell over the last few days. She doesn't want to come all of the way down for fear of us sending her back to her bed, but she still wants to get as close to us as possible.

Posing

First she thinks a boy is cute, then she loses the tooth, and now she is strutting around in high heels.

She is growing up fast :)

Look Mom,, no tooth!

A growing baby

We had an ultrasound yesterday and everything is looking great.

Katharine's new bike

Katharine had bruises on her knees from banging them up against the handle bars on her old bike. A new bike was in order (and I just thought I would need to buy her new shoes and pants as she grew up).

Happy Easter