Aruba Day #2 🐐

​Nothing but blue skies on the island this morning. The wild plumeria is blooming. The ocean breeze is blowing. This is the best way to start a day. 

Wes and I took the car to the national park, Arikok, where we climbed the sand dunes, Boca Prins, and explored Fontein Cave. The arid park is full of cacti, lizards, and wild goats.

On the other side of the dunes was the coast. The current was so strong swimming is not allowed but it was beautiful. 

The Turk’s cap was blooming; Wes said he could smell it and it was very fragrant. Just rubbin’ it in my face. 

The limestone cave had ancient Indian pictographs dating back a 1000 years ago. 

The Quadiriikri cave had an opening at the top that the bats use at dusk every night on their way to forage.

On the way out of the park we spotted wild donkeys. 

We then drove to the supermarket that everyone in my travel group said we had to experience. And I’m so glad we did. How could a grocery store be so memorable? Let me tell you. We bought it all - the jalapeño cheese, the mango chicken salad, the fresh bread, the apple fritters from the bakery, stroop waffles made in front of me, and the fresh out of the fryer ollieburton. They were so good I didn’t get a picture.

We returned home to sit poolside and soak up the sun before going out for dinner. 

My seabass with risotto at OceanZ was fantastic, but the rest of the family was not nearly as happy with their meals.

I ordered the must-do drink Aruba Ariba, but I wasn’t impressed. Last night’s cocktail, papamiento royale, was better, but tonight’s fish was something to write home about. 

The sun set over the water while we ate dinner.

After dinner we played Scramble, a game similar to Scrabble. This is what it looks like getting beat by Mom.

Aruba Day #1

​I loved Amsterdam so much two years ago, that I suggested we spend Christmas this year in Aruba. And here we are! We are staying in an area referred to as Piedra Plat. I think I know why. We spotted this at the end of the street.

Thus far, the island shows no resemblance to the Dutch - food, color or otherwise. It’s arid with more cacti than palm trees. It’s rocky with volcanic remnants. It’s inundated with Chinese corner markets, and the American fast food influence - looking at you Wendy’s - can be seen on every street. It’s only 20 miles from Venezuela, so there’s probably more of a South American influence than European.

However, our first dining experience at one of the top rated restaurants on the island included an appetizer menu with an assortment of cheese dishes, an ode to the Dutch for sure. Our warm brie drizzled with honey was divine. 

And our first seafood meal was a solid 8.5 with the cocktail, Papamiento Royale, made with fresh pineapple juice and rum that I won’t likely forget. Keagan wanted to know if we could buy this by the bottle.

We have gone grocery shopping - which means the fridge is full of beer - and now we are settled in the AirB&B ready for a full night’s sleep. After my 3:45 wake up call and my cat naps on the plane, I’m ready for a bed.

If it weren’t for the mosquitoes, I’d sleep outside. The beaches will be calling my name tomorrow.

Christmas with the Fam

​It was Christmas at my house today. I feel like it’s been crazy busy the last few days - semester exams, finalizing grades, trying to schedule all my classes in the gym before vacation, lunch dates with friends, appointments, shopping online, wrapping gifts, making food. The list goes on. I wondered if and how I would get it all done. I didn’t. The stocking stuffers were never finished, so I guess we will be like the Italian or Spanish and celebrate Epiphany by opening the stocking gifts in January.

Santa did make a stop and left a  business finance calculator and a NPTE prep book for my two guys. He really knows how to have fun! 😂

We had a great dinner of lasagna and cheesy bread. And that lifted our spirits after we watched the Aggies lose in the playoffs. Vikki says we can never watch an A&M game together again because they always lose when we are in the same house.

Jamie gifted the boys basketball trading cards, and they were in heaven. For a second, I had a flashback to Georgia when the boys made up games with the cards and determined winners by random lottery draws and other criteria I never fully comprehended. 

Tomorrow we are on a jet plane to an island where we will do nothing but produce vitamin D, drink cocktails, and eat great food! 

Early Christmas

​Today this arrived in the mail. 

It’s an early Christmas for us, and I say us purposefully. We are all celebrating this gift.

Friendship

​When I arrived to Campbell in 2013, my first assignment was teaching third grade at Lincoln. These ladies were my co-workers; we were partnered together on the same grade-level team. They welcomed me from day one, and we quickly became friends. We no longer work together as our assignments have since changed, but we still meet once a month for dinner, to celebrate birthdays and catch up on life. 

We celebrated Christmas this month at a restaurant in Nash. In twelve years, this is the first time we have taken a picture with all four of us. 

In 2013, our children were babies, so we have watched them grow up together, celebrated graduations together, and lived through the angst of launching them into the real world. So much has transpired since our days at Lincoln, so much could have gotten in our way to keep us from staying in touch, and yet we make a point to keep the monthly dates. 

It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas

​The best part of the sun setting at 1700? 

This! 

I love the look of warm lights in a dark room. It looks like Christmas in my house! 

November

​November also included live music. Vikki and I scored $57 tickets to see Ernest at The Ryman. We couldn’t pass that up - even if was a school night. 

His opener was pretty good; I got no pics of the guy we were there to see, but it turned out ok. Two nights later I was back at The Ryman with Bella to see Ella. She brought out Ernest.

After two concerts in one week, I took my middle schoolers on a field trip to Nashville to tour the state capitol. But forget history! The real highlight of the trip was the hot chicken at the food court in The Farmers Market. Meanwhile I was so stressed worried about losing a 14 year old, making sure 14 year olds didn’t touch exhibits, and worried traffic would cause us to miss our scheduled tours. I was beyond relieved to get back on the bus headed back to school. I crashed Friday night and slept for twelve hours!

The Northern Lights made an appearance in The South. I grabbed a coat to throw over my pjs and stayed up past my bedtime to catch a few glimpses. 

The family gathered for Thanksgiving. It was really cold and the rolls were burning, so we didn’t get the best pics.

I popped in to Vikki’s house Friday night to watch football. I thought it was understood we were invited. As it turns out, our arrival was a complete surprise. 🤷‍♀️