This picture of Daddy and Nate epitomizes the relaxing vibe of our Jamaican vacation!
Nate, with his Nanny Lisa, always found time and ways to play the drums!
Our whole family got to spend some great times together!
Whether we were riding on the glass bottom boat, searching for sunken pirate ships....
Or hanging out together on the dock!
Thanks to our Nana and Grandpa Hal, we got to enjoy 7 heavenly days with our toes in the Jamaican sand. This was the best family vacation EVER, and we truly enjoyed our stay at the FDR. Our one bedroom condo feature a master with a balcony which looked out over the sea, and each morning our vacation nanny, Lisa,would arrive to help with the kids. Every night we would leisurely dine on a pier while a Jamaican band or performer entertained. Every day, the kids frolicked with their cousins in the pool, on the beach, on "Big Blue" (a giant water slide), or in the teen center. At night, the adults would karaoke, and one night, the FDR people opened the nightclub just for us so we could have a family dance party. The dance party was a highlight, because Luke ripped off his shirt, threw on his UCLA jacket (which he zipped up only halfway) and then donned his UCLA hat before busting a major move to Taio Cruz'
Dynamite. Scott has his own favorite stories to tell, which include me being stung by a sea urchin, leaving him in a penniless predicament on the beach!
On this day, Luke and I took a trip into Ocho Rios to go shopping. Luke is quite the shopper, and as he wandered from stall to stall, the vendors quickly learned his name. As we walked the market, you could hear calls of "Luke! Come see what I have little mon!" He quickly learned to haggle and bargain, and I was very proud of the way he carried himself and took in the culture and experience, that was not without obvious poverty and hardship. We enjoyed our time with this Jamaican man, who hand crafted the "L" necklace around Luke's neck. He showed Luke how he carved the shells with a tool that looked like the electric ones used in the nail salon to file down nails!
Every day there were a variety of activities to choose from. On this day, the whole family gathered to fish off the pier, using just the line, a hook and some bait (no poles)!
Salty and I both got to relax and enjoy the vacation!
The grill was the place we ate during the day. Luke would visit it several times a day to order himself a giant plate of french fries. Nate was more interested in a daily ice cream cone, when we could pull him off the little blue slide at the kid's pool or away from the sand toys he had crafted into a drum set.
Scott really enjoyed his daily kayaks, often accompanied by the Rosenfields, and sometimes Johnny Ballard (until he capsized and needed to be rescued by the watchful lifeguards). Whenever Scott and/or I would take the kayaks out, Nate would stand on the shore yelling in a panic, "COME BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!!!! DON'T GO OUT THERE!!!!!" Soon we learned to have Lisa provide a diversion so we could kayak in peace!
Nate was jamming to the reggae every time he had a chance. When bands would set up, he would keep a watchful eye over their drumset. He also insisted on being part of the strike, too. And a few of the bands let him play along, with one thoughtful Jamaican drummer leaving his red-tipped drumsticks behind for Nate to keep!
One fun activity was the goat race on the beach! We all got to participate, and make wagers on the winning goats.
Luke was fearless on our Jamaican adventure, from meandering the markets to riding the giant slide, he was up for anything. He is completely transformed into a big kid. This trip marked his first experience snorkeling. When he donned his gear and hopped of the side of the boat into the ocean, my heart swelled with pride. The snorkeling was awesome. We saw rays, clownfish, non-stinging jellies, and fish all the colors of the rainbow.
We even got to tie-dye our shirts! Which left us with a great souvenir to bring to home. The return home came too soon, but we hope one day to visit the FDR again!
This picture of Daddy and Nate epitomizes the relaxing vibe of our Jamaican vacation!
Nate, with his Nanny Lisa, always found time and ways to play the drums!
Our whole family got to spend some great times together!
Whether we were riding on the glass bottom boat, searching for sunken pirate ships....
Or hanging out together on the dock!
Thanks to our Nana and Grandpa Hal, we got to enjoy 7 heavenly days with our toes in the Jamaican sand. This was the best family vacation EVER, and we truly enjoyed our stay at the FDR. Our one bedroom condo feature a master with a balcony which looked out over the sea, and each morning our vacation nanny, Lisa,would arrive to help with the kids. Every night we would leisurely dine on a pier while a Jamaican band or performer entertained. Every day, the kids frolicked with their cousins in the pool, on the beach, on "Big Blue" (a giant water slide), or in the teen center. At night, the adults would karaoke, and one night, the FDR people opened the nightclub just for us so we could have a family dance party. The dance party was a highlight, because Luke ripped off his shirt, threw on his UCLA jacket (which he zipped up only halfway) and then donned his UCLA hat before busting a major move to Taio Cruz' Dynamite. Scott has his own favorite stories to tell, which include me being stung by a sea urchin, leaving him in a penniless predicament on the beach!
On this day, Luke and I took a trip into Ocho Rios to go shopping. Luke is quite the shopper, and as he wandered from stall to stall, the vendors quickly learned his name. As we walked the market, you could hear calls of "Luke! Come see what I have little mon!" He quickly learned to haggle and bargain, and I was very proud of the way he carried himself and took in the culture and experience, that was not without obvious poverty and hardship. We enjoyed our time with this Jamaican man, who hand crafted the "L" necklace around Luke's neck. He showed Luke how he carved the shells with a tool that looked like the electric ones used in the nail salon to file down nails!
Every day there were a variety of activities to choose from. On this day, the whole family gathered to fish off the pier, using just the line, a hook and some bait (no poles)!
Salty and I both got to relax and enjoy the vacation!
The grill was the place we ate during the day. Luke would visit it several times a day to order himself a giant plate of french fries. Nate was more interested in a daily ice cream cone, when we could pull him off the little blue slide at the kid's pool or away from the sand toys he had crafted into a drum set.
Scott really enjoyed his daily kayaks, often accompanied by the Rosenfields, and sometimes Johnny Ballard (until he capsized and needed to be rescued by the watchful lifeguards). Whenever Scott and/or I would take the kayaks out, Nate would stand on the shore yelling in a panic, "COME BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!!!! DON'T GO OUT THERE!!!!!" Soon we learned to have Lisa provide a diversion so we could kayak in peace!
Nate was jamming to the reggae every time he had a chance. When bands would set up, he would keep a watchful eye over their drumset. He also insisted on being part of the strike, too. And a few of the bands let him play along, with one thoughtful Jamaican drummer leaving his red-tipped drumsticks behind for Nate to keep!
One fun activity was the goat race on the beach! We all got to participate, and make wagers on the winning goats.
Luke was fearless on our Jamaican adventure, from meandering the markets to riding the giant slide, he was up for anything. He is completely transformed into a big kid. This trip marked his first experience snorkeling. When he donned his gear and hopped of the side of the boat into the ocean, my heart swelled with pride. The snorkeling was awesome. We saw rays, clownfish, non-stinging jellies, and fish all the colors of the rainbow. 
We even got to tie-dye our shirts! Which left us with a great souvenir to bring to home. The return home came too soon, but we hope one day to visit the FDR again!
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