It is sad to say, but it is certainly looking like Summer is quickly coming to an end. The beautiful colours of fall are starting to appear, cooler evenings and in not too much time we will see some snow.
I have been terrible at blogging the summer away so I thought I would take a few minutes to give a quick summer re-cap.
At the end of July my mother’s family (Tone) had a large family reunion near Drayton Valley, Alberta. Cousins, Aunts and Uncles came from as far as Ontario, Saskatchewan, Utah, Arizona and Nevada and of course many parts of Alberta. Nicole couldn’t come with us because she had a mid-term exam for her Economics class, so Eliza and Daddy packed up and went to brave the great outdoors together.
Eliza and Auntie Cherisa at Della's Place after Church
The first night we were there it had been 30C outside and was very hot. I couldn’t sleep because the tent (even at 2AM) was still too hot. Then it started raining. Our little WalMart tent however wasn’t as water proof as one would expect. Water started coming in through the stitching on the rain fly!
Our tent after Uncle Cam covered it
I wasn’t sure what to do. Eliza and Daddy were getting an unexpected shower in the middle of the night. Thankfully my Uncle Cam Murray (bless his heart) was out checking on every tent to see if everyone was okay. He found a tarp to hang over our tent so we could try up and then stay dry the rest of the night. The noise of the rain and the new cooler temperatures allowed both Eliza and Daddy to sleep really well the rest of the night.
Eliza getting ready for bed on Sunday night. So cute in the tent!
We went to Church and Cody Curry reported home from his mission. We went home on Monday night after playing with the other cousins with young children during the day. The reunion lasted the rest of the week, but I had to get back to work and wrap everything up there because the following weekend our little family of three flew off to Tampa Bay, Florida to leave on a Caribbean Cruise for a week!
Eliza on the way home Monday night
Nicole’s parents covered a lot of the cost of a cruise for us. We went with them and the five of us had a blast! In the week we were gone we stopped in Grand Cayman, Cozumel Mexico, Belize City and Roatan Honduras.
Eliza and Daddy swimming at the Marriot Hotel in Tampa
Nicole Posing as we take off from Tampa Sea Port
Nicole and Eliza on deck enjoying the sun
Eliza at Dinner Time
In Grand Cayman we we Snuba Diving. It is a cool cross between snorkeling and scuba. You are breathing compressed air like scuba, but the tank is floating at the surface and you are attached with a tube like snorkeling. We saw an old ship wreck and some fish but not too much colour since we were still in the harbour. Pictures from the underwater camera haven’t been developed yet.
Josh Reading Glenn Beck on our balcony
Nicole looking over the ocean from our balcony
The next day in Mexico we got off the boat and headed instead to Cozumel to the main land. We landed in Playa del Carmen and then took a tour bus to Tulum. There our tour guide showed us the ruins and taught us a lot about the Mayan history. It was quite facinating and when taken in the context of the Book of Mormon it was even more exciting!
Eliza and a girl on the ship playing in the baby pool. The little girl kept squezzing Eliza and saying "She's sooo cute!"
Eliza fast asleep in the snuggly while on the tender to Playa del Carmen
Tulum Ruins
We are at the top left waving. Swimming in the Ocean at Tulum. Click image to see larger version.
Josh & Eliza in front of our Ship
In Belize City Nicole’s parents took Eliza for the day and we hopped on a bus and rode into the jungle and went on a cave tour. It was a great experience and in addition to the cool stuff we saw we got to go rappelling and zip lining.
Just before entering the cave
Nicole climbing down the first drop
Nicole about to drop!
Nicole crossing a bridge in the cave
Our last land day was spent in Roatan Island, Honduras. We didn’t sign up for a specific event or tour so instead we caught a taxi that took us to a resort at one of the resort hotels. It was a small resort and had a lot of Spanish speaking visitors in addition to the few North American and European visitors. We played in the ocean and just had fun there. However there were sand flies that bit our backs quite a bit and itched a bit for a week after.
At the beach in Roatan Honduras
After a snack in Roatan Honduras
Temperatures were around 35C each day and we had no rain the entire time. It was perfect weather for a cruise. We tanned well and would love to go again.
Just yesterday we celebrated our 3rd anniversary. We didn’t do anything huge or go anywhere but ordered in Chinese food and had a nice quiet night in. I love you Nicole!
Wow that looks like a great holiday for a great couple! That baby is growing way to fast.
Christina albers
September 21st, 2009
It was so fun to be part of your summer vacation! Eliza is so beautiful, and SOOOO GOOOOOOD! I think the only times I ever saw her she was sleeping!?!?!?!
Kym Peavoy
October 13th, 2009