Turks and Caicos Day 3

We've had such a great time here in the Turks. Sun burns and all. We took this huge floating bike out in the water and Dave and I got quite the workout trying to peddle against the current heading for shore. Sam steered and was quite the pro. Dave worked Saturday all day but finally got his project done. I think he was just telling me he had to work so he could sneak off to hear Conference. He assured me he wasn't and has actually stayed clear of his computer for the most part. We get the internet sporadically and I must say, that's where it's kind of a bonus being married to a computer nerd because he seems to be quite good at "hacking" on for us. Most the time it's just not that big of deal. It's kind of nice not having to worry about the 10 Stake Priest Laurel dance rapidly approaching. Or the regional boy scout dinner coming just as fast but thankfully a week later. We have been able to eat constantly, sleep sporadically and play non stop. It's almost impossible to get Sam in at night. We're outside at 9:30 a.m. and we don't return to our room until 5 at night. They have this "pirates cove" that has water slides and a lazy river and all the cotton candy a child or really even adult could want. It's a rather large resort consisting of a caribbean village, a french village and an italian village. The food has been impressive for having to feed thousands. Not great but good. It's nice to just go anywhere and just say your room number and voila--food/drink.

I also enjoy walking everywhere. It's so nice to walk at night after dinner. It seems to settle the food so nicely. Grouper (It's grouper...grouper) and red snapper are the freshest fish they have here. I've had grouper prepared 4 different ways and yet the best fish I had was the cod in the fish and chips. The first night I had the grouper it was pretty bad. I was thinking I would never have to have it again however the following night the server promised that it was the best item on the menu. She was right. It was delicious. 

Here is Dave and Sam on a post dinner walk on the beach. We can't touch the water and whoever did lost a point.  Sam won. Hard to believe I know, but when you make the rules up along the way the victory is certain to be yours. That's our boy!

Here is my beautiful boy with a swollen face. This is where I am convinced NEVER to buy a spray on sunblock. 50 proof, waterproof, long lasting--my eye. His little cheeks are burnt and his little eyes are puffed up big time. They don't seem to bother him just swollen. I went scuba diving today and didn't regulate my descent right so I screwed up my ears. I felt like I was under water all day and it hurt bad. I went to the nurse and got sudafed and motrin. She gave Sam some benadryl and zinc oxide. He's looking better today thank heavens. 

While we dive we send Sam and Eli to the kids camp. Eli won't go unless Sam goes with him so Sam can't go to his own age group camp. He's ok with it. The camp counselor (who Sam calls coach Matthew) takes him and shows Sam extra care and he seems to be enjoying himself. They take the kids to the pool so it can't be all that bad. 

After camp and diving (on this day) we went to play at the pool at the italian village. Sam hooked up with some sweet kids. They are obviously older but they took him under their wing and got him involved in their games. Here they are on their water mattress ship. Sam's the one with the sunglasses and spiderman rash guard. He was certainly in his element. It was fun to watch. I don't think he was even bratty. Just had fun.

We went to the beach as well (finally) and were so impressed with an enormous sand castle someone had left from the previous day that we were inspired. So we got to work. It ended up looking and actually being more of a Mayan temple grounds with a water system that kicked butt. That's what you get when you work with engineers I guess. Although Dave kept putting out the disclaimer that he's NOT a civil engineer. I imagine if we would have been their long enough the "temple" would have been lit up--thus our electrical engineer would have showed us what he's made of. But alas, 5 o'clock came and it was definitely shower time. For all parties.

Turks and Caicos Day 1

We're finally here after weeks of snow, rain, wind and a slight teasing of sun. We love Seattle but can't say that we don't love leaving it for a time either. We left Wednesday, April 1st in a light precipitation of snow and headed south to Texas to visit one day with the Son's and have them once again try to convince us how great living with them on a somewhat communal property in TX. We have stood our ground and have declined time after time--except (maybe) this time. This property Val and Stacy have just purchased is pretty hard to refuse. The land is 40 acres on a lake with 2 ponds. It really is tempting especially when we just left the land of the never ending winter. But then all one has to do is ask me if I want to move on a good day in the great Northwest, and I'm not leaving. I guess those 5 sunny days we have a year have quite the pull on me. It would be incredibly difficult for me leave Washington state. I do know that.

So after spending a day in McKinney TX we headed south today on a flight leaving at 5:40 in the a.m. Yikes! Surprisingly, Sam was in good spirits all day and even took a short nap on the flight to Hotlanta. I had to bribe him today which is a bit of a bummer, but if he doesn't start being nicer to Eli I don't know what I'll do. Eli loves Sam--Sam is incredibly impatient with Eli. Sam is 6 Eli is 3--perhaps it's just the age difference. Perhaps it's just Sam acting like an O.C. Pretty sure it's the latter. So he's cranky with Eli a good part of the day--although he would steal a peak to see if I was looking then shower Eli with affection. I am slow but not as slow as Sam thinks. This is not my first time and I'm certain it won't be my last. Then tonight out of the blue he wrote a note to Eli on the Beaches paper pad. (I luv eeuu. Luv Sam) and drew a little heart on it. Go figure. The kid's a mystery. 

He is not a mystery however when it comes to water. He loves it. All kinds. It doesn't matter. He finds great pleasure in baths as well. But I like to watch him in the blue water. He's a fish. I'm bummed and it is with great hesitation I admit this, but he needed a bit of a haircut before we headed down to this little slice of paradise. He'll swim underwater with great ease but when he resurfaces he's almost in a near drown because I'm guessing he doesn't know if he has completely cleared the water's surface and is conflicted on whether to take a breath or not. So he hesitates and has a look of panic until he wipes his hair from his eyes. He can't see--that's the bottom line. 

We had a great day today--We landed in the Turks and Caicos Beaches Resort area at 1:00 p.m. and were down at the beach by 2:00. The water is truly heavenly. Clear turquoise and about 75  degrees. The bummer is as it IS a resort we are having difficulty finding ANY shells. The beaches are pretty cleanly swept. Poor Sam. His collection will lack this year with shells from the Turks. I'm sure he'll get over it. But he does love to add to his collection. Just the other day I found the label to my stove top in there--he's a mystery and perhaps a little cooky. Anyways, as this is an all-inclusive resort we're finding we're pretty lax with our rules on eating. Here's Sam with an ice-cream--just TRY to guess the flavor. If you guessed Superman--you're right. 

Superman's powers it seems are endless. Who knew one of the super powers was staining the enemy? He ate the whole thing--and it showed--for a looonng time. I hope it doesn't stain the sheets.


After we left the beach we wanted to explore the resort. We found the "pirates cove" where they have water slides and a lazy river and a cool body surfing ride. I'll try my hand at that tomorrow as I think we all know my love affair with good board and wave. I've seen no girls on the ride so I'm not sure if the swim suit top is a factor here. Ah heck we're international here--I'll live like the natives. (Yea right)

Being an O.C. it is difficult to share. Unlike the girl in the movie Whale Rider--Sam was ever too keen to take this dolphin for a joy ride and never look back, never sharing it with the 10,000 other kids waiting patiently. He actually fell off it at one point, lost it to a cute little girl who tried her hand at it. She lost control so Sam nabbed it again, she left, pouting a little (as really, in all fairness, she had every right) But it was victory when she glanced back, Sam lost control and fell off that coveted dolphin and her cute grin couldn't be hid any longer. Boys! 

We had to head home and get ready to go out to dinner--we ate at the restaurant Arizona which was average Tex-Mex. Tomorrow we're heading to the Italian village. I think I'll brush up on my Italian in preparation for my trip with mom.