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.