Beautiful Bounty

Our hometown is one of the State's major tourist destinations. To some, that's a negative because of the seasonal tourist invasion, but we consider it a huge PLUS. We're surrounded by natural beauty, and there's always something to do on the weekend. In addition to all the "permanent" fun, we occasionally have visiting attractions.

This past weekend, Her Majesty's Ship Bounty was in town for a brief visit. Does the name sound familiar? That's because she's famous! The abbreviated bio below is from her website.

The HMS Bounty is one of the most famous ships in the world. Known for the storied mutiny that took place in Tahiti in 1789 on board the British transport vessel, the current Bounty, a replica, has survived to tell the tale. Built for the 1962 movie “Mutiny on the Bounty” with Marlon Brando, HMS Bounty sails the country offering dockside tours in which one can learn about the history and details of sailing vessels from a lost and romanticized time in maritime history. Since her debut in “Mutiny on the Bounty”, HMS Bounty has appeared in many documentaries and featured films such as the Edinburgh Trader in Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Mans Chest with Johnny Depp. 

We simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet a true celebrity! The experience was exciting for all, but exhausting as well. This little buccaneer fought to stay awake so he wouldn't miss a moment of fun, but the battle was eventually lost. I'd say that's better than the alternative of being forced to walk the plank due to crankiness!

It's fun afternoons like this spent with friends that make me want to share a little bit of wisdom with the other locals that complain about "tourist season." If you can't beat them, join them!!! You're the one missing out on all the fun!!!

Carnival for a Cause

It's that time again...Time for annual school carnival! The entire city comes out to meet up with friends and enjoy the thrills of the Midway: rides, games, music, junk food, and fireworks. It's a guaranteed good time, and the fun benefits some incredible kids and dedicated teachers.

I enjoyed my time on the rides with the boys. While Jaxon is tall enough to ride alone, Baylor is still an inch or two shy of being parent-free. It's sort of sad to imagine that they'll be riding alone next year. Goodness, they're growing up fast! At least I don't have to worry about them boarding the super scary rides like these high-flying swings for a few more years!

Nope, for now, the biggest carnival-related worry is whether we can keep the goldfish that Jaxon won alive for more than 24 hours! Willing to give it a valiant effort, we stopped off at Walgreens on the way home hoping to pick up some fish flakes. Imagine our surprise to discover that Walgreens was complete sold out of all fish supplies. I guess we weren't the only "lucky" winners that evening!

Meet Zap...His days are numbered, but so far he's proving to be a fighter. He survived the first night in this bowl filled with bottled water. For food, he had to settle for bits of hotdog bun since there was a shortage of fish flakes. Maybe he'll amaze us and be a survivor...

Remember those swings? Yeah, Aunt Kelly joined us during our second day at the carnival, and somehow, she convinced me to ride them. I was terrified! It's not the ride itself that is scary. It's the thought that you're life depends on the carnie that assembled the ride. You have to trust that he was competent and sober when he did it. Otherwise, you'll go flying through the air to your death. If you've ever seen a carnie, you know what I'm talking about!

After the swing experience, I swore off carnival rides that soar more than 2 feet off the ground. I value my life! Besides, the real fun is having Jaxon or Baylor by your side. Their smiles and laughter are thrilling enough.

Birthday Boating

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, 

A tale of a fateful trip 

That started from this tropic port 

Aboard this tiny ship.

The mate was a mighty sailing man, 

The skipper brave and sure. 

Five passengers set sail that day 

For a three hour tour, a three hour tour. 

Luckily, that's where the similarities end. The weather never turned rough and the ship was never tossed. Okay, allow me to explain. Aunt Kelly had the brilliant idea to celebrate her 27th birthday on the open water. I won't lie, the plan made me a bit nervous at first. The idea of celebrating on a boat with 3 young kids and without an experienced captain had my brain working overtime. Luckily, our dear sweet Kathryne decided to join us for the outing. She's a true Floridian and spent a great deal of her childhood on a boat with her dad. Captain Kathryne saved the day & my nerves!

The sun was shining, and the gang was all smiles as we set out for our 3-hour tour. I packed a picnic-style lunch for everyone to enjoy, but I was especially excited to reveal a little edible birthday surprise.

Jello shots...the prettiest jello shots I've ever seen. Yes, I'm patting my own back. I thought using fruit rinds was a brilliant idea. Too bad I can't claim the idea, but I will credit myself with great execution. Ha! The adults were treated to mojito, lemon drop, and sunrise shots. Knowing that Jaxon and Baylor wouldn't want to be left out of the birthday toast, I made alcohol free Arnold Palmer jello shots (Lemonade & Sweet Tea) for them. The surprise was a big hit! Something tells me these little gems will be my contribution to many future parties.

Also on the menu...Individual 7-layer dips, taquitos, and of course birthday cupcakes. All the essential party foods!

I dare say the afternoon was perfect. The food was good. The scenery was amazing. The company was even better. Really, what else can you ask for?

The birthday girl even scored a few gifts...seriously, it was the perfect party. I say from this point on, a birthday boat party needs to be scheduled each year. The guest of honor can vary!

I know 2 party guests that won't object. Jaxon and Baylor had a fabulous time, and their excitement peaked when they got the opportunity to take over the Captain's chair and drive the boat...under the watchful eye of Captain Kathryne.

I even took a turn, but I quickly returned the responsibility to Kathryne. I'm more than content with my role as passenger. Check out the boys' attempt to "look scared" for the picture!

The water was a bit cold, but I couldn't keep the boys out of it. Jaxon is a little fish and would rather risk hypothermia than remain on the anchored boat. Baylor didn't last quite as long in the water as Jaxon, but he made the most of the experience.

Great idea, Aunt Kelly! I know you enjoyed a wonderful 27th birthday. Thanks for sharing the experience with us. I think we're all looking forward to your 28th...even if you aren't.

Egg Hunting Extravaganza

The Easter Bunny was good to us this year. Of course, he's pretty thoughtful every year, but the Easter Bunny must have felt particularly generous in 2012. Maybe the Bunny was feeling extra festive because it was Grant's first Easter...or maybe it was because 2012 marked the return of Aunt Kelly as a participant in the annual family Easter egg hunt!

Aunt Kelly's return to the competition definitely brought out the gang's competitive spirit. There was a healthy level of pre-hunt smack talking, and somehow I found myself as the target. Everyone seemed determined to take me down. I had to remind the family that I don't typically come out on top when it comes to egg hunting. Last year, it was the Asian siblings that took the grand prizes. The Asians aren't to be discounted. Especially, Aunt Nguyen! She was also a part of the winning Asian duo in 2009. If there's anybody to single out, it's Uncle Travis that needs to be "taken down" at the starting line. He's the only family member to take both the gold and silver eggs in 2010! 

Sadly, the "official" records are incomplete and the rest of the years are somewhat hazy in everyone's memories. Egg hunting was an annual event growing up, but the adult hunts began in 2006. Looking back through old photos, I discovered Uncle Al took the golden egg that year. We didn't think to photograph the winner or winners in 2007 or 2008. So, it's possible I won at least one of those years. Regardless, I think the documented recent years prove that I am hardly a threat.

That argument worked to my advantage! I flew under the radar and managed to uncover the silver egg early in the hunt! I almost took the gold as well, but Aunt Kelly swooped in behind me hot on my trail and scooped up the top prize. That's okay...she'll be the one taken down next year. Watch your back, Aunt Kelly! People will be gunning for you in 2013!

The Final Results

1st Place - Kelly ($213)

2nd Place - Shannon ($163)

3rd Place - Baylor ($101)

4th Place - Travis ($71)

5th Place - Jaxon ($17)

6th Place - Anh ($0)

I'm sure a few of you are wondering why Jaxon's grand total was so low compared to the other's. Well, it's not because he's a lousy egg hunter, and Jaxon isn't lacking in the speed department. In actuality, Jaxon wasn't focusing on the eggs. He was busy snatching up the Skylander figurines that were scattered throughout the yard. To him, those were worth more than any gold or silver egg! In less than an hour, Jaxon's Skylander collection went from 3 figurines to over 30! Not too shabby. If you assigned a dollar amount to the Skylanders, Jaxon would actually claim at least 3rd place possibly even 2nd. Now...what's Anh's excuse for his performance? At least he knows his kneecaps are safe in 2013. The rest of us will have our guards up!

Island Time

Up, up, and awaaaaaay!!! Spring Break 2012 was a family adventure in Puerto Rico. In this case, use of the word "family" also extends to our good friends Scott and Geraldine. It was fabulous to have our very own personal tour guides. Having grown up in Puerto Rico, they were a priceless asset!


After landing in San Juan, we collected our luggage, piled into our rental car, and headed East for paradise. As we approached our resort, we smiled with delight because it was clear we had discovered something special...VERY special. The St. Regis Bahia Beach is nothing short of AMAZING! The resort itself is beautiful, and the surrounding tropical rain forest and beach is stunning!

After checking out the main reception area in the Plantation House, we were whisked away on a golf cart to our Villa. The impressive entrance and common areas had truly peaked our imaginations, and despite trying not to get our hopes up, we had grand expectations for the room.

We weren't disappointed! Luxurious accommodations with a to-die-for bathroom/shower room. That's how big the shower was! It was pretty much it's own room. All this with a peak-a-boo ocean view from the balcony. Man oh man, I miss our Villa! It was a great place to call home for the week.

Excited to see more, we set out to explore the grounds a bit. Wandering the meandering paths, we discovered the wide sandy beach. It was the perfect spot to sit and relax as we discussed all the fun possibilities for the week.

Of course, eventually our growling stomachs pulled us away from the beach and towards one of the resort restaurants. We dined on the candlelit patio while being serenaded by the islands millions of Coqui tree frogs. It was music to our ears and a delight for our tastebuds.

The next morning, we were up bright and early ready to truly start our vacation. Sadly, we had to tear ourselves away from our lovely resort because we had plans to meet up with Scott and Geraldine who were staying at a different property. Don't feel too badly for us though. Scott and Geraldine's resort was also very impressive. It was much larger in scale and was perched high on a cliff overlooking the breathtaking turquoise water below.

After exploring the grounds, we boarded a ferry bound for a private island owned by the resort. See! I told you not to feel sorry for us.

Palomino Island is the perfect spot to waste away an afternoon. The powdery beaches were ultra inviting. Topped only by the crystal-clear water! Just watch out for the falling coconuts...you think I'm kidding! On Palomino Island you can be as active or lazy as your heart desires. There are hiking and horseback riding trails plus a variety of sports courts. The lounge chairs were calling my name though, and the boys were simply eager to finally splash in the waves.

Several hours and fruity drinks later, it was time to call it a day and reboard our ferry to the mainland which in our case was still an island. Ahhhh! Did I mention we loved Puerto Rico? We were thankful that Scott and Geraldine shared their resort with us, and we couldn't wait to repay the favor the following day when they would relocate to our resort for a night. We booked them a Villa as a way of thanking them for serving as the best tour guides EVER.

We spent Day 3 exploring El Yunque National Rain Forest. After stopping by the Welcome Center to pick up a map and a few souvenirs, we started our adventure.

The Spring rains meant the waterfalls were especially beautiful, and I had to question the decision by the other tourists to scale the fences and jagged rocks beneath the falls. Apparently, they didn't see all the news stories from the past year about silly tourists ignoring posted warnings and being washed over the raging waterfalls.

Besides the gorgeous waterfalls, there were long-range incredible views from the mountainside to the sea. One of the best spots for pictures was at the observation tower located halfway up the trail.

360 degree views of paradise...what else could really ask for?! Beauty at it's finest!

With the temperature and humidity climbing, we decided it was time to stake out a shady spot for lunch. The little roadside cafe proved to be the perfect spot. We enjoyed some of the more popular local dishes, and Baylor had what must be the most delicious chicken quesadilla ever! I'm glad he decided to share.

After lunch, we returned to the resort just in time to greet Scott and Geraldine as they were checking in. We relived the magic of first seeing the immaculate grounds through their eyes, and then returned to our villas to freshen up for dinner at our resort's top restaurant, Chef Jean Georges' FERN. The meal was memorable for it's flavors, but the fact that upscale restaurant is so welcoming to children was what really left such an incredible impression with our group. Two thumbs up!!!

Day 4 required us to divide and conquer. For Anh and Scott, that meant the golf course. It was some much deserved time away from the wives and kids...guy time. Jaxon and Baylor were a bit disappointed to learn that they wouldn't be golfing with Dr. Scott, but thankfully, the pool with Mom and Ms. Geraldine was an acceptable plan B.

The oasis-style pool was the perfect spot to spend our day. While the temperature was technically only in the mid-80's, the humidity made it feel much warmer. Thank goodness for the cool water, shade umbrella, and frozen drinks!

We weren't the only ones enjoying the pool that day. Check out the iguana in the tree! While we found him quite entertaining to observe, I can tell he thought we were equally fascinating. If any of the kids got too close, he would  scurry up the tree trunk out of reach, but he'd always creep back down where he had a better view of all the surrounding activity. Clearly, Mr. Iguana enjoyed the attention.

Eventually, And and Scott joined us poolside. The boys were thrilled to have their new BFF, Dr. Scott, back. I'd be willing to bet that Scott's arms were a bit weary by the end of the day after 18 holes of golf and hours of tossing the boys around the pool. I wonder why Scott and Geraldine turned down our offer to stay a second night?

On Day 5 it occurred to us that our island vacation was almost over, and we decided to venture off the resort grounds again. This time, our plan was to spend the day in Old San Juan, but the boys wanted to spend an hour on the driving range before we took off.




I'm not sure whether Jaxon and Baylor were more interested in hitting golf balls or driving the golf cart. Regardless, it was a fun morning. I'm fairly certain that we'll be taking more vacations centered around golf in the future. Jaxon and Baylor were so excited that their clubs and golf shoes were packed along with Dad's. I guess I better start shopping for extra travel golf bags. It's also a good thing that we fly on Southwest and don't have to worry about baggage fees!

Old San Juan actually reminded us a lot of our own downtown. Both cities reflect the Spanish style and architecture and are major tourist destinations. We wandered the district's narrow streets lined with restaurants and shops looking for a few souvenirs and gifts and found the restaurant that Geraldine recommended for our farewell dinner.

We stumbled upon the Castillo San Cristobal which once protected the city from attack. It was hard to miss it, actually, since it sits majestically on the ocean cliff overlooking Old San Juan. It's really a sight to behold.


To the boys' delight, they were appointed honorary National Park Rangers complete with badges. I'd say they took their honorary role quite seriously. Maybe they can go back this Summer and make a few bucks.



With the sun setting, we snapped a few pictures and headed back down into town to an amazing farewell dinner. Geraldine knows her restaurants, and Aquaviva in Old San Juan did not disappoint. I'd share all the food photos (You know I took a million!), but this post is already so picture-heavy,  I was afraid I'd blow some data limit or lose the few loyal readers I still have thanks to my irregular blogging habits if I included the food pics too. The boys are cuter to look at anyway!
Of course, it wouldn't be a Shannon post without at least a food photos. You have to admit, I've shown remarkable restraint! On our 6th and final day, we made one last stop on the way to the airport. It might have been last on our itinerary, but lunch at the kiosks of Luquillo Beach (kioskos de Luquillo) was one of my top priorities for the trip. The kiosks are basically shacks along Luquillo Beach that are extremely popular with locals. Fine dining it isn't, but the food is fabulous and is served with an ocean view. It's an experience that's not to be missed.

The same could be said about the entire island of Puerto Rico. Anh and I love to travel, but there aren't many places that can hold our attention for more than 5 days. I can honestly say that we weren't ready to leave Puerto Rico, but the words of a dear friend echo through my head. "You have to leave so you can return." So very true, and I'm already counting down the days until we can be reunited with our little piece of paradise.