Aruba

We just got back from a fun-filled (with a little R&R) vacation in Aruba. What a fun spot to visit - perfect weather, hot & breezy every day. We stayed at a couple different hotels and different areas on the island, and enjoyed exploring a little bit of the country side. We rented a car one day and took a tour of the south & east side of the island - opposite of the resort area. Not what you would expect, the land was full of cactus! It was all very picturesque, world famous white & blue beaches, rocky cliffs, and dry desert sands. We were able to spend Wednesday evening with the Nedds as well - was special to meet their little family. Here is a story-board of our highlights...

On the first evening, we had dinner at a Japanese steakhouse... pretty exciting for the kids... flames & dancing knives...
Bella covered her face from the flames
aaaahhhh, life is good!

Watching a water fireworks display one evening...

Bella & a little girl her age spent about an hour together, running & playing and talking to each other. It was about 1/2 an hour into their time together when Bella came over and whispered into my ear... "she doesn't talk English".... they easily overcame the boundary of language and laughed & played and chatted like there was no barrier at all! It was cute.

We had some 'friends' by the pool...

Our drive out into the 'desert'

This picture is for Mike's brother Dan, CEO of Valero Iowa.

'rustic' beach on east side of Aruba

sisters

Kate spent about 15 minutes playing in this spot...

no Mom, I didn't let her touch the snake

Mike & the kids getting up-close and personal with some free-range donkeys

Wednesday night with the Nedds...

Taking a stroll over the 'bridge'

JetBlue coming with another load of tourists

Enjoying the shade

Goofy

Bella spent lots of time digging castles

Strawberry smoothies became a fast hit...

...enjoyed by all

Beach bums... opps, I guess I didn't have a picture of myself at the beach... go figure! no really, go figure!

Giggles

Strolling through the hotel

Dinner (my favourite) at Rumba, where I had the most amazing rosemary & bacon encrusted rack of lamb... ummmm

Cruise ships docked nearly every day

Ahhh, my tummy's full of ice cream... at Mike's favourite restaurant, Que Pasa

Family picture by the beach. David started getting a fever the last day, and thus the pout on his face. (Ended up taking him in today and he has an ear infection.) At least he waited until the last day!

And we're back home... So Kate runs around the house now and says 'be-be' which in turn means she wants to take her diaper off and try out new things.... I'm not ready for this. It's not that much fun. So I sat her down the other day and went to do something (probably laundry), and David came in crying saying that Kate needed me....

she eventually shared the laughs