Grand Cayman Trip

Way back last October we started planning a trip to Grand Cayman for Blake to do a Continuing Medical Education Seminar and to meet Cindy and Ken there.  It seemed like it would never come! We bought the plane tickets, and paid for the seminar way back in November.  Cindy and Ken have been there twice before and have access to a beautiful condo through Ken's boss, we were able to stay in the condo for free! Finally after what seemed like forever, June  4th arrived and we were on our way!

The map on the left is from my photo app on my phone, showing where the picture was taken.  I really didn't know where Grand Cayman was until we started planning this trip.  The map on the right shows where on the island we were staying.  We stayed in the beautiful Ritz Carlton and it was right on the beach!

Cindy and Ken arrived on the island about 2 hours before we did.  After a nice dinner in a great little restaurant we walked out onto the beach and saw this beautiful sunset.  It was breathtaking!

These are some beautiful photos taken from our 4th floor balcony in our Condo. We watched cruise ships come and go in the beautiful turquoise water.  The resort is absolutely beautiful, inside and out.  The last picture on the bottom right was taken from the 7th floor. The palm trees are getting in the way on 4th floor.  The center picture was taken on our last night on the beach.

There are lizards and geckos all over the island, they say they are the islands version of squirrels.  There were some big, and some tiny, some bright green and some brown.  There were also crabs, big, little, and a variety of colors.  There were also chickens and roosters roaming all over the island.

Grand Cayman is a British Island, so the steering wheel is on the right side of the car, and they drive on left side of the road.  I didn't ever get used to it! The traffic circles were the worst! I'm so glad Ken did all the driving, and he did a great job!  The top right picture is a sand wheelchair Blake thought was funny with its big tires.  I feel so bad that I didn't take many pictures inside the beautiful condo, it was just simply amazing.  Here's the only 2 I took! Blake is eating some chips in the beautiful kitchen.  Funny story about the bottom right picture; Blake turned the TV on for the first time and it was Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which we watch all the time with Ryder at home.

Top left: Cindy and Blake by a palm tree. Bottom left: Beautiful orange tree that were all over the island. Center top: 2 of 6 lobsters from Blake's all you can eat lobster dinner.  Center bottom: Beautiful setting for a great meal.  Right: Interesting beach with all the rocks, such a contrast from the soft sandy beach at the resort.

We spent a lot of time on the beach.  Blake had class on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 7-1.  Cindy and Ken went to Crossfit while he was gone, I got to go for walks and just hang out in the condo.  When they got back we would head out to the beach.  Top: First time on the beach just before the wonderful sunset. Bottom left: I had to get a picture of Blake ready to go out to the beach.  Sandals are not his usual attire! Center bottom: These great floaters are anchored out in the water. Right bottom: I can't even describe how soft and wonderful this sand feels on your toes, I've never felt sand like this anywhere.

Here we are hanging out on the beach.  I called these canopies that cover the beach chairs, covered wagons.  They were amazing though.  We had to put towels on our legs to avoid sunburn after awhile though.  The only way to cool down from the sun and humidity was to take a little dip in the beautiful water.

Blake didn't have class on Wednesday, so we took a little cruise out into the ocean.  The first stop was for a little bit of snorkeling.  The water was pretty choppy, but they said it was beautiful.  I just can't get over the beautiful turquoise water.

The next stop was Stingray city.  It's quite amazing that all of a sudden there is a sandbar, and Stingrays live there.  We didn't really get a good picture of the stingrays, but we touched a couple.  If you look closely, you can see them in the water.

The last stop was looking for starfish.  They saw a few, but not very many.  It was a beautiful little location.

Thursday afternoon we drove out to a Turtle Farm.  It was quite interesting.  There were some huge ones, some medium sized ones, some smaller ones and some eggs.  

Ken, Cindy and Blake picked one up and held it, but I was happy just to take pictures and look at them.  

On our last night there, I wanted to take some pictures on the beach.  We did one of the four of us with the timer on Ken's phone.  Cindy and Blake matched colors so nicely.

Some of the shots of Cindy and Ken, it was hard to quit taking pictures because of the beautiful surroundings, I kept wanting another from another angle.  I think these turned out really nice. Thanks for putting up with me and my picture taking obsession.

This was our 39th Wedding Anniversary! 39 years seem to have flown by when I think back.  Just like this little trip to the Cayman flew by way to fast. Thanks Cindy and Ken for the fun adventures!

"May"hem 2017

Just a few memories we made in May!

 Ryder fixated on the TV and Mickey Mouse, then checking out all the tulips.

 Molly checking out her shadow and new little seat.  Jared's taking Clark and Molly for a little spin on the trike.

Blake and I and Ryder visited the John Deere expo at Jensen's Grove.  Ryder had a blast splashing the pop cans in the bucket of the tractor.

May 5 - Blake and I took a little trip over to Twin Falls, we went to the temple then to see Shoshone Falls. It was amazing! So much water coming over the falls!

 May 6 - I can't believe I'm posting this picture! While the guys were out at the Lavas shooting guns, they found this snake! They ended up killing it, but not before getting some pictures.  Molly and Ryder loved splashing in the hot tub.

May 6 & 7 - We celebrated Randy's birthday on the 6th with hamburgers and a few presents. Since we didn't have a cake, we put a candle in a Ding Dong.  Ryder loved the cake and candles on his actual birthday.  (He turned the big 29!)

 Ryder's trying out the slide, throwing rocks in to the lake, helping Grandpa mow Grandma Great's lawn, and finishing off Grandpa's pop.

Maden, Annie and Clark are enjoying a picnic under their big umbrella and roasting marshmallows in their fire pit.  This is such a nice picture of Blake's mother, Helen with some beautiful flowers she got for Mother's Day.  Molly was a big girl and threw away her binky. She and Jared are standing by the bear at Black Bear Diner, and Molly is all dressed up and ready to go the Temple Open House.

Maden got to go fishing for a field trip in school, then he was dressed up like a teacher.  Annie had a great time flying the little kite we made.  She loves taking pictures and took this close up of me.

 May 20 - We celebrated Ryder's 2nd birthday! He had a lot of family and friends there to wish him a happy birthday!

Molly wanted to climb a tree when she saw Annie doing it. Clark, Annie and Maden trying out the cool Muana sand box Celia made. After Ryder's party, Clark and Molly were pretending to drive my car, so Maden and Annie climbed in for the ride.  I was still fixing buttons and turning things off and on for days. Annie brought her skate board and tried it out on our driveway.  She did really well for her first time.  Clark loved sitting on it and going down the slight slope of the driveway.  

Jared, Blake, Brian, Maden and Annie took the boat out for a little spin and some fishing.

May 23 - Ryder's real birthday.  I put 2 candles in his yogurt at breakfast, then bought some little cupcakes for candles at lunch.  He loved playing with the new cars, there is even a truck like his dads.

Jared, Nikelle and Molly went on a little camping trip, they took the trike and went for a walk. They said it was very green and beautiful.  Ryder got to touch a lobster at Red Lobster.  We were surprised he would touch it.  Brian had a tennis match, and Celia and Maden had baseball practice, so I went to tend Clark, he wasn't thrilled that I was there and wouldn't come any closer than the hall.  The tennis match was chilly, so Annie was all wrapped up in a blanket.  It was fun to watch Brian play tennis again.

 May 27 - We took a little trip to Yellowstone Bear World. We had to take our pictures in front of The Bear. Molly loved being free from her car seat and roaming around to everyone's laps.  The bears were pretty active.

 We went to the petting zoo, Ryder loved it, Molly did not! The goat loved Blake's food.  

Ryder and Molly loved the little rides.  They went on the train and the bumpy cars.  

Before Bear World, Blake, Randy, Brian and Annie went to Blacktail Reservoir for a little fishing time. After Bear World, Randy and Blake went to help Jared do some wiring, and Molly and Ryder had fun with some bubbles. 

Sunday May 28 - Brian's family came for dinner, Maden loves to play games, so Grandma Beth and I played with him.  Ryder and Clark played with tractors and Annie chilled in the little chair.

Memorial Day - We went to the Ammon Cemetery, Molly and Ryder loved playing around and looking at the headstones. 

Brian and Celia hosted a BBQ and combined it with a congratulatory celebration for Jared finishing school and passing his test.  He is now a Journeyman Electrician! Celia made this cute cake for the occasion.

After we ate, and the babies napped, then they had a great time jumping on the tramps.  They were pretty funny to watch, Clark is a good little experienced jumper, Molly and Ryder spent more time falling down, but they still giggled and loved it.

Jared, Randy, Brian, Maden and Annie took the boat back out to Blacktail.  Annie got tired and took a nap on the boat.  Blake took his mother and sat on the dock with her. She loved it, it was a good little outing for her.