Love the Caribbean

We took the customary walk down the beach, this time we stopped in at the Dreams Resort and walked around.  We don't have the gumption Kevin has, or we would have had breakfast while we were there.  After all it is an All-inclusive resort, would they have asked for ID?

Love these beaches.

Towards the afternoon the wind began to settle down and we went out snorkeling.  Ok, The only time I can remember seeing this much sea life was when we were in the Grand Caymans.  WOW!! the fish were abundant and everywhere you looked.

I have the underwater camera, but honestly with goggles on and it's small viewing thingy...I can't ever tell if I got a good shot or not, but some of these turned out fabulous.

Look at all those fishys.

 Then I turned the corner and look what I saw...  MY OH MY...wish I could call Logan over...

Found Logan, took a couple of tries before he saw the sea turtle.

Yea, that was worth it.  So Cool!

We've Arrive

Arrving at the airport at 6 am today, we were hopeful to get on the first flight of the day.  No such luck, this has seriously turned into the worst week and I'm talking days before we even left home.  Having a hard time holding back tears and learning just how much the airlines pawn you off to the next clerk, it boils down to if you made the mess yourself, or so they think you have, you get to lay in it and they just don't give a damn.

We were told our luggage was in Houston and couldn't leave without us.  Lie.

We were told we were number on the stand by list and as those people got seat or didn't check in we'd move up the list. Lie.

First of all,  Houston is way too busy of an airport, when we were attempting to check in and standing in the line for 1 1/2 hours, the clerks were too few, they kept leaving their post, luggage was piling up everywhere and the conveyor belt wasn't working so they were transporting it by carts, people that needed assistance were not helped in a timely manner causing further back up in the line. 

And we learned that if the airline caused someone to be delayed, such as mechanical failure those people were bumped to the front of the stand by list no matter what.  If they over booked, which it seems the overbooked every flight by 20 or more people, you were 2nd on the list.  If you missed a connection, you were 3rd on the list and as I realized that this morning I began to think we would never leave Houston.  As we watched the 10:25 flight on the marquee, it showed 6 available seats, which means 6 people didn't check in before the hour mark of departure and Logan and I were 5 & 6 on the stand by list, but we had been on the stand by list  the longest.  I watched as each of the four names ahead of us were given seat assignments, then my name went up with a seat assignment and as luck would have it, because "if you have no bad luck you have no luck at all" two people came up to the check in counter and it looked like they were going to bump us.  Remember those tears, they were somewhat visable when I talked to the people in the check in counter.  I didn't get bumped, but Logan still didn't have a seat, I heard them ask the couple that one seat was open, did they want to split or not, they said no, HALLELUJAH!!! and Logan and I were on that plane and one of us was in first class.   But had that couple said yes, most likely I would have given up my seat and they would have been on the plane instead. 

When we arrive, I immediately when to the baggage claim center and there was our luggage, I didn't even stop at the baggage carousel.  So do you think it was on the same plane as us?  Noooo it wasn't, pretty sure it arrived yesterday, so much for their telling us it can't leave without us.  So we got bumped because of the hour mark, but the luggage didn't, yet from what I am told the luggage is the reason they have the one hour deadline.  I think it has more to do with allowing those overbooked ticket holders a chance to get on to the plane without having to give out vouchers and apologies, it's easier to tell the idiot who didn't check-in before the hour cut off time, too bad for you and oh yea -  good luck getting a seat.  I was a bit irritated at the number of times we were told "Hey it's Spring Break, you should know better" - so to Continental - "Hey, it's Spring Break and you should know better than to be short staffed"

So we've arrived, with a big lesson learned.  Always pre-check in the night before!!! And arrive two hours early.  If you can't pre-check in you must arrive four hours early.  

The weather's nice, not perfect, hoping for calmer winds tomorrow, and we've got our own personal taxi - escort - chauffer for Thursday.  He will arrive at 8 am and drive us to Coba and to some Cenote's an all day excusion for a mear $80. He took us from the bus station to our cottage, to the store, waited and back home again, $25.  Why would anyone rent a car down here?

I'm loving the sound of the surf...gonna go to sleep now and get some much needed rest, why is traveling so tiring, even when you're just sitting around.   BTW - the FB post - Terminal E is for international flights - the numbers represent each gate we tried to get a flight at on Saturday.  Exhausting and Exhausted!!  Good night.

The Best part of our Vacation -

We started our vacation with a two day lay over in Houston and the family gathered together and spent  a day at the zoo.  We've arrived and look at all those toddlers and strollers. 

The first order of business is a stop to at the Restrooms.

The fishes - we loved all the fish.

They have a clear tunnel the kiddos can climb through and view the fish all around them.  Of course it makes for a great photo op for the grandmas.

This little monkey came and sat down at the window to show off her treat.  Oh, were talking the chimpanzee, not Halli.

While the girls were on the merry go round, JJ took a front row seat ...look at that line up of strollers.

The Elephants

The Giraffes, well one giraffe sitting down.

JJ had fun with grandpa Logan.  Logan managed to get a hold of  JJ's hand in his mouth and he made sure it didn't get close to his mouth again. In rretaliation, JJ found grandpa's ear and bit down on it.

Happy Ashlyn.

And LeNea has grown up over night, she was running all over the playground and loving it.

Here we sit at the Houston Airport Holiday Inn hotel because we "checked in" too late and have been placed on standby.  I am seriously frustrated and really hating Continental and will think really hard about ever taking them again.  We are going to attempt to get on the first flight out tomorrow.  The ticket clerk told us to think positive, it's Sunday, people get drunk and can't get up and moving in the morning and then Logan pointed out, that it's daylight savings time....and they have to have checked in no less than one hour before the flight leaves to get a boarding ticket.  59 minutes will bump you to standby.  So we're praying hard for drunks and daylight savings. 

A study on Reflections

My first painting is done...some minor errors, things I need to learn...but here it is.

Photographers in the Making

Here's what you get when two little boys get their hands on a camera.  By the way, I was really wanting to take some pictures of Logan's handy work and just haven't gotten around to it.  While the boys were here helping, they each had a hand in photographing the working that was taking place. There are lots of pictures here, but I've only posted a small portion of them, they managed to take 554 photos. 

We start with Chase...as he begins his series of photographs.

The guys working on the steps.

The Board...you will see through out the series here variations of this board.

He discovered a funny funny photo op....the boys couldn't wait to come and show me every time he took another photo like this, not that I minded, I think Logan might now that I've posted it.

One lone brick.

The board.

He took this one by taking a photo of his reflection.

The siding...I know, right now it looks like an old barn.

This wall is looking so fabulous, I can't wait to plant some flowers.

A close up of the board.

Looking back at the back side of the house.

Long ways up or Down.

Woody and his Rocket

Now I thought this was a clever photograph.  Chase took the photo of the fireplace / entertainment cabinet and the glass door has reflected Logan and the work going on outside.

The boys are really thinking how clever they are...grandpa is so busy he can't stop them from taking these pictures.  So funny and you'll all thank me that I didn't post all of them. 

Tyler wetting the rocks and dirt, so Gandpa can compact it and the steps don't sink.

I was encouraging them to take a photo of something new...Here's what Chase gave me.

It's beautiful.

Doesn't Tyler look like the little boy on the ladder from the Nativity?

A silhouette moment.

You're gonna miss this board the minute Tyler get's the camera.  Last opportunity to view it...take a long long look.

Tyler has now decided he want a turn at it....here he comes.........

He's so handsome.

These guys are so adorable...love that they love wroking with Grandpa.

Sweeping the rocks...not sure that's gonna help.

but the water will do wonders and it's much more fun.

Those babies weigh 100lbs each, and to think he's moved everyone of them himself, at least twice.

What a great day.

A view of the west wall.  Just need a fence.

Looking Good!

Are you getting the picture now?  there'll be lots and lots of patio when he's done.

Chase is the ultimate model...he's not coming for the camera...but....

he love's to have his photo taken.

and Tyler has an eye for the unconventional photograph.

what a model...

Cheese!

that would be the low voltage light he's sticking the hose into, hmmm.

and here Tyler's discovered the rapid shutter button...

go through it real fast and you'll see Chase moving.

The End.

There was much disappointment when the card was full.