Aruba Recap

We had our first snow on Tuesday... a far cry from the beautiful weather we had in Aruba! Boy, I do wish I was back there! (I love the snow for skiing, but they can keep it up in the mountains!)

Our overall impression of Aruba was fantastic and we would recommend it in a heartbeat to anyone looking for a Caribbean getaway! The natives were very friendly and they were not at all pushy like we experienced in Mexico. Only one person approached us to visit their timeshare and they simply took no for an answer and moved on! The hotel and the food were nothing to remember, but when you got the awesome deal we did, you can't really complain! The room was clean, the showers were hot and the food was edible! We weren't there for that stuff anyway!

On our first afternoon in Aruba, we jumped into our swimsuits, strapped on our snorkel gear and walked into the the water for our first swim with the fish! The water was warm and there were lots of little fish right there! Because of the boat traffic close by, it wasn't the best place to snorkel but we made the best of it that day and several more!

On Monday we took a full day tour to De Palm Island, a private island that is set up for water adventure! We arrived to a decent buffet breakfast and then took a dive into the waters where we found a great reef and lots of bigger and prettier fish! I had a blast following a puffer fish around for what seemed like hours! It was so pretty! I wish I could have taken it home! They also had a water park equipped with slides and water spurting everywhere! It was fun to act like a kid! We also road a "banana" boat, which was a big tube pulled by a speed boat! You straddle it while kneeling and they cruise around trying hard to dump you off the side! I fell off twice! It was really fun, although hard on the knees! The kids played volleyball and I relaxed with fancy drinks from the bar! It was a really great day and we were thrilled the island wasn't very crowded.

On Tuesday we decided to take a ride into town and see what treasures we could find! We each came home with something we wanted that represented Aruba. I got a sweatshirt, which seemed very inappropriate since it was 90+ degrees and humid! And of course, we found a great little ornament to remember our trip! It was really the only day we ate out and the food was good.

On Wednesday we decided to take an afternoon jeep tour of the island. What we weren't informed was that we'd have to do the driving. Well, make that Dan, along with some of the other passengers. Since he has such great experience at it, it wasn't difficult, but I'm sure he would have rather let someone else do it for what we paid for the trip! It was my favorite adventure of the week because we got to see a lot of the island many people don't go to. It was a shame they hurried us through there though. The last reward of the trip was a dip in the pools where we got to snorkel around and Dan spotted an eel! They beat the vehicles to death as we 4-wheeled up some pretty tough terrain! Thankfully everyone made it out without too many bumps!

On our final day there we decided to snorkel off the beach to a shipwreck. There are a few different wrecks, but we opted for the one that was closest to shore. The wreck has been there for about 18 years and it was great to see all the schools of fish living around it! And some very cool starfish! The waters were choppy that day as a storm approached, so our fun ended sooner than we wanted. It was good we choose the closer in one though!

The rest of our time throughout the week was spent poolside or beach side - whatever floated our boat! We drank lots of fancy drinks and tried our hardest just to relax! The weather was very cooperative despite the unwelcome humidity!

When it was time to go home, we were relaxed and ready. Thankfully we still had 2 additional days at home before we had to go back to work! Was it the trip of a lifetime - no, however it was exactly what we wanted, expected and enjoyed at this point! There are plenty of more days to come when we can take the trip of a lifetime!! Like China in May??????

So relaxed

What a wonderful week we had relaxing on the beach in Aruba! We got back very late on Friday night (actually Saturday) and spent the rest of our weekend doing those necessary errands and trying not to think about Monday! I woke up on Saturday with a sore throat and don't feel much better tonight... thankfully if I had to get sick it's after the vacation and not during! Maybe I need a few more days off?
I don't feel much like uploading pictures tonight, so just thought I'd share a few. Wasn't this a beautiful sunset? We watched this as we dined on our final night on the island! It went so fast - both the sunset and the week - but we sure did have an awesome time! We'd recommend Aruba over Mexico any day of the week! It was wonderful! I'll share more of the adventure later this week. (I promise!)

Aruba Baby!

Doesn't this look wonderful? In just a few weeks, we will be laying on that beach soaking in the sun and snorkeling in those beautiful blue waters! Oh Baby, ARUBA!!!!!! I am most excited about swimming with the fishes and just relaxing! After the big projects I've had to work on lately at work, I can't wait to relax!! Jealous??!!

Bridal Veil Falls

On Sunday we took a drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park to explore a new hike on a beautiful fall day! Yes, there are actually still plenty of hikes we have not experienced up there yet! It is amazing! This part of the park is not very popular so it really feels like you are lost in nature! We went a total of 6.5 miles roundtrip and relaxed next to a beautiful waterfall! The only downside to the hike - it was HOT! I know, HOT is September? Yep, it was 85 in Estes Park and we weren't very high up, so it was rather unusual for this time of year! But it was an awesome hike!Because it has been so warm and dry here this fall, the colors are just beginning to change up in the high country! The trees are only barely changing down here, but up there we were able to see some beautiful yellow and red! It's not like the Midwest though... colors are quite scarce here!

Before we left the park we did go searching for the elk. There were several herds, however with the unusual heat, they were all bedded down waiting for the temps to drop. There was a little bit of bugling, but nothing like we've witnessed in the past! This little baby was really cute and we were only a stone's throw from them!

Homecoming

Melanie had her first date to Homecoming this year - his name was Briar. He was very nice and they had a good time. She's not telling if anything further will come out of this relationship, but we're not pushing either! She looked very pretty in her dress that we found in Chicago! My little girl is not so little anymore, but we can always wish! (See her baby picture above her head!!)

Slow down time...

I can't believe it's been a week already since we returned from our weekend trip to Chicago! Time just keeps flying... can someone just slow it down a bit??

Melanie and I had a BLAST in Chicago! We arrived very late Thursday night (or Friday morning) and were greeted by my Dad! It was great to see him - he looks fantastic! We got to sleep in a bit on Friday, but then gathered up cousin Cindy and went homecoming dress shopping at the mall! I think Melanie enjoyed having Cindy with... they could be sisters - they liked the same things! Melanie found the "perfect" dress, even with a few sparkles on it! It's purple!! We had a wonderful lunch and even a few minutes at the nail salon treating ourselves before we headed back to Grandpa's! Then the three of us and Grandpa had a quick bite before heading off to see a local play! It was in a cool playhouse and was awesome! I can't remember the name, but it was fun!

On Saturday my "great" friend and fellow card maker, Marlene picked us up for yet another long day of shopping - but this time it was all about the scrapbook stores! I got some great supplies, despite not spending too much money! We had a nice lunch on the patio in Glenview and a wonderful dinner at her house eating one of my favorites - gyros! You just can't get a good one here! It was fun as always to spend time with Marlene (and Paul)!

On Sunday we took Cindy and Phil with us to the Shedd Aquarium! I hadn't been there in over 15 years! It was just as cool as I remember it - maybe even better! I wasn't impressed with their dolphin show, but then again after you've had an opportunity to swim with them yourself, it's never as good just to watch! We did have fun watching the fish, penguins, dolphins and turtles and can't wait to see them in person in Aruba really son! It was also great to spend more time with Cindy and Phil! That evening we had dinner with the family and I got to see everyone but Katie and Matt (but I did get to see him on Monday)!

On Monday, Dad, Melanie and I ventured down to the Museum of Science and Industry. The exhibit on weather was really, really cool! They had a great hurricane to watch and we were mesmerized by it! Melanie got to see her Fairy Castle and couldn't stop staring at it! I love to watch the train move around the country - it's always been one of my favorite things! We wandered around for hours and had a great time at a Chicago favorite! Later that evening we were able to share dinner with Ed and Dad and enjoy the last few hours together before heading home on Tuesday morning!

I will always miss my family, but I seriously do not miss the weather there. it was humid 1/2 the time (I guess that's better than all the time)! I don't miss the traffic and pace, but I do miss the really good food, friends and family!

The day after we got back Dad had a pain in his chest and spent a night in the hospital, thankfully just as a precaution. The test came out just fine and he was diagnosed with a spasm! I'm glad he was OK. After talking to him tonight, he's back in therapy and doing wonderfully!

So, I'm still waiting for someone to slow time down... you can start about 3 p.m. on Friday and make my holiday weekend coming up longer!!! Enjoy everyone!

Hidden Treasure

After we returned from North Dakota, we hitched up the camper and set off for a new camping spot in Colorado - Spruce Grove campground in the Terryall Wilderness. It's an area we have driven through but have never explored and it's only about 2 hours from home! What a hidden gem this turned out to be! We LOVED this campground!

On Saturday morning we set off for a leisurely hike up to lizard rock. It was about 2 miles of constant incline, but nothing major! We really enjoyed the views from the top and the conversation we had with another hiker from Parker! There are several trails in the area and we are anxious to come back another day and check them out as well. You don't always find trails within a campground, so that was very nice!

The campground was surrounded by some great rock formations and there was one that loomed right above our campsite! It looked like it would be hard to climb, but was actually easy - anyone could do it! The views from here were also amazing!

The Terryall River runs right through the campground and people would jump in at one end of the campground and float to the other on inner tubes! It looked like so much fun on a really HOT day! We know now to come back with tubes in the middle of summer!

On the 4th of July we took a roadtrip to nearby Florescent Fossil Beds, a National Monument that we had never seen. Millions of years ago, there was a redwood forest there and after a volcano erupted and then the area flooded, it caused all of that to fossilize! The specimens were cool! Something to see if you like geology! It was a nice way to spend the 4th since we would not get fireworks this year!

So later tonight Melanie and I are headed to Chicago to visit with family and friends! Looking forward to a few good meals as well! Catch you soon!