The highlight of the Grand Cayman day was Stingray City. We opted to purchase from a local rather than buying the cruises shore excursion package. Over all it was a good choice.

We joined another family of four and a young couple for a total of twelve. We got a great deal since the cost from the cruise line was $50.00 per person and we paid $25.00 per person. SWEET!!

The trade off was that they were on a huge catamaran (with hundreds of people) and we were on a very small boat with 14 people including the guides and only 12 life jackets I’m talking a very, very, small boat. But it was a great adventure.

When we arrived at Stingray City the guide/van driver/boat driver got out a huge knife and a bucket of squid and began slicing away. This is what we would be feeding the stingrays. The water was very shallow and we all began jumping into the water.

The good trade off for our personal package is that we were in an area with only 13 people in the water with a bucket of squid and the ships group was huge. We got lots of personal attention and were each able to feed and hold the stingrays as much as we wanted…which really was not that much for me LOL.

On the return trip our small boat was able to navigate through iguana alley where we could see ton of iguanas sunning on the shores. It was really cool to see. They actually looked like the were posing for the pictures. A route I’m sure the catamaran could not have taken.

It was a fun day with even more time to shop for souvenirs. Jake got a shark tooth necklace and Sam got a wallet. SUCCESS!!!

Well this week we had two fun mamaw days.  Brandon took a couple of days off from work and made plans to take the family to Chuck E Cheese for the summer ending back to school treat.  Sam (age 4) called me early that morning with the exciting news and invited me to come along.   Shortly before they left, Jake asked if he could bring a friend from the neighborhood, and Brandon said no it’s just going to be us today and Sam said “and Mamaw…I called her”.   So  Flavius and I had the pleasure of joining them on this excursion thanks to Sam’s invitation:)

Of course Brandon likes to play games as much as the kids do so it was an experience just to see how many tickets they actually accumulated together.

Melt Beads

When our regular Mamaw day rolled around we spent most of the morning with some plastic forms with pegs that you place tiny beads on, then you iron it and it melts the beads and you have this little artwork toy.  VERY Tedious but still lots of fun.  Who comes up with this stuff?

Lunch at McDonald’s, fun in the play room with newly made friends.  And then back home for cartoons and more with the melt beads.  It really seemed to be a hit and we spent most of the day around the kitchen table. Sometimes just sorting the bead into little clear plastic cups.   Plenty of good conversation.  It’s great how the conversation flows when you all work on something together without the interruption of TV.  Brandon joined us and made the most highly admired plastic creation.

We ordered pizza and then it was off to Kart Kountry for more fun.  Amy was attending the Beth Moore event in Lexington so there was five of us.  Sam rode with Brandon.  Jake rode with Flavius and I was on my own.  You know how they choose sides in school for the kick ball game or something and the  girl does not get picked because they think she is no good?   Well I showed them.  I won by a land slide.  Zoom Zoom!!  Real fun!  It’s always a contest right:)

Only two tickets left and the unanimous choice was the bumper boats.  I only wish I had my camera.  These are the boats that have big water guns on the front.  Brandon as an only child has no sibling rivalry but he and his dad go at it pretty hard.  Needless to say they were all drenched when the ride was over.  There was even some little girl that decided it was her mission to soak them as well.  What a hoot.

As always a fun, memorable day.

Kart Kountry

Sam and Jake arrived Friday very excited about the fact that they saw a real snake by the road on the way to my house. So of course we headed out on foot to find said snake. Just as we arrived near the alleged area of the spotting, something resembling a snaked slithered into the lake.

Amy said it was coiled and ready to strike and that Jake was way too close for comfort, so we returned to the house for a You Tube lesson on how dangerous snake really are.   We spent close to an hour with two laptops on the kitchen table watching You Tube videos of constrictors squeezing rabbits, sidewinders side winding, and cobras and assorted other snake striking and biting. Lesson learned.

A decision was made to spend the day at Kart Kountry. . The boys raided Flavius’ change jar for quarters and off we went for the days adventure. Much time was spent at the arcades and then miniature golf. It was actually 36 holes because we played each hole twice while we waited for the slow pokes in front of us to finish.  I know no name calling.  But hey they were really slow.

We grabbed McDonald’s happy meals and headed to the air-conditioned house to eat lunch and watch cartoons. We worked some puzzles and played battleship.

Late that evening Brandon and Amy joined us for dinner at Sake Blue and then back to Shepherdsville for blizzards from DQ as promised if Sam and Jake were good all day…which they were.

We walked down to Ethan’s house and the boys had some fun there before returning to our house to finish the day watching more cartoons with Jake and a few games of tic/tac/toe with Sam.

Big hugs brought the end to a great day of fun with Sam and Jake.  We love you guys!!!