The Bauer Bratts: April 2009

In January we got to go on the vacation of a lifetime. We went to the Western Caribbean. It was so much fun. We went with our friends Genelle and Shawn and Josh and Diana. We met a couple who sat at our table George and Selina and became instant friends with them. Good times were ready to be had.

We left Miami, Florida on Sunday and our first stop was in Jamaica. Jen and Shawn wanted to do the Shark Encounter but the other 4 chickens didn't. So while we were swimming with 6ft. nurse sharks, Genelle, HP, Josh, and Diana were horseback riding and kayaking through Jamaica. This was the day that Genelle and I decided we would have "rent-a-husbands". Shawn and I were more daring and adventurous and Genelle and HP were more low key. Thank goodness I had Shawn to do the "CRAZY" stuff with. Thanks Genelle! After we swam with the sharks we hiked a 600ft. waterfall called Dunn's River Falls. It was awesome! Our picture taker guy and our tour guide thought Shawn and I were married to each other so I have 100 pictures of us together. When we made it to the top, the locals wanted me to get my hair braided. The lady said "let me braid your hair lady" I said "no thanks" she said with a nasty look on her face "lady have you seen your hair" I was like "yes and I'm fine". I still can't get the look on her face out of my mind. So funny! Jamaica was a neat place but not one I would want to spend long periods of time there. The locals are really pushy about the pot. I was uncomfortable.

So our next stop was the Cayman Islands. We went snorkeling with the stingrays and snorkeling in the coral reef. It was amazing. A few of us actually got a massage from the stingrays. One actually kissed me. I have a new found respect for them.

Our last and favorite stop was on Friday of our trip and that was in Cozumel Mexico. We went on a Jeep tour and our new friends George and Selina got to join us. We started out on this 45 minute ferry ride from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen. I was so green around the gills from being sea sick. You know it's gonna be bad when they hand out barf bags before you leave. So we made it to Playa del Carmen where we met our tour guides. Ruben and Carlos were great! We started out driving these jeeps to a private beach where we got to eat some great Mexican food and ride the jet ski's it was a blast. Then we loaded back up in our jeeps and went to the Mayan ruins. They actually let you swim in the sacred waters there. It was very cold but amazing to see. After that we loaded up and went to get back on the "puke" ferry. We all survived. Of course the lady in front of us was not so lucky. Poor thing!

The rest of the days on the boat were about great friends, great fun, and great food. We were all like infants we ate about every 2 hours because the food was unlimited. Shawn made sure we climb the stairs all the time to work off the food though. The staff was so kind to us. It was by far the best time of our lives.

Of course we wouldn't have been able to go had it not been for Mama and Papa Bauer. They watched our kids for 9 days. Got Luke and Brayden to school and somehow kept Sophie busy. We love them and thank them for taking such great care of our angels.

Well since I'm such a slacker and I have sooooooooooooooooooooo much to post about I decided to group it by months so here I go. December was hectic as usual. I tried so hard to get all of the Christmas shopping done by the first of December but there was always one or two or three gifts I had to get. So I was still finishing up things on the 24th as usual. Anyone who says they are done by Thanksgiving or the first of December are flat out liars. Ha!

So our Christmas was good. Every year on Christmas Eve we go to my sisters' house for yummy soup and so my kids can spend time with their Grandma Judy, Aunt Jen, Uncle Jamey, Aunt Lindsey, Uncle Daylan, McKenna, Lauren, and Nicholas. We had a ball watching them open all of their nice presents. Here are some pictures from Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day Santa came to our house so I guess our kiddos were good or daddy must have bribed him. He never tells his secrets. We had all of the Bauer's' over with all of the puppies, Grandma Judy, Mary Ellen, and Grammy's high school Friend/best friend Vivian. We ate breakfast with lots of sticky buns and opened tons of presents. It was fun to see all of Sara's puppies minus Bella get together. So here are some pictures from that day.