Another Year, Another Move: Part One

Well I think an update is long overdue, don't you agree? Where do I even begin, and how do I possibly catch up on the last 4 months and all the life changes and adventures that they hold? I am hoping that once I start typing, somehow muscle memory, combined with lucid, free-flowing thoughts will just magically take over and guide me through in a somewhat organized and coherent fashion...

Well, when we last left off, we were packing up the house for our 4th move in 2 years. Unfortunately, because we were so short staffed at work, I had to work all the way up until the day before the movers arrived. It was one of those moments in life when you don't know how you are going to possibly get everything done and make it through to the other side, but somehow you arrive,  and you are so thankful once you do. And thankful we were, because awaiting for us on the other side was an early Christmas present, a cruise to the Caribbean!

We are so grateful to have the opportunity to travel right now, and to visit different cultures and see different parts of the world. We had such an amazing time on the cruise, and appreciated the opportunity to see three countries in just one vacation: Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Cozumel, Mexico. However, after having spent some time in Antigua and Jamaica previously, I felt like the cruise was a drive-thru, fast-food version of traveling.  I am sure the countries do appreciate the money the tourists spend and put into their economy; however, it almost felt rude to travel all this way, and only be able to spend half a day at each spot. It just felt disrespectful to the people, their history, and their culture in a way to pretend we could do their country justice in a matter of only hours. The majority of the cruisers spent their time in gimmicky tourist shops and tourist chain restaurants and did not venture to see any of the culture or beauty of the countries we were visiting. And there was SO MUCH culture and beauty to see-I would do the same cruise again, just to have time to further explore each location and all of the things we did not have time to experience. It was so hard for us to decide what we were going to do and how we were going to spend our time at each country. And when you only have 6 hours at a location, it can be especially hard to venture too far from the port; however, please don't go to Cozumel Mexico and choose to go to Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville when you have an opportunity to see Mayan ruins! And I can't possibly properly share our cruise experience, without talking about the food. People RAVE about the food on cruise ships and in our opinion the raving is well deserved (both for the quality, and of course Jordan would say the quantity), but my goodness AGAIN, if you have the opportunity to eat frog legs, shark, lamb and other amazing gourmet foods and delicacies as we did every night, please don't go to the burger and pizza stands instead. I just don't get it! Sorry I just had to throw in a little rant. It was just so baffling to the both of us to see people pass up so many amazing opportunities right at their fingertips.

I guess I should not care about how other people choose to experience their vacation, to each their own. And anyway, Jordan and I had an amazing time. We enjoyed seeing the light-hearted, upbeat culture of the Jamaican people, the magnificent natural beauty of the giant sting rays in the Cayman Islands, and our absolute favorite, the amazing history and beauty of the Mayan ruins in Cozumel Mexico. The margaritas and fish tacos at this location were to die for as well! My mouth is watering just thinking about those fish tacos again. Rubio's Baja Grill has nothing on those Yucatan style fish tacos. And if you all know me and my love affair with Rubio's, you know that this is saying something! I think we could have spent our entire week just in Cozumel, taking in the beauty and the history and eating fish tacos everyday. It was definitely our favorite stop, unexpectedly so.

After arriving back in Galveston, we headed out for the long drive from Texas to California for the second part of our vacation. We greatly enjoyed the blessing of being able to spend an entire month back at home. Key word being home. Being back for so long made us feel like we actually lived in Southern California again. It was so nice to be able to do everyday, normal stuff in our old stomping grounds, and being able to spend so much everyday time with all of our family. Obviously being home for Christmas was beyond great (especially because we got to steal Santa!), but getting together for the normal stuff was what made this trip home extra special. Writing about this now makes it feel like so long ago already, wow.

One month at home seemed so deliciously long in our anticipation of the trip; however, somehow January arrived before we knew it, and we were packing up the car for our umpteenth drive across the country. I think this was actually our third full-fledge coast to coast trip, although if we start counting our half country trips, I have lost count. And perhaps the third time was the charm, because (after a quick pitstop in Corpus to pick up the second jam packed vehicle) we safely arrived in Florida without any flat tires or pesky mud pits!

OH and Florida, how great it feels to be back. We have already jam packed our time here with so many special memories, and I honestly tell Jordan at least a couple times a week, how happy I am that his next phase in training has brought us back to the Sunshine State! I could go on and on, and I will, in part two of this catch up blog posting! However, it feels wrong to start ranting and raving about how much we love Pensacola, without paying homage first to our time in Texas. I really don't feel any love lost for that specific spot in Texas that consumed 8 months of our life, but out of blog tradition I feel as if I must muster up some form of an ode to the great state (or so they say) of Texas! ;) Hmmmm... I think I will have to get back to you with that!

Since it was impossible to sum up and detail every fabulous moment of our extended vacation in our homeless limbo land between Texas and Florida, I thought I would just let the pictures do the rest of the talking...

Leaving port in Galveston, TX

  Jordan taking in the ocean views and later, overlooking the main pool-most days they had live music!

Santa Claus on a pre-Christmas Vacation

  Jordan and I enjoying lunch overlooking another pool at the back of the ship

Elevators down to the Lobby

  The Open Lobby with live music every night

  

Jordan tried 2-3 entrees each night, does that surprise anyone?!?!

We have arrived at our first destination: Montego Bay, Jamaica! Jama, mon!

Arriving at a private beach club

Traveled to the Bathing Club for some "finger-lickin' Jamaican jerk chicken, ya mon" and some sun! We may or may not have also witnessed some locals trying to sell a certain type of plant to some tourists! Caught the action on camera-daughter of a police officer/private investigator, what can I say!

Fresh coconuts on the beach, mmmm.

On a pier at the Bathing club-the cruise ship is in the background,  and ocean views as far as the eye can see.

We were treated to a magnificent sunset over Montego Bay as we were about to leave port.

AND to a double rainbow! Jamaica sure spoiled us!

Another round (or two!) of delicious food

 Taking in a show in the Theater after dinner

Second Destination: The Grand Cayman

We took a Sting Ray Catamaran Excursion to a sandbar in the Cayman Islands known as Stingray City- these things were HUGE!

 

Listening to instructions for swimming with the sting rays-are we really going to do this?

 

  Thumbs up! Guess so...

Jordan actually held AND KISSED one of the sting rays as the guide is about to do in the picture above. However, I barely worked up the courage to pet one, let alone get off the boat and shuffle my way into the sting-ray filled waters. It went against all my natural human instincts to do this, although this specific excursion was my idea in the first place-go figure.

We survived!!!

Someone is exhausted on the Catamaran back to port, he proved quite entertaining for all the other guests on board!

There were huge Iguanas everywhere!

 

Pulling into a mansion-lined water channel on our way back into Port at the Caymans.

 

Beautiful old historic buildings in the main port city of George Town in the Caymans.

Thinking about taking one more snorkeling adventure on the other side of the island...

Not too sure about these 3-4 ft Tarpon fish, but we did it, and found some other colorful fish nestled in the coral reef. We snorkled hand and hand (not because it was romantic, but because I was utterly freaked out). Snorkeling in the ocean spooks me out, especially because we had heard there were piranhas in this cove. I finally started to relax until we saw a giant sting-ray and I FREAKED, sucking in a ton of water in my snorkel, frantically started flailing, choking, gargling and screaming at the same time, while trying to swim away as fast as possible. Jordan thought I had seen a shark. When I told him it was just a sting ray, he said, "You mean like the sting-rays you just pet an hour ago?" Whatever.

Our own Cayman version of a Corona Commercial with Cay Brew. The lunch was delicious here, we shared jerk chicken-because it's a vacation favorite, even though we had it the day before in Jamaica...we had to compare of course! Jamaica won, not just because of the flavor but because of the price. One small shared dish of jerk chicken and two beers...$40 american dollars. The Caymans are expensive! Don't they already have enough US money there ;) Well Bill Gates does live a mile away, so I guess they are catering to the wealthy. Side note: Bill Gates owns the entire top floor of the Ritz Carlton on the Grand Cayman. For those regular folk who can only afford a measly single condo at the Ritz, don't fret, a condo purchase comes with your choice of a BMW or a Mercedes.

View of the southern part of George Town

Our final destination: Cozumel, Mexico

Arriving on the island of Cozumel

On a ferry over to Playa Del Carmen on the mainland of Mexico, which is located on the Yucatan Penisula

The Mayan Ruins of Tulum

The building you see in the background used to serve as the lighthouse for the ancient city.

 El Castillo, the temple-topped pyramid

Our absolute favorite part of the entire trip, was swimming down in those crystal blue beautiful waters below, with all of the breathtaking ancient history above us, wish we could have spent more time here!

More views of the ancient Mayan city of Tulum. Our Mayan tour guide, Angel, gave us so much unique history and shared a number of personal stories; he definitely made this trip memorable! 

Another night, another fantastic meal. We had the same waiter all week, Jesse, and he got used to Jordan's "unique" eating habits!

Every night they left a towel-animal in our room, the monkey was our favorite! And don't worry about all that food Jordan consumed, he found a way to burn off all those multiple-entree meals he had. And what a view to work out to!

And a few pictures from home...

Gunnar alternates between driving and taking naps on our road trips

We always get excited to stop in Tuscon for our first taste of home at In-N-Out, and  once we start seeing signs for the 8, we really start to get anxious! We may, or may not, always put on the soundtrack song to The O.C., " California" every time we get close, and sing at the very very top of our lungs: "California here we come, right back where we started from..."

 

Our first night back in CA we stayed in Temecula with Liisa and the Hughes', Jordan enjoyed playing legos with Breton...although it appears Breton tired about before Jordan did ;)

 

Smokey was so happy to have Jordan home!

..and Gunnar too!

Jordan and Troy spent a lot of time at the driving range

I have a sneaking suspicion, in typical Happy Gilmore-fashion, they were trying to aim for the cart scooping up all the golf balls

Loved the time I got to spend with my family, and seeing little Shelby just about learning to walk!

She is such a happy baby, until Jordan holds her...she's not too sure about him yet.

How cute are these two?

 We took the dogs to my family's favorite beach in Laguna a few times...

Even on a gloomy day, the views are breathtaking!

A week later, got to see little Shelbs again... and she's officially walking! Isn't she the cutest little elf you have ever seen?

One of my favorite parts of Christmas at home is the tree-lined drive on La Paz; the trees are wrapped in white lights that illuminate their beautiful silhouettes. And of course I love our Christmas Eve tradition at my parents' house.

 

Christmas Morning, we commemorated the mustache craze and Troy's desire to grow a mustache because he thinks it'd be "so cool!" We spent Christmas Day at our condo in Irvine with the Lippincott's, and Jordan would not stop playing with his favorite present, a remote control helicopter from his sister. It was quite entertaining, although it proved a little stressful for Gunnar.

Made a trip up to Jordan's old stomping grounds in Long Beach, and had brunch one block from his old college apartment at the Long Beach Museum of Art

Spent the afternoon with my favorite college roomie, Emily and her boyfriend, and did a little Champagne Bowling after brunch (yep, we must be in Southern California-Champagne Bowling!)

Before hitting the road again, we made a detour to beautiful Coronado to see the Trujillo's new baby boy, born on New Years Eve!

Meet Noah Pearson Trujillo! This baby isn't too sure about Jordan yet either-Simon's expression in the background says it all!

Made another detour to Tombstone, AZ on our cross-country trip back to Pensacola

The famous gunfight site at the O.K. Corral

We enjoyed walking the streets that Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp made famous, we even took in a few gunfight re-enactments...again, Gunnar was not a fan!

After making a pit-stop in Corpus Christi, TX to pick up the second car and have dinner with a few friends, we hit the road again for the second leg, and finally arrived back in Pensacola, FL a week after setting off from CA. And we have enjoyed every moment of life in Florida since!

Stay tuned for Another Year, Another Move: Part two to hear all about our second round of adventures in The Sunshine State. I promise you, you won't have to wait another 4 months for it...