Mike's Trip Report - April 2008

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:50 am Post subject: Mike's Trip Report - April 2008

UGH!!!!!!

A 40 degree swing from yesterday to today!!! I have to sort through over 500 pictures! We had 9 newbies on the trip with us this year and all 9 wanted to figure out a way to find gainful employment in GCM!

I have to say I have never had a week fly by so fast in my life! Usually vacations go by quickly but this one felt like it was over before it started Confused

Some brief highlights of the trip include a sunset sail on Wednesday, a trip to Sting Ray City with the Soto's and the antics of my 5-year old nephew Kevin, better known as the Little Dude or the One Man Terrorist!

Stay tuned!! Mr. Green

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 11:22 am Post subject:

Let's see if I got any smarter in a year!

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:03 pm Post subject:

Day 1...

We had the limo pick us up at 4am. I've never seen 20-somethings so anxious to get up that early - usually they are just getting home!! We flew from O'Hare to Miami for the first leg of the journey. A quick "hello" and a very happy "good-bye!"

I was very fortunate to be able to upgrade each of the kids to first class on one leg of the trip. I have to travel a lot for my job but the end results with miles makes it worth it when I saw the constant happy faces on this trip!

Shannon got the first leg from ORD-MIA and felt she got gypped because she slept the entire way - duh!

Ryan had the MIA-GCM leg because he wanted to have a window and see GCM for the first time!

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:08 pm Post subject:

We had the front row so Ryan was the very first person to step on GCM for the 9 newbies. Three planes landed at once so immigration and customs was a slow process for the newbies. But Debbie and I knew what awaited them once we got out those doors!

I think too many people have discovered the "go the the right line" trick because it was just as long as the others. Picked up our CAG books and off we went to Fosters and Cost-u-less.

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:18 pm Post subject:

Armed with nourishment and refreshments we hit the beach at Plantana. The excitement was everything I hoped it would be. The smiles never left the faces for the entire trip!

The fun and sun began immediately! From top to bottom:

My son Ryan, my nephew Kenny, my niece Katy, My BIL & SIL Ken & Kendell, the Little Dude, my son Patrick waiting for the volleyball to come down, the girls start to bake and a little beach volleyball!

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject:

I wasn't sure how the famous Cayman sunsets would go over with the younger group but they all managed to make it out every night to watch. The first night was a little overcast but it was good to be back!!

Football Cayman style!!

Debbie and I were very happy to be back!!!

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject:

Kenny and his kids make sure they have good seats for their first Cayman sunset

Kenny, Katy & Kelly

Kenny, Kenny & Kevin

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:24 pm Post subject:

Day 2...

What a wonderful view each morning from our ground floor condo! I love the fourth picture down. In one of my previous trip reports, I took a picture of the little sapling growing next to the weathered survivor of Ivan. It is now over eight feet high! clap

This became the running joke of the trip. We had a Cayman planning party the week before we left. Debbie and I told everyone that we walk a couple of miles on the beach every morning and would love to have them join us. So here is last Sunday morning right after I said "Hey fella's, want to walk with Mom and me on the beach?"

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject:

Ryan (aka Bubba) getting a picture for his screen saver on his cell phone.

Bubba and the Little Dude get ready for the morning's first snorkel adventure. Everyone went in when we arrived Saturday afternoon but Sunday was the first day they all took it seriously. I got some pictures with an underwater camera. I'll have to get those developed and pray that they turned out. It's not easy looking through that tiny view finder while bobbing up and down!

Debbie getting used to her snorkel and mask with her ever present "noodle!".

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:49 pm Post subject:

I warned everyone about the power of the sun down here and a few overdid it on Day 2. Kenny was already covering his feet in the afternoon and still had a long way to go!

One of the great sports of the trip for the little cousins was getting thrown in the air by their big cousin Patrick. Here Kevin and Kelly fly with the greatest of ease!

This is the first real funny Little Dude tale...we were all sitting around and he had the spray bottle of SPF35. He asked the question "Hey, what's this stuff taste like?' His brother answered "mayonaise." You can see the results of the taste test on his face!

"Uncle Mike, can I have some of your water?"

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject:

The cousins decided that it would be a perfect day for parasailing. Since the pickup boat could only hold six, Bubba and I volunteered Wink

to stay behind and take pictures from the beach. So off Shannon, Patrick, Kenny and Kelly went. Big Kenny and Kelly went along for boat pictures.

"Hey Bubba, when are we going to get to go parasailing?"

"Is he serious Pops?"

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:02 pm Post subject:

"Dad and I really wanted to go up Mom but we heard there was a weight restriction!"

There was that day of 385. Bubba is 150 soaking wet and we were overloaded as a father and son - and we sure as heck didn't want to go alone!! Darn, maybe another day!

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject:

A brief timeout while I download some more pictures!!

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:10 pm Post subject:

Sunday sunset...

We invited our friends George, Eileen & Quinn Davidson, Eugenio Leon and Reno Mancini from The Wharf, over for the sunset, cocktails and munchies on Sunday afternoon. What wonderful people and outstanding way to end Day 2!!

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:16 pm Post subject:

I need to take a break to uncross my eyes! Days 3 through 7 to follow!

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