St. Lucia February 2 - February 10

 Saturday February first we got up early and headed to the airport. We got checked in an no ones bags were overweight! This is a huge accomplishment for me as my bag is usually right on the edge. We arrived in St. Lucia around 3 that afternoon and then had a 2 hr bus ride to get to our resort. We finally got to our resort around 5:30 and got checked in to our rooms. Our rooms were just down the hall from Kate and Justin's which is always a big unknown since we book our trips independently. We unpacked a little and then headed out to see what we could of the resort, since it was dark and found a place for supper. We ate at the barefoot restaurant the first night and in true Mike fashion he ordered the only thing on the menu that they were out of.

   Sunday we got up and went to breakfast at the buffet then walked around the resort and took pictures before going back to get our swimming stuff on and going to the pool. Mike and Justin signed up for scuba certification and then we spent most the day at the pool bar. We went back and got showered and ready for dinner. 

   Monday the guys got up early to go get started on scuba classes. Kate and I slept in then went to breakfast and for a walk on the beach before going to the pool. The boys came back around 1 and we went to lunch then laid by the pool some more before getting ready for dinner on Night #3 at the Sushi Place named Soy. 

   Tuesday the boys went back and got certified to dive deeper than they did on day one. I think 60 ft. They came back around 1 and we went to lunch and then spent another afternoon by the pool. That evening we went to dinner at the Habatchi place. We had a great time and great food. 

Kate and I got matching cover-ups

Certified Divers!

   Wednesday the 6th we had breakfast and then had a private speed boat that took us to the other side of the island. We saw a huge bat cave, went to the sulfur pool that had warm black water that came right out of the active volcano. We then went to a waterfall to wash off the sulfur mud before going snorkeling and to lunch. We then road the boat back to our resort and took naps before getting ready for dinner. 

Bat Cave

   Thursday we all slept in and then relaxed by the pool. The boys studied for their last scuba test and so they could get certified to dive up to 80 ft. Friday the boys went out for their last dive and Kate and I enjoyed our last day by the pool. That night was white night at the resort so we all got dressed up in white, when to a white party and then went to Soy for one last night of sushi before flying home on Saturday. Saturday we had breakfast and then booked our vacations for next year and boarded the bus for a 3 hour ride back to the airport. We got into Des Monies at midnight and went to be as soon as we got to Kate and Justin's.

Studying in the Pool

Sunset at Sandals Grande St. Lucian

  Sunday we got up early and headed home. It was snowing and the roads were very bad until we got past Omaha. If we were not trying to get home to the kids and so Mike could go to work Monday we probably would have pulled over and stayed another day. We made it and got home early afternoon. Mom and Dad packed up and headed home and we enjoyed cuddling with the kids for movie night before going to bed so we could start another week.

   While we were gone Alec stayed with mom and dad. They went to Nicky's on Sunday night for the Super Bowl, they went to a couple basketball games, and he got to go play at Tanner's house one evening. He had a great time and even told Clay that he could build him a house. It would be a mansion, and Grandpa and Nicky would be the cooks (He is in love with Nicky's little smokies). Grandma would be his cleaner, Ansley will be his pool girl, and Rachel will take care of his animals and gardens. We will have a huge deck and part of it will be covered so we can sleep outside if we want. There will also be one master bedroom with lots of beds so we can all sleep in one room!

  The girls also had a fun week. They stayed with Lisa Friday - Sunday. They went to a movie and a basketball game. Pat and Wanda picked them and Jessie up on Sunday and they went to Grandma Priests to help her celebrate he birthday. The bet a candy bar on the Super Bowl, which Granddad won because Rachel would not vote for the Patriots because all the boys in school think they are cheaters. Tuesday they rode the bus to Elly's and stayed. They had a late start due to ice on Wednesday and then rode the bus home on Thursday and mom and dad where here. Dad took them to school and picked them up Friday. They watched movies and then went to church Saturday night and then to Wild Bills to bowl. The bowling alley was all full so they played games and came home. Sunday they just had a lazy day and waited for us to get home. 

Nicky Sent this picture to me!