Celebrating Puerto Rican Style

There was an amazing twist of events in our life earlier this year. In February I was asked -- yes, asked-- to take a teaching position. (It was not something I had applied for or was searching for at the time. I believe it was totally arranged by God. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be returning in the fall.) But not long after taking the position I was told that there would be a conference in the summer that I should attend. Okay, where is it? Oh, well......Puerto Rico! No way! I tried not to be too excited. But I said I would consider it. Ha, ha.

It just so happened that Joel and I were looking to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary somewhere special. So........ I left on a Tuesday with 7 other adults and 11 teenagers for Fajardo, Puerto Rico to stay at the El ConQuistador Resort, part of the Waldorf Astoria chain. We had a great time for four days and then they left for home on Friday morning and Joel joined me that afternoon for another five days! Time to CELEBRATE!
This resort is magnificently perched on a 300 foot cliff and is divided into 5 different villages. I attempted to photograph the entire property at once but it doesn't do it justice. Anyways, I took this one coming back from the private island that the resort owns. All of the buildings you see are part of the El ConQuistador.

Looking down from the top of the cliff, you can see another level of pools, suites and restaurants and then the marina and suites at the bottom.

LaMarina Village was where we stayed and our suite was in the building in this picture. The last balcony on the left was ours. The ocean to our right and the marina in front of us.And this was our view every morning when we woke up. Aahhhhhh...

Not far from our building was the Coqui Water Park, the newest addition to the property. It's plush, luxurious and, of course, exclusive to the resort.
It has a tube slide, a body slide, a speed slide, an 8,000 square foot lazy river, bar and grille, a children's pool and an infinity pool. The infinity pool looks like it goes right out into the ocean. Isn't that beautiful?
Here we are right up at the edge so you can see where it stops and where the ocean starts. (look at my redneck hubby! Too much time on the golf course, I think)

This is the speed slide - it's a heart stopper! You climb 100 feet up and then push yourself out of a tube where you can't even see the slide. You literally go back under where you are sitting and straight down. It's a love-hate thing. You end up loving the rush you get from it but you hate those initial heart stopping seconds. Yeah! The picture doesn't do it justice!
The resort also owns a private island, named Palamino Island. They take you over on a ferry boat like this one and you can stay all day or come back when you want.
On the island there is a restaurant, horseback riding, jet skis, shops, scuba and old-fashioned sunbathing!! Look at the water!We took some time to explore around the other side of the island - I just kept taking pictures because the landscape was so unique. It was tropical and beachy but yet rugged and craggy.

I just loved this lone palm tree.

What an amazing place to spend our 10th anniversary.

With over 20 places to eat on this resort we knew we could find a special restaurant to celebrate our anniversary. We chose the Strip House - no it's not a strip club, it's the famed Manhattan steak restaurant! Here's how they describe: the décor of the restaurant is that of a saucy mélange of sultry silks with vintage Studio Manasse images adorning the walls. The seductive atmosphere and innovative menu excite all the senses. Yep, that's perfect for celebrating!
The meal was absolutely outstanding. The best either of us has had and we've tried some pretty "highly acclaimed" places. We loved our waiter, as you can see - and he loved us. He didn't serve any other table but ours, it was truly personal service. The best part of it all was the dessert. We decided to split something and he recommended the 24 layer chocolate cake since Joel told him that I LOVE dark chocolate. We really didn't think it would be 24 layers but....

it WAS! The cake alone was $16.
After we shared some of it we took it with us
back to our room. I ate on it for the next 3 nights
and even threw some away when we left - now that's a cake!
(good thing I had free access to the gym everyday)

It was finally time to leave and return to reality. Joel was anxious to get back to work and to buy a lunch for less than $50. But we still cherished the alone time to relax, talk without being interrupted and reflect on 10 years under our belts.

Hmmm....what could we do for our 20th, Honey?

Play Ball!

Ever since Joel and I met, he has played on atleast one softball league each year. I believe there was a time that we were balancing 3 or 4! Whew, glad those days are over. Last year he had to sit the bench when he had major back surgery and I know that was tough on him. So this year he's making up for it.

We began attending a new church in February (link is on the side under Church) and Joel gladly joined their softball team in the church league. He says they heard he was a good player and begged him to play, ha ha ha!!

This picture actually helped him improve his swing - he was swinging too early.

Home, Joel, Home!

He still plays like he's 25 but someone needs to tell him he's 35! He still comes home with his usual badges of honor - bloody knees, dirty uniform and sore legs.

They have quite a team but more importantly they enjoy the male bonding! Here's Butch, the pitcher.

Pastor Chan on 3rd base looking to run home.

Butch (flashing his false teeth) and Steve coming in to bat.

I would love to tell you their stats but well, I haven't a clue. I'm just the devoted wife taking pictures. Go Team!

Mothers Day Spa

In May, we enjoyed having my mom and dad after church for a Mother's Day Lunch. Raegan decided it was a good day to treat her Grammy and Pap to some extra special treatment.

Grammy was first and the makeover was a success.

Grammy is such a natural beauty that just a few accents were needed.

Pap, on the other hand, needed some extra work.

He was proud to model is new look, until he took a glance in the bathroom mirror! WOOOOHOOOOO!

He decided he would wash it off before they headed back to church that evening.

They were both such good sports! We are ALL very glad that Raegan wants to pursue medical school not beauty school!

Hope you all had a wonderful day remembering and honoring your mothers.

Major Milestone!

We made it 10 years!

On May 1st, 2009 Joel and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary - whew! Hard to believe it's gone so fast and hard to believe it's taken so much work! Yes, you heard me right. Anything worthwhile takes work and marriage is no exception. I heard a saying not too long ago that men marry a woman hoping she'll never change and women marry a man hoping to change him. I laughed out loud when I heard it and then gasped and said "that's true!".

Well, after ten years he still hasn't changed and I change everyday! I guess neither one of us knew what we were doing! I pray we have 10 x 10 more years to do the same, I've loved every minute of it.

Joel surprised me at work with this bouquet of flowers, I just love it when he gets me ones that look like wildflowers right out of the field. (He's learned something over these 10 years)


Joel, you're still the one!

Visit to Oz

In April my mom and I took Raegan to see the Wizard of Oz at Potomac State College (it's the local campus of WVU) and what a performance it was!! The actors were incredible and I believe the crowds were sellouts every night. Some friends of ours were in it and we were excited to watch them perform.

We were able to get just 5 rows from the stage and when we sat down the director saw us and came over to talk to us. Why you ask? Welll...........two years ago Raegan was Dorothy for Halloween so she insisted on wearing her costume to the play. You can imagine when we walked in with her all dressed up it was kind of obvious. Meanwhile some of the actors saw her and rushed back to tell the "real" Dorothy that there was a little girl dressed up in the audience and she requested that Raegan come see her after the show. And so we did...
The Lion was incredible, I even cried when he cried. I know, I know it's just a play.

It was a great night. I don't know who enjoyed it more - Raegan, my mom or me!

Catching Up

I sat down this evening to download some pictures off my camera from our vacations this summer and I realized that I still had pictures on there from Christmas!! There's a sure sign that I am a tad behind. And while I was doing that I realized that I MUST update the blog. (My mother continues to remind me that she's looking for new stuff to read on my blog.)

I'm starting to see a pattern here - I go long periods and then attempt to smash 3 or 4 months together into one posting. I guess I need to learn how to manage my time better. Did I just say that out loud? Joel is always telling me that I need to better manage my time. I think he just needs to be a wife/mother for a day. Anyone hear'n me?

Anyways, I missed posting Raegan's birthday and it was exciting to welcome year number 8!

We had a swimming party at our YMCA and she had so many of her friends from 2nd grade as well as her cousins there to celebrate with her.

I surprised her with her very first pedicure so that those little toes looked picture perfect for her swimming party. And they did.
I've seen such a change in her this year - physically and emotionally! She continues to mature and understand things at such a deep level, honestly it's like having a little adult around all the time. Although the 8 year old tantrums and attitude peek through regularly, I must admit.

We love you Raegan Nicole!