Day 6- Can You Tell Me How to Get Away From Sesame Street?

What an exhausting morning! We signed up (and payed extra) for the Character Breakfast. I thought that it would be so much fun for 'The Boy' to meet and eat with his "buddies". I had no idea how draining and annoying it would be for grown ups. In the words of Auntie Mariel, "I wanted to murder my body" for a variety of different reasons.

Reason #1: We had to stand in the HOT sun in a line to check-in/take pictures with Cookie Monster forever. 'The Hubs' was sweating big time and 'The Boy's' cheeks were all flushed.

'The Fam' with Cookie Monster

Reason #2: The breakfast was held in a dark restaurant and at least 100 kids attended. There was a DJ playing Sesame Street songs (cute) and before the characters made their grand entrance, she says "Please stay in your seats. The characters will come to see you". That went over really well.

Reason #3: Have you ever heard what a room of 100 plus kids sounds like when THE Elmo walks in the door?

Aside for the torture 'The Hubs' and I endured, it was very nice to see 'The Boy's' face light up when he got to meet all of his friends in person.

That's a happy face...I swear.

'The Boy's' new favorite. His furry pal, Grover.

With Ernie and Bert who was super tall in person ;).

Once the torture, I mean fun, was over, we went and got much deserved lattes and took 'The Boy' straight to Camp. We earned a grown up day, for sure.

I treated myself to a spa day. Actually Vacations To Go treated me thanks to a $250 room credit. I had a Tropical Bliss massage which was basically a Swedish massage that lasted 90 minutes. Ahhhh. It was by far the best massage I have ever had.

The Red Lane Spa

'The Hubs' checked out the gym and relaxed in the pool with a beer.

He was all smiles when I found him.

We were going to sit poolside for a bit but it started to rain. The two of us stopped at Cricketer's for lunch (remember, the good beer) and then checked on 'The Boy' (who was sleeping) before heading to the beach to kayak. What a good work out.

Ready to go. That's 'The Hubs'' hat. I forgot mine back at the room.

Actually having fun this time.

Being goofy with my arm blocking half the shot. I was so concerned about tipping over and had trouble turning around.

Meanwhile, at Camp, 'The Boy' enjoyed story time and pictures with his new pal.

We picked up 'The Boy' from Camp and took him to the water park. We played in the splash parka again and floated around the lazy river.

'The Hubs' and I went down the big water slide which was just as fun as I remember it being when I was a kid.

That night, we fed 'The Boy' and he went to Camp for a movie while the grownups had dinner at Kimono's, a Teppanyaki style grill. I took a long time but was a ton of fun.

Our chef, Taylor, posing for the paparazzi.

Our chef was fantastic and super fun. He kept saying his motto "that's what makes it...NICE!" which 'The Boy' got a kick out of the following day.

Dinner took so long that by the time we were finished, we had to pick up 'The Boy' and head back to get some sleep.

Day 5- A Beaches Day

We started today out at the beach (after breakfast at a buffet, of course). We hadn't spent a ton of time there and thought that we should soak it up considering it was by far more beautiful than any beach back home.

Absolutely crystal clear and bright turquoise!

'The Boy' stayed with us today and he had such a blast. There is just something about watching your child experience so much joy in something he has never seen, felt, heard or, ahem, tasted before. His eyes were wide with delight (and a salty sea water surprise) the entire morning.


He ran right in to the ocean here. It was warm and calm unlike the scary, cold one we have at home. He stole other kids toys to play with (and got a lesson in stealing/sharing), swam with Daddy and Mommy, and played photographer with our water camera.

Look at how clear that water is!!!

Say "cheese"!

We stayed at the beach for a few hours, soaking up the sun and then hit the wood fire pizza grill nearby. 'The Boy' and 'The Hubs' threw back a couple of cold ones and I tried to stay in the smallest sliver of shade for the meal.

Best buddies

'The Boy' entertained himself while waiting (40 minutes) for our food by playing with his new pal, "Buggy". He let "Buggy" crawl from hand to hand for a bit and then let it crawl onto the table. "Careful, pal. Don't squish him" I can remember saying as 'The Boy' pinched it to it's death. Thankfully, the pizza arrived right after the bug demolition.

'The Boy' and the now deceased "Buggy". Rest in peace little guy. Sorry, but you didn't stand a chance.

After lunch, we went back to the room and all took a nap. Baking in the Caribbean humidity sure is hard work.

When our snooze was done, we splashed round the water park for a few until it closed for the night. Then we soaked in the French Village pool and 'The Boy' had his first strawberry daiquiri. "Mmmmm. Strawbee, strawbee, strawbee."

That night we saw yet another Sesame Street stage show. 'The Boy' stood before the staged and starred at Elmo and Zoe as they sang The Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Showing off where all of his cookies go.

We fed 'The Boy' dinner and dropped him off at Camp for a movie. Then, 'The Hubs' and I had a delicious French dinner at the adults only Le Petite Chateau. Pretty good food and a nice quiet environment. Still looking forward to the escargot on the cruise because these were mediocre in comparison.

The waiter took our picture and said, "Now one with a French Kiss." we looked at him like he was speaking Greek partially because we couldn't understand his accent and partly because we had almost forgotten what this was.

We rounded out the night with a photo shoot of the gorgeous sunset and a few drinks at Turtles, of course.

It was overcast but magical.

Only 2 days left. I can't believe that this vacation is speeding by so quickly!

Day 4- R and R and a little Park

We started off the morning at Mario's for breakfast ( I stopped for the lattes on the way). I hate buffets but I am getting used these chocolate croissants every morning. This time we walked around to see the characters.

'The Boy' and I with Big Bird in his full armour

'The Boy' and minstrel Elmo

Getting a bit obsessed with the water fountains

Today was a grown up day for 'The Hubs' and I so we headed over to Camp to drop 'The Boy' off for the day.

Another game of chess on the way there

♪ Can you tell me how to get?♪

The plan of the day

One of the rooms at Camp

'The Hubs' and I went to Cascades pool for the day. It was by far our favorite. We liked the other pools but this one had more of a Caribbean feel and had a heck of a lot more shade.

There was a hidden cave in the rocks that you could cool off in.

The swim-up bar

'The Hubs' lounging

Me in the pool

We lay by the pool, floated along on rafts, read the guiltiest of pleasures (at least I did) and drank way more coconut coolers than we needed to.

GUILTY!

We ate at Arizona's for lunch and checked on the boy who was napping so, we went back to our cozy little pool and lounged some more. I think that this is about the time that I started to get attack by mosquitoes. I looked up from my book at one point a saw 4 welts on my left knee. (This was just the start of them. I went home with a total of 18.)

After we picked up 'The Boy' and got ready for the night, we strolled over to Cafe de Paris and had a pastry.

"Ooooo! Tweats!"

We realized that we had some time before the show so we took 'The Boy' to the playground. He loved it and we were surprised that the equipment wasn't burning hot.

Sliding

"Knock, knock"

Checking out tomorrow's game plan with a new friend

We took 'The Boy' to the 'Dance with Me at Sesame' stage show. All of the kids were invited onstage to dance with Cookie Monster. He looked on for quite a while.

Just fine right here with "Buh-Buh"


We made an attempt but it was short lived.

'The Boy' found another fountain and that was the end of any interest in the show.

We dropped 'The Boy' off at Camp for the night and went out to Sushi for dinner. We loved the Spicy Conch Roll but the Volcano Roll was truly like a volcano in my mouth. It was on fire forever.

Volcano roll on the far right- ouch!

Finished up the night at Turtles before collecting our precious cargo and heading off to bed.