Stingray City!

So probably the highlight of our trip was on Wednesday! We rented a boat all day which was wonderful so we could go where ever we wanted! We got the boat and right away we headed to Stingray City. Stingray city while it sounds like an amusement park is probably one of the coolest things I have ever experienced. It is just a sandbar way out off the shore, So you are out in the ocean and it is only about 4 to 5 feet deep, but what has happened there over the years is that just beyond this place there is a rock barrier that then drops off to much deeper waters, So the fishermen use to get inside that rock barrier to where it is very shallow and calm and they would clean their catch of the day. Well the stingrays figured out that they could get food there everyday so they began to hang around. Over the years the fishermen stopped cleaning their fish there and people began to go there and feed the stingrays. Now on any given day there can be 10 to 15 boats out there with tourists and you can swim around with and feed the rays.
Our adventure started with Jon driving the boat and as we got closer and closer to stingray city Jon got more nervous and for good reason because non of us knew what we were doing on the boat and as we approached Stingray City it was filled with professional tour boats who had formed this circle of boats and we had no idea how to "join the circle". Well Jon did a great job and we edged our way into the circle and we dropped our anchor and jumped overboard to go feed these amazing animals! Before we knew it we had about 12 rays swimming all around us just waiting for us to feed them. Austin was so excited and he got in the water and even fed them! We had so much fun that we went and had lunch, got more squid and went back.

Grand Cayman

Well, we made it and we had a wonderful time on our vacation! Getting home with two exhausted kids was a little nerve racking, but we did it and we all survived! Cayman was beautiful and we did so many fun things! We had relaxing days at the beach, an all day boating adventure, exciting times feeding the stingrays, experienced Cayman's sea turtle farm, Ate and Ate and Ate, the boys went scuba diving, All in all it was a great vacation! My wonderful kids were so great through the whole trip. Campbell was a trooper and slept in a pack'n play in the bathroom and Austin got use to sleeping on his pull out bed in our room! Campbell probably only got 3 or 4 real naps in her bed the whole week, but did so great and would fall asleep practically anywhere that we were! So the Shaw's send a big thank you to my parents for once again inviting us to go on another wonderful adventure, although I suspect if we have to many more kids the vacations will get closer and closer to home!!!!

Being a Big Brother!

Tonight as I gave Campbell her bath, Austin decided that he needed to fulfill his big brother duties by helping me give her her bath! She took it like a champ not even crying when he squeezed all the water out over her head to wash her hair. I had to step back in though when he wanted to get her out of the tub himself! He is such a great big brother and loves his little sister! Here are some pics and a short video of his helpfulness!!

Pumpkin Patch

We Planted Flowers!!

So for the last 4 years every spring I see all these beautiful tulips and I tell Jason that in the fall I am going to plant tulips in the yard. Well the fall always comes and goes and in the spring I say once again I wish I had planted my tulips. So today on a rainy dreary day we went to Lowes or as Austin calls it the fan store and we bought our tulip bulbs. It finally stopped raining in the afternoon and I got my bulbs planted. But you know I always invisioned (because we all know that I don't do yard work!!) that the soil would be all nice and easy to dig my little 8 inch holes and just drop my bulb in! NOT SO MUCH! Lots of rocks!! who knew!! So I used my muscle and finally got them all planted.

Austin was so excited to help. He had his own little shovel and used it for about 5 minutes! After the digging proved to be not all that exciting he decided to make friends with all the rolly pollies! There are alot and I think Austin tried to touch them all! So I guess we will wait until the Spring to see if we get any flowers!!

Austin messing around!

So when Jason's parents come to visit his poor dad has to sleep on an air mattress in our basement, but for Austin this is the greatest thing ever. So after the last time they visited we just left it up and now it is austin's personal playground! He loves doing his flips and having Jason bodyslam him to the ground!! One of these days we are going to have an injury I just feel it!!!

Parties for Baby Lydia!

This weekend was a fun and crazy one! Jon and Doty came in town for 2 baby showers for Lydia. Her due date is January 7th which I'm sure will be here before we know it!! I helped host both showers so last week was full of cake baking and grocery shopping! We had one on Saturday for friends and the one on Sunday was for our relatives! Needless to say I think Lydia is well on her way to having everything she needs to make her grand apperance! Here are some pictures of the events and Campbell was very excited to get to wear her purple tutu!!

We love Grammy's!!

So thanks to my wonderful parents who offer to watch the kids on Monday nights so that we can go to care group! Austin loves Monday nights because that means a night full of playing with paw paw and going to the park and usually ending up with ice cream at one of his many favorite places!! This Monday I took the kids over to my moms in the afternoon and they took their naps. I was still there when Austin got up andI told him that mommy was going home and before I could get out the rest of the sentence, which was I will see you tomorrow, He looked at me very seriously and said "I'm not going with you!" To know ones doubt the kids had another wonderful Monday night at my parents. They went to play at the park and then to Ben and Jerrys for ice cream! What a life!!