Trip to the Bahamas

Matt and I decided that we needed to go on a trip this winter because we want to have one more child and next winter I might possibly be prego. So we started to plan a trip for Feb and found that the cheapest trips were CRUISES. So we decided we really wanted to go to the Bahamas. And then we just invited a bunch of friends and got a trip together.

We had so much fun with the group that we went with. It was a shorter cruise, a 3 night cruise to Nasseau, Bahamas and Coco Cay, Bahamas. We left out of Ft. Canaveral, Florida.

The boat was a little bit older of a boat, but the food was great, of course, and so was the entertainment. We did go Royal Carribbean this time, but we really did not notice much of a difference between Royal and Carnival. Next time I think we will go with the same group, but pick a different route and a nicer boat.

All the girls had so much fun getting dressed up sexy, because when do we ever get to do that with all our kids at home? We loved the dinners; the formal dinners and the meals in the windjammer. Our conversation was always interesting and we were always laughing. My favorite entertainer was the Comedian. I was laughing his whole act. The guys really liked the Superbowl, even though half of it was during dinner and they had to keep leaving to go and see the score. We also had fun trying to get our husbands to dance in the dance club. They finally came and danced for a bit. We also played a way fun Scavenger Hunt game with our whole group. Don't mess with Brittany when Winning is involved. We had a blast. I think we all got to know each other so much better; maybe even a little too good..... Well at least everyone got to know Matt a little too good. Sometimes he gets a little out of control or tells too much info.

Nasseau, Bahamas was alot of fun. We did the whole shopping downtown experience. Then we went to the beach and went swimming and took pics. All the guys loved the swimming. The undertoe was crazy and all the girls got pummeled by the waves; especially our friend Kelley. She hit some rocks and got all scratched up. She was so tough. The girls were all done swimming after that and went and laid out. We also went and walked around Atlantis Hotel, as much as we could. We saw some of the hotel and the aquariums. I was way bummed that we did not get to go to the WaterPark at Atlantis, but it was $145 a person. Talk about a rip off.....

The next stop was suppose to be Royal Caribbeans' own island Coco Cay, but because of the weather, we were not allowed to go. We were so bummed. The weather was crappy and the waves were 9-12 ft. waves, so they could not tender us in. So they made it an official DAY AT SEA, but it was so windy and cold and crappy that you could not even lay out by the pool. People were in pants and sweatshirts and coats by the pool. SAD! SO we made the best of it that day and went to the COMIC and went rock climbing and hung out and ate alot.

The last day, before we traveled home, we all did decided to do a GATOR BOAT RIDE in Florida, because we did not get to do any excursions in COCO CAY. We got to go on this awesome boat ride and we saw 2 gators. A little cold and scary. That is why I was in the middle of the boat. And now my husband wants to go GATOR HUNTING. Psyco! We also got to eat gator afterwards and it was good. It was breaded, but it tasted like chicken and shrimp together. Our tour guide told us that GATOR is about $17 per pound at the grocery store in Florida. Quite expensive, but tasty! It was worth it! A neat experience!

The trip, overall was so fun. It felt longer than it was because we were in the airport alot traveling to and from Florida. But I loved the people we went with and that made it fun. The weather overall was not that great. But I was at least glad that we got to see Nasseau and the Atlantis Hotel. And we did get to sleep a little with no interruptions from kids and we got to eat alot without having to cook any of it. So it definiteley felt like a vacation, but I still have that Vacation bug in me and want to go again. I did miss my kids and so did all the other girls. We were all excited to get back and see the kids, but not so excited to get back into our ROUTINES. We are all trying to adjust. And I am sure we are all still ROCKING. The boat was so rocky this time because of the weather that I got sick to my stomach a few times and got a few headaches. So it is taking me awhile to get that rocking feeling out of my system! FRIENDS AND FAMILY are the best. We developed some great relationships on this cruise and strengthened the ones we already had!

Cougar Hunt- Hardest Thing Matt Has Ever Done

So last Saturday was an adventure of a lifetime for Matt, his brother Toph, and their brother-in-law Regan.

First of all, Toph, Matt's brother, got his name drawn for the TAG for this Cougar Hunt a few months ago and was so excited. Matt and Regan wanted to go along for the memories but also for the "LAME MALE ADRENALINE RUSH" they get when they go hunting. Toph had a friend from the valley who had hunting dogs and that is where the excitement begins.

So last Saturday, they all had to wake up around 5:30 AM and get ready, get the sleds ready and loaded and meet Toph's friend, his four dogs, and a few other friends, at 7:30 AM up the canyon. And that is where the LONG DAY STARTED.

I guess they were on sleds from about 7:30 till about 4:00 PM, trying to find fresh tracks. The dogs were out trying to cut tracks. Matt, Toph and Regan finally got radioed, that by the sound of the dogs bark, across the canyon, that they probably had one "Treed." They rushed to the top of a ravine on sleds and hiked down the canyon, but then had to hike an hour, up the other side of the canyon. Matt said this hill was HORRIBLE; one of the hardest things he has ever had to do. It was pretty much straight up. And they had to pull themselves up with the surrounding bushes; pulling themselves up 3 feet and then sliding down 2. It took them about an hour to get up that hill. As they almost reached the dogs at the top; they heard the cat hissing. Then it jumped from the tree and ran back down the hill they had just climbed up. He ran down about 200 yards, and was treed again; up about 30 feet. This time Toph was ready to shoot. Toph aimed about 8 inches below his eyes with a HANDGUN 22, got off about 4 shots, probably hit about twice. Then the cat jumped again, 30 feet out of the tree, took off another 200 yards, with the dogs chasing him the whole time. Matt said the cat was so fast, that they felt like they were hunting a ghost. So he was treed again, 30 feet above the ground, and Toph got 3 more shots off. This time the cat FELL OUT of the tree, breaking branches on the way down, and ran down another 200 yards, to the bottom of a ravine; with the dogs still following. In the bottom of the ravine there was no cover for the cat to hide. So everyone rushed down to the ravine to help the dogs and there the Cougar was finished off.

Because the cat was so big and there was so much snow, it was impossible to take him out to have him weighed. They guessed he was about a 7 ft. cat and about 175 lbs. So in terms of Cougars, this cat was HUGE! They skinned him and his cape weighed somewhere between 30-40 lbs. I am sure if you all know Toph and Matt, this story will get better and better everytime it is told.

The way back was not easy either; trying to get the cat out, the snowmobiles, and the dogs back to the trucks before the snowstorm came in. And Matt knew I was at home freakin out because it was now going on 10:30 PM at night. They actually did have one guy hike back and call me, so I did not call SEARCH AND RESCUE. They still did not get home till about 1:00 AM the next morning and by then the kids were in bed, so they had to wait till morning to see the Cat. They were so excited and did not want to wait till morning. And also, to top the long day off, on the way home, Toph got in an accident because of deep snow and excessive speed; trying to get to the nearest 24hour burger joint. LONGEST DAY EVER. HARDEST DAY EVER! And Toph says if Regan had not been there to help him pack the cat out, he was thinking about leaving it behind. He is quoted saying, "IT IS ME OR THE CAT" as they were all struggling to get out of the canyon and get home! DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A FUN DAY TO ME! My kind of fun is sitting on a beach or at a pool relaxing in the warm sun.