Baby Beach!

Baby fricking beach. I have no idea how we had missed going here prior visits?! Maybe it was the $50 taxi ride there and back? Lol. Still well worth it. It was about an hour from our resort.  This beach is in the Southern part of Aruba, close to San Nicolas, and is a true Caribbean beach paradise. This calm lagoon is perfect for families with small kids.

This place was so serene. We are not traveling during busy season so it was not packed at all. Also the local children are in school. Going on a weekend is busier. We swam with sea turtles and beautiful fishies. Our resort lets us rent snorkel gear for free, so we brought that instead of paying. We did buy Wren some sand toys for pretty cheap, and she has been using those daily. Dex did not want to leave. He is a master snorkeler. I gave him a bagel to feed the fish, and they swarmed him. Lol. It was magical. 

The water is so pretty and clear. 🙌🏻 

Big Mamas grill is the restaurant on Baby Beach. Great people. Amazing people everywhere. Genuine. I cannot stress that enough. Our taxi guy Lionel today just filled us with so much knowledge because it makes them happy sharing information with tourists.  

From many diff areas you can see Venezuela from Aruba. It is about 14 miles across the water to it. People in Aruba obviously have not traveled there for some years since all the political unrest. 

Wren has been passing out super early each night. She yells at us to turn all the lights and tv off. 😳Such a diva! Anyway, tomorrow is a chill do whatever day. Probably sticking around resort beach and  that is all. Here the ocean is better than the pools. 🏝 This resort is an all inclusive. We chose it primarily for the kids. Easier not having to think of what my picky eaters will or won't eat. It has been great. There are 7 restaurants to choose from or the all day buffet. 

Tonight we ate at Pure Lime, the Mexican restaurant. Was so good.

They entertained the other guests....🙈

Aruba Family Vacation

We finally brought the kids to our favorite place on earth! Day 2 and they said the like it better than Disney World and Mexico. We were hopeful for this. Our kids are mini versions of ourselves and we could not be happier that they enjoy what we enjoy. 

We really lucked out and beat the busy season. It is not packed with people this week at all. It truly feels like we get to have the tiny Island to ourselves. Why Aruba? There is too much wonderful stuff to say about it. 

• The temperature is the same, always. No joke. It rains here maybe like 8 days a year. We saw rain one time for about 30 seconds. If the forecast ever shows rain, do not fret. It never lasts more than a few minutes. Lol
• There is always a light wind. This allows you to never feel super hot. It is always a perfect temp.
• Swimming at the beaches along your hotel/condo/resort the water is clear with nothing in it to bite, sting, eat you, or freak you out. It is just clear water and sand. Sometimes you may see a tiny school of minnows or like last night we saw some jumping fish in the distance. 
• It is pure nature. We like to stay at the low rise resorts where it is much more quiet, chill, and relaxing. We come here to be away from it all. All we need is a hut, water, and sand. 
• Aruba has a crime rate of 1%. This is the safest place on earth. It is the only vacation spot where I feel completely comfortable walking anywhere alone at night. There are shuttles everywhere as well to bring you where you need to go for free, as well as trollies, or the public bus if you choose. 
• THE PEOPLE. The people here that work and live LOVE tourists. We keep their Island flourishing. They are so happy we are here. This is not a place of strict resort rules. They really do not care what you do as long as you are being safe and kind. Ya wanna take a plate of food from a restaurant back to your room to relax, go right ahead. Not enough time to return snorkel gear before closing, bring it the next day. Things like hanging towels off your balcony is usually a no no when we travel, they do not care. Everything is just "Sure, we don't mind" 🏝 It is truly Island Life. 
• Nobody here wants to rip you off. Wifi is free almost everywhere. No need to pay for using the internet. 
• Everyone speaks English so there is no language barrier. Schools here teach 4 languages tgat are required. So basically everyone here knows Dutch, English, Spanish, some Portuguese and Papiamento (The Island Language)
• Traveling to Aruba is not a drastic long flight like Hawaii. We always have to take 2 planes. First plane is an hour and a half. Second flight about 3 to 3 1/2 hours. 
• Iguanas, Pelicans, and beautiful various birds to look at. 
• The sunsets are incredible
• All beaches are public access. Find the most expensive resort, and guess what, you can use their beach all day long. 🙌🏻 
• Food , lots of food
• 6 Casinos! We only frequent one. Huge gamblers so this is s plus. 
• Your vacation is the entire Island. It is only 19 miles long. Rent a jeep and drive around the whole Island or go on a tour. 

Relax time!

The coziest spot to be.😍

This. Every. Night.

You feel true peace not surrounded by tons of humans.

Calm.

Tomorrow we will be at Baby Beach for the day! Will blog on it tomorrow!

Zaydes Eulogy

A few family members asked if I could post my grandfathers Eulogy since they could not attend...So I wrote it here.

My Zayde, Raymond Swidersky

I've been dreading this day my whole life. I always wondered how many years I would get to keep him. How would I react, feel,think? I have never lost a best friend before.

Zayde would make me feel better about any situation and would actually listen to me with his heart . Just knowing he loved me made things right in my world. I dunno how I got so lucky to have this man in my life who unconditionally accepted me, flaws and all. He knew me to the core.

My grandparents have always been my second set of parents. Whenever I called, they were both on the line to chat. Grandma, always there to give it to me straight, words of wisdom and things I needed to hear, and Zayde agreeing with her, but also softening the message in his Zayde-way. The calls always ended with Zayde saying, "love you, baby". These 3 words were very crucial growing up. I couldn't wait to hear them after every call or visit.

He was around and there for all my milestones. When Zayde found out I had a new boyfriend, he make sure he got a chance to have a phone conversation with him. I warned, my now husband, how protective my Zayde was of me. All I heard through the phone was, "I'll break both your arms and legs if you ever hurt my baby" That was Zayde, straight to the point. We always laugh about that.

Zayde let me live my life and never really asked too much from me, but one day we were talking and he said, "I'm not getting any younger, I want great grand babies" And when Zayde says jump, you jump.

I did get pregnant shortly after, but sadly we ended up losing her. Of course Zayde was there to pick up some of the pieces. He told me there was a Swidersky curse and that all the women in our family lost their first child. He then opened up to me about Debra Rae. They lost their first daughter, too. I didn't even know her name until I lost my daughter, Cora Rae. I couldn't believe they even had the same middle name.(of course we both named them after him, Raymond) In that dark time, he came to my rescue. I didn't feel so alone. They knew my pain.

Friends would always talk about gifts they received from their grandparents, but mine never did that. We didn't get presents, but what we did get was love, values, and life lessons. Their words always in the back of my head. "Get a job", "Don't rely on a man", "Make sure you can provide for yourself". This is what caused my drive to succeed. I just wanted them to see I was trying, and that they didn't need to worry.

Everyone knew where my designated spot to sit was when we would visit...with Zayde in the Zayde chair, on Zaydes lap. This continued until I was 34 years old.

In my family we always joked about my brother Steve being the favorite child. First borns always have more photos in the photo album. I was totally ok with that since he is a pretty amazing guy, and totally deserving of that title. But, hands down, I was Zaydes favorite. :) Grandma, obviously came first, though. Oh, how he worshiped her! I used to walk in on them kissing, and I thought they were so cute. We used to joke about their age difference. I would ask, "Wait a minute, how old was she when you asked her out??" They would just crack up.

My Zayde cheated death numerous times. I feel like I prepared so many goodbyes, but he squeezed in some more great years. My son Dexter taught him how to use an Ipad, and he got to meet my daughter, Wren. He lived a long life with so many people that deeply loved him. Those blue eyes, that smile, and his laugh. Dad and I both agree his hands were the softest hands in the world.

Imagining a life without Zayde is very difficult, but we were all so lucky to have him. 

I'm just gonna miss those 3 words, "love you, baby"

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Michelle

I just can't hold it in.

Please do not read further if you get pissed off about peoples views on the current issues going on in the world. I for one am having a difficult time with everything happening. I am so ANGRY. What is wrong with all these psychos??!!

 First off, we gotta talk about guns. Everyone knows the stats in our country by now. It's posted everywhere. Guns are a fucking problem. They are in terrible peoples hands. I am not AGAINST them. I repeat, I am NOT AGAINST guns. My friends own them, we own them, my family owns them. Keep your guns, I am not directing this at you. BUT, WE DO NEED SOME RULES. WE DO NEED BACKGROUND CHECKS. If you, my friend, are a felon...SORRY! I do not give a crap about you. That is YOUR fault, and you shouldn't be able to purchase guns. If you are a law abiding citizen...by all means, buy all the guns you want. I am assuming you are smart, and keep them locked up away from children. If you for some reason have been clinically diagnosed with certain mental issues....I kinda think that should be cause for some concern in purchasing guns. So far, these two laws I could stand by.

This statement: "Even if you implement gun control, people will still be able to obtain guns illegally!"

Ummmm.....OBVIOUSLY! Will it be a little more difficult? Yeah. Should be make Heroin legal? People are still using it, and getting it illegally. Listen, it's not about "controlling guns"...it's about being fucking smarter about it.

Here is a quote that kinda hit me: Not all gun owners are gun nuts, but if your hobby, which is actually what the vast majority of gun owners in this country use there guns for (target shooting, not self defense or hunting) is more important to you than the lives of innocent women and children, then yes, you most certainly have a terrible sickness in your heart, mind and soul. 

Think about it. Everyones praying this will go all go away, yet no one wants to help our country make a change? Why? It's really worth it to sit back and just do nothing? What is YOUR solution, then? YOU, law abiding citizen. YOU MAY OWN YOUR GUNS STILL. For the rest of the population that are using guns for reasons other than hobby, home protection, and target practice I for one, would like to make guns harder for you to get. This is not going to stop terrorism...this is not going to stop people from still murdering people......but it will be a start to maybe dwindling the numbers. Why not try it out?

I am a parent. These shootings are happening everywhere, and in random spots, and any given time.

Again, I ask, what is YOUR solution? So far our government is not protecting us. The war is already here, and it's turning americans against each other now. Republicans and Democrats have always been fighting, but now it's just getting worse. Not sure how we can stand united when we have a line dividing us. So much hatred being shown to our own President/s..by our own people. It's insane to me.

I am not coming from a political angle. I don't really follow politics that much. I'm just speaking from a human view.

I just don't care anymore if people don't like me or what I have to say. I really just don't.

Parents Survival Guide when Traveling to Disney with 2 young kids

I'm writing this when traveling to Disney and staying at a Condo/type place. Feel free to improvise with hotel. Everything is pretty much the same anyway.

~ When thinking about what type of stroller to bring..... STOP. Just rent a double stroller at the park. Dragging luggage + a stroller through the airport is a bitch. (Especially when they make you fold it up to put through the scanning machine) Just say no to bringing a stroller. If anything, bring an umbrella stroller if you need to stroll the smaller child in the airport.

~ I'm gonna assume you are renting a van/car. Dragging 2 car seats around an airport won't do. If you have 2 year old, you will want that little rug rat in a car seat on the plane. Bring just the one, and rent the other through your car rental company for your older child. They will pass out just like driving in the car. You don't want that 2 year old thinking they have the option to get up. If they know they are restrained, they will surrender easier. Enterprise was fabulous. They had the other car seat ready for our 5 year old.

~Be sure to pack an extra outfit for each child in your carry-on. Your child may puke or have a blowout on the plane which will leave their clothing uninhabitable.

~ Try to get a straight flight with no stops. Less stressful if ya can.

~ Bring 1 sippy/type cup per child, or straw cup with you walking around the parks. Replenish with water, juice, or milk when needed. Or just bring juice boxes...whatever your kids prefer. They will be thirsty ALL the time. This will save you money if you just prepare ahead.

~Moms and Dads, you will also be thirsty! If you want to save money, bring a water bottle to replenish, and bring a MIO Water Enhancer. Just a few squirts in your bottle, and it has caffeine in it as well!

~Pack light and do laundry. You will need space to put all your souvenirs, new clothing, mouse hats, and toys! Trust me. You think you won't purchase much, but you will!

~Walking Shoes! Get some expensive, amazing walking shoes. Your body will thank you! I highly recommend ABEO shoes from The Walking Company. It's nice to have your kids in great shoes as well, but they won't be walking as much as you.

~There are bathrooms everywhere, so don't worry!

~ I was worried about bringing my fancy camera, so I left it at home. Enjoy the moments, and use your camera phone. There are plenty of photo ops that the Disney people take for you. I did purchase a cheap $80 camera, and it was worse than my phones camera.

~If you feel like it, purchase some cheap glow sticks before you leave. These come in handy at night on your stroller or in your kids hands. They are also $15 cheaper than all the light up toys you will be forced to purchase for your kids at night while they are screaming for them at every kiosk walking around.

~Stop at the open play areas for kids every now and then so the kids can jump out and run free! This is great to do to get their energy out!

~Keep suckers in your purse. This is last resort to solving any temper tantrum before you can actually get to solving whatever issue your child is having. Pop a sucker in their mouth to relieve neighboring parents from hearing your demon childs screams.

~MEN: This is a little TMI. Get Glide anti-chaffing stick...for those thigh areas that rub when you walk. Or wherever you would need it........I'm not a dude, but I know the men on my trip used this item.

~Bring coloring books/crayons/dvds for your condo/hotel stay

~Rain Slickers! It did rain a few times, and those would have come in handy.

~Pack all the snacks! SNACKS. Goldfish, raisins, nutragrain bars, cheerios, sandwiches, whatever! Never go empty. These kids will want to eat at the most random of times. Just when you think they are full, they are not!

~TOYS! If you want to make the kids happy, and not spend a lot...you would be amazed how great all the key chain toys are! They are the most inexpensive, and the kids LOVE them. Dex got a Star Wars light saber key chain that lights up. Better than packing a life size one! They each got stuffed animal ones of Eyore and Minnie Mouse. So easy to pack, too! 

Hope these pointers help some of you out!

2nd child gets no blogs.

It's been a year since I last blogged. Poor Wren will have no knowledge of all the cool things she has done and said. I figured I better try to update as much as I can remember, while I have a chance to type. I basically took a year to dive into my photography world, and I sorta let the ball drop with this site.

So here goes. Wren is 2, and Dex is almost 5 now. Things have been busy, like most families households. Wren is just a character. I think she is our comedian. The kids don't listen to me, ever, and I feel like I could have been a drill sergeant back in the day. She always cheers me up, though, when it seems as if I have been shouting all day to them. I will be in the midst of giving orders, and she will look at me and start laughing, or try to loosen me up by tickling me. She knows how to turn my "mad" to "glad". She amazes me sometimes, at how she knows how to read me.

 The differences between the two children, is vast. They both have their bad days, but really are quite easy to take them out in the public. They love to go grocery shopping, running errands, etc. Lately Wren is a little troublesome, and strong willed. This is the terrible two stage. We did not have that with Dex. He was terrible threes. She just has a lot of stranger danger, and takes a bit to warm up to new people. She loves her daddy, as does Dex. They just light up when they see him. He is the fun one, after all!

Wren is my budding artist. It makes my heart SING to watch her concentrate on drawing, painting, and molding. She's a natural. Sitting quietly at the table is not something Dex ever did...but taking apart my old printer or Derricks old computer...he will sit for HOURS. We have our own tiny little us's.

 Dexter is more on the sensitive side, and tends to cry at most anything. I'm sure this is something that I should love in the future, but we are trying to toughen him up a bit, because right now...it's just the tiniest things that set him off. It could be just saying, the store is closed...or we are out of honey. Just anything, really. lol.

Miss Wren has gotten our horrible skin. She is always rashy. I stock up on all sorts of creams. Nothing helps. I don't care what anyone says...I have tried it all. Sometimes it goes away, then it comes back. Dexter has gotten my horrible allergies. Boy has had a cough for a year, I swear. I know we will have to get him tested at some point...but I am going to hold off and try allergy meds and see what happens as he gets older. Ya can't use much when they are this young, anyway.

Little lady still uses pacis. She is the paci queen. I thought Dex loved them. This gal needs like 8 in her bed. Dex stopped using them at 2, but I think Wren will be utilizing them a bit longer. AND THAT IS OK. Please never judge someones kid for using a paci. It's quite alright. I promise you, I have never seen an adult use one. I really don't care what ya'll think of my parenting, but just throwing that out there. :P I'm keeping my baby a baby as long as I can, since she is our last one. As for potty training, she could care less. She gets me her diapers when she needs a new one, and brings me her butt cream. She has zero interest in the potty. Dex was potty trained by 3, and got up to go potty at night as well. It just clicks when it clicks.

Dex has been in preschool since he turned 3, and that has helped him a lot. He is fabulous at school, following direction, learning, behaving. It seems as though he forgets it all when he comes home. Duhr! Dex and Wren get on each others nerves right now. They are always annoying each other left and right. I guess that is normal? Sometimes they have awesome moments of cuteness, though. Dex will try to help Wren do something, and I am just loving the moment, but then Wren ruins it by yelling at him to go away or something. Now that Dex is in the Junior Kindergarten room, he has to sign his full name in before he begins class. It's so cool to see him sit at the Dex and sign in. His new teacher already loves him, and told me that on the first day he fixed their cash register for them. He also lined up all the cones outside for the class as well...He likes order and structure, and fixing stuff.

As for Derrick and I, we have a Vegas wedding trip in a few weeks without the kiddos, and a Disnleyland family trip in December. I am praying Wren is ok on the airplane. She HATES rides, elevators, heights, movement, boats, you name it. I just laugh, because I remember putting her in the infant swing, and she would FLIP out. Even as a newborn. She would flinch her arms in fear she was falling. I couldn't believe a newborn disliked the baby swing?! As she has grown, it is clear as day, she still dislikes this sort of stuff. When we took her on her first merry go round thing, she screamed, as well. I gotta admit, I hate all that stuff, too.

So, that is a wrap. I gotta go. Byeeeeee

One is Fun

We have more nicknames. It never ends. I'm not sure she will know her real name when she is older. Derrick is loving calling her Wrenlita the Hut, since she pigs out all the time.

Little lady changes every day. From colic to sweetest/easiest baby ever, to all of a sudden running at 10 months, to turning into sassy pants, being Miss Independent, to NEVER SITTING STILL....being a little comedian, to pointing and yelling at items she wants, to tantruming over the slightest thing..We have concluded, she be cray cray.

She has started mimicking people lately, and trying to sound out words. She says momma, dadda, and baba all the time..but recently she said bye bye, wow, night night, and mine. It's so cute because she says it exaggerated. For instance, wow. She opens her mouth super wide, and her eyes get all huge, and she sorta whisper/yells it. It's pretty funny.

She still eats awesome. That was such a struggle with Dex, and it is very comforting not having a battle anymore. Even Dex has started eating better. He will watch her have something, and all of a sudden want the same thing. I also stopped packing his lunch for school, so he would be forced to eat what the meal plan is at school. His teacher said he has begun trying things, and ended up eating a casserole the other day. Super cool.

Dex has the coolest teacher, and I love his school. This summer they had the fire department come, they have done tons of water activities, tie dyed shirts, painted with m&ms, had puppet shows, melted crayon art, etc...It's sweet! I want to be in his class! The other kids in his class know me well now, and they always congregate around me when I pick Dex up. They all talk at once, and I have to concentrate on all their tiny voices.

Dex is having a blast at school, and can write his name, and spell it. I am going to start teaching him more with reading and writing now. He seems to be interested. As long as Baby Wren doesn't interfere...she likes to manipulate our time. If Dex comes and sits on my lap, she FLIPS out. Scream-central. She will try grabbing at me around his body. It's comical. Basically, she needs to be with Derrick so that I can cuddle with Dex, or do anything at all with Dex! (or napping)

As for us, we are super busy, ALL THE TIME. I am still doing photography on the side. It's so damn fun, I just have to. Between work, allergy shots, chiro appointments, photography, hair salon, (going back to the gym in sept)...I am not sure how it will all go down.... Should be interesting!

We are excited for two out of state weddings in Sept! NO KIDS! YIPPEE! It's like our friends getting married, gave US a gift! Thanks guys! xoxo