Month Long Trip-Part 1-Puerto Rico

We recently got home from our longest adventure to date. I say adventure rather than vacation because it wasn't relaxing but was an adventure for sure. A great one at that! I will split this post up into two because it'd be too long for one, plus our month was spent half in Puerto Rico and half in Minnesota and Wisconsin so this first post will just be all about beautiful Puerto Rico.

I had a friend request that I also include how we can afford to go on so many trips and how we can bring the kids and survive..

What we DO do: 

-Research the heck out of where we're going and how to get the best deals out there for whatever we're doing and wherever we're going

-Shared a condo with family to cut costs

-we paid next to nothing for airfare (we flew three times for the trip) because we do Southwest credit cards when they run their 50,000 point sign on bonus deals plus we earned companion status which gives us BOGO flights for a year

-Darrin has 3 months PTO from paternity, so we're trying to use it all up. 

-Try to make our kids and their schedules flexible (try is the key word)

-We're frugal people in general when it comes to groceries etc.

-We find deals in general and for trips

-Eat out as little as possible

-Grocery shop on vacation

-kids sail free on cruise

-Try to start packing way ahead of time as to not stress as much as it gets closer

-Bought travel carseats for the boys-Mifold's for the older 2 and a Ride Safer Vest for Caden-all fit nicely into a small bag!

-Bought a pop up travel tent for Rachel and used it on the beach and as a pack-n-play which worked out great!

What we DON'T do:

-buy soda packages

-photo packages (take our own pics)

-excursions through the ship

-balcony room

-specialty restaurants

-drink alcohol

-Disney cruises (waaay more expensive, more kids, and we think people who do Disney cruises may not know how awesome other cruises are-and they include the same stuff if not more-just our opinion-we've never actually been on a Disney cruise because of cost)

- Buy souvenirs-pictures are our souvenirs and we gather sand to bottle 

Anyways, not sure if that answered her question, but I tried anyway.

Here's a detailed breakdown of our day to day with pictures:

5.15.18 our flight didn't leave until 10:10am which was beautiful. Not too early, not too late.

We made it through security with only two bags flagged that they had to check through.

I swear the snack bags always get flagged 😁. We went into this thinking that we only

had one layover in Fort Lauderdale, we were wrong. Our flight stopped in Denver,

we stayed on, then stopped in Kansas, we stayed on, then it finally stopped in Fort

Lauderdale where there was lots of lightning which caused lots of delays. The kids

really have been amazing though and we all napped the third flight. They didn't give us the

carseat or stroller because of the lightening which meant we had to carry everything.

We got dinner, and passed time from two flight delays with going up and down the escalator,

playing hide and seek, doing push-ups and jumping like frogs. Then we finally we able to

board the plane. Every seat was filled and we had to split up even with family boarding!

Then we waited on the plane for what seemed like an hour for them to fill up with gas

and to be cleared for departure. The kids slept really well. Then we waited for our

luggage for a long time and realized that they left our stroller and carseat in Florida.

So it took a long time to figure that out and they had a loner one they're letting us borrow.

We got the rental car, headed to the condo which was 35 minutes away and

finally got to hit the hay at 5am 😴. All things considered the kids were ANGELS.

Multiple people commented on how great they were and I couldn't agree more.

Proud parent moment.

5.16.18 we all slept in until just past 11am! So grateful! Then we made our way to Walmart for

some groceries, and played the rest of the day at the private beach, pool and playground at the

resort. Darrin, Parker and Spencer went out snorkeling for a while and saw some fish and sea

urchins. They both did really great snorkeling! Parker dug a really deep hole on the sand and we

saw several stray dogs at the beach. Rachel played in the sand and kept trying to eat what she'd

find. Caden randomly did sand angels. Caden didn't want to snorkel in the ocean because he

said it was too cold but when we went to the pool he practiced snorkeling for the first time and

did excellent! It rained on and off today which was a bummer but didn't stop us from having fun!

Wes, Jenica, TJ, Mom and Dad got in at the condo tonight around 6:15 and we ended up at

McDonald's for dinner. Then we came back to watch a movie before bed.

5.17.18 the kids slept so well and we were surprised it was 10:15 when Rachel woke us all up.

Cereal and milk for breakfast, then we headed with Wes and Jenica to the private beach.

Spencer went out snorkeling with Darrin and Wes and did so great. Lots and lots of playing in

the sand digging deep holes, then making sharks and merman's, making 4 pools by the ocean

with walls to protect them and Rachel napping on the beach. Then we ate lunch and headed to

Vacia Talego beach that's about 15 minutes from our condo. It was a really cool looong stretch of

nice beach in a cove shape. Calm water for swimming, and lots to explore over by the rocks. We

found a ton of crabs of different sizes, sea anemone, sea urchins, some shells, and some slug like

circle things. Darrin had big mud fights with Spencer and Caden 😁. Lots of stray dogs here too

including several puppies which were adorable! After the beach we headed back to the condo and

made spaghetti for dinner. Then we got ready to go to the Bioluminescent Bay. We booked through

kayaking Puerto Rico and they were great. It was a 50 minute drive from our condo. It was seriously

SO neat to share this experience with Parker and Spencer. We all loved it! Parker rode with Mom and

Spencer with Dad. You kayak 2.4 miles round-trip through Mangrove trees until you get to a clearing

with stars above and glowing microorganisms below. It wasn't quite as glowing as last time Darrin

and I did this tour simply because we couldn't see the fish this time BUT we discovered that if you

picked up the seaweed it would light up like a Christmas tree!! It was beyond incredible! Parker

would squeeze the seaweed and his whole fist would glow! Ahhh the sparking water 😍. One of my

favorite places and it was so much fun to experience it with my two oldest! The kayaking back was

MUCH harder going against the current-quite the workout. We didn't get home until close to midnight

and all of us had to shower before bed.

5.18.18 ate breakfast, packed a lunch and got ready to go to the Indian caves which were 1 hour

and 40 minutes away. The entrance to the Indian caves were much different than when we came

4 years ago. Rather than tip a tour guide and pay $2 to park, you pay $5/adult to get in. It was

incredible once again to be there and share the breathtaking views with the kids. Also very scary

that they could fall into a hole or off the cliff so easily. But we all made it out alive 😊. Just simply

one of the most gorgeous places I've ever been to. We also came across a GIANT statue called

“Brave New World” on the way to and from Indian caves that we had no idea was there. Turns out

it's the tallest in North America-way bigger than the statue of liberty. It was dedicated in 2016.

Surprising though because it's in a very undeveloped kind of ghetto area. Very very cool to see and

read about though. We went to Chiquita beach first but didn't get in because the waves were way too

rough. It was really pretty though and if it were just Darrin and I I would have loved to climb the rocks

similar to Indian caves and sit and watch the giant waves crashing. On the way to the next beach we

saw a couple really great looking beaches I was sad we didn't stop at. Puerto Nuevo Beach was our

final destination for the day. It was very shallow for a long ways out and great for kids to snorkel in.

Parker and Dad saw a stingray among some other fun things. It was quite windy which made sand

blow hard onto you which hurt. But once you were in the water you couldn't tell! Rachel loved the

water but kept getting onto her hands and knees and drinking the water. After the beach we stopped

at Walmart to grab a few things including dinner which was rotisserie chicken, salad and bread. Then

Wes, Jenica, Mom and Dad went to do the biobay excursion while we stayed home and watched TJ.

We also watched “wild hogs” movie after the kids went to bed.

5.19.18
Traffic to get to airport and return cars, no Uber had to take taxi
Boarded
Ate lunch
Checked out room
Explored ship
Dinner: steak was delicious, Parker got shrimp which he was excited about, and cod fish, spencer got pizza, Parker and Spencer loved escargo
Watched launch
Registered kids for kids club
Comedy show
Hot tubbing
Bed

5.20.18 today we woke up at 7:30, got ready and made it to breakfast by 8:45. We had breakfast in the dining room with everyone, then headed out to St. Thomas. Taxi was $10/ea person (all our kids counted as one person) to take us to Meagan's Bay. It was about a 20 minute drive. It was already a $5/adult entrance fee to the beach. Gorgeous views of the island on the way there. It was a beautiful beach with soft, light sand, clear waters, and some snorkeling too. not Was a hot, clear sky day. Did snorkeling including all the boys, Darrin and me. Saw several sea cucumbers, several live conches, 2 sea turtles, a massive school of 2 inch silver fish all moving together. Very fun. We left at 2pm to take the taxi back onto the ship. Had lunch at the buffet.
Mini golf
Kids club
Flowrider-boogie and surf
Formal night: Spencer duck and escargo, Parker: all seafood, adults got tenderloin which was amazing
Show-fell asleep got called into stage to sing and dance

5.21.18
Boogie boarding
Surfing
Kids club
Splash pad
ice skating
Rock climbing
Dinner
Magician show with kids
The quest gameshow left early

5.22.18
Breakfast 8:30
Curasau
Caves
Flamingos
Kokomoh beach good snorkeling
City colorful cool driving bridge
Lunch
Kids club
Hot tubbing/kids splash pad
Dinner
Ice show
Comedy show

5.23.18 Aruba port. After breakfast we headed off ship.
A bit Confusing but we figured out the bus system at 2.50/way/person and we took that to eagle beach-one of the top ten world beaches. It was gorgeous with white sand and it was SO soft! Darrin found a sand castle bucket out in the ocean so we had fun building sand castles. We also built pools for the babies and made Caden into a strange looking octopus. Then we went to the flea market and then back on the ship. We had lunch, got ice cream, went hot tubbing, then went back to the room for showers and to get ready for dinner. Parker got jumbo shrimp and LOVED them, Darrin had lamb and loved it, I got steak that was pretty good etc etc. Their customer service is amazing though we all agree. After dinner the adults plus Caden and Rachel went to the Rock show while Parker and Spencer went to kids club and had a dance party. After we came back to the room to get the kids to bed. It's been so nice feeling like a date every night. We got the phones set up that we can text each other while on the ship. So after the kids are all asleep we can leave and leave my phone with the kids that Parker can call or text if anyone wakes up and needs anything. So Darrin and I went and got some desserts at the coffee shop.

5.24.18 sea day. Breakfast at the restaurant. We've gotten french toast every day because it's the best french toast we've ever had. Kids went to kids club. Caden goes on and off freaking out to go and being excited to go but every time we pick him up he's so glad he went and even thanks us for taking him and letting him go. While they were in kids club Darrin and Wes did surfing. Then the kids club did a talent show we all went to. Parker and Spencer did hula hooping for it and Caden did a cute dance with his club. He really didn't want to go up but about a quarter of the way through the song he finally went up with the rest of the kids. We played mini golf. Then went to lunch in the restaurant. Then Parker and Dad did boogie boarding and Caden and Spencer played a bean bag toss. I took Spencer and Parker rock climbing while Dad took Caden (and Rachel sleeping and she couldn't go in) hot tubbing. Parker made it up the Rock climbing wall all the way to the top twice!!!!! That's huge seeing as how earlier in the week he had to be rescued 3/4 of the way up because he was too terrified to come down. He was stuck up that high last time for almost 20 minutes! This time he practiced a couple times first to rapel and then he was a pro! So proud of him. Then Darrin took all the boys swimming. We got ready for dinner, watched a movie and then headed to dinner. It was formal night. The boys got lobster tail which they loved. They had chocolate molten cake for dessert which was to die for!

5.25.18 st. Kitts. We are breakfast at 8:30 at the restaurant, then got off the ship. We walked past all the vendors and people trying to sell us tours, considered going to a museum that was $5/adult and kids free, but then a taxi driver came over and started talking to us. He was really nice, not pushy, and offered us a tour of the island for $15/adult. That was all the cash we had. We did it and were so glad we did! It was in an enclosed van with AC, lasted about 2.5 hours, and he took us to an old sugar cane factory, a viewpoint where you can see the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans, and another viewpoint. He had a microphone so we could all hear him and it was really cool. He said monkeys are all over the island like pests. We didn't see any on the island but they were lots of vendors holding them and you could take pictures for money with the monkeys. We were all out of cash. Next thing I know Spencer was holding one! The guy asked me to pay $2 to take a picture and we told him we were literally all out of cash. He let us take pictures with all the kids anyways. Super nice. We got back on the ship for a late lunch. We went to do flowrider for the last time which was a blast. Darrin did SO good and was looking like a pro on the surf board. I was able to do the boogie boarding and so did Parker. Then we did swimming and hot tubbing. We went to our last dinner which was surprisingly the least impressive but still good. The show was a Disney play/story musical thing which was decent. The sets we're my favorite part. Then we packed up super fast to make the luggage out in time and went to bed.

5.26.18 we went to breakfast at the restaurant for the last time. Then we hung out for a while on the pool deck in a secret area until we thought we the crowds wouldn't be too bad. But off the ship was a mess. We waited about half hour to get off the ship, then another 45 minutes to get out of the luggage/customs area, and then Darrin and Wes took a taxi and went to pick up the rental cars while we all waited. Apparently, we cancelled our rental car and booked with another company and forgot to put that in our document. So, Wes got his rental, dropped Darrin off and what turned out to be the wrong rental place, then he had to come back to get Darrin and they figured out where they were supposed to go which was back where they came from! He got there and had to wait in line for an HOUR! Then he got up to the front and they told him he'd need to wait for another 45 minutes for them to WASH The car! Seriously?! So all in all we waited for 3.5 hours with all the kids to be picked up 😡😢. We went to little Cesar's for lunch and had to wait like 30 minutes for a pizza and they were $7 rather than $5. We picked up some groceries at Walmart and relaxed the rest of the evening at the condo.

5.27.18 went to check out a Spanish branch at 9:30 which we barely made it to. We met up with Jason and Patti's family at the beach by their condo. They got locked out and my camera started giving me an error 20 and won't work anymore 😢. We went to El Yunque rainforest, La coca falls and a 1 mile hike called Angelito. It rained. We saw a frog lizard looking thing that was hoppy, spiders and tadpoles. We went baby to Jason and Patti's condo to hang out. We came home for dinner which was burritos, got the kids to bed and watched a movie called  "Believe" which was really good!

5.28.18 Relaxing lazy morning until about 10:30am for the first time this trip! It was beautiful 😁. Then Jason and Patti came over and we all hung out at the private beach for several hours. Then ate lunch at the condo. Brady and Melissa's family arrived and we met up with them.on We drove to Las playas to do the Rock slides in the river but they were closed for some reason. So we went back to El Yunque rainforests Angelito 1 mile hike to get in the river since last time we went prepared with swimming suits. There was a rope swing that we used. It was SO much fun! Our whole family minus Rachel was able to do it which was such a blast! It rained a bit right when we got out. So incredibly beautiful and fun and free! Then we went out to dinner with all of us to Cactus Bar and Grill. It was on the pricey side but really yummy and the service was good. Then we drove back to the condo to pack for an early morning tomorrow.

5.29.18 Jason and Patti were kind enough to go early and get us all tickets to go to culebra so we didn't have to wake up at 5:45am 😊. Their condo is much closer. They got there at 7:30, ticket sales didn't open until 8, and they got the tickets no problem. Although it's good there early because there was still a bunch of people in line when we departed that didn't make it. We woke up at 6:45, tried to leave at 7:15, but left at 7:30 and got there at 8:25. Parking was easy and then we boarded. We didn't realize that the boat would be stopping on Vieques before going to Culebra. So in total it was over 2 hours to get there compared to last time Darrin and I came when it only took 1 hour.  We took a taxi to flamenco beach which was only $5 round trip for adults and we worked out a deal where kids were free! Such a beautiful beach. We all snorkeled which was fun. The coral reef was incredible! Darrin saw some huge fish 2.5 feet long and another that was about 18 inches long! He also saw 2 massive stingrays and some conches. When I went out with Patti we saw huge sea fans and loved the reef but didn't see a whole lot of fish. It was getting pretty murky for Patti and I. Jason and Jacob saw a turtle but the rest of us didn't get to see it. We arrived at 11 something and had to leave the beach at 4 and the ship departed at 5. It was a long wait in line for the ship but at least it was shaded. The ride back made no stops so it was much quicker. But it was FREEZING in the ferry. Then we went to dinner at pollo tropical which was Puerto Rican type food which was pretty good! Then back home to pack up

To be continued...