Aruba {One Happy Island}

Last Friday we left for ARUBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to my AMAZING uncle Jeff for the Buddy Passes and Austin's parents for the timeshare. They are the best.

Let me tell you... the nickname (one happy island) fits.

Arubans are SOOOO helpful and friendly.

We LOVED all the people we met..... lots of Bostonians.

Here we are all packed and ready to go.....can you say OGIO??? (Thanks, Lexi!!!!)

We had the CRAZIEST PLANE ride I've ever had.

First we left 2 hours late because of problems with the plane.

Then we witnessed a proposal on our flight...

Then a lady had a panic attack.

She broke the window and was crying and screaming that the plane was going to crash.

She freaked everyone out.

Everyone was yelling and crying that we were going to die.

It was pretty nuts and we were right in the middle of the big ocean.

Last of all, a guy got arrested because he drank too much alcohol and wanted more when the flight attendant refused, he freaked out.

Whew....we were happy to get off that plane.

We got to Aruba Saturday Afternoon. We looked out the window and BAM.... a Steelers plane!!!

You would think we would have waited to see who got off.....

Don't know why we didn't but Austin said he's going to regret it the rest of his life haha.

On Saturday we hung out at the pool and went to sleep SOOOO early.

Flying during the night is NOT fun haha...we were delirious.

DAY UNO

On Sunday, Adam and Alissa flew in, and we spent the day at our hotel's Private Island.

I thought sunblock 15 would do...ummm no ---- FRIED!!!!!!!!

It's super WINDY there, and you don't realize the sun is scolding you.

There were 1 million iguanas around our hotel. This is kind of a stupid picture of one not even facing the camera, but whatever.

Best idea ever to bring floaters (not my idea). There aren't really any waves in Aruba, but it is hot hot hot, so these were perfection.

wild flamingos....funny that you wouldn't think you'd be scared of animals like this, but it is SCARY when they walk right towards you.

boys are so funny. they wanted a picture in front of this sign because it said adults only.....

they are proud do be adults for the last 10 years...

We brought lots of balls for the boys to have something to do at the beach. I sort of think it's weird they can throw a football to each other for hours when I get board after 5 passes.

DAY TWO

It was our JEEPING day... our favorite day for sure. We rented this beauty and cruised all around the island stopping at different beaches.

First stop was BABY BEACH. It is on the secluded part of the island. We took some SCARY roads to get there through a ghost town, but we made it!! The water is bright blue and crystal clear.

One beach over was Roger Beach.

On the drive we found a little coconut stand. It was all of our first experience with straight coconut milk, and we poured most of it out haha.... gross!!!

 We then went to the natural bridge. It actually ended up falling down a few years ago.... It's behind us. Now it's still a popular place, but not near as cool. Oh well. On this side of the island, the waves were BIG and dangerous...scary!!!

Austin of course explored with his little video camera

Next stop... the ruins.

The boys thought this was the coolest, but I didn't get it? There was no plaque or anything explaining what it was. Soo funny that there was just a sign out front that said Popsicles drinks and sandwiches, and then not one person in sight. Arubans are funny!!!

We then went to the west side to Eagle Beach, All the beaches have tons of palm trees for shade and chairs to lay out on... it's soooo nice!!

And we watched the sunset there....beautiful!!!

Our last time was California Lighthouse on the very northern tip of the island

And then we went to Benihanas!!!!! The best meal of the trip. Great sushi ....ahhh it was amazing!!! Austin ended up paying $10 for gingerale since they didn't have free refills....oops!!!!

DAY THREE

This day we slept in really late and went back to the private island for some relaxin on the beach.

The boys played more ball...shocker

And then we went to a Brazilian dinner. It's was a meat buffet like Tucanos....only $50 a person is all. So Alissa and I watched....while the boys stuffed their faces. And they sneaked food to us. Yeah, we are white trash like that. They had the best bread balls filled with cheese.MMMMM

DAY FOUR

We walked around town for a bit..... went to all the shops and bought some souvies.

We got the most amazing coconut shakes in the world!!!! Yes, we didn't suffer one bit in the food department.

We then took the bus to Palm Beach.... probably the most popular beach on the island.

and we partied.....in the shade :) cause we were SOOOO burnt (even with all the sunblock...nuts!)



Then we ate an Senor Frogs for some MEXICAN and all felt pretty sick afterward. We went home early and played some CANASTA!!!!!!!!!! I'm not saying who won,  but we all fought a little haha.

DAY 5

Our last day :(

It was our excursion day. We took a bus to De Palm Island.

And we snorkeled.

We saw LOTS and LOTS of fish. We broke the rules a little and brought food in the water so we were SURROUNDED!!

The funniest fish ever.... look at those teeth!!!

Adam and Alissa did the Snuba 20 feet down... I was way too scared to do it!!!

The best part was free pina coladas all day long!!!!

We thought the water park was going to be for big people, but no....definitely not for big people. Don't you think we didn't take advantage of it anyway...

....and we went on the banana boat. we had a good little team...

Austin was cracking me up. He told me he never wanted to stop doing something all day long. He did not want to sit and relax on the beach. He was snorkeling....playing on the water park.... playing ping pong..... he even went and played volleyball with a bunch of strangers..... so unlike him.



We ate dinner that night at Iguana Joe's Bar and Grill. We had the best dessert I've ever had..... and too bad it's too difficult to describe.

The next morning we got up and headed to the airport. Soooo sad to say goodbye to Aruba....Austin's new favorite vacations spot. It was so relaxing, so fun, and such good weather.

We had quite the crazy plane ride home (well we aren't quite home yet).

This is us stuck in the Dominican Republic for 7 hours!!!



We had an emergency landing because something was wrong with the door. Scary.

The local news somehow got word, but twisted the story a little bit saying our door blew off haha.

They had to fly a new plane, so we waited there FOREVER.

And in return missed our connecting flight.

Now we're chillin in NEW YORK CITY!!!!

It sounds more fun than it is. Paying for a hotel here when we could still be in Aruba SUCKS!!!
Oh well, buddy passes do that to ya.

Who knows when we'll get home, but until then I'll be hanging out at h&m....booyah!
!!!!