Pop-pop at the pirate caves

Aaron being a dork

My dare-devil baby boy!

   Wholey Moley! What a long time it's been. Sorry I am so bad about posting . With the moving.......it's all crazy around here:) Well, Grand Cayman was a blast. We saw just about everything we could see and did everything twice over. I'm so glad we had that experience. We made some great friends while we were there. Preston can't wait to skype with his friend Alaura and Mckenzie with Joshua!

We came home around Mid March and stayed at my mom's house with the kids for a few weeks. Aaron only stayed a week so he could get back to work. He did enjoy a night in Tahoe with the boys and some good Kanter family fun in Lodi before he left though. My mom had Preston's old bed set up in the play room at her house with all the kids toys! They were so glad to be home! Fresh chocolate chip cookies every other night at grandma's and all our old stomping grounds made being home so fun. We really miss Lodi.

Kenzie pie

bounce house with a slide

Big hugs for the Easter bunny

Pop-pop

We ended up staying longer in Lodi than planned due to Kenzie's nasty ear infection followed by the flu:(  On a lighter note, we got to stay for Easter and go to the best Easter Egg hunt ever! They kids had a great time meeting the bunny, bounce house fun and egg hunting. Joanne Siebel had a mini-egg hunt at her house too! And at grandma's house .....Oh boy am I afraid to see my next dentist bill.
   Our first couple weeks in Vancouver were sort of the pits because we all ended up with the flu. So, we just started doing stuff really the last two weeks. So far we have been to Science world, the Space museum, the Aquarium at Stanley Park and a couple community hot spots. Parks here are so clean and city is so friendly. I am quickly finding that there are so many activities to do here that I cannot squeeze them all into every week. Still sorting out our weekly routine with all our options here. Probably not a bad problem to have. We really miss everyone and I promise to post more photos as soon as I remember my camera!lol! I've been terrible about grabbing the camera here.
   We are so glad that we get to see Aaron every day now. I don't know how some families do it with commuting and being away from their husbands/kids for long periods of time. We just don't want to miss anything with Preston and Mckenzie.

Planning a trip to Lodi around the 4th of July and hoping to see the old gang while we are home........ plus a couple new additions! Baby Meyer and Baby Sanger!!!!! Can't wait to meet you both:)

Plans for the coming weeks include the Olympic village, and hopefully a trip to Whistler for some snowy fun.
Will blog soon....... I promise!!!!

Settling in to the new apartment

Blog From Aaron

     Its the other half, I wanted to blog once so we can have one saved from me.  We have less than a week left till we fly home.  It has definitely been quite an adventure.  We have spent most of our time snorkeling, swimming, building sand castles, watching movies at the outdoor theater, playing in water fountains and just hanging out together as a family.  I think we all have enjoyed it but at the same time have had enough of the island life for now.  You can only take so much of this humidity before you go crazy.  If I am still playing poker when the kids are a little older we talked about taking them to a different country one month each summer.  It would be a experience for all of us and I think we should take advantage of my job mobility.  I plan to cut my hours a bit this week so we can enjoy our last few days here.  Most of our days have gone something like this...

Kids wake us up around 7am.
Breakfast and play time till about 10am
Jenny goes to gym and we meet here there to swim till noon.
I get a couple hours of poker in while Mckenzie takes a nap.
Head to the beach, Camana Bay or pool till around 5pm
Dinner and games with kids
Outdoor movies start at 7pm I try to catch the ending
Jenny puts Mckenzie to sleep at 8pm and Preston at 9pm.
I play poker till 11pm depending on games and how I'm doing.
Get to sleep by midnight most nights.


   I didn't take any days off and played mostly between 5-8 hrs a day.  It makes it easier when I can play at night while the kids sleep.  I started off very well, but hit one of the worst losing streaks I have had in a while.  We still will come home with a decent profit and a wonderful experience.  My favorite part was definitely the trips to Stingray City which is just the name of a location in the middle of the ocean about a mile off the coast. By far the best snorkel spot on the island and watching 40-50 stingrays swimming around and in between you is pretty cool. A close second was the turtle farm even though its a little pricey.  You get to hold turtles, snorkel with lots of  fish and there is even a water slide area.  It was nice having a family with kids around the same age to hang out with.  They were from Toronto and seemed like really nice perople.  I am also glad both my parents were able to make it out to see us.  They were very helpful and I know the kids enjoyed having another person to play with.   Thanks Mom and Dad!

     We are pretty excited about our Vancouver trip.  It looks like we will be staying downtown and there is a ton of stuff to do for kids in that area.  I will only be home for 8 days hopefully enough time to visit everyone before we head north.

Aaron

Grandparents visit!

     Well after our really fun excursions with Grandpa Mitchell, we had Grandma Gina come out to enjoy some of the Cayman weather. A balmy 75 degrees on average:) Mitch flew home to livable, lovable, Lodi on February 13th and Gina flew in on the 14th. After pioneering the tourist attractions with Mitch, we knew just where to take "GG" to explore the island. On the 15th we went to the Queen Elizabeth Botanical Garden which is on the eastern side of the island on the way up to Rum Point. There were beautiful tropical trees and bridges over the cool, coy ponds. A large pond had several tropical fish with ducks and lily pads with giant Lilly's. This is the only place in the world that you can find the Blue Iguana. They are an endangered species and only exist here in this park! They don't actually look very blue.....kinda gray looking and not as pretty as the bright, blue statues we saw but ..... we can say we got to see them.

Hanging at Margaritaville

      On the 16th we took "GG" to see the beach and swimming. We got to see the sunset and let the kids play in the sand. Then on the 18th, Saturday we all went to Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville and had lunch over where the cruise ships come in. Saturdays, no cruise ships come in so it wasn't busy at all and we had the most relaxing lunch out EVER! The best place to take your 4 year old for entertainment while they wait for their food by far! LOL! Preston went down the water slide right in front of our table about 45 times. We had a couple tropical slushies and headed home for a nice nap before a "movie under the stars" at the Ritz Carlton again. We frequent the "movie under the stars" as it is so cool and relaxing. Oh and did I mention free?!
     On the 19th Gina took me out to dinner while Aaron watched the kids. We had Indian cuisine! LOL! Maybe not the best choice for Gina's English taste buds but we had a good time. It was definitely the fastest I have ever seen my mother-law-suck down and alcoholic beverage!
     On Monday the 20th we went on another snorkel tour to Sting Ray City, and the Coral Garden with "GG". Preston got to snorkel this time because Gina brought his Snorkel gear that fit him. He had and absolute blast and Preston snorkels like a pro! I was amazed at how well he took to it and how far out he was brave enough to venture! I had so much fun watching his astonishment at the fish and coral life! Definitely a proud parent moment. Gina stayed on the boat at our last stop with the kids so that Aaron and I could go out together. Of course I found the perfect Conch Shell that was just a little deeper than I could get my ears to clear so..... I got my superhero husband to dive down and grab it for me! Apparently fire worms can live in empty shells so we had to be very careful bringing it up. Sure enough it was empty ! We brought it home and cleaned it ourselves.
     On Tuesday we went swimming with our neighbor's  Azuzu, Alaura and Joshua and followed that with a trip to Camana Bay to play in the fountains and show "GG" the hammocks hanging from the palm trees by the sailboat docks. After a very busy day, we put the kids down early and Gina kept watch while Aaron and I enjoyed a night out on the town. We had dinner at Yoshi Sushi in the Sunshine Harbor. Amazing time! I had two Lychee Martini's and they are now by far my favorite drink:) The tables were set low to the ground and the footing was lowered into the ground so it looks like you are sitting on the floor but your feet are actually dangling ! Wednesday was Ash Wednesday which is a public holiday here so all the businesses were closed except liquor stores!LOL! Funny.....that night was the Mardi Gras celebration all over the island. We had a record 8 cruise ships come in and party. Apparently it is Grand Cayman's "Carnival."

     Thursday Gina flew back to Elk Grove. We have a lot of pictures on water cameras that I need to develop before I can post them. Mostly from our snorkeling excursions. Preston had so much fun playing with grandma. It was a much needed visit. I caught another cold here so I have been down for the count for the last two days. Feeling better this morning and off the the pool with the kids and a "movie under the stars" night out to see "Tangled" Until next week.........

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      Wow! So I know I have not been on top of blogging but I have been staying busy with the kids. We have been doing all the tourist stuff. Went to the pirate caves, Sting Ray City and Rum Point with Grandpa Mitchell while he was here visiting. Fun, fun, fun! We went to "Taste of Cayman" at Cammana Bay which is owned by a man by the name of Dart. He's the guy who invented Styrofoam and apparently owns 1/3 of this island! "Taste of Cayman was super yummy and packed with "foodies".

Taste Of Cayman

     We go to Cammana Bay Shopping Center about twice a week to meet with other kids and play in the water fountains. The kids are having so much fun here. Everyday there is something new with them. Preston is getting so tall and well spoken! He is counting by 2's, 5"s and 10's now and starting to read his Leap books all by himself! He loves playing with his math cubes and cars of course. Rocket ships seem to be his new favorite play thing!  He flexes his biceps every time he eats his broccoli now asking if his muscles are getting bigger yet!
 

     Kenzie is getting 4 new molars right now..... ya sleep isn't one of her priorities so we are all struggling at night. She is a total flirt and waves hello and blows kisses to strangers. She is still eating sand and loving it.

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Kenzie in deep thought!

      We go to the beach just about every night and watch the sunset. About 5 cruise ships come in a day. Pretty cool to see them take off into the horizon. In the evenings we have been going over to the Ritz Carlton for a movie under the stars. They are free every night for anyone who wants to come. This is one of our favorite things to do. Last night we say "Wall-E."


     There are roosters and iguana running around all over the stinkin place. Mckenzie definitely has the rooster call down!LOL! Aaron is at it on the computer doing well. I stay busy with the kids and have been able to take up running again.

     We are starting to plan our trip to Canada now. We are looking into preschools in Vancouver, rental homes and activity centers close to where we want to live.

     Grandma Gina just got here this evening and will be visiting for a week or so. Tomorrow we are off to the Botanical Gardens where there are Blue iguanas. This is the only place in the world that they live! Until next time.......

Coconut plaza and Park Place is where we live. Right across from the beach.

Camana Bay

Starfish Point

Kenzie kissed a Sting Ray!

Art at the condo during some down time:)

Getting here......

 

 

Well, after a long day of travel to Florida, we stayed with my brother Jeff for a few days. Loads of fun. Preston and Kenzie got to spend time with their cousin Lexi and go to the aquarium in Tampa! We had a really good time. Then......we went to the airport to venture on to Grand Cayman. After a whole lot of hoopla about my maiden name being on my passport in Tampa,an easy flight, an extended stay in the immigration line and a couple sweaty nights in a cramped hotel room, .......we made it. I love our place here. It is a 2 bedroom right across from the beach, grocery store and in the heart of Seven Mile Beach! We have been to the beach almost every day now and swimming every day. The kids are having a blast and Aaron is at it on the computer and back to business. Of course with a few internet hick-ups now and again. We went to the turtle farm where we got to see 500 +lb turtles and Preston got to hold a newborn baby turtle! We want to go back and do the whole farm where they have water slides and let the kids snorkel and swim with some of the turtles! We miss everyone a lot but decided that this is an awesome time to bond our immediate family and have some big fun! Preston is so smart and says the funniest things all the time. He misses his friends at school and all the grandparents, cousins,uncles,and aunts. Kenzie is hoofin behind Preston everywhere making car noises and roaring and holding her own! Lol! I get the feeling she wont be the girly type. Everything is closed on Sundays. Yup....even the grocery stores!Mckenzie eats sand on a daily basis. I am hoping she will figure out that it doesn't taste good soon:)Found Camana Bay where there is reading at the book store on Thursdays and mom's meet up on Wednesdays. There is also a water pad there that shoots up fountains for the kids to play in. We've been there twice and they love it. Really needing a pack n play ASAP! Lol! Kenzie is getting spoiled sleeping with mommy. Overall, it is beautiful,sticky,windy, and full of fun stuff to do! You can't have it all. We would love to have visitors. Our place is super nice and we have a queen bed for any takers;) our lease here ends the middle of March and we plan to come home and head up to Canada soon after. Till next week, The Kanter Family.