June 2016: Father's Day week

June has been a busy and varied month full of celebrations, catching up on work and church callings, HOT temperatures in Albuquerque, and lots of Blog postings!

June 15th: Dinner for two at home: Tri-tip Roast, Red Spuds, and Steamed Cabbage and Carrots

June 21st: Roasting12 pounds of whole almonds to make Natural Granola Bars and Cowboy Trail Mix for TREK

Mike was spoiled this year with cool Father's Day (June 19th) gifts from our children
 GoPro Camera and Accessory Kit from Jenny and Jared!

Variety of Root Beer Sodas from Jessica and Sebastian

Sonic Gift Cards for milkshakes and meals from Sam and Kiley
and a pair of Cinemark Movie Tickets from yours truly

June 2016: Celebrating Sam's 27th Birthday at Red Robin Restaurant

June 16th: We celebrated Sam's 27th birthday a month early at Red Robin Restaurant since he would be away in San Antonio during his birthday. The Dunlap's joined us for the festive occasion.

  

Our happy birthday boy ready to party! Look at that little Eli--oh my goodness what a little doll he is!

  

Finally got a shot with Joey smiling!

  

Mike, the Dunlap family, and Hudson's best friend, Jessie, from school

  

Sam opens his gifts

  

This is the one that made him light up--a Ninja blender! 

  

Awesome book for Sam from his sister Jessica!

June 12-13, 2016: Grand Bahamas with Mom--Day 4

June 12th: This was our last day on the island and our return to the cruise. We were tired but happy to leave the hot, muggy island. The ship was too cold, but the island was too hot! Mike and I loved the beach and the pool though, and we would have done more if it had been just the two of us.

My only regret about this trip was not taking my mom parasailing. That would have been SO FUN for her! I also wish we would have rented one of the boats for my mom for part of a day. Oh well, we still had a good experience and there's always next time...

  

Last trip to Willy Broadleaf for breakfast

  

Lots of waiting on this trip. Here, Mike waits in the hotel lounge for our bus back to port.

  

Our buses finally arrive after a couple hours of waiting

  

Good-bye Grand Lucayan Resort!

  

Mike and Mom on the bus

  

The Grand Celebration Cruise Ship awaits us

  

Our cozy cabin on Deck 7, room #E4

  

Awesome lunch at the ship's Ocean View Buffet on Deck 10

  

Beautiful sights from the Pool Deck (top deck) of our ship

  

The pools and restaurant atop the Pool Deck 

  

Mom FINALLY gets her lobster meal! It cost an extra $21 at the ship's Stellar Prime restaurant on Deck 8

  

We tried one of each dessert even though we were stuffed. Gotta start our diets when we get home!

  

Photo taken by the ship's photographer for purchase

  

An exhausted Mike on the flight home. Thank you for joining us Mike! We couldn't have done the trip without you!!!

June 11, 2016: Grand Bahamas with Mom--Day 3

June 11th: On our second day at the Grand Lucayan Resort, we enjoyed breakfast at Willy Broadleaf Buffet, but it rained all morning. When the clouds cleared, I talked my mom into changing into her new bathing suit (from daughter Jacquie) and coming to the beach with us. She looked adorable in her Bahamas wrap that she purchased yesterday at the local souvenir markets. My mom liked the Hammerheads Beach Bar, where we got our special drinks. She ordered Bourbon on the rocks, and Mike and I enjoyed our fruity drinks and smoothies. We also picked up bakery treats and ice cream at Plantation Cafe on the resort.

  

Lunch buffet in the main restaurant

  

Yummy lunch buffet

  

Visiting the hotel's gift shop

  

In the hotel lobby 

  

Outside the back entrance of the hotel lobby with the beach behind us

  

Making a toast to our last day on the Grand Bahamas island

  

It was extremely HOT and muggy this day, but Mom still did not want to go in the ocean

  

I LOVE the beautiful beach! 

  

Wish my Mom loved the beach too! 

  

One of the boats we SHOULD have rented during our stay 

  

Mom and Mike are so cute together

  

Look who's in the ocean with me! I had to drag her in, and she only went up to her waist

  

Mom in the lazy river pool 

  

China Beach restaurant where we needed a reservation, even though the place was nearly empty 

  

Mom's Beef and Pan-Fried Udon Noodles

  

Mike's Sweet and Sour Shrimp


The lush greenery at our resort


The Grand Lucayan Bahamas Resort Hotel where we stayed


The life sized Chess Game on our resort

  

Exploring the Lighthouse Pointe Resort and pools near us

  

Lighthouse Pointe Luxury Suites

  

Portobello's restaurant for Lighthouse Pointe guests

  

A lap pool for Lighthouse Pointe guests

  

The spa house for Lighthouse Pointe guests
 

 

Pizzeria Capri for Lighthouse Pointe guests
We were starting to feel like outcasts on this side of the resort!

  

Mom's shaking the coconut tree or trying to climb it 

  

Mike found a fresh coconut on the grass and pretends to catch it from this tree