The Plummer Posse: March 2013

I'd a like to have never gotten her 23-month photo. First of all, it was taken just yesterday because we haven't had the time, and secondly, well let's just say we are starting to see the "terrible 2's". She threw an all out fit. I tried to get one of her faceplanted into the ground with the sticker on her back but she wouldn't allow it, believe it or not. That would have been classic. I'd have to say this one didn't turn out so bad, but man does she need a haircut. Later on that.

Boy howdy this girl is talking. She's obsessed with cows and puppys, always wants to know where her Daddy is, repeats the same questions over and over and over, and repeats practically everything you say. You can't even throw her off with "chiropractor", she nailed it...ky-o-pac-tah. And don't even get me started on "epephants" (elephants)!

March started out with a much-loved visit by Nonny (my Grandma). Riley and her were two peas in a pod.

Otherwise we've been keeping busy with coffee time....

Household chores, such as making the bed....

And playing in snow from yet another unwelcomed storm with our friend Skylenn.

Cue snow picnic.

We got to dye Easter eggs for the first time with our friends Cortney and Skylenn. R "helped" and watched but couldn't have cared less. Maybe next year. Definitely looking forward to Easter egg hunts next weekend.

I've always wanted to go somewhere for my 30th birthday. I didn't care where it was as long as it had a beach. We ended up in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic because....well...it was different and pretty much the same exact price as Mexico as it was Spring Break. Plus our ex-neighbor is from there so we've heard a ton about it, so why not?! On St. Patricks' Day Chadder and I began a fun-filled vacation to the Caribbean.

We experienced a lot of firsts at the Punta Cana airport: first international airport, first time exiting the plane on the tarmac, first time in an open-air airport, and first airport with thatched roofs!

It was a little bit of a cluster trying to figure out what we needed to do (but not as much as a cluster as when we came back, geez!). We found our shuttle bus and were soon on our way to our resort that was about 30 minutes from the airport. Hey, atleast the bus was air-conditioned, unlike the airport.

We arrived at our resort and checked in. The lobby was monstrous.

Our bell boy took our luggage along with another couples and "explained" to us where our room was so we could go ahead and he'd follow with the luggage after dropping off the other couples. He beat us there. Their room numbers were very screwy. But I was greeted with a birthday banner!

Our room was nice. We were just thankful it was only Chad and me in the room as the wall to the toilet was only glass. :)

Our balcony view. The swim-up bar is in the upper left.

I was on a mission to try the mamajuana first thing, just for our good buddy and ex-neighbor Wascar (a Dominican native).

That night they had a White Beach Party which was fun but it was windy and cold (!) so we didn't stick around too long. I did have my first drink in a coconut. The guy literally chucked off the top, added rum, a little bit of sugar, and a straw. Not the most delicious drink I've ever tasted but who's complaining, I'm on a beach!

The next day was spent at the beach and then pool.

The resort's "animation team" was always around trying to get you involved in games and the like. We were suckered in the first day, I mean, there's only so much laying around on the beach you can do, right? First game was horseshoes. Chad would say it wasn't exactly horseshoes, but oh well, we didn't win so who cares. The next game was capture the flag, which was a blast, I wish I had gotten pictures. They laid a rope down the center of two teams of six and when they called out your number you were supposed to run up to the guy holding the flag and grab it. Whoever grabbed it, the other person then had to tag the other. Well I was a numbskull and grabbed the silly thing thinking I could out run her and she got me. It's hard to run in the sand! I could barely lift my legs the next day.

We ate lunch at the seafood restaurant that has a lunch buffet. This was our view from our table.

That afternoon came us being suckered in yet again, but this time for no other than arm wrestling. I was really surprised Chad partook considering how modest he usually is. Me, on the other hand, not as much. But I did forget that I don't lift weights anymore. So there was a three-way tie amongst the girls.....me, a middle-aged "mom-looking" gal, and a nearly 70-year-old. I felt better once they told me the 70-year-old was a retired personal trainer. :/

The next day brought the good and the bad....which would you like first? You say the good? Ok, we did our one and only excursion (remember I just wanted a beach?) and that was called Outback Safari which basically showed us the local lifestyle and ended with boogie boarding on Macao Beach. I'm sooo glad we did this now, it was a good break from the resort-lifestyle.

This is a school in one of the villages. School was unfortunately not in session because the teachers were on a sort of strike.

Driving through the villages was eye-opening. Waving at kids, seeing an old man get his haircut while the entire family watched, just their normal stuff. We did notice there was a lot of "sitting around" though. Our guide informed us not to give money to kids because that will make them lazy. He told us there was no welfare in the DR so everybody has to work. We saw a TON of mopeds and he said that these were "taxis".

They took us to a typical house where we saw how they make cocoa, cocoa butter, and coffee. They also roll their own cigars which is what we brought home.

Our guide also explained to us about mamajuana. Well Chad and I being the seasoned veterans that we are already knew all about it. :) But just in case, here's a video of our guide talking about it.

We ate lunch at a mountaintop ranch that had amazing views.

Random bananas and horses on the roadsides.

We ended at Macao Beach for boogie-boarding and relaxation. I didn't last very long, but Chad boogie-boarded his heart out.

Okay, so now you want to hear the bad? Let's just say we are thankful we brought Pepto and Immodium. :( That's all I will say about that. And no, we did not drink the water!

That night we ate at the Japanese Steakhouse which was the best food we had.

The last day was more beach and pool time. The couple walking in this picture are actually a part of a group of Canadians who took us under their wing. We were "honorary Cannucks".

And finally....the DR coastline from the plane the next day. Bittersweet. Missing sand and palm trees, but atleast now I got my Riley.....and normal food. :)