Susan, Luc, Amelie, & Betty Take On Jamaica!

Susan, Luc, Amelie, & Betty in Jamaica

February 27- March 22, 2015

Susan, Luc, and Amelie took a 3-week trip out to Jamaica and at the last minute (as in the night before departure!), Betty booked a flight and came for 2 weeks!

We had a blast having them here, despite two bouts of sickness (Amelie & Luc picked up a stomach bug, and then shortly after, Betty & Luc picked up some kind of virus that caused high fever, fatigue, and nausea for Betty).  It was an adjustment for Olivia to suddenly have so many people in the house. One morning early in their visit, when I brought her downstairs, she burst into tears when she saw Betty, Luc, and Amelie in the living room. Totally a change of tune after 3 weeks- she's now so lonely!

Here's an overview of their visit- we miss them so!!:

Week 1- Their first weekend, we went to a pool party at Powell Plaza and then went to Scotchie's for jerk chicken & pork that night. On Sunday, I took Susan, Luc, and Amelie to church where I saw a couple of families I knew from the Embassy and we met many really nice people. During the week, Susan and the kids went swimming almost every day. We also took Luc to Rhymetime and I hosted a huge baby group (with over 20 moms and 3 sets of twins!). We also had Indian food and sushi, as well as lots of homecooked meals.  On Friday, we headed out with my friend Cynthia to Devon House to get some ice cream and patties as a snack. However, on our way there, Luc complained that his stomach hurt. We got to Devon House and Luc lay down on the mat and asked for a tummy massage. He then vomited into Betty's lap. Susan didn't bring an extra change of clothes so she went with Cynthia shopping and got Luc a Jamaica shirt. We decided to skip ice cream and head home- Luc vomited again on the drive home. That night, Amelie started vomiting too (also on Betty), so we knew it was not something they ate, but a bug they must have picked up.

Amelie wants some spicy jerk chicken quick!

Olivia is never out this late! Marveling at the stars?

Scotchies was the perfect jungle gym for Luc

More pool time

Cousin playtime

Rhymetime!

Cool cats!

Babies hanging out at Lucie Mae's house

Gigantic baby group at my house!

Hanging out on the "stoop" (Amelie needed a helping Auntie Betty hand)

Luc said to me "We are all going to play in the living room, and YOU can't come." 

Olivia did not handle losing her toys and non-toys very well. It got better as time went on. :)

Hanging out at Devon House- a few minutes later Luc climbed into Betty's lap and vomited on her. 

Betty's second vomit incident that day- this time by Amelie. Needless to say, showers, baths, laundry, and clean up came shortly after

Week 2- We were planning to go to Port Antonio for the weekend, but because of the sick kiddos, we spent the weekend at home tending to the sickies. The kids did really well and played in the backyard (Luc got a set of sidewalk chalk at Megamart and the girls enjoyed crawling about in the yard). That Sunday, we did end up going to get ice cream and Luc loved it! During the week, we went to Boardwalk Beach, Rhymetime, lunch with Virginie and Louana at the Liguanea Club Terrace, and to Hope Gardens with Cynthia and Francis. Shortly after we got home from Hope Gardens, Betty started to not feel well. We then took Luc to Pricesmart and picked up donuts. We realized Luc was also not well because he didn't even feel like eating much of his treat. Shortly after, both Luc and Betty had temperatures of 103! Betty flew home on Friday and it was such a sad goodbye because she was sick as a dog and hardly had any energy!

Luc wasn't well enough to go swimming or running around, so he clocked in a little iPad time

Backyard time

I think Betty was playing her Luminosity train game while Olivia tried to get her attention

Ice cream time!

Luc and his chocolate ice cream beard

Betty enjoying her cone!!

A trip to Boardwalk Beach on a Monday morning

Amelie enjoying the shade and sea breeze

It was windy but Luc loved chasing the waves

Super cute family time!

Betty and Olivia are out shopping

Olivia discovered that Loshusan stocks her favorite snacks. She wants more! More! More!

Rhymetime!

Lunch with Virginie and Louana

Luc had a great time collecting "coconuts" from the mango tree, which you can see next to Susan's plate

Two sweet girls

Evening walks around our complex

Hope Gardens

So much green space at Hope Gardens

Francis on a stroll

Luc and Francis in the distance- so much space to run around

Uncle Adam cuddling with Amelie

Cousins reading upside down together

Enjoying the shade in the backyard 

Luc coveting the strawberry in our garden- Adam let him eat it 

Luc coming down with a fever

Bottles! Who needs toys!

Olivia chatting it up with one of the Embassy guards while Luc was delivering donuts to the guards (he had asked for a dozen to buy at Pricesmart to give to the guards, so off we went!)

Sick Betty :(

Betty's last morning- trying to muster energy 

Olivia saying "Betty, don't leave us!"

Cousin cuddles

More cousin cuddles (or is it headbutting?)

Week 3- Luckily we started the 3rd weekend with a trip to Port Antonio. It was just in time because there was a dump fire in Kingston that was out of control and the entire city was swamped with smoke and warnings to stay inside (schools were even closed!). On top of that, they had shut down our swimming pool in the complex so it was nice to get away. We stayed at the Goblin Hill Villas in a 2 bedroom, 2 story townhouse. Overall, we had a nice time- the kids got to listen to some live Jamaican folk music while looking out to San San Beach and we also took a trip to Frenchman's Cove. The week was comprised of hanging out at the house since we couldn't all fit into the car to go anywhere, plus the air was smokey from the dump fire and our swimming pool in the complex was still out of order. The kids played, Luc watched Jake the Pirate and Chugginton in French, and Susan worked out, read Harry Potter, and we watched Blacklist. We ended their visit with a vacation out to Runaway Bay at the Jewel Resort. It wasn't a "vacation" for Susan, but the kids had a great time at the beach and Luc LOVED the waterpark at the resort. We had one room that had it's own private little plunge pool, which was awesome for Luc to splash in while his baby sister was napping away in the room.

Olivia dancing to the music at Goblin Villas

Enjoying the views, music, and Ting (Jamaican grapefruit soft drink)

Luc and Olivia jamming with the musicians (Luc even got to shake the maracas)

View from our patio at breakfast

Pancakes, eggs, and bacon! Yum! Second breakfast for Luc (hobbit in training)

A few seats ready for the next visitors

 

Stop over at Frenchman's Cove. It was a busy Sunday and we ran into a lot of people we knew from Kingston- everyone was escaping the smoke!

Luc trying to catch fish in the river

Happy family at gorgeous Frenchman's Cove

Jerk chicken that took over 2 hours to come out

Back at home- craft time with pipe cleaners!

Sharing is caring

Short walks in our complex when the air outside was breathable

Fantastic chalk art

One of the days when we planned to go swimming- it was too smokey outside and our pool was still closed, so Luc spent about 10 minutes outside running around while Susan squirted him with the hose. He LOVED it.

Olivia still didn't handle losing toys so well

Luc got sick on the drive to Runaway Bay, so when we arrived it was vomit clean up

Once out of the car, he was all better and ready to swim swim swim!

After getting tired of the huge resort pool, Luc took a break in his mini plunge pool at the hotel room

And then it was off to the water park!

Nice shallow parts for Olivia to stand in

Luc running for the water slide (can you spot him and Adam?)

Luc and Adam floating along the lazy river

Back to the room after the waterpark for some more mini pool time

Ending the water filled day with playtime at the beach

Happy family!

Went to one of the resort restaurants for dinner

Olivia doesn't want to wait for the photo- food now! This was the snapper kids meal (fancy huh?) 

The next day it was more beach time while Susan got a massage (and Adam got one too)

Luc also stopped by the Kids Club at the resort in the morning and in the afternoon and had a great time playing

Sunday- Last bit of playtime before their flight :(

Look at these cuties!!

Aww, we miss you guys!!

The goodbyes were tough and Olivia has been a bit out of sorts since they all left. She has been extra clingy and hasn't been playing with her toys. Instead, she chooses to stay close to where I am. Luckily, in less than a week, Grandma Margaret and Grandpa David will be coming for a visit! Whooopeeeee!