Here comes the bride

Monday was the wedding day. So in true fashion I woke up at the butt crack of dawn to get to the beach. WE hit the pastry shop for breakfast and coffee, then went to lounge. The weather was sunny and windy, but it was definetly not cold.

We lounged around until about noon, after we grabbed some lunch it was time to get cleaned up for the wedding. I went to Amber's room where she was getting her hair done. DaMel was going to do Amb's hair as she is a hair stylist by trade.




When Amb's hair was done, Damel gave my hair a shot, did Amb's make up and gave mom a do. Amb also got stuffed into her dress. It was approaching 3pm, time for the ceremony. I forgot to put my old lady support undies on so I quickly had to go switch, told the ladies I would meet up with them. However after I changed I couldn't find them any where. They had already left for the beach, ARGH!!!! so it was like I was late.




Josh had been hanging out on the beach and the wedding before us they played the Iowa fight song at the end. There was another group of Iowans at the resort, and strangley they were the neighbors of Carthey's sister or something crazy like that. They were from Davenport too, small world. There were lots of hawkeye fans every where we looked.

Anyway we got to the beach. I walked down to the alter with Irv. It was a beautiful day! We made sure to strike a pose before we got there. Then it was time for Amb to walk down with dad. I am not sure I got a good pic of this as dad was constantly talking through every photo, telling some story.

The minister dude was a very quiet talker, and kept calling Josh, John. The ceremony went off well, and Amber and Josh were married for the second time.




It was now time for pictures on the beach.






After pictures, we agreed to all sit around and gab with everyone. Supper was to be at the World Cafe buffet again. WE sat around and drank, then ate supper. It was a great time!





AFter the wedding festivites, there was a hipnotist. Berka thought he would go give it a try. I think he was really hypnotized and carried out the actions, which had me laughing to tears. Then I think he actually fell asleep on stage (imagine that) and then he was not hipnotized anymore. After that there was Monday Night football on the beach. The screen was huge!!!! it was awesome, a lounge chair, beer and snacks on the beach. After that we hit up the Disco, where a magician who looked like Dog the Bounty hunter was finishng up.


It was a long day of drinks, food and sun. We sipped the remainder of our chelads and hit the sack.

Sunday or Domingo and the Mexicans call it.

you guys are in for a treat, all these blog updates, lots of reading ahead of you. So I will give an update of the Mexico trip by the things Josh and I did, not really sure of what everyone else did. I may or may not mention them. Bottom line this trip was awesome!

So it is Sunday, our first full day at the resort. I wake up at the ass crack. I figure if the sun is shining I am going to be outside on the beach or close to it. heck I could sleep there if I wanted to.

So we eat breakfast at the World cafe buffet, besides room service and a pastry shop that is our only breakfast option.


After breakfast we go back to our room, get out suits on and head to the beach. We start off my taking a stroll up the coast. We notice the workers. They are raking the seaweed that has washed up on the beach into piles, they then cart the piles in a wheel barrow to a hole they have dug on the beach. Talk about hard meaningless work.

Time to lounge! As we sit there we meet the entertainment staff. First they tell us to join in on stretching. We take a pass, however we see Cathey standing near the class taking pictures, which is strange, these people are in provacotive positions. then we see that Amber is in the class.

then it is time for fruit on the beach. This is where we meet Oscar, mr. Entertainment. He grabs my hand, gives it a kiss. Then lowers his sunglasses and slicks back his eyebrows. he continues to flirt and he gestures towards his body and says "do you want my body?" Then he says to ditch Josh and makes a phone out of his hand, and then says to call him after 11pm. this guy is a character. We did meet Ivan and Gerrardo as well. The entertainment staff would soon become our friends. We did get a cup of watermelon and cantelope.

Then we notice that Amber has joined in on the water aerobics they were holding in the pool. There was something going on all hours of the day, if you were bored it was your own fault!

Lunch time was getting nearer as well as some gray clouds. out of no where there was a rain storm, perfect, time to get something to eat. We chose the beach side grill. When we were done eating it the rain was over and it was time to go back to the beach and take a dip in the ocean.

Around 3 pm we ended up in the pool. Josh and I were at the swim up bar when we noticed someone with a tiger hawk tattoo. We made insant friends with this couple from Des Moines. A Few mojitos later and we were having a great time.

It was also time for crazy game in the pool. Today it was name that tune. The idea was they played a song for a few seconds you then had to guess the song and artist, if you got it wrong you lost and got a shot of tequila. funny thing thoug, Amber was playing and getting them right and she still had to take shots of tequila. I can still hear them yelling "Tequila!" As the game wound down Amb and Berka were among the finalsts. Some how the final round came down to 2 females, you guessed it Amber was one of them. It was then time to dance, Amber wins the competition and a nice white t-shirt. Which the entertainment staff dumps water on, oh what fun!

Then as if on cue, the second group of travelers roll in. Wow we were already smoked. Barb remarked, "I should have known to find you guys at the bar" Then mom and dad showed up, wow good thing they missed Amb and her white t-shirt, way to make us proud, HA HA.

We all made plans to meet up for supper and of course the only thing open for everyone was the World Cafe buffet. At this point we are ready for something else, the food it good though.


After supper it is time for the toga party!!! Amb, Ryan, Berka and I hit up the festivies. I forgot to mention that RUgh and Ryan were in on the second group of travelers.

We all got wrapped up in old bed sheets, we looked hot in our togas. We joined the party on the beach. IT was first time to dance, then we had to limbo, then there was this relay race game, with you guessed it more tequila shots.

After the toga party the disco was to be on the beach, so they had all the sound equipment and the bar on the beach. The first song wasn't even over yet and it was a down pour. SO we all high tailed it back to our rooms. Well Ryan stayed and partied.

funny story

So the whole time we are getting ready to go to Mexico the one thing I remember from high school spanish class is this song called "Vamos a la playa" which translates to lets go to the beach.

SO i have been singing it forever..."Vamos a la playa, oh oh oh"

We get into the limo and we are jamming to music the whole time and I start singing. The limo driver Alberto says, "I have that song on my ipod" I bust out laughing!

We pull over to the side of the road so Alberto can hook up his ipod, and we begin jamming to Vamos a la playa, oh oh oh. Everyone else in the limo is all confused. I however am having a good time.

Who knew after all these years that what i remembered from high school would come back 10 years later. On another note the limited spanish I had learned did come in handy, and it seemed the more I drank the more I could speak.

Vamos a la playa!!!!

Mexico or bust, the vacation we have all been waiting for. It was finally time to leave. 7 days in the sun here we come. Amber always wanted to get married on the beach. (she was married in the states in October) We were going to an all inclusive resort south of Cancun on the Yucatan Pennisula. There were 2 groups going, our group for 7 days and then the other group for 4 days. People on the trip for seven days: Miranda, Irv, Josh C, Amb, Ang & Josh C. One couple was doing 5 days: Craig and DaMel. Mom, Dad, Jan, Paul, Patty and Barb were there for 4 days.


We were leaving on Saturday December 5 from Moline, then to MPLS, then to Cancun, and after that a 2 hour drive to the REsort near Tulum. SO saturday was a travel day. The flying wasn't too bad, we got into Cancun about 2pm, and then had to go through customs, find our bags, then get them screened again.

As a wedding gift to Amber one of the couples we were traveling with had gotten them a limo ride to the resort, so we all got to get in on that. The coronas were iced down. It was a fun trip of listening to music and drinking too much.



We finally arrived at Dreams Tulum, around 5pm. We were beat! The checking in was a process, everything was a process. An hour later we had the key to our room and were looking for something to eat.




WE made plans to meet up with everyone at 7 for supper. Amb and Josh had to meet with the wedding coordinator that night as well. The only option for supper was the World Cafe buffet. We were starved as we only ate breakfast. The food tasted so good!


After supper with everyone, Josh and I had to get our feet in the ocean and in the sand. It was dark, but we managed. The stars on the beach were amazing, there were so many.


Then it was time for the fire dancing show by the pool.

It had been a long day, we were beat, so we headed back to the room to get some rest. Our bed had been turned down and there were chocolates on the pillow. It is a good thing we were dead tired as our room, on the ground floor was right next to the Disco, or night club.

Thanksgiving

Wow this year has really flown by. It is time to write about Thanksgiving. As per tradition we packed up the escape and headed to Guttenberg to spend a few days in the river town.

WE certainly had our share of food this year. I am not a fan of turkey, nor do I care for ham, so mom thought she should cook a roast beef as well. I tell her every year that there is always so much food that I don't need meat. What a good mom, thinking I need to eat more!

SO this year was a large gathering of family and friends. I have alsways siad family is not your blood, but your close friends as well. Ted and Brenda were there, Amb and Josh made an appearance, Mom and Dad, Josh and I, and this year the neighbors who run the other motel on the hill, Brian and Teresa stopped by.

The menu was ginormous! AS always I started the night before with 2 batches of chex mix, that stuff is the holidays! I was also shipped a huge batch of fresh Geaorgia pecans so I was instructed to make a pie, which then turned into two pecan pies. I of course do not like pecan pie so I expermented with an apple cranberry pie. We also had turkey, ham, roast beef, green bean casserole, scalloped corn, apple/snicker salad, crescent rolls, mashed potatoes, and a huge relish tray. Teresa brought some delicious squash and a Jell-o cake. No one was leaving hungry.



Once every one was full it was time to rest. Then it was time for Amb and Josh to leave and get out the phase 10. I was doing well, but then as per usual mom who was keeping score, jumps ahead and I belive she wins the game. Every time she keeps score she wins. I wonder who taught her math. As every game of phase 10 takes 67 hours, it was then time to call it a night.


Early that next morning Brenda and I headed to Dubuque for the Christmas sales. WE got to Menards and it was a mad house, people were parking on the highway. We scored a few items. The line for the cash registers was the worst. We then made it to Micheals and Kohls before we decided that it was enough for us. SO we found a brueggers grabbed some grub and headed back to the Gutt.

It was then time for Josh and I to say departing words and head back to the big city. I think there was a bball game that night. IT was another great turkey day.

How 'bout them Hawkeyes!

Wow I really need to get around to writing on here more often. I guess I will try to update you on the haps to wrap up this year.

Lets see I guess the last post was the beginning of November. So that backs us up to the Hawkeye football season. My what a year it was. I never came so clost to a heart attack in all my life. Those games were close, and we did lose 2 of them, but it was a great season. They ended 10-2.

It was then time for bowl selection. As every year we had to sit and wait while the rest of the season played out and conference championships were played. It was finally time to hear where we were going. There were ramblings Iowa would be going ot the Fiesta bowl in Arizona, or possibly the Orange Bowl in Miami. We could also be excluded from the BCS all together and go to the Cap One Bowl. Or fans would prove different as they travel well every bowl game. The verdict was in and we were headed to Miami.

This is actually one of the games that Josh and I will be able to attend. Every year it seems that we go to a bowl game when there are events at Carver. Being that all the other administrators leave for the game, Josh stays behind and runs the show. Well this year there are no basketball or wrestling events so we are going to sunny Miami.