Saturday, April 21, 2012

Aruba 2012

Hi everyone!  I've been getting this post together after viewing all of the photos I took on our Spring Break vacation to Aruba!  The weather was absolutely INCREDIBLE!  I'm talking 70-90 degrees all year round!  I know where I want to buy a condo when I retire......it's such a beautiful island.  We took in LOTS of beaches, snorkeling, lounging, and eating great food (and LOTS of gouda cheese!).  Be aware that this post is VERY photo heavy! 

DAY 1:  Travel to Aruba and arrive at Condo.

(Tim's cousin owns this Condo so we got a steal of a deal to stay there for 8 days and 7 nights for both families.  We went with some great friends of ours and their kids!)
DAY 2:  Bus Tour of Aruba

 (the whole group.....we definitely are tourists)
 (the boys were fascinated by the cactus needles)

 (Family photo taken on the non-swimming side of the island....lots of wind and rocks)
 (Payton even let me do a photo shoot on the beach!)
 (This was taken in front of the Natural Bridge in Aruba)
(Beautiful waters of Aruba on Baby Beach)

Day 3:  Day at

 (Doing some snorkeling at Boca Catalina....another beach)
 (Playing in the sand.)
 (Some of our new friends........they were everywhere!)


(We took in a water laser show in town.)

Day 4:  DePalm Island (no pics) and Eating Dutch Pancakes at Linda's



(Remember the Gouda I said we ate LOTS of?  Here is a Ham and Gouda Dutch Pancake.....OMG.  Delicious!)

DAY 5:  Shopping and Pirate Sunset Cruise

(Aruba shoreline prior to boarding the Pirate Sunset Cruise)
(Enjoying some non-alcoholic rum punch!)
(Having fun on the rope swing off the boat)
(Even Payton got up there and swung off the boat 3 times!)
(The kids with the Jolly Pirate)

(The Sunset)

DAY 6:  Relaxation and Arashi Beach

(This is where Tim took Scuba lessons)
(One of my favorite pictures of Brett)

(Getting buried in the sand) 

DAY 7:  Eagle Beach

(Playing some frisbee with a local)

(Don't you like the braids that dad let her get put in?)
(Aloe plants were everywhere.  We went to Aruba Aloe where we purchased some wonderful lotion and skin repair for sunburns!)

DAY 8:  Departing for Kansas

 (Look at our little friend we found in our sliding door track at the condo!)

Well, that's the highlights from our wonderful vacation to Aruba 2012.  We thoroughly enjoyed this vacation probably more than any other since we could just get up and go.  Definitely a vacation spot we will try to visit again someday!


17 comments:

  1. Awesome pictures Amy! Thanks for sharing...I'm ready for a vacation now...LOL!!! Hugs ~S~

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  2. You have a beautiful family Amy. Looks like you had a wonderful time. What beautiful beaches. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. It looks so fabulous!!!
    The water...
    the sand...
    the colors!!
    But I gotta just tell you...
    I don't really like your 8 legged friend...
    EEEKKKK!!!!
    Y'all looked so happy...
    a beautiful family just having such a great time...
    precious memories! :)
    Thank you so much for sharing with us!

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  4. Looks amazing, and warm and gorgeous! So glad you got to make the trip. How about next year we do a trip there with all us Paper Dolls? :)

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  5. Oh, so glad you shared! Your son looks like QUITE the 'ham'! And it looks like you created some wonderful memories together!!

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  6. Great pictures, Amy!! I'm have total flashbacks to my childhood days in Costa Rica....clear waters, gecko's, tarantulas, coconut trees, playing for hours in the sand, lovely warm temps...aaaaaah....can even feel the warm breeze on my face :) Love the pirate ship cruise idea! I'd be all over that zip line LOL! Had those big pancakes when I lived in Holland for a year and enjoy them now and then at the Dutch Panaecooke house here. What a fabulous vacation!! When are you going back ;)

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  7. Looks like such a beautiful island. Thanks for sharing photos of your trip.

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  8. You have such a beautiful family and it looks so amazing there. Great photos!!! Thanks for posting them, Amy!

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  9. Looks like a fantastic time! Hmmm, just a little jealous *wink*

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  10. What a trip, Amy! It looks absolutely wonderful! I'm begging BJ to take me to the beach this summer, but it's just so far away. Why do we live in Kansas? Sigh. TFS!

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  11. Amy it looks like you had a FABULOUS trip!! LOVED all your photos.. course now.. it makes me want to just FLY right over! :) ha ha!! Thanks for sharing!
    THANKS for stopping by my blog and your sweet comments on my card, and YES to picmonkey! I cant wait for them to get the collages .. coming soon it says.. I LOVED doing them! Now I just gotta find a place to print what I saved from Picnic! LOL!! Have a GREAT day!!

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  12. Your photos are amazing!! I loved seeing them all and the places that you went! What a terrific vacation, minus the tarantula! :) You did a great job with the photos too by the way! It looks like you got your camera all figured out! Oh, and you look great too!! Your hard work payed off!! :)

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  13. Gorgeous pictures!
    Looks like you guys had a wonderful time!!

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  14. I'm so jealous! It looks like you had an amazing trip to Aruba. You look gorgeous, too! Thanks for sharing these great pics!

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  15. Looks like a wonderful vacation. Amy you have a beautiful family. The pictures are amazing. Its fun to go with friends,and I bet the kids likes that. TFS

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  16. Awww... these pics are wonderful! What an amazing vacation you all had - and such a beautiful family!

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  17. The better place for staying is condos. as they are easily available near the beaches. You can enjoy the beach activities like snorkeling and deep sea diving and many more which makes your vacation interesting. Aruba condos on rent are affordable and available at reasonable price.

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