I have so many pictures and videos on my phone from the past few months that these updates are going to be my photo and video dumps.
On September 9, 2017 Miss Zoe turned 2. In regular Miller fashion, we celebrated on her birthday at the pool with cake, and then again a week later with her grandparents at the pool with cake again, and then a few weeks later in New York with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, with a cupcake. Zoe was a trooper celebrating her big day by going to Rose's soccer game and then mommy's soccer game. She seemed to enjoy herself at both games, and we celebrated by going out to lunch and having cake at the pool after naps.
Happy 2nd Birthday to Miss Zoe!
Rose and Zoe posing on Zoe's 2nd Birthday
Birthday cake at the pool on Zoe's actual birthday
Rose continued with her soccer league. The first week was here shining game of the season. Unfortunately, week 2 she played a team where aggressive boys knocked her down. She did an excellent job participating in the 30 minute practice before the games, but it took most of the season for her to get back to participating in the game. I don't think she scored any more goals, but she and Zoe both enjoyed our Saturday morning routine of going to Rose's soccer game. On a few occasions I would help out if there was only one coach, taking the players who were not in the game to the side to play sharks and minnows.
Arriving at Rose's soccer game
One of the weeks mommy helped coach
Team photo day
This year, September was fairly warm. We managed a beach trip when it didn't interfere with Rose's or my soccer games, enjoyed the Durham Museum, started our Sunday morning walks to the playground, and enjoyed every last little bit of the pool we could. After Labor Day, the pool was only open on weekends, and we made sure to go if the weather cooperated.
Zoe playing in the water at the Durham Museum
Rose climbing the rocks at the Durham Museum
It's difficult to capture videos now that Zoe has entered the age where she wants to hold the phones and becomes obsessed with technology. Rose went through a similar phase and seems to have outgrown it. If you don't know "Zoe-speak" at 20 seconds in, she says "Zoe broke it" referring to the ripped pages.
Our Sunday walks to the park are about a mile each way on a paved greenway and trail. We usually bring both backpack carriers, for the occasional times the girls want to be carried. Here's a snapshot of a typical walk with Zoe wanting to hold Darwin's leash.
Rose resting on a tree stump during our walk
Girls posing on our walk
Being silly for a photo
Our two year old swinging before going down the slide at the playground
August and September were also filled with birthday parties for Rose and Zoe's classmates. We enjoyed spending time with their friend's families, and the girls especially enjoyed Miss Olivia's 4th fairy birthday party. The girls got faces painted by a fairy at the party and enjoyed lots of indoor and outdoor toys while wearing their fairy dresses
Posing with the fairy face-painter
Zoe loved the bubble wand, which ended up all over her dress
Rose is loving her friend's 4th birthday party
You can expect more photo and video dumps for October - January with fall activities transitioning to holiday activities and lots of snow during the start of 2018!!
Colin and I have been looking forward to a vacation all year. The last vacation we took together was for a wedding in Cabo San Lucas and we had a blast! But that was already a year and a half ago. It seems like a very long time because so much has happened in that year and a half. When we found out our friends were getting married in Aruba, we were ecstatic.
Back in 2000, I went to Aruba with some girl friends. Given Aruba’s recent notoriety with the deaths of young females, I feel fortunate that nothing happened to any of us while we were there over 10 years ago. I do remember the clarity of the water and softness of the white sand and looked forward to sharing that with Colin. I also expected to find things much the same as when I last visited. Boy was I surprised to see the changes.
The biggest surprise was that our party spot, Carlos and Charlies, was no longer in Aruba. I recall spending just about every night dancing there, and then heading to other downtown hot spots.
Our hotel, the Renaissance Marina, was located downtown and I was excited about checking out “the old stomping ground.”
The Renaissance Marina Hotel
Our first night in Aruba was my girlfriend’s bachelorette party. We got in around 9pm and I immediately got dressed up to go out. After participating in a few hotel room games, we went out with our sights set on the club “Confessions.” I inquired to the cab driver about the downtown clubs and was told everything had moved to the “high-rise hotels.” That would have been convenient when we stayed at the Holiday Inn back in 2000, but was not convenient now that I was staying downtown. Upon getting into “Confessions,” I realized it might be best to not be near the clubs since I am (1) not 19 anymore, (2) married, (3) married to a guy who doesn’t like to dance, and (4) visiting the island for a wedding and not to party with the girls. The bachelorette party was fun because all of us “old ladies” were there supporting the bride and had a good time dancing.
The bachelorette with Senor Frog near the end of the night!
The rest of the week was also fun seeing old friends, making new friends, celebrating with the bride and groom, and relaxing on the beach and at the pool.
I had planned to see the island on this trip because I never did on my previous trip, but as it turned out, we enjoyed the beach so much, we didn’t make our way to the lighthouse, the natural bridge, or any other sights besides the beach.
Have you ever been to Aruba?
What's your favorite thing about the island?
