Bahama Mama!

It all started at Hudsons Bar and Grill on Lee Trevino Avenue. It was 1998, Alexis was 1 and Christian was 1 month old. I had found a job and 2 new best friends. Jackie was the loud beauty queen and Autumn was the easygoing one that everyone liked. We were instant besties!

Then in 2003 it all changed. Autumn went and got herself engaged and her new husband David whisked her off to San Diego immediately. Having recently graduated I headed up to Seattle in search of a better life (and husband!). Too distraught to stay in El Past without us, Jackie absconded to Albuquerque for awhile. Okay, maybe that's not exactly what happened with Jackie, but it was close. :)

Living so far apart from each other, we knew we needed to do something to keep our friendship alive. So in 2005 we had our first annual "Girls Trip." I left dreary Seattle, oh and it was dreary that winter! We had come 3 days away from breaking the record for the most rainy days there ever! I only remember that because I remember checking the weather with my kindergartners everyday, and marking rainy everyday, and then polling them to see if we would break the record. We didn't but it was still icky.

Anyways, that first year we met in Phoenix. (the sunshine and blue skies had never looked so good!) We went to the Grand Canyon for a day and hung out at some posh hotels. And it was the start of something beautiful.

The following year things had changed again. I was now living in a tiny New Mexico town and Jackie was back in EP. So we decided to meet up in a little paradise in the mountains of New Mexico called Ruidoso. We stayed at a huge (and very nice) Indian Casino (Inn of the Mountain Gods) where Jackie won $300.

The next year I was great with child. So we stayed close to home again (at least for Jackie and I) and drove to Santa Fe. It was relaxing and casual, just what we needed that year! And my camera broke. :(

Then we all hit a milestone. We all turned 30. And hit our 10 year anniversary. So we let our January girls trip time pass us by and planned for bigger and better things. First it was gonna be a 7 day cruise, with our men for the first time ever. But then this mama's heart realized that she couldn't possibly leave her baby for a full 7 days and not be able to be reachable! Soooo, we compromised on an all-inclusive resort in the Bahamas. Matt and I would stay 4 days and the others would stay the whole 7. Everyone was happy. :)

Matt and I boarded our 2 1/2 hour (yes, you read that right, 2 1/2 hour!) flight for the Bahamas Saturday morning. The rest of the crew flew in later that afternoon. We had so much fun!

Meeting up for the first time.

Romantic walk on the beach at sunset.

The obligatory Charlies Angels pose.
Sort of.

My beautiful besties.

Matt attempting to body board.

Jackie with a Bahamian saleswoman trying to swindle her into paying $30 for a wrap.

Paul getting spanked for trying to bargain. :)
We did each end up getting a wrap at the Straw Market for $15.
So glad we waited!

Our resort had lots of activities included and one of them was a trapeze.
Matt and Autumn were the only 2 brave enough to try it.
They did awesome!

On their second attempt they both completed their stunts.

Gearing up.

Success!

Jackie after being stung by a Bahamian jellyfish! I knew exactly what had happened having just treated Christian for a sting! We took her to the "state-of-the-art" medical clinic at our resort and they fixed her right up. :)

Before our romantic couples dinner.

Every morning our cameras were super foggy from the air conditioning in the rooms. And these would have been such cute pictures!

One day we did a "Total Package" activity where we got a boat tour, jet skiing, banana boating, snorkeling, and para-sailing.
We had an exhausting blast!

Gilligans Island!
At least that's what they told us. :)
We also saw Oprahs and Tigers houses.

H-O-T!

They took us out to this island, but before they let us off, they let us snorkle all around. None of us were super excited about it at first, but as soon as we got in the water it was so neat! Reefs and fish and they were all so colorful! I highly recommend it!

Jackie and Paul getting ready to parasail.

Autumn and David.

Woo-hoo!
So peaceful at the top and not scary at all!

Matt and I were the early risers of the group. Actually Matt is the early riser and I am just the follower. So we went for a bike tour early one morning.

Later that day we took a bus into Nassau and walked around the shops and the Straw Market.
The Miss Universe pageant was going on as we were there and they had signs everywhere!
So we had to pose. :)

This picture cost $4 for the masked man to pose with us!
So silly.

Posing with our discounted wraps.

Our paparazzi photo shoot. We wanted some nice pics, but all the boys were snapping at once and they all came out a mess with everyone looking at different cameras.
Sigh, we tried.

Matt set up the timer on the camera and then ran into the water. I love those pictures, they are always so funny!

Then we got a nice tourist to take some.

Our last morning there. :(
We went for a walk and bought some coconuts to drink the milk.
I think we had to pay for this picture too. :)

The daiquiri shack. I got a delicious virgin mango daiquiri!
Very authentic!

Matt and I flew home Wednesday afternoon, well rested and romanticized. And ready to see our babies. Huge thanks to Amy who flew out to care for them! She even payed for it herself as my birthday gift!

We had a wonderful time!

Can't wait for our next girls trip girlies!!!