Crowded Table

 

Pumpkin Heads - Best of the Rest

 

Happy Halloween 2023

 

Mom's Backpacking Trip

In the spur of the moment, at the last school auction, I registered for a woman's backpacking trip run by my friend Kellie. We hiked a total of 14 miles through beautiful scenery. Such a great adventure. 

The fall colors were amazing and best of all was the weather, no rain! 

Our view by our campsite. 

So many mushrooms on the way home. 

It was hard to capture the landscape. 

 

Gus Happenings

Lots of cross country and new contacts!! This is kid is having a big month. 

 

Belize - The First Half

Oh man. This is a crazy post. Basically, you have to read from the bottom to the top...darn way the photos imported in, and I am not about to do it again. Ha. This is a collection of photos from our time in the Cayo District. 

The ziplining was incredible. The guides led us through the jungle with a talk about different plants and insects. We all took a lesson so that we could self-break and off we went.

Driving to our next house equaled a quick stop at the Belize Zoo. Total truth, it was cool-ish and we were glad we got to see some animals, but we wouldn't do it again. Keller's face says it all. The sweat was so real. 

We ended our time in the Cayo District with a trip to the Green Iguana Conservation Project. It was educational for sure. 

Same nature park, Rio on Pools. 

Big Rock Waterfalls made me a little nervous too. As you can see...the kids are bold and the rocks were slippery. 

That ferry, hand cranked. 

Iguana time!

I did have some moments of panic at the top of the ruins. So high, so little safety measures and my children are way to adventurous for their own good. 

So many cool, fun pictures. 

Second day, next adventure. We explored the Xunantunich Ancient Mayan Site. That darker colored minivan is the one that we rented. It was at the exact moment that Jason drove onto the ferry that he realized his wallet was back at the house. Whoops. Thank goodness Vera had money, gotta love having older children who can bail us out of a bad situation. 

We were spoiled as Elias managed the house and cooked us breakfast and dinner. The food was so good and to not have to find a restaurant reduced all of my vacation stress for the days that we stayed there. 

Our first stay was at Riverwalk Ranch, and it was gorgeous. It was easily the best decision I made the entire trip. 

A little river tubing to end our time with Jaguar Paw was gorgeous. 

As adventures go, it was pretty amazing. I randomly wasn't nervous at all, which is different to say the least. 

We got shown the secret room where the kids got to jump off the rocks and explore a little cave within the cave. I stayed out of that one. 

Our guides were pretty amazing. 

It was a 25 minute-ish hike to get to the start of the cave adventure. 

The first adventure of the trip was with Jaguar Cave Tubing. Okay, the process was pretty hilarious. I texted them when in route and they sent a man out to the road on a motorbike to guide us to the cave in the Nohoch Che'en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve. 

First food! I think the kids were a little in shock and there were very few people in the restaurant. 

Just like regular times in a minivan and J checks driving in another foreign country off the list. 

The start of the Belize trip, airport pictures and arriving in Belize. We took an overnight flight and the kids slept when they could and where they could.