Irie's attempt to get her groove back...TRIP REPORT

Here are a couple of more recent shots...they have grown up a bit...

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The last two shots are from halloween. I'm not sure that too many of you will know who DJ Lance Rock is.....but that is who my son in the orange is supposed to be.

IrieSistah, I responded to your e-mail. (Yes) ☺

Your boys are so cute I love, love, love the pic of him sweeping, priceless.

Iriesistah have the bestest(think rugrats)time ever !

Those boys are adorable!!! I love the long hair.

OK, finally a pic of both twins together, I was starting to think there was really only one!

J/K, great pics

have a great time! well earned and deserved . . .

it's gonna take a minute to not turn your head around everytime you hear someone say "mommy"

but that passes quickly (i know)

oh and as soon as you get home - start talking about YOUR vacation next year :-)

Those pictures are just too cute!! Being an "older" boardie, they have hair like one of my favorite grandson's!! I call him my hippie pickney!! Being a child of the hippie generation...I am fine with it!!! My Dad, his great grandad, always gives him a hard time about his long hair. One day, my grandson said, Well, papaw, Jesus had long hair and you love him!!! Well, with that, I had to smile from ear to ear...Mi grandson also has his Nana's sense of independence!!! Ya just gotta love it!!! They are absolutely precious!!!!

Thanks so much everyone for all of the great comments, it sure does mean a lot to me.

So tonight I decided that I should start to sort stuff out and begin my packing

I popped in one of my favorite Jamaica movies, a packing tradition for me....
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I always bring toys and clothing for the kids, I have been doing this since my first trip.
This year it is a little depressing for me because I don't have a lot of money so I can't bring as much as I would like too, but here is what I have gathered so far......
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Now that I pulled out the suitcase, the dog is getting really stressed out. "oh NO...not again Mom."
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It's funny how the pets always "know" when the luggage comes out....my two cats usually just curl up in the bags until they're packed & my dogs both have the same expression as yours...."don't go mommy"...

You have beautiful boys, in every sense of the word. I just know you are going to have an amazing time, and am looking forward to hearing all about it.

I'm really looking forward to your pictures from this trip, you have a great eye for composition.

Thanks so much for the compliment Negrilaholic!!!
Guirigay~ I LOVE to take photos!!! In fact the gals that are going with me on this trip joked that they don't even need to bring a camera since I will surely get enough photos for all of us.
I am glad that you like my pictures...Thanks!!!

I don't really want to bore you guys with pictures of my kids, however they are taken in Negril and at this point all I can think about is my upcoming trip so I will post a few more to pass the time. I hope that you all don't mind too much.
It really seems like the time is going in major slow motion right now.
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Doctor Bird on my porch

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He decided that he loved Mama's dinner at 3 dives and he starting grabbing my food with his hands.

What precious blessings!! The shot of your little one in the bucket is priceless. Did you get it from the front also? Iriesistah, remember quantity is unimportant; the fact that you give from your heart is what matters a heap. I just know your time in Jamaica will do your soul justice and this will be your rejuvenation experience. Enjoy YOU to the max!!!

BTW…I own Club Paradise also. Love the scene where the two girls are sorting mail and their boss screams “Get back to work!”

Thanks so much for the kind words Vi
Did I get a shot from the front???
Why OF COURSE!!!


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ohmygoodness, that picture is more adorable than I imagined!!!!

Love, love, love your pictures! Your boys are soooo cute! And those pix of the doctor bird....awesome!

Well Iriesistah if you are anything like your son's we don't have to worry you will surely have a great, because your cuties surely get Jamaica

It is a sad day at out house.
We will have to put our dog of 14 years to sleep tomorrow (not the one in the picture that I posted).
She is sick, in pain, and having liver failure.
This is the worst part of having pets.
This sucks.

Thats Tough. We want our furry friends to stay around forever yet they just stay for just a short time. They do all they can do with that time however. A toast to our furry Friends!

My heart goes out to you Iriesistah she will be with alot of pets from the past. Sorry to hear it is time to go. I'm glad this happened with you still there and not in Jamaica.

My heart goes out to you and your family. Losing a pet is truly losing one of the family. I have been through it several times, and it never is easy. Each time, I never thought I could go through it all again, but....each time, I ended up with another puppy that always comforted my heart and soul. Never can a dog be the one you lost, but, I swear, they seem to find the hole in your heart and fix it again. When the time is right, be sure and post your new edition. My sweet lab fills my heart with love every-time I see her smile. Yes, she smiles!!!

May your dog rest comfortably now, and run in the fields, pain-free...with all the others in heaven. Blessings and much comfort sent!

Thanks so much for all of the words of comfort.
It has been a hard week in the pet department......I found out that my other dog has lyme disease, one of my favorite hens was grabbed by a hawk and torn up before I could get to her, and now this.

IrieSistah – I'm so sorry for what you've been going through. It's so incredibly hard losing a beloved pet, they really do become so much a part of your life and your family.
I'm so sad to hear that...

I hope that this upcoming trip to Jamaica brings you peace and healing. I just know you're going to have a wonderful time! I look forward to reading about your experiences in paradise. Enjoy every minute of it, you definitely deserve this!!

P.S. Your twins are absolutely adorable. I love that picture of your little one standing on the edge of the ocean and gazing off into the crystal clear water...beautiful...:)

Clarity it is so SOOOO good to see you back. I have been thinking about you , Markus, and Jamar a whole lot.
My love goes out to the three of you.
Thanks for your kind comments.

We missed you!!!

Oh no, I am so sorry to hear this.
I know how hard it is. I have had animals my whole life and my dogs are like family, so these times are very hard and sad.
I worked at a vet all through college and every time we had to put a pet down it was hard....every single time, and they werent even mine.
I always got through it by thinking of how happy they had made their families, how much they loved them and how much joy they had brought in their lives and that the only way the family could repay them was to always love them and to do whatever necessary to end their suffering so they would not have pain.
Always remember the smiles and laughs.
So sorry for your loss

Huge dog lover here. I am so sorry to hear that Iriesistah. All dogs go to heaven.

I can't help but get teary eyed hearing about your pet. It's so sad to have to say goodbye and try to focus on the happy times they gave you. I have been through this a couple of times and somehow we find the strength to move forward, but never forget. Your boys are so cute! Thanks for sharing those pictures.

I am really looking forward to reading your trip report. As much as you love your boys, it's so important to have some adult time just for you and this sounds like the perfect place to be. Get there already!:D

Here I sit wide awake, haven't slept all night. I have tried but my head is racing.

Yesterday was so hard, having to say good by to our dog of fourteen years is heartwrenching.
It was a long drawn out morning waiting to take her to the vet. I will spare you the details of the goodbye.

We spent the afternoon burying her in shady spot in the yard near where she loved to sit.

I think that the worst part of all of this is that she has had a buddy, a jack russell terrier, who has lived beside her for the past 14 years.
They were best buddies.
He is so confused and sad, running around the house and yard looking for her.
He didn't even touch his dinner, which in not at all like him.

I know that she is in a much better place and free from pain, however it still hurts.

On top of all of that, my husband sprung on me that he doesn't know if he will be able to give me any money for my trip. He says that IF he does, he wont know how much until the moment that I walk out the door for the airport.

As I explained previously, I am a stay at home mom and I have no money of my own, nor do I have access to any of my husband or OUR (his, as he likes to refer to it) companies bank accounts (other than a sneak peek over his shoulder from time to time), and of course my account has a total of $24 in it.

We certainly are not rich by any means, however I know that he can afford to give me some spending money for the trip.
I rarely ask for anything for myself. I don't really buy clothes or anything like that, I don't usually wear any makeup, and I get my hair cut maybe once every two years. I am by no means high maintenance.

He didn't have to shell out a single penny for the actual trip so I know that he can afford to give me some spending money.

Now I have to sit for the next 4 days and worry if I will have enough money to cover my expenses of the trip.... baggage fee, taxi to hotel, food, ect.

This sucks.

He also gave me a huge guilt trip about even going on this trip.
Told me that I am screwing my family by going on it and that I am "taking food out of my children's mouths", which is just plain absurd.
He also reminded me that I will be "paying for this long after my return."

All of this stress has left me tight in my chest and unable to sleep.

I am so sorry to put all of this info out there for you all to read.
It is not my intention to have a pity party or anything of the sort.
I only feel that all of this is all part of my story.

MOVING ON....

On a better note, the sun has now come up and it looks as if today will be another beautiful pre-spring day weather wise.

I have begun to pack and can hardly wait to get my feet out of those big glass doors and feel that warm Jamaican air on my face.

I once again remind myself how blessed I am to even have the chance to travel outside of my country, to have a warm home, food on the table, two amazing children, the list is endless.

I AM TRULY BLESSED.

I know this is none of my business, but that is so wrong of your husband. That is just messed up.

I cannot say what I would LOVE to say to your "husband" right now, as I try my best to leave all negative statements unsaid.
So instead I will only say what I want to say to YOU right now and that is this.
You are not harming your family in ANY way by taking this trip. You are only probably inconveniencing your husband because he might actually have to do something for himself and so he is trying to make you feel guilty. Forget that! You deserve this (and honestly) a WHOLE LOT MORE.
Your kids will still eat, that is definitely no question. Your family will not suffer, in fact they will all probably be better off for it when their mommy returns happy and refreshed. So go, have yourself a care-free and great time, you deserve it. About the money thing. If he gives you issues you tell him that you are going one way or another so if he chooses to send the mother of his kids on a trip with no money to support herself then what kind of person is he and what is HE doing to his family?
That is a shame.
But I know that this trip will happen for you, you need it, you deserve it, so it will be! Keep the faith.

You have a trip to look forward to, so pack and go. And I will say your husband has some ISSUES. Wouldn't put up with that BS you will have people in JA that will be supportive and be able to spend time with. So enjoy! As for money you are entitled to it. He needs to get his panties out of a wad and act like a man. R-E-L-A-X-A-T-I-O-N is coming soon. Sorry about your dog. :-(

In about 24 hours my trip will officially start....I am so excited that I could burst.
I have the butterflies and it seems like time is ticking away so slowly, every second seems like an hour.
I have pretty much finished my packing with the exception of those last minute items.

My buddies, J and S will be at my house by about 8pm tomorrow to pick me up for our 3 hour ride to the airport hotel.
Hopefully we will actually be able to get a little sleep before our 5am wake up call and shuttle to the terminal.

OMG...it is almost here!!!

There's a lot I want to say regarding my opinion on your husband's behavior, but instead I will just say how sorry I am for everything you've been going through. my heart goes out to you.

No matter what, you're going to have an AMAZING time in Negril and you deserve this!!
Sending good vibes your way
So excited for you!
Enjoy every minute in paradise!!:D

"He needs to get his panties out of a wad and act like a man..."

Richard Dawson...Family Feud...

survey says..!

DING DING DING DING

have a total blast...with as few ruh ro's as possible!

I feel like at this moment, I wish all of us boardies could line up along the side of the road and wave as a sort of parade route as you and your friends head to the airport.....too bad we can't really do that but at some point on your drive tomorrow, close your eyes and just imagine us all there waving and cheering you on!
I will hold a huge sign that says "Watch out Jamaica, Here comes IRIESISTAH"

Have a blast!!!!!!!

Don't apologize. Listen, I feel you. More than I can even say here....

So even though his attitude is SO not irie...this is YOUR time to escape it, and I'm glad for you. You need it. You're going to get through the trip with everything you need I have a feeling.

BTW, your boys are just SO precious, what a blessing.

HAVE FUN!!!!!

The best gift you could ever give your boys is a happy, healthy mom. You need to take care of yourself, so that you can take care of them! Looks like you have done a great job. They are beautiful :)