Punta Cana - Part I

First flight in over two years for all of us! Even with masks and other changes, it was so nice to be able to travel again! It was a long two flights (layover in Atlanta) and short private transfer to the resort, but we finally arrived! Lots of research to choose the right all-inclusive hotel for our family, but we decided on the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic! We were greeted in style and each received a spritzy passion fruit drink while we checked in. Kade looks too funny with that flute glass! 

Perfect timing to get settled in our Club Oceanview room and head to dinner at 6pm! This was our first time at an all-inclusive and we were ready to be spoiled!

First night's dinner we headed to Noodle & Thread, the Italian themed restaurant. Not too many more pictures after this - we were all tired after a long flight, so headed in early. 

Woke up ready to explore everything on our first full day. The boys were enamored with the yummy breakfast buffet. Brock faintly remembered how a buffet works from the Caribbean cruise, but Kade was shocked. "You mean, we can just get up and get more? And we don't have to bring our plate - they'll give us a new one?"  

We found two chairs by the pool and told the boys to jump in! Brock said the temperature was a little cooler than the gym pool, but after that Dominican sun warms you up, the pool water feels great!

Brent had no trouble getting his relaxation on! 

The boys loved it! The pool was huge! 

Finally after some convincing, they got Brent to join them in the pool. 

After a little race - Brent vs Brock, Brent pulled out the GoPro and took some underwater videos of the boys swimming. 

The water park opens at 10am every day and the boys were ready to walk over. It's a little bit of a hike from the pool area - you have to go back through the lobby and to the back side (away from the ocean) of the hotel to get to it. The entire resort is gated, so we felt very safe the entire stay. 

Brock tried out the lazy river first. Some other boys were controlling the sprayers, trying to aim at Brock, but Brock was too quick (and used his powers of underwater swimming)! 

Quick picture with Brent before he checked in at the resort gym (sidenote - he confirmed this was the best gym he's ever seen at a hotel). 

Water slide time!

After going on the tubes a few times with me on a double, this little man was ready to conquer it on his own!

There are two food trucks (one for drinks and one for snacks) by the waterpark, but no alcohol is served here. Both boys ordered plenty of [virgin] strawberry daiquiris through the week!

Brock ordering at the drink truck

Wow, that was a lot! Time for a break from the sun (and part 1 of the blog)! 

TITANS Tar Heel States & Lifetime Swim Meets

Proud Brock showing off his shirt - on the back it has all the names of his team

The latest swim meet held at Triangle Aquatic Center was a three day state meet. Brent decided Brock would do better doing two events on two days, so it turned into an all weekend thing. Fifteen different teams from all over the state competed at TAC. 

TAC switched from last time and had the older boys go earlier in the morning and the "younger" boys start after lunch. Brock did pretty good - however, did not shave any time off his first days' events. Kade and I skipped out on Saturday. 

50yard Breaststroke first - adding .14 and 50yard Freestyle, adding .16 to his time. 

19 Eason, Brock A          9 LIFE-NC             47.07      47.21

27 Eason, Brock A          9 LIFE-NC             34.56      34.72

On Sunday he found his stride again. He rocked his 50yard Fly. 

He was in the second to last heat and placed third. Brock's overall placing was 12th for the state. 

12 Eason, Brock A          9 LIFE-NC             39.34      38.66

Last event for the swim meet was his 100yard Freestyle. It was amazing. Watch his progress. He paced himself for the first 75 yards and then coming off the last turn in fourth place, he staged one of those Olympic comebacks and secured the win in his heat! 

25 Eason, Brock A          9 LIFE-NC           1:24.99    1:21.42  
                 39.23      1:21.42 (42.19)

On Friday, April 1st, our gym hosted another Lifetime Gym Exclusive virtual meet (competing against 8 other Lifetime Gyms). Kade got a chance to best his time and do a little more practice before summer swim! 

Kade shaved off about 3 seconds from his freestyle time in December! He has been practicing hard! 

Brock was excited to swim 25m again! He came in close, but his buddy Noah beat him in the Free. 

After his race, his buddies got together to compare numbers! 

Brock was surprised to have to swim the 25m Backstroke (his least favorite), but wouldn't you know - he did really well and set a new team record for 9-10 boys. (Backstroke time: 20.31y)

Attempted some in-action butterfly shots - his arms and shoulders are man-like! 

School Field Trips

One of Brock's third quarter electives was Track & Field. He was pumped because part of the class was an end of quarter track & field meet against four other magnet elementary schools. Brock competed in three events that day. 

He was a little tired after his 400 meter race. The fourth and fifth graders competed first in their 800m (he explained third graders were not allowed that long distance) and he was feeling a little overwhelmed to run his long race. He kept with it and did not give up! 

Brock did a great job in his 100m event! As I had signed up as a parent volunteer, I had the luxury of taking sideline pictures! 

Brent secured an awesome video of his third place finish for his 100m!

Brent and Papa (my dad) had both come to watch Brock too! Unfortunately they both had to head out a little early so missed his final race - it was a long morning at Southeast Raleigh High School!

Finally, Brock's final event - 100m Relay. Brock was stationed at Leg 2. 

Three more ribbons to add to his collection! Great job Brock!

A few weeks later, the first graders visited the Walnut Creek Wetlands Center and I was there to help chaperone. 

It sure was wet! 

They were playing a scavenger hunt - looking up to spot birds flying, singing, sitting on a branch, in pairs, etc. They were also exploring the ground - the trail had boards scattered along the trail to lift to find little critters. 

My favorite were the pvc pipes installed along the path. Each one had little frogs hiding out inside!

I loved our little group. It was so nice to see Kade's calm confidence in helping his buddy with his scavenger card too. 

The first graders even got to pet a real live turtle and black snake! 

My funny lunch buddy! 

President's Day Weekend Activities

We started our long weekend with a trial run "sleepover" in the playroom. They made it an hour. Still haven't been able to get over the giggles long enough to fall asleep. One day! 

Another little walk on our neighborhood trail and a visit to the natural seesaw. 

Brock really enjoys these hikes and finding little treasures along the way. Kade just likes to run. 

I took the day off on Monday while they had a teacher workday and we ventured to the big state park - Umstead! I had them each pack their own little backpack of snacks and water. We were going to do a shorter hike, but they assured me they could complete the 2.8 mile loop! 

The Before 

This may or may not have been our first "pit stop". Ha!

A bridge!!! 

Who can spot the Orange Circle??

We loved this little spot of white rocks. We stayed here for quite a bit stacking and balancing them. 

Another Brock treasure - a bit leaf and a little leaf!

I was very impressed! Brock did amazingly and has been asking to go on the 5 mile trail. Kade almost made it. About 15 minutes before the end, he started lagging back and complaining of tired feet. He said next time he'll bring more snacks. 

On our way home, we decided to stop for lunch at Cracker Barrel! What a treat! 20 minute wait was no problem when the checker table was available!

The boys finally stopped to listen how to play the game and then diligently tried for their best score. 

Blueberry pancakes and his coveted fried apples! Thank you Auntie Katherin!! 

And a few more pictures from my birthday weekend (and my messy counter).  

I received gorgeous flowers from both my husband and my in-laws! Lavender roses?!?? 

Brent and I even got to do date night that weekend as Kade's taekwondo offered a parent's night out! I'm a superfan of White Sangria! 

Lastly, my cutiepie lunch date one day at the NC State Boj's!