Spring Break 2022 - Domincan Republic Tropical Getaway!

 We took our first trip abroad with the kids for Spring Break and it was HEAVENLY! We had planned to go to the Gulf Shores with the Donnelson's in 2020 before Covid hit the world so this was our make-up trip and we went ALL OUT! We stayed at the Hilton La Romana Family Resort and it was just the perfect, relaxing getaway. Our days were spent lounging by the pool in our cabana, swimming in the ocean and building sand castles, playing at the water park, gorging ourselves with all inclusive food and drink options, and taking advantage of all the resort had to offer. We truly escaped from everyday life and had an amazing time with each other - there were endless laughs and smiles and 5 happy kids and relaxed adults. Could not have asked for a better vacation!

Some highlights included:

• Tay learning to play chess and spending TON of time at the giant chess board. He was able to beat Hung a few times as well as some other kids at the resort. He also taught his buddy Mason how to play and his parents commented on how kind and clear he was teaching him!
• Visiting the "Fish Doctor" where the little fishies cleaned our feet. It felt like little shocks of electricity. Avery and I agreed our feet were much softer afterwards!
• Tons of time playing at the pool and in the hot tub. Tay loved swimming around with his UK buddy Mason and his swimming skills SKY ROCKETED by the end of the week. Avery loved swimming with Nora and her new friend Amelia - They played a game where 2 girls would think of a word and then the other one had to guess letters to figure out the word. If you picked a letter NOT in the word, you got dunked!
• Tay and Mason LOVED building sandcastles on the beach and giving us sand massages.
• Avery and her friends enjoyed the slides at the water park and the lazy river.
• We met a family from the UK and the kids really hit it off - They had fun learning the different terms used between the two countries and we found Tay unintentionally using a british accen that we were obsessed with!
• Avery also got braids and beads on her last day and looked SUPER cute!
• There was a pastry and coffee shop open all day. I think there were days Tay had 10 donuts and was loving life! HIs face was pretty much constantly covered in sugar and chocolate.
• The kids loved getting fancy virigin drinks like Pina Coladas and Mango Tropicals.
• There was a pizza shop by the pool and a grill on the beach that we took advantage of every day. 
• We tried 4 different restaurants as well as the buffet and had some amazing meals, tons of fresh fruit and HUGE dessert bars where the kids really loaded up!! We totally took advantage of the all inclusive and would order everything we wanted on the menu.
• Hung and Stu got to golf 18 holes at one of the top courses in the Caribbean and had an amazing time.
• Jayme taught the older kids to play Poker and they really got into that - It was fun to relax on the cabana and play a few hands.
• The sun was INTENSE and we all burned even with 50+ spf. Caribbean sun is no joke!
• There was nightly entertainment that the girls really got into - They were even brave enough to try karaoke. The boys were too bust playing chess.....
• Everyday just passed by like a dream and everyone was able to do what they wanted - beach, ocean swim, pool, waterpark, games, food + drinks, relaxation in the cabana, reading, napping, etc. Just HEAVEN for all 9 of us!

The Donnelson's were wonderful to travel with and we are already thinking about what we want to do next year. We made so many amazing memories and are heading into the last couple months of school relaxed and recharged!!

Day 1 - We had to get up at 1:30 to catch our flight. Kids were TOTAL troopers (Tay really loved the window seat and flying through the clouds) but we needed some naps and early bedtime!!

Day 2 started with chocolate shakes, sandcastles, swimming, dinner at the Italian restaurant, dessert at the buffet and some night time chess!

Day 3 was all about the pool and managing my sun burn!

Day 4 the guys golfed, Jayme and I enjoyed cabana life and we made some friends from the UK - and played more Chess!

Day 5 was a mix of beach, pool and waterpark. And the girls took over the stage with their own show after the variety show wrapped up while the boys relaxed with some screen time!

Day 6 we swam, turned Hung into a mermaid, had fish clean our feet, and enjoyed a group dinner!

Day 7 we had some beach time, ate ALL the donuts, braided hair, danced at the disco and took in the last rays and waves!

Day 8 we had to say goodbye - One last buffet breakfast and then 14 hours of travel to get home. Customs in Chicago took FOREVER, we had to show our passports about 20 times, and the kids were just amazing through it all. We got home around 11 pm exhausted and happy to be home!!