I remember hearing someone say “BVI” and I had to ask what that meant; this very special place in the Caribbean that all the cool people call “BVI”. Our family was lucky enough to experience this very cool acronym last February for ski week. Instead of skiing in Park City, we journeyed on our favorite catamaran, Sea Boss, through BVI. From here, it is only the pictures that can tell the story.

Things to remember… the longest journey to get there (sleeping in the Atlanta airport), lobster, lots of lobster, conch shells, eating fresh conch while snorkeling, fishing, caves, The Baths, snorkeling, pirate night, busting my cheek, glow worms in the water at Anegada, early morning fishing, Hanna and Stu forever, tarpon fishing late at night with the Top Gun song Danger Zone playing, capturing a scale of a fish, paddle boarding, fly fishing with Stu, flamingos, a long walk on Cow Wreck beach and the rum to follow while riding in the back of a truck/taxi, saying a prayer for “Lobby”, the rainbow, Johnny stung by fire coral, hiking up to the ruins of a deserted estate while fighting the bugs, COVID tests via Zoom, forgetting the kids’ bag on our way home, Hanna mailing Charlotte’s favorite buddies and blankies home.

We stand amazed by this place and hope to come back soon.

Christmas came and went again like a dream. Santa stopped by on the beach via parachute. Charlotte and Johnny seemed less amused with meeting him and “sitting on his lap”. He brought a few presents and some candy which the coatis (Mexican racoons) ravaged through (glad they had the tummy ache and not us). Like every Christmas, we hope the takeaway was an experience that fills our memories with love and time spent together. Luckily, we get to do this as a family at one of our favorite spots, Rosewood Mayakoba. We feel incredibly grateful for this special week we get to spend in the sun and sand.

Things to remember: First and foremost, the near plane crash we lived through on our way to Chichen Itza; we’ve never been more scared and more relieved to feel the ground (we didn’t quite make it to the pyramids). COVID restrictions of masks, testing, etc. Massive crowds and chaos at Cancun airport on arrival. Breakfast, lunch and dinner; every bite is an experience in and of itself at Rosewood. Bike riding to and from the beach as well as to the village to play arcade games. Charlotte and Johnny had their own bikes this trip. Riding beach cruisers as a family through the jungle on our way to the beach might be the highlight of my entire year. Sailing with daddy where Charlotte and Johnny made an obstacle course under the boat that they called “Tom and Jerry”. The lifeguard pulling in the sailboat because the wind died. Johnny’s “dabs”. Charlotte reading a book on the beach. Playing dodgeball on the paddleboards. The Mayakoba boat where we found a deserted island to explore as well as a deserted boat from Hurricane Wilma. Playing giant chess. Swimming in the rain on the last day. Diving, swimming, digging, running, sunning, eating, biking, discovering and mostly loving life together.

Thank you, Santa. We will try to be good so we can come back next year.

NFR is a special event for feeling some of the goodness America was built upon; hard work, horses, dirt, pride and a little bit country. John and I were thrilled to be able to bring Charlotte and Johnny this year to experience NFR for the first time. We walked away with a renewed sense of hope for America and wholesome goodness that gets to live on at home on Mellor Ranch. God bless America and long live cowboys!

We were also able to squeeze a little bit more out of Vegas with a trip to see the Grand Canyon, Cowboy Christmas, amazing meals, bubble baths and last but not least, the Carrie Underwood show. Charlotte and Johnny are hooked. We can’t wait until next year.