Our Dominican Republic Vore family vacation was AMAZING. We stayed at a beautiful, private villa that bordered the beach. The villa (aka Mansion) was gorgeous. It was like staying in a beautiful, all inclusive resort...but it was just our family.
The pool overlooked the beach. Breathtaking. Under the almond tree was a nice spot to hang out. The younger cousins loved climbing it as well.
We spent a lot of time gathering at this huge table. Usually on cruises we would gather for dinner. I loved that we ate all three meals together at the Cabrera Villa.
It came down to Chris and Tanner in the finals for the tennis tournament. Chris was victorious.
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| Tan |
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Ang
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We all lived in our swimsuits a lot...the kids did almost 100% of the time.
Nate planned a Wii bowling tournament as well. The kids loved that. Poor Nate got stuck in the dark media room running the tournament for hours. I think Kerry won, but Nate & Aubrey was right behind him.
Aubrey and I enjoyed horseback riding with the Birds.
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| Aubrey (In her swimsuit...it was so hot and muggy!) |
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| Braddock and Adam |
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Charlotte and Britney
Overlooking a huge cliff...but the greenery is so dense you can't tell it's a cliff! Char, Hud, Adam Brit, Ella, Erin, Aub, and Braddock
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The scenery was beautiful and we were able to try a new fruit: lemongrass. That may not have translated correctly but it was really good. Small green fruit about the size of a quarter. We also tried guava and saw cocoa pods, avacado, mango, passion fruit and coffee beans. The DR is a pretty stark contrast from the dessert of West Texas.
Brian and the boys went on a deep sea diving adventure with Nate, Beth, the Bird boys and Kerry's family.
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| Holden, Tan and Park |
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| Park |
Apparently it was really boring most of the time. They were gone for hours and only three fish nibbled and only two of those were reeled in. Also, everyone felt a little sea sick at least some of the time. Adam Bird was the worst off though...lots of throwing up and lots of joking about it.
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| Poor Adam |
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Holden, Bri, Tan, Park and Braddock
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Park and Hudson were the two lucky choices to reel one in. The chef made us fried fish sticks that afternoon. They were delish.
Our boys and Grandpa did an ATV adventure one day as well.
One day Nate and Beth walked a group of us into town to buy a few items at a store. They were the guides because they were brave and explored the day before.
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| Erin (aka "me" aka "Mom") and Aub |
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| Kerry, Quetta, me, Beth, Aub, Stevie and Nate (Holden? peaking through the R) |
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| Grampa and Aub |
Aub went to a paid beach with Ang, Erin Meisje and the Birds. She did paddleboarding and some jetskiing.
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Stevie
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Gram, Char and Blair
We brought some puzzles, and it was nice to gather 1-3 people around the table at a time and work on them together.
I loved walking around the gated community with Ang and Brit or by myself while listening to podcasts. Ang ran almost everyday, and I walked most days but not at the same time as each other. We both talked about the gardener creeping in the bushes with his machete. (To be fair, he was just doing his job.) We would avoid the area he was working and turn around!
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| The pretty path in the neighborhood. |
I worked out one morning with Quetta and Beth and wished I would have done more. I didn't end up spending much time with those two, and they are really sweet. I read some. Parker and I got a massage. I also loved going down the to beach and just being still: listening to the crashing waves, collecting seashells and enjoying God's amazing earth.
Overall it was a wonderful vacation: relaxing and beautiful and filled with family and fun.
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I am finding it is really hard to have any form of organization to this blog. There are so many experiences and so many pictures I want to share. We literally have a shared group album with over 800 pictures in it. I am just going to post/share/comment on lots more below.
It took forever and a day to get the the Dominican (15 hours probably) and then a 2.5 hour bus ride to get to Cabrera. (Midland to Dallas. Dallas to Miami. Miami to Santo Domingo.)
Nothing says chaos quite like traveling internationally with a group of eighteen!
It was fun to meet up with Erin and Jeff along the way. Miami maybe? (Ella, Erin Meisje, Gram)
Hud, Braddock, Park and Tan
After a very long day traveling in airports, we arrived at 12:30 a.m. in the DR. Our bus driver attempted to find our hotel. It was supposedly a 20 minute drive. We drove up and down some pretty shady areas of Santo Domingo. Our driver finally found it at 2:00 a.m....and we were flanked by eight men on motorcycles. They made us kind of nervous. We were very revealed, kind of, to find out they were the police. (Why did we need police protection exactly?) As soon as we entered our hotel, the doors were locked behind us. We just had to trust that we would be safe in this foreign country.
The hotel was very nice but the neighborhood seemed a little rough...but that's judging it by American standards.
Gram and Ang crashed on a couch waiting to get checked in. We were beat.
The next day we had breakfast and some of us did a chocolate factory/soap making tour. We were killing time until Beck, Nate and families flew in that afternoon, and we could take a big bus to Cabrera.
We learned about cocoa beans, and how they are harvested and then we were able to taste some different chocolates.
We were able to make our own chocolate bars. Later in the tour, we were also able to make our own soap.
Our cute models: Aubrey & Lauron
Growing up, Parker has always been the odd man out on both sides of the family. He has no boy cousins his age. He was bummed Benjamin (3 years older) and Joseph (5 years older) were not on this trip. He hung with Tanner and Holden quite a bit, played with the little cousins and visited with the adults. He and Tanner also played a lot of pool with Brian (Dad) and Chris and others. Park made sure he was available for afternoon smoothies every day. He was a fan.
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| Park w/ Sutton |
Aubrey and Tanner were both really good to spend time with the younger cousins. Aubrey swam a lot with the little girls (Char, Ella, Perry and Blair) and helped with Sutton. She also played games like school with the younger girls. Tanner played sports with Hudson and Braddock, and let Perry, 5 1/2, boss him around a lot. (She was his koala or something...and he had to carry her wherever she wanted etc...) I think Parker put his time in w/ the younger cousins as well.
The pool was always a happening place. From 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. there always seemed to be at least a few of the group swimming. Left-rt: me, ?, Griffin on Braddock, Parker, Holden and Tanner
Aub, Char, La, Blair, Hud and Ella
These four were great buddies the whole time. They were happy swimming, climbing trees, collecting shells, doing puzzles, and playing with all of the cousins. Perry (5), Char (8), Ella (6), Blair (8 in September)
One night they had a traditional holiday meal for us on the beach. The beach was about 20 stair steps down from the pool.
They had fresh coconuts for us to drink. I had one sip of Aubrey's, bleh, and called it good. They also had snowcones, a delicious meal, dessert and a bonfire.
Check out these gorgeous cousins! Stevie, Aubrey and Lauron
Mom, Dad and the original six. Erin (48), Kerry (46), Nathan (44), Mom/Gram/Laurel, Dad/Grampa/Steve, Becky (41 next month), Britney (41), and Chris (50)
Bonfire...Kerry...
The fancy outdoor setup. I bet we were their most boring group ever. They are used to hosting lots of weddings which also probably comes with lots of drinking. We were quiet and tame, and we barely made it until dark to get the bonfire lit.
It's getting real. We were invited to join Park on a virtual tour of the MTC a few days before he started his mission. It was live and interactive. It was nice to get a glimpse of his mission training experience. They showed us the grounds and classrooms but also talked about the sacrifices and involved the future missionaries in the discussion.
Parker was set apart as a missionary on Saturday,July 9th. He was a little emotional that evening...pretty scared about this big life decision. At dinner, he looked like he was going to throw up. It didn't help that everyone was super away of his big, upcoming step.
We snuggled on the bed (and visited a little) for quite awhile. Brian gave him a blessing of comfort. We shared with him that it was okay to be nervous. I told him about how I bawled my eyes out in the hotel bed the night before Brian and I got married. My mom rubbed my back and comforted me. I 100% wanted to get married, but it was just a big step. Brian shared about how hard the first three days in the MTC were for him. Then he had a really powerful spiritual experience at a fireside and felt great about serving from there on out.
Then we went to the little sitting area and he was set apart.
It was such a blessing to have the support and love of almost the entire Vore family. (We missed our Brinley Kate for sure!!! Joseph and Kate weren't able to come and Benjamin has about a month left of his mission.)
He and Bri had to leave at midnight to catch their 7 a.m. flight. They got home at 2 p.m. Luckily they both were able to get a little sleep along the way.
Isn't Elder Gwilliam so cute!? Why do I see my two year old baby boy when I look at these pictures?
We stayed until Tuesday morning and were able to squeeze a few more adventures in.
Jeff went on several expeditions in and around town trying to find new fruit. On Sunday morning, he tried several of them. And then he was sick for the next five days! We don't know if it was the fruit or not but....
Perry and Gramp at breakfast Sunday morning.
Some of the excursion possibilities. I was a little disappointed the prices were so high.
Gram and Gramp under the almond tree.
Blair, Aub and Char
Loved getting this picture Sunday evening...sporting his new missionary name tag! And this one on Tuesday morning in front of his cool door sign Grandpa made him.
Lots of visiting and lots of great spaces to visit. (me, Ang, and Gram)
This was definitely the most used hang out area. It was right next to the game room and the huge dining table and across from the pool. We are enjoying our afternoon ice cream sundaes. They only did that one day...Park was bummed he missed it.
Ice cream line.
Monday missionary call! This was our first call with both of our missionaries. My heart is full. Brinley in Idaho, Aub and Tan in the DR, Park in Odessa.
I can't remember what was said but I love this blury picture of us all cracking up.
Gram listened for awhile. Ang said hello. She also had Benja (Elder Vore) on facetime and he and Brinley (Sister Gwilliam) said hello.
Towards the end, after Park left, hey also served Mac and Cheese one day at lunch. Parker PACKED mac and cheese in his suitcase in case he got hungry. He was bummed he missed out!
I LOVE this picture. I think it just sums up the trip so well. Lots of laughter, lots of bonding...it was awesome. I love these three girls. (We were cracking up because I was on the other end and moved AWAY from Beck. She is tiny: 5'2" and 100 lbs. I am 5'6" and at my heftiest weight: 145. Brit was like "What? So I have to be by the two skinny girls?!" ) I'm glad Brian Merkley snapped the picture.
The best sisters!
Wii bowling bracket above, tennis bracket below
The last night they served a land lovers or sea lovers meal. Stevie posing with the sea lovers!
We all had to get tested for Covid before we could fly home. Beck and Kerry "helping" Brian Merkley take his test.
One last swim picture...Kerry, Nate & Hudson
This HUGE guy was a going away present for Gram and Gramp. It just showed up in their room in the middle of the night. Gram was sure Kerry planted it to play a joke on them. (He didn't.) Just look at this crab compared to Gram's foot.
We left at 8:00 a.m. on the morning of Tuesday July 13th and didn't make it home until Wednesday afternoon. It was a very, very, very long journey.
After our 2.5 hour bus ride to Santo Domingo and going through security...and maybe customs (it's a blur), we hung out in the airport for way too long.
We flew to Miami, more lines, more customs, and then finally made it to Dallas about 10:45 p.m. However, we missed our Dallas connection and were re-booked the next afternoon. From 11-2 a.m. we were waiting in lines. Waiting in lines at the airport to get re-booked and to get food and hotel vouchers. Then all 18 of us set off to find the taxi location. Then we taxied to the hotel in small groups. Then we waited forever at the hotel to get our rooms. It was a crazy three hour process, and we were exhausted.
We survived though, and it was a great vacation. We had so much fun and made lots of memories.
