Stingrays and Boating

Charles and Erika Harris, along with Erika's sister Emily and her husband Jeff, were visiting Cayman and David took them out for a day of Stingrays and boating in the North Sound. It was Jeff's first time at Stingray City and yes, he did the the obligatory "little girl scream". They then went to a favorite snorkeling spot to the east of the main channel which all agreed was the best snorkeling they had done on the Island. Finally, a quick spin past Kaibo then over to the Sand Bar at Rum Point for a picnic. Back to the dock by 12:30 in time for them to catch an afternoon flight to Houston. Not a bad morning in paradise.

4th Annual Massive Family Fun Day

Massive had another great turnout at the annual family BBQ held at Royal Palms Beach Bar / Reef Grill http://www.reefgrill.com. The Waverunners were once again a hit for the sun lovers, and for those seeking shade enjoyed intense games of Dominoes and Scrabble under the tent. The Reef Grill put on an amazing lunch spread and their staff worked hard on ensure our every need was catered too.

Ambassadors of the Environment Camp at the Ritz Carlton

Ryan and Taylor just finished Ambassadors of the Environment Camp at the Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman. The camp was filled with art activities, and trips to the bat caves, mangroves, and some of the amazing snorkeling sites that Cayman has to offer. They saw Spotted Eagle Rays and baby Turtles emerging from their eggs on the beach. The enjoyed afternoons of rock climbing (Ryan wants me to mention that he made it to the top and Taylor was not far behind) and playing games with new friends that they met. Ryan and Taylor knew some of the kids in the camp and made some new friends, and they had the highest praises for the staff. When summarizing the camp in one word, they both said "awesome!" See the links below for more about the camp. http://www.oceanfutures.org/ofs/aote.php http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/GrandCayman/AmbassadorsoftheEnvironment/Default.htm

Blue Iguanas

On a recent visit to the Botanic Park we visited with the beautiful Blue Iguanas that rule the park. Note that these are NOT the green iguanas that seem to have arrived in Cayman a few years ago and have left their unwanted mark on our Island.

The Blue Iguana or Grand Cayman Iguana (Cyclura lewisi) is a critically endangered species of lizard endemic to the island of Grand Cayman The Blue Iguana is one of the longest-living species of lizard (possibly up to 69 years). The record is 67 years.

The Blue Iguana prefers dwelling in rocky, sunlit, open areas in dry forests or near the shore, as the females must dig holes in the sand to lay eggs in June and July. A possible second clutch is laid in September. The Blue Iguana's vegetarian diet includes plants, fruits, and flowers. Its coloration is tan to gray with a bluish cast that is more pronounced during the breeding season and more so in males. Here are some websites to learn more about the Blue Iguanas and the Botanic Park.

http://www.blueiguana.ky/ http://www.nationaltrust.org.ky/info/blueiguana.html http://www.botanic-park.ky/

Boating with Friends

We made some new friends who visit Cayman every summer from England. We enjoyed a glorious day of boating in the North Sound together. Our Boston Terrier, DeeDee, loved all of the attention from our guests!

The Leos of the Family

Taylor and Alianne celebrate their birthdays 3 days apart so Mimi and Bampa hosted a family lunch in celebration of Ali turning 3 and Taylor turning 8. The two little divas loved being the center of attention.

Sea is for Science Camp

Ryan and Taylor enjoyed a funfilled week of camp. They snorkeled on the reef, explored sea grass beds and discovered the incredible life within the mangroves. The kids spent the week learning about the sea creatures and the local ecosystems. They have already asked if they can sign up again next year. http://www.caymanseaelements.com/photos_aug11.html

Taylor's 8th birthday

Taylor celebrated her 8th birthday a week early with a Spa Day with 6 other girlfriends at a kids salon, Tangles. The girls spent 3 hours getting manicures, pedicures, and their hair done. It was a fun, girly afternoon. After the spa, David, Ryan & Max, along with the grandparents joined us at The Brick House for pizza and cake.