I can't/won't compete with DC's wonderfully written report, but since she went the same week as we did, hope you can handle dueling trip reports!

As always, the alarm goes off at 2:15AM. I feel like I only slept 5 minutes. I momentarily dread having to wake the boys up, thinking I'll let them sleep another 15 minutes. Coffee. Need coffee. When I drag downstairs, Steve (11) is already up and dressed, grinning at me. "Look, mom! I set my alarm and got dressed. Ready!" Leo (15) is already up too. Excellent! laugh

Bruce & I sip coffee in bed for 15 minutes, until it kicks in. Let's rock n roll, guys!

In the car at 3:00 - right on time. The boys are very excited, and so are we. Between yawning and silences on the hour+ ride to the airport, we talk about some of the fun things we can do on the island. But we play the 'hurry up and wait' game of international airline travel.

Fast forward 10 hours, and we're boarding the Tropic flight. I look at Steve and bet him a Bz dollar we have to sit in the back. He grins and declines my offer. Smart kid. Up we go�and I can't wipe the grin off my face. I look at the boys faces as we fly over. It is a perfect-weather day. Gorgeous. With a handsome young man on either side of me (in the back, duh), I take turns reaching over them to get photos out the plane windows.

http://www.pbase.com/sweetjane/image/102962632

Both boys had been to the Belize mainland with us last year, but Leo had never been to the island; Steve was not-quite-6 when he went, and just barely remembers.

We laughingly take a taxi the 500 or so yards to The Palms, but there was no way we were getting 4 people & 3 big suitcases on one golf cart. Bruce over-pays the cab driver, and we're here! The Palms looks REALLY NICE! Steve is already thinking about that pool. I go to check in, happy. The girl (woman) behind the desk checks us in and hands Bruce the keys. She looks at me and asks 'have you been here before? I remember your face". Yes, I replied, a bunch of times, but not here at the Palms. "Where have you stayed?" I rattled off what places my hot, tired mind could remember at the moment. She added one more, and I said 'OH, yes. I stayed there in '02!' She introduced herself as Ana, a representative from Barb's Belize, and I embarrassingly remember her too! Warm smiles and a quick reminisce.

In no time, we are happily commenting how nice the condo is, throwing on suits, and in the lushly landscaped (and beautiful) pool.

Boy, I love this place! It is soooo good to be back!

(to be continued...)