Hymas Reunion

Another great Hymas reunion is in the books! As we set up camp, preparing for more people this year, Clyde realized his tent was hitting a tree. Instead of moving the tent he was adamant that he would cut down the tree. Chad told him he couldn't do that, and Clyde said, "Watch me." And he proceeded to cut down a tree. 

It's nice that we always hit Maddox for dinner on the night we set up camp. Everyone is tired from all the unloading and setting up and no one wants to cook dinner! And it's always yummy and a great way to start the trip!

See, they sometimes get along!

We hit the water with Chaz's kiddos while they stayed on the beach or camp with their new little one. 

The chefs at camp were amazing as usual. Cami was the treat chef! She was always pulling out goodies and had all different kinds! She even frosted sugar cookies while we were up there. Yum! I had no time for that kind of stuff so I was glad. This is Chad and Chet draining the mac n cheese for our dinner. the make shift colander we made worked pretty great! We did pulled pork and smoked mac for our meal. It was great. 

Cam and Chuck did smash tacos one night. Such a fun idea, easy and yummy. 

Our days were made brighter when Chet and Mindy showed up with their boat. A few complications happened with their boat and then WE ran over the ski rope in our boat and things were looking a little grim. But our rope was salvageable and Chet got a new battery for his boat and the fun continued!

My heart was so happy when all these teen came rowing up with a raft they had proudly made out of paddleboards. 

And we were SO excited we got Konnor up on a wakeboard! Wow we were all so impressed he would do it and was coachable and he did so great! 

Happy to have these kiddos in the boat. 

Carter and Chad are still perfecting their surfing. I still can't seem to get a handle on it! 

We love having grams in the boat. She really loves it and I'm so glad I got this pic of her in her happy place!

Eddie and Ry stayed inseperable!

Cute kiddos

Boat lunch is the best lunch! 

And we got to meet and snuggle baby Lainey. She was so good and chill.

Mol and her dog

Its always a great moment when camp is all set and you can just put your feet up. 

G&G Hymas made a fun family trivia game. There was lots of banter back and forth and we learned some fun things about the family. I love this picture of them both smiling! 

And the whole gang by the boat. Such good times. Stephen even came up for the day and we haven't seen him in years! It's great to be with family again. 

When it came time to go, no one wanted anyone to leave. We made a road block so Chet couldn't leave. Sadly, we had to move so they could. I'm so glad it was a good experience for everyone and we had a wonderful time!

The longest day from hell

 

Sorry for the language, but it's the only way I can best describe this day. Lets see...up at 3 am to travel to the Faro airport - a 30 min drive. Then a flight from Faro to Lisbon for 1 hour. Then the 27 hour nightmarish travel time home. We arrived 3 hours early and I thought that was plenty of time. We all went to check in on the kiosk. Nope, the kiosk wouldnt take any of our info and 3 workers had to check all 42 of us in, checkin our passports and addresses and IDs. That took an hour. Then we Had to get through security. That took an hour. Then we had to walk through this huge mall in the middle of the airport looking for the passport check! That took another hour and by the time we got to our gate, we barely had time to buy a sandwich and board. I'll forever be grateful for these yellow shirts and for these women who got me through this day.

There was one moment I was beginning to panic, because time was so tight no one was staying together and we were all spread out trying to get to all the places. I didn't speak the language and there weren't signs like there are in other airports. I went from place to place frantically looking for yellow shirts and feeling so much relief when I found one! 

Kelsie, the mom in the middle, was such a God send to me when I was about to have a panic attack. She saw me walking around and grabbed my arm and pulled me into the passport check line with her. I maybe wouldn't have made the flight if she didn't see me. She's flown international several times and seemed calm and collected. I was so grateful for her and her calm nature several times over the trip! 

 

Once through the gate, it was down an elevator to a long line to a shuttle. Once on, a 15 minute shuttle ride to board the plane outdoors! I've never done this! Wow, 3.5 hours to get from point a to point b. Ridiculous! Kid were dropping like flies once we boarded. 

These fearless leaders were incredible and worked well together and communicated well and were super helpful. They were so exhausted that last day! But I'm so glad for them!

We flew 7 hours to Philly where we had a 6 hour layover. 

One last group shot before we boarded in Philly .

As not fun as it was the kids kept their spirits high by eating junk food and playing games, on the floor....ewwwww. A dirty airport floor. But at this moment I didn't even care and laid down right beside them. Many of the adults napped on the floor. 

Once we boarded we had a 5 hour flight, i think, to Utah. On to home! 

Nope. 

Our plane was delayed 2 HOURS on the tarmac. Something about a tornado warning, paper work and I thought they said freezing ice...I'm not really sure, everyone heard something different. 
As we boarded there was a belligerant passenger freaking out about how his seat mates didn't like him and he just wanted to get home and his daughter had tried to commit suicide....it went on and on. I was a little nervous what they would do with him, but luckily they ended up removing him from his flight. 

In Philly, 2 kids had luggage lost. So that also slowed things down. How do we travel 10 days in Portugal and when we get back to the STATES luggage is lost?! What the heck! 

Finally we were in the air, I slept on both flights and I was so glad I was able to. flying for long is NOT glamorous. We traveled for 27 hours and I was so so SO glad to be back on Utah ground and hug my family so tight. What an experience, I'm so thankful! But really, the USA is where it's at. I'm so proud to be an american! 

The jet lag from 27 hours of traveling is BRUTAL. I spent most of the next day sleeping. I was glad I could just rest the next day. Here are some trinkets and treasures I brought back.

A purple mister that was quite the hit among the kids on hot days, a bone shot cup, 3 jewelry holders for the girls, a cork fan. A bee and a flower pen for G&G Reed some candy, tile coasters, a trivet with tile, a spatula, deck of cards, an ornament, a few bracelets and my favorite....the sparrow. 

I saw them everywhere in Portugal and I didn't know why until we were told the symbolism. Sparrows build their nests and will go out and see and stop at a lot of places, but they will always return home to their same original nest each year. They symbolize family and coming back home. I loved that and I knew I'd have to find some to take home. Gladly, they survived the flights and luggage transfers and each person in the fam has a sparrow. 

I also go this dress and I love it! I feel so fancy and its so light and breezy. I loved all the dresses there! 

Welp, back to reality we go! 

Day 9 Oura and Lagos

Breakfast was started at Hotel Muthu Buffet then we headed to get Carter's run in. I sat by the sea while he ran in circles around me. He had been up above me but while I was sitting there on a cliff ledge, I all of a sudden saw him below me running on the beach. Not sure how he got there but there were other kids from our group down at the water very early. 

Then it was off to the pool. There were 3 swimming pools and I got dubbed a babysitter at one of them. 

But I wasn't sad because I just sat there in the most beautiful place I'd ever been and looked at all the trees and flowers around me. 

We spent lunch time wandering Oura and getting lunch there. Stephanie, Suzzane and I finally found our Italian food at Mama Mia's and it was so yummy! We had fun talking to the waitress who told us she spoke fluently 5 languages and her parents owned the place. And again, the sidewalks are mezmerizing!

Bruschetta - which I learned here that its actually pronounced Bru-sketa. It was so flavorful and amzaing!

I went with Tortellini. So creamy and rich I had a hard time finishing it...and yes I found a coke zero lime....it was ok. 

Walking down to the water we watched the crabs scurry around. 

This large octopus artwork was all compiled from garbage from the sea. Cool and sad. 

We boarded a chug boat looking thing and it took us out to some really cool caves in the water. While we were driving to the caves, Priscilla pulled out her snails she had for lunch and was sharing them all around. I just couldn't do it....the little eyes were sticking up out of their heads and moving around....nope, no snails for me. Carter didn't try it either but alot of people did. 

We boarded small boats that fit about 10 people and 2 guides cruised us around. It was all in Portuguese and then when they heard me talking in English they asked if they should talk in English. I again was the minority in this language speaking business but I've been ok with it for the most part. But I did want to hear this! So one guide spoke English and the other Portuguese. We went in several small caves. Each one had funny names like the kitchen, living room, etc

We passed some kayakers who were doing the same tour. I was glad I was in a motorized boat. And yes, this water was just as turquoise blue as it looks. 

This room was called the toilet. Can you see why?! HA!

While some waited for boats to go out, others got to swim in the ocean. I even hopped in with an epic toe touch and impressed all these cheer girls!

And not only are the grounds beautiful back at the hotel, but they are decorated with the most fun lights everywhere you go. This place was so beautiful! Many of us contemplated on staying up all night and enjoying the grounds since we had to be up at 3AM!!! But I didn't and was glad I didn't given what we went through the next day. 

 Oh this place was so lovely! I enjoyed (mostly) every second. It was a miracle that 42 touring the whole country in 10 days didn't go as wrong as it could have! No one had luggage problems or lost major things, a few forgotten things that were found quickly, but no accidents or problems in general. I was so glad for this experience and if I was to ever do it again, I'd definitely do this kind of tour again. (Maybe not with 20 teenagers) We saw so much so quickly and experienced so much. Our guides were professional and organized and very on top of things. It was so nice to just have the meals ready everywhere we went and didn't have to worry too much about getting around. Just enough time was spent in each place and I found myself wanting more! I may have caught the travel bug!

Goodbye beautiful Portugal. You will be in my dreams!