Three Celebrations for Doug's Birthday

FAMILY CELEBRATION

Doug's birthday is September 27.  I planned a trip to Cabo San Lucas at the timeshare for Doug and me, his siblings and their spouses.  Before we left, Camille had everyone over on Sunday so that the family could celebrate his birthday.  She and Scott prepared a delicious salmon dinner and we had a fun time being together as a family.  We actually had three of our children and their spouses in attendance.

Camille and Doug

Olivia and Sabe

Hillary and Tom

These four little girls just love being with their cousins--Adelyn, Elsie, Isabella and Holland!

Can you believe this beautiful cake (cake baked by Jennifer and frosted by Camille).  The cake pedestal was actually owned by Doug's great grandmother, Amalia Peterson.  She and three of her friends joined the church in Sweden and came over to America together.  At each birthday celebration, they would get together and bring a cake on their cake plates. 

Doug thinking about his wish...

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OFFICE CELEBRATION--

The day before we left for Cabo, Doug's office planned a surprise birthday lunch for Doug, and he was actually surprised.  I'm sorry that I didn't take my camera, because it will always be a fond memory for me to see all 14 people in the office singing "Happy Birthday" to him and thanking him for the wonderful boss he is and all that he has done for them to make working there enjoyable and profitable.

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CABO SAN LUCAS TRIP--

Doug's two siblings and their spouses came along with Doug and me to Cabo to celebrate his birthday.  Scott and Syd were unable to travel with us because of other commitments.  However, we had a wonderful time reconnecting as family and hope that Scott and Syd will be able to travel next time.  

The last time we came to Cabo we stayed in Pueblo Bonito Blanco, but this time we stayed in Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach, the newest resort which is on the Pacific Ocean side.  This development was just beautiful and we enjoyed every minute of our time spent there.

Blair and Debbie outside the main entrance.

Blair and Doug at the check-in counter

Leslee having fun with the sword on this statue in the main lobby.

We had reservations for two executive suites, however I sent an email requesting upgrades.  They upgraded us to the Super Executive Suite Ocean View with Jacuzzi!  We were so excited with our accommodations!

This is one of the two baths in each suite with a shuttered window looking out on the bedroom and further out on the veranda overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  

The veranda with a six-person jacuzzi

Looking from the veranda into the living room/kitchen part

After we checked into our rooms, since we flew to Cabo on Doug's actual birthday, we went to the buffet on the property and ate a wonderful birthday dinner.  

A beautiful cascading candle creation that smelled so good.

The artwork on the wall is a mosaic made out of thousands and thousands of tiny tiles.

We will always remember the wonderful dinner we ate with Doug on his birthday.

Doug's sister Leslee and her husband Mike

Doug's brother Blair and his wife Debra

The next morning, this is the scene we had from our balcony--looking down on the main lobby building.

Looking down upon the suites below us.

To the right of the lobby.  The mansion on the ocean near the rocks is the owner's house.

Further out to the right the land is all owned by Pueblo Bonito.  They are putting in a Jack Niclaus golf course.

  

Doug enjoying the hot tub

Blair having fun with one of the decorative water fountains.

The Sky Pool--This is just one of the many pools on the property.

This is where we would wait just a few minutes for a golf cart to pick us up and take us wherever we wanted to go on the property.

And this was one of the golf carts.

Doug having fun with the same fountain

These towel creations reminded us of what the cabin stewards would do on cruises.

Interesting "basket people" in the lobby

The Pueblo Bonito Sunset insignia stamped into the sand

Looking up from outside the lobby to where our suite was.

Colorful birds on the property

Debbie and Doug outside a wonderful authentic Mexican restaurant where we ate in downtown Cabo, the La Fonda.  The dishes were all so delicious, along with the presentation.  From the soups...

...to the main dishes.

Doug and Blair are so much alike and so much like their dad!

Every day we would observe from our verandas a cruise ship traveling to Cabo.

On the premises was a beautiful Catholic chapel, and so on Sunday  we attended our first Mass to see what it was like.

Beautiful wood-carved table outside the chapel.

Going into the chapel

Fun row of Spanish-looking rocking chairs

After we attended our first Mass, we rode over to Pueblo Bonito Blanco where we stayed three years ago, ate lunch and swam in the pool just for "old times sake."

Everything was just as we remembered it--and so well taken care of.  When you walk into their lobbies, the smell that greets you is lavender and vanilla oils.

We ate in the outside restaurant with "Lands End" behind us in the bay.  See the cruise ship parked on the left.  

Back at Sunset Beach.  With the beautiful sunsets every evening, the resort well deserved the name.

On one of the paths of our golf cart rides, you look to the left and see all of these mansions on a couple of hills.  This is where famous people have homes.  One that I remember explained to us three years ago was Madonna.

Sunset Cruise

Something we did that we all totally enjoyed, and will long remember, was going on a three-hour sunset cruise.  

Sitting on the veranda of the cruise ship before the cruise.

Leaving the harbor

The white resort with the blue domes is the Blanco (white in Spanish) where the other timeshare is.  The design was Mediterranean style and reminded us of Santorini and Mykonos, Greece.  The resort on the right side is Pueblo Bonito Rose.  If you're staying at one of the properties, you can use all three facilities.  There is also one in Mazatlan.

We traveled on the catamaran in the bay and then around Lands End to see the sunset on the Pacific side.  Lands End is right under Blair's extended arm.

The famous arch at Lands End.

After seeing the sunset and kissing our spouses for pictures, we ate a wonderful gourmet meal.

Doug's Chateaubriand-beef plate...

...My Jumbo Shrimp in white cream sauce...

...And, of course, dessert!

Then, we were pleasantly surprise with the Mexican and Argentinean onboard entertainment--very professional.

The very nice-looking and talented performers

This picture shows our sunset cruise ship, the Caborey, on the left, the cruise ship all lit up farther out in the bay with a full moon in the middle of the picture. 

This picture doesn't really show you the size of these 6-7 inch moths that were everywhere at night.  They are actually called Black Witch Moths--the largest moth in the continental United States.

One morning we went down to the beach and walked along the sand.

You can't swim in the ocean on the Pacific side, and you can figure out why when you see the powerful crashing waves.

A great view of the entire property.

Beach sand volleyball net

Another beautiful swimming pool which was located on the beach

Downtown Cabo has a really nice mall that we visited.  

This picture doesn't do this beautiful Mexican glass lamp store justice.

There was even a Harley Davidson store in the mall.  Since Blair owns at least two Harley's he was interested in the prices.

I guess the price was a little too much!!!

And Debbie supports Blair in his passion.  She even has her black leather riding pants and jacket and goes on riding trips with him across the country.

We then shopped at the flea market shops along the wharf.

We all got a big kick out of this very large advertisement sign for Viagra!

Blair was thrilled to find a Haagen-Dazs ice cream kiosk, even though two ice cream cones cost $15.

Cute picture of Blair and Debbie!  Debbie has on her t-shirt she bought in the mall.

We all thoroughly enjoyed our week in Cabo with great food, relaxation, scenery and accommodations, and especially conversation.  We decided we needed to go as siblings every three years.  My siblings and their spouses have enjoyed our cruises so much with my father, also.  

I strongly believe that our mothers are looking down on us with big smiles on their faces pleased that we are spending time with each other in ideal circumstances bonding together as members of our families!