Mexico pics... finally!

Here is the belated tribute to our annual trip to Mexico.  PS this is a really long post!

We arrived at the Puerto Vallarta airport to much fanfare. A mob of locals was awaiting our arrival offering to carry our bags, show us to our vehicle and otherwise pamper us in every conceivable way. They were all very excited to see us and it made us feel like celebrities. This excitement ceased when we choose two Senors to carry our bags, which left out the others. They were obviously disappointed, but I think deep down inside they were happy that we considered them. The two Senors parted the mob for us and took us to our van. We gave them what turned out to be a somewhat meager tip, which turned them against us as well. So, we arrived to fanfare and left to dirty looks. Such is the life of a celebrity - one minute they love you, the next minute they curse you.

Anyway, we got in the van and we were on our way to The Grand Mayan.  The rest of the week was a lot of swimming, virgin Pina Colatas, and sun!  Oh and I can't forget also a lot of Wii!  My Mom and Dad bought a wii for the trip and we played it everyday.  Then when the kids went to bed at night we would play American Idol wii and sing karaoke.  It was so much fun and also very entertaining:)     

The shuttle ride from the airport.  The cousin bonding begins!

This is the entrance as you walk into the resort.  We stayed in this room for awhile.  There are these amazing huge Mayan warrior statues that line the room.  They were probably 50-60 feet tall.  It was quite a breathtaking entrance.  The kids loved it!

My mom brought a lot of water toys this trip so this is one of the water fights at one of the pools.  There were probably 20 pools plus the main pool which is the length of three football fields.  Needless to say we never got bored at the pool!

Another afternoon activity.  The girls had a little game of restaurant they liked to play with any adult willing to play the server.  This day it was Nana who got the job.  When Garrett did it he wrote out a whole menu and had them sign a bill and everything.  They never got tired of it.

One day we took a boat ride around the resort.  There is also a train you can take around the resort which the kids also loved.  Nathan was so excited to get on the boat that he stepped a little too early and landed in the river.   Luckily he is the oldest grandson and he can swim so it wasn't a big deal.

This is Nathan and Marianne on the boat ride.  Nathan had to sit on her lap because he was wet from falling in the river.

Taking in the sights from the boat.

Each day we take a turn being in charge of afternoon activities for the kids.  This is the first activity that Aunt Danielle was in charge of.  The kids each got a sand pail and shovel and they got to decorate their pails with the foamy stick ons.  They loved it.

This year we started the tradition of a girls' day and a boys' day.  For girls' day we went into a little town called Bucaria and shopped and had lunch right on the ocean.  The food was so amazing and so was the view.  Then we came back and went to the spa and pampered ourselves with facials and massages.  The boys' day was all about golf and food.  I love this new tradition!

This is the view from our table at the restaurant in Bucaria.

Me and the kids by the waterfall, you can tell Carter was really happy to stop swimming to take the picture.

The fam on the waterfall.

The view of the beach from our balcony.  Each room has it's own balcony with a little wading pool on it.  The kids loved it, but it made it stressful for the parents.  We couldn't ever leave the doors open with the little kids around.

A day at the beach.

Rylynn got pretty brave with the ocean this trip.  She even let Daddy take her way out and jump the waves!

Carter preferred watching the ocean from the sand.

We had a sand castle building contest and this is Uncle Jordan, Danielle, and Thais's castle.  We all got prizes!

Rylynn and my triangular sand castle!

A friendly game of stick pull between cousins.  Good job Rylynn and Thais!

Thanks Nana and Papa for an awesome trip!!  We can't wait for next year!