Thursday, April 14, 2011

Hola hola!




We are home.
I am happy!
Relaxed!
Rejuvenated!
Grateful to have survived the flight
 (with a little help from captain Lorazepam and orange juice and vodka, me and flying don't get along - frankly it terrifies me)
Definitely feeling more peaceful and in tune with life.
And, oh so ecstatic to be reunited with the little loves of my life!
I missed them like crazy 
and worried about them despite knowing they were in the best care possible.
It is a strange feeling to be out of the country and feel so out of control of your kids.....but they had the best time with their grandparents and an awesome sleepover at their cousin's house that totally rocked their weekend!
How lucky are we to have family who will take on 5 kids for almost a week......luckier than most I know!

So no more babble, here's a few of our moments....

the beautiful beach and palm trees




a place we walked down the beach to that Brad decided we had to jump off - or in his case, dive



the ocean is so beautiful, I think it is why I love the color turquoise so much.....reminds me of all the different blues of the sea

we wrote all the kids names in the sand and quick took a picture before the waves washed them away





saw some wildlife including a monkey and this lizard


loved watching the water crash up over these rocks and then run back down


everything is so vivid and colorful, I could have taken thousands of pictures







the food was amazing
unfortunately Montezuma had his revenge on me
but I recovered quickly......
thinking it may have been the octopus I tried.
I played it pretty safe after that and stuck with foods I knew!

The sunrise was undescribeable......part of what I loved was watching so many people all standing facing east with their cameras ready, waiting for the sun to pop up over the horizon.
And when it did, people applauded. Seriously.
  And it was deserving of applause. 
 I have at least 20 pictures of it but here's a few of my faves



(notice the ship right under the sun?)



Gorgeous!

Most days we were on the beach by 8:30 or so.....laid around there til the afternoon and then went poolside for a few fruity cocktails



soaking up a little more sunshine


not wanting night to fall


a few of the quirkier moments,
this bird landed right in front of me and wasn't scared at all....
this was shortly after a lizard (that was about 2 feet long) slowly crossed right in front of me


the big mirror in the lobby that I loved and had to get a picture of


and me with the little donkey our housekeeper made out of wash rags that stayed in our room all week


after 5 days it was hard to leave the beauty and warmth of the Riviera Maya


but it was harder to be away from those I love most
so we boarded up and home we flew

Right where we belong:))

My little senorita....


Back to reality.
And feeling ready to take it on.



and to repeat
"the waves of the sea helped me get back to me!"









Thursday, April 7, 2011

life is grand.....have a margarita



Yes, that sounds like a very good idea......



Cheers!  See you in a week!



"the waves of the sea
help me get back to me"  Jill Davis

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

skirt raising fun.....

When you have five kids, it is necessary to make a little of your own fun.  
Taking all of them anywhere is work, not to mention expensive!  I can't even guess how much it would cost for all of us to go to a movie.....if we let them all have popcorn I bet it would be close to $100!
Not gonna happen.....
So we spend a lot of time at home and things can get very interesting.
Oh, it always starts out innocent enough,

swinging,


tree climbing,



and then daddy gets the leaf blower out.....

and the fun begins!!




Mack's turn!




And why not hop in the Tonka dump truck and ride down the hill?




Their big grins say it all.....and it didn't cost a dime!
Sweet memories.......



"be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are.  when you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you" ~~ Lao Tzu

Sunday, April 3, 2011

weekend happiness.....

Well, the first weekend of April started out pretty dang good
It all began with a card from an awesome friend.......thank you Jen, you mean the world to me, too!!


Saturday was my first 5K of the year on a gorgeous day for running


The kids spent most of the day outdoors......this is one of the times that they were actually getting along.  There was a lot of the front door opening and one of them running in to tattle on somebody else.....ugh, tired of the fighting!


And then the mail lady showed up with my awesome pillow. Isn't it pretty??


Love five year old art.....


Saturday evening my best buddy Val and I went to get pretty toes


and for a few margaritas.  Lots of great conversation and laughs:) 
 (Val, don't ever let me get the second margarita again!!)

Today I am picking out my sundresses for Mexico and trying to make a list so I feel halfway organized to leave my kiddos:(


And this picture I got at TJ Maxx last night is so bright and happy, makes me smile!  
Here's to a great weekend!



Hope everyone has a happy week!



"the only thing I am 100% certain of is what I am doing exactly right at this moment now" ~~ unknown