Last Day in Paradise

Friday was our last full day in Mexico. I really was surprised how quickly the week had gone by, while at the same time feeling like we had been there a long time and done so much. It was hard to believe the trip was coming to an end. We had so much fun with our friends and our family. Being completed disconnected from the world was also a blessing. I don't think I have ever been on a vacation with my husband where he didn't bring his computer. And it was really nice for me to learn that I don't need to look at my phone every five minutes to see if anyone responded to my status on Facebook or whatever else. I can understand why many people choose not to get connected (internet, email, cell phones, etc.) in the first place. Sometimes it is nice to be able to just do nothing.

And sometimes, it is fun to just play. And to watch my children play:

lining up for a pinata bust

Olivia swings (see that scary looking man in the grey shirt watching her; he had a better view than I did)

and swings

Tyler's turn. It looks like she forgot to give the entertainment staff lady time to get out of the way.

(I handed the camera to her dad, but where I had been standing was probably the better vantage point when Tyler was trying to hit the pinata. Oh well.)

and finally they bust it open. . .

The girls got some candy, and even shared with Rachel. I don't know why she didn't want to participate.

Back at the pool, I got it on a game of Skip-Bo. We played in teams. Katie and I won one time, quite an accomplishment when playing against Lisa :)

It was a lot of fun to just take it easy there on our last day. We also played bocce ball. Dad would probably appreciate that. We didn't play in the grass like you usually do. We would throw the white ball in the sand, and then take turns throwing our colored balls, trying to get closest to the white ball. The closest throw earned 3 points, the next 2, and the third 1. We kept going until someone had made it to 15 points, I think. That was a lot of fun, too. But since I was playing, I didn't think to get pictures.

In the evening, we decided we should get some group pictures on the beach

so this is my kids waiting

and this is Lisa's kids waiting

Kaeda loved the sand almost as much as she loved the water

she loved being in it . . . and eating it

I'm not kidding; she LOVED eating the sand

isn't she adorable?

another shot of my happy family

and here is everyone, again.

(L to R) Brittney M, Laikyn S, Megan M, Stetler S, Paul M, Cortney M, Lisa M, Briona L, Garrett, Rachel, Kris G, Katie G, Annie S, Jace S, Kellie M, Preston M, Scott M, Wendy M, Tyler, Taylor M, Ken M, Olivia, me, Britt, Cole, Nicole K, Kaeda, Jon K

We tried to squeeze all the fun we could out of our last day in Mexico. We played right up until the sun went down. Some of the kids even went swimming that night, too. Garrett and Cole made plans to meet their new girl friend Bailey at the little movie theatre. She ended up having to leave to go to dinner, but I think they went down to the beach with her later that night. Britt and I went over to Paul and Lisa's room and played card games late into the night. We didn't want to pack up, but we knew we were leaving early, so we got it all done before we went out to play.

Looking at the pictures of the pinata, I have been remembering some of the other activities organized by the staff. The girls played water bingo a few times, where they dove for coins in the water, and won prizes. Tyler and Rachel were on a team and they won the game, with lots of candy as their prize. (Tyler is a skilled little diver). One night, the kids participated in kid games on the beach, included the limbo, which Cole nearly won. He was one of the last three, and definitely the oldest of the last few contestants. That was fun to see.

Some of us also joined in the water aerobics that they did every afternoon. It seemed a little silly, but it was pretty fun (and almost made up for the three step aerobics/kickboxing classes I was missing back at home). Katie took some pictures of that. Maybe some day I will post my favorites of the pictures she took.

I also forgot to mention that on Friday, several of us got massages at the spa. It was fun to get to visit with Lisa for a few minutes after my massage in the steam room, while she was getting ready to go into a couples massage that was an anniversary gift for the pair. Her girls and their friends also got massages that day also. I think I might have to start getting massages more often. Every five years or so (when I go on vacation) just isn't going to cut it.

Another part of our trip I enjoyed was every morning at breakfast, someone in our group would share a spiritual thought before prayer. Britt shared a couple times. Briona had a nice scripture that she shared that I thought was very appropriate. I may have to ask her what it was again. I wish I had written it down. Katie shared a thought. Brittney shared a story she heard at Especially for Youth.

Also, one evening, Paul asked everyone to share one thing from the trip that they had really enjoyed. Everyone had different answers. But it was fun to be reminded of all the different things we had done there, and to appreciate it from others' perspectives.

I don't think we will ever forget the trip we took to Mexico with the Macdonalds and the good times we shared with our good friends.