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.

Mexican Hair Braids and Other Fun Stuff

So, my girls decided they wanted to get their hair braided before we left Mexico. We asked the lady how much. She gave us a price and then we asked her to feel Rachel's hair and tell us if that was still the price. Rachel has a ton of hair! I think she would have taken the original amount she said, but she did up the price after she looked at it. Then Rachel decided she only wanted the top half of her head braided. So, we got the lower price anyway.

Rachel didn't think she wanted to sit still that long

it actually went pretty quickly

I wish I would have thought to take video. It is amazing how quickly those ladies can braid!

She likes it!

The girls also painted some ceramic treasure boxes that were fire glazed that night

Olivia actually got her hair braided on Friday. The other two girls were done on Thursday, as you have already figured out from the previous pictures.

Just another fun Mexico memory!

Happy Anniversary, Paul and Lisa--June 9 in Puerto Penasco

Thursday, June 9 was Paul and Lisa Macdonald's wedding anniversary, so we took them to breakfast at the Mayan restaurant. Wasn't that nice of all of us to join them for breakfast? Hey, at least Lisa didn't have to cook. For 29 people. Again.

yum!

"and it was this big. . ."

"You know you love me, Kaeda!"

sitting in the sunshine

Then, we thought it would be nice to take the happy couple shopping, so maybe they could find a special gift for each other. At the dirt mall in Puerto Penasco. . .

'cause you never know when you are going to need a Mexican wrestling mask.

or a switchblade

And of course, what romantic anniversary gift package would be complete without a sombrero and cool shades?

After we made our selections, we consulted with some of our crew about whether Paul and Lisa would appreciate them.

Those of us who weren't wheeling and dealing with Paul and Lisa and the girls, on the other side of the dirt mall, decided that maybe the gifts we had in mind would be better suited to the individuals who picked them out.

So, we let them buy their own gifts. I think they selected purses and bracelets and such. We went home without the masks (my girls got bracelets) and the other things you have seen in the previous pictures. Also, some Mexican vanilla and a couple water bottles. 90 something degrees is a lot hotter when you don't have an ocean or a pool to cool your feet in.

The highlight of our shopping trip was seeing two sets of Mormon missionaries. . . and they weren't shopping. One pair was actually talking to a couple on their shop porch, with scriptures out and everything. Yay for missionaries!

After the dirt mall, we headed back to the grocery store (the same one we visited at the start of our trip).

You see, Lisa and I have spent numerous summers trying to feed our kids lunch, only to have them say they weren't hungry or they had been snacking all day. Rather than plan any big lunches, we had planned to have several snacks throughout the day and light lunches, like PB&J. We were not prepared for the voracious appetites we encountered, and I am not talking about the teenage boys, either. Anyway, it was necessary to replenish some of our food supply for the following day.

This turned into a bit of a process. Britt went into the store to help. I stayed out in the van with the kids. Um yeah, not such a good idea. Lets just say we are lucky no one was injured in the melee that resulted from all of us being crammed in the van in the summer heat on a Mexico street. And it wasn't all the kids fault. You see, I was in a bad mood. Reread this post if you have forgotten why I was feeling grumpy and uptight.

Anyway, it was a blessing and a relief when we finally got out of there.

Now, since the day had not reached its full romantic potential, we took Paul and Lisa to dinner at one of their favorite Mexican restaurants. Yes, all of us. That's what made it so special, right? Britt had the concierge at the resort call in advance to let them know our large party was coming and to have a special dessert prepared just for the happy couple.

except the concierge never made the call

???

"We want our food!"

"Now!"

so they weren't exactly prepared for us (and they didn't seem too thrilled to be accommodating such a large party kind of close to closing time).

the boys fell asleep waiting for their food (No, I am joking. This picture was actually taken after they ate. The food was seriously tasty. My guys really liked what they got. Tyler liked her chicken fingers, but Olivia and Rachel were not impressed with the "fish sticks".)

Just so you know, that is Olivia sleeping in my lap

serenading the happy couple as they enjoy their chocolate cake (or at least Paul and a few other people enjoy it; chocolate is not Lisa's favorite)

"Who's idea was it to bring all these people to our party?"

It was a late night, heading home after that. We were all ready to fall into our beds back at the resort. I think Paul and Lisa really did have an enjoyable time on their special day. The whole trip was kind of an anniversary celebration, shared with people who love and care about them.

We just couldn't believe our trip to Mexico was almost over. . .

Yes, there's a Part III: Wednesday--Poolside

nap time

just chillin'

my girls were using borrowed boogie boards and tubes (we don't know who they borrowed them from)

Taylor terrorizing Rachel (she loved it!)

snack time

play time

time for contemplation

We loved playing games, poolside or back in our rooms at night. We had a lot of fun, just visiting, being silly, or if you were with Lisa, playing to win!

I don't know what they were asking him here

but it must have been funny

Garrett playing ball with his new friend Bailey from Prescott, AZ

"Are you taking a picture of me?"

Who will win?

Jacksen has the winning hand

or was he bluffing?

Britt and I have been trying to plan a vacation with the Macdonalds for a while now, but it is hard to nail them down. When Lisa called us back in April, saying she had an awesome deal for the resort they go to, the Mayan Palace near Puerto Penasco, Mexico, we couldn't pass it up. It sounded like so much fun. And Lisa planned all the meals and told us to just bring snacks to share and our own drinks. You almost feel a little guilty crashing their party.

No, you are just grateful you have great friends who think of you when an opportunity like this comes up.

We had so much fun with the Macdonalds and their kids' friends. One of the highlights for me was getting to know Scott and Wendy a little better and spending time with their kids. They all know how to have fun and include everyone in the fun.

Katie also took several fun pictures, which she recently posted on Facebook. She has promised me once I send a disc with the pictures I took and she gets pictures from everyone else, she will consolidate all of them onto a disc and send them to everybody who was there. I am really looking forward to that. I could steal some pictures from her Facebook page to show you, but I think I will wait until I get the disc.

Sometimes we went separate ways. The older kids may have been playing on the beach or back in their rooms while we were hanging out at the pool. But most of the time, we were all in the same vicinity, and everyone got along wonderfully.

Even my kids for the most part. Yeah, they had their moments. But for most of the time we were all just happy and having a blast or taking it easy.

The weather was wonderful, not too hot, only slightly breezy on a couple of days. Clear skies. I am not telling you this to make you jealous. Just reminiscing about how nice it was to be In Mexico June 4-11. Being with good friends made it even better. We truly are blessed.

One other thing we did Tuesday night (that I forgot to mention in that day's posts) was to attend the all-you-can-eat Steak Buffet at the resort restaurant. Yummy! Except they didn't plan for 30 Macdonalds/Bartons, etc., so I don't think they were too thrilled about bringing us more than one steak. That was okay with me; I couldn't even finish my Filet Mignon. But Brittney was disappointed, because she had planned to eat at least 3 or more yummy steaks. You think I am kidding, but I am not.

The funny incident at the restaurant was when we all started grabbing the little glasses of coconut smoothies in the dessert section. They were in glasses the size of a shot glass, and they looked really yummy. Then one of the servers warned us that they had about 10% alcohol in them. Of course, we put them back, but quickly discovered that several of the kids including Tyler had already drank one or more of the tasty, rum enhanced drinks. Fun times.