Once again we packed our bags and headed off to the Mayan Riviera We love it there. The sun shines beautifully everyday and the beaches can't be beat. Shane's work offers left over condos for super cheap so we like to go every couple of years. We love Mexico! Thankfully we have wonderful family members who take care of our children and step into our world for a week while we take a little break. Every time when I return someone says "I don't know how you do it". Well I guess that why we have children while we are young so we can attempt to keep up with them and their crazy schedules.
Cody and Shannon and Jake and Alayna came with us again this time as well as Kelly and Stephanie Gines. We had a really great time. Great company lots of relaxation, snorkeling, eating great food and laughing.
(above) Jake had already climbed up a coconut tree like a monkey by 6:00 the first morning. Cody peeled many a cocunut to drink out the milk and eat.
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We headed off to Aukmal to swim with the turtles. They were so beautiful and gentle. The snorkling was amazing. We saw many turtles, fish, and even this beautiful sting ray. Everyone was required to rent a life jacket, but I think I was the only one that ended up leaving mine on. I have serious anxiety without one, so its just better to be safe.
One the way back from the turtles we stopped by an amazing beach where Shane had hermit crab races. He made a circle and everyone chose a crab to bet on which would leave the circle first. It was fun.
Stephanie and Kelly enjoying the crab races.
The whole group in front of the beautiful ocean. Geana, Shane, Alayna, Jake, Cody, Shannon, Stephanie, Kelly.
This is the pier at our resort. It is a beautiful place, but the entrance into the ocean is so rocky. That is why we often leave to find beach that is soft and easy to walk out into. There is some pretty amazing snorkeling here though because they have made an artificial reef from cement pots, to create a place for fish to live.
Shanes favorite pastime. Everywhere we went the first words out of his mouth were "2 for 1 Pinadas (Pina Coladas without alcohol.) It became quite the joke, but he really saved us some money on drinks. When they saw a group of 8 people coming they were willing to give us 2 for 1 just so we would eat at their restaurant.
Jake spearfishing at our resort.
Dinner at a cute little restaurant called Fusion in Playa del Carmen. Shane and I did not care for the super loud music, but it was right on the beach and beautiful. Everyone else was impressed with the live band, I guess that we are just getting old :)
Every morning while Shay and I stayed in bed Cody and Shane got up at the crack of dawn to go treasure hunting. (In fact, Jake said I won the prize this year for sleeping the most--that is exactly my kind of a vacation, sleeping in and an occasional nap) Cody brings his metal detector and they found a big $9.50 or so in pesos over the course of 6 days. It bought a couple of Pinas and gave them something to do in the morning. They love it! One morning I even ventured out and enjoyed seeing the sunrise and treasure hunting with them.
Empanadas on the side of the road. They were only 60 cents. I had a great conversation with the lady selling in them all in Spanish. It is weird how with some people I feel comfortable to speak Spanish and with others it is painful. I get so nervous and don't know what to say. I just sit and think how can they honestly make a living selling something on the side of the road that is 60 cents. We all bought some and spent a big $2.40. They were tasty but that barely covered their supplies not to mention sitting on the side of the road all day. Hard life.
One day we went swimming and exploring a senota. It was beautiful, caves under the water that went on deep forever. The water was freezing so I did not stay in long, but it was quite an amazing site.
After we swam in one Senota, we were able to explore one that had dried up. We walked down these stairs into it and were covered all around by high cave walls with an opening in the center. In the last one they had tubes available and we just floated around on them.
Our favorite little chicken joint. It was 100 pesos (equivalent of about $9) for a whole grilled chicken, rice, salsa and tortillas. We each shared one and we chowed on it. I was teasing Alayna because she was putting the bones in her mouth and sucking off the juice and spitting them out--it must have been REALLY good.
Stretching on the beach almost everyday, just the perfect way to start my day.
Beach volley ball with some Germans. Cody and Shane pretty much got their butts kicked but had a great time.
Cody hiding in one of the pots in the artificial reef in front of the resort.
Shanes favorite thing, a massage on the beach. He should have been relaxing, but instead made himself a new friend from Paris--Tink.
This restaurant had excellent food that we got to watch the chef home cook right in the kitchen in the background Shane had some fantastic shrimp. Yummy. It also had some fresh green drink made from an herb that grows in Mexico that Stephanie loved.
Leaving the resort. Always a sad day and very long because of all the travel home. We left the Condo by 7:30 and got to Plain City at 1 a.m. It was a very long day with a lot of waiting in airports. Good times and great memories, I think we will do it again.
These are the worlds most handsomest boys in the soccer uniforms that we brought home from Mexico for them. Cameron (5), Braxton (10), and Dakota (7). They were very well taken care of and Cameron even got to celebrate his birthday bowling with my mom and sister and cake and ice cream with Grandma Becky and Grandpa Russ. He celebrated for about 10 days straight!! Lucky guy. We missed them, but back to life as usual now :(
