Mexico // Tidbits

Eric and I had been planning a little getaway for awhile now.  We weren't sure if we wanted a little weekend trip or an all out Mexican vacation -- and eventually decided the latter was what was in store for us.  A few weeks ago we booked an all-inclusive vacation to Cancun, Mexico...in hopes of sun, quiet, and relaxation.  I didn't go crazy, I didn't make it a huge ordeal....I dug through my closet and only bought one maxi skirt and a shirt -- everything else was already my own.  My sister and her husband watched the kiddos as we flew to paradise.  It was the perfect place, the right amount of time spent away from the munchkins, and turned out to be super relaxing.

1.  It doesn't get any better than a few days in the hot sun without a schedule...oh and a Miami Vice in my hand at. all. times.  Eric mixed it up trying a ton of the drinks.  I found the strawberry daiquiri/pina colada mix and never swayed from it again.

2.  The sound of ocean waves crashing against the white sand was incredibly calming and relaxing.  Every night we decided to leave our sliding glass door cracked open...falling asleep to the recurring crash/splash combination of nature.

3.  I have always claimed to hate reading.  Just typing it sounds silly.  Sure, I read about how to be an innovative teacher or a forward-thinking administrator, but actually reading for fun...yeah, right.  Well, teaching 5th grade has made me change my tune.  I read chapter books so I can guide my kiddos thinking and have become totally addicted.  I grabbed Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children off the Chicago Airport's Book stand and decided what's the worst that could happen?  Nearly 400 pages later after three days in paradise and I'm through it and excited to read the next book by the same author. 

4. Eric is amazing.  It was fun to spend time just ourselves -- no kiddies, no schedules, and no work.  We laughed, agreed, disagreed, compromised, danced, talked about the past and the future.  He's my love, my everything, and it was great to spend time together.

5.  My children will NEVER be allowed to go on Spring Break without me.  Until they are married.  Or 50. We had a few teens on our flight to Cancun.  One of their hats read, "TWERK QUEEN" and they were talking about late nights and crazy.  The thought of all of them being in a foreign country in charge of their own decisions made me sick for them.  Never.  Ever.  Spring break will not happen unless I'm there to supervise. :)

6.  No matter what sunscreen says, it will NOT protect you from a sunburn in Mexico.  We used 50 spf and still are peeling from the sizzling sunburn.  I guess that's what you get for being a pasty Iowan in the middle of March.

7.  Iowa nice is true.  When we would make small talk with anyone at our resort, 9 times out of 10 they were from Iowa.  Iowans are in general nice, outgoing, and like to have a good time.

8.  I don't worry about much.  But, for some reason I feel like something really bad is going to happen to us when we are flying in an airplane.  The whole time I tell myself, we'll land soon...then we'll be fine.  What was that bump?  Turbulence?  Oh, we're going down!"  No matter what I try I can't shake it.  Oh, and I always think there must be a shark lurking in the water.

9.  When you're on vacation without your kids...you miss them and wish they were there.  We both were excited for our little trip alone, but every time I saw a stroller or heard a cry I looked and longed for my littles.  That's the whole point of getting away -- it makes you realize that all of the stress and struggle is so worth it.  I couldn't wait to see the smiles and hear the cries when we were back.  Their faces and Jack's, "Mom I miss you and wuv you" were priceless.

10.  Getting around in Cancun is an adventure.  Driving is a little different in Mexico than it is here in the states.  We went to the downtown area of Cancun to meet up with a friend.  We asked the hotel staff how best to get there.  They told us, oh just take a bus!  So, we waited a few minutes and hopped on the first bus.  As soon as we were on, the bus driver took off!  Before I was even sitting!  I fell and ended up sitting on Eric's lap.  Freaked out, I glanced behind me and found 20+ Mexican workers covered in dirt and dust.  We had not ended up on a city bus, but rather a private owned crazy bus.  He turned up the bass and flashed bright lights and drove double the speed limit...nearly running people over at each stop.  Yes, it was only $1 per person -- but goodness it was an adventure.  We took a quiet, clean cab back. :)

Mexico was perfect.

“Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.” 

Every time we got back in the water...I kept secretly hoping I'd find my pearl.  Wishful thinking...

{Jack & Kate}

I heard birds chirping.  That can only mean one thing // hello spring.  Well, sort of.

Our little family spends everyday of the summer outside.  We've been itching to break free from our walls -- and today it was a perfect 50 degrees.  So, we bundled up and headed outside for our first adventure as a {two-kids-are-walking-holy-crap} family.  Last summer, Kate was chill and could sit or lay on a blanket for hours while Jack and I played.  This summer....I can already sense the chaos that will exist in my front yard.  Kate went from crawling to running -- with no fear.  So, our little slope on our driveway is my nightmare.  Today was wet, murky, a little windy, but also sunny and warm enough to melt the snow.  Kate waddled like a drunken penguin down a soppy, muddy sidewalk while Daddy and Jack rode along on his bike.  It was an adorable glimpse to the fun we'll have as soon as it gets nice out.

Jack // 3-years-old.
"One time, I rode on a train.  And I brought my friends.  Didn't I, Mom?"  Jack is starting to tell little stories about things he's done -- and honestly things he wishes he could do.  It's adorable and scary at the same time!  Oh, and everything happened "yesterday".  Last summer, we had a block party and a fire truck made an appearance and Jack got to sit in the front seat.  On our way home from school he says, "Yesterday I rode on a firetruck, mom."  Okay, buddy, that was last summer...not yesterday.  It's adorable that he doesn't understand time frames at all, but he still likes to talk about what has happened.

Kate // 1-year-old.
Where has the time gone?  It feels like just yesterday my days were filled with nursing, pumping, and rocking.  Now...I'm chasing, dancing, and laughing along with my little Kate.  She's still a doll -- and almost never cries.  She's finding her voice and still says "dada" way more than "mama".  She is a dancing machine!  We've caught her on camera "baby twerking", shaking her booty, wiggling her whole body and more.  Its fun to think about pink tutus and dance class in the coming years.  I absolutely am obsessed with baby girl clothes.  Kate has the nickname "fashionista" at her daycare.  Tiny denim tunics with bright leggings, dresses and sweater tights, tiny boots and more.  It's so much fun!  Oh, and she LOVES wearing her accessories.  If I forget to put a necklace on, she'll find one and throw it on herself.  All girl and I totally love it. 

Books //  We love books.
Every night, Jack counts in Spanish how many books he wants to read.  Normally, it's uno, dos, tres.  Last night it was all the way up to once (11) books!  Yeah, right.  Eric reads and reads and reads until his little eyes grow sleepy.  His newest obsession is books with CDs that go with them.  There's something about someone exciting reading the book to him that just puts him right to sleep.  Polar Express is a new favorite -- because I think Jack is obsessed with Santa, still.  Also, Pete the Cat.  Pete is AMAZING!  Jack has nearly every book and I think he can recite all of them.

As soon as Kate wakes up I walk right to her closet to find her outfit.  In her closet is her little bookshelf -- so she pushes to get down and starts reading to herself.  Our little wee one is a total bookworm just like her brother.  She already tries to read!  She opens the books and says "da da ra ra da" as she turns the pages.  If she finds a book, she searches for either Eric or me and plops down and hands us the book.  Her favorite book is Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss.  I think we've read it nearly 100 times (and she got it for her birthday a few weeks ago).  Needless to say, we love books.