Cancun, Mexico!

Don's parents took us all to Mexico this summer, and it was a blast!  It was our first stay at an all-inclusive resort, and on our plane ride home, the kids told us they wanted to move to Mexico.

I thoroughly enjoyed the all-inclusive feeling of not "paying" for anything.  Room service everyday was the most fun, and the number of macaroons and Piña Coladas we ordered was ridiculous.  We were also delighted by our in-room sauna/tub and balcony.  What's not to love?!  But true to form, my most favorite thing about this indulgent, paradise vacation was the beach.  Beach, beach, beach!  There is nothing better than sun, sand, and ocean waves.  And palm trees.  And seashells.  And sunsets.  

Take me back!

Our first stop on the trip was actually Las Vegas.  We drove down to Vegas the night before our early morning flight.  After a pasta and pizza dinner at Eataly, we brought the kids to the Bellagio fountain show.  They were mesmerized by it, and we stayed at least three times to watch.  And Auggie and Owen were thrilled to sleep in the same bed for the first time...in other words, nobody slept.  

{little airport travelers!}

We made it to Mexico!  We heard that there were golf carts to drive the guests around the resort, but we didn't realize what a fun perk this would be for the kids.  We hopped on a golf cart any chance we could get.

{beautiful beach}

{water park!}

Owen and Auggie both went down the large waterslides by themselves, with Owen's first solo ride being a bit of a misunderstanding.  He insisted to Don that he had gone down by himself the day before, when in fact, he hadn't.  So Don sent him down by himself!  After a whole lot of flipping, crying, and landing face first in the pool of water at the end of the slide, Owen hopped out a complete mess.  The first thing out of his mouth as soon as he could breathe was, "Let's do that again!"

Both Auggie and Owen were so brave, sliding down some pretty big slides...on their bellies, head first, backs and bums, you name it.  All the while slurping drinks in between rides, one in each hand.

{cousins}

For lunch, we had tacos by the pool and mangoes on a stick!  Yum.

The next day we split up for our respective excursions.  One regret I had from a vacation in Tulum years ago was not going to Chichen Itza, so to be able to take the kids was a cool thing.  We scheduled a full-day bus tour with four stops:  a Mayan village for lunch, Chichen Itza, Cenote Samaal, and the city of Vallodolid.

{Sleepy O's}

Our stop at the Mayan village was hot.  The kids were tired and we were all worried they wouldn't make it.  But, after seeing the Mayan villagers dressed in their traditional bird costumes, they were both on the up and up!  

Our lunch was awesome, and the locals even performed a dance where they carried trays of drinks on their heads.  Entertainment and local, fresh juice was just what we needed.

{Chichen Itza!}

Owen's face was about how we all felt in the extreme heat.  It was hot.  Truly, almost too hot for the kids to handle.  But they sure did surprise us!  Still happy after a long day of being on the bus, and still excited to jump in front of an old pyramid.  

Even O's perked up!

Cenote Samaal was perfect, and a core memory for sure.  It was a highlight.  The kids squealed with excitement as they watched me and Don jump from the high platform.  It was cold and cool...like really amazing to see.  And thank you to a random Canadian friend who was willing to risk her cell phone falling in the water to take and e-mail me these pictures!  I will always be grateful.    

The next day, we spent the morning at the beach.  We took the kids swimming and almost made it out to the barrier!  A small part of me was a little worried about sharks? So we turned around and came back.  But it was an epic swim for the littles, and they loved it.  The water was so warm and perfect!   

According to Auggie, the kids dumped three bottles of shampoo into the tub when we weren't looking.  All's well that ends well though, and Owen enjoyed the most epic bubble bath of his life.  Needless to say, they were quite clean for family pictures.

{family pictures, 2023!}

For dinner one night, we figured there was no harm in ordering grasshopper guacamole since it was all-included 😂.  You couldn't pay me enough money to try it though.  As the debate was raging about how gross it was, sweet Owen low-key popped one in his mouth without any thought.  He had us all laughing at how completely above-the-fray he stayed, just doing his thing!  It didn't take long for Auggie's competitive side to kick in, and he had to try one too.  Actually, nearly everybody tried them except for me and Michelle.  

No thank you. 

Macaroons for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

I really, really enjoyed running in Mexico.  The sunsets were so beautiful.  After one of my runs, I took off my shoes and dipped in the ocean.  This is going to sound a little yoga-esque, but there is something grounding about being barefoot in the sand, and jumping into the ocean.  Especially by yourself.  

{flying home}

{#travelmood}

When the time came to go home, we all wished for one more day in Mexico.  Perhaps someday we'll go back.  But for now, we are happy to keep the memories.