We're home from a wonderful vacation and I can't wait to tell you all about it and share all of our pictures!
Tuesday morning after a very busy state baseball weekend, we got everyone up super early to head to the airport. My kids are such good travelers and everyone woke up no problem ready to go! Kylee got this great picture on our way into Mexico!
Travel there was smooth- a little layover in Houston then landed in Cancun and got our transport to the resort.
What a beautiful first view!
Kase loved the little moat we drove over to get into the property.
We were all thankful for the cool towels, bottles of water and massages upon arriving!
Of course Kase was ready to hit the pool immediately- and seriously how beautiful is this place?! Kylee and Kent and I spent a little time unpacking and getting settled in our rooms- we had a funny time realizing a few important things we forgot (Kent didn't bring swim trunks- ha) which just shows you how crazy busy we were when we left.
Then we all hit the pool!
The kids especially love all-inclusive places. I can't tell you how many chocolate shakes and banana smoothies Kase had! Keith and Cindy thought the place was really nice and they thought their room was great and we all loved having a personal concierge!
The thing that I loved about this place was that the water was really warm so I got in all the time! I really don't like being cold so a lot of times I designate myself as picture taker and stay on the side of the pool but not here- I swam all the time! The kids commented on how great it was having me in the pool with them.
We got all cleaned up for the Welcome Dinner. Don't they look great?!
A beautiful dinner on the beach, complete with mariachi band!
After dinner I couldn't stop taking pictures. Everyone just looked so nice and the place was so pretty!
Kids checked out the Teens Club which was a nice spot for them to go relax in the air conditioning every now and then.
The next morning was our group breakfast. Kylee discovered she loves mango in Mexico! Seriously so fresh.
Kent and I had a meeting then we all hit the pool.
There was another pool called the Zen pool on property that was a short shuttle ride away. It was very calm and peaceful there and surrounded by tons of trees. We enjoyed going over there in the afternoons.
This is where we met Godzilla! The waiters told us that was this iguana's name.
His hiding spot in a little cave.
We found out the iguana likes cherries so Kase fed him often.
There was a really pretty spot with hammocks near the pool and we all loved sitting there when we needed a pool break.
This night we had a fancy 12 course dinner scheduled that didn't allow for kids under 12 so Keith and Cindy stayed with Kase while we took the big kids. They ordered room service and Kase felt like a king!
We loved getting dressed up and taking pictures before dinner.
So this was a dinner unlike anything we had ever experienced. The food was sooooo fancy. Fun having the watiers offer us little discs at the beginning of the meal that they poured water on that turned into towels that were such a lovely scent for us to wipe our hands on.
The kids were such great sports about this experience. None of the food was very good at all but man we had fun. We had a hard time not giggling when they brought out each tiny course and explained what it was. We all tried everything and Kylee even ate caviar and bone marrow! This was a shock!
The next morning we enjoyed the breakfast buffet at the restaurant right on the beach.
Kase loved getting a fancy chocolate milk each day.
Then back to the pool for a bit!
I just love these pictures.
After a quick morning swim we went on our excursion to the cenotes! The first stop was a cenote in a cave and we got to snorkel and swim around there for awhile. The water was so crisp and refreshing and so very clear. Then we had a delicious lunch in the middle of the jungle- Kylee and I were fully prepared for cold deli meat sandwiches but imagine our pleasant surprise when it was a full Mexican food lunch- chips, guac, chicken, rice, beans- yum!
Then for the highlight of the trip. We went to an open cenote and got to zipline and jump into the water!
Seriously the pictures do not do this place justice. It was so beautiful and our guide was awesome- he waited for the other groups to be done and timed it just right so we had the place almost totally to ourselves.
Keith and Cindy were up for the adventure! They ziplined and jumped in too and you can't see it well in the picture but our guide told us if we sat here the fish would come up and nibble our toes like a pedicure so Cindy even tried it!
We all loved the zipline!
Kase landed a front and back flip off this platform. He just loved it here.
What an absolutely perfect and memorable day.
Ha. Found this in the gift shop.
We made one more stop to snorkel then headed back to the resort. Everyone looked so nice once again for dinner!
We ate at Chaka which was in the jungly part of the resort.
Once again I couldn't stop taking pictrues.
Dinners here were really long and Kase handled it like a champ. Sitting through dinner is not his favorite thing in the world but he did awesome.
We really enjoyed this night.
The waiter brought out big trays of desserts and we loved trying them all!
Then we stopped by the karaoke bar! Kael was so brave and was ready to sing right away! Loved listening to him!
The next day we had a lazy pool morning then Kent and Kase tried kayak fishing. The fishing wasn't great but they did see 6 huge sea turtles while they were out there so that was great!
Then Keith rented jet skis for him and the big kids. This was another big highlight- they all loved it and one of the guys at the rental station offered me a ride out to where they were so I could take pictures- so sweet of him!
Then more pool time.
Kent and Kase took a break to play catch. I can't imagine a prettier place to play baseball!
Then, a HUGE surprise! I had found out only two days before this but our friends who we met in St. Lucia decided to pre-extend their trip (we knew they were going to be on the next wave but thought we were going to miss each other). So I found out they were coming and we decided not to tell the boys- when Kase walked into the lobby and saw Trenton he was SO excited! Honestly it worked out so perfectly. We had a few days just to ourselves and then T showed up which was so great because he and Kase played together the whole rest of the time!
While their family got settled Kylee and I headed to the beach to take a few pictures.
Then, dinner at Frida with the entire gang!
And the boys. Man they clean up nicely!
We all decided this was Kael's best look. Hair pulled back and he just looked great!
We had been able to alter our dinner reservations for our friends to join.
What a fun dinner all 11 of us together!
Caught a sweet Kent and Kylee moment on the walk after dinner.
Had to get a picture of Kael and Georgia (another Jones girl)- this little cutie started the night off every night at the karaoke bar singing "Let it Go" and once she was done Kael would follow and sing something too! It was so cute. She would come up and sit with us every night.
Lots of our group sang this night. Mike and Coco (our friends from Arizona) were just so amazing about hanging out with our big kids and treating our teenage kids like adults and they just loved talking with them and singing with them.
Kylee and Vivi got up there too!
Aww then Kylee and Kent. I have a video, not a picture of when Kent and Kael did one together but man they got the place rocking! It was so, SO good.
Another beach picture. Hope you aren't tired of them yet!
Kael and Grandpa took the guided bike ride offered through the hotel. They had a great time and were able to share lots of information about the resort when they got back!
Then Keith and Cindy generously rented Sea Bobs for the group- oh my gosh these things are fun! We immediately decided that we need to own some for the lake and A frame but when we looked them up they cost $9700! Eek! So turns out just renting them was enough for us!
Everyone took a turn. So fun.
Beach babes.
Kael loved putting people on his shoulders and even got Coco up there once, much to her surprise- ha!
These boys took a little swim break and visited the coffee shop right next to the pool. T taught Kase to play Heart and Soul on the piano. So sweet.
Then the boys headed to Kids Club! They initially thought they were too old to go but when we walked by and saw a zipline and climbing wall and trampoline, the boys had to try it out!
Then we all headed back to the Zen pool which was one of our favorite spots. But today we got a big surprise- out of nowhere, like 10 monkeys just came out of nowhere and went behind the bar and grabbed bananas then ran to the side of the pool and the servers gave them even more bananas!
Then they ran to the pool chairs, ate their little snack and disappeared back into the jungle! We were all just in total shock and I'm so glad I caught it on camera- it was the funniest thing!!!
Gang.
The boys headed back to the main pool with Keith and Cindy who graciously offered to take them because there was a flag football game going on. The resort was really good about having activities all around the pool all day long. After the game the boys hopped right back in the pool for more football! Here's where I have to add that I can't say enough about having Keith and Cindy along. They were so helpful when we wanted to split up and some wanted to be at different pools at different times. They were so easy going and they were great about trying all the experiences and all the different foods and things. It really was great having them along.
Kent and Kael got cleaned up early this night to head to an 18 and older bar because it was supposed to be really neat. Well, I think they were the only ones there and they didn't have the air conditioning on so they didn't stay long- ha! But cool to see the place.
Aww. Love this picture of Kase and Grandma.
This was our favorite dinner. We went to Lucca- the Italian restaurant. Kent and Kael had octopus on their pizza and liked it!
Kylee and Grandpa at our beautiful breakfast spot.
Then we snorkeled! Kylee and Kase went for a bit then later Kylee went with Mike for a super long time. They had a great time and saw lots of fish!
We took our daily afternoon trip to the Zen pool and hoped to see monkeys again but no luck. Kael threw Kase and Trenton the football all afternoon and they loved making diving catches!
Loved all the time I got to spend with my family this week. So proud of all my kids.
These two could honestly pass for brothers. How they look and how they act is just the same!
Final night cocktail and appetizer reception on the beach.
We stayed long enough for the Toast to Ted then jetted off for one last evening swim!
We ordered room service that night and while we waited, Kase had a great view of the nightly show from our balcony!
Then, one last night at karaoke. Kael and Mike did awesome this night!
And how sweet is this that Kael and Kylee did a country song together?! I loved it so much.
After the karaoke bar we went out to the garden where they had a guitarist playing. The guy was SO, SO good and really friendly and Kael talked to him about how he plays guitar and the guy offered to let Kael play! I have a big long video of it so I just have a screen shot to share here but oh my gosh it was so great!! Really proud of him!
Our last morning we had time to swim before we left.
And one last flag football game.
Buddies sad to leave each other!
We found out that our flight had been delayed so we were all prepared when we got the news we would not make our connection in Houston and needed to spend the night there. Everyone handled it so well.
Kent was able to get us a few rooms at a nice, clean Holiday Inn near the hotel with breakfast and everything so we were all just fine. The next morning Cindy had already scouted things to do in Houston since we had the whole day to kill so off we went to the Downtown Aquarium!
It was a blast- especially considering we hadn't planned to have time to explore Houston at all. We got to pet sting rays, take a train ride through a shark tunnel aquarium, ride a ferris wheel with a great view of downtown Houston and had an awesome lunch there with huge aquariums inside the restaurant- pretty cool!
The boys played a couple carnival games there and thought that was fun.
We got to the airport with plenty of time to grab dinner and snacks before our flight. It was a smooth ride home besides the fact Kase's ear started hurting but we made it home around 10:30 Tuesday night and again, I couldn't be more proud of how the kids all handled themselves the entire trip. We were a large group so things often didn't happen in a hurry and also with the flight delay and everything- honestly I couldn't have asked for everyone to be better. They were so patient and agreeable. It was a week full of making memories and I just enjoyed every minute of it!
And now we are all happy to be home sweet home! While it was one of our favorite trips, we did have to laugh about a few things- we lost some of Kent's clothes while were there and honestly thought a monkey might have taken them off or balcony. Imagine our surprise when we got home and found them in the dirty clothes bag- ha! We think our maid service must have put them there without us knowing. Also Kylee lost or got her Apple Watch stolen so that was a bummer- she did run once while we were there and holy smokes was she sweaty. The heat and humidity was no joke! Also, Kase left his nice noise-cancelling headphones on the very first flight, confirming my suspicions that Kase should be allowed to sit only by me on the plane because he isn't the most responsible for his things and we can't expect that Kylee (who was sitting by him that flight because she is terrified of sitting by a stranger) to be responsible for Kase's things as well as her own. Lastly, we lost a fishing shirt of Kase's too and couldn't find one of Kael's pair of dress shorts while we were there only to find they were in his backpack so that was a surprise. All in all these make for funny (and kind of expensive) memories but we all just laughed about how we didn't bring our A game this time as far as packing and keeping track of our things went! And Kase arrived home with a VERY nasty case of Swimmer's Ear- poor buddy!
Still, I wouldn't change a thing. I love traveling and making memories with my people!
No comments:
Post a Comment