Best Vacation EVER

For my big 4-0, we took a weeklong trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico with the kids.  It was hands down the best vacation we've ever been on.  Relaxing and fun at the same time.  Perfection.  We swam with dolphins, zip-lined, drove a jeep in the middle of the jungle and in caves at night, spent lots of time swimming in the resort pool, snorkeled, took a ferry to Isla Mujeres and drove a golf cart all over the island, I got a 1 1/2 hour massage on my actual birthday, never had to cook, clean, or make my bed (yay), and David and the kids swam with sea turtles while I got to have some quiet time on the beach with some margaritas on my actual birthday.  The kids are begging to do it again……me too!

On the plane

The seaweed was bad this time of year and you can see the worker in the back with a wheel barrow hauling seaweed off the beach.  The workers were there most of the day trying to keep it under control. 

Our view from our balcony where I had my coffee every morning.

The next 3 pictures are in the restaurant at the resort where we ate most of the time.  It was a different themed buffet every day and the food was amazing.

The next 2 pictures are from the day of my actual birthday.  David and the kids swam with the sea turtles (Ben actual touched one!) while I sat on the beach at a restaurant and watched them while sipping on margaritas.  Relaxation!  

Next 3 pictures are of more fun at Isla Mujeras

Pre Birthday Surprise

David surprised me with a trip to Winstar Casino in Oklahoma to see Harry Connick, Jr.  I had no idea where we going until we pulled up to the casino.  As I was standing in the lobby my good friend Sherry and her husband, Jason walks up as part of the surprise.  It was one of the best weekends of my life.  So much fun!


Well, on the way there a banana truck caught fire and the highway was shut down. We sat there for 3 hours.  David had time to work……

Mermaid

Swimming at the Stahler's place.

Heard Museum & Ice Cream with Friends

Kristi Iachetta took Savannah, Sydney, and Sarah to a ballet performance while I took the boys (Ben, Matthew, John) out for the afternoon.  We first stopped at the Heard Museum and ended the date with ice cream.  They had a great time!

Happy 12th Birthday Frederick

Safety Camp

The City of Richardson provides a Safety Camp each summer where the fire fighters and police offices teach the kids about being safe.  I was surprised at how much the kids enjoyed this camp.  I was thankful for it too because it was what lit a fire under them to learn how to ride their bikes!

Official Bike Riders (No Training Wheels Here People!)

The kids have been attending a Safety Camp given by the Richardson Police/Fire Department.  They have thoroughly enjoyed this camp and wish it wouldn't end.  On Wednesday they had a "Bike Rodeo".  I'm not real sure what all it entailed but we had to bring their bikes and helmets to class that day.  Whatever they did lit a fire under these kids to finally learn how to ride without training wheels.  As of today, June 25th 2015, both kids learned how to ride!  Savannah took most of the afternoon and kept getting so frustrated.  At one point she decided she was done, gave up, went inside and bawled because she couldn't get the hang of it.  A couple of hours later she wanted to try again.  Daddy gave her a big push and off she went.  The rest is history.  As for Ben, I guess being a little older helped him learned a little faster.  He spent about 10 minutes figuring it out and then he was off and he looks like he's been riding for years!  He's already maneuvering turns and speeding as fast as he can.  I think part of the trick to learning for Savannah was that we ended up in the street.  The sidewalk was just to narrow for her to navigate.  Once she hit the street and had such a wide open space, she was off!!!

Let's Move to Paris

Been bugging David for us to move to Paris for 6-12 months……

Kerrville Folk Festival Trip 2015

We had a good time down in Kerrville again this year.  This trip has become one of the things the kids look forward to each year.  We get to see two of our favorite people there each year, Don and his daughter Abbey.  We had no shortage of places to hang out and get wet in the river due to the flooding we've had recently.

Savannah sunbathing.

Benjamin 

Don and Savannah checking out the flooded road that we weren't able to cross.

Abbey, Ben, and Savannah at the festival.