Thursday, February 28, 2013

Paradise - Part 3

Sitting by the campfire with Grandpa

I wish I had gotten a better picture of Mackenzie's hair - she was meant for humid weather!  Her hair just curls right up and it's the best!  On the plane ride home, I could watch it get flatter and flatter, so sad!

Playing Barrel of Monkeys with Daddy

When we needed some shade time, the iPads were good entertainment.


Swimming with Daddy.  I don't have many pictures in the pool, but that's where we spent most of our time.  The kids' swimming skills improved leaps and bounds, I'm still amazed at what they learned while we were there.  We do have lots of underwater videos from our GoPro camera, so hopefully I'll be able to get those posted here sometime this week too.

Beach golf!

See, she's even cute in Rylan's shorts.

Our castle still standing a couple days later - and the hermit crabs were still in it!


Mackenzie trying to golf.

Good swing Buddy!

The kids watching a big hermit crab we found.  I made them pose for this picture can you tell?  They aren't impressed.

Close-up of the little guy trying to escape.


Taking a rest in the hammock.

The girls had fun getting their fingers and toes painted.

Grandma led a little art class for Rylan - he did a good job!  Hopefully he inherited Aunt Katie's artistic abilities because he'll get none of that from me!





He put on a little art show for us so we could see all his paintings.


And he made his first sale to Grandpa!


Ah, I wish I was back here.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Paradise - Part 2

We underestimated the strength of the sun on the first day and should have re-applied the sunscreen during the day.  Rylan's ears and forearms got sunburned and Mackenzie's legs, cheeks, and a strip of her tummy were burned.  Thankfully neither of them were badly burned and they weren't hurting much, but we did a little improvising the next day.  Grandpa cut some of his shorts up to make a doo-rag for Rylan's head and he also wore Grandpa's rash guard to cover more of his arms.   We made sure Mackenzie always wore a hat and she wore either her skirt or Rylan's board shorts out in the sun.

We applied SPF 65 sunscreen twice daily for the rest of the trip and after their little burned spots peeled, they were still pretty pasty white by the time we went home - mission accomplished!

Mackenzie walking with Grandpa

Headed down to the beach

Grandpa made some magnet sticks (a magnet welded on an old golf club) to find magnetic rocks.


Yep, it sticks!

Getting dirty making sand castles again!

"Put it right here Grandpa!"

My best Karate Kid move - I'm not nearly as graceful as Ralph Macchio though.

Rylan would have spent all day on the beach looking for rocks and shells if he could have.

More sand castles.

Thumbs up - we're done!

There were actually little hermit crabs in the center - it was Mackenzie's idea to build the castle around them to keep them safe.  Surprisingly it was still there with crabs still inside 4 days later!


Splashing in the waves is always fun

Ready, set...

Jump!!!

We did it!

Mackenzie, Jennifer, and Rylan enjoying popsicles and showing me the color of their tongues.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Paradise - Part 1

The last time the kids were with us in Mexico was when they were 2 and 6 months, so they don't remember any of it.  As soon as we got down to the beach on the first day, Mackenzie immediately laid down in the sand - she LOVES to get dirty!


I love this picture so much - her genuine smile!

Dancing on the beach

Grandma and Grandpa


 Playing with hermit crabs

Grandpa has been here a little longer!

Making trails with sticks






Nick saw this awesome butterfly and got close enough for a good photo.