Playa Del Carmen

I finally have a chance to sit down and document the trip to Mexico.  It started out with a slight hitch: our flight out of Tulsa was inexplicably canceled.  We were able to get on a little bit later flight (thanks to Terri for spending time on the phone arranging all of that).  Avery was great on the plane(s).  There were enough electronic devices (and a sticker book) to keep her entertained, and the flights were not long anyway, as we stopped in Houston and caught another plane to Cancun.  

Thanks be to the iPad

By the time we got settled into the resort it was late afternoon, but of course we had to get some sand between our toes.  Avery was a little unsure of the sand at first.

Checking out the ocean for the first time

She quickly warmed up and got the hang of it

After traveling all day, we decided to order room service that night.  Avery (and myself) inhaled a burger and fries (local cuisine) as we didn't have time to get lunch and had only snacked on trail mix all day (Continental doesn't even hand out peanuts or pretzels anymore!).


The next morning she surveyed the landscape, taking it all in.  There was a grassy area off of our patio, which was a nice place to play.

Heading to the beach with Pepaw

More playing in the sand

Can't neglect the pool

Big decisions

Standard lunch at the pool bar-fish tacos

 That evening we decided to head to 5th Avenue, the busy local tourist area, for dinner.
  
 The next morning we headed to the beach.  Gigi and Avery went for a walk along the shore.

Again, we went to the pool afterward (tough day).

The next morning, Rob and I got up early and went to breakfast and walked around the beach a bit.  

There was a large chess board on the resort grounds.  Avery walked right up to it and started moving pieces around.  If you didn't know better (and I don't) you would almost have thought she knew what she was doing. 

Until she took one piece totally off the board and started giving it hugs and kisses.

Building something

Gotta keep the hat on

That evening we went back to 5th Avenue where we did a little shopping and had a great dinner.  Avery had a minor meltdown before dinner, so the iPhone was brought out so we could all make it through dinner.  I am not exaggerating when I say there was a three piece mariachi band in full swing about 2 feet away from her when this picture was taken.

Oblivious

The morning of the last full day I made breakfast.  I am so jealous of their abundance of big, ripe avocados.

                                 

And then they brought a monkey on the beach and I dragged convinced Avery to take a picture with it.  If this picture had sound you would hear Avery saying "no, no, no, no."  As it is, the picture really says it all.

PS that hat is not mine.  The owner of the monkey put it on me.

Guacamole was it's own food group for us while we were there, and I think we all ate our fair share of it, but portion to body size, Avery won hands down.

That evening we went to dinner at the seafood restaurant at the resort.  Have you ever tried to take a picture with a toddler?  It's nearly impossible.  The out takes could be a blog post all their own.

Avery had meltdown #2 near the end of dinner, so Rob and I left and put her to bed.  


We left early the next morning.  I think we were all pretty sad to go, except Avery, who was told she would get to see Mimi the next day.

Checking out the "airpanes"

All in all, Avery was a great traveler.  She behaved pretty well and slept great, so we couldn't ask for more.  We had such a great time, and are so thankful we were able to experience this vacation.