Thursday, November 3, 2016

Mexico!

We returned from our wonderful fall break trip!

We were up early for our 7 a.m. flight.  The kids did great traveling.

















































































To say that we had a good time would be an understatement.  Everything was great from the hotel to the food to the weather to the company.  Right off the bat, Ben loved the beach and the water more than he ever has.  He was ready to jump right in.  The beach was perfect for the kids.  The water was shallow and there were virtually no waves.  Avery loved snorkeling and looking for fish.


























































We were definitely spoiled by the food and drinks.  So. much. food.  Avery's drink of choice was a Pocahontas (mango and strawberry), which she discovered last year.  Ben's was a banana monkey (chocolate banana).  Avery ate a ton of shrimp tacos while Ben stuck to hot dogs and fries, although he did eats lots of guacamole which he doesn't really eat at home.  Avery discovered she likes octopus (going back for thirds).  She even ordered octopus pizza one night but didn't like that as much as the marinated octopus.  She also tried and liked squid and mussels.











We pretty much stuck to the beach and the pool.  Preferred activities were bird chasing, being buried in the sand, and playing in the showers.  Avery was 100% content to play in and around the water all day but Ben needed a change of scenery and a rest pretty frequently.









We only left the resort a couple of times.   We had a great dinner out one night and Gigi and Avery did the fish spa again.  Other than that we mostly stayed around the resort for dinner and spent the rest of the evening relaxing.




































































































































































































































Rob, Avery, and I went parasailing, which was definitely an adventure!  Rob and myself were definitely a little lot nervous up in the air but Avery loved and squealed with delight every second.  She said it was amazing!  And it was definitely cool but also a little nerve-wracking.  I love her sense of adventure and I hope it always stays with her.




















































Rob and Avery took a kayak out around the beach and Ben didn't want any part of that.  He likes his feet planted firmly on the ground, thankyouverymuch.














At last we had to say goodbye to the beach:(


Perhaps the most epic pic of Ben was taken on the flight  home.  Every time we got on or off a plane Ben would rubberneck the cockpit and one time the pilot asked if he'd like to come in and sit.  Yeah...he was a little excited.


I really can't say enough good things about this trip.  Seeing the kids enjoying themselves, having fun, exploring a new place, trying new things...it was perfect.  And I think the adults enjoyed themselves just as much.  I asked Avery what her favorite part of the trip was and she said "I think it's just spending time with my family."  Suffice it to say, time spent with family in paradise was amazing!

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Starting October

Picture day!


Ben had a field trip to the pumpkin patch, which Rob attended.


We got out the Halloween decorations and broke in the skeleton pajamas.


Soccer games!


Maybe the last time in the pool for a while!


We took advantage of a beautiful day and hit La Fortune and made it the 3 miles around (at times me SPRINTING after Ben who was on his bike and getting too far ahead).

Walk-a-Thon and the Fair(s)

The school had it's annual walk-a-thon fundraiser in late September.  It was Ben's first year to participate.  Avery predicted he would walk one lap and sit down.  Ha! She was pretty much spot on.   I think all the kids overwhelmed him.  Rob and I marked laps for 2nd grade and I only saw him come by us once.  Poor Avery, every time she came by I told her to find her brother.  They had fun though.














































































































Right after the event Avery left for the Texas State Fair with Mimi and Papa (Ben isn't quite ready for that adventure).  We took Ben to the fair after school.  It was a perfect day to hit the fair without crowds, the weather was beautiful, and it was nice to spend one-on-one time with Ben.  Ben got to ride whatever rides he wanted and I don't think he missed his sister one bit.  He said his favorite ride was the sky ride.

Watching a donkey pee in the petting zoo is funny...


Avery had a great time at the Texas fair.   She got to see the Taylor Swift Experience, ride tons of rides, and probably eat a bunch of junk:)


Ben had a soccer game on Saturday and then we watched the OU game at Gigi and Pepaw's.


Ben and Gigi were tired.


I think the kids were very happy to see each other on Sunday evening!!