Summer Days

We finally finished up with our last wedding a week ago; we had a fun (and delicious!) final dinner at La Palapa last night, and Michelle just took off for the airport for her three-week trip to see family and friends. The idea that summer has arrived is sinking in!

While most people (at least at home) anxiously await the summer days, things here are a tad different! We love the idea of no weddings for three months - don't get me wrong, there is LOTS of work to do - but not having to work any 20-hour days in three months is a welcome thought! We love the fact that we will get to spend nearly a month at home spending time with friends and family!

We do NOT love the fact that temps here are in the 90s with 100% humidity. We do NOT love the fact that we are constantly wet - either because we a) just washed the car, b) did our best to get into Soph's tiny little pool with her to cool off, c) just got out of the shower or d) are dripping with sweat from the heat. There is really no dry time. If only we could all run around shirtless.


So what, you may be thinking, do we do during these hot, humid months when we just can't seem to dry off? Here is a peek from this first week of summer!

We are thankful for little miracles. A pretty sunrise from the roof of our house:


A beautiful rainbow seen at the same time from the balcony:


And cows grazing in the street.


Have I mentioned that Sophia's first word was Mama. Her second word was Baby. And her third was Moo. How many children have cows that wander by their house on a daily basis? I think its cute. Pablo's ego was a tad hurt by the fact that she said Moo before Papa - which she did achieve just a couple days after the homage to the cows.

Thank God for small miracles - a cool floor, for example. Sometimes you literally have to just lay on the floor to get a break from the sweltering heat.



Have you ever seen anything more chunky and adorable?



Not only has the heat begun, but the rain is also falling on a near-daily basis. I know I've said this a million times and I'm sure I'll say it a million more . . . but when it rains here, it pours!

Streets flood within minutes due to a drainage system that has not kept up with the growing city. I'm not kidding when I tell you that small children literally swim in the streets. Last year I remember driving down a small side street where two little boys laid in the rain-filled road waiting for cars to drive by and send waves rushing over their bodies. Oh so fun - dirty street water waves. This isn't the best photo as it was taken through a windshield while moving in pouring down rain, but after only 10 minutes this street was flooded with water moving up and over the sidewalk!


The great part about the rainfall is that it brings a welcome coolness to the city for about 15 minutes until the sun comes out again and turns Vallarta into the largest natural sauna on Earth! We try to take advantage of this small window of freshness to get outside and walk! We recently checked out the new street that is being paved by our house, and Sophia discovered her own little miracle (about as exciting as the dirty water waves) - rocks.






Seriously. Why do we buy toys?