Mini Vaca

Each year for the past four summers, we have been gifted a few days stay at a Nuevo Vallarta hotel from the travel agent who works with many of our wedding clients. Seriously, the best trips ever. Imagine, packing suitcases and getting all ready, hopping in the car and being at the hotel in 30 minutes! Only half an hour from home but it feels like a different world! Particularly, the air-conditioning. Aaaah.

This summer we spent six days and five nights at Vallarta Palace - Love. the. Hotel. Live music and shows every night, yummy food, endless hours of pool time (and then nap time for the kiddos), and AC set at 75 degrees (a very welcome change from the 95 degrees/Real Feel 108 degrees with 120% humidity we suffer through every other day).

We checked in to the hotel and got settled in our room. The kids snuggled on the bed while we got organized.


Then it was straight into swimsuits and down to the pool! Jakers showed off his new swimgear for the first time!


Our stint at the pool was short-lived, however, as the rain started to fall about 30 minutes after we arrived!


But the timing was perfect as both kids crashed - Jake in the stroller on the way back to the room, and Soph the moment her head hit the pillow!



The next morning, there was a bit more snuggling in bed, and then Soph could barely wait to pick out our pool chairs (from the balcony, half-dressed)!





We chose prime spots at the pool and settled in for a day of sunshine, relaxation and cold drinks!



Soph is quite a fish and pretty brave in the water. Ever since Pablo and I returned from Vegas over a year ago and talked to her about Cirque du Soleil, she tends to think she is an acrobatic performer. And apparently her skills can also be displayed in the water.




Hmmm. Someone's having fun.


And another someone is fast asleep.


And then there was a problem. Like the non-alcoholic pina colada service wasn't fast enough. Or dad said 'NO' to the five-hundredth jump in the pool. Or her swimsuit was up her booty. Don't recall what the actual situation was, but Soph was not happy. For about a minute.


And if the pool water for four hours were not enough, Soph jumped in the double jacuzzi when we got back to the room!


Jakers and I settled in for a nap and were all smiles an hour or two later!


And on the agenda that night, dinner and a show! Soph was in her glory. A decorated dessert plate and then dancing princesses (who were actually just dancers with pretty skirts, but apparently a skirt makes a princess).



And, as always, a family selfie. Except we aren't quite used to trying to get four of us to look at the camera yet, so in the majority of our selfies, someone is looking the other way. Oh well, practice makes perfect!


Twelve hours later, and we do it all over again. The abbreviated documentation:

Soph in a swimsuit.


Soph all tired out.


Yummy dinner (seafoooood!) and the cracking of it. (I made Pablo do it for me.) And the nightly show. Our selfie, again with one family member looking the other direction.




Then bed, and repeat.



What you lookin' at fool?


While Soph waded around the pool, Jake and I hung as well.



The guys at our final dinner.


The last night of A/C. Booooo.


And, of course, our final balcony selfie - just caaaan't quite get it right yet.
Need much more practice.


Back to HOT HOT PV for 10 days and then off to Chicago, Milwaukee and Minocqua for summer!

How you feeling? Hot! Hot! Hot!

Summer is in full swing folks, and as usual per my annual July-ish rant, its waaaay too hot. But the kids were off today to their last day of school (again -haha!), for a week at least! On Monday we depart for four nights and five refreshing days in air conditioning and a swimming pool at Vallarta Palace! Picture us here:


This is actually our second time at the resort - we Vallarta Palaced it three years ago when Soph was only two months old!

So this weekend, we'll be packing our bags and getting ready for next week! Summer is here, the summer wardrobe is out and we are READY TO GO!

Circus Kiddos

Today was the last day of "school" before summer vacation! (Of course, it isn't much of a vacation for the kids as the "summer program" starts on Monday, and they'll be there bright and early!) Nevertheless, their grand end-of-the-year performance was this morning; the school presented parents with a circus - each group showing off their acrobatics and new (and oh-so-amazing skills)!

Soph and Jake were SO CUTE it hurt. I can barely handle what a talkative, know-it-all, super smart and affectionate little girl Sophia has become. And Jake is so laid-back, so amazingly easygoing (except when he's hungry), that I sometimes forget he's around. Except he is so cute that you can't help but notice him!

On our way out the door to the circus - my little clown and bigger acrobat!


Jake's group was up first - he's the littlest one in the whole school and got lots of oohs! and aahs! - particularly when he grabbed his tie and started chewing on it.




Next up was the Ringleader - with his magic rabbit flying through a flaming hoop. Oh the imagination.


Then Circus Soph was on!


Proud dad and brother looked on as . . .


. . . she performed a perfect somersault! Yeah Soph! (She's been practicing for weeks and gets sooo frustrated with herself if it isn't perfectly straight!)


Then, of course, posing with the BFF's for photos! Yikes! Do you SEE that pose?

Then a photo with some friends and her teacher Miriam.


Followed by a little dancing around, more gymnastic stunts and hugs goodbye to her friends. (I mean, they really think they are on summer vacation! Won't they be surprised when they meet again on Monday!!!)



This was, by far, the cutest little performance yet at the school! Just 10 more days and we're off to our annual Nuevo Vallarta escape for a few days - can you say Air Conditioning?!? Then home for 10 days and off again to Chicago where we see the sites and FINALLY arrive to Milwaukee - hopefully to meet what-will-be our newborn nephew (still nameless)!

Summer is here!!!! (Except, of course, for the kids who have parents who still must work and therefore will be at the school's doorstep at 8:30 am on Monday morning!)