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!