paradise

this place is heaven...how can you complain about a place that doesn't want you to lift a finger the whole time you're there?  they are so nice to us here...between eating and regular eating times...when you're at the pool they come around with 'beach amenities'....popcycles, gelato, candy, cucumber ice packs for your eyes...it's heaven...we've had a wonderful time...tomorrow is our last day to enjoy here...austin, willie, kelly and kids left today...so sad...we've had a lot of fun...on tuesday we had a great beach dinner with just our family...they set up a little table for the kids and one for the adults...it was delicious...i brought glow necklaces to make the party more festive...then, after dinner they had a fire and we roasted marshmellos...it was fantastic...so much fun....on wednesday we went to tulum which is a famous mayan ruin on the beach...it was beautiful to see...it was also pretty hot wandering around there...there were tons of geckos for the kids to see also...afterwards we went to a different beach for lunch...after we got back the clouds rolled in and we had a big rainstorm...it's been great weather...but, almost every night it rains...on Thursday night they had an all you can eat 'taco' dinner...it was delicious!  during dinner a HUGE storm blew in and i mean big!  but, we just kept eating and the musicians kept playing...the doors on the restaurant are all glass and quite a bit of water came in...but, it was fun...we played games wednesday and thursday nights...the kids loved that...today after everyone left, kerry, charlie and i went to the pool...kelly, jeff , owen, gavin, russ and kristen went to a theme type park called xplor...they said it was amazing and really fun...it has zip lines, underwater caves, waterfalls, jeep driving...alot of different activities...they loved it...so, it's come to the end of a great family vacation...we all reconnected and relaxed...and got tan!!!

mayakoba

I am  at the Mexican Riviera...Riviera Maya, which is south of Cancun about 45 minutes...the whole family is here, or will be when Jeff arrives tonight...we are staying at the Rosewood Mayakoba hotel...it is gorgeous...so beautiful...there is a lagoon that winds through the property...it has all sorts of fish, even has alligators in it....it's not too crowded because it's the off season...of course with that comes a few storms...i was worried that we wouldn't be able to go, because hurricane ernesto hit south of here on wednesday...but, it cleared up and we've been fine...every night it's rained...we'ved had some gorgeous days...some partly cloudy ones...but, it's been great so far...kelly, her kids and i arrived on thursday...kerry and austin on friday...willie and kelly, their kids...russell and kristen arrived on saturday...and jeff tonight...the little kids have had a great time playing with the cousins...they look like they could all be 3 sets of twins...they've played in the pool alot...we had a treasure hunt yesterday where they found pirates treasure...it's been fun and relaxing...of course, russ had to go to the hospital...we can't go on a trip that he doesn't go to a doctor or something!  he got an infect that was  making his leg swell up...who knows what...but, the doctor at home told him to go and have an iv......so, that' where they spent the day on sunday!  hope it's better now....

end of the summer birthdays

this week is the end of our summer birthdays!  happy birthday to my first born son!! willie is 32 today!  how can my children be this old?  on sunday kerry turns 23!  now, that's a mind blower! my youngest is 23....we've had all the birthdays this summer...it's fun...willie and kerry are long distance parties...i miss being with them...last week i was lucky to be in utah with kerry and austin....we celebrated her big day for the whole week...it was a fun time...i got to see little wren who has grown so much and baby julian who is only 2 weeks old...it was fun...next week willie has bushiness in san diego, so i'll get to see him for a late birthday dinner...i'm so lucky to have my children in my life..they keep me going...willie is always 'there' for me...i know i can count on him...he's a great husband and father...he works so hard at everything he does...but, he loves to have fun...he loves to bike, snowboard, rock climb...he loves to be active....kerry is a joy to have around...she brightens the day when she is there...she is so talented...she is artistic, creative, she loves to rock climb, snowboard, she's learning to fish...she loves being outdoors...what great kids i have...and now that they are all married...what great in-law kids i have....i'm soooooo lucky!!!