Mexico - day three

Today we did our big excursion to Chitzen Itza, one of the seven new wonders of the world. We started our day on the bus, picking up other tourists along the way, our tour guide was very knowledgeable and I learned a lot about the Mayans and their history. Along our way to chitzen Itza or chicken pizza as they liked to joke it was called, we stopped in a Mayan town and at a cenote. There are many cenotes in the Yucatan that are part of the underground rivers. After our brief stop there we ate and then went on to the ruins. Walking into the ruins were many Mayans selling things, only Mayans are allowed to sell there. It was odd to have all these people asking for you to buy things and then see these amazing buildings that were built over 1000 years ago. I was amazed at how big the buildings actually were, how these Mayan people built these buildings without machinery, and how advanced they were in their thinking. I learned a lot that day about the Mayan people and was grateful for our great tour guide.

This took all day and we were quite tired when we returned to the hotel. We left at 7:30am and didn't return until 7pm.

Luigi our tour guide

Mayan home in the town

Cenote that we swam in - cool and refreshing

One of the ruins, they were covered with amazing art work, carved out of the stone and long ago were beautifully colored.

One of the seven wonders of the world!

A Mayan girl selling crafts to us. The Mayans still use their native language to speak, they have carried on the tradition of taking on two last names (their mothers and fathers), and they are very shy by nature.

The observatory

The souvenir they wanted us to buy, a picture of us on a bottle of tequila:)

Mexico - day two!

Day two - Jaron woke up early again to catch the sunrise...I stayed in bed:) We took an excursion to snorkel the second largest reef in the world. We are very spoiled, because we were expecting to see many colors and beautiful ocean life, like we have seen in Tahiti. However, the current was strong and the fish were sparse. We were disappointed, but still enjoyed our time. Except Jaron got seasick and almost lost it in the ocean!! After snorkeling we got some lunch at a wonderful restaurant where we were serenaded by a couple of locals!! We were back in our room by 8 - I know party animals we are. It got dark around 5:30 so there wasn't much to do in the evenings unless you like to drink or go to the discoteque!!! Jaron really wanted to go, but I put a stop to that one:)

More locals!!

On the boat on the way out to snorkel...

Now we couldn't go to Mexico and not have lunch with giant sombrero hats and locals singing to us!!

MEXICO BABY! - DAY ONE

The first morning we were there we decided to get up early and watch the sun rise over the ocean. We have watched many sunsets, but I don't think I have ever seen a sunrise. It was beautiful and pictures cannot do it justice. Here are just a few of the pictures Jaron took. When we got out on the beach, about a couple minute walk from our room, it was pitch black. There were many stars out and no moon. It was amazing to watch the sky light up without seeing the sun yet. It took about 45 minutes from first light to actually seeing the sun in the sky.

Here are a few pics of the grounds of our hotel. There was much wild-life, gorgeous landscape, and beautiful buildings. We could have stayed on the grounds the whole time and just been content.

The photographer at work...these are from my little camera now:)

Had to get my toes in the water, LOVED it!!

This is the life

Good Morning!

18 Months!

Eighteen months! Wow already:) The babies are growing and learning everyday. I love to watch them interact with each other, I think they speak their own little language. They jabber back and forth and it is so cute. They love to get into trouble together and at this age gettin into trouble is the name of the game. If they aren't pulling all the tissues/wet wipes/toilet paper off, they are drawing with a crayon/pencil/pen they found on the tile/walls/door. If they aren't pulling Max's fur, they are playing in the toilet. If they aren't throwing all the cars out of the bin, they are throwing all the play dishes out of the drawer. If they aren't climbing on the drawer to stand on top of their dresser, they are climbing on the chair to get on top of the table. TROUBLE I tell you....but I love them just the same. Bring on spring is all I can say so they have a new world to discover!

Justin Lewis is 24lbs 9oz and 31.5" long. He is all boy...loves to wrestle and be roughed house and NEEDS his mommy:) Justin is pretty temperamental and when he is in a good mood it is great, he is silly and full of smiles and laughs ...but when he is in a bad mood, watch out. He likes to throw himself on the ground when he is mad and nothing can console him until he is ready. He loves his milk and will drink all day long. Justin boy is very observant and watches everything going on. He gets upset when dad wrestles too hard with the other boys. He looks you right in the eye and has such a sweet smile, it melts your heart. Justin has just started saying please and bye bye. Justin loves Max our kitty and can't wait for the warmer weather so he can go outside. We love you little man:)

Jessica Nalani is 20lbs 3 oz and 30" long. She is still so petite, but can eat Justin under the table. She is Miss Independent and prances around the house running from here to there. She just expanded her vocabulary to include the word snack (ak), which she says while sitting at her table. She continues to be the one that is always picked up and loved. When she wants you to love her, she runs over to you and just stands there like...hello, here I am:) She loves to play peek-a-boo and enjoys being chased. She still loves her books and her stuffed animals. She currently has a puppy she carries around all day and gives kisses to (we all wish we could be that puppy). She still loves to watch tv and we find we have to limit her time or she would do it all day. She continues to show her girly side, wearing any ones shoes, wanting to look pretty (she likes to wear necklaces and get her hair done), she tends to give in to Justin's demands by sharing and when he is upset she will go find his milk or blanket and bring it to him. We love our little princess!

Happy Birthday Braden!!!

Brady Boy is 11!!!!

Braden had a wonderful day, he stayed home from school and mom took him to see a movie! He got to go out to dinner with just mom and dad (he chose Tepenyaki) We enjoyed cake and ice cream with Grandma and pa Farr and Uncle Spencer. Please don't look too close to the disaster of a cake I made. Thankfully nobody cared, it still tasted great. As Tyson said when we were eating, "it is a good example of not judging a book by it's cover"

I can't believe it! He is growing up and maturing so fast. He is still our funny, laid back guy, who loves to play video games and veg in front of the tv. He also loves to beat up his dad and wrestle. He LOVES his babies and is always willing to do things for or with them, except change a poopie:) Braden plays basketball, flag football, and baseball, with a desire to try almost any sport. He continues to play the piano, though we are in between teachers at the moment. Braden wants to be a teacher when he grows up, and we think he will make a great one!! He has surprised us more than once this past year with his deep thinking. The other day he was talking to us about evolution and how he thought man did not evolve from apes, God created us. He continues to have a LOT of energy and likes to make people laugh. He is very social, sometimes too much for his teachers sake:) Braden is a joy in our home and we love him very much!!! Happy Birthday "sweep lips"

The birthday present....a new bike. Now that we don't have buses, he wanted some new wheels to ride back and forth from school.

Trouble

How could this sweet, innocent boy cause so much trouble? We all know the many messes that an 18 month old can cause. Well my sweet little boy does enough for himself and his sister!

Emptying the tissue box from the nightstand. Every time they watch tv in mom and dad's room, Justin has to climb on the table and destroy all that is on there. He loves to change the time on the clock and a few times has scared himself by turning on the radio with the sound all the way up!

Caught in the act...climbing onto the kitchen table to throw all the balls off!

The other morning I returned home from my run to find him on top of the table throwing all the crayons out of the crayon bucket. Jessica was coloring the tile floor. Spring needs to come so he can climb and explore outside...He is ALL boy!!

Who Needs Toys!

What do we do with these long, cold days inside you ask?? Well, we find whatever we can to entertain us. Today mom was doing laundry and we found that pushing the empty baskets around the house was quite fun! We would go down the hall, turn around, and come back to the kitchen. I, Justin, figured out this fun thing first and then Sissy copied me...Just had to put that out there since everyone thinks that I copy everything she does. This activity entertained us for quite awhile which made my mommy smile:)