Not An Adventure

** Note: We had a wonderful time with family in Mexico.  It was a great time with lots of memories and Tracey Ann was such a trooper, and had a blast with her cousins and Miller family.  That being said, this post is written in hindsight of our fun vacation. **

I remember traveling to foreign countries when I was younger and it was such an adventure.  It didn't matter if I was on a college chorus trip, or studying abroad, or taking a side trip from studying abroad, or on my honeymoon, or vacationing with my parents -- foreign countries were such an adventure.

At this stage of my life, foreign countries are not an adventure.

Foreign countries are really hard on my little family and the beautiful cultural experience is lost amongst a toddler who won't sleep or eat, and a pregnant body that does not feel well and just wants to eat and drink food and water that I'm sure will not make me sick.

With children who are fascinated by the differences, intrigued by the food, and excited for the tropical excursions, international travel will be A LOT of fun -- still slightly stressful, but very fun and memorable.  With a toddler and twins on the way, the differences were hard on our schedule, the food was, at times, scary, and the tropical excursions were minimal.  Because we were with family, the trip was definitely fun... but the trip was work.

I hope that in another ten to fifteen years, I will be able to travel abroad with my husband and children and enjoy the foreign experiences and idiosyncrasies of international travel adventures... but for the time being, international travel is not an adventure.

I just hope I remember to come back and read this post the next time my husband or I have wanderlust that has us looking for our passports...

Here They Are

Here are the pictures I was going to try to post the other day about trying to take a picture of three children ages two and under... Talk about drama...

1000 Words

1000 Words

Ugly Americans

In our time in Mexico thus far, I have had an epiphany:
I understand from where originated the "Ugly American."

We have all heard about those loud, obnouxious American tourists who just want to eat American food, and want everyone to speak English.

Well, yes, as a culture, there probably are some Ugly American tourists... but really, I think they originated from a very understandable place.  I believe the first ever Ugly Americans were pregnant mothers of toddlers.

Before coming to Puerto Vallarta (which is amazing), we were in Monterrey for a wedding/anniversary vow renewal.  We were in a Best Western hotel and we were on the go constantly.

From the moment we got off the plane we were shuttled from place to place, eating (very good) but very foreign food, getting little sleep, staying incredibly hot, and then getting dressed up for a fancy wedding.

By the morning after the wedding, my toddler and my pregnant self were exhausted and hungry and when I walked in to the hotel breakfast, I was the Ugliest American I have every been.

I did not want to attempt broken Spanish, I did not want to wait for the waiter to ask if I was getting the buffet, I did not want to ask for a high chair, I just wanted to take the first one I saw -- I simply wanted edible, familiar food for my hungry, tired toddler and myself.  I was the ugliest American I have ever been, and given the same set of circumstances, I would act the same way again.

So, yes, we need to strive to not be Ugly Americans -- but I would like to petition the world to make an exception for pregnant mothers of toddlers.

Pigtails

Apparently pigtails are just about the cutest things on babies... somehow I did not know this, but luckily Tracey Ann has two aunts who clued me in.

Last Images of Mexico

Well, I hope, as you're reading this that Chris and I are home in America.

Our flights were changed so instead of arriving in Denver around 4:00pm allowing us several evening hours to make the 3.5 hour drive to Rifle, settle in with our animals, and get a good night's sleep... we will end up in Denver around 9:00pm, which means we will get to Rifle around 1:00am if we're lucky.  Then, of course, my work day will begin at 4:00am.

As many travelers know, that is the price one pays for a weekend getaway.

I am writing this blog post on Monday morning from Mexico knowing that I will have neither the time nor capability to write one later tonight or tomorrow morning.

Hopefully when you're reading this, we are back in the US... hopefully you have VOTED... hopefully you have voted for the candidate I support, but most IMPORTANTLY, I hope you've VOTED.  It is our privilege and responsibility as Americans to vote.

Here are some last images of Mexico Chris and I took Sunday night before dinner:

Brothers

Daddy and Momma

Millers and Sandens

Millers

Uncle Robert and Aunt Diana

Sandens and Sandens

Mexican sunset

Millers in Paradise

Hola!

The whole gang.

Adios, Mexico!

Mexico: Day 4

Our last day in Mexico was wonderful... especially the afternoon.

We had an appointment in the morning, but in the afternoon, Momma and I had massages out on a pier with the ocean waves crashing (SOOO amazing), Hubby and I went swimming and then Mom, Dad, Uncle Robert, Aunt Diana, Hubby and I all went to dinner.

What a wonderful day:

Have you ever seen a doughnut tree?

Lots of beautiful flowers.

Mom and I each had WONDERFUL massages (and discounted massages) on this beautiful, peaceful, ocean front pier... it was AMAZING.  One of my favorite parts of the vacation.  My wonderful Hubby was insistent that Mom and I do this if possible.  He is so wonderful!

 This is one of the pools of the condo... so much fun!

Isn't my hubby adorable?  And someday, Lord Willing, I will have a little boy that looks just like him complete with this big grin!

Beautiful!

I don't think these pictures will make the Christmas card... but we're having fun.

 
 Mom, Daddy, Uncle Robert and Aunt Diana on the bus...

Have you ever tried to snap pictures from an Iphone on a Mexican bus?  Not an easy task!

I love this picture of the group outside our Mexican restaurant.

A fun and festive dinner.

The only Mexican song my mom knew and could think to request was "Feliz Navidad"... and the guys sang it.  :-D

It has been a wonderful trip.  Much too short, but we are SOOO glad we stole this weekend to enjoy time with family South of the Border.

Thanksgiving and more family will be here before we know it.

Mexico: Day 3

We are LOVING Mexico!

We spent Saturday cheering for MICHIGAN (they WON!!), and enjoying Mexican food and sports bar atmosphere, and downtown Puerto Vallarta.

My aunt and uncle are here too (my dad's older brother), and so we really are having a great time with our family.

The people on the bus go rock, bump, back, crash...

The sounds on the bus to clank, crash, clatter, rickety, creek, clang

Michigan Cheering Section in Puerto Vallarta!
From left: Aunt Diana, Uncle Robert, Daddy, Momma, Hubby, me

Hubby did some work during the Michigan game.  What a cool office.

GAMETIME!
Even our waiter (bottom center), Marcos was cheering for Michigan for us!

Downtown Puerto Vallarta in the evening.
Left top clockwise: Men playing music WAY up on the air; Close up shot of the music men; Cool statue on the water front; The boardwalk with food tents like a state fair; Us with the PV dolphin statue

 

Puerto Vallarta Beachfront

Left top clockwise: Statue of Mexican dancers; Mexican vendor walking; Us in front of PV Seahorse statue; Bride and Groom having pictures taken on the beach; Sign at a beach ("Men... No Shirt No Service! Women... No Shirt Free Drinks!")

We are having SOOO much fun and feeling so refreshed!

Mexico: Day 2

Our time in Mexico is flying by, but is SO enjoyable.

I guess a trip really will fly by when you're here 4 days... on day 2, the trip is half over.

It is interesting how some things are the same on a weekend in a foreign country and some things are different:

Same - The Sandens will be watching American Football on Saturday
Different - the American Football will be watched in a Mexican restaurant

Same - Chris will continue hunting
Different - Instead of hunting for animals, he hunts for deals with timeshare presentations, and me in the pool ;-)

Same - the heat is not on in the condo or in our Rifle home
Different - the heat is NOT NEEDED down here -- the air is on!

Enjoy some more pictures:

I enjoyed chatting and whistling at this African Grey Parrot (Tracey, my sister, used to have one), but he moved away from me in his cage whenever I talked to him.

I love spending time with my parents.

Look how warm it is -- summer clothes!

Great seafood dinner!

 Have a great weekend.

Mexico: Day 1

Greetings from Mexico... I mean Buenas Dias!

I don't know if you can tell, but when we got on the plane, a hat and jacket was hanging in the cockpit... and inside the hat was a picture of a bride and groom (likely the pilot's wedding picture).  I thought that was awesome.

Sunrise from the plane...

Starting upper left and working clockwise: Grounds of the condo, little crabs along the rocks of the ocean, a view of downtown down the beach from the condo, a towel elephant at the pool

 We're ON VACATION!

 

 Dinner, just the two of us!

Upper left clockwise: "Seafood casserole", Cheers!, the demonstration platter of what seafood we would be getting with different menu items, the statue of the "Happy Lobster"... the name of the restaurant

This vacation is off to a great start!!

Hope you are well.