Viva la Mexico

Mexico in January...how can you go wrong! Michigan sucks...it is freezing and we haven't seen the sun in months. To spend it with our Louisiana friends, Forest and Ang made it even better. A four day escape in the sun. Cancun is one of my top three favorite places. The locals are friendly, you feel safe, the food is amazing and the ocean is heaven.

The Mayan Ruins were amazing...pictures can not do justice to what we saw. I learned that the world is not going to end in in 2012, it was an honor for you to sacrifice yourself to the Gods and the men competed for the right to sacrifice themselves, I also learned that no woman would sacrifice herself in her right mind so they fed her a cocaine like drug and then threw her into the sinkhole...and lastly that the Mayan civilization was basically wiped out when they killed the four people that knew everything. I also learned that these people are little and Forest and Ang looked like giants next to them...Tony spent the day walking up to everyone of them he could and would look down at them like "Hey". We tried to bring one of the little girls home with us...because she was the best salesperson I have ever seen, definitely would not take "no" for an answer and she was sooooo adorable.

If you get a chance put on your bucket list to go see Chichen Itza...an amazing day!

More pictures from Mexico to follow...

Isle of Capri

Sunday morning drive from West Palm to Naples to spend the day with Heidi, Jeff, Peyton and Beckham...our Michigan/Florida friends. So excited to spend the day with friends that we only share a few days with a year. We spent the day at Isle of Capri where we drank Sangria ate Grouper and seafood chowder. I dug my feet far into the sand, letting the cold water wash over them and picking shells up that would find their way into my suitcase for the ride home.

As the kids played we took pictures, laughed and caught up on the last 6 months since we seen each other. This place was beautiful, quiet and serene exactly what we needed to wind down our trip.

When we get to Florida Cait, we get to take our coat off...

The warm sun on my face, the feel of the sand beneath my toes, the smell of the ocean...Cait's hand always ready to grab mine. The illusion of Florida in January is that it is warm...warm by Michigan standards, but not by mine. I actually packed shorts, sundresses...we used sweaters, jeans and long sleeve shirts. The water that touched most of us was found in the hot tub...Cam who has the least amount of body fat loved the ocean.

We live a good life one that is filled with work conferences in sunny places at resorts that cater to children. Cam and Cait were able to go on this one with us and they had a blast getting to play at the kids camp in the morning while we were in meetings and exploring the resort at night with Nikki their babysitter. The Breakers in West Palm Beach is a gorgeous place that knows how to take care of a family.

Cait has turned into my little model...and I love her spunk! I love her ability to throw her hair back and smile at the camera, to get lost in her eyes. She brings new life to my brown-eyed girl.

Double JJ...55 in January, what???

Well we started our journey on December 31st to Rothbury, MI...home of Double JJ. The morning started out at the lake house where we had hoped to get some sledding in but this warm weather melted all the snow. Who would have though Michigan would have 50 degree weather in December...maybe global warming is finally kicking in :-)

So having a family vacation up north where there is no snow...and you plan to go snow tubing and dog sled racing....hmmm problem! Well at least they have an indoor waterpark.

This has become a family tradition and we had a blast snow tubing on the one remaining lane that had snow which turned to mud. To be honest i love snow tubing at 50 degrees it reminded me of skiing in Chicago when it was 60...all the beauty of the snow with warm fingers.

New lens for Christmas from Tony created some of the best firework pictures that I have ever taken...we spent two days resting, playing in the waterpark, and enjoying all the fun the Double JJ brings.