Happy Easter

 

As always Easter was a wonderful day filled with family and candy.  I love when Easter weekend and conference weekend coincide.  I love that as the kids get older I get to actually hear more of conference each time.  Friday after school we did our spiritual Easter egg hunt to help get the kids in the right spirit for Easter.  It is always tough to make sure we are all focusing on the right things, The Savior, instead of the Easter bunny and candy.  I love this set of eggs my Mom put together for us a few years ago because it helps the kids understand the symbols of the season and why we celebrate the holiday and why it is so important to us.  Saturday after the morning session of conference we headed up to Craig's parents for an Easter lunch and an egg hunt with the cousins.  We then watched the afternoon session over there.  On Sunday morning we headed over to my Mom's house for an Easter brunch while watching the morning session and then did an egg hunt and celebrated Riaan's birthday in between sessions.  We then finished out the afternoon back at Craig's parents. The kids had a blast spending so much time with their cousins and eating candy to their hearts content.  They got about a week to eat it before I threw the rest in the trash, I thought that was quite generous.   This Easter had an extra special meaning for me as I thought about my Dad and that because of the sacrifice that our Savior made for us my Dad can be made whole and perfect again and that we will get to be with him again.  I know that is only possible through our Lord and Savior and I am so grateful for the love he has for each of us.

Mexico or Bust

 

The kids and I had the chance to go to Nuevo Vallarta with some of my family over Spring break.  My parents have a time share and my Mom had enough weeks saved up that we were able to have 3 condos for the week.  Craig was unable to come because we already had a trip planned for Disney World in May so he couldn't take that much time off.  We flew down with my Mom and met Tucker and his girlfriend Ariana down there on Monday March 22nd.  The kids did well, even though we had to wake them up before 5:00 am to get to the airport.  Everyone did great with their masks and it was all pretty easy even with our rush through the Dallas airport to catch or next flight.  After getting to the resort we headed to the beach for a little while before heading to Fajita Republic for dinner.

Tuesday morning the kids headed to the beach with Tucker and Ariana while my mom and I went to the grocery store to stock up for the week.  We spent the rest of the day at the beach and pool and were joined in the afternoon by Sunni, Hyrum and their two youngest kids.  That evening there was a little drinks and appetizer reception thing for all the elite members and they fed us enough that we didn't even have to make dinner, which is always a plus for a mom.  Tiff's family eventually made it in that evening after some major delays in LA.  The 23rd is my parents anniversary so it was a tough day on my mom as she went through her first wedding anniversary without my Dad, it would have been 43 years.  We have so many great memories as a family in Mexico and it was fun to tell stories and riminess about my Dad and Mexico. 

On Wednesday after a run with Sunni we headed out to the beach where we spent most of the day playing with the occasional dip in the pool.  We headed up to the room to take a little break from the sun and eat some lunch, but otherwise spent the day in the sun. Llyr's brother Robert flew in on Wednesday as well to hang for a few days.  Since the U.S. is requiring everyone to take a Covid test before coming back in, we had to pay up front for those but our resort gave it back to us in resort credit.  So over the week we had $90 to spend on food and what not around the resort.  Our first stop was obviously the little ice cream shop on Wednesday afternoon.  That evening all the girls walked over to the neighboring town, Bucerias, for dinner at "Karen's Place".  It was about a mile walk through a super cute and colorful little town.  The restaurant was a delicious little Italian place right on the beach with the most amazing homemade pasta.  Tucker was kind enough to watch my kiddos, he even put them to bed for me.  When we got back I even found him asleep next to McKay. 

Thursday was a lot like Wednesday with a lot of sunshine and the ocean.  McKay was intent on buying a necklace while we were there and we found him both a shark tooth necklace and a pukka shell necklace., which brought me right back to middle school.  Brooklyn got a bracelet and a headband and they both got handmade stuffed animals, all from vendors on the beach.  We also bought mangos and coconuts from vendors.  We got a couple of smoothies a few days.  To say we were living our best lives would be an understatement.  The kids learned how to boogie board and loved body surfing.  I took out the paddle board and hopped on the boogie board a few times.  We built sand castles, jumped waves, searched for shells, threw the football and swallowed our fair share of salt water (McKay even puked once because he took in so much).

Friday after a workout we met at one of the restaurants on the resort for a yummy breakfast.  My mom and Llyr took one for the team and agreed to listen to their little sales pitch so we could all eat for free.  After eating as much as we could we headed back out to the beach.  The kids had so much fun playing with cousins and they were truly worn out at the end of the day.  Each evening when I'd stick them in the shower, loads of sand would just fall out from who knows where.  I swear I am still finding sand in their ears today.  I underestimated the amount of sunscreen we would need and had to make a few trips to the market at the resort to stock back up, but luckily none of us got burnt too bad.  Brooklyn and I got a little pink one day, but McKay has Craig's more olive skin and just got golden brown.

Saturday after a run and playing at the beach we headed up early to eat lunch and shower so that we could head into downtown Puerto Vallarta.  It took two big vans to get us there, we has a group of 9 adults and 8 kids (all 8 and younger). Our first stop was the boardwalk.  They have some really fun statues that we always love getting pictures with.  We then walked to the market.  There wasn't as many vendors as usual, I assume Covid took its toll and many had to close their shops.  The kids each found a key chain to put on their backpacks.  After shopping we all met up a the candy shop that my parents would always wait at.  I bought a bunch of good vanilla and the most delicious candied pecans and some vanilla fudge.  Once everyone was done shopping we walked over to our favorite restaurant that we go to every single time we are in Puerto Vallarta, PiPi's.  They are famous for their guacamole and fajitas and they did not disappoint.  We all eventually made it back to the resort in our own cabs.  Most of the kids wanted to swim so we headed out to the pool for an evening swim before bed.

 Sunday was pretty relaxed.  Since we had such a big group we decided to not head into church.  We all just did our own thing in the morning.  First thing the kids and I got our covid tests.  This was the first time any of us had been tested and it was not a comfortable thing, but the kids did great and they all came back negative. After, the kids and I headed out to the beach and searched for seashells. The kids had been wanting to paint ceramics the whole time so I decided that would be a great thing to save for Sunday.  So Brooklyn choose a turtle and McKay choose a car to paint.  Their cousin Riaan joined them for the painting.  We all got together for a yummy taco bar inspired lunch.  We each were in charge of some part of the meal.  We ate outside and enjoyed the view and the sounds of the ocean.  After lunch was cleaned up we got together for "church".  My mom did a lesson for the kiddos and then my brother-in-law Hyrum led a discussion for the adults.  After a quick dinner the kids played some card games and played with bubbles and just got some energy out.

Monday morning we were able to head out to the beach one last time.  We had a few hours to play before we had to get ready to head to the airport.  After a little bit I headed back up to the room to shower and get everyone packed up and then had the kiddos come up and shower and then we were off to the airport.  On the way back it was just the me and the kids.  Tucker and Ariana had left earlier that day and my mom was staying a few more days with my other sisters.  The kids did great, even when our flight got delayed in L.A. a few extra hours.  On the last leg of the flight McKay fell asleep before the plane even took off and he slept the entire flight.  Brooklyn had a hard time sleeping with the lights going on and off and all the noise.  By the time we finally landed it was well passed midnight and by the time we get home and get the kids in bed it was after 1:00 am.  The next morning we let Brooklyn sleep in as long as she could and then I took her into school.  We were all so happy to see Craig, we had missed him terribly.  We really started to feel it about half way through the trip.  I've decided that a long weekend or something would be ok, but a full week without him is just too long and I would just really prefer it for him to be with us.  We all had such a blast and made some great memories.  It is always fun to spend time with family especially when it involves the beach.  The kids have already been asking when we get to go back.  I have such wonderful memories of the time I got to spend in Mexico with my family growing up and it was so much fun to create new memories of the same place with my kiddos.  We are so lucky that my parents are so generous.