kid stuff...

The resort had great kids activities.  Some of it was too old for the kids to participate in, but some were just right.  

Here they were participating in a "fishing" contest.  Suprisingly, some of the parents really got into it, cheering their kids on and everything.  It became more competitive than I expected.  But we just sat on the side of the pool watching it all as the kids fished away.

They also had an activities room where we could take the kids to play.  It was a nice break from the sun sometimes.

They also had arts and crafts the kids could do.  Again, some were too sophisticated for the kids, but we helped them create these door signs for their rooms.

The lay of the land

So here is a look at the hotel.  The resort is really a timeshare place.  Most people who stay here are folks who pay yearly dues and in return are guaranteed one or two week stays here.  When there are vacant units for a week here or there, the resort puts them up on Expedia or Travelocity for people like us to pick up.

We were able to eat every morning on our patio which was nice...

the view from our room...

most of the units were suites with a separate living area...this is where we had the kids slept...and a bedroom separate.  Here our pool towels cover every possible chair...

We also had a full serviced kitchen.  We went to a local Walmart and bought groceries for the week.

Relaxing after breakfast..

There were all these fountains and bridges about which the kids loved

This was one of two children's pools.  No slides or anything, but we bought them plastic toy balls when we were at Walmart and they kept themselves entertained.

Unbenownst to us there was a second beach on the resort which was much calmer and allowed the twins to play by the water without waves crashing on them.

Heading out in the evening to the market on the hotel grounds.  Going to get some ice cream!

Aside from the kids pools, there were these larger pools closer to the beach.  The twins loved these more because they were deep and they could jump off the edge.

More view of the grounds...

On our patio was a jacuzzi tub...needless to say the twins loved that..heck I loved it!

getting there

And so begins the blogging about Mexico.  The night before we left, I started becoming anxious about how we were going to manage all this luggage and the two little ones at JFK and the Cancun airport. We had a total of eight pieces of luggage...four backpacks and four suitcases. We were obviously checking the bags but at the beginning and end of our legs, we would need a system to keep track and transport the bags and also hold on to Lucas and Liliana.  Felix in his laid back mode told me not to worry about it and that we would manage somehow....

We were up early on Monday morning and got to JFK in plenty of time to have some breakfast and run around a bit before getting on the plane.

We were the last to board on almost all of our flights.  We would literally board, sit down and then the plane would start taxiing out to the runway.

Enjoying some in-flight entertainment.  We flew TACA airlines.  I had never heard of it, but apparently in Central America they are pretty big and they have nice planes!

Our second flight was only an hour and 20 minutes. 

Upon arriving to Cancun we were delayed a bit by the extensive searching of all checked baggage by the drug sniffing dogs....it was a little frustrating, it had been a long day, we were all tired and hot and we could see our bags, but couldn't get at them. Finally we got them, got through customs quite quick and then after a bus and a taxi arrived at the Royal Haciendas Resort...stay tuned for more...

getting ready...

And so begins the preparation for our trip to Mexico.  First off...a haircut for Lucas.  Here he is in his chair watching the iPad with Liliana....good sport he is.

Everytime Lucas gets a haircut, he gets his own personal bubblebath...something that is rare for either of them.  He loves to stretch out and pretend that he is swimming...something that is difficult with his sister in the tub.

We also went to Walmart and got backpacks for the kids for the trip.  They are kind of big, but the toddler backpacks hold not more than a stuffed animal and a sippy cup...what's the point then.  

At home showing Felix their purchases...of course it was a princess bag for Liliana and a Cars bag for Lucas.  I thought the Toy Story one was cuter, but he wanted the Cars one...

We are off early tomorrow morning.  Here's to safe travel and good memories.  We will not be blogging when we are away....time to unplug a bit, but rest assured there will be plenty to read up on upon our return.  Have a good week!

Members only...

I got out of work and it was beautiful, so I went home and off to Mead Park we went.  It was like a wind tunnel there, and the kids were real good when I told him after only about 15 minutes that we had to leave.  It was just too cold though.  We are all just getting over our colds and the last thing I needed was to have them get sick again.

After dinner, we went over to the Aquarium where they were having a members only night to celebrate their grand reopening after their construction period.

This is a real lady...but looked like a stone statue of a mermaid.

It was a nice night.  The aquarium didn't look all that different...perhaps I couldn't identify the new 21 species of fish they were bragging about.  But it is definitely more open, and everything has a brand new coat of paint and overall they did a nice job.

Puzzle Mania!

Lucas loves puzzles...Liliana...not so much.  But Lucas can spend a long concentrated time on a puzzle until he gets it done.  Here he is with his fire engine floor puzzle.

I used to LOVE puzzles and would do  them all the time.  Even had a puzzle board I kept under my bed so I could work on a puzzle and then put it away partially done so it would not be disturbed.  Lucas has sparked this fire in me once again.  So today, while at Walmart I picked up this seemingly innocent 300 piece puzzle. Lucas helped out a bit, and even was able to put together pieces if we sorted like pieces out for him.

Soon it became Felix and I and we were a little obsessed...were the kids watching tv this whole time?  Hmmm.....

The finished product.

There is something so rewarding about finishing a puzzle...no matter how small (although this was a little harder than I thought it would be...so much red and yellow!)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today, Christina dressed the kids all in red to celebrate the day.  The kids are feeling better and they were in good spirits when I came home from work.

Lucas was being a good sport letting Liliana do his hair and "fix him up".

Felix came home with flowers for me, and balloons and singing cards for the kids. (Liliana's was a singing princess card!)

Unfortunately, Felix and I canceled our plans for a dinner date tonight since I am still not feeling well.  But I proudly put this pin on my bag that the kids got me in their card.  

p.s. Doc called yesterday and Lucas' blood work came back AOK.  yeah!