Mexico .....by the numbers

Forgive me, Kathryn.....I'm copying you with your numbers theme!



-7 days without children....HEAVENLY!.... Thanks Mom, Dad, Monika, Joyce, and Rich.


-2 great table buddies from South Dakota...Todd and Tina. Who knew South Dakota had fun people?



-4 afternoon naps......in my opinion, the best part of the cruise.


-7 nights w/ Liz all alone...in Bill's opinion, the best part of the cruise.


-3 suitcases that actually arrived! I say this because my brother, John and his wife, have just spent 7 days on a cruise without their luggage....poor guys!


-3 cool ports of call; Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta.


- 5 Pompolea flyers....a Mexican Indian tribe performing this cool sun worshiping dance on a pole. Totally fun!

- 1 strange interpretation of a deer being hunted in the woods......I think he was a gay deer. Not that there's anything wrong with that........ It was SOOO bad.

-17 ziplines completed by both Liz and Bill. The course was a blast with funny instructors. A total must when visiting Puerto Vallerta. I wish the pics were here!

-120 total minutes riding in this Mercedes on crappy Mexican roads....still getting bugs out of my teeth.

-275 pages of a book read by Liz.....2 big magazines as well!

-112 street vendors trying to sell us hair braids, jewelry, Chicklets, and tattoos on the beach.

-1 freaky guitar man who liked to serenade random sunbathers on the ship.

-60 minute deep-tissue massage by a real Swedish masseuse.

-3 incredibly sweaty spin classes for Bill.

-1,700,000 calories consumes by Bill in this meal alone.

-200 flights of stairs climbed (in lieu of elevators) to justify ordering 2 desserts each night ( and the dessert buffet).

-10 "Love Boat Dream" mousse cakes ordered by Liz and Bill (Rich...I think we got you beat).

-2 happy, relaxed, well-fed people at the end of the week.

Our Latin Lovers.....

We are back from sunny Mexico....more about our fantastic vacation later, but just wanted to show you a couple of people we hooked up with while we were gone. We met them in Cabo.

The speech champion!!!

I love when I get to brag about Parker. He was chosen to represent his class at the Speech Recital. On Tuesday, I got to watch him do "Rain" by Shel Silverstein (complete with actions AND a handstand) in front of the student body. And he got 3rd place. This is huge for him. I was so proud of him!
It's been a good few weeks...he got Superior in piano federation, blocked a fast kick when he was goalie, and now this! I hate being a braggy mom, but Parker deserves it for all that he is overcoming! LOVE HIM!!!

Will I make it to Saturday?

Bill and I are leaving on our cruise on Saturday, and I really don't think I'm going to make it. It depresses me to even think of how much stuff needs to get done before we go. It's one thing to leave town, but it's another when your parents will be staying at your house to babysit the kids. There is a level of organization and cleanliness that has to be present in your home. Most trips, you can pack and leave a mess. Not so this time! You have to make your parents believe that your linen closets and bathrooms are always super tidy. And you have to hide stuff....do you really want your dad to run into your lingerie hanger? It's not just pride.....you want them to be able to find things and function easily in your house. They are doing you the favor.

And the lists...who picks up who from school, who needs what in lunches, soccer pictures, medication, when to practice piano and do homework, what has to go to church, how to change Quinn's diaper because he REALLY hates it, etc....

I know...this will all pay off at the end of the week with a lovely cruise to Mexico. To quote my favorite "Friends" line: "My wallet's too small for my fifties and my diamond shoes are too tight!"

Farewell, Bill.....We will miss you!

O.K......he's not dying. We are not divorcing. Bill just got put in as 1st counselor in the bishopric. The blood went out of my face when Bill called me on Tuesday and told me we had an appointment with the stake president. That's never good. We have gone through every emotion this week; humbleness, shock, exhaustion, happiness, disbelief.....and couple of pints of Ben & Jerry's. I have no doubt he will be great, he always is in his callings. I doubt my ability to sit through sacrament with 3 wiggly kids without help. I doubt my ability to have him spend whole Sundays at the church. I'm a wimp.
Congrats, Bill. You will be great.....see you in 5 years.