People discuss a women's biological clock referring that it's time to start having kids.. I think there's a biological time clock on the other end of raising children. The one that ticks as loud as the crocodile in Peter Pan telling a mother that her time with all of children at home is soon ending.
So off to Puerto Vallarta we went for our Christmas Vacation to silence this may be the last time you get to do this clock. Allyson has been talking about how cheap flights are in Taiwana for years. She also gave us some of her points a resort she loves and has been back a few times called the Grand Mayan at Vidanta Resort. We drove to Carlsbad, stayed the night at her place and arrived in Mexico on Christams Eve. I was surprised about how hard it was to leave during Christmas time. My kids felt bad they were leaving behind some traditions and a cold front was in the area when we arrived which made it a little grey and gloomy. It took me a couple of days to shake off my own gloom but the sun finally shone and I relaxed and leaned into enjoying this rare time as a complete family. When we got home and started into each of our own routines and schedules I think we all felt a little twinge of sadness that we can't always be together. I'm glad we took the trip!!!
Highlights of the trip:
*The resort was so nice. It even had this delicious smell everywhere you went
* The pools were cold but so pristine and who doesn't love a lazy river
* Happy hour. Each day we partook of the yummy goodness of their pina coladas
*Aaron wanted nothing else than to get himself a pineapple drink straight out of the pineapple core. It was a fun picture moment too as they made the pineapple into a face.
*We splurged and went out to eat a few nights. We especially loved the Italian restaurant "Tramonto". We treated Jane to her birthday dinner there and then Bart and I went back by ourselves a couple nights later.
*The taco trucks by the beach were so yummy. Once the girls discovered them they made a daily lunch trip to get their pork tacos.
*Each night they had a show at the Santuario. The highlight most nights was the sand artist. I especially liked her Michael Jackson night. The kids thought the Village People night was pretty cool too.
*Stopping by some nights for a scoop of gelato at the deli shop place.
*A little birdie named Ally mentioned each adult guest can reserve a spot at the spa each day. I knew Bart would enjoy the swedish experience of a sauna, steam room, hot tub, and cold pludge. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I even made it up to 45 seconds in the cold pludge.
*They are in the process of opening an amusement part that you take a tram too. So far only part of the park is open and only at night. To promote the park they gave us tickets on the tram to experience it. The light shows were pretty cool.
*The sales lady who presented us the time share spill took us on a tram ride during the day. She pointed out some big turtles in a pond and a crocodile just chilling on the banks of a river close by.
* The whole resort was one big maze of jungle paths. After a few nights of sorting out how to get to different places we discovered instead to take the free golf cart shuttles. The girls especially just liked riding around in them at nights and we found ourselves at the resort grocery store/ mini mall. We treated ourselves to some over priced chocolates but who could resist the vlog moment that Emily likes to pretend to have.
*Sunset beach board walks were divine. Especially when we came across a fire show.
*The trip to the Dolphin Encounter water park..... (see next post)
*The last day on the way to the airport we stopped by the downtown shopping district. I was on the hunt for a Christmas tree ornament. Emily was set on buying her self a poncho, mean Serape. Emily was appalled I would ask the salesman if they had poncho. How uncivilized to call it such a thing :). Aaron the hoodie king decided he wanted one as well. Jane was on a hunt for a fabulous sterling silver ring, Spencer just wanted a couple bracelets and knick knacks and Bart was pleasantly patient with all of us in and out of the shops.
*We ended our time eating at Pipi's. It was so fun to watch them make the Guatemala right in front of you and then the giant margaritas. Who could have asked for a better way to end the trip!!!
