Ixtapan, Mexico

Back in the summer, my sweet mom offered to take me with her on her yearly spa trip. She has been going to the same spa now for four years. Each year the group that goes gets a little bigger. I was thrilled at the thought of a few days in Ixtapan, Mexico at a spa. So the planning began and last Saturday morning the months of anticipation were over. We headed out early for a few days of paradise. Jon, his parents and a sweet lady from church, Janet were kind enough to look after Ava and Emet so I could get away for a few days. I'm blessed to have a mom who treated me to such a spectacular trip and blessed to have family and friends I can leave my kids with and not worry! We enjoyed great food, wonderful spa treatments, exploring the local town and working out...I even played tennis! It was wonderful and relaxing...great to go, but also good to come home and see my sweet family!

Emet playing the night before Mom and I left

Ava and my Mom

Dad and Ava

Playing Basketball

5 a.m. Early Departure!

Complimentary water and flowers in our room

I walked into town on Sunday with some ladies to go to the local market. It was fun to see how the locals live and thrive. Each Sunday they have a huge market lining the streets. I even spoke some Spanish!

Fresh Pork Rinds Anyone?

Local FruitsOne of the streets that runs through the town

Hotel Ixtapan

Me, Mandy and Amber
Mandy's brother graduated from high school with me. She was on the trip with her mom as well. This was Amber's third time to the spa. She also went to high school with me. Amber lives and works in D.C. She organized and planned the trip for all of us ladies!
I had fun hanging out with these sweet ladies this week!

Pool and Villas

Thanks for a great time Mom! I had a blast!

Amber and Dianne
Dianne and my mom are best friends. They enjoy taking this trip together each year, and I think enjoyed having their daughters there with them this year!

The Spa Dining Room did a birthday party for several of our ladies who had February birthdays. This was their fruit sculpture...they also brought a big chocolate cake!

Linda (my aunt), Mom and Me

Happy Valentine's Day!

Jon and I enjoyed a Valentine's lunch with our kiddos on Sunday. We ate together and exchanged small gifts for the special day. We had church Valentine's night, but were able to go out for a late dinner after church. Brittney came home with us from church to keep the kids. Our kids love her and we are blessed to have her to help us care for our sweet babies!

Emet with his splash balls...for the pool, or the tub!

Ava got new pjs!

Battle Scar and Snowman

Emet was in our playroom the other day when I heard a loud cry. (Not that unusual, my kids tend to cry out quite frequently.) I went to check on him and saw he'd scraped his face. He'd fallen on a toy and had managed to get his first real "battle scar." Jon told me I had to take a picture. It is healing well and almost gone now.
We also got some more snow on Friday night and woke up to snow covered grounds on Saturday. We ventured out in the snow a little bit. Jon and the kids built a HUGE snowman!

Battle Scar

The early stages of the snowman...
Finished!!!

We noticed right after we took the picture of the finished snowman that he was leaning a little. Jon went to get snow to try and even him out. He didn't make it back in time...our HUGE snowman crashed. We made a rebuild attempt...but Emet was so ready to go in that it wasn't worth it. Here are a couple of shots of the aftermath.
Our attempt to rebuild...

What was left...sad!

Cousins...Museum of Life and Science

Last week we unexpectedly got to spend the day with Liz, Carson, Bryn and Lydia. (We got to see Jeremy too, but he was studying.) Nana took all of us to the Museum of Life and Science and out to lunch at Chick-Fil-A. What a great day we had together. My kids always enjoy time with their cousins!

Ava playing at the museum

Emet playing

Ava and Carson

Bryn climbing the ladder

Lydia and Emet in the toddler area...going down the slide!

Snack time...thanks Nana!

Capturing the moment!

Lydia

Carson

On the dino!!!

Sledding Time

More Snow Pics

Here are a few more snow pictures!!!
Just to clarify, we got about 6 inches of snow. Jon read my earlier post and wanted me to be more specific than just "a few inches" of snow.

Collin out riding around on his 4-wheeler!
Our House

Our Church

Ava was going to sleep in this tent on the ski trip. There weren't going to be enough bunk beds in the girls room, so she was going to use this. (Thanks to the Richesons who let us borrow it.) She was bummed that we didn't get to go on the trip, so tonight will be the 4th night running that we've let her sleep in it. I don't see what it's hurting...she loves it!

Camping Out
(in her room)

January Snow!!!

Unfortunately we had to cancel our ski trip because of the snow that hit North Carolina this past weekend. However, the kids have had a great time playing in the few inches of snow that we got here in Durham. Here are a few of the pictures from our adventures in the snow!

Emet's first few minutes out...not too sure what to think!

Still not sure...

Up to his ankles in snow!

No more pictures please!

Sledding...he loved it and so did she!

Daddy and the kiddos...sledding buddies!

Me and Emet

Snow Bunny

Ava loves the snow!

Some of our youth girls at a sledding hill...they loved it!