Cancun 2009

We spent the first week of September in Mexico at the Iberostar Paraiso Lindo resort. This was an event we had looked forward to for such a long time since this year our kids all agreed to join us there. We are always excited about our annual vacation to Mexico, but this one was even more special to be able to share it with the ones we love.


Thank you Doug for the picture I stole from you. Mine didn't turn out very good.

Halle started the trip making friends with the "kid next door" named Austin. Austin's Dad plopped him down in the window seat next to me, with Halle in the aisle seat, then bid a fond farewell as he giggled heading back to his own seat where he fell fast asleep never to be seen again. I promptly traded seats with Halle and the two of them became buddies all the way to Houston.

While the weather had predicted lots of thunderstorms, we never saw more than a few drops of rain during the entire week. We found our favorite spot on the beach, and it became somewhat of a meeting place.

Our new pet replacements of the week were the Kotimundis. They were ever hopeful of receiving handouts from those that emerged from the buffet by the beach.

Halle loved buiding sand castles, especially with her expert Dad.

Each night we all dressed for what we hoped would be a nice dinner. Some were, some weren't. We had a few laughs over many of them.

Halle loved the guy that made her balloon "things" like this sword.

And this swan.

Dustin and Paulette were looking forward to their first time parasailing!!

And so excited to get back to the beach!

Emily and Jared, however, found it to be a most romantic experience.

Dustin and Paulette cheated with a head start on their tans by getting the spray-on kind before the trip. They were the envy of us all, except for Jared and Halle who have year-round tans.

We were fat and happy at the Italian restaurant.

Emily's solution to the heat.

Halle was most excited when Erin was kind enough to loan her goggles.

Doug is modeling Erin's new hat that they bargained hard for. It cost them $7 and two hamburgers.

Dan, Doug, Jared and Halle looked forward to sand volleyball twice a day.

Emily wishing she could show off her new tan.

That's okay, Dan doesn't tan either.

Makes you wonder what's going through that mind.

What's a vacation without a nap on the beach?

Halle was obsessed with washing the sand off her feet "all by herself!" Of course the second she left the shower, she was covered with sand once again and had to start all over.

Erin, Jared, and Halle trying a little syncronized dance move in the water.

Doug and I had a little "photo war" going on.

Erin sometimes loses her head over things.

As we were about to leave, we spent one last morning--

--watching the sun come up.

It's hard to believe the week went by so quickly. We are so glad you could all join us and hope we can do it again sometime.