Mexico in January!

Steven and I were very fortunate to get to take a 5 day 4 night trip to Puerto Vallarta Mexico, January 10th -14th. Thanks his his Mother,AKA Grandma Judy, for taking the week off of work and taking care of our children and their busy schedule. We greatly appreciate and love you MOM!!!

Getting to Mexico was easy travel. We had a 2 1/2 layover in LAX, we passed the time celebrity spotting. We saw Avril Lavigne, and P Diddy! I scoped out the gate that seems to be for the elite...

Awhhh.. the beautiful warm weather. Leaving home it was in the low 30's and forcasted for freezing rain/snow.

ABC Supply company sponsored this trip for all the roofing companies on the west coast. So there were around 300+ of us on this all inclusive trip. The first night we arrived they had a meet and greet dinner out on the beach. AMAZING!!! Also happened to be the night of the BCS Championship game Oregon vs Auburn. They had a huge screen set up pool side facing the beach to watch the big game. It was nothing short of spectacular of course except for the unfortunate loss to Auburn :(
This is how we passed the time... relaxing at the beach.
Then Steven spontaneously decided to kayak. Yeah fun if you know HOW to kayak
(I quickly learned not once but twice that I DONNOT know how) I also learned that when ocean kayaking it is good to be in a kayak with someone that is close to the same weight as you. paddling out into 5+ foot waves when the 100 lb person is in in front hitting the waves first and the 200+ lb. person is in back = flip kayak over on top of you!!!
Steven assured me that someday I will laugh at this..... everyone on shore already was. aside from a huge bump on my head, a scraped up back and knee it was a great experience.
Oh, we never made it out.. so I still have not officially kyaked in the ocean.
Next day... hung out at the resort... took in the warm sunshine.

The sunset each night was absolutely gorgeous!!

each night just before sunset they would release 100 baby turtles. they let us hold one before the release, but the release never happened. Too many birds swarming over head and they had to cancel the release.

They had some of the most amazing shells at the resort

on Thursday we decided to take a cab into town to do some souvenier shopping. Now that was quite an experience. The cars have zero suspension and the roads are made of cobble stone... it seems there is not really any traffic laws there either... I am thankful we made it there and back alive. A little sick to our stomachs but alive.

These were a few of the construction workers on lunch break.. they were so kind to offer for us to join them... They put hot sauce on all of their food.

When we got back to the resort we hung at the beach until it was time to get ready for the farewell Dinner party

The Dreams Resort was just that... a Dream

They made the bar out of ice for the party... it was so cool

They served a delicious 4 course dinner, had authentic Mexican entertainment, a live band and dancing. After the party we walked around the resort.. they had bananas growing all around the grounds.

This is the view to the north from our room

This is the view to the south

This sweet lady is Maria, her and her sister make these beautiful dresses (The orange dress is one of them, I am wearing in the sunset picture above) She was such a delight to talk with each day as she walked up and down the beach each day. I bought 3 dresses from her to take back for a few of my girls.

Our last breakfast on the beach. The food at all of the restaurants here were amazing. The staff were so friendly and the whole experience was unforgettable.

We checked out of our room before noon but the bus to the airport wasn't until 2:30pm so we hung at the beach under the palms

Steven checked in with work and enjoyed a mango daquiri (virgin of course)Me, this was probably my 15th virgin daquiri of the week... I tried every flavor and was never dissappointed. They were so good at keeping your drinks refilled... endless

So that was the last thing I ate (drank) for the day.... We figured we would eat something at the airport since our flight wasn't until 5:30pm....

Yes, we look very happy and rejuvenated from a week of nothing but 80 degree weather and relaxing by the beach. Little did we know that our travels home would deminish all of that and bring the stress level back up.

We stood in the check in line at the Mexico Airport for the full 2+ hours..only to move 15 feet and be told we were too late for our flight. Then they proceed to go through our luggage right there at the check in counter.. piece by piece... everything lifted up and displayed for all to see. They were so kind to hold the plane for us, as we run to get on it and then it sits on the run way for 45 minutes due to our load being over weight and they have to readjust the luggage to meet weight requirements. When finally in the air, Steven and I opted out on purchasing their in flight meal, we figured we had another 2 hour layover at LAX and would grab something then.

We arrive at LAX, late, and others land early, then customs losses power and their server, with over 3,000 people speaking several different languages all trying to get thru customs. It was a nightmare!!! Well it took us the whole 2 hours to get thru customs only to have to run up stairs then back down 2 flights of stairs and switch terminals to go thru security again... in which I apparently look like a terrorist because they put me in a plexi glass holding cell that I must say reaked of stinky feet, and call for a bomb residue swab! SAY WHAT??!!! Yes, we are already late for our connecting flight, I HAVE NOT eaten (which anyone who knows me, knows I get a little irratable when I have not eaten) then I stand in this cell for 10 minutes, only to be swabbed down for bomb residue... the run the cloth they wiped me down with through a computer to read the findings. Shocker... no bomb residue.

Steven and I are the last ones on the plane and did i mention that on all 4 of our flights we were not seated next to each other... so again, we are apart.. I am exhausted (from only getting 2 hours of sleep the night before) very hungry and a bit irritated after being held in a smelling cell. So at this point Steven says lets just pay the $6 bucks for the in flight meal. GUESS what? There is no in flight meal.... good thing I had a couple granola bars in my bag. Our plane doesn't land until midnight.

Aside from the traumatic travels home, it was a very amazing time. Puerto Vallarta is Beautiful. It was so great to leave behind our cold winter weather and bask in warmth and sunshine.