Mexico Vacation take 2!

So Rob and I went on our 4th trip to Mexico (15 minutes south of Playa Del Carmen) this last week and our 2nd trip with Rob's sister Elisa and her hubby Brian and our great friends Audra & Jeff. We were gone 8 full days & left the kiddos home which I started to miss immediately as I watched all the families play at the beach and swim at the pool. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the break I had, but I caught myself saying, "oh the kids would love this" quite often. We all decided that the next trip we would venture out and take the kids. They are getting to the age where I am totally loving living through their eyes in their learning and exploring!

We had an amazing time, despite the blasted rain that visited us everyday, mid afternoon. We truly made the best of it and scheduled a lot of things around it. As you will notice, we all got a little sun. We did apply sunscreen but underestimated the power of the sun that close to the equator.

Its always nice to get away from the realities of life, but I have to say by day 7 I was ready to get back to it! I missed the kids a lot and couldn't wait to see them. Life is back to normal and my mind is starting to prepare for our 6 day trip to Connecticut for Sam's graduation in a few weeks.

Our Resort

This chubby Iquana was perched at our resort
enjoying the hot sun! These things are everywhere.
They don't bother you...that is of course unless you
bother them!

A little beach time before the rain

Entrance to Tulum (an ancient Mayan Ruin).
This place is truly an oasis.

Part of the resort property. It was very beautiful.

The boys our last night together!

Here is the beach at Tulum. This is where Rob
and I were on our honeymoon. We took a picture from
this exact location almost 9 years ago. It looked exactly
the same.

Standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

A night at the resort eating yummy Mexican food

Elisa and I sporting our new shade of red. Yikes, what were we
thinking! This was only an hour and a half of sunshine, with sunscreen.
The rest of the time was underneath literal black clouds that day!
Thank goodness we had appointments at the spa. I think my massage &
first mud wrap provided some major TLC for my
skin. When I realized I had burned I simply stated that
it would not effect my health in any way shape or form now
or ever! I hope those intentions worked!

The indoor pool

The gang!

Audra, Elisa and I cheesin it up!

2 weeks ago Nana & Papa treated everyone to a
night of Bull Riding! The kids absolutely loved it! Well
they didn't actually ride any bulls,
they just watched. It was quite fun :)

My New Addiction

Bikram (Hot) Yoga! My brother in law Doug called me and told me about this study that a girl from BSU was conducting for her Masters thesis in Kinesiology. The study is 8 weeks long and requires participants to attend at least 3 Bikram Yoga classes a week and encourages at least 5 or more per week. I mentioned I had heard of it, but never tried yet. I called the student and said count me in! She measured our flexibility, weight, balance, cardiovascular and emotional state of mind prior to beginning. I am now starting my 4th week of what I call my new addiction. Bikram or Hot Yoga, entails 1.5 hours of 26 poses and 2 breathing exercises always done in the same order each class. It is said that you burn up to 895 calories per 90 minutes! The room is heated to 105 degrees and at least 40% humidity. I have been in there when it is 69% humidity. I managed to rope 4 other friends into this as well and we are all loving it! You leave the room drenched as if you just stepped out of the shower. The only way I can describe the class is that it is an ultimate invigorating challenge. In just 3 weeks, I haven't lost weight but the inches are melting off! I am toning very quickly and my flexibility and strength have improved significantly. I have managed to master a few poses, which trust me, is a true accomplishment in overcoming the mind and its abiltiy to talk you out of anything. I have had mini silent parties in my head knowing I just bypassed my ability from the day before. I compare this class to golf or a video game. It is so addicting you want to go back daily because of the need to conquer the next level. If you are ready to challenge your body, mind and spirit I highly recommend this as an avenue for improvement. It will shock all elements of your being yet it will enlighten or awaken the best that is within you. Check out this link to get an idea of what Bikram is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGk7qkvgcvI#watch-main-area

Christmas and such

The newest addition to the Mairs family, baby Emi!
We had the great privileged of having our niece here in Boise
for 2 months! She is a precious gem and the happiest girl
ever. :)

Luckily we had the opportunity to actually
make a snow man without it melting in the same day!

All bundled up!

Cousins Taylor, Bella & Emi were here for a few
weeks from Missouri and the kids had the best time
together.

Brooklan & Bella on Christmas

Christmasat Nana & Papa's

Koen being a scary alien like his new jams!
Seems to be the tradition among many families,
PJ's for Christmas! We stayed at nana & papas
house Christmas Eve and the kids
were so excited!

Last year Koen was not into Christmas
but this year proved different. He finally got it!
Brooklan always follows suit and she was just
as rambunctious as they come!

Just look at that face!

My handsome young man :)

Friday night we went to Art in the park.
We had the privileged of watching our nephew Nolan
and it was so much fun. He is so mellow and good.
One man looked at us all and said "wow, congratulations...
you have your hands full." I just smiled and said
"yep." We went with Uncle Ken and Aunt Amber
and got dinner while we walked around.

Isn't Nolan sweet? He just chilled in his stroller and
enjoyed the evening.

My Grandma Jane bought this outfit for Brooklan.
She is all about the sparkles and glitter and
thought it would look good on the only
girl in the family! I think she was right.
We got more compliments on this little lady
that day than ever! She wasn't too happy about
pictures that night so as I was taking pics
she cried and stomped. Oh no I say...here comes
the attitude. She was way cute anyway!

Here she is stompin around...

Just Playin around

So today Brooklan found the camera so I thought
I would take advantage of taking a few pics.
She actually let me do her hair today without the
miss "sass a frass" attitude she has developed lately.
It must be a girl thing or something, but man she is
a cantankerous one when she wants to be!

Rob got home and I asked him where he thought
she got her blue eyes from...he said him. I said "ya right."
Then he asked "well where does she get her attitude from?" I
said him naturally. Then he asked "where does she get her good looks
from?" and of course I said "me!" She gets all of her good
qualities from me and the ones in question Rob can take
ownership of! ;)

I know I am biased but I think she is
adorable!

When she doesn't have her sass a frass
present she is a sweet, happy, angel!
We just love her!

Pre-school is here!

So here is my sweet boy the night before school started.
He had to color a picture for his teacher miss Nicole
and carried that thing around all day. As you can see
he fell asleep with it in hand on the floor.
He was so excited to start his big day!

Koen is getting so big, I can hardly stand nor believe it!
He did pretty well. We got to sit with the kiddos during
opening circle. Once that was done Miss Laura said
"ok kids, say goodbye to your parents and school can begin."
There was silence, no cries or nothing. Most of the kids
were extremely shy, burying their faces in hopes that no one
would notice them. Despite the shyness the transition went great!

Here we headed out the door!

Koen walked into his classroom and found his name badge.
He knows how to spell his name so he found it right away!

We had said our goodbye's and in goes the thumb.
Well that's better than the melt down all of us
mommy's were expecting! Brooklan and I went for
an hour and a half walk on the Green Belt while he was
in school. It was a perfect day!