Cancun, part 5

 

Wow!  Things have gotten behind on this ol’ blog of mine!  I’m trying to keep this going as I love sharing our adventures.  But, life is busy and we are having so much fun, that I rarely sit at my computer much anymore. 

 

The most favorite day of our whole vacation (as if everyday wasn’t my favorite on vacation!) was this day – the day we decided to take everyone snorkeling.  For those with young kids – you know how much this must mean.  We have a 3 year old and a (now) 7 year old, who just learned to swim last summer.  We have a 3 year old who can’t “swim” without floaties and/or a life vest.  But, we did it anyways.  Alex was loving his snorkel in the pool and Sara was so easy going and brave in the shallow ocean right outside our condo that we decided to go for it.  At the very worst, one of us would just sit on the boat. 

 

We made arrangements with the same place we went scuba diving and they took us to a calm bay about 20 minutes north of where we were staying.  It was protected by a coral reef and the waters were calm and warm. 

 

In short – this was my best thing we did all vacation.  Connie and Steve joined us too!  I loved seeing Alex snorkel in the ocean and see the sea life with us.  I loved seeing Sara and her floaties and how brave/calm she was with the whole thing.  We saw a sea turtle – which is what I wanted to see.  We saw a sting ray, many fish, lots of coral, and an eel.  We put Alex in a wetsuit to try to keep this little man as warm as possible (he has no body fat – this kid is pure skin and muscle).  Sara didn’t really get too cold in the pool and the ocean water was warmer than that – so she was fine.  Plus, there were no wetsuits her size. 

 

A funny story was when Lance saw the sting ray – he poked his head up and told me there was a sting ray and to take a look.  The kids both started screaming at this point – thinking the stingray was going to sting them!  Great – two screaming kids in the middle of the coral bay.    Maybe sting them like like a jelly fish?   I don’t know… We calmed them down by telling them that the stingray wasn’t interested in us, and it was way down on the bottom (maybe 10-12’ down) and was going to stay there.   It took a while, but they did calm back down and enjoy themselves again. 

 

I hope you enjoy my photos and videos.  I enjoy sharing them with you.

 

Sea turtle

 

Sara on Mommys back, little kickers

 

Sting ray

 

Alex snorkeling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is how Sara did part of the snorkeling trip – either on my back or on Lance’s back.  Also, for a while she would just do her little swim/kick all by herself – of course with her big smile the whole time.  She just loved it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lemonade stand

 

 

The kids have had their first lemonade stand and it was amazingly wonderful.  Alex and his summer camp thought up the idea about having a lemonade stand at camp for another class.  And he was so excited to tell me all about it.  They made their signs and poured glasses of lemonade to all the friends in the other class.  He was so excited and wanted to bring it home.  We were having a  cleanup at the entry of our

neighborhood this past Sunday, and I told him that it would be the perfect time.  Hot and sweaty workers and fresh cold lemonade.  A perfect mix. 

 

He already had his sign (“Mom – the “e” is silent – that’s why it’s not there).  All we needed to get was the lemonade.  When I initially asked him how much he was going to charge – he said 10 cents.  Then a little bit later, he said that he just wanted to have fun at it and wasn’t going to charge anything.  Then one of the neighbors drove by while we were setting up and asked what he was charging – he said 25 cents.  Fair, but reasonable.  Love my boy!  He was so happy and loved giving all his neighbor friends lemonade after a lot of work cleaning up the entrance.  We were all thirsty and lemonade hit the spot!

 

I hope we do a lemonade stand again soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Super hero belts

 

We went to the Farmer’s Market this weekend to pick up some strawberries for making some jam and eat lunch this past Saturday.  I love this Farmer’s Market – there is so much to see!  There is tons of fresh fruits and veggies, lots of plants/flowers, food items to purchase, but also to eat right there!  Alex had a crepe with strawberries and whipped cream, I had an eggs benedict crepe (yum!) and Lance had tacos.  Sara had a bit of the strawberries and we listened to a bit of the music.   It was really nice out and we were all enjoying it.

 

There is also some crafty places at this market – not TOO many, but enough to keep it interesting.  Side note…Sometimes I find it so funny when they call it a Farmer’s Market and you go there and 9/10 places are crafty vendors.  And the only other vendors there are flowers vendors.   No food/fruit/veggies to be seen anywhere!  How is that a farmer’s market?  Rant over.

 

This one has a crafty vendor that does all sorts of sewing.  We’ve bought the superhero capes before, so cool!  Batman (or Batgirl) on one side and Superman (or Supergirl) on the other side.  Velcro closures and reasonably priced (for not making it myself!).  Tutus (as you can see in the pictures), dinosaur tails, funny “aliens”, doll house things, etc. 

 

Alex has been learning about spending his own money in different ways other than Pokemon cards and he wanted to look at this vendor.  He spotted a belt with all sorts of “things” on it.  A cell phone/holder, flashlight, club, binoculars, etc.  All going through these little loops or velcroed on the belt.  Ingenious!  My kids were loving it and Alex decided to spend his own money on a belt (after I made him ask the vendor how much it was).  We bought Sara one too since she doesn’t get any money yet.  Alex chose Superman and Sara chose Captain America!  

 

They have seriously been wearing these belts ever since!  They put the “things” in and out, lose them, find them and put them in and out of the loops, turn their working flashlights on and off.  It’s been totally worth it and I love that they want to play this way. 

 

One thing I’ll have to remember next time is that I’ll have to give the condition that I’ll need to take a nice picture if they want to buy these things.  Moms have needs too, and my need is to get NICE pictures (of kids smiling, etc) with the thing on!  Sara is doing fine, but Alex is starting to be aware of where we are when I want to take a picture (darn it!).  And then, sigh, not wanting to take a picture. 

 

 

 

 

 

Alex’s Science Fair project

 

Lion Habitat, by Alex Torgesen

 

Lions food is “zeebra” (and wildebeest, but that is too hard to spell).

Lions shelter is the grass and trees

Lions get water from a lake

 

We are so proud of him and loved seeing his project at Science and Art fair night at school.  And now he’s writing a report about the lion habitat that he learned about, he’ll tell you all the parts of the report: Title, name, date, introduction, main idea, facts, conclusion (or something like that where he just rattles off all the parts of it).  So funny!

 

My favorite part of his poster is the lion and he zebra.  Very well done!

 

 

Sara rockin’ at Wiggle Worms

Sara was rockin’ it at Wiggle Worms a couple of weekends ago – an outfit picked out all by herself!

Why yes – you do indeed “Sparkle” Sara (her shirt says “I sparkle”)!

2013

Happy New Year!

We spent as much time outside today as we could, but it was downright cold! But the sunshine was glorious!

Nieghbors, friends, kids laughing and riding many forms of bikes - good times.

I used my Hipstamatic app on my new iPhone5. Yeah baby! Still sorting out what I like and what I don't. But it sure is fun to take the photo, edit it, save it, and post it to my blog all on my "phone". Or is it my camera that also makes calls?

Sara and her trike

 

Sara has this trike thing figured out.  She’s pedaling, going UP hills, and coming down FAST, just like her brother. 

 

 

First, she actually pedals uphill – not an easy task for a 2.5 year old.  Sometimes she just stands up and walks it up, too.  The goal?  To get to the mailboxes to then turn around and start the fun.

 

 

Here’s where the FUN starts.  Slowly, but gaining speed with every inch, she speeds down the hill (dangerously since apparantely I’m just realizing right now she’s not wearing a helmet, bad mama!)

 

 

And at the bottom of the hill turning into our driveway at her full speed and loving every second of it!  She’s getting to be more and more a daredevil every day!

 

Watering

 

 

Sara is my little helper in the garden.  And sometimes, she just needs some watering herself too!

 

 

Wiggle Worms

 

 

Sara used to be fairly reserved and some would call slightly shy.  Well, no more!  She is out of her shell!  We have been going to Wiggle Worms (tumbling for toddlers) all Fall/Winter and Spring long, we just have one more session.  I just had to share this since she loves it so much.  We wait on the steps and she looks down at where it will be and waits patiently on the steps with her card in hand.  When it’s time for Wiggle Worms, the teachers calls for them and there she goes ready to turn in her card to the teacher. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first thing we do is the trampolines.  She runs up and down them and falls down (but doesn’t get hurt, don’t worry) and just giggles and giggles.  She is very aware of the other kids and has been really careful about slowing down or going around other kids, thankfully.  Some kids are oblivious and there have been a few head on crashes that totally are not fun. 

 

 

 

 

Unlike her brother, she DOES NOT like the foam blocks.  Alex would love to be thrown in from un-godly heights.  Over and over and over again.  It was so fun to him.  She HATES the foam blocks, unless of course she is stacking them or knocking them into the pit.  But, NO-SIR-EE-BOB is she to be even gently tossed in.  “No, like it Mommy”.

 

Next, we move to an obstacle course area that is different every time we go.  She loves the hula hoops when they are out and loves the colors.  There are balance beams, things to crawl on, under, over, through, all sorts of fun things. 

 

 

 

 

And then to the last space during Wiggle Worms class – upstairs where there is the plastic ball pit.  Oh the love of the plastic balls!  She gets right in and buries herself and just lays there.  LOVES them!!! 

 

 

 

 

There are also the rings which she loves, too.  She swings and kicks up her legs, kids abs are so strong! 

 

 

 

 

One of the best parts is getting stamps at the end.  The teacher usually only gives one stamp, unless you come back and get more.  So, she does and usually ends up getting one on each hand and one on her tummy.  She loves this part!  She comes home and shows everyone what her stamp is and all the locations her stamps are at.  She’ll often look at them that whole weekend, or until they get washed off.

 

 

 

 

Wiggle worms is a parent/child class – but next Fall she’ll be ready for Mighty Mites where it’s lead by a teacher.  Snif Snif.