It Had to Come to an End

Our last day in Cancun. We started off by taking the bus to the other Palace resort so the girls could have a spa treatment. The boys would hang out at the pool and beach. Wow, what a drastic change in environment this hotel was compared to the hotel we are staying at, all of which are part of the Palace resorts, so we have the same privileges at this hotel as we have in our hotel.

The pool was beautiful and the beach was beautiful...BUT it was very crowded!! The resort we are at is very spread out so it doesn't feel like you are on top of everyone else. This hotel is situated between two other hotels so the beach area is very tiny. We found some seats by the pool since we had an hour til our spa treatments. The boys once again had to get some food.

I enjoyed my facial though I just really don't enjoy spa treatments. I guess it's because I can't relax, I want to know what the heck is going on around me at all times. Full body massages, never again, I cannot relax with those. Erika had the full body massage, Kora had a pedi and manicure. The boys had fun swimming in the waves and pool. Skip was reading and of course, doing work. Then he told me he was stuck sitting out in the rain for about 20 minutes, he hid under a towel.

The boys had to get more food before our shopping adventure. The mall was only 15 minutes walking distance so what the heck, right? Ugh, bad decision. Traffic and smells and humidity, I was miserable. We finally got to the mall and off we went. The Mexican market was not what I was expecting. I wanted the true blue "Mexican market", not some stores thrown in here and there with expensive stores. Disappointing to say the least. The Mexican markets in San Antonio were better than this one.

I got pretty tired right away and was not in the mood to shop. After walking in the humid weather and still being greasy slimy and oh so attractive with my greasy hair, all I wanted was to go back to my hotel room, shower and relax! This was not my favorite part of the vacation for me, can you tell?

We decided to take a cab back to the one hotel (since we had put our backpacks in a locker in the hotel gym, we needed to pick them up) then we had the taxi take us all the way back to our hotel rather than waiting for the limo that was to pick us up at 8:00pm...REALLY? 8:00? NO WAY! I would have gone back by myself if everyone else would have wanted to stay.

Back to the hotel, showered, packed and room service, now that is a vacation! Hasta la vista!

And please check back later, I will post about yesterday's adventures, there are just way too many pictures to upload and as you can tell, I am not in the mood to do so just now.

I'm looking forward to going home tomorrow, not too thrilled about waking up at 4:00am and hearing about the bad weather back home. I'll be ready though, I'm getting my traveling mind into positive mode.

What is up...

With my son's flip flops when he gets them wet and walks in them, this is what happens...

OMG!! OMG!!

I blogged about our nice dinner last night, BUT OMG! I forgot to include what happened as we were finishing up our desserts and having a nice dinner conversation. I looked past the kids sitting across from me where the dirty plates and silverware were. The guys were like worker bees gathering dishes and setting tables. That is when I saw it, one of the guys wiped off two bread plates with a pile of the dirty napkins and set them at a clean table. Ahhhh! We all had eaten off of our bread plates!

I told my family what I saw, they didn't believe me. THEN I was grossed out again and continued to be horrified and all I could say was, OMG!! OMG!! Another waiter (who happened to be our's) took a spoon from the dirty pile of silverware, wiped it off with a dirty napkin, set it on his tray with cream and sugar and served it to another table!!! I know what I saw, I wasn't seeing things. I'm a very observant person and I've bussed tables when I was a teenager, not that I ever did anything like this! Hubby proceeded to drink some of the alcohol drink to cleanse his mouth, so much for the rest of us! Some of us had been given 'new' forks for dessert...

We proceeded to leave and as we walked past the bussing station, I purposely looked in the station, looked in the drawers where the silverware was held and the drawer was EMPTY...I knew it! Gross!! Wow, what a way to end a great meal....gulp....Luckily, we are all ok this morning well, at least the three of us in this room, haven't seen the other three yet...

Hola desde Cancun!

Dia dos en Cancun comenzo con todo el mundo durmiendo en. Nos comimos un delicioso desayuno. Tuvimos que hacer una llamada para comprobar sobre el paradero de nuestro equipaje. Las lineas aereas nos dijo el equipaje que llega alas diez am y llegara al hotel alrededor del mediodia.

A continuacion, la temida Luego vino la llamada noventa miembros de vacaciones minutos tour que termino siendo una pesadilla de tres horas de venta de tono. Los chicos terminaron de volver a la habitacion del hotel dos horas en el campo de las ventas. Pobre marido estaba volviendo loco al igual que pajaro que volo en la ventana y casi lo comido por un gato. Marido queria salir despues de firmar los papeles demasiados y acaba de salier sin deciries.

A la espera de que nos los ninos se divirtieron servicio a la habitacion. Como no tenia equipaje, tuve que ir a la tienda de regalos y comprar algo de ropa pra llevar a cenar ya que habia estado usando la misma ropa durante dos dias. Tuve la suerte de haber encontrado un lindo vestido y el chal. Ahora era el turno de mi hija a la tienda. El empleado de la tienda me miro divertido porque yo estaba alli. Tuve que explicarie aceraca de la perdida de equipaje y la ropa no. A continuacion, procedio a sacar una caja de sujetadores. Tengo que admitir, me sorprendio, pero Erika era realmente agradecido hasta que los probe y nada encaja. Ella fue capaz de encontrar un vestido lindo.

Antes de la cena Kora y yo caminamos por la playa, y a ella le gustaria que todos sepan, este fue el punto culminante de mi dia. A continuacion, llego un mensaje de mi marido diciendo que el equipaje habia llegado por fin, sin embargo, el equipaje habia sido en otro lugar desde un.

Cenamos en un restaurante brasileno que sirve una variedad de carne en una espada y cortar parte de la derecha en la mesa. Fue una comida muy buena. Esta fue mi postre, un cisne hermosa crema hojaldre:

Un postre hermosa para pner fin a un hermosa dia en Cancun. Bueno, Kora me acaba de llamar cursi para esta ultima frase. Buenos noches.

Lost in translation for those that do not understand Espanol:

Day two in Cancun began with everyone sleeping in. We ate a delicious breakfast. We had to make a call to check on the whereabouts of our luggage. The airlines told us the luggage would arrive at 10:00am and arrive at the hotel around noon.

Then came the so called 90 minute vacation membership tour, which ended up to be a three hour nightmare sales pitch. The kids ended up going back to the hotel room two hours into the sales pitch. Poor husband was going crazy just like the bird that flew into the window and almost got eaten by a cat. Hubby wanted to walk out after signing too many papers and just leave without telling them. While waiting for us, the kids had fun ordering room service.

Since I had no luggage, I had to go to the gift shop and buy some clothes to wear to dinner since I had been wearing the same clothes for two days. I was lucky to have found a cute dress and shawl. Now it was my daughter's turn to shop. The store clerk looked at me funny because I was just there. I had to explain to him about the lost luggage and no clothes. He proceeded to bring out a box of bras. I have to admit, I was shocked, but Erika was actually grateful until she tried them on and nothing fit. She was able to find a cute dress.

Before dinner, Kora and I walked along the beach, she would like everyone to know, this was the highlight of my day. We then got a message from my husband that our luggage had finally arrived, however the luggage had been at another location since 1:00. We had dinner at a Brazilian restaurant that served a variety of meats on a sword and cut your portions right at your table. It was a very good meal, this was my dessert, a beautiful cream puff swan(see pic above). A beautiful dessert to end a beautiful day in Cancun. Ok, Kora just called me cheesey for that last sentence. Good night!

Feliz Navidad!

Having to suffer and travel to Cancun, you know, when you are this spoiled, something has to happen to dampen it just a touch. We barely made it to our last connection in Charlotte, ten minutes to spare! So of course, Erika and I decided to check our luggage...our luggage didn't make the tight connection. We don't have a thing to wear that is clean, thank goodness we both have our men with us and can borrow t-shirts for bedtime. Yeah, I'm the one that tells everyone else to pack to carry on the plane...I'm that special ya know that I don't have to follow my directions.

This is about all I have to wear:

Thank goodness for computers, iPads, and iPods for movies during trips. Of course, the great headphones I had bought myself awhile back, they broke so had to get new ones:

Erika said these were the best ones and of course, she 'had' to get a pair too. She was right, they were awesome! We both found the kind we wanted, the last ones too, how lucky! I finally watched Despicable Me, what a cute movie.

I'm not too concerned or worried though about the luggage. The hotel is great, it's ginormous and the surroundings are beautiful, well we've only seen it in the dark, but it looked beautiful. We will tour the grounds today to get the lay of the land. The boys want to make sure they know where all 14 restaurants are so they can eat ALL the time. And when I'm talking about the boys, I mean Todd and Taylor. While everyone else was chillaxin in the rooms, the boys went to play mini golf and go eat at the buffet again! Oh to be young again.

We brought Todd with us as our Christmas present to him:

Let's hope he still likes our family after being with all of us 24/7.

After dinner, we were all starving after a full day of traveling, this was our first real meal of the day! We toured the grounds as best we could in the dark. Then headed back to our rooms. Kora decided she wanted to test out the jacuzzi bath that is set in the middle of the room. She hasn't been in one since she was very young so she really didn't know how to do it correctly. When she thought it was full enough, she turned on the jets and water went spurting out and upwards like a fountain clear across the room. It was pretty funny, though hubby didn't think it was.

Here is the pampered princess soaking:

So that has been our start of Feliz Navidad. Come back to hear more of our adventures!

Merry Christmas!

Our kids didn't have much of a list this year, so what would they have to open on Christmas morning? A couple of fun presents and stocking stuffers.

So what do you get a family that has everything?

A trip! Just hoping the weather holds tomorrow because our second leg is in the south and they are getting SNOW! The one time I don't like snow...crossing fingers...

Follow me on our trip!

Merry Christmas Adam

A lot of people don't get my sense of humor, but my hubby does. That's why we have lasted this long. When we moved to San Antonio in 1992, we left all that we knew and were comfortable with in Omaha. No friends, no relatives, no clue what to expect in San Antonio. We just up and moved our little family because of the job opportunity for hubby.

This was going to be a two year deal. It turned into a 4 1/2 year deal, but it was a good move for us. We got to focus on our little family, on one another. But to be honest, it was a little lonely so we both had to break out of our shells, especially me. I have been a stay at home mom ever since the birth of our daughter in 1991 so breaking out of my shell was something I really had to work on.

I started a mom's group in my neighborhood, I began working out daily at the health club, we began hosting parties at our house. Thus, the birth of Christmas Adam parties. We did this because we were still 'poor', not making a whole lot of money so we couldn't afford to travel to family for every Holiday. We spent a few Christmases by ourselves so tried to make the best of it by hosting the Christmas Adam parties at our house. For those that were still in San Antonio for Christmas and had the day before Christmas Eve open, this worked out great.

The theme of the party was also to bring your favorite appetizer, 'These are a Few of My Favorite Things', still staying with the Christmas theme. I think this was the beginning of my hosting duties and the reason why I feel comfortable hosting anything at my house. I don't stress out about hosting parties, or at least I tell myself that. I love hosting actually. I like to make the gatherings very casual though and throw in some fun if I can. My advice to others that stress out about hosting, ask others to bring something so you don't have to make or provide everything. It really helps. You provide the majority, but if others bring one dish, it really helps.

Since moving back to Omaha in 1996, I have not had any Christmas Adam parties. I miss them. Maybe I should start them up again...next year anyway, since we are celebrating with my hubby's side of the family tonight. Until then, Merry Christmas Adam everyone!

The Mad Dash Begins

Because Christmas is THIS Saturday! Wow! Why am I so shocked? We have this cute little countdown to Christmas snowman and I see it daily, so why am I so surprised that Christmas is four days away? Because seriously, we all know that we have to be ready before Christmas Eve so that really means I should be ready by tomorrow. What? Tomorrow? Why not Thursday? Because it's a rule that I made up in my own mind.

Christmas Eve's past, my hubby and I would spend wrapping presents till our fingers bled from paper cuts and our heads hurt from making sure every kid had the same amount of gifts to open. Then trying to write 'From Santa' with my left hand so the kids wouldn't recognize my hand writing. Looked more like a drunken elf wrote it. What we don't do for our kids!

Those days are long gone of Santa presents since our youngest is 12 years old. I'm not too sentimental about things in life so I won't miss having to do the mad dash of wrapping presents. With my kids being almost 20, almost 17, and 12, the things on their Christmas lists tend to me more expensive, which means less gifts to wrap. This year, the lists were very short so talk about a nice break from wrapping, but yet, I haven't even wrapped one gift as of today.

We celebrated Christmas with my side of the family. It was very nice and relaxing. We didn't overeat, my plan with not serving any appetizers, something we are not used to as my kids asked where the appetizers were. We are very relaxed and not traditional or formal when it comes to the meal, we had a vegetable lasagna with salad and a chicken dish. Then had chocolate fondue with fruit and berry pie with homemade ice cream, thanks to my sister. It was all very yummy.

Thursday night will be Christmas with hubby's side of the family. That is a little more of a production. Especially in the planning of getting EVERY family member at once on the same date available. You know, sometimes that just can't happen, but we found a date that worked for everyone. I'm a little more laid back about it and if it means we spend Christmas with only one family at a time, then that's just the way it is. I try not stress about it, but sometimes the stress of others creeps onto me.

We don't exchange gifts among any of the adults in both families. We all have way too much already. The grandparents give gifts to the grandkids, but that's what Christmas is about, seeing the excitement on the faces of kids.

So that leaves Christmas day with my own family. I love having it with just my family. No need to shower or even get out of our jammies if we don't feel like it. No huge meal to plan. Thinking we will have BLT's for dinner, for real! Movies all day long. We really are just casual and laid back and don't want to stress out, there's no room for fun if one is stressed out. A lazy, stress-free Christmas day, that is on the top of my list to Santa.

So what about wrapping those presents now? Nah, I think I will leave that for the mad dash Christmas Eve.

Dear Santa...

I remember writing letters like this when I was little. I was amazed at how I would get the gifts I asked for. Then my own kids wrote letters to Santa. It was fun to see what they would ask for and then see their faces when their wishes came true.

Then I heard of another parent and their way of giving presents from Santa. Their kids would only receive three gifts from Santa, because Jesus received three gifts at his birth from the Three Wise Men. I thought this was a great idea and I began doing this for my own kids.

In later years, I began thinking even more on these three gifts and this person we all called Santa. It occurred to me that my kids shouldn't think this mystical person is better than their own parents because he gave the best gifts. I know, I know, kids grow up and eventually find out that we are Santa, but when they were kids and still believing, I wanted them to know that their parents were the ones that made their wishes come true. Not someone that they saw at a mall.

Don't get me wrong, I love Santa, who doesn't? In fact, I love playing Santa and year round if I can. I love to make someone's wish come true, something that they never thought in their whole lives would happen to them, big or small. This is the season of giving, but I like to try and give all the time. How fun it is to make an ordinary day an extraordinary day.

Full Time Job

Which is really a part time job, but really it isn't a job, it's all volunteering. I love volunteering for Holt International, there are so many different events that happen across the country from big to small. But the full time job, which is part time, which is volunteering, is the honor of serving on the Board of Directors. There was so much to learn when I first joined the board, so much so, I questioned whether or not I was even qualified for the position. Honestly, it took me a good three years to feel comfortable serving.

So now I'm working on committee things to get on top of all that we have to do. I have three new members that were placed on my committee, so I have been busy compiling all the information there is to know about our committee and what our responsibilities are. I am one to read directions on everything, so I re-read our policy book and picked out everything that was pertinent to my committee. That took me all day yesterday and partially into the early evening. I'm just glad my Wednesdays are the days I don't have to go anywhere unless I make plans.

Don't get me wrong, I am still not comfortable with every aspect of the ins and outs, there are just some things better left to others that know the areas in which I feel go completely over my head. It's a good thing we are all made so differently so we can all contribute in our special ways.

I read directions, I have a schedule, I have charts, I have timelines, I feel I am very organized. But when it comes to waiting on other people to get back to me so I can move forward, ugh, I have to have more patience, but really, shouldn't they get back to me asap? With technology nowadays, it's that simple and only takes about five minutes at the most, right?

So now I wait, my emails are in draft form, my timelines are on hold, my schedule is in pause mode, my charts are almost complete. I was hoping I'd be able to finish up today, but at this rate, doesn't look like I will. I like to get all of my things done before my kids get home, then I try not to do any emails or work unless it's something important. Well, at least I got in a break to write on my blog and now I am going to write thank you notes, the old fashioned way, by hand!

I'm Not a Spender

Really, I'm not, seriously, ask my family...sounds like I'm protesting too much. But with the season of Christmas upon us, I am quite the spender! And this year, we are not buying our kids presents, no we are not cancelling Christmas, we are just going a different route this year.

So why am I shopping everyday? I must get wrapped up in the season of it all. I am finding myself buying things for myself more too, which is really so unlike me. Yesterday, I went to the Apple store to buy a wireless keyboard for my iPad. Last Christmas, my family gave me the iPad as their gift to me. I have used it quite a lot, my youngest daughter loves to play games on it, but I found myself not using it as often as I 'should' be. The reason? The touch keyboard for typing. I just couldn't get used to it. When I type, I rest my fingers on the keys and type away. I have always been very good at typing. But resting my fingers on the touch keyboard, the letters would appear that I didn't want. Typing with one finger just doesn't cut it for me or suspending my hands above the keyboard doesn't cut it either.

So here I am, typing away on my newest purchase, the wireless keyboard. Another frill that I would not have bought for myself, but felt I needed in order to use my iPad more. "Needed', no but now I can at least use my gift more. This thing is pretty cool too. I got home with it and was like a little kid opening the box. I had to figure out how to use it and get it in sync with the iPad, the directions didn't state how to sync with an iPad, just a computer, what?? So I got the iPad, turned on the keyboard and....I was pretty proud of myself for doing it right the first time! It was so simple, technology is pretty awesome. And the bluetooth connection, yeah, pretty cool to sync the keyboard to my iPad. And now I can do my email on my iPad too since I can type my responses on an actual keyboard! Yahoo!! No more laptop plus iPad. So this means I don't need the new mini MacBook Air, right?? Hmmm, I STILL can't do documents on my iPad though....

Merry! Merry!

Yes! I'm my old self again and back to having the Christmas spirit! I was kinda bummed that I wasn't in the mood, but looking at my house all sparkly and bright with lights, it is so beautiful and I love looking at everything. I didn't go overboard, so things look tastefully done. I will have to post some pictures, but really, pictures won't do it justice.

My family spends most of the time in the basement, though we do have a tree down there and the stockings on the fireplace, but it's the main floor that I love to look at. So I have to go upstairs every once in awhile and look at all the pretty things. I'm like a little kid.

I love this time of the year, not just for the pretty decorations, but for how it makes people want to give to others.

Ba Hum Bug?

Me? Ba Hum Bug? Heck no! But...I'm kinda feeling that way...why? I don't know! Usually I am crazy in the mood to decorate, but this year, I am lagging behind my usual schedule of having everything up and decorated by the end of Thanksgiving weekend. One tree is still bare, but the kids will get to that, right? It's their tree! I just finished my icicle tree today, the star is the only thing left. The other formal tree, my family is coming over again to finish it.

But the rest of the house, I wouldn't mind if I just left it as is. What?? That is so not like me!! Since I didn't get my usual start the day after Thanksgiving, I think I've just been off. The day after Thanksgiving, I went to the football game so there went that day. The next day, I had to go help my mom and sister decorate another Christmas tree, then more football that afternoon. I was too tired to do any decorating that night. Sunday morning I cooked a huge breakfast for the family before my oldest daughter headed back to school. Then the afternoon was filled with NFL football for the boys. Um, they really didn't want to get all the stuff from the attic, did they.

So the next day, I asked if they would get the decorations from the attic, come on, football wasn't on until 8:00. So they did and we actually got the other two trees set up and put the lights on. I hung the stockings too. But the trees stayed bare until today. My mom and sister came over to help with the custom tree they did for me last year, but the finishing touches still need to be done, hopefully tonight.

I don't know what it is with me this year. I thought I got a head start on the season by getting my Christmas letter out before Thanksgiving so people would receive it the day after Thanksgiving. And today is only December 3rd, I shouldn't feel that bad that my decorating isn't done should I? Then why do I??? Why do I put this pressure on myself? Um, my first Christmas party isn't until the 11th, uhhh, next weekend...ahhhh!! Notice how I am stalling by writing on my blog rather than decorating, but I am waiting for my mom and sister to help me...yea, that's it...

Soap Changed My Attitude

Sounds silly, but the face wash I use daily really changed the way I saw myself and thus, changed me for the better. I wrote about this five years ago, yes, I've been using this same face wash for five years. Though I like to be spontaneous, I am also a person that needs routine and likes the same old same old.

Five years ago, I switched to using Purity by Philosophy. At that time, I thought I was being very indulgent because it seemed expensive to me. Every morning and every night, as I wash my face I read the bottle of Purity. Soon the words really sunk in. I began to see myself differently and began to think of what I wanted out of life. I was happy with being a wife and mom, but something was missing, me.

I began to remember my hopes and dreams I wanted out of life. I had achieved quite a lot already, but still, something was missing. 2005 was a significant year, my world, literally, opened up for me. I've been going ever since and today, I am living my hopes and dreams thanks to my soap.

Purity made simple:
"Philosophy: purity is natural. we come into this world with all the right instincts. we are innocent, and therefore perceive things as they should be, rather than how they are. our conscience is clear, our hands clean, and the world at large is truly beautiful. to begin feeling young again, we must feel clean. to feel clean we must cleanse ourselves daily with a little soap, lots of water, and love each step of the way."

From One Mom to Another

As I reflect on my Gotcha Day, the day I joined my forever family, I think of my mom. Being a mom to three wonderful children, I think of all the things my mom gave to me and showed me:
Love
The meaning of family
Kindness
Hard work
Patience
Guidance
Discipline
Forgiveness
Determination
Hopefulness
Spiritualness(is that even a word? It is now)
Wonderful memories
How to roast marshmallows in the fire pit
How to poo in the woods
How to pee in the thunder bucket
(The three above during camping trips, not in the backyard)
How to have fun
How to garden
How to cook
How to clean
How to do my own laundry
How to brush the knots out of my hair
How to give to others
How to appreciate all that I have
How to appreciate others
How to laugh
How to cry
How to dream
How to achieve
How to believe
How to inspire
How to be creative

The list is endless for with all of the above, my mom has always been here for me and I know I wasn't always the easiest to get along with. We've both come a long way and I'm so grateful we are now together to make more wonderful memories and share life's greatest gifts.

I only hope I can pass these along to my own children.