MeXiCo 2010

We were very fortunate this year and got to take a trip to Mexico thanks to my mom and Alan. The arranged for me and my siblings and spouses to spend a week together in Puerto Vallarta. So before this post goes any further I want to say a HUGE thank you to both of them for doing this for us! Also a big thank you to Keith's parents for watching the boys while we were gone. And because I forgot to mention this in my Girls Camp post...a HUGE thanks to Amy and my Dad for watching my kids for 2 nights while I was gone to girls camp even though they were watching the other grandkids while we were in Mexico. That couldn't have been an easy week!

We had a blast as I'm sure you will see from the millions of pictures I uploaded. I learned a couple of things on this trip....

1. My Spanish is pretty rusty. I wish I could use it more. I'm going to look into taking a Spanish class again. I forgot how much I love it.

2. I'm scared of everything. It was seriously like MAJOR anxiety for me to go places in taxi's and around the city. I wasn't always this way because I remember wandering around Europe without a care in the world. I decided what changed was having kids and now I'm really stressed about making sure I get back to them.

3. Mexican karoke is the same as American karoke only slightly more annoying because you don't know what the heck they are saying half the time. You have the same people who think they are really awesome and sing over and over and over.

4. I'm thankful that I live in a country where soldiers aren't driving around with machine guns...

5. My kids can survive without me for 8 days. I'm not sure about longer, but 8 days worked out okay.

6. It's sometimes good to try things that you're scared of. I was so nervous about going ziplining, but it ended up being my favorite part of the trip!!!

I won't narrate the whole trip, but I will caption each of the pictures....ENJOY (There are a few more pictures I want to add but I'm running out of time...check back)

Keith and a sexy hat...oh and the humidity was awesome for my hair...NOT

Me and momma

The group minus mom

This was the day we were leaving...do we look well rested?

Keith watching the wave about to get him:)

Me enjoying the beach...

Austin and Chelsea after ziplining Where we went ziplining. They didn't let us take our cameras...naturally because they wanted us to pay for the ones they took. We should have now that I look back. Dang my cheapness...

Chelsea and the iguanas...naturally there were just these guys putting them on people and then following you around until you gave them money for it...don't worry, they didn't get me :)

Me, Keith and our lady Guadalupe...this was on some lame city tour we went on. They only took us to places they wanted us to spend our money. Don't worry, they only got $5 bucks out of me and my cheapness at the flea market.

Just lounging....

The city from our Catamaran ride....

Austin and I showing our excitement for the Mexican Fiesta we were at....

Keith doing a bit of lifeguarding...the real lifeguard wasn't so thrilled about this...

Chelsea made a new friend....he totally let her keep putting water on him and eventually let her just pet him forever. I wasn't really thrilled about the iguanas that seemed to live at the resort. I guess I can't really complain when I didn't pay, but if people are paying that much to stay somewhere...I'm not so sure they really want that "cultural" of an experience!

Totally just lounging with us...

No trip for the Smith's is complete without visiting Wal-Mart! Keith was thrilled there was one right by us. Now THAT was a cultural experience!

The beautiful Velas Vallarta resort. It truly was beautiful.

Billsy

Keith and I have always had a habit of coming up with nicknames for things. For the past couple of months Max has been referred to as Billsy around our home. Lest you wonder why the heck I'm calling my child named Max, "Billsy" (and I'm sure you'll hear me say it because 9 times out of 10 that's what we call him...) here's the reason.

When I was pregnant with Max and we were trying to come up with a name, we had started to settle on Max but were unsure whether it would just be "Max" or something else like Maxwell. I was pretty sure I just wanted Max because I knew I would never call him by his full name anyway, but Keith was pushing for Maxamillian. One day he was teasing me and said, "Anyone can do Max-A-Million, how about we do Max-A-Billion?" It was hilarious. Maybe you had to be there, but I got a good laugh over it. So that was always the joke.

Well, when Max got "boring" as Gavin would say (he meant born...) we always joked and said Max-A-Billion when we were talking to him. Then it got shortened to Mr. Billion, then just Billion and finally Billsy. And for some reason Billsy has stuck. Every once in awhile it's just Bills, but I'm partial to Billsy and it seems to fit him. Gavin will usually refer to him as Billsy too and it's just about the cutest thing ever.

I can't imagine these last 9 months (yep, as of yesterday 9 MONTHS!) of my life without my sweet little Billsy. He bring so much joy to our home. He is an angel baby and is always happy. He goes right down for naps and bedtime, loves the bath, is an excellent eater, and smiles constantly. He just started sitting himself up on his own and waving and he thinks he's pretty neat. What a lucky mother I am. I wouldn't trade this moment in my life for anything.

Grandparents

I didn't get to see my mom's parents a lot growing up because they lived in Lousiana and we were living in either Utah or Iowa. I've probably seen them more in the last 3 years than I ever had my whole life. I have LOVED getting to know them and watching my kids with them. One thing not many people know about me is that I have a great passion for crocheting. It is one thing in the few times I spent with my Grandma when I was younger that she taught me and I have used in many ways since. It's something I will always remember her by and I always feel that I have a special bond with my Grandma over this.

My mom's dad has a great passion for Ice Cream. Trust me, I have a special bond with him through that! He was also a police officer and I love hearing him tell stories about his time on the police force. He is a great story teller and one of the stories I love the most is hearing about how he was lost when he was younger and police officer bought him an ice cream cone and helped him find his family. This most likely is why he loves ice cream and became a police officer :)

My grandparents have 8 kids (my mom is the second oldest) and my favorite thing to tell people is that I have an uncle who is younger than me! It's only by 6 months, but I still think it's kind of cool!

We were able to spend some time with them this weekend and get some pictures. I know it's really lame because I don't have girls, but I've always wanted a 4 generation picture and finally took one with my Grandma, mom, me and my kids. I don't know that people do that unless it all girls or all boys, but it's still 4 generations right? If only we hadn't been in the pool all day and looked a little more presentable! Oh well, I will treasure it forever!

Girly Camp

Seriously...a couple of days with girls? That's unheard of for me! My life is so centered around my houseful of boys, and, eh-hem, man, that RARELY do I think about anything girly. Let alone PRINCESSEY, and of course our theme was Daughter of a King.

Can I just mentioned how much I absolutely LOVED camp? I may be slightly bias, but we have the most amazing youth in our ward. I was so impressed with these young women and their attitudes and their strengths. I wonder if I was anything like they are...so incredibly thoughtful and kind. It was amazing to see them interact with eachother. I loved getting to know the older girls too. And of course, my Beehives were sooooooooo amazing. Have I said amazing enough yet?

I was also INCREDIBLY impressed with the leaders. I can't believe how much time and effort was put into girls camp, because hardly any of the work was done by me. I truely appreciate all that these women are doing for our youth. It so wonderful to see how much they love and care and pray for these girls. I hope the girls can feel the support and love because there is no shortage of it. Here are some highlights......

Leaders who really get into participating....


Leaders who make every effort to participate....

Leaders who add spiritual moments...

Did I mention how into things they get?

Beehives so excited to be at their first year of camp!

And Laurel's who are just as fun!

Friends everywhere you turn...

And smiles all around....

Donut eating contests.....

and many things to participate in!

I LOVE GIRLS CAMP!

Where I've been all week...

I'm leaving this tomorrow...it's very bittersweet because I cannot WAIT to see my boys!


But I sure got to enjoy my time with this guy!

Lunch

Gavin wanted me to come get him some lunch today, but I was trying to finally fix my hair while Max was sleeping. I told him I would be right there in a second. He instead decided that he would get us some lunch together. What a sweet boy! He called me from the kitchen and said, "Mom! Come eat your lunch!" Doesn't it look great?!?! Graham crackers, peanuts, cheez-it's, marshmallows and cereal, YUM! You'll also notice there is a spot set for Dad even though he was at work and Max has a plate on his highchair. So nice to think of everyone!

You know it's SUMMER when....

The SPRINKLERS come out...

Goofy SMILES abound....


Babies CLAP...

Brothers GIGGLE together....

And cute boys can be found EVERYWHERE....especially in MY backyard....

Looking for a good laugh today?

I have wasted away the morning already today, but at least I have had a good time doing it! Remember a couple of posts back when I was talking about GLEE? I mentioned how I longed to live in a world where people spontaneously break out in song. Apparently there are places in this world where they do!



Gavin and I have laughed and laughed watching this. There are a few others here and here. Not only are there funny musicals, but there are TONS of little improv skits that are hilarious! Check them out, but be careful, you might waste your day too!