Puerto Vallarta ~ Part 3 ~ The Final Chapter

Onto the final chapter.....

Thursday, the girls hung out with another family and did a little shopping while Hubby, 

Action and I went zip-lining.  Action was feeling MUCH better and was excited to have his turn.  

The three of us had a blast ~ it's a bit invigorating to find yourself flying through the trees and over a river on a beautiful, warm, sunshiny day.

Friday ~ kind of a sad day ~ our last full day in Puerto Vallarta.....

Since Hubby, Action and I missed out on walking around and shopping a bit, we decided to to that on Friday morning with the Sassy and Smiley.   It just so happened that Friday wasn't just any Friday, it was Good Friday.  We took a taxi to the Malecon.  The Malecon is basically a boardwalk with lots of little shops and interesting sculptures.  On this particular day, there were also lot sand sculptures.  

This was one of them:

very cool!

There were also stations of the cross set up along the walk as well.  

I was very impressed and know fully that this would offend people in the US and most likely would not be permitted.

We continued walking and enjoying the culture.

Personally, I loved the architechure.

We also were able to visit this beautiful church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. 

There was a Good Friday service in progress, so we just stood in the back and admired the inside of the church.

Sassy and Smiley had also gone in the day before when they were shopping with friends, and just like then, 

Smiley felt the need to kneel down and pray.

When we were finished, we headed back to the resort to enjoy our last day in the warm sun.....

(lots of handstands were performed in the pool)

Saturday we headed home.  

After a flight cancellation and an unexpected overnight in a hotel in LA, this is how we spent Easter Morning ~ 5:30am at LAX.  It was an adventure to get home, but we eventually made it.

This vacation was a much needed break from the run-around of our everyday lives.  

The hustle and bustle of school, work, sports and daily life.  

We had such a great time and made some awesome memories with each other and with our friends.

Ordinary Miracles (12) ~ Spring Break

Do you ever go on vacation and find when you return home, you feel yourself needing a vacation from vacation?  

This year's spring break definitely didn't leave me feeling that way.  

Our entire vacation felt like an Ordinary Miracle.  From simply getting away, to wonderful family time, fun with friends, great food, the beauty that surrounded us everyday and everything in between, it was all ordinary and miraculous!

We planned and booked this trip last fall.  And as the seemingly endless winter grew on and on with it's cold temps and many snowfalls, our anticipation grew.  School was cancelled 6 times this winter due to temperatures.  Too dangerous to be outside.  This was our coldest winter since the winter of 1978/79, with an average temperature of 9.8º F and about 62" of snow.  Can you understand why the warm sun and beaches of Florida were creating a bit of excitement?

We flew out on Hubby's 40th birthday and with a 2 hour flight delay, the kids were anxious to get their toes in the sand.

We finally arrived ~ met with the lovely property manager and relaxed into our week long vacation.

Of course we celebrated this guy:

We rented a 4000 sq. ft., 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom house with 2 other families ~ 6 adults and 6 kids.  The house (actually it was a townhouse, but you would never know you had neighbors) was beautiful.  It was located on Belleair Beach.  Besides being right on the beach, it also had a private heated pool and hot tub.  It was simply fabulous, inside and out.

** I have to add, I HIGHLY recommend this home ~ if you are interested in a lovely, relaxing vacation for your family, your spouse or even for a girls getaway, you can find the property and rental info on VRBO by clicking here

(view from the porch)

We really didn't have any plans or agendas.  

We did go to the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa:

I  took in the fresh air and beautiful scenery on my almost daily beach runs.

We ate lots of good food, went to a winery, as well as a state park.  

But mostly we just hung out, swam, enjoyed our family and friends, the nature, animals and all of the beauty that surrounded us.

It was fabulous, lovely and a vacation I will treasure forever!

Now, glance back at your week and think about the ordinary things, people, places or happenings that took place in your life. The ordinary that is usually taken for granted. 

And, tell me what miracles occurred in your life!

(See Previous Ordinary Miracles Here)

Ordinary Miracles (4)

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Well, today is Monday, the start of a new week and the day I ask you to look back at your week and think about the ordinary things, people, places or happenings that took place in your life.  The ordinary that is usually taken for granted, but if you think about it are miracles in and of themselves ~ snuggle time with one of your kids, a minute to yourself to do something you enjoy, a package in the mail..... 

Me?

1.  I was able to have dinner with a princess last week.  

and as cute as she is, she was unable to convince me that "princesses don't eat chicken."

2.  That same little princess came with me to Action's school to volunteer at their book fair on Friday morning.  I was a little worried my active little Smiley would have a hard time hanging out for 3 hours.  But she proved me wrong and did phenomenal!  She straightened books, helped bag purchases and wrote up her one "book wish list" and was a very good helper!

3.  Saturday night Hubby and I were able to attend a marriage prayer service, dinner and dance with about 8 other couples (and MANY more that we didn't know) at our parish.  We had a great time and once the dance was over, we continued the fun at a little, local bar.  It was a great night praying for and celebrating our marriages together with friends (unfortunately no one pulled out a camera!).

4.  The sun is shining!  It may be cold..... -12 when I hit the gym this morning at 5am, but there is a warm up in sight (it is going to hit the mid 20's ~ whoo hoo) and THE SUN IS SHINING! 

Think about it, how would our perspective change if we chose to see our ordinary days as miracles that we should find wonder in and be thankful for.

(See Previous Ordinary Miracles Here)

Leave a comment and tell me, What Ordinary Miracles have you witnessed lately?

Living away from family

This past weekend flew by.  Hubby's parents came for a visit and we had a fun, jam packed weekend.  It seems when weekends like these are over, I feel a bit of longing.  A longing for more.

We live about 4 hours from my parents and 5 hours from hubby's parents.  While we are many miles from each other, we also know we can hop in the car and easily get there if we need to.  I do admit that as I get older, it is harder for me to be further away ~ for many different reasons.

Don't get me wrong, I love where we live.  We have made so many wonderful friends.  We have become involved in our community in a variety of ways, and we really enjoy our neighborhood and all our area has to offer.

The two things I mainly struggle with are:

 # 1 the lack of grandparent time for our kids (only because of distance, not because of effort!).  The thing is, is our kids don't know any different either.  They LOVE when we are able to go visit and when their grandparents come to our house for a  visit.  When either of those things happen, the kids are doted upon, cheered on and supported, not to mention, there is always fun to be had.  I do however, remember all of the wonderful memories I made with my grandparents.  I remember having sleepovers, just for fun, many times when my Grandpa was out of town and sometimes when he wasn't.  Grandma and I would walk to Wendy's to get frostys.  We would walk to the store and purchase a new word find book to work on.  Such simple things, but so memorable!  I remember curling up on the "davenport", as they called it watching "Hee Haw" on a Saturday night.  And I remember I would sometimes get up early on a Sunday morning just to meet them at church for mass and maybe breakfast out.  These are little things I wish my children could experience.  Their grandparents live just far enough away that they can't come see their school programs during the week.  They can't attend many of their sporting events, and they can't meet up for church or for a simple, unplanned meal together.

And #2, I wish I could be around to stop by and visit them more.  I hear my girlfriends talk about the fun they have getting together with their moms  (and dads) and going shopping, spending a day baking, or going to a movie.  I admit, I feel a twinge of jealousy when I hear them talking.
Another thing, our parents are not getting younger (no matter what they say) and being closer for them would be nice.  We could simply help with yard work, or stuff around the house.  We could just get together for a cup of coffee and a little conversation.

I do know that we are not planning on moving closer, nor are they.  So, in the meantime, we will make the most of the time we are able to spend together.  And this past weekend, like all of the other times we get together was no different.

We went snow tubing and shopping.  We ate great meals in and out.  We went to church together.  We played games.  We celebrated Actions birthday together.... a couple weeks early, and we watched Sassy play in a volleyball tournament.  It was a great weekend, and I need to remember to make memories and enjoy the time we are able to spend together and not on the time  I wish we could spend together.

 (via QuoteDiary.Me)