Mexico!!!

Okay, I'm finally getting around to the recap of Mexico!  This is going to be a bit long so I don't plan on editing this post, I'll probably just type it up and hit publish.  We stayed at the Riu Palace Riviera Maya (which deceivingly is actually in Playa Del Carmen).  It was a great location!  Very close to Playa, right on the beach and close to the ferry that takes you to Cozumel!  The resort itself is an all inclusive which was great.  The food was hit or miss at the buffets for breakfast/lunch but the dinners were always superb in my opinion. 

The swim up bar is the best for obvious reasons.  You're in the water AND drinking!  :) 

The bartenders were always nice and prompt and would make you ANYTHING you asked for.  We drank countless amounts of pina coladas, miami vices, mudslides, margaritas, etc.  And they would whip up their own concoctions once you got bored of the above!  I think I lived the entire vacation in a constant haze of a buzz.  :)

We flew out there Sunday, March 18th, took a cab ride to the resort (about a 45 min drive from the Cancun airport) and immediately hit the beach.  Kyle lost his sunglasses 2 seconds after entering the ocean.  The waves were intense and I'm not sure we were prepared for that but we were drunk from our flight and van ride (the drivers will stop at the gas station and let you pick up beer if you ask and we totally asked) so we didn't care and jumped right in!

That night we had dinner at the resort's Japanese restaurant.  The sushi was just so-so but the shrimp tempura and chicken teriyaki I had was wonderful!  We ended up calling it an early night since it started raining and we were all a bit bushed from our flights in.

Monday was beach/pool day!  The bars don't open until 10:00 am (gasp!) so the ladies lounged around on the beach soaking up the scenery and reading as the boys waded in the ocean.  Once 10:00 came we hit the pool bar!  We were in there the ENTIRE day.  Water logged, drunk and pruney, we eventually got out to clean up for dinner.  We ate at the resort's Brazilian steakhouse that night.  The best way to explain this place is to compare it to Fogo De Chow.  Endless meats on sticks coming at you (that's what she said).  Again, very tasty!  We enjoyed some of the resort's night time entertainment (80's night!) and went to bed fairly early again that night.  We were exhausted since we'd been drinking since 10 am and, who are we kidding, we aren't kids anymore.  Day drinking is great but it rarely leads to all night drinking anymore!  :)

Tuesday Wade and I met up with our friends, Bob and Amy, who just happened to be staying at a resort down the beach from us at the same time.  We took the ferry over to Cozumel and rented mopeds for the day!  SO fun!  Bob and Amy are Cozumel veterans and knew all the good places to stop so we circled the island, which is fairly small, only 9 miles by 12 miles, and made several pit stops. 

Cozumel

Rasta bar

The best place by far was the Rasta Bar.  The view from there was unbelievable, the drinks the tastiest and the fish tacos were the best I'd had.  We stayed there for quite a while before heading off to a couple more stops. 

The scooter gang

By the end of our loop I was feeling pretty dang good (they do not hold back on the drinks they make on the island!) and I got off our moped only to stagger backwards and fall into Bob and Amy's.  Um, yeah, ow.  Mega burn from the pipe is now on the back of my right calf.  Hurts like hell.  But, I was in Mexico and wasn't feeling the pain at that point so oh well! 

We finally made it back to our resort but not in time to join the rest of our group for dinner so Wade and I just hit up the buffet.  I should mention the guacamole and pico here were un-freaking-believable!  I think I ate my weight in that alone.  Could be the reason I came back 2-3 pounds heavier.  Well, that combined w/ a massive amount of drinking.  Ha!

This evening we decided to take a walk down to one of the other Riu resorts in the area, since we had access to all of them with our wrist bands, and go to their disco-tech.  We watched a bit of their evening entertainment before entering the club and then wore out our dancing shoes!  So fun!  We finally made it back to our resort around 2:00 am so we proved we weren't always lame early nighters!

That's a lot of alcohol.

Wednesday we decided to walk into Playa to do some shopping and eat lunch.  Of course being the typical tourists we ate at Senor Frogs.  However, only because we got a coupon for buy 1 round of drinks, get your 2nd round free!  This would be the end of me!  We ordered our drinks and were surprised to see they ended up being yards!  I had ordered a sex on the beach so by the time we started in on the 2nd one I was toast.  We walked the beach back to our resort where I ended up taking a much needed siesta.  One could say I passed out, however I like to say I fell asleep for a bit. 

Dinner Wednesday night was at the resort's steakhouse and we all ordered their surf and turf.  The turf was wonderful however my surf was a bit chewy.  Although everyone else's seemed to be good.  We ordered champagne to toast our last night there and the wait staff was very nice to promptly bring it out.  We chugged that down and then hit the entertainment area for the night which just happened to be a compilation of Michael Jackson songs.  AWESOME.  :)  We danced and drank and drank and danced.  So. Much. Fun.

The whole gang

Ang, Kyle, Andrea and Matt left early the next morning.  Luckily Wade and I's flight was later in the afternoon so we got to sleep in a bit b/c for the first time of the whole trip I was hung over.  We had laughed earlier that we didn't think it was possible to be hung over in Mexico since we were all waking up fine, however I proved that wrong on the last day!  I think it just meant it was time to head home.  I missed my little peanut and was so anxious to see her!

Modeling her new Mexican shirt!

My parents were nice enough to come up to our house to watch her for our entire trip and my dad picked us up from the airport while my mom kept Charlie up so she could see us when we got home.  Her face when she first saw me was priceless!  I loved it!  A complete look of surprise/shock/happiness!  She squealed and ran over to me and then followed me around the rest of the night before she finally went to bed.  I missed that girl so freaking much!  Mexico was/is awesome but nothing compares to my little peanut!

But we did decide that an annual (or at least every other year) trip is needed.  It doesn't always need to be Mexico, but it does need to be somewhere warm where the drinks are readily available.  Those are my only 2 requirements.  I'm easy like that.

Sorry for the long winded recap!  I want to be able to look back on this trip and remember it since so much of it is hazy from constant alcohol consumption.   It was so much freaking fun.  I also decided we have some of the greatest friends ever.  I love you bitches.  :)  xoxo

Kel

A post to hold me over...

We just got back from Mexico Thursday night and I haven't had time to get caught back up on life yet so until then, here are some adorable pics of Charlie.  She had a fabulous time with Omi and Paps while Wade and I were away.  And Wade and I had a fabulous time w/ our friends enjoying the beach, pool and unlimited food and drink.  I'm currently going through detox!  :)

Tickle time!

Showing me her "guns"!

Playing w/ one of the maracas I bought her in Mexico

Trying to climb up the slide

Omi helping Charlie go down the slide

Mommy & Charlie going down!

Weekend recap: Boy or Girl?!?!

Still loving this fish eye lense (it's hilarious!)

Wade has been in Monterrey since Sunday and so it's been almost a week since Charlie and I have gotten to see him! We miss our hubs/dada! Luckily he comes home this afternoon! Yay! Since Wade was gone we spent some time down in DeMo over the weekend.  I threw out the idea of a ladies night on Friday since I'd have my parents to watch Charlie and was so excited when most of the girls said they could make it.  We went out to eat at Trostle's Dish which serves tons of different tapas and it was soooo tasty!  After a delicious dinner we headed to Bradley's Pub to continue on the night of celebrations.  After all, we had several things to be happy about.  I was down visiting, there was an engagement for Jenni, and we got to find out the sex of Kara and Todd's baby earlier that afternoon!  It was so great to see my ladies!  And we even ended the evening picking up Todd and his friend Conor and singing some karaoke.  Oh yes, it was that kind of night.  :)

Charlie and I had the privilege of joining Kara and Todd for their big sex reveal ultrasound on Friday afternoon!  We were so excited to find out and of course the ultrasound tech made us wait until the very last minute to find out!  It seemed like it took forever!  In the end though it was determined that Kara and Todd are having a little BOY!  Oh boy!  We don't know what to do with boys in our household!  It definitely will make things interesting and I'm oh so super duper excited to get to meet the lil booger in June!

Charlie & Uncle Todd

We are so thrilled for them and cannot wait for June to hurry and get here!  Charlie can't wait to have a baby cousin!  She loves babies!!!  :)

She also loves doggies obviously.

In other news, Charlie is now walking 99% of the time.  It's about time!  She's been able to walk for about 5 months now but just chose to continue with her little butt scoots.  No longer!  She's now up and walking (soon to be running I'm sure!)  She's such a little toddler now.

We have an escapee from diaper change time!

We had some quality family time the rest of the weekend and watched the superbowl and ate and drank a lot.  Charlie got her first tutu thanks to Auntie Kara and a pretty headband from Omi and looked absolutely adorable in them! 

Pretty as a princess!

It was a great weekend besides the fact that Wade was missing.

Charlie loved our old school keyboard!

Omi & Charlie

Hugs~
Kel

All fixed up!

Sick & sleepy Charlie

Well, after 4 1/2 days of a fever Charlie finally kicked the virus.  It ended up being Roseola which is a very common virus.  The bad thing is that they can't determine it is Roseola until the fever breaks and then the child gets a rash.  So until then you are left wondering (and googling which is NEVER good) what is wrong w/ your poor, sick baby!  Thank God she is healthy now!

Sick baby = cuddle bug

Once we determined she was healthy again we got to drive down to Des Moines to see some family and help surprise our friend Keith for his 30th birthday party.  It was a lot of fun, although the hangover definitely wasn't!  :)  I miss that Bormann clan! 

Happy birthday Keith you old fart! 

Mason REALLY enjoyed the cupcake!

Nice stache Mitch! 

And some more great news...  Charlie took her first unassisted steps!  She was walking between my mom, Kara and myself on the floor and she got pretty good at it!  We let her go and she actually stopped, steadied herself and kept going!  I was one proud mama!!!  So finally at 13 1/2 months she is starting to walk.  Although she definitely still scoots around for the most part b/c she is still to scared to do it w/o having someone to walk to but she's getting there!  I'm guessing that in the next 2 weeks she'll get a lot better at it and we'll have to FULLY babyproof!

And finally, our kitchen is 95% complete.  Wade is finishing putting up the backsplash as I type this and then all that needs to be done is to grout it, paint the walls where the paint came off and put up the baseboards.  I LOVE it.  I'm one lucky lady to have such a handyman hubby!  I'll get a picture up of it once it's done! 

xoxo~
Kellie

Wordless Wednesday

I love summer...

Twat did you say?

The MS Walk was last weekend and it turned out perfect! We woke up to rain and were worried we'd have to be walking in it the entire time. Me being the ever prepared Mom of the Year (haha, right) had heard it was supposed to be raining so I'd gone out and bought a rain cover for Charlie's stroller so that at least she'd be dry for the walk but we never even needed it. Guess I'll be returning that b/c I'll never be out walking in the rain again! Just minutes before the walk was supposed to start the sun came blazing through the clouds and it stayed that way the rest of the day! Gorgeous!!! Charlie loved the stroller ride and it was great to get out in the fresh springtime air and contribute to such a worthwhile cause!

You know that is Arbor Mist in those bottles, right? Tasty! :)

Thanks to all who donated! Although I ended up raising $125 I'm sad to say this was my worst year yet fundraising but this just means I can pester everyone even more next year! :)

After the walk Kara, my mom and I went to our friend Sarah's bridal shower where we sipped mimosas and had some excellent food. She's got some great friends and family and it was a lot of fun! Can't wait for her wedding which is coming up fast!

The rest of the weekend was spent w/ family and friends relaxing. We got Charlie a zebra blow up pool for this summer which I can't wait to get out! She loved staying up late and hanging out with the adults. When there are people up she does not want to be the first to go to bed! She fights it like a champ! She's such a little social butterfly and loves getting all the attention. She's starting to mimic people more and is so silly and she knows it too and keeps doing it to keep getting the laughs. Such a ham ball! All in all a great weekend. Couldn't ask for anything more.

Some new Charlie milestones:

• 
  
  She can now drink out of a sippy cup all on her own!

• 
  
  She waves hello/goodbye, but is picky as to who she will do it for. She almost always does it to herself in the mirror. What a goof.


• 
  
  She'll tilt her head to the side and wait for you to do the same and then immediately tilt it to the other side and go back and forth like this w/ a huge grin on her face.


• 
  
  She has a new sit and spin move where she sits and spins in circles on her butt. She now has the complete 360 view wherever she may be.







• 
  
  Her first tooth (bottom middle right one) broke through May 12th. She handled it like a champ although her tongue is now more often sticking out of her mouth than staying in it.


• 
  
  Still not crawling but you can tell she is getting anxious to be mobile. I don't think it will be much longer before she has learned some way to get around although I'm not convinced it will be by crawling...


• 
  
  She has started trying to clap her hands but usually does one or two claps and then instantly brings them together up to her mouth all excited and makes little squealing noises.


• 
  
  Her babbling is starting to sound more and more like actual words. Sometimes she'll really get on a roll and talk non-stop for what seems like forever. She gets really excited and worked up and it is hilarious.

• 
  
  She's very ticklish. :)


• 
  
  She loves to play peek-a-boo w/ her blankets and toys.


• 
  
  She loves these Gerber puff chip things and inhales them! She also likes pastas, cheese slices, cheese tortellini and quesadillas. She does NOT like green peppers. We found this out last weekend when she took one bite of one and immediately puked it and whatever else she had eaten up all over me and her. Not fun.


• 
  
  The second we take her outside she sticks her tongue out. We say she is "tasting" the air. We really have no idea why she does it but here is evidence:



She's perfect. :)




Happy Tuesday!!

Nothing but happiness!

I've been behind on blogging! Kara and Todd's wedding reception was 2 weeks ago. They got married in Puerto Rico in January and then had a reception back home in Des Moines April 30th.

Isn't this picture gorg? Perfection!

Anyway, the reception was absolutely perfect! The ballroom was gorgeous, the beer and wine were flowing, the food was delicious and there was all kinds of dancing and fun! One thing is for sure, we have some great friends and family and we definitely know how to have a good time!

Charlie was the flower girl even though she didn't make it to the actual wedding in Puerto Rico and didn't do anything w/ flowers or anything else other than go to the reception. But wasn't she an absolute doll!?!? She looked so perfect! And she made it until about 9:00 at the reception before having a small meltdown. It all got a little overwhelming for her when she got tired. She got to meet so many people though and was a big hit! :) Other than that I'll let the pictures show the rest. We had an absolute blast and wish Kara and Todd nothing but the best in their promising future together. They are perfect together and I love my new brother in law!!!

My dad knows how to party - it's in the genes. 4 of the 5 bridesmaids - We rock. Continuing the party back in our hotel rooms. Just cause the party ended doesn't mean we stop! :)
The happy couple
Great family!
Getting warmed up on the dance floor
The greatest girlfriends on earth!

A GREAT evening!

*****************

In other news, Charlie's first tooth broke through the surface on Thursday! Her lower right tooth is the first to show it's top (although it isn't showing much yet) and she's been a trooper through it all! She's definitely drooling more than normal and chewing on EVERYTHING and is a little more clingy than usual but other than that you wouldn't even know she was teething! Such a good girl! I can't wait for it to come out more and see that cute little tooth. When it does I'll be sure to post some cute toothy grin pictures! :)