cancun

Mexico, oh how i love Mexico....Cancun, more specifically....as many of you know, Jeff and I had the surprise of a lifetime just before Christmas when I won a radio contest offering a free, all-inclusive trip to Cancun with others from the local radio morning show.  there were twelve of us in total.  we arrived home last Saturday night to our kids and brave, brave parents who graciously offered to move in and hold the fort.  Mom and Dad, thanks soooooooooooooooooo much......the break was so incredible and the seven nights staying in such a beautiful resort was a treat i never could have imagined ever experiencing...i find myself drifting back in my mind to the blue beaches and warm white sand.  i imagine what i would have been eating a week ago~ because being totally honest, the food was fabulous and even nicer when prepared by a chef other than myself!  here are a few pictures.  if this is all too torturous for you, i fully understand....skip the photos and return next week for more of the usual...

first photo~ we're on our way....i still love flying~ it remains a novelty for me.  right down to the mini pretzels...

 

 from the Presidential Suite, which we toured but were not staying in, a view of the great pool..

 

 

Jeff on the Mexican Wrestling night, loving every minute, and insisting on being shirtless for the photo.  otherwise it wouldn't have the same effect, i'm told...i laughed so hard seeing his eagerness to get in the ring.  you had to be there, i guess, but it was super fun...

 

us at Zen, a Japanese restaurant with a fun and talented chef preparing the food right in front of our group....

 

i loved the food....and wonder if my dear father would install something like this in my kitchen...so easy to cook on and my kids would love it if i learned some of the same tricks....like the flaming volcano onion stack....it would be great for parties! 

walking to a nearby mall. 

 

sitting with Sarah on the gnome chairs.  this girl is crazy and fun and sweet....nice to get to know her...

the view from my chair late afternoon....just a wee bit pretty...

some dude playing volleyball....wait a minute, that's Jeff!!

 

typical breakfast for both of us, with Jeff's plate always including a bigger heap of bacon.  he's in withdrawal this week.  his arteries are glad we are home.  amazing omelettes, french toast, fruit, freshly squeezed juices and hot coffee....TAKE ME BACK!!!!!!!!

the token palm tree shot...

 

Mel and I...another great girl who happens to look like my sister in this pic.  she's lovely and kind and the wife of a crazy fun man, named John....

 

the beach at night.  in this picture i'm trying to mentally prepare to "walk away" in just 12 hours...

 

still having trouble saying good-bye to a week of fun and rest....hanging on to the bitter end...

 

it was, however, great to drive up the snowy driveway and see a few little monkeys peering out the window, awaiting our arrival.  nice to snuggle them and catch up with their lives...they did great with grandma and grandpa~ and grandma and grandpa did great with them.  my parents returned to their much more sane  calm existence and slept well in their own bed...

so, back to reality with a renewed and refreshed spirit.  good thing~ because this week is a big one.   Muchas gracias, Cancun....