Riviera Maya, Feb 2012

Hola from amazing Riviera Maya, Mexico!! We left our house at 4:15 on Wed, Feb 22nd to head to the airport. We had a direct flight to Minneapolis and then straight to Cancun. We landed there around 2:45 & then transport to our resort. We stayed about an hour south of Cancun, but it was a nice drive. We got to our resort around 4:30 in the afternoon. We had enough time to eat and look around a little before it got dark & we crashed into bed!

On Thursday, we did our one day trip. We'd hired a tour company before we left & we truly lucked out! Francisco picked us up at 8:00 and the other couple that was to join us, re-scheduled, so we had one on one time with our tour guide!  First, we went to a private eco-park & went zip-lining! For anyone who knows either of us, this would surpise you! We are both afraid of heights, and I did consider not doing it, but it was fun! The line goes at enough of a slow slant that it wasn't super fast! I did drop a flip flop in the pond, but we did get it with our canoe ride! 

We both did the zip line 3 times! I hate that I can't get the pictures where I want to put them, so my story will be out of order! Someday I'll learn!

The highlight of my trip was the lunch at the daytrip. I must've mentioned to our guide that I love monkeys. It turns out that the tour company owner/restaurant owner, has a domestic spider monkey!  She let me play with her for about 1/2 hour! It was great! She was a 7 month old little girl and she thought my painted toe was a cherry! She nibbled on it forever!

We got "dressed up" twice for 2 restaurant nights.We went to an authentic Mexican restaurant & a Spanish restaurant! We tried some very interesting food, including octupus & I tried Grouper! I do not love fish, but it was very good!

Here is Eric coming down the long zip line!

More Lalita

Back to the private eco-park! We "cliff dived" into this amazing pool of water & swam for about 20 minutes. It was on private Mayan land where this group still lives on the land & cooks in their hut. It was surreal! The place was gated, for good reason!

Later, we went to Dos Ojos snorkeling in what is called a Cenote (she-note-a) which is like an underwater cave full of water! Totally amazing! The water was crystal clear! This was freshwater, but later, our guide took us snorkeling in a salt water "pond" which was full of amazingly colored fish

To end the day, we went to a public beach & swam about 50 yards out, where we encountered some giant sea turtles! What a treat! They were amazing!

Eric & I in the cenote, prior to snorkeling

We had a terrific time! We spent the rest of the time on the beach & just being together! We can't thank Eric's mom enough for watching the girls! Of  course, in true fashion, it did snow pretty heavily while we were gone!  Wondering if we'll ever get to use the new snowblower:) Had to hire it done..again!

I will try harde to  be better at updating!!  Time to get back into a routine again! I think we're ready!!

Owatonna trip

Harper & Evi at the pool

Ok, I know I've been super bad at blogging in 2012! With that being said, we've been very busy!

Mid January, Eric & I left on a Wednesday (I think it was the 16th) for the Cities. That day, he was having his consultation for his Lasik eye surgery! Bethany was going to stay with the girls thru Friday & then drive to Jackson to meet our parents, where they would all drive up to Owatonna for the big birthday celebration of my step-dad, who turned 50!!

Of course, when we left Sioux Falls, the weather planned on being fine, for a January.. Of course, mother nature knew we were going to be gone and SLAM...we got our first movable snow of the year and we were no where around to help Bethany out of the driveway! So, my gracious daycare lady, found us someone to move our snow!

So, Eric's surgery was a huge success. I watched from behind the doctor & from the time the laser turned on, till it turned off, it was 60 seconds per eye, he sat up & could read the clock on the wall! This is the first time Eric can see without glasses since he was about 7! He is about 20/20 each eye, or 20/15 with both eyes. I'm SO happy that we could do this for him! It's very exciting.

His eyes were very scratchy & uncomfortable for that first day, so I left him alone in the hotel & went shopping by myself for about 4 hours, while he rested. That night, we walked to a restaurant next door for dinner! It is so crazy how fast it worked & healed! His eyes were quite dry for the first month, but he is doing great!

That Friday night, my brother & family, us & our girls & my parents met in Owatonna MN for a weekend of family time, just to celebrate Scott's birthday. It was a great time! We ordered pizza for dinner & then on Saturday, all of us loaded up to the huge Cabella's store. We decided on this location just for the store! Scott loved it!

The girls got to do some swimming.

Look at that adorable tushy!

After a wonderful weekend, we returned to some snow, but it had already been removed from our driveway, so again, we have not been able to use our new snow mover! Go figure! Still not much snow this year:)

Harper enjoys hanging out on our bed to watch t.v!

She also found the sunglasses Eric had to wear to bed after his surgery, so he wouldn't scratch his eyes while they were healing. I think she looked better than dad! Sorry, honey, but they were not attractive:)

Next post: Mexico!!