Melanie 38 years old

Cross stitch pictures I made Melanie for her birthday.  She moved to Iowa this summer to teach at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI).  

Thanksgiving

 Thanksgiving Day here in Rexburg was really beautiful.  No snow, no breeze, a little chilly but a lot of sunshine.  The turkey was in cooking, the potatoes were boiled, the rolls were rising, the salads were made and Raquel was bringing the pies, so everything was ready early.  So, Randy and I decided to go on a bike ride.  We have never done that on Thanksgiving.  It was a great ride.  Maybe it is time to put the bikes up.  Who knows!!!!

Grandpa Landon (Ike) has been staying here for a few days.  We had a small group for dinner.  We had grandpa and Jaxon, Raquel, Kinsley, Keagan and Holden.  We all had a nice dinner and day.  I am so thankful for all I have.  We have all been blessed so much.  

Cancun- Day 9- Saturday- November 17- Flying home

 Checking out of the resort.  We had a total of 22 suitcases, a car seat and lots of carry-on bags.  We were quite a circus moving from place to place.  Everyone was so good to help us.

Waiting at the Cancun airport to fly home.  The Hays family  to Des Moines, Iowa and then drive to  Cedar Falls and the rest of us to fly to  Salt lake City.   Hillary, Caleb, Lily  and Ashley  are home in Salt Lake and Randy and I and the Jaxon Landon family drove to Rexburg.

Hays Family flight.  Henry making sure his Bear has a seat on the plane.
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It was such a fun week with all the family. The weather was wonderful.  We all enjoyed the sunshine and the cool breezes off the ocean.  The grand kids loved ordering daquires and pina colada any time they wanted to.   It is so fun to watch the grand kids play  in the ocean and the pools.  All of them were just wonderful.   It is fun to watch the parents with their own kids also.  It was just a great week.  Fun memories to have. Thanks to all the family for making it such a great week for Grandpa and Grandma.  We love you all lots !!!!!!!!

Cancun- Day 8- Friday- November 16- Tres Rios, Pirate Show

 We all went out to Tres Rios today.  It is a beautiful resort on the ocean.  Also it has 8 Cenotes on the property.  We took a ride to one of them.  The water is so beautiful and clear.

 You can kayak, snorkel and swim in them.

Holden and Keagan on the ride home from Tres Rios.  They were in the van with grandpa and grandma this time.  

 The maid leaves a beautiful towel art each night.  Our maid was very clever.  I like to save them until we leave.

 Holden and Keagan painted  'Mater" cars  down by the pool area.

We went to a Dinner and Pirate Show.  Oliver posed with the Pirates after the show.  

Cancun- Day 7- Thursday- November 15- Tulum

 Randy, Ashley and i headed to Tulum today.  Hillary and Lily were the only ones up when we left.

 We rented a car and  Randy drove.  Lots of fun sites along the way.

 At Tulum we got a guide to take us through.  You did not have to wait in the long line if you used a guide.  We ended up with Lemuel Petlacalco  (He is the nephew of Helaman that we met in February.  What a small world.  He just got his mission call to Costa Rico and leaves in December).  He did the regular tour and then was able to explain some of the Book of Mormon doctrine.  It was very good.

 Tulum ruines

 We saw lots of Iquanna's at Tulum

 Tulum is right on the ocean so a beautiful view.

 We next went out snorkeling in a small boat.  We were able to get picture of Tulum from the ocean reef where we snorkeled.

On the ride home we had a very large rain storm, but  a rainbow came out as soon as the rain quite.  It was a beautiful rainbow. 

Cancun- Day 6- Wednesday- November 14- Beach, Senor Frogs, Pool, Turtles

 Melanie had to work today  (grading papers that came on-line from her students), so Henry and her stayed in the room.  He loved  laying the couch cushions down and using them as a trampoline.

 Caleb was our person who stayed in the ocean with Kinsley and Oliver and kept track of them.  Thank you Caleb.

 Lily even got into playing in the ocean.  She loved the speciality drinks that we got at the resort.  She would start sucking on the straw and we would have to remind her to breathe.  She could down a half a glass at once.

 Grand kids playing in the sand.

 Grand kids burying  Oliver.

 Grand kids burying Aunt Ashley.  Right at the end Lily poured a 'sea shell' full of sand in Ashley's face.

 We walked from the resort to Senor Frogs.  We had a crossing guard at the intersection by our resort.  They take really good care of us.  We saw a gecko along the way.

 Lunch at Senor Frogs.  They had large swings out front that the kids enjoyed.

 Back to the pool to enjoy there.

We helped baby sea turtles into the ocean tonight!!!!  We are heroes !!!!!
The staff at the resort found a nest of turtles on the beach that were ready to head down to the ocean.  They knew if they tried to make it on their own  during the day light hours the seagulls or  people would get them.  So they brought them in and when it was dark they took a group of us out to the ocean and we got to release them.  What a neat experience for the grand kids to see and help with.  

Cancun-Day 5- Tuesday- November 13- Isla Mujeres

 Another beautiful morning in Cancun.  There was  lite breeze off the ocean and beautiful sunshiny shies.

 We took the bus over to Sunset Lagoon and ate breakfast

 Preparing to ride the boat to Isla Mujeres.

 The grand kids on the boat.  Lily, Henry, Holden, Keagan, Kinsley, Oliver.

 Boat ride

 Grandma and grandpa, Jaxon, Kinsley and Oliver went snorkeling.  It was the first time snorkeling in ocean for both the grandkids and they did wonderful.  We saw lots of beautiful fish.

 Family picture on the beach in Isa Mujeres

Relaxing,  (Ben and Caleb, this is the life), swimming and playing in the sand on the beach.

 Shopping in downtown Isla Mujeres

 We rented golf carts and  a scooter to tour the island.  Ashley was on a scooter and the rest of us went in golf carts.  We drove all the way around the island.

 Hanging out in the resort room.  Keagan and Holden each got a guitar and were playing songs for us.  Oliver and Kinsley laying on the couch bed.

We went to the night show at the resort.  They had a urban dancing show.  The performers were great.

Cancun-Day 4-Monday-November 12- Beach and Pool

 Ben and Melanie's family.  Oliver spent most of the day out in the ocean.  He loved diving under the waves and looking for shells.  Henry was not sure he liked getting dirty in the sand.

 Raquel and Jaxon's family.  Kinsley loved being out in the ocean also.  She liked looking for shells and diving under the waves.  Keagan and Holden loved playing with their buckets and building sand castles.  They came up with some pretty awesome ones.

 Caleb and Hillary's family.  Caleb was the one that kept track of the kids out in the ocean.  Lily was not sure of the sand either.  But she loved being outside.

 My kids said I needed to put me in a few of the pictures.  They say I am never on any of the trips.  Randy, Ashley and I enjoyed the beach also.  What a wonderful warm day.  The wind was blowing pretty hard but it was gorgeous.

 We all spent time at the pool also.  It is all so close you can go back and forth.

Dinner in the Restaurante Acuario.  It was seafood night.  We are all having  a great time.  

Cancun-Day 3- Sunday- November 11- Church

 Our room at Sunset Royal in Cancun Mexico.  The maid left us a double swam towel art.  They really do pamper us here.

 The whole family waiting in the lobby to go to church.

 Still waiting.  The van we lined up did not show so the resort lined one up for us.  Moving 15 people at once is a task.  We made it to church but we were a bit late.  (Like 1 hour)  The guy at the gate said it just started so we went in.  The last 15 minutes was great though.

 The church building.

Waiting for the van to come and pick us up .

 We took the boat ride over to Sunset Lagoon (sister resort) to go swimming.  Notice the crocodile we saw on the way there.

 Enjoying the warm weather.

 Swimming

Playing on the play ground and finding shells in the Lagoon.  A great afternoon.

We all did a Lobster dinner for super.  But I forgot to take pictures.  Lily was loving just going from person to person.  A great dinner.