Puerta Vallarta 2010-2011 Part I

This year's annual Yonker family trip was to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. I was equal parts nervous and excited this year. I knew my kids were at a great age for having fun in the pool, sand etc. However, I also know Sydney is at a TERRIBLE age to travel on a plane (for 4+ hours). Regardless, they did GREAT. Of course we had our travel issues....waking them up in Milwaukee at 3 am, being VERY sleep deprived by the time we got to Mexico and not having a room for 3 1/2 hours aka no ability to nap, boycotting sleep on the return flight (Gavin) and crying the whole two hours home from Wisconsin (Sydney). Overall though, it could have been far worse.

The whole week was a blast. Again, very nervous about this whole 4 people in a room thing--especially at nap but they managed quite well. Granted they survived the whole week in a sleep deprived haze. They were going to bed very late every night and Syd was skipping her morning nap all week. Needless to say at nap time, they crashed hard (usually after Sydney bounced around in her crib for 20 minutes while Gavin shushed her).

Each morning Gavin usually woke up talking about pancakes, waffles, quesadillas and one of his cousins (this trip mostly Margot but also, Sam, Bea, Addie and Charlie. All in all we would have had 34 people this year but unfortunately, Kyle, Heather and Harry could't go due to a funeral and were definitely missed!

Traveling is always a challenge...but the end result is so worth it! (Pictures are in two posts)

A kid "hot" spot--the Hot Tub.

Blowing bubbles. Syd's non-swim diaper ghetto booty.

Pool smiles.

Gavin feeding a parrot.

So brave! He also held an owl but I don't have a picture.

Loving life!

Seriously, so easy to get perfect shots at this age.

Gram Dody with baby Greta.

Its a Triple Threat!

Beach party dinner.

Addie, Margot, Bea and Gavin join the dance competition.

But soon abandon it for playing in the sand.

Uncle Chach....we all knew he'd be a bad influence.

The Sydney Stare-Down.

Getting ready to play in the sand.

And this is how she feels about it.

Clearly, she's a fan.

Wait, she didn't QUITE get her point across.

Me and the kids...one you can't get OUT of the sand and the other you can't get IN the sand.

About 5 minutes later, she was out on his shoulder..in the pool...with a long strand of drool on his chest. A fav pic of the week for me.

Spaghetti night!

I just want to squeeze those cheeks on her!

Snack time.

A rare moment of my fish out of water having a snack.

This little herd of kids (minus Craig) were rarely seen out of the water.

And they would climb, wrestle, play with anyone they could get all 8 little hands on.