Up, up and Away

I'm sitting here with a mound of fresh laundry that still has a hint of sea salt to it. We're home and I'm missing Riviera Maya, but there's something to be said about coming back to snow and Christmas trees (sorry Mexico those decorated palm trees don't fool me), nativities, holiday baking and all the other things that seem to whisper "Christmas is coming so very soon".
So Derek and I went to Riviera Maya and we Loved it! Everything from the crystal clear water to the the lush jungle surrounding us was great and it was so warm. I was in shock to be in anything less than the 4 layers of clothing I've been wearing these past few weeks at home. It felt good. We left early in the morning and met up with my cousin Cam in Chicago. He drove us to the airport to drop us off and then kept our car for the week. He actually works as an airplane mechanic at O'hare airport so I quizzed him on the ride over about how well built these planes are. I thought I deserved to know seeing how I was going to be thousands of feet up in the air with only my seat cushion and an air mask for safety. When are they going to put parachutes under the seats anyway? You see I went through this phase where I watched this TV show about airplane crash investigations. I've flown several times, but not since I freaked myself out with this show. Good cousin Cam assured me that they're flyin us around in some nice planes from the 60's and just slap a new coat of paint on them every couple years to keep them going.
Ha Ha. I really hope he was joking... 

Crazy Cousin Cam

Anyway the flights went smoothly except for when we were headed into Cancun and there was a storm which resulted in a good amount of turbulence. And then my darling hubby told me he thought one of the plane tires wasn't coming out for us to land. How he would know that I don't know.....I just held on to my seat and said my last goodbyes in my head. Ok maybe slightly dramatic, but those guys sure do know how to freak me out.

Welcome to O'hare Airport Christmas style

We were picked up and driven to our resort. Mexican style....aka, swerving, speed bumps, only yielding at stop signs and lights and speeding along. We got to our resort in good time though. 

They had an open air lobby

We enjoyed watching the dolphins at the resort

Derek chilling in one of the many pools

Not sure what these creatures are, but they liked to hang around the resort

Our room for the week

Almost 6 months together

 We both loved sitting in the hammocks. One day after sitting in them for awhile I decided to go get a drink for Derek and I. I went up and asked the guy for "two sobrosos" (a fruit smoothie pretty much). He kept saying "what, what?" and talking in spanish. He apparently didn't understand my English very well because finally he went behind his bar and reappeared with two glasses and said "two servesas". I took them and was like umm ok gracias. I knew it wasn't a fruit smoothie, but I was done trying to figure out what the guy was saying so I took the drinks back to Derek who informed me that "servesa" is beer. Yuck. Needless to say I let him go back and get the right drink. In the mean time I'll be working on my spanish skills ;)

One of the restaurants we went to

Towards the end of the trip we found out that our resort was about 70% european and mexican clientele. Therefore we had a hard time finding people who understood us when we asked them to take our picture. We had to use a lot of pointing and hand gestures :) 

Derek enjoyed playing sand volleyball one afternoon while I read my book

Lovely tan lines 

And that's a glimpse into how we spent our week in Riviera Maya. We hope to go back again sometime and would recommend it! :)

Seven in a Van

Derek and I had the pleasure of spending Thanksgiving in northern Indiana with his extended family. We missed our flight out there so we had to drive. Actually, just kidding;)....there was no flight and there is definitely not an airport in Middlebury, IN so we road trip'd it on out Wednesday night. There are 4 Vollmer men boys and they each happen to be over 6 foot. Let me tell you mini vans are mostly meant for Mini moms and their Mini children. Not grown men, especially not 4 of them. Although the trunk is rather spacey, you know how they have all that "stow and go" space in the trunk. Unfortunately you can't transfer some of that space up front into leg room. It was worth it though and there probably won't be that many more times that we'll all fit as a family in a 7 passenger van before Ross gets married or kids come along... (i guess we could always rent a 12 passenger van;). 
But alas to Grandmothers house we went and to Grandmothers house we did arrive around 11pm. We went right to bed and we woke up the next morning and were spoiled with cinnamon rolls and egg casserole. Then we hung out with family and had a delicious Thanksgiving lunch. We were stuffed and probably gained 5 pounds in that one day. Of course we played euchre, a family favorite:) It's nice to see everyone and we can't wait to go back for Derek's cousin's wedding at the end of this month! 
 

We don't have a Christmas tree for our presents yet :(

In the mean time we've finished our Christmas shopping and gotten started on wrapping and baking. We didn't send out a Christmas card picture this year because I feel like we look slightly boring without having kids/pets/cool tropical background etc to include in said picture. But...speaking of tropical backgrounds Derek and I will be heading to Mexico soon for a little vacation (This may or may not be why we are so on top of Christmas shopping). I am Sooo excited to go! Everyday that I have been freezing my tail off outside I just think about that 84 degree and sunny weather that is waiting for me;) 
 

$5 nativity that I scored at goodwill!

Have a great rest of the week! Be on the lookout for a vacation post soon!