Paul and Amy's Sunday - April 25, 2010

Paul and Amy invited us for lunch Sunday after church, so we had a wonderful roast beef dinner with potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower, fruit salad, and lettuce salad, topped off with delicious chocolate cake that Caleb made. I'm not ready to cook yet.

After dinner the grandkids showed us the new goat, what a cutie. Grace really liked holding him. We got to see the new baby chicks they got for egg laying, and Ellie enjoyed holding them. Ellie also put their dog, Lady, on a leash and led her around the yard, while the boys were all riding the go carts and motor bike. You can see all the pictures on Amy's blog. I forgot my camera and Amy let me use hers, but I can't seem to get them loaded on my computer. So I need another lesson in blogging.

I found the pictures so I'm posting them here. Enjoy! May 1st, 2010

We're Home from Cancun! April 24, 2010

Our last day in Cancun we took Jay to the pool and beach. Jay had fun in the pool with his boat and water toys. Jay did get to see the ocean and the beach. Les was enjoying finding all the neat conche shells. They were really plentiful this year. The pictures at the beach give you and idea of how much sand they brought in.
We had a great trip to the airport and home, as John and Carrie were switched from their flight with a stop in Texas, to a direct flight with us, so that was an answer to prayer. Even though Jay only slept a half hour he did well on the flight.
It's good to be home and we're thankful for a safe trip for all who came and went.

Senor Frogs

We took Jay to Senor Frogs Tuesday night thinking it was kids night, as it was when Jenny and Dan were here, but they told us it was Sunday night. Wouldn't ya know! Well, we came early enough we missed all the partying! We had a fun night and the food was good!

Jay playing with Isaac and Levi's balls and pool rings. Thanks Isaac and Levi!

Jay can hold two balls in one hand.

Wednesday night we went to Dolce... Mente Pompei.

Yes, it rained again tonight while we were out eating. But we got the photo taken first. We watched the big black cloud roll in.

Fun with John, Carrie and Jay in Cancun

We ate at the LaVeranda at the Sands the first night with John, Carrie and Jay. We took these pictures in the lobby at the Sands with Jay being king for the night.
John and Carrie brought a little boat so Jay could float around in the pool and not get his cast wet. Jay was trying his hardest to get himself into the pool from the boat. Jay's having fun even not being in the water and his cast is quite the conversation piece with everyone. John brought his bushes cutters and talked about cutting off Jay's cast before the end of the week. I don't think I want to be around for that! EEK!
The wheelbarrow pictures are in memory of John's broken leg when he was Jay's age. We had gotten a picture of John in the wheelbarrow. So we saw this nice little Mexican worker who let us use his wheelbarrow for the photo op.

April 18th, 2010 - John, Carrie and Jay Arrive!!!

John, Carrie and Jay arrived here at the Royal Resorts about 2:30PM Sunday. Hola, John, Carrie and Jay. We're so glad to have you here and so glad it's a beautiful sunny day after our tropical storm.
Jay was so cute and really wasn't slowed down by his cast. When we got to the room Jay was so glad to get down and walk around on his non-walking cast. He just went from room to room and out onto the patio. I can't imagine what he must have been thinking - looking at the big beautiful ocean and pool below.

April 17th, 2010 - A Visit with Rossy to Bonfil

We contacted Rossy before we came down to Cancun, to see when we could meet with her at her Educarte School. Rossy was at a Bible seminar in Dallas,Texas the first week we were here, so Rossy contacted us when she got home, and we set up a time to meet Rossy on Saturday, April 17th as she was doing a class with the children from Bonfil. Rossy had gotten some book marks and stickers for the children to make while we were there. Rossy asked the children to write something about Jesus on their bookmarks. One of the boys, Pedro, wrote: "Please change my dad." So Rossy has a wonderful ministry we these children.
I took pictures of each of the children and we are going to get them developed at Cosco here and give to Rossy to share with them. They all smiled when I showed them their picture on the camera.
Rossy and her daughter took us to a real authentic Mexican restuarant to eat after her class. It was called VaqueVa. The food was delicious. The owner was a friend of Rossy's daughter, so they treated us very well and serenaded us with mariachie players.

Rainy Days in Cancun - April 14,15,16, 2010

We encountered our first ever tropical storm in Cancun this year. After 18 years of coming here, and only 3 times it rained, for less than a half hour each time, we had 3 consecutive days and nights of rain. The local people even called it a tropical storm.
Linda and Doug happened to be the ones here to have to endure the storms, but they were real troopers. Since they had been here before they knew this wasn't the norm down here. Linda and I spent some time shopping, and we all played golf (the card game) in the evenings with Linda and Doug winning most of the games.
We celebrated my birthday with Doug and Linda, first at the La Habichuela Sunset on Thursday night and then La Doce Vita on Friday night. We enjoyed our time together.
Saturday morning when Doug and Linda left for home the sun was shining and was a beautiful day. Go figure!!!

Dinner at Harry's with the Hawkinsons

We decided to combine our weeks at the Sands and sell our weeks at the Royal Caribbean so
Doug and Linda told us they were interested in purchasing our two back to back weeks at the Royal Caribbean. Here Les is doing a handshake with them.
We went out to dinner at Harry's, a new restuarant, at the recommendation of Linda's niece, Erin. It was a beautiful evening with a lovely sunset and great food. We will put Harry's close to the top of the list for our favorite restuarants.

April 11 - 17, Hawkinson's spent the week with us!

Doug and Linda Hawkinson spent the week of April 11-17 with us at the Royal Caribbean.
Linda's niece, Erin, and her husband Joe were spending several days at the Omni Hotel next door to The Royal Caribbean, so we invited them to join us for dinner at Captain's Cove and come to our villa to see the Royal Resorts. They were a lovely young couple full of adventure.
They had rented a scooter for the week and even drove it to Playa del Carmen and back. How courageous. Joe told us one of the Mexicans by Cozumel told him he must be dumb and dumber. We're glad they made it down and back safely.
We got to see quite a bit of Harold and Betty and they joined us at Captain's Cove for dinner.

A Day Trip to Cozumel - April 10th, 2010

Sharon and Dave and Ree and Joe's last day here! We took a day trip to Cozumel, starting with an hour bus ride to Playa del Carmen, then a 30 minute ferry ride to Cozumel. Our guide took us on this boat to two different locations where we saw lots of neat fish and coral. Then we had lunch at one of the local restuarants.
When we got back to the Royal Sands we had Rossy come to show us her jewelry. We had a house full with us, Betty and Harold, and a couple (Andrea and Chris Neville) from Green Bay, WI. They were interested in helping Rossy. Andrea's mother and father bought a home in Viet Nam and support an orphanage there. Andrea's daughters are pre-med students and want to do some mission trips to Haiti, etc.
Sharon and Dave, Ree and Joe had to get up early the next morning to get to the airport so we said our good byes Friday night. We had a great week.

April 9th, La Habichuela - Cancun City

La Habichuela was the restuarant we saved for our last night out. It's one of our favorite restuarants. We were glad to have Betty and Harold join us also. We went to Market 28 before dinner so Ree and Joe could get a taste of bartering with the local people. Ree felt sorry for them and would have paid the price they asked for anything. It was a fun evening.
In honor of Mom, we wore the dresses Mom had bought us when we brought her to Cancun in 2004 for her 80th birthday. We also wore the sister pins Ree had given us one year.

Rolandi Hotel at Isla Mujeres - April 8th, 2010

We had a lovely evening for our boat ride to Rolandi Hotel at Isla Mujeres.

Wenesday, April 7th, Jenny and Dan Return Home & Trip to Isla Mujeres for Dinner at the Casa Rolandi!

Jenny and Dan left early Wednesday morning to go home. We had a great week with them and the boys. Here you can see Grandpa giving Isaac a big hug. We loved having you here with us.
They had a long day getting home with a stop in Houston and a delayed plane, but we're thankful they made it home safely.

A lovely evening on the Island of Isla Mujeres. We took a yacht over to the island from Cancun and ate at the Rolandi Hotel. They always have a beautiful sunset. You can see the sun setting behind Joe's back.

Tuesday, April 6th, Ree and Joe become owners at the Royal Sands

Sharon and Dave and Ree and Joe took a trip with their host to the Haciendas on Tuesday. After visiting the Haciendas by Playa del Carmen, Ree and Joe decided they would like to purchase a week at the Royal Sands close to Sharon and Dave.

Congratulations, Joe and Ellen on your new home away from home in Cancun!

Ree and Joe bought week 14 at the Sands across from Sharon and Dave. They told their host they were going to put a zip line between the two villas. Above the La Veranda, Ree and Joe's villa is the 2nd one up on the right.

Captain's Cove - Monday, April 5th, 2010

Monday night we went to Captain's Cove for dinner. Harold and Betty joined us along with Sharon, Dave, Ree and Joe. Harold and Betty have been coming the 14th week for many years too. So it was fun to have a group enjoying beautiful Cancun.

EASTER SUNDAY - APRIL 4TH, 2010 - CHRIST IS RISEN!!!

We took a bus to Cancun City and then hailed a taxi to take us to Rafa's church. Here Les is trying to explain to the taxi driver where the church is. We need two taxis since there were six of us. The other taxi driver is listening to the directions while Sharon is saying "I don't know what's happening". We did find our way to the church and the church members greeted us with open arms and even sat us down right under the air conditioner. No matter where you go in the world you feel at home with other believers. And yes, Christ is Risen Indeed on this Easter Sunday!

Rafa, our conceirge at the Royal Sands, who is a Christian, made arrangements for us to attend his church service on Easter Sunday. They provided interpreters for each of us so we could follow along with the message and singing. It was a very emotional, inspirational service. In fact, Rafa told us later one of us had a Holy Spirit moment with tears and all. And so it was! With a video after the message showing the crucifixiction of Jesus and the immense suffering he endured on the cross for each of us, we were touched, but Ree shed the tears. The heart of the message was to focus on the resurrection of Christ and how we are more than conquerors through Christ. Yes, Jesus has risen and is no longer dead, but alive and we have that same hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What a great promise to each of us! The service with singing and message lasted 21/2 hours but the time seemed to fly by and we were so grateful to Erick. Penelope and the other gal shown here who played the guitar and sang. Also George, who did not get in the pictures.

After the service it was about 2PM so we took a taxi to La Parilla for lunch then home to the Royal Resorts.

Les and I got home shortly before we left again to go out to eat with Jenny and Dan and the boys. But it was a wonderful, memorable Easter!

Easter Sunday: We had an Easter Egg Hunt Sunday morning with the boys searching for the Resurrection Easter Eggs and Mom and Dad sharing what each special symbol means. The boys also got to watch and Easter DVD about Jesus is Risen!! Here we're in front of Royal Caribbean ready to go out for dinner to an Italian Restuarant.

Jenny and Dan treated us to dinner at La Dolce Mente Pompei, a neat Italian restuarant on the ocean not far from Club International going toward Cancun City.

Isaac and Levi love being by the water and throwing rocks or shells into the ocean.

Levi heard a dog bark when we got to the restuarant, and every time you mentioned dog, Levi would stick his tongue out.

April 3rd, Sharon & Dave, Ree & Joe Arrive

Welcome Ree and Joe! They were guests of Sharon and Dave at the Sands!

Welcome to Cancun, Joe!

Welcome back Sharon and Dave! Cancun... your home away from homeDave's first time back to Cancun since they purchased their unit 2 years ago!

Sharon, Dave, Ree and Joe flew in from Denver Saturday evening, arriving around 7:30PM. Les and I met them at the Sands, "welcoming them home" to Cancun.

Fun at the Beach & Kayak Rides

Isaac and Levi loved to play in the sand. Levi really became attached to his rake and carried

it everywhere he went. They loved to dig holes in the sand (with Daddy's help) and fill it with water. Ocassionally the waves would come in and fill the hole for them. The bucket filling wasn't too successful. The water disappeared as soon as you dumped it.

April 2nd, Thursday, Les and Dan took the boys for a kayak ride in the lagoon. First Isaac went for a short test drive, then Levi went out. They both loved the ride so Isaac went all the way out to the mangroves and back in the lagoon. He "heard a big splash" while they were out there.

Jenny, Dan, Isaac and Levi Arrive!!!

Jenny and Dan left their van at Candlewood Suites and caught a shuttle to the airport to fly to Cancun. Isaac got his little lambie and Levi got his pacifier for the trip to Cancun. They got through the airport and to The Royal Resorts so quickly that Les and I weren't waiting outside when they got here and we heard Isaac come in to the lobby and say Grandpa. It was so fun to see them.

Levi meets the ocean for the first time. I'd love to know what he's thinking. Wow, this is the biggest pool I've ever seen. And the biggest sandbox!

Isaac's loving this big sand slide. It's really something to see them so taken up with everything.

Isaac and Levi throwing sand in the ocean with their shovels.

Jenny, Dan and the boys arrived in Cancun on Tuesday, March 29th, about 3PM, so we were excited to have them come and the boys were so excited with the sand and the ocean.

Cruise on the Lagoon

Sunday afternoon we took the complimentary boat ride in the lagoon and Les struck up a conversation with a couple from Buffalo Grove, Illinois. We found out he is a cardiologist who has his practice in Melrose Park with his wife, who is a pharmacist, working for him. We had quite a coversation about the health care bill. Neither of them are in favor of it, and both of them coming to the states from Poland have had first hand experience dealing with socialist medicine. Very interesting!!!

Cancun - Beautiful Beaches

Hola from Cancun. We arrived here safely on Saturday, March 27th, with a great flight and a stop in Dallas to change planes. We had the opportunity to sit with a young man in the navy who was going to San Diego for further training. We took the chance to thank him for serving our country. Even though there were stories of long waits in customs, we were through in just five minutes, that included getting the red light as we passed through.
The picture above shows what beautiful beaches there are here at the Royal Caribbean. This past year the government spent $70 million to restore the beaches again since the hurricane. Les thought the beach area going out to the ocean was at least the length of a football field and probably 10 feet high at some points. So we are enjoying our time at the beach and realizing what an awesome God we have just by viewing the ocean and sand.