Boston visit

We love going up to Boston to visit my cousins Portia and Abi. It started when I was 18, just graduated high school, had my license and car less than a year and I decided we'd drive up and visit them at the apartment they were sharing for the summer. 14 years later here's what I think about that trip: how did I drive through 4 states with no fear, no GPS and printed out mapquest directions and why did my parents let me?!? We continued with our Boston visits through the years and went from going out and partying the entire weekend to staying in the entire weekend and it's still just as fun if not more now. We planned on watching the Crossfit regionals but Olivia and I decided to stay home and hang out instead!

Olivia hung out with her brand new baby cousin Sebastian (3 weeks), bestie cousin Ellie (15 months) and big boy cousin Colin (3 years). She loved watching her older cousins walking and playing and I think they motivated her to start crawling and pulling herself up to stand. There was playing in the backyard, a walk to the playground, nap times, bath times, and generally just hanging out. It was a kid-centered visit for sure, and it was a blast. I hope as the kids get older we bring them together often enough that they grow as close as we are.

PJ time

Fun  in the sun

Babies, babies, babies!

With Ninang Portia and Ellie!

It's the Dutchboy painter!

Olivia's first Santacruzan

For as long as I can remember, my parents have told us how we all were in the Santacruzan since before we could walk. For as long as I can remember, walking in the Santacruzan was long, hot, and uncomfortable. So every time my parents would ask if I'd be putting Olivia in it this year I'd say "only if she wants to" which really meant only if I wanted to, which I didn't. Because I didn't want to walk in it again. Because it's long, hot, and uncofortable. But then it was agreed that Mama would be doing the honors, so whew! I came home from work Saturday before the big day and O's stroller was decorated with hula hoops and tulle and flowers courtesy of my mom and Vince. And on Santacruzan day my baby followed in a tradition that my family has been a part of for over 3 decades. And she did so wonderfully, she rode the entire thing smiling and babbling. I felt silly for resisting this for so long, because after seeing her with my mom I felt so proud. I was proud of her and my parents and the community for keeping up this lovely tradition.

Here's the news story on The Filipino Channel

Or click here to watch and read the article.
Skip to 0:39 to see Mama, 0:48 to see Lolo, and 2:33 to see Olivia!

More Mexico

...so I really really slacked when it came to finishing the Mexico posts, and it's been so long I don't even really remember what we did and when, so here's a synopsis of what we did the rest of the time:

Naps on the beach

Fun with daddy

"Best wing man ever"

Contemplating with mommy

And sight seeing

Huevos Jueves

 ...we had eggs for breakfast. While standing on the deck we saw another spider monkey eating an apple.

And we finally made it onto the beach!

Caught you drinking sea water again!

Matching!

Mousse cake Miércoles

It rained for over an hour this morning, but that didn't stop the dynamic duo from getting in the pool! It was a solid tropical rain storm, heavy rain for 1 minute then a light rain for 5 minutes, a peek of sun, them back to heavy rain. Olivia loved it, since her floating fish completely protected her from the rain she probably didn't even realize it was raining. When it was time to go back inside for her nap we ran into a spider monkey outside our villa! It walked right past us, waited for a couple to pass the walkway, and climbed the pillar up to the roof. After her second nap we got back into our swimsuits and headed back to the pool.

Then we went to dinner during which the Cranky Princess fussed throughout. We are probably just going to order room service for dinner from now on since no matter how early we go to eat Olivia just isn't having it. The great thing about this resort is that everyone else has small kids as well and everyone keeps telling us she isn't bothering them, that it's ok to let her cry, but that's coming from cool laid back Europeans, and we are too used to rushing her out as soon as she makes a peep. When we got back from dinner I got a happy surprise!

Mousse cake and a towel cake!

Taco Tuesday

Unfortunately there were no tacos to be had today, but when alliteration is at stake I choose artistic license over veracity. Know what was eaten today? Papaya!

Olivia vs Papaya

Winner: O!

After breakfast O sat on the deck and thought about life. Or swimming. Or that papaya...

Olivia ultimately decided to go swimming with her daddy before her morning nap.

After her nap we took her to the playroom so she could roll around and stare at other kids. 

Then it was pool time again and this time I got in as well. 

When we got back to the room there was a towel kitty waiting, but Little Miss was ready for dinner and in no mood for pictures

...until after dinner. And after her highness fell asleep mommy and daddy had moonlight mimosas.