Mexico to the 3rd Power

So, I had never been to Mexico before 2014. Somehow I've now gone 3 times in a single year. Same for Brock. Anyhow, if you tire of our Mexico posts, I understand... that said... let's go to Mexico! Again! This time to Playa de Carmen! 

Upon arrival at Paradisus la Esmeralda Brock apparently found his soul (that was an obscure Pulp Fiction reference if you missed it).  Here Emma and Brandon enjoy the glow in the hotel lobby as we check in. OMG, check in was a bit of a travesty, but maybe Matt can better tell that tale.

Brock got a side job as a bellboy. I actually wish we would have had him carry all our bags up (again, maybe Matt will give you the gory details, I'll remain mute as, although legitimate, they are totally first-world-all-inclusive-resort-people-problems).

Brock quite enjoyed his first day on the beach. The following two days at the beach were met with pronounced disdain. Matt theorized that his reusable swim diaper was too tight on his ample thighs. We switched back to disposable swim diapers the following days and joy resumed.

Hmmmm, judging by Brock's face this may have been a too-tight swim diaper day.

Our room was divine. Worth the splurge since the rooms we first wanted were booked. We had a swim up! Even though there were other wonderful kid-geared pools at the resort, Brock preferred our personal patio. Here, in the primordial pool of play, "Kiss Shark" was born.

Kiss Shark is a serial smoocher.

Our excursion away from the resort brought us to Tulum to see the town and the ruins, and also the wildlife!! Here is a possum!! We saw him on a walk from where the colectivo bus dropped us off. The colectivo bus was awesome. It will pick you up anywhere along the way from Playa to Tulum and is CHEAP. 

Oh the lizards of Tulum. By the time I saw my 8th lizard the novelty had faded. Here must be lizard number 2 or 3. 

We ventured to the ruins with the Jacobson's: Sarah, Tim and Brady. An elegant group shot is featured above.

The beach! What a lovely seascape!

Here is something old. But as we learned, strangely nowhere near as old as Oxford University.

The boys from the sea angle... turn around and...

you have the land angle!

Guess what... more lizards!! This was lizard #8, truly the best as he was very close and ate berries and stuff.

OMG! I forgot to mention that we rode the colectivo with Magnum PI and that Dalton from "Roadhouse" drove the bus!  It was AMAZING.

At the resort Brock is left to ponder the existential meaning of a waffle. 

It is so wonderful that we have a child who will stop to smell the roses. They are "gross"!

We rose for the sunrise a few mornings and it was wonderful. Here we are with necessary accouterments, juice (Brock's first watered down introduction), coffee and BIG bananas. BIG is very important to Brock these days. The ocean was known as "BIG water".

So beautiful, and no sun goop required!!

Later in the day at Big water.

Gawd. He was so cute, and of course we only remembered to film after some of the magic had died. Grandmas... gather your strength for this clip.


He lived!

Small water. The kiddie pool with an awesome view of the pirate ship. The hippo slide was a favorite of Brock's, known to the general public as "BIG eye".

I can't believe that I am 3 shades whiter than Matt.

 This coati was the wildlife highlight of the trip. The critter visited us at our favorite lunch table.

...and here we have "BIG balls", naturally.

More soul searching.

Each night we got all 21 of us (10 adults, 11 kids) together for a group dinner. This night was Mexican night at Mole. It was very tasty! An excellent alternative to corn beef and cabbage.

Brock hits a deep snooze at the beginning of dinner, the luscious lump is exposed by the yellow arrow. Let there be another drink and dessert!  Woooooot!

We ate crickets with our guacamole... they were pretty darn yum, if you are into spicy hay.

Dinner success!

Thank you uncle Don and Den for the phone gchat monitor tip. We celebrate with a night cap as Brock dreams of Big eyes, Big water, Big meat and all other Big fun.

A final group photo, all kids facing forward and everyone looking quite reasonable... a feat of unfathomable luck.

If ever the resemblance was unclear... What a wonderful trip with my favorite people!