About a month ago, we actually left on Valentine’s Day, we had the chance to take a family vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was a week full of hours in the pool, delicious food, and nothing to think about aside from how often we applied sunscreen.
I was pretty nervous about travelling to another country with two little ones. I had only flown once before, and never with two kids in tow. I was afraid of not packing everything we needed, nervous about navigating airports without losing anyone, and definitely anxious about flying. I do not fly well. But it turns out, I had nothing to worry about. Aside from forgetting wipes, which we were able to purchase at the resort, we remembered everything, made it through each airport without too much trouble, and we all had a wonderful time.
We almost missed our first flight, because there was an issue printing Colette’s boarding pass, but once we were on the plane, both kids were so well behaved. We flew from Greenville to Dallas, had a two hour layover, and then from Dallas to Puerto Vallarta. Both kids slept almost the entire time we were in the air and we didn’t have a single melt-down. All in all it was a very successful trip. And to top it all off, Cullen got to sit in the cockpit after our last flight and push all the buttons. I think it was the highlight of the trip for him, and it is something we will never forget!
Our trip home was a little more eventful. Our flight out of Mexico was delayed for about six hours. After a total of eight hours in the airport in Mexico, three hours of sleep in a hotel in Dallas, and an early flight to Greenville the next morning, we ended up making home eleven hours after we were supposed to. But both of the kids were wonderful throughout the whole trip home. They were so well behaved, which made things a little less stressful.
We stayed at the Grand Velas Rivera Nayarit, by far the most beautiful place I have ever stayed. This was the view from our balcony, and those are the pools we played in all week.
There were a few big group dinners, and a few nights were we ate dinner on our own in the restaurants on the resort. The group dinners always had activities for the kids, like pinata and kite making. We ordered lots of room service, especially at breakfast. And we either ate lunch pool-side or at the oceanfront restaurant. We all came home a few pounds heavier, but it was so worth it. Even Colette ate her weight in guacamole and quesadillas.
We went down to the beach a few times, but after jumping in the waves for a few minutes, Cullen was ready for the pool again. And I don’t blame him, the sand there was really too course to play in.
Cullen only got out of the pool to order another round of apple juice (if he didn’t just swim up to the bar to order). He had the best time, jumping in the pool, swimming circles around his Daddy, and make lots of new friends. He also really enjoyed the kids show they had every afternoon. He got to sit at a picnic, eat a couple of popsicles, and watch a puppet show or a sea lion, then hop right back into the pool.
Colette and I played in the water a good bit as well, and she LOVED it! But we also spent a lot of our time in the shade, sipping (virgin) fruity drinks and napping.
And can I just mention that this little girl can pull off a floppy hat like no one else. I’m a little jealous.
After a full day at the pool, Cullen pushed Colette back up to our room where they both napped until we made them get up for dinner. Or just let them sleep while we ordered room service.
We had originally planned on spending one day in town, because it seems a little silly to us to go to another country and not even leave the resort. But at the last minute we decided the kids would enjoy the pool more than shopping and happy babies makes for a happy Mommy and Daddy. But we did get to see some peacocks and iguanas just running around, so at least that was something we don’t usually see at home. And we have plenty of beautiful pictures to keep as souvenirs.
I could not have dreamed up a better week. It was the most relaxing week I have ever had with two kids, we got a break from some cold weather back at home, and we all got some much needed Vitamin D. We had a great time, Puerto Vallarta, and we hope to visit again soon.
