What We Did on Our Summer Vacation

We're not good at family recreation. Nights on the patio are often spent answering emails or rehashing our days at work. Don't misunderstand. We spend a lot of time playing with the kids, and we enjoy each other's company. It's just that, most of the time, we spend our recreation time heavily scheduled and organized: soccer, swim lessons, an hour or two at the neighbor-pool hood (as Gigi would tell you). We were determined to make family vacations a priority, but we never quite had the gumption to book a trip.

Over a year ago, I had a glass of wine (or two) with a friend at my last firm function. In the flush of the moment, she suggested that we join her family on vacation. To my surprise, she (who probably hadn't had quite so much wine as I had) followed up the next day. And, I'm ever so grateful that she did.

Playa del Carmen. A lovely not-so-little town (our driver said it's over 200,000, but you'd never know it). We spent a whole week on the beach with no schedules and blessed little internet access. I got to be my favorite version of mom for seven days: Vacation Mom!

Our adventure began, as always, at the airport:

It was an early flight, and Gigi is not a morning person. (This was supposed to be her first day of school dress, but she cried and wanted to wear it on the airplane. Vacation Mom is cool, and Vacation Mom said "yes."

This was the first plane trip she'll remember. Her brother, however, is an expert and was happy to tell her all about it. At 5 a.m.

"Me? I'm a world traveler. No big deal."

Bare Bear made the trip with us in a drawstring canvas bag. It's a little twisted cramming him in there headfirst upon landing. Vacation Mom has a dark side. 

Kids these days--they have no idea what it was like flying with a paperback, looking forward to a quality hour with Skymall.

Angelina bear made the trip too. She rode in a pink Hello Kitty backpack that somehow didn't seem nearly so dark and twisted. 

Gigi's first look at the ocean. She was overwhelmed and non-too excited at the prospect of waves. 

This guy, on the other hand, loves the surf. But for a raging case of hives, he would have spent the entire week bouncing around in his life jacket. 

Then again, the beach is awfully hard to pass. 

We hadn't even checked into our hotel before this little one was crying to go play in the "big sandbox.' 

Our first night ended with a moonlit walk on the beach. Vacation Mom hangs out in swimwear nearly 24/7; it takes her back to her lifeguarding days when she really did live in swimwear 24/7. 

A lovely end to a lovely first day. 

We built a castle in the moonlight. 

And friendships were solidified. 

These kids. Keep your eyes on them. They're amazing young people who are going to be amazing grown-up people. (Gigi was off running somewhere. She'll be amazing too, but for now, she is two.)

We made it to the big sandbox again. 

And a few more times after that. Once we convinced RJ that seaweed was really just weeds, like dandelions, he was entirely content to settle in at the water's edge. 

I caught Gigi bellied-up to the pool bar. I won't pretend that this doesn't concern me just a bit.

Then again, Vacation Mom enjoyed a few poolside drinks herself.

We made it into town and completely blew RJ's mind. It's quite easy to forget that Mexico is an entirely different culture--until you're back there. It's bright and colorful. Prices seem exorbitant until you remember the exchange rate for pesos. 

The food is amazing. I was sure we were going to end up hovering near the bathroom after eating street tacos, but apparently, we have iron guts (or the food trucks are much cleaner than they appear). The tacos were delicious! (Big thanks to our friends for taking us on the adventure.) Of course, no family vacation would be complete without a few maladies. This time? Dad got stung by a thousand fire ants while standing guard for RJ to relieve himself in a Mexican plaza. (I swear we don't usually let him do that, but he had to GO, and honestly, no one bats an eye when dogs wee on trees.)

RJ partook in some crafting, which pleased School Mom to no end. He's not typically into things like art. I credit the beautiful little redhead to his right for his sudden interest. 

I mean, just look at this child--she's gorgeous!

In Gigi's world, she's a princess celebrity whose appearance could be outshone only by Cinderella herself. 

We ate dinner at a fantastically unique restaurant set in an Mayan cave, ALux. It was dark and damp with a natural waterfall just past our table. The food was tasty and non-Americanized in its portions; that is, dinner was delicious, and we ate what we ordered, feeling satisfied but not overstuffed. Yum.

I feel as though this may be foreshadowing at its finest. I hope that their first date doesn't involve both of them on their phones. 

These little ladies had such a good time, and I'm so thankful that Gigi had a friend to play kitchen with at the pool. 

Most nights, dinner looked more like this. Vacation Mom wished there was a dishwasher in our condo, but really, a full kitchen is the way to go with little ones. They ate their Fruit Loops on their own time, and they enjoyed supper in their 'jammies. 

Of course, a condo with maid service has its perks: towel bunnies!

And of course, there's the freedom to play. Here? RJ is pretending to be Gigi's pet dog. She enjoys the game just a bit too much. The furniture actually did have cushions; we just moved all of the cushions upstairs each night to pad the marble floor. Gigi took a swan dive off the bed the first night, ending with a nasty bruise on her forehead. We were just grateful there were no broken bones (or teeth). 

We spent a lot of time goofing in the pool. Vacation Mom finally trusted the waterproof phone case enough to take it underwater (with a little help from her friend Margarita).

Within two days, Gigi was well known at the pool, and for those who didn't know her and who tried to jump in and save her, I apologize. She's a little crazy. But we know that, and we've taught her to swim. She needs a sign around her neck, "I'm older than I look. I'm short. But I can swim." 

Water baby.

Poor baby. By day 7, he had hives and was forced to wear his sister's long-sleeved rash guard. Sunblock burned his face and was impossible to rub in. But none of this slowed him down. 

He's a competitor at heart--racing the waves. 

Vacation Mom likes selfies. 

Of course, no trip to the beach is complete without a few dressy photos. (I actually did bring my good camera; the phone camera was just so easy, hence the phone photos for most of the trip. Vacation Mom is all about easy.)

I wore this dress on my honeymoon--ten years ago! Hooray for running!

For a six-year old, our photographer was pretty incredible. 

Look at this little woman's suntan. I promise, even Vacation Mom is a stickler about sunscreen. The dress? It was mine. Mom and dad brought it back from Acapulco when I was two. 

I tried to make her take it off for the plane trip home. She refused and wore it with turquoise striped shorts. The water is turquoise in this part of Mexico. Her dress is from Mexico. By transitive properties, the outfit matched. Or, Vacation Mom just didn't care. 

After a week away, RJ's comment summed it up best for himself and sissy: "I'm just so glad I'm back to normal chocolate milk!"

After approximately 15 hours of travel seated beside or on Vacation Mom, Gigi agreed to sit beside dad on the flight home--and promptly shut her mouth to fall asleep. Life isn't fair to Vacation Mom sometimes. 

Then again, Vacation Mom has very little to complain about. 

In the end? We rinsed the sand from our feet....

And made it blissfully home. (He walked into the house, kicked off his shoes, and zonked sound asleep on his living room floor.). 

Special thanks to our friends, the Watsons. You guys were fantastic hosts. Your kids are polite, smarty pants, and pleasant to be around. We had a great time! This family vacation thing is the bees knees.