Thursday, April 22, 2010

Isla Mujerhas, MEXICO

Happy 15th Anniversary Baby!
Thanks for taking me to a little piece of paradise to celebrate!
(We went in February 2010 but our Anniversary is October 14th.)

Isla Mujeres is a small beautiful island located a short ferry ride from Cancun. The island is seven kilometers [five miles] long and less than one kilometer wide however most visitors never leave the small town located at the west end of the island.

Isla Mujeres has a rich history filled with pirates and marauding buccaneers. As the story goes in 1517 a Spanish butcher by the name of Francisco Hermandez de Cordoba happened upon the island searching for slaves for Cuban mines, the Spanish already in the process of decimated the indigenous population of that island. Unfortunately the slavers found nothing but old statues which they perceived to be statues of women, thus the name of the island, "Isle of Women".(I think that is why Adam wanted to go here - to the Island of Women. Ha Ha.)


The transportation on the Island is walking, golf carts, motorcycles, scooters or a cab. It is amazing how many people and things the people of the Island can get on a scooter. We enjoyed many walks into the town to eat, shop and hang out at the beach.


We got up one morning to go Scuba Diving and walked to the Marina to find out that the winds were to strong to take the boat out. We made the best of the day by exploring the whole west end of the Island and enjoying a day at the beach. We did get to scuba later in the week. It was amazing, the water was so clear.

At the beach I got my fantastic hair do. It was perfect, I didn't have to do my hair the rest of the time we were there!



Crusin in Style!

We rented a golf cart to cruise the island in for a day. We looked all over for the Church. We finally found it in the middle of a neighborhood. Yes, it is in a house and the sister missionaries live there.

MAYAN RUINS
The Ruins are on the south end of the Island.



Isla Mujeres has one small archaeological site, which happens to be located at the most easterly point of Mexico. The Mayans, being astute celestial observers built a structure there for some unknown reason although the fact that sunlight hits this point first every morning might have something to do with it. It is also thought the structure may have been used as an observation post/lighthouse as well as a communication post being able to signal both boats and people on the mainland.

The structure is believed to be dedicated to the Mayan Goddess Ixchel, the Mayan Goddess of Fertility. Remnants of traditional ceremonies combined with Catholic overtones have been passed down from generation to generation and there are still Mayans alive today who practice the fertility ceremonies.

In 1988 Hurricane Gilbert hit the island hard and reeked havoc on the site but the site has been cleaned up and "renovated".


When we went to the south end of the Island to see the Mayan Ruins we hiked down the rocks to the ocean. In this picture we were looking back toward the west end of the Island. Dreamy water, don't you think? This is definitely one of the best places I have got to visit.

My baby is 3

Andrew is obsessed with Lightening McQueen. I like to spoil my baby so we had an awesome Race Car Party. We watched Cars, made race cars and raced. At the end of the race all the boys got a piston cup.

Some of the fun details:

Friends: Max and Connor

Excited Birthday Boy

Max and Andrew making race car sounds

Running as fast as they can ~ watch out mom!

Personalized license plates

Racing with Eli and making race car noises

Tire cupcakes
Wishes for being the fastest race car ever!


Happy Birthday Tiki Boo!

Teeth

I think this is the first of many visits to the orthodontist to come...

BEFORE
DURING
AFTER

Calli has started to lose her teeth and they are coming in big and sideways.
The JOYS of growing up!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Nice Family Christmas 2009


Christmas Eve we set out cookies and chocolate milk for Santa.

Christmas morning our kids slept in! We didn't get up until 8:00. Then the truth came out. Hilary got up at 2:00 AM to check out her goods. She was so tired that she slept in. What a great Christmas Day. We stayed home all day. I watched movies and just relaxed. I have NEVER stayed home the whole Christmas Day in ALL my life. It was nice.







Merry Christmas!

P.S. Sorry about no Christmas Card this year.

Christmas 2009 Parties!

Arrington Family Christmas Party

Great Grand Kids with Great Grandam Faith


Calli was so excited to sit on Santa's lap and then he called her name - Melt Down. I am not sure what happened. When it was Andrew's turn she finally went up with him. She was still nervous.

Hi Five Santa!

Hill Bill

~The Talent Show~
Since I was little we always did a talent show at the Christmas Party. Usually it is singing and or playing the piano.

This is my cousin Casey's talent. He made a set of chimes this year so he had some family members demonstrate his "talent". Left to right: Casey, Uncle Burt, Cousin Ryan, Jeff my Dad, Auntie Ann, Uncle Cam. Great job guys.

Hilary and Marshall's talent: the Piano. They both played different versions of Carol of the Bells and their duet.




Bullock Family Christmas Party

The Bullock party used to be on Christmas Eve but since all the grandkids started having kids it was time to change the tradition. We always sing Christmas songs, eat dinner and do a gift exchange with the kids. This year the kids were dancing in the middle of the room while some of the adults were singing. Thanks Mandi, Mom and Aunt Linda.

Great Grand Kids

Cookies anyone?


Nice Family Christmas Party

Grandpa & Grandma Nice, Great Grandma Poppleton

The NICE boys

Steph

Christina & Eliza

Calli and Andrew enjoying their gifts from Grandma. Thanks they love them!
Arrington Christmas Eve Party

The Kids eargly await for their girts.

Dad, Mom, Jeffrey, Jane, Grandma Dona, Jim & Josh

Jeff Jr., Jake & Jim
I love the cute shirts that the twins got from Santa!
"All mommy wants for Christmas is a Slient Night"

Happy Hilary! ~ Thanks Molly.

Grandma Julie gave all the grandkids matching jammies, books and a stuffed animal to go with the book.