Tulum

Wes and I enjoyed a trip to Tulum at the beginning of the month.  We joined our friends Brian and Kirsten to celebrate Kirsten's birthday in style.  Our last visit there was 6 years ago, and a lot has changed.  The restaurants are AMAZING!  We stayed at Mi Amor, a modern boutique hotel with a gorgeous view.

  The beach in front of Mi Amor was rocky but we were a 2 minute walk from a sandy beach.  Unico,  the hotel restaurant, was delicious.  Every place in town had a juice menu and I had to snap pictures so I can duplicate them at home...delicious!!!  Just down the road, we ate Thai food at Mezzanine.  Another win.

We did the obligatory tour of the ruins and spent a morning snorkeling in Dos Ojos, a popular cenote.    Unfortunately, I don't have an underwater case for my phone so I couldn't take pics.

We headed to Playa for our last night for a change of scenery.  We stayed at La Paz, a cute little condo with a beautiful courtyard.  The beach was across the street.

One of our favorite bars in Playa, with a gorgeous bougainvillea vine.

I think Wes has more pictures on his phone.  I'll have to upload those another day.

Birthday girls

I can't believe my babies are 4 years old!!!  We had planned a party for a few friends but the kids were sick so we cancelled.  We did a low-key family party instead.  And Andrea and Rachel were here for a visit, which was special.  They got to celebrate with us and enjoy gluten free, dairy free peanut butter cookies.  (Actually really good!!  I couldn't tell the difference between these and regular peanut butter cookies, especially when I put a Hershey Kiss on top!)

Dinner first...

Patiently waiting for presents.

Each kiddo gets 2 presents.

Stella's favorite?  Cutting board and knife.

These videos are taken over a two week period - lots of celebrating.

A card from Nana.

And even more presents from Uncle Joe and soon-to-be Aunt Lindsay!!

Grandma, I know I took videos of the kids opening your gifts and I can't find them - I think they are on Wes's phone.  I will add them when he gets back in town.  Sorry!!

Time to catch up!

Wow, I'm so behind on posts.  I'm making a list of posts I need to write to hold myself accountable:

Girl's birthday celebration
Tulum trip
Ear tube day


Let's start with ear tubes.  The doctor confirmed this surgery was a good idea - Reese and Drake's ears were FULL of fluid and crud, just asking for another infection.  Stella's weren't quite as bad but she still had some fluid.  Overall, the morning went well.  Three kids jammed into one tiny hospital room isn't ideal, but it worked.  We spent an hour and a half doing all the pre-surgery stuff:  a mountain of paperwork, vitals for kids, getting gowns and hospital bracelets, dose of Motrin, etc.  Then they took each kid one at a time.  Drake was first.  I handed him to the nurse, telling him "Yay Drake!  We'll see you in just a minute."  Later, they told us how brave he was...holding in his bottom lip all the way to the operating room.  Until they pulled out the anesthesia mask - then the tears started flowing.   After each surgery, the kids were taken to a recovery room and as soon as they started waking up, they brought them to us.  Drake was SO cranky.  He just kept pointing to everything he wanted.  Blankie, bunny, pacifier, cookie, lollipop, it was pretty funny.

Stella was second and she was the most upset.  She's been real clingy with me lately so it wasn't a big surprise.  But she was the happiest coming out of surgery.  She just blinked and looked at me, then ate her breakfast bar.  And she was singing a tune, of course.

Reese was the center of attention the minute we arrived.  She chatted up all the nurses, asking them what color popsicles they had and when could she get one!  (Every time she wanted to talk to a nurse, she would yell, "Lady!"  I need to have a Miss Manners lesson, apparently.)  When it was her turn, she grabbed the nurses hand and chatted all the way to the OR.  When they put her on the table, she looked around and asked where the orange popsicles were.  Waking up, she was groggy but that didn't stop her from eating her delicious popsicle.  We had to stick around for 30 minutes for another vital check, then we headed home.  Glad to have that out of the way and fingers crossed for some healthy kiddos.

Pre-surgery, playing with i-pads and hanging out.

Post surgery kiddos.

Pity Party for 1, please

We had to cancel the girls birthday party.  We had it all set for tomorrow but Reese spiked a fever this afternoon and Stella has an ear infection.  We can not win!!  We saw the ENT yesterday and he confirmed all 3 need ear tubes.  We will find out Monday the exact date for surgery - they think they have an opening for 3 back to back surgeries on May 8.  I am so tired of pumping these poor kids full of antibiotics that aren't helping.  For the past month, someone in our family has been sick every single day.  Wah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  OK, finished with my pity party.  Thanks for joining me.


Stella got into the winter clothes drawer and dressed herself.

Reese and her garden - sunflowers and daisies.

Drake with a cute hat he and KK made.

That's all I have for today.  Hoping tomorrow is a better day.

Ear trouble

Drake has a double ear infection.  Stella just got over an ear infection.  Reese has to have her ear tubes replaced.  We are keeping our local ENT in business.  All 3 kiddos have an appointment with the doctor who did Reese's surgery.   We might be scheduling 3 surgeries back to back.  Fun!!!!

Wes and I just got back from New Orleans for Jill's engagement party.  I didn't even make it to the party - spent the last 2 days in bed with a stomach virus.    The girls enjoyed celebrating an early birthday with Nana and Pop.   Here are the pics I received from KK and Nana.

Fun at the park.

KK took the kids to Target to pick out some goodies.

This pic is from a few weeks ago when all 3 kids were sick.

Stella wearing a Hello Kitty backpack.

Stella likes to spell the word STOP with her alphabet letters.  I find it spelled out randomly around the house.  Always cracks me up.

Drakes current fave - unwrapping all his crayons.

Reese took a break from dressing up as a princess to dress up in her winter gear.