Mexican Getaway!

These are all pictures from Playa Del Carmen Mexico, where Josh and I just went on a mini vacation getaway.  Ahhh... it was heavenly :) He didn't get any days off this year for Christmas and we had talked about him taking a week off in February.  Originally, we thought we would take the whole family somewhere, but the more time that went by and work, the more we both realized we wanted to do something just the two of us.  We went to the same area for our honeymoon and hadn't been back since.  It was BEAUTIFUL!

We stayed at the resort Secrets Maroma Riviera Maya.  It was new and clean and just so wonderful for this stay.  I would highly recommend it.  It was adults only and so very wonderful.  There were several pools and beach areas to use.  The weather was spotty showers, so we appreciated the heated pools when the clouds rolled in.  The sunny times were spent on the beach, with a fruity drink, listening to my ipod or reading a book.  Having only ourselves to think about and take care of was so foreign, but we quickly remembered how to relax :)

 

We enjoyed breaking up our day with eating, sleeping, going to the spa, laying on the beach and eating some more.  It was just so nice to talk to each other without interruption and relax.

The room was beautiful, and again, just so clean.  They came in two times a day to take care of it!  Wish I could have those little magic helpers at my  house!

 

We had a swim up room.  The pool was shared with the four other ground floor rooms in our building.  It was heated and a really fun place to sit and talk.  This was right after one of the afternoon storms we had.

 

The resort had entertainment every day and night.  Bonfires, karaoke, games and all sorts of other things.  Sadly, we were back in our room and asleep by 10-11 every night.  The thought of uninterrupted sleep was just too appealing.  The night we got there was Super Bowl Sunday.  We did go and participate in the fun that night.  They had three giant screens with the game on and a huge tailgate of sorts with all American foods.  It was hilarious and SO fun.  This is the picture we took in the photo booth.  

The food was a whole other thing.  I have stayed at some all inclusive places where there was okay food and okay drinks.  Not here!  The food was awesome!  We loved having a date night every night at a different restaurant.  The Italian was out favorite.  We got to sit in the wine cellar and had the most amazing dinner.  There was this giant cheese wheel they brought around to shred on your food and bread that I literally have dreamed about! 

Josh's mom came down and took care of our girls for us.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful parents!  It was so nice to know they were at their house on their schedule and were having fun!  We were there four nights and felt that it was perfect.  We were missing them and ready to be home that last day.

It may be another 8 years, but Playa, we will be back!  Did I mention we loved it?

Ahhhhhhhh!

Latest Happenings

 Without the monthly age post, I don't feel like I'm getting all the Mommy memorabilia written down.  This post is just to make sure that even in the crazy stage we are in, I remember some preciousness and details :)  Sadly, after Christmas, where I felt like I was attached to my camera, I haven't done very good at snapping many pictures.

Caroline, 14 months:

Oh, sweet Caroline...I don't even know where to start!  The easy, happy go lucky, baby you have been, is a thing of the past.  Since you turned one, HOLLA!!  You have worn me out!  This pic is prefect for my sweet, stinker baby.  Black eye, tongue out and busy.

 It could be the 12 teeth you have cut (all 4 molars this week)!  Or the fact that you have been sick every other week since Christmas, but as long as you are full, rested, getting what you want and on Mommy's hip, you are happy;) You have learned how loud your voice is and put it to good use.  Luckily for me, you still love to use it to sing, talk, and laugh. One of my favorites right now is when Daddy sings, "Sweet Caroline", you sing the "ba ba bas"!  You are learning more words every day.  Animals and their noises are your favorite.  I think you believe the bath tub is called the quack quack from the ducks:)  A couple of phrases have even come out, "read the book", "throw the ball",  "bye bye Daddy", "Hello Baby" (talking to pictures of herself).  You named your lovie Night Night, just like Lila did at this age.  Any time some one says "I love you", "bye bye" or "goodnight",  you make a kiss sound!  SO sweet!

You are still a really good eater and will try just about anything.  You still sleep from 7-7.  You are getting braver with your cruising around and standing a lot!  Your favorite thing to do is walk around behind your push toys and be with your sister.

 

 Lila, 3 years 2 months:

My Lila girl, this stage is the most fun and the most exhausting with you.  From sun up (or a little before)  to sun down, you are talking!  I am so thankful for my genius, verbal girl, but some days...you wear me out!!  Luckily enough for me, the things you say are priceless!  I wish I could remember them all and write them all down, but that would be impossible.  I think you are planning on being a lawyer when you grow up, because you are always trying to negotiate in your favor; one more pretzel, 7 minutes not 5 left of tv watching, just a little more bath water, it's good for your tummy you say:)  

One of my favorite things right now is your love for your Daddy.  Every night when he gets home you say, "I want to get married with you"!  Melts my heart.  Mostly, because he says "okay, let's dance".

You are so big, wanting to be just like Mommy with your makeup and nails.  You change your outfit no less than 5 times a day.  You insist on dresses that twirl and really love to be in charge of what socks you wear??  Today you went to the store in your Ariel princess dress, with pink cowboy boots and leg warmers.  you are definitely an original:) You are so kind and sweet to your friends and your sister.  Your imagination is amazing and you crack us up every day.  Your sassiness is going to be a problem for you, but I think you save most of it for Mommy:)

You still don't each very much outside toddler foods.  Chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, hot dogs and chicken noodle soup are pretty much what you like.  Luckily fruits are your favorite.  I can't believe that I am about to enroll you  in preschool!! Where did our time go??  Love you and  all the fun you bring to our life!!

American Girl Store

 At the beginning of December...we took Lila to the American Girls Store for her Birthday.  It just so happens to be Ally's birthday month too!  Having a big five year old cousin has some awesome benefits for our little three year old.  We wouldn't necessarily have known how COOL this place is!  Cool and crazy!!  First we met the whole family at the Cafe there; The Purdys, Woods, Warrens and Aunt Cary;) Lila was just a little excited!  After eating a yummy lunch, they brought out a cake for the birthday girls.  They made them feel so special.

 

After walking through the doll "spa" and watching them get their ears pierced, hair styled and just get  pampered, we went downstairs to look through all the choices for Lila's new bff.  I had an American girl growing up, Molly.  She was one of only four choices.  Let me just say...things have changed!  Oh my!  What a dream for these girls!  There are so many things to choose from.  Lila choose one of the dolls you can buy that looks like YOU!  Too fun!  She named her Ally Lila Warren, beautiful:) The name and clothes have changed 100 times, but already this mini me, caramel haired, blue eyed doll has provided hours of entertainment. 

Thank goodness for big cousins and fun family memories!

Warren Family Christmas 2011

 This was our off year with Josh's family for Christmas.  We went up to Shallowater for a wonderful "late Christmas/ New years celebration".  We decided since it was after Christmas and we never get any time alone... we would rather forgo adult gifts and have hire some babysitters so we could go out to a nice dinner, adults only.  We went to the 50 Yard Line and had a great time!

Lila and Caroline LOVE spending time with their Texas Tech cousins!

The next day Grumps and Cha Cha had stockings ready for all 5 grandkids.  They were SO excited!

One of their gifts was new robes!  Even Caroline got to snuggle up for this pic.

Caroline's favorite word during December was, "baby".

LOTS of beauty shop and makeup with the St.Clairs.

 New Years Eve day we took the big kids to Main Event to play games and bowl.  I think the grown ups had just as much fun as the kids!

With the help of an awesome website, we celebrated the turn of the clock to 2012 at 8:00 pm!  The kids were so excited for sparkling cider, horns and poppers:)

 After we got all the kids to sleep, we had a game night.  So fun!!  The grown ups stayed up until the New York ball drop (11:00)  Crazy!  It's funny how knowing the wake up call will be at 7 am changes the mind set:)

As always, we had a great time seeing our family.  We get so spoiled by the help with the girls; Gwen got up with our early risers and let us sleep in, we had all the meals ready and provided and plenty of hands to help hold a rotten baby:) Happy New year!

Purdy Christmas 2011

Christmas this year was so much fun!  How could it not be with these three?

...or these 8?!?!

 

The girls got matching chairs for the kids table from us.  Who knew chairs would be so much fun?

Lila asked for one thing this Christmas, a Belle tea set.  She was so excited to see that Caroline had given it to her!!!

On Christmas Eve, we were at my parents house.  We did a book exchange this year with all the cousins.  They each drew a name and bought a book for that person.

Honey helped out with the babes:)

After that, we went to the Christmas eve service at church.  Listening to Lila sing Silent Night, while holding a happy Caroline may have been my favorite Christmas memory from this year.

When we got home we opened a few more presents...including these awesome matching pjs.

 

The girls stayed at my parents that night and we went home.  We were back bright and early to see what Santa brought!

We had an incredible lunch and fun time with the family that day!  Merry Christmas 2011.