Christmas Events

e Every year we have a few traditions that we enjoy. I always get together w/ my highschool friends for a lunch the Saturday before Christmas. It's fun to see everyone and get an update on their lives. We also have a Sheppard/Lawrence family Christmas party usually the first Sat in December. Here the kids see Santa and we catch up w/ distant family that we usually only see a couple times a year. We also have on and off years now w/ our immediate families. This year it was a Sheppard off year, so we did it early. We love Christmas... here the kids pose w/ their cousins and new scarves and hats.

Day 5-- our beach in Puerto Vallarta

We spent the last few days just chilling on our beach at the condo and the pool. This is the pretty sunset from our balcony and the view of banderas bay. Mom went paraselling, and the girls had their hair braided by a lady who does this for money. Baya even enjoyed the sand a little. View from the balcony and Baya taking her usual nap by the pool.

Sea Life Park/ Dolphin day

Sea life Park was a really fun place... it's kind of like a sea world on a smaller scale mixed in w/ a water park. It was practically empty when we were there... and they had a few sea life shows. Waving to the dolphin... we all got to have an encounter w/ a dolphin which was really fun. We got to kiss it, hold on to it's fins and shake it's hands.. and pet it as it swam past a lot. There was a massive kiddie pool and we were the only one's there it seemed... except for the little girl Abby met that didn't really speak english but Abby said she was going to have a sleep over with. A dolphin is kissing Bryan on the cheek.

The Zoo... what an experience

All the animals just were sticking out of the cages waiting for you to feed them If you look close, you will see the hat we left at the PV Zoo. Blakely was feeding the monkey a peanut when he snatched her hat right off her head and took it into his cage to throw around and dip into his little pool... Here is a picture of the thick spider webs that were everywhere (we were in the jungle) Bryan held a baby lion. You can do anything w/ a little money! Puerto Vallarta has an interesting Zoo. If you manage to get there on the road that is completely dirt and torn up w/ a million pot holes and stray dogs... you've done well! The spider webs are crawling all over the trees and walkways as you pass... and some of the animals can be a little aggressive. But, we had a great time.

Scuba and Snorkel day 3 & 4

Bryan and I were excited to get back to scuba diving after nearly 18 months, and tried our hand at Los Arcos. It was fun, and not nearly as intimidating as the ocean dives we did in Hawaii.. but not as colorful either. The next day we returned to the site w/ the group and did a little snorkeling. It was so fun to watch Blakely out there--she's so brave!

Puerto Vallarta Day 1& 2

Blakely at the pool trying to balance on a boogie board The flight there was smooth. Baya keeping dad busy on the 3 1/2 hr flight! We happened upon a celebration of sorts in the main square and their nativity. (lady of guadalupe) out for a stroll on the malecon (walking path along the ocean in pv) Abby purchasing some sea shells from a street vendor. When your kids get awnry and tired, just get them a cold sugar drink, and they are as good as new! Here we took the water taxi from the Nuevo Vallarta marina to the main malecon puerto vallarta marina Our first beach experience when we got to our condo was at low tide and we found so many sand dollars! The kids were thrilled. Checking out the waves, looking for sand dollars Our condo had a great infinity pool that sat above the ocean level looking right out at it. So fun.

Family Christmas Pics

My cousin Katie is getting into photography. We went yesterday and braved the cold to do some Winter pics. Here are a few. They turned out cute. I'm cramming everything in it seems, as we leave tomorrow for Mexico. We are way excited to get some sun!!! Blakely got really cold and grumpy, so she is not her usual smiley self... Thanks Katie... if anyone wants some pictures done, she is the up and coming photographer!

Truly Blue

I have to say that I married a devout, blue as they come... Cougar. The longer I'm married to my cute husband, the more I realize this. Bryan was raised in the tradition of Cougar sports. From the time he could talk and walk he's been singing, "Rise and Shout the Cougars are out." Last night he went to the big game up North... I begged and begged him not to go, because I was nervous it would just be hard on him. He came home a little beat up, but still very proud to be a Cougar. By 4 a.m. I talked him into taking a sleeping pill as he was so wrapped up in the game still, he couldn't sleep. Win or lose, my Bryan will always be a devout Cougar Fan and I can see our kids will also. Congrats to the team up North... here's to next year!

Yummy

Baya has started to eat solids and is loving it! She just sits there and hollers at me when we are in the kitchen until I give her some food. She loves to drink out of a cup and get all wet from the water. I just have to laugh... she is turning into such a chunk. I've never had a kid w/ rolls on her legs... and look at those cheeks. She is such a cutie!

Blakely invited us to come and eat Thanksgiving lunch with her at Oakdale. It was a lot of fun. She was so excited to be able to eat in the cafeteria, as that really will start next year. She made a cute little pilgrim! She loves school and is such a cute and excited student.

Leaves to play in

We have plenty of leaves to play in. I tried to get the girls to pose for me before school one morning, but Blakely refused. Later, when we were raking, they enjoyed jumping and playing in them. I couldn't believe it, I put Baya down to get a pic, and before I knew it, they had thrown a huge handful on her and she was buried completely... ahhh

Abby dancing w/ the boys

Abby loves to dance and whenever she can get a boy over to play w/ her... he becomes her prince. I sometimes peek in, and I just happened to catch this one on film. Poor Jake was so scared he didn't know what to do. That's my girl!!!