Wedding Day!!

The wedding wasn't until late afternoon, so some of us took the morning to explore the beach.

Adam didn't wear his flip flops and didn't want to get his favorite Sambas wet.

We enjoyed the morning out, while Mom stayed at the house and made some last preparations for the reception. Those boxes were filled with mint chocolate candies that were scrumptious.

Hurry Up and Wait...

for the Bride!!!

Mom had us on a timer and we were running late. No one knew quite where to go, so our driver was on the phone trying to find out. Was it "Los Delfines" or could it be "De Los Fines"?

We got to ride in golf carts down the hill so we wouldn't get our pretty clothes dirty.

Riley came down on the second trip with all the forgotten odds and ends .

Hurry hurry! It's almost time to start!

But, Elise was running late with the photographer, so we just had a little extra time to enjoy the mariachi band, that's all. Mom always said, "Elise will be late for her own wedding." and she was.

All the Details

Everything looked amazing. What else can you say? It was Elise's wedding.

The Money Dance

Following Mexican tradition, the bride and groom begin the dance. Then as guests cut in, they pin money on the couple and wish them well. Elise looked beautiful it was fun for everyone to get a chance to say hello on her busy day.

Wedding Reception

Amy was pooped and was taking a rest on the couch by the pool until the music came on. Then she jumped up, ran to the dance floor and danced long into the night. Jr. definitely got the award for best moves. He was awesome. Shy, but awesome.

Beach Days

After the wedding, it was time to relax! Monday and Tuesday we went to the beach. Once we sat down and listened to the waves and felt the warm sun, all the travel stress disappeared and we swore we would do it all again next year.

Countless vendors would come up and try to sell their wares from jewelry to food to tablecloths. Our favorites were the sticks of shrimp and mahi-mahi and the candy cart full of gumdrops and goey treats.

Boogie Boarding

For about $3 each, we rented a few boogie boards and everyone got at least one good wave. Monday was the best day for the boards. Tuesday the waves were a little meaner.

Wednesday

Elise recommended that if we wanted to do a fun excursion, reserving a boat for the day would be a good choice. While Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed some quiet time together, the rest of us took her advice. Early Wednesday morning, we headed into town to catch the taxis to take us to the boat.

The boat was called "Chica Locca". Crazy Lady. Let's get on this Crazy Lady!

A Day with Chica Locca

It was a perfect day for the boat ride. The crew served a breakfast of fresh fruit and muffins and unlimited juice and smoothies. Then on the way back, we had huge sandwiches and pasta salads. Mmm. We saw dolphins and schools of tuna and relaxed in the sun.

Yelapa

One reason for renting the boat was to take us to Yelapa, the village where Ivan grew up. First we stopped on the beach for some lunch. Then Ivan and Gregory went parasailing behind a boat. During Gregory's turn, the boat broke down and Gregory slowly dropped from the sky into the ocean. Brandy wasn't freaking out at all. I thought she was just being paranoid when she started yelling "Gregory is falling! Why is Gregory falling?!" But, he really was. Riley was all strapped up ready for his turn until he saw the mishap. No parasailing for Riley. Then we walked through the village on our way to see a neat waterfall. The water was pretty cold and only the brave dared enter.

Then we headed back to the beach to catch the boat back. The waves on this beach are a lot smaller, but they are mean. They knocked Adam right off his feat and left pebbles in his trunks.

Take us Home Chica Locca!

Here we are heading back to Sayulita. My pants got soaked while I was hopping into the boat taxi, so they came off.

Brandy didn't feel well on either boat ride and just had to focus in the horizon. No fun being sick!

As soon as the music came on, Elli and Amy got to dance again, this time on the boat deck. Luckily they didn't get sick even though they were spinning AND bobbing up and down.

Good Night Mexican Sun. I love you!

Esto Es Mexico!

After 2 days at the beach, the kids were pooped. All they wanted to do Thursday day was relax at the house and play in the pool. Riley and I went into town for a few hours during the day, then at night, we walked around with Jr. and the kids looking for some souveniers. Adam bought a Nacho Libre mask and found this wrestling painting on the side of a building. Then we met everyone at the Plaza, a brightly colored park in the middle of the town, before deciding on where to eat dinner.

Thanksgiving Dinner

We decided that we would all go out to eat together at least once and it ended up being Thanksgiving night. Many of the restaurants were offering a traditional American Thanksgiving Dinner with turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, but that's not what we came to Mexico for! We wanted enchiladas and chicken mole! We chose Mexican food instead and it was so good. There's nothing like refried beans in Mexico. Must try to duplicate! So there was no turkey or pumpkin pie this year, but Elise shared some pie that she bought from the Pie Lady in Yelapa and her cheese pie more than made up for it!

On To Dessert!!

The streets come alive after dark and even though we were full from the delicious dinner, we couldn't resist the homemade Mexican treats. There was ice cream more flavorful than ever, churros made right on the street, and a friendly couple who sold their baked goods right out of the back of their car! Since it was our last night, of course we tried them ALL! My favorite part was watching the churro man squeeze the batter out of his gun.

Last Day at the House

The taxis were scheduled to come at 11:30, so we had plenty of time to relax and pack up all our stuff. It was nice to take our time and enjoy each other's company a bit longer. It was a great week, but we were a little anxious to get started on our journey home.