Viva Mexico!

We had a crazy sweet trip to Mexico a couple weeks ago and it was so rejuvenating and exciting. Something about being in a foreign country just feels so good to me and I especially love being around Latin people… But even more than that, spending time with Kristi on an adventurous trip is an absolute thrill (LOVE the kids and all but time on our own is pretty special). AND we got to spend a lot of time with Ben and Ashley who are THE coolest. We always have such great conversations and experiences with them. Whoever is reading this, weather you know them or not, you should try to schedule a trip with Ben and Ashley because it is very very very fun.

It was a company trip and then we (Ben, Ashley, Kristi, and I) extended the trip by a few days.

I’m just going to take you through a quick tour of some photos. Let’s start off with this beauty: Look how excited we look! We had a good scuba dive and Kristi hung out with Jackson and her 7 month pregnant belly on the boat and took pictures (Jackson is Ben and Ashlee’s 4 month old)

We took these sweet local busses around and this one had a bullet hole. Ok maybe it is a rock hole. If so, think how strong that kid must have been.

One night some of us decided to go out dancing. The picture below is a sweet dance move Kristi and I know but the real highlight of the night came just before this. Kristi and I were trying to do one of those spin-out-from-a-girl-in-front-of-the-boy-hug-until-your-arms-are-straight-and-you-are-just-holding-hands-and-then-spin-back-in things and so I spun Kristi out there and as our arms extended, her hand slipped out of mine and it was like slow motion as Kristi put one foot behind the other trying to keep her balance as she plowed through a few chairs and glanced off the side of a table to her bum. It was the exact feeling you get when you throw a bowling ball and then see the ball swiper thing come down and you know there is nothing you can do to stop that ball from smashing into the stopper. Ben-and-Ashley-got-to-see-it-first-hand (I know that is the wrong use of those things but I can’t stop once I started). Luckily Kristi was not hurt and after the initial silence/concern we laughed our heads off about it.

Ben

The group

Me doing a very flat belly flop. Not sure why I didn’t realize that this cool move was going to end bad until I hit the water.

Me and Ben jumping off of a balcony

These two got to hang out (meaning Jackson and the baby in Kristi’s tummy) while we did the crazy stuff

We found this cool point where we could see a sweet sunset

Ok now this was cool. Ben and Ashley swam with dolphins and it was at this outrageously cool local water park. the rides were a bit ghetto but that made it even better. Our favorite was the “toilet bowl” ride (see below) you shoot out the bottom at like 100mph and swirl around like you’re getting flushed.

Kristi and I got to hang with Jackson and see these guys swim with the dolphins. It was rad.

Despite being blurry this picture is cool because dolphins are pushing Ben. But the thing that makes it really cool is Ashley’s face! Check out that excitement!

This was fast. They wouldn’t let Kristi go with the prego so she took awesome pictures.

This is how much water was giving me a weggie on this one

We got to go to church on Sunday and feel the spirit of the Mexican people. It was sso fun. And check out that hot momma pregnant woman!! How on earth did I get her.

And just when you think she can’t get any cuter. This is on a hike up a beautiful river

Just some cool peeps doing their thing

After the rest of the company left, Ben, Ashley, Kristi and I were off on our own adventure and a friend had recommended what he said was a really nice hotel that he had found a crazy good rate on. So with a pregnant wife and a little baby (Ben and Ashley’s Jackson), we decided to go for the good deal on the nice place rather than the adventurous cheep places we found in Costa Rica. Dude, we arrived at this hotel and we could NOT believe how nice it was. We were laughing our heads off thinking about the contrast of where we stayed the first night in Costa Rica versus this place we found. See if you can tell which photo is of which place. We couldn’t believe how inexpensive it was. We had that Christmas morning feeling as we explored the hotel.

We got some good body surfing in. And Ben got some Yoga in while body surfing

Jackson was outrageously good the whole trip

We’ve got a little tradition of jumping pictures for each trip. Here’s Costa Rica

And here’s Mexico.

And Jackson with the top of Ben’s head at the very bottom

A lot of good food and great company. we had so much fun getting to know the outstanding people I work with and their spouses!

Our two favorite restaurants by name were “Juan & Only” and “No Way Jose”

I just like this shot of a good old Mexican town street. It made me wonder who lives in those houses and what lives they must live. The diversity in the world is so beautiful and rich.

And the cuteness continues. Look at that face.