Mexico Day 14 - Dolphinaris

Well, we had promised Lucy a chance to swim with the dolphins while we were in Mexico, and she thought about it, talked about it, dreamed about it, and waited for it EVERY SINGLE DAY...since today was our last day, we HAD to make it happen.

Originally our plan was to go back to Puerto Aventuras and do a basic package with them. Dancing. Kissing. Hugging. About 45 minutes of time. But we decided to check out a place called Dolphinaris before we headed to Puerto Aventuras just to see what they had to offer too. Well, for only a bit (it was a good bit, but a bit) more money, the kids had the opportunity to spend up to 5 hours in the water with the dolphins, participating in many different activities, as well as watching videos on Dolphin mating, and conservation. It was a no-brainer. I opted to stay out of the water with Logan (since he was too young to participate) and take pictures.

It was utterly fantastic. There aren't a lot of face shots, because they're always facing the cameras that they have in the pools (you can buy the pictures afterwards), but I took over 200 pictures today. Here's a large highlight:

The idea was for Logan to take a nap at some point through this...but that just didn't happen. He was so disappointed that he didn't get to participate. He kept saying, "Mommy, my turn!" and then he'd ask me to put a life-jacket on him too.

One of the activities that we didn't participate in was the Dolphin painting. They strap a paintbrush to the dolphin's nose and they paint on a white t-shirt for you. We weren't prepared and didn't bring any t-shirts with us and chose to not spend the extra $20/person to do it. Lucy was disappointed and has already told me that next time we go, she's going to save her money so she can do the painting.

As we left, we went to check out the photos that they took and planned to buy them. Turns out they were $23 per photo or $350 for all of them. It was a LOT pricier than we thought it would be, so we opted to just get three. They're fantastic photos, so it's really too bad they were so expensive, but here they are.

Tyler doing the foot-push with the large male dolphin named Ricky

Lucy hugging Ricardo. Everyone was joking about how much Ricky Ricardo loved Lucy...he's even smiling in the photo. The feeling was definitely mutual.

Max hugging Ricardo too. Max was all about the adventure of the day and LOVED swimming with the dolphins.

Max ended the trip with a nap in the van...and in the house when he got home. He woke up with a fever and a headache, so while the rest of us headed to Chemuyil for pizza one last time, he stayed home with Grandma and played cards. He was happy to have a few slices of pizza when we got back though. We need to kick these fevers!

It's travel day tomorrow, so now we're packing everything up and getting organized to go home. So sad that our trip is over. We've had such a great time. When we were in the mix of all the sickness and throwing up, I definitely was feeling like I was ready to go home and sleep in my own bed...but now that that's happening, I don't want to leave. The only perk to going home is picking up the Hunger Games trilogy so I can finish reading!

Mexico Day 13 - Easter Sunday

Today is Easter Sunday. We have no plans for a traditional Canadian Easter Dinner. And the stores are VERY vacant of Easter Treats that we would call home. Fortunately!! I brought some of my own. Just a bit.

We headed to Tulum for church and enjoyed listening to testimony meeting in spanish. I was able to pick out a few words. When the meeting first started, Max turned to me and asked, "Is it ALL going to be in Spanish?" I told him yes, but that they were saying the same things we would say, just in their language. I tried to translate the hymns for him (easy on the opening hymn - Joseph Smith's First Vision) and the sacrament prayer. He seemed satisfied after that.

At one point, Lucy turned to me and asked, "Is President Monson the prophet for ALL the world, or just Canada and the US?" I told her all and then she asked, "How do people in Mexico, or China understand what he's saying?" I explained that it's broadcast in their own language, even though he speaks English.

It's been interesting for my kids to get an idea of the church on a global scale. At one point Lucy asked me what I thought the 'real' language was. I was unsure what she meant. Like, what Adam and Eve spoke first? This is exactly what she asked and I tried to explain the Adamic language and the confounding of the languages at the Tower of Babel. I told her we don't know exactly what language was first. She then said, "I think it's spanish."

Of course, relaxing Sunday means more reading. Tyler and I didn't come prepared with more than just the first book of the Hunger Games and so we've been borrowing Auntie Dixie's e-reader because she has book 2. Unfortunately, that means we have to share it back and forth (which is NOT easy!) and we have to give it back eventually! We will definitely be looking at the bookstores in the Cancun airport on Tuesday to see if we can find it.

After church we had omelettes for lunch (easter eggs...get it? no?) and Logan had a nap. After the nap I set up our super-mini easter egg hunt. Literally, I only brought 3 packages of mini-eggs and 2 bags of mini-kinder eggs. But it'll do.

I made the kids close their eyes before they went on the hunt, but we had to wait for the grown-ups too, so they were closing their eyes for a LONG time! Logan prevailed.

Then they were allowed to hunt.

My mom had mailed me some easter things for the kids too, which included stickers and things to decorate eggs with to make them look like bunnies or chicks, so I brought them to Mexico with me for the kids to find as well. Super Duck!

Logan got Superman Eggs, Max got Star Wars, and Lucy's had polka-dots. Of course, the chocolate has to be kept in the freezer so it doesn't melt!

Not the same as an Easter in Canada...but the reason for the holiday remains the same. And that's something you can celebrate anywhere.