Reflections Contest

The school holds an art contest every year and this year we were motivated- the theme- Magic of the Moment. Both kids entered in the photography category. There were about 200 hundred entries and they each won! The funny thing is both of them took pictures of each other shooting baskets. Our family enters sports related art, the only way I can get inspired. On the way home Shane said,"I am more proud of my watermelon eating contest win than this!"

Soccer weekends

It's soccer season and Hailey and Shane are loving every minute. Hailey is on the Speedy Cats and Shane is on the Lightening Lizards. Both kids have scored at least one goal each game. It's so much fun to watch them play, they shine on the field.

We did it

A happy group of ladies!

Triathlon

My friend Jaime called me to let me know she was going to be in town and if i could go on a run with her that Sunday.  Somehow in about 24 hours it turned into signing up for a Triathlon the next day. (1st one for both of us with NO training)  That night we scrambled around trying to figure out what we were going to wear for the swim, what bikes to use and figuring out how the whole transition station works.  Jesse insisted that we needed goggles and better bikes but we blew him off and went simple.  2 of my friends had already signed up and trained so we met up with them that morning.  Notice in the background, we are the ONLY ones without a wetsuit, goggles and didn’t warm up.

  

I was so happy to be out of that water and on land, i struggled with the swim.  Jaime said my eyes were glazed over and foggy in the water.  I was so dizzy and disoriented the whole swim but hung on.

Tell me we don’t look good, the only ones without a racing bike or bike gear

running 7:30 pace after the swim and bike.  We stayed together the whole race and i couldn’t have done it without Jaime.  We pushed hard!

 

Our biggest fans!  Jesse arrived just in time to see us get on the bike.  We had to do 3 laps around a loop and he said that he could hear us before he could see us.  We chatted the whole race and i couldn’t have done it any other way

Thanks Jaime for always being down for anything.  I can’t tell you how much fun that was, you are awesome.  Not only was it fun, we got 11th place in our age group.  I think it will be our last Tri, looking for another adventure.

Memories

Some fond memories in Mexico-

"Next time we go to Mexico can we go for 10 days?"

"How come Patty and Dave have such a nice house? I want to live here."

After getting back from surfing we ask the kids what they wanted to do...."go surfing"

While star gazing each night looking at satellites and planets this was said...."I see a flying dolphin with a jet pack." which turned into something even more outrageous with each comment

At dinner, each night Shane would say "Can I have some more?" as we took our first bite- Patty and Dave made some great meals

One of the locals (Pablo) who's in a wheelchair loves the Kawasaki and follows it in town when he spots it. All he wants is a ride but the kids were a little perplexed- "How come Pablo keeps following us? Why does he like the Kawasaki? They thought at first he was a "bad guy."

As Shane stood up on his first wave we noticed he was biting his nails, too easy I guess!

After getting the Kawasaki stuck in the sand with one wheel completely suspended in the air, the kids kept telling dad to stay on the path. Didn't happen.

After dinner every night Hailey would undoubtably ask who wanted to play "B.S.". It's a card game of bluffing, and every time Hailey had to bluff she would suck in her cheeks and cover her mouth. Hopefully, she never takes a liking to Vegas.

The wave of the day went to Shane who was so proud he rode it to shore. Only to learn that you need to jump off before you rip the fin off the board!

Great fun!

Scorpion Bay

We flew into Loreto and drove 3 hours to Scorpion Bay.  The scenery was lush, green and gorgeous while the roads were well paved.  We encounter some traffic which caused us to slow down multiple times, definitely not LA traffic!

Dave and Patty’s wonderful house.  I loved all the little touches they have added

As soon as we arrived, we all hopped in the Kawasaki and took a dip in the ocean and a tour of town.  This is the main road in town, the only paved street

First morning--we woke up and took a little stroll to the cliffs to check the surf of course.  Shane found something to jump off of

1st point.  We surfed at 2nd point

First day out and everyone is up surfing! 

A special thanks to Dave and Patty who took many of these pictures for us.

   

The kids loved this whale boat which was suppose to be a tourist attraction that never left that sand

 

Many hours spent in the Kawasaki.  We took it everywhere!  The kids even drove it on the beach with no assistance.  One evening, Hailey drove all 6 of us home from dinner.  

Shane trying to race the Kawasaki and Hailey enjoying Speed!

 

We all drove out to “Lovers Beach” to catch dinner.  Dave tried to teach us how it was done.

 

Dave is a great fisherman, he learned from the locals.  The rest of us gringos just don’t have the technique down yet

 

Local farmers market in town, Shane was in heaven and made sure we got some good stuff 

A little happy hour on the deck enjoying our days work- fresh ceviche

     

Loving the ocean, it was unbelievably warm with lots of little fish swimming by

  

Kids in front of Nico’s boat and Hailey paying for gas at the gas station

 

We ventured down the beach to an estuary.  While we took that Kawasaki to a spot to unload the kayaks and explore, Dave fished, Patty collected dried cactus for Colleen and Brandon’s wedding.

  

I love looking at all the driftwood, and shells on the beach. 

Our launch spot in the estuary.  The little white dot on the beach is Dave’s truck

The kids loved these crabs, they were everywhere along the estuary. 

 

Arrowhead and shark teeth hunting.  We got secret information from the locals on where to look, but no such luck.  We did find some mud pie crusts that were awesome to walk on and throw.

 

Our last evening together. 

     

We went into Lareto just before our flight to check out the town.  Hailey and Shane love seeing the duck in the store, looked like our chicks

Our last photo in front of Mission Loreto before going to the airport