Winter Break....

Well, family has been here and we have been "busy" doing not much. I'll have to recap later....

Still Mexico...a little stale, but must get it done!

We loved every minute of the sunny days in Mexico! On Sunday evening we walked down to the beach around sunset and it was stunning. We couldn't get enough of the warm mellow light, soft breezes, and the rythmic crash of the waves. We snapped a few of the fam while there...


Aren't they cute (Dan's parents)? Gotta love them...thank you again for the splendid stay!



Just the two of us....ahhhhh!~ (Dan is very scruffy the entire time. To him "vacation" includes leaving the razor behind--much to my dismay)



We ate one evening down in the center of Mazatlan. It was dreamy...the atmosphere not the food. (It was just so-so). They had the square lit with lights strung everywhere and it lent a soft glow to everything. There were many restaraunts surrounding the square and it was nice to just walk around. They had live music and vendors, of course, which added to the charm of the evening.





Just a quick drive down from the house is a quaint little beach and market. We headed down in the morning before Cal's nap and did a little shopping and beach-coming. It was a lovely day and the kids could have spent the entire time searching for shells and crabs along the beach and in the rocks. Cal wanted to run straight into the water mindless of clothing and shoes! Having no way to clean or dry him if he did take a dip we of course told him "no, not now..."



THIS was the result....the screaming went on.....and on....and on....until Grandma stepped in and showed him the joys of shell collecting!





A picture of our lovely girl at the market.



The kids loved "shopping" at the markets. I think it was the bright crazy colors of all the tourist goods for sale.


We took a ferry out to an island just off the coast and had a great time at a little beach there. We didn't have swimming gear with us, but that didn't stop Cal from charging the waves!




We ended the day with a nice trip to Ray's on the beach. We dined on lobster, shrimp, and steak and it was GOOD!

Christmas in Mexico Part 1

Because of all the baggage limitations (and also to preserve my sanity) we spread Christmas over several days. The festivities began on the 21st of December the night before we flew out. All the presents from my parents were opened as well as presents from cousins and presents to each other. Grandpa Lynne always picks a picture of the kids (and the adults) from that year and turns it into a wooden puzzle. Not the kind you mail in to a company and they whip out a neat tidy little puzzle, but a crazy one mounted on masonite that takes forever to figure out. It is one of our favorite traditions and the kids (except Cal who doesn't know what he is missing yet) can't wait to open them up and put them together. I myself have puzzles going back to around 4 years of age...at Christmas Grandpa is busy! By my estimation he has made around 200 puzzles through the years.


Dan surprised me with this lovely perfume...I am picky when it comes to fragrances and I can tell you this one is a winner! I love it!!!


The kids received a new music stand and rosin for their violins. When they opened it they acted like they had just received a stink bomb.


Once we arrived at the house in Mexico Grandma and Grandpa surprised the kids with a "Christmas Tree"! They made most of the decorations and were delighted to have a tree for Christmas.






I usually make matching pajamas for Christmas, but it was just too much so I hit Old Navy and Grandma brought some for Cal and we had fun opening the Christmas Eve pjs.



Christmas morning was amazingly beautiful and the kids had fun discovering all the fun things Santa delivered. We were just glad Santa decided to "pack light" so that we could cart it all home.






Carson received a make-your-own-martian kit and they both made many martians Christmas day. The rest of us lounged, snacked, and generally lazed around for the day! Ahhhhhh!

Feliz Navidad!! - Mazatlan teaser....

We had a FABULOUS time in Mexico with Dan's parents for Christmas! They recently built a house in Mazatlan and we met them down there for the holidays. Here are a few shots I took of their new house and community as well as the surrounding area. The sunsets were as lovely as they appear in my pictures!! Want to go??? They rent it when they aren't there and I have "connections"! Now I bet you can't wait to see Christmas "Mexico style". More to come...


The house.

The pool with a view of the Marina.

Fishing boats tied up and waiting for another trip out in the morning...


A signpost on a tiny island we visited right off the coast.


I loved this island...another sign.


A shot of sunset at a hotel which is on the beach near the house.


The skyline view from the bridge by the house at night.


I was thrilled to find "coke-light" in abundance in Mazatlan. This was my favorite...icy cold with a clean glass and straw!

All washed up!

Today it rained....and I mean RAINED! I was sick this past week (and I mean SICK) and desparetly needed to restock a few items. Costco was a must even with this deluge. Fortunately the rain didn't stop me from bringing home a smile...I mean where else can you get fountain dt. coke for $ .63!!!!! So I was thoroughly soaked but happy! The pic is from my phone and the soaking is just from one trip from the doors of Costco to the doors of my Camry! Whew!!

Happy Holidays...Belated!

A little Feldman photo recap of 2009....Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all - LATE! Sorry we didn't get our cards out this year. (This video is LONG...feel free to skip around!)

Go Here to watch...

Some explaining...

It is shameful to come back to this blog now. There are so many things that I wanted to write about and commit to something much more permanent than my memory - I just didn't do it. I got too paralyzed by not having the cute/funny/witty that I never posted. Whenever I relate a story or item of interest to my Dad he predictably asks, "Did you write that in your journal?" Since I gave up journal writing the day I got married I always have to sheepishly mumble an excuse. I want to use this as a place to record the easily forgotten, the mundane, and even my frustrations. Then next time he asks I can say..."yes, have you read my blog?"

The best reason to keep this up over the next year is even better. My Mom and her husband are serving a mission in Australia and keeping them updated on my life and the kids is proving to be much harder than I anticipated so Mom this is also for you!