Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving this year was awesome! I love spending time with all of my family! We are blessed to have five sweet little girl cousins and one little boy cousin this year. Thank God for kids!

We got a family picture in the neighborhood this year. It took less than 5 minutes and it was a chore, I tell ya! Charlie missed her nap, Kylie missed her cousins, and the boys didn't want to miss the Cowboy game. I am just glad that we got a picture for my mom's Christmas card this year so I won't have to hear her whining about not having one! ha! Here ya go, Mom! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

coming home

Last night was our last night in paradise. We had a truly relaxing time here in Cancun and even though we told Kylie that we wouldn't take another trip like this with just me and Alan, are already planning for when we can come back here! :)

We are going back to Texas today to see the kids and get ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow. I have so much to do and help my mom with. I also have to make my famous corn casserole and apple crisp. Yum! I can't wait to see everyone and have a meal fit for a king. I am thankful for my family and every blessing (great or small) that God has given to us.

I cannot wait for the home-cooked food that everyone will be bringing. Then, I start another diet since all I did was eat on this trip! Speaking of eating, take a look at Alan's escargot........ewwwww! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Still in Cancun

This is the second time that I have gotten on the computer here. We have been really busy with outside activities and are rarely in the room. It's a beautiful room and just out the back door are some things that we have grown quite accustomed to having right there just for us. One is the hammock that Alan makes a bee-line for each morning after he wakes. The other is the spa where we enjoyed a wonderful complimentary massage for our anniversary. And then there is the lazy river which is a pool that floats around in a huge circle and back to the huts where we can lay in a chair or in a bed. We fell asleep there for a while yesterday. Oh yeah, there's also a smoothie stand where we can get delicious fruit smoothies with fresh fruits and veggies in them.

Yesterday, we took advantage of the ocean and walked over a mile up the strip. Then we laid in a bed and read while the ocean sang to us. Alan couldn't help noticing that our resort was the nicest of all the other ones that we walked by this morning. MY research paid off, thank you very much. We are finally on a vacation where we feel like we fit perfectly! We are treated really well and have met some really nice couples our age and older.

The first day that we were here Alan looked at me and said, "Do you notice that there are a lot of older couples here? ha! I think he's still looking for a bunch of young girls in string bikinis having a pillow fight on the beach! That's my Alan! Welcome to your future, baby!

So, today will be filled with the same kind of stuff: eating, drinking, relaxing, and reading. Then we will come home tomorrow afternoon just in time for Thanksgiving. We are truly blessed!!

Watch Out!

Yeah, these big lizards are everywhere! I appreciate the fact that they eat insects or whatever but I would love for them to be a bright color so that you don't almost step on 'em and get freaked out! Geez!

Hungry Monday: Pumpkin-licious Nog

I love Hungry Girl. She always has tips for watching your waistline and the recipes are usually pretty good. I am still anxious to try last week's cupcakes!

Right now, I am in sunny Mexico so this drink doesn't sound too great, but when we come home and that NW wind hits us, it's gonna be cold! And you can bet that I am going to try this little nugget! Kylie loves pumpkin loaf from Starbucks and I bet she will really like this drink, too.

HG's Pumpkin-licious Nog

PER SERVING (1 cup): 110 calories, 2g fat, 344mg sodium, 16g carbs, 2g fiber, 6.5g sugars, 6g protein -- POINTS® value 2*

Even non-nog-lovers will become obsessed with this creamy, pumpkin-packed stuff!

Ingredients:
5 cups light vanilla soymilk

One small (4-serving) package Jell-O Sugar Free Fat Free Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix

6 no-calorie sweetener packets (like Splenda)

2/3 cup canned pure pumpkin
1 tsp. rum extract

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Optional Topping: additional cinnamon 



Directions: 

In a blender, combine all ingredients and blend on high until mixed thoroughly. Refrigerate for a few hours to allow it to thicken.

If you like, top each glass off with a sprinkling of cinnamon. Enjoy!

MAKES 5 SERVINGS

Ummmmm, wow!

There are no words! Alan and I are just so shocked and excited to be here that there are no words to describe how beautiful it is here and how special we feel. We are amazed to be here in this beauty and are trying to soak it all in and be thankful for this awesome experience!

Cancun Bound!!

It's 4:45 am and we are leaving for the airport. I already miss my babies, how sad am I? I know that they are in great hands and Nana and Poppy will keep them super busy. They already have plans to go meet little Charlie at the mall today.

Please pray that Alan and I arrive and return safe back to our family. I have no idea when and if I will be able to blog but I have posts planned for some of those days.

Over and out! Thanks for all the well wishes! :)

Almost Time!!!

I can't believe that it's finally Friday! This has been the longest week, I think. Here's the rundown:

Monday- I had to finish a few quizzes and worked on my final project all day. I also finished up the last blog that I was trying to get finished. I will definitely get into that story later.

Tuesday- I got to go out with some girls that I met recently. I had a blast talking to everyone and met some very interesting people. One of them moved up here last year from my hometown so we had a lot to chat about. I look forward to doing more things with this group. Very exciting!!

Wednesday- I was on my way to class and a guy beside me at the light pointed out that I had a flat tire. So, I called Alan (my hero) and he set out to give me his truck so I could get to class and stayed at Walmart to wait for the car. It turns out that we needed 2 new tires and they only had Bridgestone tires- a BIG no-no in our family and so he went to Sam's Club which took the whole day to fix. I barely got my van and got to the carpool line in time at 3:00. At least we have new tires for our trip to Texas today.

Thursday- I got a much needed haircut and did loads of laundry and cleaned the house. I'm so glad that I finished that last blog because I really needed this day to get everything sorted out before we leave. We saw in the forecast that there are going to be a few rainy days. Maybe I will take my macbook!

Friday- Today is the day we go to Texas to my parent's house. They generously offered to entertain the kids while we are gone and I know that the kids will have a great time with Nana and Poppy. Kylie and I are going to read Allie Finkle- Rules for Girls in the car and Riley will probably watch Shrek. Then we will spend the night at Nana and Poppy's house.

Saturday- The BIG day! My dad is going to drive us to the airport way early in the am and we will hop a flight to Cancun. I'm so excited that I could pee my pants right now. We are so looking forward to spending time together and relaxing. I know that we will miss the kids but this is good for us to get away and reenergize. I am going to try not to worry about anyone needing help with a blog, my cafe world on facebook, Riley's mood swings, my final project, and all the little stresses that make up each day. I hope Alan will not worry about work, bills, and the kids as well. I know that we will have a fabulous time together!