Mexico!

 After the New Year, the whole family headed south of the border for some sun and to celebrate Josh and Tara's wedding!

My sister spent the whole week before the trip packing, which I teased her about. When we arrived at the airport I couldn't help but laugh that I, the one packing for three weeks and two climates, had the smallest suitcase/least amount of luggage. They all had reasons for the luggage and what not, but it was still a funny sight. 

We boarded the plane and I was happily sitting a few rows behind everyone else with the all three seats to myself! I was asleep before take-off only to wake up and find some seat buddies. Amanda and a very sleepy Charlotte had come to join. Charlotte snoozed while Amanda and I watched a video. I fell asleep again and woke up to find Amanda was gone and my dad was there instead! How come I never wake up in Riga to find my family here.... 

Did he say Octopus? 

I think the food was one of the most enjoyed parts of the trip. I know Amanda mentioned several times how excited she was to not cook or do lots of dishes for a week. Our first night at the resort featured a large buffet and fun show with lively music and dancing. We tried one of the restaurants the next morning and the food was delicious, but the two little ones the buffet was far easier!

I stayed in a room with Charlotte and Amanda. Charlotte woke up a few times each night, I think she just really wanted to party, and while it meant my poor sister was dealing with all of that, I slept through a lot of it. Auntie ears and mom ears are very different!

The next few days involved a lot of relaxing by the pool or beach or chasing Charlotte and Dylan around. I joked that the reason I was brought along was really just to play nanny/sherpa for Amanda and Bryan. But since I only see them a few weeks out of the year, it's a role I will gladly take.

We did venture into Cancun to go on a submarine excursion. (Technically, it was a partly submerged boat, but submarine sounds cooler). We were able to see lots of corals, fish, a sea turtle or two, and some sting rays! Dylan got a little sick of rocking, and I think we were all feeling a bit of it. Thankfully, it was a short trip 'under' the sea.

Then, of course, the main event! Josh and Tara's wedding!! The week began with beautiful weather, and true to the Feldpausch family luck got worse the longer we were there. By Saturday the blue sky was gone and some dark gray clouds rolled in. It was a heavy rain. But that's good luck, right!?

Photo Credit:
Blue Anchor Photography

There were pockets when the rain stopped which allowed for some cute pictures on the beach and around the resort. Of course, also true to Feldpausch family luck, I am not sure if we have a picture of the whole family in our fancy dress. We had done family photos the day before so we do have evidence of all of us in the same place at one time. And we aren't fancy people anyway ;p

Dylan and Charlotte acted as ring bearer and flower girl. He fell asleep five minutes before the wedding and Charlotte only made it about 10 steps before stopping, but they were super adorable!! Of course, the bride was beautiful, and I think the groom may have been more excited than everyone else combined! It was so great to be there to celebrate with them and wish them the happiest of wishes!

Sadly, I had to catch a plane the very next day to get back to Riga. I missed the first day back at school, but that's a small price to pay for attending your big brother's wedding! Congrats again, Big Brother!

Take Me Back! 

...Now a month later, sitting under two blankets in freezing cold and dark, dark Riga, I can't believe Mexico even happened. I don't even have the tan lines to prove it anymore....