White sand Christmas |

I can hardly believe it is the end of another year. We had a whirlwind of a December from working exceptionally hard to get my Bulldog home, to me accepting a new job, and the family celebrating Christmas on the beach. Not to mention, surviving the end of the world!! I guess it was my Mystic Mayan Power Cloak!

Since returning to Playa, Jade and I have been on the move. We spent a week in Belize diving, which I promise to write all about, my dad and little sister came for 2 weeks to learn how to dive, and now we have some friends from Cuernavaca here to spend the New Year with us. I’m trying to slow down and enjoy all these moments because I know when I return to Kansas in a week, I will begin a whole new chapter in my life. Jade forces me to maintain a positive perspective. All of our “problems” like finding and buying a home, moving back to Kansas, and starting a job will work themselves out and are really good “problems” to have, and will create wonderful and new experiences for our lives.

Having my Dad and Paige here for 2 weeks was really great, but I’m looking forward to a little less tourism and a little more relaxation. Keeping up with a 12 year old is almost as difficult as keeping up with my 14-year old brother when he spent a month with us. Paige and I got to spend a lot of time together, and even got to do some girly things like shopping and getting our nails done.

Matching bracelets!

Enjoying some lunch and a little peace in Playa del Carmen.

Getting pretty!

But we also did some tourism, like visiting Tulum, Chichen Itza, and Akumal.

So many people there!

Paige at Chichen Itza for the winter solstice.

Watching the fire dancers at Fusion.

Dad and Paige at Tulum.

Paige and me in Tulum, one of my favorite spots on earth!

Dad and Paige getting ready for their first dive.

We were able to enjoy a wonderful evening with my Dad for his big 66th birthday. We all stayed out too late, at too much, and maybe had a few too many Chaya Margaritas from Yax-Che.

Paige, Dad, and me.

Paige, “I must-ache you a question, but I’ll shave it for later.”

The entire group for dinner. Great food, but better friends! I’m so lucky to have such wonderful people from around the world I can call my friends.

Making Miss Suheily’s dessert. It looked so yummy!

My Dad being silly!

After diving in Cozumel, my Dad finally admitted that diving was a little fun. Paige was a natural, but my Dad took a little convincing that diving was cool. I’m so happy they came to share the holidays with us.

Although we didn’t have a snowy Christmas, we did have a White sand Christmas!