Cabo San Lucas Day 2

 As we were headed to the tenders the next morning the view of Lover's Beach was breath taking. 

This is my favorite picture of the trip.  I love the colors, textures, everything!

 We got another ride to the main beach in one of the glass bottom boats.  Today it was named "Kika". 

I love when my children play together and get along! 

We decided that the three oldest and I (since Jared has already done it) should try parasailing.  It was great!  The kids watched anxiously as the sail popped up. 

 the first two brave souls.  They were awesome and didn't get scared once.  Well except when they first lifted off the boat! 

 I was amazed at just how far they reeled them out.  They were really high! 

 Carter and I also took a turn.  Another lady on the excursion offered to take pictures with my camera.  They didn't turn out at all:(  But Carter and I had a great time.  Its so peaceful and quiet that high up! 

 For our last hour, we rented a wave runner and took turns running the waves.  Wow those things are really fun. 

After the wave runner, we headed to the shopping district and got a few souveniers for the kids. 

Cabo San Lucas Day 1

 Cabo San Lucas is a quaint tourist trap city with beautiful Mexican beaches and rocky coastline nearby.  Our first day was beautiful and lots of fun! 

On the tender to the pier -- Audrey and Andrew ended up right across from us 

Ready for some fun wearing their 'gangsta' Australian hats they got from G'ma Karyl and G'pa Boyd

 Looking at the crabs.........

 This bright orange one made me hungry

 I bought this hat for Hanna (or rather Aunt Rachel said I had to buy it!) for the cruise.  Cole liked it so much that I think he got more use out of it than Hanna.  Hanna was a good sport about it

 This Sea Lion jumped up for some food right as we rode by on our Glass Bottom boat on the way to Lover's Beach

 Our boat driver threw some fish food in the water and viola!  All these angel fish appeared. 

Beautiful Lover's Beach with the arch

The Sea Lions were sun tanning as we rode by..... be glad this isn't a scratch and sniff photo they were really stinky. 

 Georgeous Day!

Oscar was so helpful until I realized he was only helping us off the boat for tips.  There were lots of Mexicans that were very "Helpful" during our 2 day visit to Cabo. 

 The one side of Lover's beach was an inlet by Cabo so the waves were fairly mild and calm.  We decided to walk over to the other side between the huge rocks and we met the Pacific Ocean.  It is very dangerous here.  There were signs posted everywhere to be careful around these waves and not to swim in them.....and people seemed to be apalled that I let my children put their feet in the very shallow portion of the waves as they crawled up the sand.  The waves were pretty impressive!!

Of course the boys wanted to hold these and get their pictures taken.  Who wouldn't?  Carter loves Lizards , Iguanas, turtles and frogs.  He's very fascinated by reptiles and amphibians. 

 Ahhh a girl after my own heart.  This is as close as she and I wanted to get. 

 After we spent a couple of hours at Lover's Beach, we headed back to the main beach area of Cabo.  We had barely set our stuff down when we were inundated by Mexican vendors of sunglasses, jewelry, embroidery floss bracelets, hats, dresses, sunblock, etc.  We had lots of fun burying Carter in sand.  He enjoyed coming out of the sand and scaring the little boys. 

 The beach

 After playing in the waves for awhile, we headed to the shopping and restaraunt part of Cabo. 

 We ordered some yummy bean burritos, and nachos with amazing guacamole to share.  Yummy. 

We were even serenaded during our dinner

 We came home to a sting ray on our bed! 

 This was the pirate party up on deck 9.  There was lots of dancing, food, and fireworks.  It was a fun night, but wow were we exhausted.  Hanna started feeling sick this night and ended up with a fever.  Poor girl!  Luckily it only lasted half a day. 

Disney claimed to be the only cruise line with permission to let off fireworks.  It was pretty cool to watch the colors explode over the ocean. 

Pirate Excursion in Puerta Vallarta

After two full days at sea, we were ready for something different.  We had signed up for this Pirate excursion in Puerta Vallarta hoping that it would be fun for our whole family of mostly boys.  We also invited G'ma and G'pa to come along and paid their way as gifts in advance for Mother's Day and Boyd's Birthday. I knew it was going to be fun when we saw the boat that looked like a miniature Black Pearl ship!  The kids were thrilled with the excursion and the adults had a great time too.  Included was breakfast and lunch and all the Pina Coladas and Strawberry Daquiris you wanted.  Yummy!!   

 Feeling a bit tired as we had to get up really early (again) we boarded our Black Pearl looking boat.  Hanna was feeling especially sleepy and a little grumpy. 

Pirates dressed like Jack Sparrow came along and gave the boys some Pirate markings! 

The kids got put into jail for being cute I think! 

On the Way we were entertained with a real pirate show and sword fights.  It ended with several pirates either falling off the boat while fighting or having to walk the plank.  Conveniently there was a speed boat behind us who picked them up so they would not be lost at sea forever. 

"Fish" our server traded hats with Hanna for a bit

 Walking the Plank!

 Our ship

The Beach we got to play on was gorgeous.  We took turns kayaking and taking rides on the banana boat.  Then there was a treasure hunt for the kids that ended in chocolate, I mean gold coins! 

This beach was soooo fun because it had a ton of hermit crabs.  You would just be walking a long and then there would be a sea shell scurrying across the sand.  They were so cool!  Everytime we go to a beach, Carter spends most of his time looking for crabs or any other creature he can find.  He usually finds really neat stuff.  

 Treasure Hunt Map

The treasure was found!

 When we got back from this ride, poor Jake was pushed under the water by a giant wave while trying to get off the banana boat.  He got really scared and his neck all scratched up.  He came out crying and sat with G'ma and G'pa for a bit.  After a while we decided to go do the Kayaks together.  We waited in the long line and then it was finally our turn.  Jake suddenly panicked again and didn't want to get in.  So I went with the girl pirate out to see all the fish.  When I got back, Jake was crying again because he had decided he wanted to go afterall.  Oh my.  So we waited in line again and I took him for a ride.  He loved it and hopefully won't be scared any more!

 Mexico is beautiful!!

Carter's collection of hermit crabs. 

 Sitting in our seats on the way back to the cruise ship.  The Black Pearl imitation was not the smoothest ride.  Several people got a little sea sick.  Thankfully no one in our group suffered! 

This cool turtle greeted us when we got back.  Nole our server dude had added Carter's glasses to it and lined up all Josh's stuffed animals he had brought right next to him!