OH MEXICO

Wow...It's taken me almost a whole week to get this post ready... we took over 600 pictures on our trip to Mexico with Justin's family!! WE had such a memorable time... still hard to believe that we are home... so, here are a few of our favorite moments captured in photo form... organized by DAYS on our trip... enjoy!

Friday, Dec 24
We drove from VA to PA to drop our beloved Pepper at my sister Emily's house and spent a few hours with my mom, Grammy and my sisters, Em and Amy and all 7 of the little cousins... Grammy gave the kids her Christmas gifts (post coming soon of the darling homemade dress up clothes!)

About 1 pm we headed down to Baltimore (Pepper-less) but nonetheless happy to start our family Christmas Vacation... the kids were so excited to fly in an airplane and even MORE excited to see Nans, Pops, Jonny, Linds, and Parker!! WE. COULD. NOT.WAIT!!!
tissue please!
having a snack before getting on the plane...
dinner...
Brinners can do the "Justin frown" pretty good!

Justin's family picked us up at the Phoenix airport, and we stayed at a nearby hotel in Tempe. We got cute matching PJ's and watched the first half of Despicable ME... (hilarious!) Here is Will with Auntie Lou!

Saturday, Dec 25
Christmas Morning!!

Uncle Jonny with the kiddos!
the two Jayners playing...
Lindsey briefing Caitlin on how to say "HOLA" and "ADIOS"
i just think this picture is THE BEST, Will in the background... he didn't cry long, Caitlin was 'in his space' So, we moved Brinley in between the two... it was a much more peaceful drive after that!!
he LOVES it when i take his picture
At this point we joined up with 2 families that drove all the way from Missouri in campers... and we were going to show them the way into Mexico... all excited to to get to work with Families Helping Families...

oh yeah!




Caitlin had fun looking for cactus...

Justin got some treats for the kids, a pineapple and a coconut popsicle!




Park and his snacks...


at the border...
When she wasn't sleeping, Brinley was coloring!!
the condos we stayed at.... LAS PALOMAS!!


note to self: come fall asleep in one of these... (below)


excited about her new playground!!
BEACH!!


view from the condo, 8th floor!
watching Toy Story...

Christmas evening after dinner, I gave Mama T the quilt i made her!!!
Uncle Jonny chillin' with Little B
Pops and Wilbur snuggling
After Brinley fell asleep, we put her to bed in the bathtub! worked great till the pack n' play came the next night!!
Sunday, Dec 26
Beautiful Sunday Morning

Daddy and Brinley outside the church after Sacrament meeting!
Fire Station across the street
Mommy and Brinners!
Auntie Linds and Caitlin after Church... (Caitlin heard Nans say that morning before leaving for church... "Oh, I need my scarf, it might be a little chilly" and Caitlin said... "Me TOO!" she runs into our room and grabs her scarf (that she actually uses as a 'tail' when she's pretending to be a kitty) and she wraps it around her neck JUST like Nans!!
Will and Jonny
Little Cra Family
Will and Parker
Will was saying "No pictures!"
Caitlin and Jonny!
Cait and Park
Dining at XOCHITL'S (pronounced, So Cheese!)



OK!




Oh, BEST tortilla soup EVER!


vendors
bros playing...
sibs...
Monday, Dec 27
Work day! We had an awesome pow wow meeting about safety and 'the plan' and then off to the job site! Justin's Dad was given this sweet safety hat as a reminder to everyone to BE SAFE!
lookin' good Pops!

My cute Sister-in-Law.. Lindsey Lou- with a trunk full of goodies that she and her first grade class gathered for a family who's home caught on fire a few weeks ago, it's just around the corner from the job site... the Elders came along to helped translate. This was so fun to tag along and watch her... LOVE you Linds!!







Lindsey with the family she brought the stuff to!!
Parker, Linds, Jon, and Justin
Panda and Linds, Working hard...
For Family Home Evening, Parker shared with us some stories and pictures from his mission!! It was by far a favorite night for all of us... to hear the stories and feel the Spirit so strong!! Parker we are SO proud of you and grateful for your example! WE LOVE YOU!!

Tuesday, Dec. 28
Yay, a pack n' play, (Thanks Dan and A for letting us use it!)
The condo we stayed in had three bedrooms... this is our room we stayed in!
view from our little balcony, and beautiful Brinley

bathroom...

Big living area to the condo!!

view of pools from 8th floor...

Nans and Pops got the kids these cute singing toys... Brinley LOVED them...
at the pool!
swinging in a hammock!

getting sleepy!

Caitlin was pretending to be a cat!






cookies on the balcony!


Nans enjoying her new Quilt
Nans and Caitlin

getting ready to go party at the FIESTA!!
Mario, setting up chairs




Opening hymn to the Fiesta! I'm smiling because I'm holding a Hymnos... (Spanish hymn book)... and we were singing in English.
Sleepy Brinley!



Justin, (and his David Archuleta face) is experiencing the BEST Mexican Shrimp Tacos!!
After an amazing dinner... WE DANCED!!

and Will fell asleep...
Wednesday, Dec 29
Parker's Birthday!!
Justin, Amanda, Linds, Jonny
This was the 3rd building day... we were told we were so far ahead of scheduele that we had to wait for the lumber to be delivered so we could put the roof on... so some people went shopping, others formed small groups to go over and help with a few roofing projects on other homes...
Justin owned this corner yesterday...
inside the house without a roof... Jon inspects the walls...
Hecho En Mexico (Made in Mexico!)
Jon and I set the bottom brick!!

So, we set out to work on the Michiwa's roof...
Lauren, Parker (red) Justin, and Lindsey (red) filling staples on a seriously windy roof...
hammer those staples babe!
Pops, Bro. Michiwa rolling roof paper
their kitchen area...
Justin talking to Bro. Michiwa
they had the most adorable kids. Nicole brought toys to give to the kids...
we played leap frog with them...
Justin and the kids... (they cheat, but they are cute so we let them all win, sorry Justin, maybe next year)
Getting ready to ROOF
Left over food from the fiesta, brought to the job site! Mmm. makes GREAT lunch
Mmmm
roofin'



Pops on the ladder and Justin, Jon on the end...
Nans and the babies showed up to see the houses!!



house one and house two!!
fitting the last piece of wood on house two...
It was so cold and windy, with a little rain here and there... but after we finished the roofs on both homes... we started cleaning up...
...and suddenly the sun came out of the clouds... and what did we see??
it actually was a double rainbow... but my camera is not very good... but it was SO beautiful!!
That night we Celabrated Parker's 21st birthday by going out to dinner at Mary's with Parkers, Barkers, J.D. and Kallie. Then we chilled at the Condo and had ice cream and played Extreme Karaoke! fun night!

Thursday, Dec 30th
Justin's Birthday!!
Today we had a half work day, we framed the inside of the homes and finished the roofs! Here's a rock star team... Kallie and A on the saw!! you go girls!
Just framing, (P.S. Happy Birthday, Love!!)
framing with my sweatheart

Justin and JD
We came home after finishing the house to get Nans and the babies, for a victory Birthday lunch at Brisa!! Mmmm!

Happy 34th
then off to the BEACH!



MANGO MAN!!

first you put your mango on a stick! Then you peal the mango,
Then you slice the mango, and drizzle fresh LIME juice on it!!
then you enjoy the most amazing MANGO on the BEACH in the sun... oh yeah, life doesn't get any sweeter than this!!

we bought some salsa bowls from this little guy!




karate kid...
a Jonny swing
Parker had the magic touch with Brinley... he could always get her to calm down and fall asleep...

That night we celebrated Justin's 34th Birthday by having Dinner with the Parker Family in our condo, GREAT soup and chile verde and then we all made a CHURRO run... (no pics, forgot the camera) but they were AMAZING!! Mmmmm, legit Mexican Churros!

Friday, Dec 31
DAY at the beach--
New Year's Dinner/Party at Mare Blu, I had the famous Lobster Ravioli, (BEST Italian food in Mexico!)
It was a full house, we got a special table next to the entertainment... this guy and gal rocked it!
Party!
that night we set off some fireworks... hehe
Saturday, Jan 1
New Years DAY!!
Cardboard Mall for some last minute shopping.

Sunday, Jan 2
time to leave... we were waiting to check out and this sweet golf cart was just sitting there... Justin dared me to go sit on it and get my picture taken!!
aw.
on the plane...



BIG THANKS to Nans and Pops for giving us the opportunity to all be together and enjoy sharing our Christmas by giving service to others!! Thank you for the priceless experience and memories that we will treasure for eternity! We LOVE you!

For more information on Families Helping Families visit www.fhfmexico.org or email me and i can hook you up to get on the news letter for next year!!