what's new ...

When friends and family ask me what is new I tend to answer "same ol' same ol'" as our routine doesn't fluctuate a whole big bunch.  But, in pondering our last 16 weeks ... yes, things are new.

Its hard for me to acknowledge that we've actually been here 16 weeks (and a day) and we only have either 7 weeks plus a couple days or 9 weeks left here!  I can really appreciate how long 6 months is (or isn't) now.  It really has flown by and I know the last ones will as well.  I feel kind of anxious in saying that 'cause there is still so much more we gotta do!!

I will be honest and tell you that our "sabbatical" isn't 100% what we had envisioned it to be ... its still great don't get me wrong, but its just different.  We love the school we chose for the kids but it has taken up way more time, energy and stress than we had anticipated!  So if we decide to embark on this adventure again next year I am thinking of putting them in a different school.  If we were to live here full time and this was our home and education system we soley relied on, Colegio Ingles would be our choice.  But, being here 6 out of the 10 school months, and wanting to experience more than just good education, our kids have a lot of expectations put on them ... which ultimately it puts on us as well.  Let me give you a couple of examples.

The first day back after our trip to Canada, we were told Hunter had to do an oral report on any topic he wanted.  He had to create a board describing his topic with words, pictures and whatever he wanted and then had to write a 5 line "speach" on his topic.  So, we went and bought some bristle board, he decided on HOCKEY and Jay who was still in Regina brought back Hunter's recent hockey medal and some printed pictures of Sydney Crosby, hockey rinks and skates.  Hunter wrote a speach ... thank goodness we missed the Spanish oral report making this English one a cinch!  The board looked awesome and he was so excited to share it with his classmates!  He was confident and prepared ~ and pulled off a 9.8/10!!

The next week we were informed there was a school wide expo (similar to our science fair/Mosaic back home) and Hunter's class - which is taught by a Spanish only speaking teacher - chose "technology in the past and in the future".  He was assigned the "first computer" and had to find out who invented it and when, build a replica out of recyclable products and memorize 4 or 5 lines (in Spanish) telling about this computer.

We whipped up a computer out of old boxes and studied his lines for 3 nights straight.  He read it aloud to his Papa nightly and to my surprise and sense of pride he had it memorized!!  We were under the impression he would have to recite it to his classmates however when we got to the school that Friday morning we soon found out it was in front of alot more people than that.  When it was their turn, there were about 50 parents standing in front of their exhibit and each child took a turn to talk about their creation. 

Hunter was third and I will never forget the look on his face.  He was sweating (their class was on the stage in the palapa and it was HOT!   Plus he had to wear black dress pants, a white tshirt, white lab coat and swimming goggles!), he was trying his best not to let tears fall down his flushed cheeks and he was biting his lip ~ all while not taking his eyes off of me.  I kept repeating that he could do it, he had done it that morning and that is was all ok.  I could have have died for him.  After what felt like hours of him standing there not speaking a word his teacher encouraged the next kid to go.  He stood their so brave but as soon as the attention was onto the other side of the exhibit he ran into my arms and started to bawl.  He told me he failed cause he couldn't do it and he felt so dumb.  After a few minutes he calmed down and agreed to recite it to me.  He did awesome.  After the class was done he reluctantly recited it to his teacher ... she smiled and gave him a big hug.  I let him leave after that!!

So that was the last week of January.  Yesterday we were informed that a note had been past out while we were away that each kid had to chose a poem and memorize it for Friday!  Hunter's eyes got huge and his mouth hung open ... the teachers laughed and all I could think was "are you kidding me?!!?".  So, they agreed that he could do it in English rather than Spanish and that it had to be 16 lines long.  We are talking about grade two!!!

So, I searched the internet but couldn't find one that stood out so I made one up on my own.  He wasn't thrilled about the poem, but I think he wasn't thrilled about the whole thing period.  He and Jay went over it last night a few times and we'll have to work on it tonight til he gets it.  Seriously, I dread opening up his homework book Mondays through Thursdays!  And to be honest, we don't usually do a lot of the Spanish homework cause by the time its brought home he doesn't know what he's to do and I of course have no clue either!  We do attempt the math ... usually its problem solving (written in Spanish) and multiplication, addition and subtraction.  In grade two they are doing 546+892, 1837-859 and 349x96!  He can handle the addition and subtraction with carrying/borrowing but hadn't even learned the basic multiplication yet!  I should see if I can quickly get my BEd while here. 

Emy has had homework every night as well but at least her's is basic and not too time consuming!  Every other day its Spanish which I just translate online and do the best we can do!  She doesn't seem too worried.  In fact, she often tells me she can do the translation for me.  Yeah right!

As our time dwindles down here I am becoming less and less concerned as far as the education goes.  I know Hunter is doing well beyond what they are doing in grade two at home and as far as I'm concerned, for him to be excited to attend school - Spanish and English - and attempt to do the homework and learning and memorizing he is far ahead of the game.  Even though he won't be anywhere near fluent he has absorbed some and has learned life skills, has gained significant confidence and acquired ungradeable experiences.  To me that is what this adventure is all about.  Does take up a lot of time though!!

We have decided that the kids' last day of school will be March 31.  They initially were to be finished April 15 for the 2 week Easter break but we are likely heading home 2 weeks earlier so we are giving them time to just "vacation" before we head back. 

Our day to day routines haven't changed a whole big bunch but we feel more relaxed and confident in our schedule.  The kids are always ready to go at 7am, we have the uniform days figured out and we have befriended a skinny, friendly, ear-sticky-outie paper boy on the corner we turn to the school and either give him fruit or pesos every day.  Jay is now working strictly from home but goes to the resort when needed so it's nice to hang with him.

We went to Isla Mujeres last weekend to hang with our dear friends from home for 2 days and a night.  It is absolutely beautiful there and definitely has a different feel than Playa.  We had a blast just hanging on the beach catching up and watching our kids play with their buddies!  The last several days there has also been a large large crew from Bethune staying here for a friends 40th.  We have really gotten to know this amazing group and hope to spend lots and lots of time with them back home come May!  Then, Probes come from Isla on Saturday to stay with us until Wednesday, my parents come on the 9th for a week, a friend from Texas on the 10th, staff all throughout March and we are going to Guadelejara on April 9th for a national soccer match! 

With friends and family here and lots of activities planned, our remaining time will slip away quickly.  We are not sure if we will continue this adventure next November or just return for holidays like years past.  We will play it by ear and whatever choice we make will be just fine with me.  There are pros and cons to both ... but either way, I know we will never forget these past several months.  We have grown, we have cried, screamed, hugged, learned, loved, explored, watched, adjusted, wondered, laughed, toured, entertained, dreamed and lived. Home sick or not, these make it all worth it - what we have gained is priceless and I remind myself daily that my friends and family back home will always be there .... but I am so excited to spend spring/summer and fall with them!!!  xoxox

...heart is back on the prairies

This weekend I felt somewhat homesick, lonely and quite frankly "sorry" for myself.  Yes, sitting by the pool in 34 degree temperatures and feeling sorry for myself.  I was having an argument with my feelings.  "How can you be so selfish and feel sorry for yourself ... you're in the Mayan Riviera, its beautiful out and you don't have a worry in the world?!" versus "I don't care how flippin hot it is out our friends are snowmobiling to Craven for breakfast right now and then they're hottubbing in -20 degree weather and another group of friends went out last night and there were lots of people we knew there and my inlaws just left after two great weeks and I miss being at the rink and .....".

This fight inside my head lasted for a good day and a half.  No wonder I had a major headache!  But, a day and a half later I have resolved this argument ... I have acknowledged that both these feelings are natural, they are both bound to appear and that they will most likely return no matter what the temperature is outside!   I have allowed myself to feel "homesick" and to actually admit it.  I have allowed myself to be greedy and enjoy our time here without feeling guilty and "spoiled" and I have allowed myself to take each day, and the emotions that come along with it, as it comes.

We have been here for 14 weeks tomorrow ~ more than half way done this adventure.  And despite having the "boohoo for me" attitude on the weekend I am in disbelief/denial that we only have 12 weeks left.  On one hand I am missing my friends and family so much yet on the other I don't want to leave what we have established here!  I know there are many more serious problems I could be experiencing but I just wanted to outline how I am feeling ... now, 14 weeks in!  (Had to add that so some cyber space stranger doesn't accuse me of being a whiney, righteous beeotch!)

A very dear friend (not sure if it was Pat or Romana cause it was on a joint facebook account!) replied to my status update admitting that I was feeling lonely with this ...

"~you may be loving your life in Mexico - but the bottom line is your roots are here - so travel, enjoy and treasure the moments but know your heart is back on the praries."

Wow!  Did that hit home for me or what!  I felt a huge sense of relief and knew it was OK for me to be feeling what I had been feeling...it was ok for me to want to return here after being in Saskatchewan for a temporary 10 day visit yet it was ok for me to miss people, events, the rinks, routines, outings and get togethers people were having without us once we returned back here!

In a perfectly selfish idealistic world we would be everywhere with everyone enjoying everything the world has to offer ... but because reality doesn't allow for that we need to make the best of each situation.  I know that I will be making the most out of our time in Saskatchewan come May and if we chose to return here in November I will cherish all of the new memories we will make over the summer months.  Similarly, I will be making the most out our remaining time here.  There are so many things I want us to experience, see and do so I am glad this fight inside my head has ceased so I can continue our adventure without a headache!!

home sweet home or home away from home??

We arrived in Regina January 10, 2011.  The kids didn't sleep on the plane, our TV's didn't work and it was the coldest night of the winter thus far.  But ... we didn't care!  My mom was at the airport to meet us with warm clothes and hugs, our book keeper and her husband brought our "warmed up" truck and the roads cooperated so we could make it home (just barely but we made it!).  Emy stayed the night at Nan's, Hunt was overjoyed to sleep in his bed and Paris found her dog bed just like she had never left it.  It felt good to be "home".

Hunter went to school for the duration of our stay and Emy went one day to her kindergarten class.  The school was so excited to see them and treated them as if they had never been away!  Hunt played 6 hockey games in 10 days and attended one practice.  He was so worried he'd forget how to skate but he was reminded that he doesn't forget over the summer months so surely he wouldn't over the two months he'd been away!  Both kids played with their friends, Hunt had a buddy sleep over and they got to visit with family from both sides. 

Jay unfortunately had to work for the majority of our time home as it was the store's year end and inventory.  He went out with buddies one night and we got together with friends for a nice dinner but he was dealing with accountants, book keepers and staff for the rest of his time!  I got together with 4 of my closest girlfriends and we did a fun "photo shoot" one evening with drinks and appetizers.  It was a blast ... and considering, the photos turned out awesome as well!!  I did a couple lunches, coffee'ed, did some needed errands and enjoyed the comforts of our home. 

I will admit however it was nice to return to "this home" as well.  I didn't know what the feelings would be come January 22 but it appeared as if everyone was ready to return to schedules, meals at home, living out of closets rather than suitcases and routine.  It was just like the end of a vacation when you know its time to get back to "reality" ... never thought it would feel that way leaving there but it did.

Jay's parents came back with us and have been here since.  The kids returned to school Monday morning without hesitation, daily homework, soccer, ballet and gymnastics routines began again and life was quickly back to "normal".  I now know that we have two "homes".  But the two have significant differences.

The most noticable difference is our relationships ... living here only 13 weeks tomorrow we have not established relationships like we have back in Saskatchewan.  There are numerous reasons for this:  short time frame, majority of people we meet are not from here so they don't know as many people to introduce us to, our days are much more busy and people tend to spend more time with their families and not with friends here.  Now if we lived here for a longer period of time and year after year my thoughts and reasons may be altered but at this point this is what we are noticing.  Right now I can say I don't have a close girlfriend here that I can "hang" with ... but I know that mine back home are only a phone call away!

Jay works with a girl who is originally from Ontario but has lived here for over two years.  Without me letting her know any of my thoughts or observations she said that women down here don't "coffee" like we do back home and don't organize "girls nights out".  And here I was thinking for 12 weeks that I just wasn't getting invited!!  She informed that family is a priority here and if you were to set up a night for girls to get together husbands, mothers and/or chidren would come along as well. 

Like I have mentioned in previous posts, our school is extremely family oriented ~ parties, invitations for open classrooms, several events that we are encouraged to attend (olympics, christmas posadas, festivals, expo day, presentations).  In 13 weeks we have been to over 10 events at the school and that is with a three week Christmas break and being home in Canada for 10 days!!  AND that is the stuff I have been able to translate to figure out that we are invited!!!  My point being ... we experience a GREATER deal of "family" time compared to "friend" time. 

The second difference I find with home in Canada and home here in Mexico is we are busier here ... alot busier.  Yeah at home we are at rinks, dance studios and gym clubs several times in the week but its usually one parent taking one kid and its for an hour at a time.  Or we go to Hunt's hockey game all together for an hour and a half and that is it.  Here we drive kids to school (start an hour apart), pick up Monday to Thursday at same time but two of those days stay at the school for tutoring and two of the days return home for an hour and then back to school for soccer and pick up on Fridays at two different times.  THEN on top of that ... something we were NOT used to ... is HOMEWORK!! 

For being 5 and 7 our kids have a lot of it and we have to be quite involved!  I would say Monday through Thursday we do about 4 hours of solid homework between the two kids and that is not counting Hunt's Spanish (he does that with his teacher during tutoring).  In the last week he has had to do an oral presentation complete with a poster board (he chose to do it on hockey) and a written speach he read to the class.  Then for his upcoming "science fair" he had to take something technological dating back 50 years and make an old computer out of recycled materials.  On Friday he must wear a white "lab" style jacket, goggles and have crazy mad scientist hair!!  To my surprise in math he is learning multiplication in the 2 and 3 digits, area and circumference and addition/subtraction using "carrying" ... and this is all in Spanish!  Needless to say, I have become a part time underpaid teacher on the side!

We usually have soccer games on Saturdays (the team practices Monday through Thursday from 4-530 pm but we have chosen, with the coaches consent, to do two practices and two days of tutoring instead).  And  not being full locals yet, we like to do the beach at least one day on the weekend as well!  Right now Jay is working 5 days a week with Wednesdays and Saturdays off and he is usually gone from 645 am to 230 pm.

Another difference I see here is we want to explore more here ... likely due to the short time frame and the uncertainty if we'll return for another six month stint ... but we want to do as much as we can do, see as much as we can see and explore as much as we can explore.  I have a list of "to do's" that hopefully will be checked off come mid April ~ this list includes travelling, eating at certain restaurants, doing a few activities and doing alot more learning.

An additional difference I have noticed since the day we got here is things take longer to do.  Whether its waiting for a maintenance man to show up, or registrations to arrive for vehicles, or booking appointments, or buying supplies or necessities for a school project ... it all takes longer.  Mostly due to the language barrier but also the ways of the Mexican people!  And you know, although it takes a while to get used to "manana" (it will happen tomorrow) this laxidazical way isn't so bad ... its the reason for a very small percentage of stress related heart attacks in the area!  I was told something by our landlady's husband that I will not forget.  He is a Florida born man who has lived all over the world ... he said when you are in Italy you wear your Italian hat.  When you are in Canada you wear your Canadian hat.  And, when you are in Mexico you wear your sombrero.  It is so true.

Here's to a strong 2011 ~

1/11/11 ...  January is upon us once again.  This past year has come and gone just as fast as the one before and just as fast as this next one will.  Our family has made some significant changes, some milestones, some steps forward and some steps backwards.  In lieu of my annual December letter (or book as some would describe) I will sum up our year here ...

As most of you know, we relocated to the Mayan Riviera the beginning of November for a 6 month period.  Prior to this, we introduced our kids to Spanish by meeting with Jay's cousin once every week.  We prepped our managers (and their wives!) to run the business while we are away.  We enrolled Hunter in city soccer so he would be ready for this country's national sport!  We met with the school here to ensure the kids were placed in the appropriate grades and activities.  We alloted "x" amount of dollars to live here from November to the end of April.  And, we tried to mentally prepare ourselves as much as we could for what was to come.

In March and August of 2010 Jay and I both met the 40 year milestone and celebrated accordingly!  I can't speak for Jay but turning the big four-oh wasn't so bad ... in fact, I am enjoying it and what it has to offer!  Yes, I have more "smile lines", more jiggles and more and more sayings from my mother but it is what it is.  Other than caring for my skin and body and making a conscious effort of what I do and say there isn't a lot I do about getting older other than taking it all in.  When I was 20 I thought 40 was sooooo old ... my mom was 38 and dad 40 when I was 20 for goodness sake!  But now that I am here I don't consider us old at all!  Times have changes - similar to a lot of our friends, we got married and had kids later in life compared to previous generations. 

Over the past year, we did alot with our kids.  We participated in all of their activities (Hunter played hockey, soccer and ball last year and Emersyn continued with dance, gymnastics and soccer in the spring) and this tended to mold our social lives.  We travelled with our kids (without as well!!) and we tended to hang out with friends with kids similar in age to ours.  However, to maintain adult and couple time we utilized a variety of friends and family which enabled us to travel to Jamaica for a work related week, to Maroma Beach for Jay's birthday celebration and to New York for an incredible Oprah Live Your Best Life weekend. 

Emersyn entered Kindergarten and was very ready for it.  She enjoyed the bus every morning at the beach however hasn't quite gotten the same love for getting to Kinder 2 here in Playa.  She cries every morning when we get there but thank goodness when we pick her up at the end of the day she is happy and her homework book has nothing but positive reports.  Its so hard leaving her crying (and sometimes screaming) but we have to keep consistent and strong.  I hope as the days and weeks go on the crying will lessen and eventually cease.

Hunter is in grade 2 at both schools.  He is adjusting well and is learning some heavy duty addition and multiplication, hand writing and what prepositions and adjectives are here!  He continues to be our worry wart however this has greatly improved since late summer (thanks to a fabulous psycholigist Dr. Kristi Wright).  Both kids had their tonsils out the beginning of June and their health (and snoring!) has improved 10 fold!

Jay joined the Wascana Golf and Country Club and continues to golf here once or twice a week.  Extreme Hockey continues to grow and meet the needs of the hockey players in and around Regina.  Jay's love lies within sales and marketing, especially in the corporate world.  He has grown this by becoming more involved with a fantastic company Exotic Travel here in Playa.  Not only can it provide financially for us Jay has learned an invaluable amount from some of the best sales people he has been in contact with.  Jay's health is so much better while in the heat and humidity.

I remain a stay at home mom however have started to dabble in writing articles for Regina's Fine Lifestyles magazine.  I started by writing a four page advertorial for our store and was subsequently asked to write for others.  I love it - doesn't take up much time, I collect a little spending money and I can do it from home ~ both here and in Saskatchewan.  I volunteered for Hunter's hockey team, the beach preschool and coached ball during the last year.  I also assisted a local personal trainer set up a kick a#s bootcamp at the beach .... I got into some type of shape, I was faithfully going three times a week, I started running and then I fell off the bandwagon on August 11!!  I remember vividly the last time I worked out and it happens to be 5 months ago today.  TERRIBLE!  I am slowly setting myself up for a reunion - I have commited to attend the classes next week while we are home, I have found a great little yoga studio here that just happens to have a class that works with my schedule and my new running shoes have arrived from New Balance.  I have NO reason NOT to start up my love affair with fitness again.

Our families remain active in our lives.  For the most part they are all happy and healthy and both sets of parents have flights booked to experience our lives here.....and to share in part of our strong 2011. 

what I/we take for granted ...

With the busy Christmas season, having friends here for ten days and the kids being off school for three weeks, I've neglected something that I love to do ... my daily blog.  And then when I finally return to my morning routine of dropping the kids off, taking the dog out and sitting down with a coffee I was without a "blogging" idea!  I happened to be texting back and forth with my GF Heather so I asked her to quickly give me a suggestion ... and here it is!

We are heading home on Wednesday for a ten day visit full of friends, family, hockey and "old" routine.  Emy is having a sleep over at Nan's the night we arrive, Hunter is off on the bus to our Regina Beach school Thursday morning, Jay is having a staff lunch meeting Thursday to discuss inventory, I am meeting four of my BFF's to get indulge in drinks, appetizers and a fun girlfriend photo shoot Thursday evening and Friday we leave for a three day hockey tournament in Saskatoon.

At this time last year these would have been "normal" day to day planned activities in our lives.  Nothing out of the ordinary ~ other than five girlfriends getting all beautiful and posing for a photographer of course!!  Sports, school friends, sleepovers, family and close friends ... these are all things I now realize I/we take for granted.

Yes the kids are involved in soccer, dance and gymnastics here in Playa del Carmen but going on a three day tournament at this point just wouldn't be the same.  We have established a weekly school routine and we have some friends here but again, its just not the same as back home.  After being here 6 1/2 years (time we've been in Regina Beach) and getting to know the language and community better who knows, we may be at the same point we are there.  But, as I prepare for and think about our visit, I know there are many things we have become very comfortable with and will cherish that much more after having them for this short period.

Friendship is the biggest.  All four of us are excited to see our close friends!  Hunter can't wait until he sees Parker on the bus, Nile tackling him with a hug Thursday morning at school and all his classmates and team members!  Emy is so excited to see her Nan (and all the other family members but she knows she is seeing her first!) and especially her best friend Rhett and his little brother Kade. 

People back home have experienced a tremendous amount of snow and cold temperatures.  I can live without the -35 degrees any day but we really are excited to get on our skidoos and tobaggans and enjoy the weiner roasts and cook shacks!  The kids want to take lots of pictures to show the people here what snow looks like in Canada!  The majority of people here have never seen snow ... again, something we take for granted (but would be complaining about if we had to deal with it for 5 months I know!).

Familiarily is something I take for granted living in a small Saskatchewan community.  I know the town administrater Lynette.  I know the postmaster Judy.  I know the convenience store owner Gloria.  I know the septic truck driver Don.  I know the restaurant/bar owners Sam and Denny.   I know all the neighbours on our street.  I can chat with the water delivery guy and Purolater driver.  I know the school secretary and principal on a first name basis.  My Leaderpost newspaper is on my front door step every morning and I enjoy reading it from front to back.  I can pop into anyone's house for coffee wearing my pajamas any morning without question.  I can call a babysitter for our kids and they love staying with any of them.  These are all people and situations we are very comfortable and familiar with.

And family ... we will see my parents, brother and his three kids, Jay's parents and one brother and sister in law all in Saskatoon next weekend!  Jay and I have not had a lot of alone time here with the lack of family and babysitters.  Understandably the kids aren't overly comfortable staying with babysitters here ... and we have sure come to realize we rely on our family for childcare whenever we need them!   We are very grateful for that.

And, one last thing that I personally take for granted and miss dearly ... although can surely live without ... is a good Vietnemese meal!!

nine weeks in ...

Well we've been in Playa del Carmen for nine weeks today ... 63 sleeps to be exact.  I am not counting the days and weeks in a negative way ... don't get me wrong.  I am keeping track to see a) how far we've come; b) how much time we have left and c) what we still want/need to accomplish before we head home.

Laying in bed last night I silently recapped what I expected prior to living here, what we have experienced thus far, how I have felt and what I want our family to do prior to leaving in May.  I laid awake for over an hour before I forced myself to fall asleep.  We have gone through so much, we have done so much yet we hope to do so much more. 

We left friends, family, a school, a community and a business on November 3 to reside in an area we had vacationed several times over the last five years.  We knew the city, the state and knew enough people to start our new "temporary" life.  But, I'll tell you, I wasn't anticipating the array of emotions I have felt over the last nine weeks!  But, looking back, I'm guess that was naive of me ... my family left what we knew to experience something completely different.  Of course we'd all go through a thousand emotions ~ sometimes at the same time, sometimes several different at the same time and sometimes more than one all in two minutes!

Nervous - Yip, the night of November 2 after everything was packed in the trailer, the house was quiet and we'd said our goodbyes.  "Holy sh*t are we REALLY doing this?!".  Pulling up to the school parking lot on November 8, watching Hunter go into his new classroom and then into an assembly.  I could've puked to be honest.

Embarrassed - The kids and I went to the public beach for our weekly "family Sunday beach day" ... Jay was in Regina and the beach was packed full of families, workers taking their lunch breaks and tourists catching some rays.  It was wavey but nothing we hadn't experienced before.  I went in for a cool down while the kids built a sandcastle.  As I stood in knee to hip high water a huge wave got me, knocked me down and whipped my bikini bottoms off.  Yup, right in front of 5 guys also cooling down.

Confident - When I was admitted into Hospiten with a bowel infection I'm not sure if I was to the point of desperation or just confident that I would be taken good care of.  Someone asked me if I was scared by the Mexican health care and I can honestly say I wasn't worried one bit.

Sad - Carrying Hunter into the car the second day of school hearing him scream "I hate it here, I want to go home, I hate my new house, I hate my new school, I miss my friends...". 

Lonely - With so much family time, friends or family visiting and the amount of contact I have via email, facebook, phone or texting I really haven't felt alot of loneliness.  However, after talking on the phone for two separate hours to my girlfriend Heather one day I started writing a blog about how we met and how our friendship has flourished.  I really missed her.  I still do but I talk to or text her daily and will see her in January and February.

Scared - Jay was home in Regina and the three of us were all asleep.  It was about 2am and I was woken by a loud repeating bang - sounded like it was either in my bedroom or on the deck outside our sliding doors.  I had just spoken to a neighbour that morning about how she was broken into the first week her family was in Mexico (not in this area but still .... gets the mind thinking!).  The banging continued for what seemed to be forever.  I bit the bullet and walked throughout the house - if someone was breaking in surely they wouldn't allow that loudness go on for that long.  I couldn't find the cause so I went to bed and put up with it til morning.  That night and the next day was extremely windy - ahhh, the cause of a skinny sickly 2 inch round palm tree to sway and knock into our clay roof - right outside our bedroom window.

Proud - Day 20 of living here, 2 1/2 weeks of kids being in school, Emersyn's class (along with 3 or 4 others) put on a production for the anniversary of the Mexican revolution.  She learned a dance all explained in Spanish, she followed the other children and performed in front of about 50 parents.  Although I could see was nervous and scared out of her mind she did it and made me so very proud.  Every Tuesday and Wednesday I can over hear Hunter and his Spanish teacher during his tutoring hour.  The amount he is picking up makes me more than proud.  Christmas Day one of Emersyn's coordinators was at the same dinner party ... I though she asked if Santa came to her house but when Emy answered what he brought her I knew she understood what she has said to her in Spanish.  When both kids strutted around in their winter festival costumes and danced the dances and sung the songs like they were raised here ... all very proud moments.

Excited - Counting down the days til the Krzysiks arrived and waiting for them at the airport.  Going home next week for the first time in 10 weeks.  Watching our kids perform on stage for their festivals.  Hearing my kids speak words in Spanish or helping me talk to someone in Spanish.  Finding out that the cool Desigual button up shirt I fell in love with was 40% off.  Finding a great English speaking French hair stylist.

Happy - Hearing my kids refer to here as "home", answering phone calls from back home, seeing my kids meet new friends, seeing Jay near pain free, hearing people speak English, taking pictures of new things, blogging, finding a good new restaurant, finding a good deal on cool clothes or shoes or jewelry, booking flights for family to visit, seeing people's photos on facebook ...this list could go on and on.

Bored - Hmmm can't really say I have been bored yet.  Between being a full time untipped taxi driver, online translator, vacation planner, school event/activity attender, bed and breakfast operator and Mayan Riviera temporary resident there is no time or need for boredom!

Relaxed - Sitting by the pool, under the palapa, near the water fall.  Laying on the beach, listening to the waves, watching the kids run and play.  Having a full body massage by our fantastic masseuse Yamily.

Frustrated - There have been many feelings of frustration but I will sum them up into two words ... language barrier!  Whether its trying to tell the cashier that my credit card in NOT being declined I just need to enter a "NIP" or telling the new security guard at our gate that we live right there I am just driving a rental car or our van that still needs one more sticker or trying to find out where our power bill is (apparently they are delivered to houses and either put in a mailbox, on a car, on the step by your front door or on the sidewalk!  Are you kidding me!?).  To call the power company you have to speak Spanish and have an account number.  The bills come every 2 months and we've been here since November 3 so I am awaiting a power cut off any day!!

Annoyed - See above.  When in the middle of a phone conversation the lines go down (sometimes for days), the lack of a postal system, when my kids argue, pick at each other or fight, when I have to repeat myself two three or five times, when I see clothes laying in the middle of the floor (might be bedroom, kitchen, bathroom ... ARGH!), when I have to repeatedly log into the internet in the middle of one email and when I have to repeat myself two, three or five times!

Grateful - Every day when I awake in the morning, see my kids and husband, hear from friends and family or visit with new friends here.  I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to experience what we are experiencing.

Surprised - When I found out that Paris' bath, brush and nails were only 260 pesos, Emy and Reese's pedicures and manicures were 340 pesos ... total for both, a huge bunch of basil was less than 6 Canadian cents, a huge bouquet of lilies, gladiolas, daisies, carnations, babies breath and about 4 different types of greenery was 110 pesos and power for 2 months if you run your AC full time is close to $1400 Canadian dollars!

Generous - When our family gave Anna, our cleaning lady, 3 shirts for Christmas.  She was so appreciative and proud when she opened her gift.  To us it wasn't a lot but I could tell it was more than that to her.

I am pretty sure there will be many more stories to add to the above emotions over then next 4 months ... but that's all part and parcel for continuing on our adventure.

what I'm looking forward to in 2011

I didn't make and document "formal" resolutions on 1/1/11 but I did ponder what I want to improve upon, learn, achieve, acquire, do and see during the next year.  365 days to accomplish these tasks seems like a lifetime but given how quickly our soon to be 9 weeks in Mexico has flown, I know a year will go by quicker than I want it to. 

So, in saying that, I am starting NOW ... I am acknowledging what I am looking forward to and not necessarily what I need to do, accomplish and improve ... for now anyways!

First, I  can't wait to see friends and family back home during our 10 day January visit!  Hunter is playing hockey in a Saskatoon weekend tournament, we are celebrating a belated Christmas with our families, we are having dinner with dear friends, I am getting my BFF's together for a "photo shoot", we are catching up with doctor, vet and dentist appointments and the kids are returning to South Shore School for the week!  I am looking forward to hugs, visits, laughs and stories!!  I am excited to see my mom and dad aka Nan and Pops, Jay's parents aka Grandma and Papa, my brother Rob, Jay's brothers and sister in law, our nieces and nephew Eden, Esme and nephew Dylan and our many friends at the beach and in the city.

Second, I am pumped to be reunited with my workout regime.  I am disappointed that I have swayed from this routine but I know it happens and I just have to get back on track ... one day back and I know the feeling of being hooked will return.  I plan on finding a yoga class and getting out my skipping rope, weights,  DVD's, my training programs and new Forerunner watch!  I am going to reunite with my 530am "bootcampers" at the beach while we are home and hope this will fuel the fire to continue on as I did all last year!  I am not going to set a weight goal or inch loss prediction - I just want to feel energized, toned and healthy.  So ... here's to sweat, pain and  a tight ass (there's always the power of positive thinking and wishful thinking)!!

Third,  I am looking forward to getting our IPad hooked up so I can download my People magazines and a Spanish program.  I am going to learn this language if its the last thing I do!!  As most of my friends know I am a People Puzzler fanatic (and enjoy the magazine itself as well) so because I am a subscriber I don't have to wait for friends to bring me the latest news I can read it online via the IPad!

Fourth, I am excited about our family's next 4 months in Playa del Carmen (actually with us being in Saskatchewan for 10 days January will slip away and we'll be down to 3 ~ yikes).  Our kids are starting to understand more and more Spanish and will hopefully start speaking more and more too.  They are comfortable in our surroundings and their school environments.  We are meeting very nice and interesting people, we know lots of people that are coming down for vacations, we have guests coming in Jan, Feb and March (still wide open for April if anyone is interested!) and Jay is learning so much in the travel, business and marketing world.  We want to travel up to Holbox for a weekend and make the trek down to Belize for a few days as well.  So much to explore and take in.   The kids have become fish in the water, have begun to play with each nicely rather than relying on other friends and we have taken advantage of a lot of family time.

Fifth, I want to write write and write.  I am hoping to obtain  the opportunity for a few more articles for the upcoming Fine Homes and Finelifestyles Regina magazines as well I am inquiring about writing for the Exotic Travelers magazine here in Playa.  I will also continue with my daily blog.  I know this will not make me a rich lady but I love doing it and love receiving the feedback from friends who truly appreciate our stories.

 Mostly, I am content receiving each day as it comes.  I can't predict or control tomorrow and I can't change yesterday.  I can only live day to day to day.  I am striving to be as patient, open, forgiving and positive as I possibly can be.  This will ensure a great 2011!!