December 23, 2006
December 13, 2006
Good Smiles
We made a pit stop in near Detroit to catch up with the Burke family before the holidays. Can you believe that 4 kids are looking at the camera?
December 10, 2006
Children’s Museum
Natalee and Dohn wanted to take the kids to the Indy Children’s Museum. Mom and Dad had not been there since we were kids. The consensus was that it is still the best kids museum in the land. Dino-riffic?
Hey, Papa Herbie, I got a dig dig too!
There was a garden complete with fake dirt, fake flowers and real tools. Very popular with my kids. They want to have a green thumb like Mom.
There were various kid-sized fake food establishments within. Here was the ice cream parlor. As much fake ice cream as you can eat.
The big hit was the full cookie kitchen. Adults sat at tables and were served loads of cookies and cakes.
Almost done, but we have to stop in the winter wonderland and catch some fish!
That outfit is much more appropriate for winter fishing!
To leave the place, you just have to take the slide out. Who will win the race?
December 9, 2006
I Got Married
Its wedding day. We are still trying to convince Sydney that she is not marrying her Uncle Ben. There is another girl that is. Time to get the hair done!
Do you love my dress? Sydney thought she was a princess.
Sydney’s partner in crime, Christian, was ready to escort Sydney down the aisle.
Time to pose with the real princess of the day, Sara.
The happy couple takes a dance. Down below Sydney was doing the chicken dance that she perfected in Mexico.
December 7, 2006
December 6, 2006
Towel Art
Every evening when we returned to our room, a surprise was waiting on Sydney’s bed. Sydney would look at it for a minute or two and talk about the animal. Then she would attempt to move it and inspect it, which basically destroyed it.
Star Friends Winner
At our hotel in Mexico, they had nightly entertainment. It started with a kid’s program. The kids would be invited on stage to dance and then play a game, then dance again. We had only been there a couple of nights and Sydney started really getting into this. So here are the kids on this night. See Sydney over on the far right.
So they start playing a game were they stop the music and you have to go to 1 of 3 corners of the stage. If you are in the corner that they randomly pick, you are out. So about 10 rounds later, look who is still left in the game!
Every time they stop the music, Sydney just keeps getting it right. Now we are down to 2. What a proud Dad I am! However, I don’t think Sydney really understands what is going on.
Its the final showdown. They stop the music. Victor, the host, says you have to go to separate corners. Sydney goes with the big girl. So they tell her she has to go to her own corner and they move her across the stage. They drew the corner…and…Sydney wins!
Finally, Sydney has to tell the crowd her name. She is so excited. She says Sydney into the mic, which sounds like Cindy. Then Victor asks…where are you from? She responds…Mexico! Geez. Guess we talked up the trip a bit in advance with her. She got a t-shirt and was so excited that she won.
Afterwards, the men just lined up to dance with the winner. Here she is dancing with Dillion. Dillion and Sydney became good playmates over the course of the week through various hook ups on the dance floor and at the beach. I think we have some video of the dancing yet to come.
Later that night while Sydney was in the shower, we heard singing. Kim and I went in and listened and found Sydney signing her version of many of the songs that they played during her game that night. The nightly entertainment might give the beach/pool a run for the title of coolest activity!
December 5, 2006
Xel-Ha Is Cool!
While in Mexico, we did a couple of excursions off the resort. The first was to Xel-Ha. Its pronounced “Shell Ha”. Its an ecological park. Its basically a big lagoon/bay off the ocean. All kinds of fish and wild life make there home back in it. Its a mix of fresh and ocean water. Apparently, the rivers in the area flow into it creating a unique mix.
This is view back towards the park from the ocean. We are standing on a floating bridge. Next to the bridge are huge fish just swimming around.
The first step was putting on your life jacket. They are hanging all over the park. You just grab one and go. Sydney thinks life jackets are cool because of Dora.
We did a big lazy river ride but I don’t have pictures of that because I didn’t want to take my camera in the water of course. Its the best part of the park. But we forgot to buy an overpriced water camera. So after that was done, we found a small pier with tons of fish swimming around it.
Let’s go for a swim with the fish! They had fish food that Sydney took into the water and was distributing to the fish. How fun. I think the fish were bloated when she was done because she didn’t want to stop feeding them.
Later we headed over to an area that had some caves. Here go the explorers!
Reagan and I went up and found some of the holes in the top of the caves. We started yelling for them and they eventually found our voices and saw us. Hey guys!
Sydney didn’t want to leave. She had a blast at Xel-Ha. Its a great park. Great natural attractions. Do the all-inclusive option if you ever go. I could write more but its just place you have to experience. If you don’t like big open ocean snorkeling, you will like this place. You feel very safe in the water the whole time…at least that’s what our shark-fearing Mom said.
December 4, 2006
Boo!
I just realized we haven’t given a Sydney update in 30 days. How times change! I used be pretty good about doing a blog post a day. Well, the kids are older and we are busier I guess.
So there was this little event a month ago called Halloween! I think its Sydney’s favorite holiday of the year. Scary stuff, candy, dress up….great stuff.
This year, Sydney picked her own costume. We knew it would be a Disney Princess. Which? Mulan!
Sydney’s favorite part of being Mulan is coming up behind you and yelling “Hiii-Yah!”. Just like her yellow-belt Mom, I guess.
