Hola ... Gracias

After being married for almost 18 years, Chris and I finally took a vacation together without the kids.  Last summer at the NFED conference, a friend of ours bid on a vacation package - 5 days, 6 nights - at Casa Patricia in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (actually about 30-45 minutes south in Mismoloya).  Our friend was the highest bidder, and immediately we volunteered to be one of the couples to go along.  How exciting.  As we looked into everything more, it turned out that Casa Patricia was owned by grandparents of a child affected by Ectodermal Dysplasia.  We met the parents of the child during conference and heard a little more about the place: 8,000 square feet, pool and hot tub, huge deck, small boat, staff to make sure the stay is superb, chef, and all the amenities with no reason to really leave the house.  WOW!!!!  We were able to travel there last week with our NFED friends from Oklahoma and Virginia ---- and yes, we traveled without kids!  Thank you Grandma Frankie for taking on the challenge of our children for the whole stretch ---- and Tyler and Ryan's friends' family for keeping each of them for 2 nights!

On our flight down, we found out we were not going to be able to stay in Casa Patricia, as the owners were there with some passport issues ... so we were placed in another Casa right down the hill from them (and it wasn't anything to complain about).  Villa Marylou was wonderful and the food the chef prepared for breakfast and dinner was incredible!

 
The picture below is what we saw every morning when we woke up and went out on the deck, or from the main level deck, or the deck at the lower level with the pool (3 decks all with the most incredible view ever)!

  

The resort at the beach below (Barcelo Resort).  

Sunset occurred almost every evening during our scrumptious dinner!  

Each night a picture seemed necessary, but I think this one was the best.

We walked down to the beach a couple days for lunch. 

While at the beach, many vendors come by selling things.  This guy made "Wildcat" bracelets for the older boys (he was very talented).

Another guy walked by with this iguana offering us to hold it.  Of course, when you hold it and take the picture, you are then asked to pay money for the "use of the iguana in the picture".  Oh well, it was great fun!  I was determined to hold it, but still freaked out when it was actually placed in my hand.  Notice the small one on my head and Chris' hat too.  I guess the large one was named Lucas and the small one Tony.

Villa Marylou from the beach below.  

It's the upper one --- you can see the top two decks and part of the lower one. 

Casa Patricia (where we were supposed to stay) from the beach ---- 

the top and farthest right one with the orangish color (not the white one).

 

The road we took to get there was VERY steep and approximately 1/2 mile long, 

so walking down was much more enjoyable than walking back up. Due to how steep it was it seemed like much more of a workout than 1/2 mile.

This picture really doesn't show it justice, but we tried.

One day we spent the afternoon on the deck at Casa Patricia (where we were supposed to stay). 

This is what the deck looked like there - definitely more room for all of us to lounge.

 They even had towels on each of the lounge chairs that said "Casa Patricia". 

Hugo (from Casa Patricia) drove us down to the beach to get on the boat.  Through all our planning, Hugo was the one we were in contact with because he is the house manager.  We road down in the "Beach Buggy" which is a part of Casa Patricia!  Just a little better than walking down as we had the other times:)  He also took us shopping in the city the last evening.  We knew we were safe with him.

Here's the "small boat" they had that we could use.  It was an AWESOME boat with Juan as our driver and Roberto to make sure we had whatever we wanted. He even brought us beach towels and pillows to lay on out front.  Very comfortable!  Chris also went on the boat on Sunday with the owners to tuna fish.  They didn't catch anything though. 

On our last day there we took the families boat out on the water.  We stopped at one of the beaches on the way back and had lunch.  It definitely was the "best day ever"! 

The shoreline was BEAUTIFUL!!!!  

Looked like little waterfalls as the ocean water crashed against the rocks. 

 

 One of the beaches along the shore.

 Ashli and Tom

 Kristin and Mark

Chris and Derek

Yes, one of us too!

 We were whale watching for the first part of our boat ride.  Here is a Humpback Whale --- we weren't able to get very close but we at least saw a couple of them.

My sisters, Kristin and Ashli (they actually are sisters - I'm the adopted one)

Group photo on the boat (Mark, Chris, DeAnn, Ashli, Kristin, Tom, Derek)

 

 The hot tub at Villa Marylou where we stayed (Chris, Mark, and Kristin)

Honestly, this is the first time in a LONG time that we have just relaxed on a vacation and not had a schedule to follow.  We truly took the 'relax and enjoy' approach this time.  We would lay out at the house some, walk down to the beach, have a light lunch, go back to the house and enjoy the time with friends.

It was a wonderful get away week!!