Memorial Day 2023

Look at cute Elinor and her little (not so little) baby bump!  As of writing this, she is only about a month away from the Choi Boy's arrival,  But this was taken about a month ago on Memorial Day.

So much love.  

Three generations of beautiful Clark women.

Aunt Diane shares with us about Uncle Lane.  He passed away shortly before Memorial Day last year, so we didn't have the Clark's with us on Memorial Day.  It was so good to be together again at our traditional time and place.

We were missing Clark and Brandon and Bethany.  I hope we'll get everyone next year.  It's been a little while since we've all been together at the cemetery.

Greta made a sign for Tessa.  To put in perspective, Greta is older than Clark was when we lost Tessa.

I love my cute Aunt Diane.

At Valley View Cemetery we ran into my dad's cousin Becky.  A happy little cousin reunion.

I adore this picture of Grandma Bev and Emi

Grandpa and some of the grandkids.

Rather than going out to eat at a restaurant, we decided to do a picnic at a park, and IT WAS A HIT!

We had so much fun playing a family softball game.  Here is Grandpa up to bat.  I think we all hope for nice weather next year for another game.  It was awesome!

These two cutie little cousins.

Pleasant Green cemetery in Magna to visit the grave site of August Larson-- died from injuries sustained in a terrible mining accident.

A little backyard hotdog roast with our dear friends.  The simple joys of life.

Mexico Day 5 and 6-- Ladies' Island and Going Home

 

Can you believe the color of the water!!!! So gorgeous!

Day 5 was Gretchen and I adventuring to Itza Las Mujeres.

We rented a golf cart and took off.  Thankfully, Gretchen had been before and knew a bit of what to do and see.

There was a lovely beach, but we drove by-- we had other plans for the day.  Another time, hopefully.

Gretchen was more adventurous than me when it came to snorkeling.  She went out to see what there was to see and I kept a watch from the rocks.  

I took a little selfie of myself to document this moment of peaceful contemplation.

She swam a way out-- snorkeling to her little heart's content.  It seemed extra brave of her, but I wasn't too concerned.

Until...

...to my horror... quite a huge storm rolled in very quickly.  Before disaster struck (as I was sure was imminent) she swam in and we got caught in the storm running back to our golf cart.

The open-air golf cart offered no protection from the elements, but it did make for lot of laughter and a funny memory.

 By the time was got to our next destination-- lunch and swimming at Kin Ha.

Sorry about the closed eyes-- the but nachos were delicious!

Oh, look!  It's a giant Iguana.  And another eyes-closed picture.  I don't know why the giant iguana delighted me as much as it did.  

I liked this yellow hat.  It spoke to me.  But then I remember this line from the movie You've Got Mail:

Kathleen Kelly : [writing to "NY152"] Once I read a story about a butterfly in the subway, and today, I saw one! It got on at 42nd and off at 59th, where, I assume, it was going to Bloomingdales to buy a hat that will turn out to be a mistake, as almost all hats are.

So I didn't buy the hat.  

But I think I made a mistake in not buying the hat.  Lesson learned.  When a hat speaks to you, you buy it.

The ferry ride back.

A wonderful dinner in Puerto Morelos on our last night.  

Day 6 was the travel day home.  It was comfortable and uneventful-- which is exactly what you want a travel day to be.

I think Grover was the most excited to have me home again.

Abe and the kiddos made me this cute sign.

Handing out the souvenirs.  Why yes, they are all little musical instruments.  

The whole week was fast and furious and adventures.  I was so grateful Gretchen invited me to go.  She is amazing and we had a truly enjoyable week talking and playing!  It was a great way to kick off the summer.

Mexico Day 3 and 4-- Cozumel and Ek Balom

 

Day 3 began with a drive to Playa Del Carmen, where we left on a ferry for Cozumel.

She was a lovely little ferry.

Well, actually, it began with these divine plates of fruit for breakfast.  The pineapple was especially tasty.

We were headed to Papa Hogs for a three hour snorkel adventure.  

My first time in Cozumel.  My first time in Mexico!

Four guests were the minimum for the boat to go out (not counting the two crew pictured here).  But nobody else signed up.  So Gretchen and I just paid extra and had a private excursion.  It was awesome!

It was a perfect day and the water was so blue.  And thankfully, no seasickness.  

The definite highlight was stingrays eating right out of our hands.  I'm not sure our snorkel guide was supposed to be doing what he did---- but I'm glad he did.  He gave us little bits of fish and they would come right up and suck it right out of our hands.  

Wait...?  Didn't Steve Irwin die from a stingray barb to the heart?  Yes, he did.  And don't think I didn't think about that.  Did it give me pause? Not really, because... you know... Island Betsy lacks judgment and concern for personal safety.  But she's a lot of fun and relaxed and up for anything.

At a restaurant called Machetes, we enjoyed the best tacos of my entire existence.  

This meal pretty much ruined all other tacos for me.

If it wasn't obvious from the previous pictures of me with a giant platter of tacos and margarita (virgin of course-- Island Betsy didn't go that far:), I did not adhere strictly to my regular food standards.  I ate ice cream for the first time in three years and I have ZERO regrets.  And I ate a lot of it.  The ice cream place is called Aldos.  It was HEAVENLY and if when I go back to Mexico, I will partake again!

We drove by our church building on the way home and it was open so we got a little tour and we talked with the bishop (he spoke English).  It was quite a new building, and it was so simple but so beautiful. 

Every day of our trip was so different, but so much fun.  I can't pick a favorite day, but on DAY FOUR we traveled for a couple of hours to see the ancient Mayan ruins of Ek Balom.  

Mind blown.  I LOVED this day.  

Yes, we did wear our matching Xplore t-shirts, lest anyone should mistake us for locals.  

The surroundings were so beautiful.

I understand that Cinchi Itza is the more well-known and visited site of Mayan ruins, but you can't climb it anymore.  Access is quite restricted.  Whereas, here, we could climb up and all over these.  

Now, to be honest, I haven't studied much lately (ever) about the Mayan civilization in Central America.  I know that when I was in about 4th or 5th grade I read a book about the Aztecs and human sacrifice and I was SO HORRIFIED, I've kind of avoided learning more ever since.  It was traumatizing.  Visiting these ruins almost tempts me to learn more. 

It was definitely a "stair day"

The view from the top--- UNBELIEVABLE!  I've never seen anything like it.  Mexican jungle as far as the eye could see.  It took my breath away.  Not that I had much breath left after climbing all those stairs!

The whole day was so cool.  Actually, it was incredibly HOT, but so impressive.  And thank you to Gretchen for being my own personal photographer all week and filling in for Abe, since that's usually his job:)

That night, back at the condo, there was quite the storm-- rain, lightning, thunder-- the works.  And SO MUCH rain.  When it finally stopped we had dinner on the roof.  

It was a delightful meal with great food and great conversation, but we failed to take into account the bugs after the storm.  But aside from the bugs during dinner-- I loved everything about this day.