Mazatlan!

This year, we tried a new vacation experience: the all-inclusive resort.  With two kids that nap and eat (one of them every 2 1/2 hours) and can't walk long distances, we figured this was a good way to go.  And for once, we were right.  It was perfect!  We went to Mazatlan, Mexico at the beginning of November.  We found an awesome deal because it was an off-peak time to go and Mexico is hurting for tourists thanks to the drug wars going on.  Our hotel (Riu Emerald Bay) was right on the beach and all of our expenses were covered, so we could eat whenever and wherever was most convenient.  The weather was perfect - 80s and clear the entire week so we were very reluctant to come home.

The girls got to try out their beach looks.

Gabby's love of sand returned immediately.  (She went through a fear-of-getting dirty phase a while back, but that clearly is no longer a problem.)

Sprinkles were the magic word.  Gabby pretty much added sprinkles to everything and loved that they had pancakes with sprinkles already in them.

On Jason's birthday, I treated him to reservations at a nicer restaurant followed by a show - Grease.  Aren't I a great wife?  (Okay, fine.  It was all free.)  :)

The girls had a great time playing together and we all got our pool and beach time in.

We also explored the city and surrounding area.

Gabby was always happy, even when we dragged her around and skipped nap time.

We arrived a week after the Day of the Dead, so there were still some fun displays around.

One evening, we passed a human statue.  Gabby freaked out!!  As we were standing there for her to see him, he said (without moving his lips), "I'm just a real person," in this way that sounded like we had truly damaged his self esteem.  :)

The resort had a great area for kids with all sorts of fun slides and spraying water that Gabby finally enjoyed at the end.

Some days Gabby got a bit dirty... and poor Cinderella, too.  That random keychain was Gabby's best friend the entire trip.

We had a fabulous time!  Although I was worried that Gabby had become too accustomed to being catered to, like the constant fruit smoothies that we could have at any point as we laid out on the beach.  When we returned to Seattle and were waiting for someone to bring our car around from where we parked near the airport, Gabby sat down in a seat, sighed and said, "Juice please!".  Welcome back to reality.