Mexico!

Jay and I were extremely blessed to go to Cancun, Mexico with the Connellys over New Years. We had so much fun! I am very grateful for my family. I can't imagine better in-laws. We stayed at a beautiful resort complete with the longest swimming pool in the world. The ocean was also close by so we were set. We had a lot of fun times at the resort including late nights watching movies and stealing out onto the pier at midnight. Here are some pictures from the resort.

This is inside the hotel lobby. I thought this wooden bench was beautiful.

Giving love to Grandma.

Hanging out at a restaurant watching a live band. Jay went crazy for the music. One night he single handedly got about 50 people up and out on the dance floor. He sure loves music!

Hanging out with grandma.

Swimming

Playing at the pool was of course one of our favorite activities. We spent every other day lounging at the resort and swimming in the pool. On the off days we toured the area.

Playing with Mimi in the pool.

Jay had so much fun in the water. The only complaint he had that he wanted to swim by himself. He didn't always realize that letting go wasn't a good idea. He is such a water baby!

Just look how happy he is!

I love my baby.

Uncle Reed and Uncle Robbie loved throwing Jay through the air.

Jay loved it too.

Chichen Itza

One of the places we visited was Chichen Itza, a large archaeological site built by the Mayan civilization. The city was built around 600 AD, although it did not gain prominence until approximately 800 AD. It was at one time a major regional capital, centralizing and dominating political, sociocultural, economic, and ideological life in the northern Maya lowlands. The city fell most likely around 1000 AD, although it remained a place of pilgrimage for many years after. When the Spanish came to Mexico in the 1500s they fought the Mayan people for the land and after many battles, with the upper hand going back and forth, the Spanish finally won and made Chichen Itza into a working cattle ranch.

One of the most amazing things to see in Chichen Itza is this building, the Temple of Kukulkan, also referred to as El Castillo (The Castle). It has four sides, each with a staircase with 91 steps. What is amazing to me is the symbolism found within the structure and the incredible architectural abilities of the Mayans. On the Spring and Autumn equinox, at the rising and setting of the sun, the corner of the pyramid casts a shadow in the shape of a serpent - Kukulcan, or Quetzalcoatl - along the west side of the north staircase. On these two days, the shadows from the corner tiers slither down the northern side of the pyramid with the sun's movement to the serpent's head at the base. How amazing is that?

Here is another interesting part of Chichen Itza known as the Great Ball Court where the Mayans played a game called the Mesoamerican ballgame. It was probably a lot like racquetball or volleyball where the ball had to stay in play, though no one really knows for sure. Some say the players could only use their hips, others claim they could use rackets to bounce the ball against the wall and get it to go through the ring. The game had important ritual aspects, and major formal ballgames were held as ritual events, often featuring human sacrifice. The ball court at Chichen Itza is the biggest in ancient Mesoamerica.

This temple sits at one end of the ball court and is popularly called the Temple of the Bearded Man. It has detailed carving on the walls, including a figure that looks like it has a beard. Some say the features of the man look much more European than a Mesoamerican. Many claim the carving may even be Jesus Christ. Here's what one website says a Mayan guide at Chichen Itza explained about the bearded man:

"He was said to have come from the sea, no mention of a boat. He had light colored skin, blue eyes and sported a beard. Now we all know that our native American peoples do not have beards, and light colored skin with blue eyes came from the Europeans... He was large in stature, again a rather odd feature for the native Americans, as most are under 6 feet tall. He had many different names because each tribe named him something different. It was claimed that he wore an auricle around His head, and walked with a stave. He was known to be a gentle man of great character who taught astronomy, agriculture, metallurgy and social government. He was a writer, a healer and a teacher of many things. [Some say] the bearded one returned back to the sea, other text claims that the bearded one returned to the stars... The Hopi claim he was their friend so they called Him the Great Bahanna or Peace Maker... The White Bearded Lamb of God, as he was also referred to, said that He would return again."

Behind Reed in this picture is Tzompantli, or the wall of skulls. The wall was created as a public display showing the skulls of enemies and sacrificed victims.

Mellisa, Megan and I are being scary in front of the skull wall.

In the background you can see the temple.

Here we are sitting at the Cenote Sagrada, a large natural sink-hole. It is also known as Sacred Well or Well of Sacrifice. The Mayans at Chichen Itza sacrificed objects and human beings to the rain god Chaac into the Cenote Sagrada. Doctor Edward Thompson dredged the sink-hole in the early 1900s and found gold, jade, pottery, incense and human remains.
Jay just liked throwing rocks into it.

Here we are at the temple of the Warriors. It was once a very large complex and supported a vast roofing system. This part specifically is called the group of a thousand columns.

I'm pretty sure Reed wasn't really supposed to be up there. Great picture though :)

A beautiful goddess.

Here are some cute kids we saw playing around the ruins. There were tons of families selling trinkets. For some reason every family was essentially selling the same things. Someone with a unique idea could really make money down there!Jay found some pretty things to look at (and touch of course).

Here we are taking a lunch break. It's also the spot where I was almost attacked by killer bees!

I'd say overall Jay wasn't as excited about this day trip as everyone else was. It was pretty hot and he could care less about the ruins. It didn't help that I ran out of diapers right as he pooped (luckily we found a nearby store - of course that was after he fell asleep in the car) and then we got lost on the way home and drove for about 5 1/2 hours. Yeah, not Jay's favorite day.

Jill bought a handmade handkerchief from this cute woman.

Taking refuge under a shady tree.

Even with the crazy drive, Chichen Itza was an incredible place and I'm so glad we were able to go! I have to mention that we were there on New Years Eve and by the time we got home it was 11:30 a.m. - just barely enough time to celebrate the new year! Unfortunately, there wasn't anything going on at the resort for New Years (except for things you had to pay for) so we had to make our own fun. We did stand outside of a restaurant as the people inside counted down and we watch balloons fall from the ceiling, or at least an attempt to do so. We then watched fireworks from the beach and stole out onto the dark, roped off pier. Happy 2009!

Islas Mujeres

One day we took a ferry over to the island of Islas Mujeres (Island of Women - name to be explained later). We rented golf carts and toured the island which ended up being a lot of fun - even though the golf cart Reed, Melis, Jill and I got was the only on one the island that topped out at about 15 mph.

Just look at that little beauty.

Along the way we stopped to watch this little zip line course. Isn't the water amazing?

We had lunch at this cool little restaurant sitting on the most eastern tip of Mexico. We all had pina coladas there - yum! A perfect way to beat the heat.

Here's Jay giving love to Mimi. She snagged her beautiful yellow dress for about $17 at Chichen Itza. She looks gorgeous in yellow!

There were tons of really huge iguanas on the island. They were truly amazing.

Jay thought they were pretty cool too - until they got too close, then they were just scary!

And now we come to the reason behind the naming of Islas Mujeres. In Mayan times the island served as the sanctuary for the goddess Ixchel, the Mayan Goddess of fertility, reason, medicine, and the moon. Well, there she is, in all her childbearing glory! I was testing out the position in case I decide to have my next child this way.

We had a wonderful time on the island and were only dissapointed that we didn't bring our bathing suits. Really, we were in Mexico. What were we thinking?

Church
We went to church on Sunday in Cancun city. It was fast and testimony Sunday and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I understood. The people there had so much faith and such strong testimonies. It was a wonderful experience to worship with them. After church we wandered around the city.

Jay thought these trikes were pretty cool.

Megan and I considered taking up the occupation of professional head models.

This chair was just cool.

Heading back.

More Good Times

Melissa and Reed at the Rain Forrest Cafe. Jay was terrified of all the moving animals in there.

Jay and Robbie in front of the Hard Rock.

Jay contemplating the life of a Kiss impersinator. I bought this cool Mexican shirt for him for only $5!

Playing in the hotel room.

Jay loves Lissa.

The Marriott Hotel. We had lunch here one day. It was beautiful!

The beach from the Marriott Hotel.

Three sisters.

Playing with Unlce Reed at the Hyatt pool. Reed and Jay were one only ones willing to get into the cold (okay -probably 75 degree) water.

Playing in the ocean with Mamah. Jill was covering Jay's feet with sand and when the waves would come up and wash it away he would scream with delight!

My beach baby.

Clinging to grandpa in the ocean.

Jay loves that Mamah of his.

Sipping pina coladas on the beach. Could you ask for a better vacation?