New Year's in Mexico

We spent this New Year's in Mexico with my side of the family which we rarely get to see. It was kind of a last hurrah before my parents moved from Tlaxcala to Toledo and they flew all of the family down there to spend New Year's with them. It was a blast and we had been preparing for months getting Jayde a passport, buying an umbrella stroller, and making sure we had everything we needed for travelling. I had been super sick with a cold for at least a week prior which was a bummer because all the coughing made my ribs hurt when I moved which made for an interesting trip, but we made the best of it.

Day 1 - Everyone arrives in Mexico City at different times. We had a super long layover at LAX and were glad that some of my siblings and families were there to spend time with us and keep Jayde occupied! My parents rented a bus and driver for all of us to caravan everywhere together and not have to worry about driving ourselves which was nice. 

Jayde did awesome on the plane flights and we were very prepared with things to keep her occupied!

On the drive from the airport my brother threw up in the bus - which is when we found out there was a flu bug within the family. Throughout the trip most people got sick on different days so opted out to do some things while they waited out the 24 hour bug and try not to get other people sick. I think out of all 18 of us - only 8 of us didn't get sick including our little family, my parents, Brandon, Mike and Erin. Corinne, Tyson, and I got sick with some other stomach bug (not the flu thankfully) near the end of the trip but it didn't last long. I was just so glad Jayde didn't get the flu because she isn't old enough to tell us she needs to throw up which would have made that 24 hours completely miserable for all three of us!

The married kids stayed at Mision Tlaxcala and my two younger unmarried siblings stayed at my parents house in Tlaxcala. The hotel was nice and we had breakfasts and dinners there. The food was pretty strange at first for breakfast, but after a couple days we were used to the selection. I just don't get how people can eat dinner-ish food for breakfast, but it worked. Jayde pretty much lived off of yogurt, cereal, chocolate milk, and bread the entire trip since she's so picky she wouldn't eat anything else! It was tough because the hotel didn't have a fridge so we couldn't keep cream cheese and things she would normally eat with us. She survived though (and so did Tyson my other picky eater).

Day 2 - was pretty relaxed because people were still adjusting to the high altitude and flights. We had a picnik at La Malinche Volcano and played around there with the kids. Jayde had a blast playing with all her cousins and aunts/uncles. 

Day 3 - was the Teotihuacan Pyramids. Tyson and I had been there last time we visited my parents in Puebla but were excited to take Jayde. It was interesting maneuvering the strollers through the outside ruins but we made it work. Jayde was a total trooper sleeping in the car and taking her name wherever we were. It was fun spending time with our family that we rarely get to see.

Luckily this time none of us had to ride in the back of the pyramid police's trucks like our last trip here!

Tyson with Jayde, Erin & Ashlyn, Mike, Robert, Rikki, Dad, and Thomas pushing Madelyn (with his awesome hat someone tried to buy off of him haha)

Jayde enjoyed playing with the rocks and running around while some of the people climbed the Pyramid of the Sun.

The people in our group are on that first ledge.

Looking for dada on the pyramid.

It was all a huge playground to her! They had some fun vendors who were selling things and we bought Jayde a whistle that she really likes.

After Teotihuacan we went to Mexico City and walked around the Zocalo, saw people selling things like last time we came, and went through the  Metropolitan Cathedral which they started building in 1573. It was tricky maneuvering through all the crowds since they were having a huge party in the middle of the Zocalo, but it just added to the experience!

We bought some more Churritos like last time and they were delicious!!

That afternoon we went to the Mexico City temple and Visitors Center and looked around. The temple was gorgeous! Tyson and I loved the carvings they had on the outside which made it completely match it's surroundings. There were flowers and grass everywhere which was not the case in the rest of the city. 

Oh, and they obviously had toilet paper and flushing toilets, running water and soap in the bathrooms which was a plus! Something which you don't usually find in the Mexico City bathrooms.

Day 4 - we went on an Africam Safari that they have in Puebla. Jayde absolutely loved it! We were all able to stay in our bus and you tour through this zoo where you can see the animals right outside your window. It was so cute pointing out all the animals to her, and seeing her name some of them and pointing out her window. She kept saying, "WOW!!" which was so cute!

That day we also went to the Angelopolis Mall which is a HUGE mall with a crazy movie theatre. I had the BEST Mexican food there where they slice the meat right off a big chunk of meat that is spinning around. I have no idea what it is called but it was amazing. 

The movies would have been better if we did a guys night movie and then a girls night movie. Jayde didn't really like Mission Impossible so I walked the halls mostly with her while it was playing, but it was cool because for a couple bucks more you could go to the VIP theater which consisted of your own leather recliner chair and waiter who would take your order then bring it out to you. They served everything from sushi to smoothies or nutella crepes. It was so neat! 

Day 5 - we went to an Adventure Zone called Rancholandia. It was a whole park for families with different aged kids and was awesome. Jayde was able to do painting, play on the playground, jump in a jump house for the first time which she loved, and play in their little city of play houses. I think she was in heaven!

They had huge inflatable balls that the adults could get into and walk on the water in the wading pool and try to make the person in the other ball go where they wanted. They also had four wheeling, paintball, and rock climbing that people enjoyed. I would have done all of it except I'm pregnant and didn't want to risk anything which is probably good because Jenny broke her collar bone when she crashed her four wheeler. 

A huge rainstorm came that afternoon so we didn't end up getting to some of the water activities, but while my mom and I watched the grand kids and had hot chocolate the others did the paintball and zip lines through the trees which they enjoyed.  

Day 5 - the people who weren't sick went to the Cholula Pyramid and saw the ruins and murals there. We had been to the pyramid before, but the ruins were new to us and were really neat. One of the ruins was this big stadium seating area which had an echo when you talked and she had fun running around and clapping making noise.

We then (if I remember right) headed back to see who else was feeling better at the "sick house" where the flu victims were staying haha and picked up the other people to head over to Parian and do some shopping. It is an area where there are hundreds of shops where vendors sell their goods. We got some really good stuff that I'm excited to be able to use.

That night was New Year's Eve and my parents rented out the hotel's conference room so we could all  hang out there and play games. There was lots of laughs as people ate pizza and brownies, played cards, some crazy fast version of scrabble, and other games my parents had. My mom is amazing and had a ton of things for the kids to play with like playdough, art activities, and even a pinata that she filled with toys and candy.

As you can see Jayde LOVED the pinata. Once she figured out she could hit it with that stick she went to town, it was hilarious! She got a few turns in before we put her to bed and Tyson was kind enough to stay in our room with her while I continued playing games with my family until midnight. When midnight came we all counted down and blew horns, had streamers flying, and popped poppers - it was great!

Jayde's face is priceless! We really need to get one of these for her birthday.

All the grandkids (minus Lincoln who was sleeping). Jayde making her typical 'Cheese' face.

Day 6 - we all went to church at my parents old ward in Puebla. We met some new people and talked to the few people we met when we were there last time. All their friends were able to say goodbye to my parents which was nice, and it was Fast Sunday so my parents and sister were able to go up and bear their testimonies to everyone and say goodbye as well. They were in that ward for over 2 years and loved the people there!

We then went to my dad's work and had a plant tour. He works at Owens Corning and is in charge of opening another factory there which was really cool to see! The kids played in the lobby while we took tours in two groups.

watching Tangled

We had an absolute BLAST on this trip and are so glad we were able to spend it with the entire family. It was fun seeing Jayde spend time with her cousins and aunts/uncles/grandparents she rarely gets to see. I'm hoping to add more pictures that my dad took because I'm sure he has some great ones (as well as my other siblings). Hopefully we'll be able to do another family trip with everyone soon!