Saturday, May 28, 2011

One Last Nod to Cancun Before We Take Our NEXT Vacation…

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(are my eyes open?  this is what you get when you beg favors from wandering strangers who may or may not be good photographers…)

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We didn’t let Bryce bring this hat home.  He wanted to, though.

Bryce made friends with the busboy.  They could not speak each other’s language but they figured out the communication needed to share table tricks and little jokes. They had us busting up. It was very sweet.  Bryce palmed him a few dollars on the way out (with the “Chandler” tip gesture…)

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Aloe Art on sunburned backs

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Tyler sacrificing for the family to eat leftover food the night before we left

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Bryce geared up to try out his Cancun whip. 

Woh-pah!

 

Monday, May 9, 2011

I Do Not Know This Man.

It is has been scientifically proven that there is a unique code in Peacock DNA that causes their right foot to in fact be filled with lead.  The sister trait to this “lead foot” is a streak of aggression only discernible when sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle. 

It’s true.

Ask Jeff Madsen.

Ask Dave McGill.

Ask Haley Hansen Peacock.

They’ll all confirm this fact.

My sweet husband is no exception.  I’ve learned that it is much more enjoyable for me to ride in the front seat if I just close my eyes when we get too close to the vehicle in front of us.  If I don’t close my eyes, I tend to flinch, grab for handholds and gasp.  If I try to suppress these responses, I just end up anxious.  So now, I just close my eyes.  It’s better for everyone.  It’s better for my marriage.  And, I know that if I don’t watch, it all turns out just fine.  He really IS an excellent driver.  My flinching, grabbing and gasping leads him to flinch, and I think that increases the chance of an accident.

I am regularly the butt of jokes in my household (because, of course, my sons have inherited this Peacock DNA) that if the men drive to Utah it takes 9-10 hours.  If I drive any leg of the trip, it will take 12+.  Whatever.

Jeff’s freewheeling ways have recently caught up to him.  After over 20 years of being ticket-free, he got two tickets within a year.  He took traffic school on line and passed the final exam with an impressive 100%.

There has been a fundamental shift in our household dynamic.  I’m not sure I’m pleased.

Jeff now goes the speed limit (or below) everywhere.  Even if we’re late.  He makes complete stops.  He’s in no hurry, WHATSOEVER.  He points out infractions in other drivers, tsk tsk, present company included.  

Be careful what you wish for.

I believe my real husband has been abducted by aliens.  I wonder if Mulder and Scully are available to take the case.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Isla Mujeres

I should totally be working right now.  I have more to do than I can even fit on my list.

Which is EXACTLY why I am retreating back to Cancun in my mind…Ahhhh….

So one day, we took the ferry over to a nearby island, Isla Mujeres.  The main selling point for Bryce was the opportunity, just MAYBE, of getting to DRIVE a golf cart around the island.  He didn’t want to go at all when I MENTIONED, just MAYBE, there would be a minimum age somewhat ABOVE the age of 13 required to drive.

We went anyway.

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Do you like Jeff’s hat?  He is an AMAZING dickerer.  The opening price was $30 USD.  He was able to parley all the way DOWN to $28 USD.  Don’t let him negotiate your next car purchase.

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Here we are on the island, picking up the aforementioned golf cart.  Jeff drove it away.

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They weren’t really SPECIFIC on the whole minimum age thing.  Much to Bryce’s joy.

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We visited a turtle preserve.

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Tyler met his match in this iguana.

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And we saw real ones too.

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At the end of the island is this beautiful overlook, surrounded on three sides by the clearest water.  We decided this is the best place EVER to stop and have lunch.

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Bryce, appreciating the view…

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briefly.

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Tyler drove us back the other side of the island and back to the ferry.

Oh well, back to work.