December 2 2015

Watching An American Mass Shooting From Mexico

Another day, another American shooting, this time in San Bernadino. There seem to be more and more of them since we moved to Mexico, and all I can think of when I see them is how glad I am that we got away. That’s right, I said it. I feel safer here in Mexico than I would in the U.S. right now.   Continue reading

November 4 2015

Embracing Dia de los Muertos

Cozumel Mexico family travel

The girls and I have read about Dia de los Muertos and now that we are in Mexico it was something I have really looked forward to taking part in. It is not “Mexican Halloween” but has a rich history of its own in Mexican culture. Continue reading

August 11 2015

The Sounds of Mexico

A friend once told me that in Mexico “we live loud.” Most of the time I don’t mind it, but there are a few things that I am hoping will not follow us when we finally move to our new house. Continue reading

May 15 2015

Boston Strong

Boston

While I was in Boston this March I wandered around getting to know the city on foot, often not knowing where I was. On a chilly day I wandered down to the water after a tour of the Boston Tea Party Museum and walked along the inlet, coming to what seemed to be part of the harbor. I took pictures of the boats tied side by side in rows just beyond the high rises, and marveled at the contrasts of historic past and the modern future that is evident everywhere in Boston. Continue reading

May 2 2014

Making Summer Family Travel Plans

Our first day in Cozumel with the kids last year.
Our first day in Cozumel with the kids last year.

I’m trying to nail down what we can and can’t do this summer while the kids are out of school. Road trips around the Midwest are pretty easy and cheap because we can usually stay with someone. Jason and I want to try sailing lessons at a local lake, and there will be lots of camping and canoeing. What we all really want, though, is the ocean. Continue reading

April 15 2014

Why We Don’t Do All Inclusive Resorts

Part 1

When we took our first trip overseas in 2008 it was a destination wedding on a big resort.  I looked at the resort accommodations where the wedding party and basically everyone else was staying and figured it would cost us about $500 a night to stay there ($345 plus an extra $145 per night to have the kids with us.) Even with meals and entertainment thrown in, this seemed ridiculous Continue reading

April 9 2014

No Texting in the Shower!

blog phone pics 003
Old dumb phone, how I missed you!

I had to take my daughter’s phone away again last night. She was texting in the shower at bedtime again (I’m seriously rethinking that waterproof phone.) We were waiting to put her little sisters to bed and she’s in there texting. It wasn’t the first time we’ve had this argument. Continue reading