Xel-Ha

We spent one full day at a place called Xel-Ha. We were all so excited to go as we heard many things about it and there were advertisements everywhere for the place. We all woke up early, put on our swim suits, lathered on the sun screen and hopped in the vans.

As you first walk into the park you walk past the dolphin pins. That was where you could swim with the dolphins. The boys were not tall enough and it was rather expensive so we passed this year but we will do it when everyone gets a little older. The next thing we came across were some beautiful parrots. We had to stop. Ryan and Alyssa loved the colors. We tried to get a picture of Ryan holding one of the parrots but as he held it the bird turned his head towards him and it really scared him. We were not going to get a good picture after that. We did get some of the other boys but I have not scanned them into the computer yet. Sorry.

Behind Lanny, Benjamin and Alyssa is the opening of the bay. It was so beautiful. We all had a chance to snorkle, feed some fish, swim and just enjoy being in the warm water. We saw beautiful fish and some fish the size of Ryan. Those ones were a little scary.

One area of the park had hammocks hanging between to trees everywhere. Benjamin swung in them for quite a while. Alyssa took a little break with him in one as we just kicked back and relaxed for a while.
Here is Tyler after swimming the river. It was quite a hike to the end of the river and more of a swim than what we thought it would be. What fun though. Ryan was whipped at the end of the day. This picture was even taken after he slept for an hour. He played hard all day long until he literally dropped. Lanny picked him up, sat down at the table to have dinner and he was out that quickly. He was not ready to leave though, he was loving the water, the small kiddie pool and of course the all you can eat ice cream all day long.

All over the park were huge igaunas. You could find them everywhere. This was one of the small ones we saw while we were there. The boys loved it especially Benjamin. Hebrought a journal with him to write about his trip for school and every page just about talked about the iguanas he saw throughout the park here. The girls screamed every time they saw one in the beginning. BY lunch they had gotten used to them and it wasn't so bad.

What a great day it was. We were lucky that the day was just a little overcast so we did not have the direct sun beating down on us all day. The temperature was perfect, the water was wonderful and the company could not be beat!

Wow! What a trip!

To all those who have been waiting for these pictures I am sorry it took me so long to post.

Thank you for your patience.

We just returned home from a wonderful trip to Mexico. All of the Babbel's made the trip to make a grand total of 22.7 people. We had 11 adults and 11.7 children. (Sarah was 7 months pregnant, that is where the 0.7 comes from) It was so wonderful to be with everyone. We are so grateful for that time and especially for the time that the cousins had together.

(Mindy is taking the picture that is why we are short one person)

Everyone had a wonderful time. The water was the most appealing to the boys, most of our time was spent either in the pool or in the water at the beach. By the end of the week even Alyssa, who hated taking baths before the trip, enjoyed the water. The condos we stayed in had the largest swimming pool in all of latin america. It was amazing.

Here is just one small view of part of the pool.

Ryan helped me pull Alyssa around in her little float. He was a little mad when she fell asleep and he had to slow down a little.

Alyssa relaxing poolside under the cabana on the very comfortable bed.

Benjamin swam all over the pool. He learned that it is okay to go under and how to hold his breath and even learned how to snorkle.

Here is Tyler, Uncle Cody and Papa Babbel playing "500" in one part of the pool. What fun they had throwing and catching the ball. Tyler was so pround because he was the one to sign his name and room number on the slip to get the football for the pool. He even saved the little form to bring home with him.