retreated...

where in the world have I been?

I retreated...both literally and figuratively to a yoga retreat

retreated from life for a week

to a desert oasis at Prana del Mar (in the Baja desert of Mexico an hour outside of Cabo).

retreated to yoga.   

2 times a day.  vinyasa flow and restorative yin practices.  I felt my pratice strengthen.  There were growing pains as well as moments of realization.  My first tripod headstand since my back surgery was an emotional message that "yes, you are growing stronger...you are healing".  

retreated to friendship....

my bestie from high school, Margo Kellison, lead and inspired this yoga retreat and created this amazing environment that nurtured the body and soul.    

A week with my friend= priceless.

There were new friendships and connections made with 20 amazing yogis, my new friends.

retreated to a restful nights....many nights in bed by 9pm and naturally waking to the sunrise 

retreated to nurtrition.

organic, whole foods and more fiber than my body has ever seen.   So much so that at many points I didn't even feel hungry.  Learning that I can be fully satiated without carbs, processed foods.   And a week without dairy, which I now see clearly isn't my friend.

retreated to the ocean.

Its vastness and beauty in our view during sun salutations.  

Its sounds all around us.  
Its beauty ever present.

Its humbling reminder of how small we are.

How it calls us to its edge...our edge.

retreated to the sun....

waking to the sun rise over the mountains, soaking in its rays during the day

setting each night, as if it just drops off into the Pacific.

What a sight to behold.

retreated to serenity.....   

days of restortation and giving my body everything it needed.  my practice became stronger.  my back was able to stretch and strengthen.  my soul was able to relax and rejuvenate.

grateful. grateful....oh, so grateful.  retreated.

Mexican scavenger hunt

This week I have gone through all of my Mexico photos to try and be able to share our week away and participate in the Scavenger Hunt!  Here goes....

 High Key-   

So, I had to look this term up.  I am such a newbie, but this is exactly why I participate in these challenges so I can learn and challenge myself.  I hope this qualifies as "high key".  

The photo actually started out very dark, almost silouetted, but I edited it so that the light surrounding my handsome hubby filled the rest of the frame and lit it up.  I like it.  

Here, Tessa is more than happy to give Daddy kisses. 

Off in the distance- One day home from Mexico...it is off in the distance.   As was this scene with the palm trees that were off in the distance from our room.  dreamy. Bedroom-   o.k., this may be a bit of a stretch for this prompt.  A hammock is an instant bedroom in any situation.   I am fairly certain that if we had hammocks hanging in the kids' rooms that they would be in them constantly....and that includes bedtime. Something tiny..... So, something about this prompt and the irony of this little person on this giant chess board had  me coming back to this fun photo.  Tiny Tessa on giant chess board! and this one too....had to share. how is it that something so tiny, and simple, as bubbles can add up to this much fun for 2 little boys!? The jacuzzi in the room was a real treat for all of us while on vacation! Stripes-  now this is one cool fence outside the kids area at the resort. ashley sisk

dance! dance!

What would you do when you see an empty stage in which the lights are shining, probing and the music is playing...just begging someone to come on stage?  what would you do?

That's right....you jump up there and DANCE, DANCE, DANCE!

click here: 

the boys are jamming out....

click below to see more jamming and Tessa's signature "high back kick" move at the end of the video!  wait for it.....It's adorable! I think she gets it from me.....tee hee

So, those spontaneous dance parties in my kitchen have really paid off.....check out those moves!  Drew was completely in his element.  He absolutely loved having the full stage, lights, and music.  You can see his free spirit here!   Jack is totally feeling the beat and jamming out!  Judson was much more reserved and might have been slightly embarrassed by us.....  this was a major highlight of our trip for me.

I hope you dance-

This is Tessa's signature "high back kick" dance move...

 Drew (in double-time!) and Jack jam out!

Jud....hangin low

Andy busts out his own high kicking dance move.  

Lets just say this move is usually not seen without lots of liquid courage.  ;)  But here, he is just feeling it. 

I hope you dance!

hammock required

Isn't there something just so wonderful about a hammock?

Here at the resort in Mexico we have a hammock right on our patio...everyone does.

Actually, a hammock is a vacation requirement here.

I love everything a hammock represents.  It feels like a hug when you get in one.  You immediately feel snuggled, held...supported.  And then when you have little people it only adds to the sweetness and snuggly feeling.  Here half of our family is in our own little snuggle fest cocoon.

Tessa is often so busy being a toddler that snuggling isn't on the top of her list of things to do.  But the hammock brought it out in her.  This position was her favorite, I think because we are together, but she is also independent of me while being snuggled in.  I love how relaxed we are here.  I love the way our skin is contrasting.  I love how her little body just fits right into mine. I just love it

Can you just feel Tessa's inner sweetness below?....Here her sweetness is coming right through.  

She is totally relaxed, at ease and being oh so sweet.

A hammock might be required right now for me to see this sort of sweetness....

that is fine with me.  I can swing in a hammock all summer if that is what it takes!

project 64

The paper mama "sweet" photo challenge

www.papermama.blogspot.com




Guess what....our second photo of us in a hammock won the "Paper Mama's "Sweet" photo challenge!   Now you can vote for it!

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paper mama

Hola!

Hola from Riviera Maya, Mexico.
I am blissfully in a state of relaxation at this moment and can hardly muster up the energy to blog....but I must to share with you how much fun we are having.

But don't be fooled, vacation with 4 kids isn't vacation.  There should be its own term for such a venture.   for now I will call it "adventures in parenthood".   Maybe vacation with 4 kids should simply be "crazy time".  Or best yet, "you seriously thought you would be on vacation?" vacation.

Whatever it is....the best part of it is that we are all together doing nothing more than whatever we want.  not on any schedule.  don't need to be anywhere.  not doing homework.  playing in the water (with me on sun screen patrol). Merely getting ourselves to one of the resorts' restaurants to eat is our most pressing activity...sort of vacation.

Yep, life is so good....