autumn fun

We've been loving this Ohio autumn so far. The leaves are at their peak of breathtaking colors, and the weather has been gorgeous. This post is just going to be my favorite autumn photos (of the kids) so far. I'm not even going to attempt to pare it down to a manageable number of photos - if I can't get enough, you can't get enough either.... right? :)

The library's story time this week was held at the pumpkin patch. Can you tell they loved it?
(Also pictured: Gavin's best friend Macey and her bro Zack.)

the kids' festive Halloween shirts

When they laugh together, everything is wonderful. :)

fun on the hayride

picking her hayride pumpkin

Yucatan adventure

Jacob and I left the kids with my parents (thanks Grandma and Grandpa!!) and went on a fun trip exploring some Mayan ruins in the Yucatan in Mexico. It was a wonderful trip!


 

Our first trip was the beautiful Tulum (above), right on the beach and teeming with huge iguanas.

After Tulum we hit the Cobá ruins, where we got to climb the largest pyramid in the Yucatan. It was thrilling and exhausting. :)

bottom of the Cobá pyramid

Next stop: Chichén Itzá. Very impressive and beautiful.



at Chichen Itza

Our favorite hotel was in a little town called Valladolid. It had a gorgeous courtyard with a pool, and the room itself had a Jacuzzi tub. We were the only ones at the hotel that night, so we had a personal chef the next morning, who made us an incredible 3-course breakfast!

 

huevos motuleños - Yucatecan specialty (breakfast course #2)

We can't choose a favorite because each of the 4 sets of ruins we visited had something unique to offer. But we really loved our experience at Ek Balam, a less-touristy site where we also got to climb the large pyramid, Indiana Jones-style. :)

at the top of the Ek Balam pyramid/temple, looking out on some of the rest of the ruins

Jacob descending the Ek Balam ruins you can see in the background of the previous pic

After we explored the Ek Balam ruins, we rented bikes and rode to the Xcanché cenote. Cenotes are sinkholes (of varying sizes) that reveal groundwater underneath. Apparently even the Mayans used them as swimming holes. We passed dozens, and there are hundreds in the Yucatan, but we think we chose the right one because we had it all to ourselves Friday morning! We got to zip-line over it, then rappel into it. And then we swam for a while. I can't overemphasize how beautiful and incredible this experience was!

iPad pics don't do it justice (Jacob is in the bottom right) 

cenote experiences

 We did want a little relaxation and pampering while in the Yucatan (the jungle gets so hot, even in October), so we headed to the beach for our last day/night/morning. It was gorgeous!

the view from our room  (no edits - that color is for real)

I got a massage on the beach, early enough in the day that the jet skis and other beach noise hadn't started yet. Being massaged to the sound of the waves and the salty smell of the sea sets the bar impossibly high for future massages!

the massage cabana

our on-the-go breakfast in Playa del Carmen