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The biggest event on our June calendar was our trip to Puerto Vallarta to celebrate Viktoria’s 18th birthday.

The flight from Rapid to Puerto Vallarta was the first in the boy’s memory. They’ve been thrilled about the idea for weeks and were fabulous travelers, even when we had to rush to make our connection flight at DIA.

Graham, Royal, Amie, Jaynne and Alex photo togther before we board our flight.
Graham and Royal with thrilled faces in the airplane.

We had a longer wait to get into our room than anyone expected, so the boys and I went to the beach. Graham and Royal wasted no time jumping into the ocean.

Graham and Royal rolling in the Pacific ocean's surf.

The day before we left, Royal crashed his bike while riding nothing but skivvies. He managed to get scrapes all over his body, blood everywhere. Somehow it didn’t keep him from swimming in any pool, though it may have influenced how much he spent in the salty ocean.

Royal in the living room showing off his scrapes and bandages.

The days blur together once you arrive. We spent many, many hours in pools all across the resort, and most days at least an hour at the beach. No single place became a favorite swimming hole. We enjoyed so much good food.

Graham and Royal in the deck pool attached to our shared suite.
The boys were as happy in the little deck pool as any of the larger pools down below.
Alex, Graham and Royal posing for a picture inside a gondola.
Graham sweetly held my hand every time we were in the gondola to comfort my fear of heights.
Graham and Royal staring intently at the iPad, laying on the bed, covered in a tan blanket.
Siesta time back at the suite.
Amie, Graham and Royal eating at the kitchen table.
We tried to eat at the suite sometimes to save costs. Empanadas and pastries were favorites.
Alex lounging at the pool with a whiskey neat.
I taught a couple waiters what 'neat' meant.
Royal searching for shells on the beach with the resort in the background.
While Graham mostly wanted to fight the crashing waves at the beach, Royal's favorite activity was searching for shells.
Jaynne lounging by the pool, reading her novel.
A ten-hole golf course in the center of Vidanta resort.
Mark, Alex and Amie enjoyed a ten-hole golf course in the center of the resort one evening.

One birthday celebration was a trip to the nearby carnival park. Viktoria and the boys talked me into riding the flower drop AND the ferris wheel. The flower drop takes you up into the sky, then drops you several times. I screamed most of the time, to everyone’s amusement.

The flower drop lit up in green.
Alex seated on the flower drop with Viktoria. He looks worried.

Another birthday dinner celebration was a six-course meal called Le Petît Chef. The meal was prepared in front of us by four tiny chefs who appeared on our table via an overhead projector. The food was unbelievable.

Viktoria deciding which of the four desserts to sample first.

Viktoria’s final birthday dinner celebration was at an Asian restaurant. The chef prepared the food in front of us like you might experience at a Mongolian Grill. And we got to keep the headbands.

Mark, Steph, Viktoria, Amie and Alex at Gong.

The only sad spots on the trip were that Aunt Steph was sick soon after arrival, then Viktoria, and Amie on the day of our return. Also, Jaynne accidentally lost her phone. It turned out pretty well for me though since I got a private tour of every floor of the corporate offices working with security to track it down. Even though we never found it, I’m super impressed by Geu, Fernando and Viktor’s thorough search and it was a really fun, very unique adventure.