Parisio Lindo

Brooke and the Ocean

While in Mexico it was clear to me how much Brooke loves the ocean. Watching Brooke in the water was beautiful to see. Brooke feels completely comfortable even scuba diving! Brooke and I had slipped away to swim in a different pool than usual. A scuba instructor approached us and asked if we wanted to try scuba diving? I have always been afraid to try diving because I remembered my Mother taking a course and deciding not to finish because " you can die ". I was nervous to try and asked if we could snorkel in the pool instead? By the time that I finished getting the gear on, Brooke was gone.... she apparently figured it out all on her own. The instructor thought she must have done it before. Well, I thought I was going to get away without diving, but he talked me into trying diving. Once again by the time he had set me up, and calmed my fears a bit, Brooke was gone! She was diving 20 feet in front of myself and the instructor whom was holding my hand, having to lead me along!!!

As Brooke and I came up from the 15 min.  dive in the pool, I was ready to buy us a dive excursion...
Just then Uncle Jeff whom unknowingly witnessed me having to be coaxed and led hand in hand, while Brooke was independent and a natural, said, " Don't buy anything, I am getting us a private guide for snorkeling and parasailing off a catamaran."

Of course Brooke was applauded by Uncle Jeff for her natural skills, and I was teased for abandoning Brooke for my date around the pool scuba diving. Haha! 😉

On the day of Brooke's first ocean snorkeling experience.....

Brooke was impressive....

Brooke did say , " Mommy, I am scared."

I said, " That's normal" ..and before I could grab her hand she had jumped into the ocean before me!!!

A CAVE DINNER!

                             After a couple nights eating dinner at our resort in Mexico, we decided
              that we needed a little bit more adventure. ;) So eating dinner in a natural cave sounded perfect!

                                 The name of the restaurant is " Alush " , and it is named after a myth about the trolls that supposedly used to live in the cave.

              It was so neat to see the natural process that created the stalagmites still happening today!!!!

                                      Aunt Doreen, Grandma Turano, Daddy and Uncle Jeff

Mexico!!!!

Sharks!

A few weeks ago as I was telling Will that we would be going to Mexico for Christmas he informed me that he was excited but that he was " never going to go into the ocean in his life."

This was cause for concern because when Will decides something it is hard for him to budge from

changing his mind.

I showed him pictures on my phone of last time we were in Mexico and how happy he looked in the ocean, and we talked about how fun it would be.

When we went to Will's school Book Fair and he picked out a book about sharks to buy, the reason he was so determined to not go into the ocean ever, became obvious.

Will wanted the book about sharks because he thinks they are cool, and he likes to think about the stories about shark attacks, but he had decided the best way to never get attacked himself, would be to never go into the ocean in his life.

I convinced Will that sharks are only in the deep part of the ocean, and his Dad being the proactive Dad that he is, decided we should put Will back in swimming lessons before we left for our trip.

I was thrilled to see that Will changed his mind about going into the ocean, and I was so happy to see him so happy, yet a bit scared( as you will notice ), as Will went into the ocean for the first time, after being intrigued and informed about sharks! 

Jesus's Birthday

                            
                                      A family tradition that I personally started for Brooke and Will has been
                                           a teaching experience every year at Christmas time.

                                Each year we make a cake for Jesus's birthday celebration.  
                                 This year we made cupcakes out of Brooke's cupcake maker that she
                                    received for Christmas last year.

                                      It is a great reminder to Brooke and Will about what Christmas is really for.

While we mix we talk about Jesus and how He blesses our lives everyday.

                                     Will said as we make the cupcakes this year,

                                                     " We have to use white icing, because Jesus is perfect."

                       And, Brooke said, " I have to use special ingredients ( extra sugar and honey ) for
                                   Jesus's cake, because He is special."

                               Before we eat Jesus's cake each year, we sing for Him with candles. We sing " Silent Night", and then we eat the sweet, sweet cake, to remember the gift He has given us of His Atonement.

After we had this little family lesson this year, Grandma and Grandpa Pack gave us our gifts early since we were both going out of town this year.

( Kevin does not always like to take pictures, but he was kind to take them for us. :) )