The Seahawks Parade

Since I didn't get around to watching a football game this year, I guess I never will. After all, if you are not aware yet, the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl.... I guess that's a really big deal..... Or so the 700,000 people poring into downtown yesterday, and messing with my commute, were telling me. The boys got to skip school,  Bob took the day off, and the three of them joined the roaring crowds downtown. Only 8 kids showed up to Liam's class yesterday.

 Ben found a tree to watch from

 The day was freezing by Seattle standards-- 20 degrees or so.

 A mass of humanity roaring together. Everyone screamed as loud as they could at 12:12. In Seattle the fans are considered the 12th man on the team.

3rd Birthday Celebrations

The school's birthday tradition is for the birthday child to choose a book to donate to the school and the parent (or grandparent) reads the book to the class while the birthday child sits in the seat of honor wearing a crown.

The birthday party at the apartment was a big success - the children had fun and we all enjoyed meeting their parents.

Home, not so sweet, home

Arrived home about 9pm last night to find the basement flooded, no heat, house at 29 degrees, and no water in any of the bathrooms.  The furnace repair people could not get the needed part so we are without heat until tomorrow.  We bought a pump and are pumping out the water from the basement and using the fireplace and space heaters to get a bit of warmth - we are now up to 45 degrees in the family room.  The plumber is coming after he deals with a couple of other people with broken-pipe problems.  Not fun.

Frosted door

Frozen toilet

Frozen Grandpa

Snorkeling

 Snorkeling

 So good to see Jenny and Patrick

 Family photo

 Chris caught in a graceful moment; before the effort of getting IN the boat, and after the effort of getting OUT of the boat.

Mexico Photos. Where is Tim???

Lots of rain

 Such big kids.

 Nice to see you Josh and family!

 Ben seasick!

 Go Delta Gamma!

 

 

Snorkeling photos to follow!

Southern Yucatan and Las Ruinas

The terrain here is very green with rolling hills, quite different than the north.  Chetumal was not very picturesque but we enjoyed it.  There was a great Mayan culture museum and good food.  The last 2 days we have visited 4 different ruins, all in gorgeous jungle settings.  The most magnificent was Becan where we were alone except for a family that was leaving as we were coming in and later, a mother and daughter.  Tomorrow is a 2.5 hour drive each way, on a bad road to Calakmul.

The most massive building at Becan

Tallest building at Becan - we climbed it (there was a rope)

View from the top - not for grandchildren or Chris

Puerto Morelos

Getting ready to snorkel

Barracuda - caught and released

Lots of good eating and exercise.  Some changes in town (many more beach bars and less open space) but our old favorites, like the "windy place" are still the same.  Missy has rose petals in case Syd and Cam want to be flower girls.