Flipping Again?

After not doing so well on our first flip, which you can't really call a flip if you end up keeping it, we went out and tried it again.

Here is our second flip, we had an interested buyer only three weeks after we purchased it. The buyer walked in one day, while Logan was working on the house and she asked if we were planning on selling the house and Logan said he was and threw a number at her, but told her to come back next week that we'd have more of it completed. So we worked like madmen to get the kitchen, tile and painting and the addition almost done. When she came back Logan and she negotiated a deal, she went to work on the loan and we went to Playa Del Carmen. Official purchase papers were signed after the holidays and it's closing this week.

You might think we made money, but I think we broke even considering our "First Flip", and Logan is out there looking again. Hey, what else would we do?

Purchased the first of Nov 2007, sold the end of Jan 2008, the first two and half weeks were spent getting the permit for the addition. Apparently the pervious owner who had started the addition never had had footings under it. Logan hired a crew to dig under the addition in order to get footings in under it.

We thought we could salvage the kitchen cabinets, but in the end, we bought these, I think this kitchen has more cabinet space than mine. Appliances are from our friendly Craigs List.

It was Logan's idea to put the wall and french doors in between the kitchen area and the addition. I love this fireplace Logan created ~ Tile work by Ryan.

A wider view of the kitchen - dinning - living area, and the finished addition.

Wish us luck in our future flips. It'll be nice when we actually put extra money in the bank. I will be really excited when I have a home that looks a good as our "flips".

April's Scrapbook Pages

April does the cutest digital scrap book pages~ I wanted to show off her work~

But really I wanted to show off us with the Grandkids.

When I first saw this page, I didn't remember having so many people on the slide, I don't think anyone else was on the slide except Kevin and Halli and me. April has merged a series of pictures of us coming down the slide.

Halli loved reeving up the engine and Peyton loved the swing.

This was our trip to Yellowstone for my 50th Birthday~ Hey where'd the motorcycle go?

Walking with Dinosaurs

Last Saturday Kate, Ryan, Tyler and Chase made their way south for the umteenth time in

the past month, this time to watch the Dinosaurs. This is such a fantastic event, the dinosaurs traveled all the way from Australia.

Chase was loving sitting on Grandpa's lap, he felt safe from those mean dinosaurs. Those that would growl, he would point to the door through which they came and yell "OUT" till they left.

The Plateosaurus, find some hatching babies to feed on.

The Stegosaurus

The Brachiosaurus, over 45 feet tall, 75 feet long.
Credit goes to Ryan for the fantastic shots of the Dinosaurs.

The Utah Raptures

The Ornithocherius flies through the skies, dipping too low and almost being brought down by the raptures.

Torosaurs

The AnkylsaursT-Rex defending her baby.

Listen for Chase shouting "OUT' as the dinosaurs leave the floor.

Houston

Houston, my home away from home...Yes, I even have my own bedroom and bath. Now if I could just get my own car when I am there, that would be sweet.

Halli and Peyton playing with the toys at Borders Books, while we were waiting for a table at the Cheesecake Factory.

April and Peyton at the Bouncing place. Peyton didn't like it much.

Halli jumping into Daddy's arms

Halli loved playing with Uncle Brett...yea Aunt Britt too.

Family Traits

Even with the scrunched noses, (which I encourage) they're cute. Halli was being polite to let me take this picture, she really didn't want her picture taken. If she only knew that I love to look at her because it'll be a few months before I see her again.

See you two cuties in February, maybe we can all go on the cruise together?

Must Paradise come to an End?

5th Ave ~ Not your typical Mexican street.

Looking East from 5th Ave, Cozumel is in the distance.

Side street off of 5th Ave.

Another side street off of 5th Ave. Don't you love these buildings?

Logan coming after me to take the camera away.

It's been a great holiday, Montazuma's Revenge hasn't been so wonderful and have made us ready to head back to the states, where we can eat the food and drink the water and milk. We've come to the conclusion that Logan's illness and my set back these past few days comes from the milk we have been drinking. Next time just filtered water and Coca Cola Light, nothing else.


I wanted to take a last look at Playa, I figure it'll be over a year before we can return. From here we head to Houston, where the weather will never compare, but since two little girls have been asking for us to visit for sometime, (actually Halli ask for us to move next door). We are excited to see them and their new house.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all, we've enjoyed a quite and relaxing day. It began with Logan serving fresh squeezed orange juice and ended with a Gringa Taco at one of the local eateries, the biggest excitment was when a bottle rocket landed on Logan's shoe. We wish you all had a great and enjoyable day. We've had a wonderful time here and look forward to coming back.

Mayan Jungle

The Merceds Unimoger. It can do flips and land on all fours.

Logan told me just pose and look good, cause I wasn't really helping.

Imagine yourself here. I did, but your not allowed to see the picture.

This is the first Cenote we swam in.


Guess who?

We went down into this cavern, way down it.

This is the entrance into the second Cenote.


That's the ladder and the only ray of light.

Siesta time!

The tours with AllTourNative are the best tours to take down here. They are always on Mayan land, with the proceeds from the souvenirs and pictures going directly to the Mayan people, the groups are kept small and separated from each other. Always an adventure.

This morning we started out at the beach, taking a walk through the area and looking a various plants and an open cenote. This particular cenote had an alligator living in it, that travels to the ocean through the underground water ways.

From there we kayaked out to a reef and snorkeled, what a great day it was for snorkeling, the sun was shining, the fish were abundant and I didn't swallow too much sea water. Logan and I did manage to tip over the kayak trying to turn it around and head in the right direction. (Is that our theme, always falling off of our rides? Maybe we won't take up ultralights).

From there we boarded the Mercedes Unimog for a ride that consisted of four wheeling on what felt like a complete vertical then complete horizontal slope over old coral and boulders, with the driver doing his darndest to make it as miserable as he could. Now we know why we had to sign the waiver of liability.

The best part of the trip was the cenotes. These are the coolest part of the trips down here. A cenote is a cavern with an underwater river running thought it. There are stalactite and stalagmite formations above and below this crystal clear water.

The first cenote had an open side cavern, and we swam inside the cavern following our guides light. Once deep inside, she showed up complete darkness, we couldn't see our hands in front of our face. When it came time to turn back the way we came, she told us that we could find the opening by looking for the bright blue water that is created when the sunlight hits the water. I could see the blue light when I was under the water, but when I looked out on top of the water, I couldn't see any light.

To enter the second cenote we had to climb down a ladder through a very small opening. Here the sun came through the one opening but lit the entire cavern.

Exhausted from it all we had a great Mayan lunch, a rest on the hammocks before heading to civilization in our Mercedes Unimogs for another thrill seeking ride, the driver being encouraged to be even more adventuresome with every scream of the women in the back. At one point he even backed the Unimog back up and did it again.

After freshening up and taking a little nap, we had Christmas Eve dinner at the Sur Restaurant. The place is buzzing with merriment and excitement of what Santa will bring us tonight.

Port Morelos

It's been along weekend, sitting around waiting for Logan to feel better. The weather has been beautiful, taking advantage of a bad situation I have been sunning myself on the deck and swimming in the pool. No, I'm not ready to head to the beach by myself, especially with all those european women there.

Logan and I set out for Port Morelos, a little fishing community between Cancun and Playa. Better known to the locals, but the resorts are coming. We walked to the main highway and flagged a transportation van, along the way found these couple of sites I wanted to share.

The first being the utility lineman, I thought Eric would appreciate their technique for pole climbing.

The second is the family riding down the main highway on their scooter. Helmet laws must only apply to the adults.

Our favorte restaurant in Port Morelos is the Halo Asian, just over Logan's left shoulder, they serve Chinese and Thai food, including Coconut ice cream and fried bananas.