Puerto Vallarta, October 2013

(yes this is still from last year - still catching up)

So I know we had just got back from a summer full of travel all over the world... but when your forever friend from Salt Lake calls and says they want to take you to Mexico as an early graduation gift for Gary, how do you say no? :-) We didn't WANT to say no! Bless Spencer and Christy Knight, who have been our family besties for a decade now. Our kids all get along nicely too. We've been waiting for an opportunity to go somewhere fun with them, and Spud Harvest Break provided the perfect excuse!

 The Knights: Spencer, Christy, Rachel, Annie, Sarah, Kate and Emily. The Larsens: us!

We got our airfare and food, and Spencer (who is not lacking in worldly wealth) used his timeshare points to get us these gorgeous condos north of Puerto Vallarta. These (above are our normal seats by the pool). Luckily, being October, the resort wasn't crowded at all! We almost had it to ourselves. The weather was beautiful, the water the warmest I've ever swam in, and the company fabulous!

The Knights have five daughters, from Maggie's age (Rachel) down. So everyone usually had someone to play with! They were a little jealous that we didn't have to figure in nap time, since our kids don't nap any more, but with daughters old enough to babysit, nobody was complaining! We loved that while the parents went out to dinner at the nice resort restaurants, we could leave the troops in charge of General Rachel and Major Maggie for as long as we wanted! It's a great way to vacation!

 Spencer and I built a "Sand"wich

 Lots of vendors everywhere! Maggie was always tempted.

 Mag and Rachel, who luckily get along beautifully. And me and Christy, who also get along BEAUTIFULLY! :-)

 Touching snakes, pool games with the staff, and spying iguanas all over. They even swim!

 

Walking down the beach the one time we ate off the resort. Nice walk, decent food, nice diarrhea afterwards. :-)  I swear I didn't eat anything raw!

The arts and crafts kiosk was the hot spot every day.

 Exploring Puerto Vallarta

They have the yummiest popsicles down there!

 So much sun, so much fun! Thank you Knights!