Puerto Vallarta - Islas Marietas

Ok, back to our regularly scheduled blogging.  Let's continue the recap of the Mexico girls trip.  If you'd like to catch up, you can read about it here, here, here and here.  Our third and final excursion of the trip was the Marietas Eco Discovery Tour with Vallarta Adventures.  Some of the girls had to leave Mexico early and head back home, so we were down to 5 for the trip.  Once again, we boarded a boat and headed out to sea. 

The tour guides on this trip were a little less boisterous...

Which allowed us to sit back, relax and enjoy the boat ride.

The weather was gorgeous this day.  Bright blue clear skies and lots of sunshine.

The Marietas Islands are perhaps the premier snorkeling destination in Puerto Vallarta. A protected wildlife sanctuary and marine preserve made famous by the famed Oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, the waters or the Marietas Islands are home to a dazzling array of sea life.

On the ride out to the islands, giant manta rays, sea turtles, dolphins, and humpback whales (in season) are common sightings. The islands are also home to rare species of birds, such as the Blue Footed Booby - only found two places on earth - the Galapagos Islands and at the Marietas.

Boobies!

The snorkeling tour took us to the Marietas Islands marine preserve for a few hours of snorkeling and beach time.  The water was clear and the snorkeling was quite good.

I think I scared Iris half to death chasing after this sting ray.  She didn't know if she was supposed to be going towards it or swimming away from it.

After we finished snorkeling, we got back on the boat for lunch and then we hopped on another small boat and headed over to the beach to relax in the sun for the rest of the afternoon.

The beach was absolutely gorgeous. 

Clear turquoise water and white sand, surrounded by rock bluffs.

And before we knew it, it was time to go. 

Back on the boat and heading home.

Not a bad way to spend a day.

Sleeping In

One of my favorite things about the weekend is sleeping in.

I'm a big fan of sleep.

Big.

Huge.

Guess who else is a fan of sleeping in?

Jigs.

Jigs has an uncanny ability to sleep in that I really admire.

Sometimes she doesn't get out of bed for days and days.

She'll be curled up in one spot when I go to sleep at night.

And be in the exact same spot when I wake up.

And be in the exact same spot when I get home from work.

And be in the exact same spot when I go to bed the next night.

Seriously, she has the best life.

When she's not sleeping, she demands craves attention.

She will force herself on you until you break down and surrender to the petting.

When all else fails, she goes upside down.

I absolutely cannot handle the cuteness of an upside down cat.

Especially one with a nose freckle.

She knows exactly what she's doing to me with the upsidedownness.

Cannot handle it!

I surrender!

And back to sleep.

And then there's this one.

She doesn't want to get out of bed either.

She thinks if she hides in the blankets I won't make her get up.

Please don't make me get up.

Please.

It's so nice under here.

So warm.

So cozy.

Come back to bed, mom. 

Let's cuddle.

And I surrender.

Again.

How do I ever get anything done?