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Ok, really from Hoboken but the title works so much better with New York so just go with it.

Elana’s Mom (Mary) graciously offered to take the kids off our hands for 5 days in January. This offer was extended a month ago and I’m pretty sure we had travel booked and bags packed the next day. Of course, we love the kids but when there’s an opportunity to travel to a place where a colorful cartoon mascot isn’t the main attraction and there is no such thing as a kids menu, how can you say no?

It has, after all, been 5 years and 4 months since Elana and I travelled anywhere sans kids.

Our resort – Rosewood Mayakoba – was pretty spectacular. Set amongst the mangroves on a man-made lagoon, first impressions would be that you’re far from the coast. Yet, a 5 min walk will put you straight on a pristine beach overlooking the Caribbean Sea. This is a photo of the main lobby flanked by two of the resort’s three restaurants.

There’s a boat that sits by the lobby to shuttle guests to their rooms by water. The boat is powered by an electric motor which, as you’ll see in this next photo, has it’s advantages if you’re eager to spot some crocs.

This 9 foot beauty was fondly named ‘Sophia’ by the hotel staff. She’s surprisingly elusive but we managed to spot her once on our 3rd day. She was basking under the sun until a duck swam by. She submerged and we never saw her (or the duck) again.

Here’s a picture to show how close Sophia was to our room.

The rest of the time was spent swimming, eating or sleeping. Funny thing about sleep though…now that the kids have conditioned us to wake up when they do (rarely past 8), it’s very hard to sleep beyond that time even if there’s absolutely no reason to get up! I used this to my advantage and crept out of bed one morning to capture a Caribbean sunrise…

I was the only person on the beach at the time so it felt like a show just for me.

How can I not feel at one with nature when viewing something as beautiful as this?!

This Snake Bird (named because of the shape of it’s neck) would routinely sit on the dock out the back of our room while we were eating breakfast on the terrace.

These freshwater foul were always on the run from their reptilian neighbors.

We thought it was quite timely and fitting to visit Tulum (ruins on an ancient Mayan site) in 2012…literally the last year to see this or anything else on earth according to their apocalyptic beliefs. The ruins were majestic though a little spoiled by the throngs of tourists. However, it’s not lost on me that we were just as much a tourist as they were.

The surrounding coastline more than made up for the long lines and guided groups. What better way to ring in the last year of existence?!

So there you have it…a few of our favorite photos from a very memorable trip.

The rest of the photos can be seen here: http://jamesandelana.smugmug.com/Travel/Riviera-Maya-Mexico/21220875_2vXzn8

Elana caught this moment the other day when we were all out pumpkin picking. I think he was upset because the tractor left without him. In true Ethan style, he was perfectly happy 30 seconds after this photo was taken.

Elana and I lugged the camera around on some family outings recently. The outcome was this little mish-mash of happy snaps…

Chloe discovered a new form of therapy for the feet…

Getting from A to Z has been a whole lot easier lately…

Swings, slides and bubbles…all come together perfectly on a hot summer day…

Ethan and Tazzie have become good buddies…

A recent pic of Ethan…he’s growing up too quickly!