Between building their own hotel in Waco and putting the finishing touches on the upcoming Silobration—and, of course, sneaking in a Taylor Swift concert somewhere in between—it’s safe to say 2023 has been a busy year for Chip and Joanna Gaines. Fortunately, the design power couple was able to take a well-deserved vacation to Mexico with their family—and Joanna shared a behind-the-scenes look in a sweet Instagram reel. “We explored, played, and rested,” the Magnolia founder wrote on her post. “Grateful for these moments where it felt like time slowed down just a bit for us.”
Mexico seems to have a special place in the hearts and memories of the Gaines family. Youngest child Crew first splashed in the ocean off the coast of Tulum on a family trip in 2019. And Chip and Jo celebrated their 18th anniversary with a kid-free trip to the country in 2021—then returned for their 19th anniversary, heading to Cabo San Lucas last year.
Throughout the reel, Joanna posted glimpses of everything a vacation should be: sunsets, “snorkel sessions” in their rental’s luxe pool, and beachside adventures. The Fixer Upper star even posted a clip of Chip and the kids grabbing ice cream at Helado Feliz in San José del Cabo Centro—and we can’t get over how grown-up their kids look. (We mean, sons Drake and Duke are basically just as tall as Chip!)
Of course, this isn’t the first glimpse of the grown-up Gaines kids: Ella made a cameo on The Retro Plant Shop With Mikey and Jo—and she’s her mom’s doppelgänger. Chip and Jo work hard to shield their kids from the public eye; however, we can’t help but get a little emotional whenever we get glimpses of the Gaines kids growing up in front of our eyes. Itching to learn more about the next generation of Fixer Uppers? We have you covered.
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, and ELLE Decor, among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.