Marketer's Cruise 2012

 We just got home from a Western Caribbean cruise with about 400 other Internet marketers. Big HOLLA to my mom who watched my 4 children for 10 days. In those 10 days, Bailey, my mom and dad all got the pukes and Lila got her very first ear infection (tears on the cruise ship from this sad mom!) Luckily my mom is a better mom than me, so I knew everyone was well taken care of.

Our first stop was in Cozumel, where we went scuba diving. The real highlight of the day was lunch though; real Mexican food with a (virgin) pina colada.

 Top the day off with a little shopping before getting back on the ship and I am one happy gal.

Formal evening

Here we are in the back of a bus in Costa Rica (stop 2) on our way to white water raft. This was my fav!

We took the scenic route back and got a view of our ship

The lovely city of Limon, CR and our ship

Stop 3 was Panama. We visited the canal and had lunch. Not too exciting but a nice break from the boat.

 The brave men tried frog legs at dinner one night. The report was that they taste like chicken. I will take their word for it.

Chocolate melting cake was my dessert every single night!

Then ice cream, of course.

 The chocolate chip cookies were heaven too and I learned I could order them room service by the plateful!

(would you believe me if I told you that I actually lost 1/2 a pound on the trip? It's the truth! I did!)

I'd like you to meet Russell and Collette. They are our new BFFs. We stayed up way too late playing games nearly every night! 

 Not pictured is dancing at the club a couple times (I think we lasted about 4 songs), some really cheesy shows, laying out, sitting in the hot tub, working out, and too much karaoke for my taste.

It's always fun to get away and it's always fun to come home!

Christmas 2011: In One Long Post

 So, I thought about setting a new years resolution to blog every single day of 2012, but that's just not realistic for me...but I really want to be better!
Let me sum up our December for you. After heading up our ward Christmas party AND ward Christmas service project (which were both a complete joy to do...really!), we held up a life-long tradition and went to see "Scrooge"
Dinner before at Pizza Factory

I guess we bored the big boys

Classic girl picture (where's Cara?)

Oh! I love Todd and Lexi

This is seriously the best family picture we got

Always good times when I get to sit next to this man

The week before Christmas, between the older 3, there was some kind performance every single day...from dance to school sings...It started with Bailey's dance recital. Then my camera died and I kept forgetting to charge it (like all great mom's do) and only got pics of this cutie

Christmas Eve was a HOOT! After dinner we had a "variety show" (not enough talent in this family to call it a "talent show"). My camera was up and running, but everything was videoed, so pictures are few.

Todd and Lexi did a Bollywood dance from the Wii

Cami, Cara, and I did a silly little lip sync to "Sisters" from White Christmas

 Not pictured (but maybe we will get a video montage up here one day) was a lip sync by CarAndrew, Feliz Navidad by Tim, Shel and the chocolate babies, a game by Gma Juju, reading by the Hansen boys, and the nativity by the Jonas children. Check out the youngest Jonas...

...Gah...this girl...

 Christmas morning was truly perfect. Since Christmas was on Sunday this year, we got up and went to church! Not only did it set the tone for the day, but we all looked so cute in our Christmas morning pictures. We came home, got back in jammies and dove into presents, with peanut butter cups from our stockings for breakfast- first breakfast, that is.

 

Angry Birds!

Harry Potter!

This lady made my Christmas season so special!

I decided since my girls were wearing swim robes from 2 years ago, this would be a great gift

with matching slippers!

Alrighy, I am counting this as being officially caught up! Stick around, we're going on a cruise next week and you won't want to miss pictures of me in a bathing suit. Plus I want to throw in a couple other update posts.

Blessing Day

Although this happened on Oct. 8, it's too special to forget...

What a great day when a mother gets to watch her husband give her new baby a name and a blessing! It's always such a spiritual high for me (which is a good pick-me-up when you hit that 6 week mark and the sleepless nights are starting to pull you down)

What proud parents!
This is a few of the men that were in the circleAnd the whole group
How thankful I am for husband who is a worthy priesthood holder!

Arches

 We spent Fall Break in Arches National Park, near Moab Utah.

The weather was perfect.

The children hiked like champs.

 The baby slept soundly on the mama

 And the grandparents came along

 (How cute are they? Hiking holding hands- Do you love it Tim and Shel?)

 Smiles all around

 With a little silliness

Perfect quick trip!