Sunday, February 13, 2011

Its Cruise Time!!

So I will try and keep the typing short since there are tons of pictures. We went on the Mexican Riviera cruise with my parents and all my siblings and their spouses. We had a wonderful time and a big thank you to my mom for spoiling us.

On the plane to California. We got there a day early and spent some time with Spencer and Debbie.

They were nice enough to pick us up at the airport and show us around town. First stop was a place on the side of the road called Pinks. It is famous for these humungo hot dogs and the line is all the way down the street so it must be good!!

These suckers were huge! But really good (according to Aaron) I got a hamburger...
They took us to see the stars in Hollywood along with that famouse theatre where they premiere new movies. Then we went to the observatory that looks over L.A. We had such a good time hanging out and so appreciate them shutteling us around.

Waiting to get on the boat. It took a while for everyone to get there, but a bunch of family and no kids to watch makes up for the wait.
Me, Jenni, Ang, Tiff, Lacey and Mom

We had a day at Sea and then the first stop was Cabo. Oh, the dorky boys in my family...

Definatly our favorite stop. It is the cleanest and prettiest by far. The weather was warm and the day was totally relaxing. We just shopped and sat on the beach, it was so nice.

Everyone, but Dad.

Walking the boardwalk. That is our huge ship in the background.

Aaron and Brad testing the water...

Warm enough for the guys to get in...

Next stop Mazatlan. Although not my favorite stop, it was a little better then our last visit where we got dropped off in the middle of scary town and had to walk miles to the tourist area. We knew better this time and quickly found a nice resort to spend the day at. We walked the beach and I was so tempted to parasail, but being prego I didn't think I should. Definatly next time.

Aaron and Dan taking a swim after boogie boarding for a while.

Unfortunatly the weather was cool so it was only a matter of time till we headed back to the boat.

Stop 3 was Puerta Viarta. We hadn't done any real excusions yet so everyone but Todd, Tiff and my parents signed up for one that took you snorkeling, on a hike to a waterfall with a rock slide and then to a private beach to eat. It started off being nice weather and we were excited to do something new...

Everything started out fine, everyone happy...
Then the horrible Mexican music started blarring and the nausea came on and the clouds came in and there was only one worker who spoke English and the boat moved incredibly slow and they didn't have enough snorkel gear so you had to share with no sanitation (we didn't snorkel) and no flippers, and the hike was stinky and poopy (from the horses) and the rock slide was short and dangerous for me to get to, and the boat people told us they couldn't get us back on time..... It went a little downhill, but we made some memories and laughed a lot.

On our lovely hike...

Lacey and Brad (who never want to return to Mexico again!!)...

Ang and Brent...

Doesn't the water look so pretty?

The waterfall was pretty, but no rock sliding for us...


Back on the boat for another 2 days at Sea.
Lacey and Brad all fancied up...
Tiff and Todd...

Dan and Jenni...

Ang and Brent...

Mom and Dad...

Aaron and I.

Aaron showing off one of his 9 lobster tails he ate that evening. Gotta love eating on a cruise!!

I had to add this pic of Todd. he got ahold of my camera and took all sorts of lovely pics of himself. This serves him right!

This is hard to see, but it is Aaron singing karoke. He mentioned he kinda wanted to do it for fun this time and I was proud of him cause he did it and with a huge crowd of people.

Some of the cool towel art!! Later we found out our maid thought Aaron and I were teenagers as well as Lacey and Brad and was shocked when she learned we were married with kids!

The weather was cool on the way back up to Ca. so we spent a lot of time exploring the ship. This is in the kids area arcade.

Lacey and Jenni waiting to go eat at Johnny Rockets on the boat. We were so lucky and got 75 dollars to use on the boat so one of the last days we ate here.

Playing games...

Eating at our huge table. I love that they got us all together!

All the girls...


All the guys...

Aaron partying hard...

More eating!!

Lacey doing the rock wall...

Hanging out. I must say the boat was beautiful and huge.

Courtney sculpture...

Singing waiters...

Aaron and I with Mahair, one of our waiters.
People ask what the best part was and for me it was being with Aaron for and entire week, just hanging out and realizing that we are still best friends and can have such a good time together. Being with my family was so fun and we came home thinking about when we can go again.
We all missed our kids, but we got back to find out that Tay had had a great time with out us. Playing with cousins, hanging out with Gram and Papa and Matt and getting spoiled rotten. It was nice to be home, but we sure had a wonderful time!

Off to Washington

A few days before New Years we packed the car and headed to Washington. Taylee needed a check-up and we needed to drop her off with Aaron's parents while we went on our cruise. The drive was horrible. It took us like 15 hrs and I usually sleep, read, etc. but the roads were so bad I just stared out the window and kept asking Aaron if he was ok and to be careful. It was so stressful especially when cars right in front of you slide off the road and you count many many more as you drive. Aaron did so good and every time we felt our car start to slip he was so calm and got us right out of it. We were definatly being watched over. We stayed the first night at my parents and my mom came with us to Taylee's check-up. Once again everything is still clear and she is healthy as can be. That night we went to Dan and Jenni's new house for pizza, then headed to the Alldredge's.

Taylee and Ammon

I missed doing the big family thing at Christmas and so luckily Aaron's mom had arranged for the Alldredge family Christmas to happen when we got there. Everyone was there, except for missionary Sam.

Makay, Molly and Addi

Nathan and Andy

Bonnie, Micah, Dave and Nancy (holding Joel)

Taylee, Molly and Addi

Rachel and Ammon
All the siblings and cousins were passing out gifts and Taylee got spoiled again. So fun to be with everyone!

Merry Christmas!!

Another Christmas came and went so fast. We had a very small Christmas this year. Because of all the traveling we were going to be doing after Christmas, we stayed home and celebrated with just the three of us.

Taylee on Christmas morning. Aaron and I decided to just fill each other's stockings since we were going on a cruise in like a week so all these presents are for one very spoiled little girl.

Santa's cookies. I was informed though that it is supposed to say "ho, ho, ho" not just "ho, ho".

Opening presents...

One of two favorites, a huge doll house...

Favorite #2: Woody.
We had a great and relaxing morning with a big breakfast and later that day Tiff, Todd and kids came for dinner and games.

The Nativity

Lacey told us that not far from my house a family puts on a live Nativity Program during Christmas time with real animals and treats for free. She said it was good so we asked Tiff and her kids to come along and check it out for FHE.

Weiland, Taylee and Aaron.

It was bitterly cold out, but fun to watch.

Ellie, Quinton and Wei.

Afterwards you could go pet the animals and they passed out homemade donuts and hot chocolate.

Its nice to find something new and meaningful to do for Family Night and a great way to get into the right Christmas spirit. I guess they do this every year so it just might be a new family tradition!

Christmas Program

Taylee loves preschool and I love preschool programs!! She had been singing the new Christmas songs she was learning for weeks and it was so fun to watch her finally get to sing them at preschool.

I couldn't get her to take her gloves and coat off, but she still looked oh so cute.

The Taylee I used to know would never have participated in singing with actions in public, but she's a whole new girl now and did such a good job. Of course we love that she stands next to Conner who puts lots of feeling and movement into his actions!!


More singing...

"We Wish you a Merry Christmas"


Thanksgiving 2010

Once again I have fallen way behind and life is just flying by so some of my details may be a bit fuzzy. We had such a great Thanksgiving with lots and lots of family. My parents came along with Dan and Jenni and their kids and we had Bonnie, Andy and Molly here too.

Sisters (I'm missing my big sister by the way)

We had Thanksgiving dinner at my house, but with the day being so busy with cooking and eating and kids everywhere, I only got this one pic.

The next day we went shopping of course and then Saturday we went sledding!
Me and cutie pie Holland.


Taylee is in love with the snow. She could have stayed in it all day whereas Broden, who doesn't see snow much, wasn't too sure about it!

Todd and Tiff.
Tiff and Todd were still doing the long distance thing, but luckily he made it up for Thanksgiving! Brad is always so nice to have us down to the pond where we can have a fire and some good sledding hills.

Aaron, Andy and Taylee. Unfortunatly I didn't get any pics of Aaron doing his sweet jumps on his snowboard behind the snowmobile...

Lacey, Jenni and Sadie.

Dan and Broden
At least he liked the sledding... (I think!)

Ellie and Jacey

Ryker, Brad and Brynlee

Bryn and Lacey.
Man this girl loves to ride the snowmobile!!
We had a great week-end with family and as always it flew by so fast.