The Cruise - Part 2 {Puerto Vallarta}

Our first stop was Puerto Vallarta. The first thing we did was go Zip lining! It was such a blast and I highly recommend it if you ever get the chance. First they take you on 45 min bus ride up into the jungle. Here's Brooks and Kristina on the bus. Our driver was pretty funny, it helped ease the nerves.
We were waiting to get all harnessed up and I told them all to give me their excited faces. I think Kristina wins for the most excited, Brooks just looks crazy, and Kenny is as cool as a cucumber.


All harnessed up and ready to go!
You start our hiking up a little ways and the first couple lines are just little ones from tree to tree.
Then you start going across the canyon like 550ft high or something like that with a river below you. So fun!!! I learned something new about my brother as well, I never knew he was afraid of heights! He did really good for being afraidy cat. :)
There's me!
Kenny is the white spec!
Once everybody gets warmed up they start to hook on with you and let you go upside down! Just hanging there! It was pretty cool, I even attempted to take some pictures upside down since I was holding onto my camera anyway so it wouldn't fall off from around my neck, but they were only green blobs of trees. :)

Here is some of the crazy guides! They were completely hilarious! And they all wanted Kristina to leave Brooks and come home with them.

We made it! Sweaty, dirty and bug bitten and all!
At the end of the 15 lines they have some animals that they let you hold. This little monkey was eating baby formula out of my hand, it was so cute, but also kinda creepy when he tried to pick pocket me! Seriously, started digging in my pocket.
Kristina was one brave women and held a tarantula. I kept my distance. The guy next to her is the daddy to all these animals, and it was funny cause he wouldn't take the tarantula back from her. He wanted her to keep holding it and she was pretty much done after one picture.
Then we took the bus back down into town and hit the flea market and walked along the coast. We were tired and ready to go back to the ship to EAT!

The Cruise - Part 1 {The Ship}

We're alive! A combination of being busy and just being lazy is why I haven't posted lately. Do you ever just feel too overwhelmed? Over time I assume I will catch up.
The first part of December Kenny and I went on a cruise with my brother and sister-in-law. It was SOOO much fun! And now going back through these pictures almost two months later makes me really want to go back. Thanks to my awesome parents we were able to go kid-less! Thanks again mom and dad, we really owe you. And the boys had a blast. I'm pretty sure they didn't want us to come back just yet.

Ready to board the ship!
Brooks and Kristina enjoying the food, those of you that have been on a cruise know how food pretty much consumes your life for a week. Yum! (Brooks had to pull a face for most pictures)
The shows every night were at the "Spectacular Spectacular" Theater. The singers and dancers were not quite "spectacular" but is was entertaining and we will forever have inside jokes to give us a chuckle.
We got to dress up! It was fun to get all dressed up, that doesn't happen enough at home.
A hot item on the ship was the Hot Chocolate machine! 24 hours a day, however much you want. We definately utilized that! Along with the self serve ice cream cone machine. Brooks pretty much had to get one every time we were on that floor.
Lots of fun hanging out in the sun while we had two days at sea.
Ahhh, I love Cruising!

We played a mean game of mini golf. It was pretty crazy to be playing golf in the middle of the ocean. And bonus, I won!


If white robes and hot tubbing doesn't say vacation, I don't know what does. Don't we look luxurious?
The water slide was another of Brooks' favorites. I only went once, Kenny probably went a couple of times.
Everytime Brooks went down he would splash everyone around him, even up over the glass splash guard. He pretty much made a little girl cry once when he drenched her. The girl in this picture liked it and kept sitting there so he would splash her.
And, our Russian waiter Aleksander. Your waiters pretty much become your friends by the end of the week. They stay on the ship for like 9 months at a time! Pretty crazy.

Part 2 coming soon!!

Pretty Spooky

Sigh...Considering how Christmas is upon us, I figure now would be a good time to post pics from Halloween. =) Can someone please explain to me where time goes? And how do I get more of it in the day?
We had plenty of fun things going on for Halloween, one of which was a little party with some of our church friends.
Lots of fun food!
Bryson was a little dragon (nice picture I know)
And Landon and Jackson were little knights in shining armor

On Halloween night we headed up to Logan for my moms annual Halloween Party.
Here we have Cinderella and Prince Charming. Aren't they so cute!

Our medieval family.

Grandma with Bryson and Savanna
And a couple more of Bryson cause I couldn't resist. =) Notice a trend?
That is one fierce dragon!
He really is a pretty happy guy, I don't know why these are the only pictures I got of him that night. Anyway so there is a quick, short recap of Halloween.
Kenny and I went on a cruise a week ago and had so much fun! Hopefully I will actually get around to posting those pictures. Hope you all have a fantastic holiday. Here is a little short video to help us remember the reason for the season.

July Recap

Finally playing catch up. I'll start with a July recap. Looking back through these pics makes me realize I really am not ready for the snow that showed up yesterday. Although, Jackson was ecstatic and wanted to go play in the snow the minute he woke up.

Over the fourth we went to Bear Lake. The campground we were at had a park and the kids loved it.

Jackson learned how to slide down a fireman pole and now every time we go to a park he gets excited when they have a pole.


Bryson loved the sand and water and is completely fearless.
I got to go to birthday dinner with my boys.
We went up to Logan to visit with old friends. Thanks for hosting Rhonda!

I love Jackson's face. He was cracking up because his bum left a wet spot on the tramp.

We went to a parade. It's not July without a parade right?


And over the 24th we went camping up to Coltor Bay. We drove into Yellowstone to see Old Faithful one day, it's the same as I always remember but it's still amazing. I was really hoping to see a bear, since I had heard there were a lot of sighting, but we saw nada.

Jackson Lake. It sits under the Tetons and it is absolutely georgeous!
I have not idea who the guys in the canoe were, but I thought it made for a nice picture. :)





I love family vacations and it seems July is usually filled with them. The boys were at such a fun age this summer, it was a lot of fun. It was actually pretty laid back and now I feel like we are running around crazy busy.

Helping Taylie

I do plan on posting a post chock full of pictures and all the exciting things that have happened in our life that I just know you are all dying to hear about :), but before that I need to do my part to help others. Sometimes I get so busy with my own kids and my own life that I don't take the time to help others the way I should. I need to be better to teach my kids how to be givers instead of receivers. I want them to have compassion for others and want to help when they can. I want them to see that they have a good life, actually a pretty good life. And that there is always someone that needs our help. I want for them to feel the love of Christ in our home and to want to share that love by serving and giving just as Jesus himself did.
There is a little girl from a town right next door to my hometown, her name is Taylie, and she has cancer. Boo. She has two adorable little sister's, one of which was just born not too long ago. Can you imagine her mother having to care for a newborn and Taylie at the same time. That sort of strength doesn't come easy. I don't know this little girl, but from reading her site, Taylie Bug, she is a strong little girl with a wonderful family who loves her more than anything. As you all probably know, when there is cancer there is usually lots and lots of medical bills. Well my friend Kylene, being the amazing women that she is, has come up with a fantastic idea. This is how you can help Taylie and her family.
Link Taylie's website on your blog with any message that you'd like to about inspiring and helping each other. Somewhere, link to Kylene's and leave her a comment saying you have done this. Each comment is worth 2 dollars from an anonymous donor. So go ahead and click the links leave a comment and spread the word.

I believe it will all be added up this weekend. And if you don't have a blog, Kylene has explained on her blog how you can facebook or tweet as well. I know all my friends are great, so go show how great you are!