Cruise--Part 3 (The end of the trip)

Saturday and Sunday were both fun days at sea. We took it easy, slept in an enjoyed the activities they had for us on the ship.

This is the Chip and Dale internet cafe and library where we spent about 1 hour each day for Russell to check his email and work for a little while--and I took a couple turns blogging and checking my email from home (Brinton updated us each day on how they were --except he didn't tell us that he and the rest of the kids had all had the flu)






One of the best parts of the whole cruise a toasted Rueben sandwich, fresh fruit and a lemonade!! I think I ate 4 or 5 of these sandwiches while we were there.

Oh yes and top it off with one or two ice creams a day--you would think that we both gained 10 lbs. The average cruiser gains 10-14 lbs on a 7 day cruise. Well thanks for the stairs and walking around deck 10 most days Russell and I both lost 5 lbs!!!!

This is on deck 9 Lido Deck looking down the atrium to deck 2

This is Pharoah's Palace where all the shows and a lot of the entertainment was. This was the night we played Bingo. and lost at bingo. This is also where we ordered our (virgin) Pina Colada's and our Strawberry Daquiri's!!

This is just a picture of the water outside our room window. I just wanted to remember the blue ocean water.

This is Monday morning waiting to get off the boat. The grey clouds should have told us what we were heading for!! There were two other cruise ships getting into San Diego that morning as well.

This is us waiting IN THE RAIN for our transfer to pick us up and take us to the airport!! We were all drenched by the time he came to pick us up!!

I should have took a picture of us landing in Salt Lake with all of the snow--but at the time it was much too depressing so I didn't!!

We had a wonderful time!! But it is nice to be home....and we will look forward to cruising again sometime.

NOTE: for all of you wondering if I would ever take a trip before Christmas again--the answer is no. I missed all of the little last minute preparations for Christmas and then when I got home I had laundry to catch up on and the two days I did have before Christmas were just a little crazy. I would opt next time to maybe leave right after Christmas!!

Cruise--Part 2

On Wednesday at about noon we pulled into Acapulco--it was beautiful (and warm).

We got off the boat and hired a driver to show us the town. There are about 1.5 million people who live in Acapulco. The driver took us first to see the cliff divers.

It is pretty amazing that they dive off these cliffs and live. It is pretty fun to watch though. As we were going back up to the car we were swarmed with street vendors. Trying to sell us necklaces, trinkets, tableclothes, whatever they had. It was very overwhelming so I went to the car. When Russell came back he had bought a tablecloth. The guy had started them at $38 and Russell talked him down to $15.

Then the driver took us to this really old hotel. Very run down. We wondered why we were going there and then he took us up and onto a terrace and this was our view of Acapulco. Then he took us to a few other places. Then all of a sudden it was dark so we went back to the boat to have dinner and relax. Because our port time was 12pm-1am and we are not bar type people--Acapulco felt like a very short stay.

On Thursday we stopped in Zihuatanejo. On this stop we had to tender in (which means we had to take a little boat over to land because the ship doesn't pull up next to a dock) On our tender boat we met a nice couple from Rexburg, ID. Anyway, then we took a bus to Ixtapa where we were going to swim with the dolphins.

It was fun to learn more about dolphins and to touch them and have them swim around us. I didn't realize that dolphins are so big. They weigh about 700-800 lbs, and you can really feel it when you are hugging them.

After we hugged them and kissed them they took us for a belly ride across the pool.

The dolphins that we played with were both boys--there names were Chaco and Chame. Their trainer was pretty funny. He asked if anyone knew how to speak Spanish and of course Russell does--then he started calling him Mustache Boy. It was pretty funny.

After we did belly rides they did what is called a foot push. We stayed in the water with our legs straight and the two dolphins came up behind you catching your feet and pushes you across the pool. I admit I was a little nervous having a dolphin push me like this across the pool but it was so much fun.

After that the dolphins put on a little show for us--they jumped and flipped in the air and played with a ball and such. It was a fun experience and we are glad we did it.

There was also a little baby dolphin only 2 months old with it's mother at the place. It was fun to watch it swim with it's mommy.

After playing with the dolphins we went to the beach. It was a gorgeous beach. The sand was soft and the water was warm.

We had to remember that Christmas was coming so we wrote you all a message in the sand.

This is Russell and I out in the water.

Then we walked down the beach a way--When we were in Mazatlan a couple years ago Russell and his brothers showed some interest in parasailing but ended up not doing it. I was not going to let him pass it up this time. So we payed them and they buckled him in. Russell said he was a little nervous about being able to hear them when he came back around to the beach so he would know when to pull the lever so he would float down to the beach. But he managed to hear their whistle and made it back to land safe and sound.

On his way up

And then back on land!! After Russell went Doug took a turn.

After the beach we went back over closer to our ship. There was a little market so we went shopping for a little while. Doug was hungry and craving some guacamole. So we went down to a restaurant they took our order and then came back saying that they had to go into town to get some avacados for the guacamole and it would be 20-25 minutes did we want to stay or not. We decided to go somewhere else. So we walked a little way and stopped at another restaurant. Doug ordered a virgin margarita & guacamole and chips. Kaylene ordered a Coke light. Russell ordered chicken tacos and I ordered a water. [the one funny thing about this story is that the second restaurant probably took 20-25 minutes before our food was out anyway] When Doug's margarita came out and he took a sip you should have seen his face. Then Kaylene took a sip and her face was just as bad. When the waiter came back we asked him if the margarita was really NO ALCOHOL??? He said that it was, so I took a sip and my face was probably as bad as the others. Then Russell took a sip.... we all sat there for a while wondering if there really was any alcohol in it, and then decided that the lime was just very tart. Then the waiter brought out some chips with some green stuff and some red stuff. Doug kept on saying this is the hottest guacamole and the runniest guacamole he had ever had. It did look peculiar, and it took us a little while to figure out that it wasn't really guacamole it was just salsa!! Then his real guacamole and our chicken tacos came out (which our tacos were awesome!!) Then Doug was saying that he didn't feel very good. It was pretty funny. I think it was a combination of the hot salsa and the very tart lime in his maragrita (and our questioning of whether there was alcohol in it which was a little disturbing to him) It was definately a fun afternoon. As we were leaving Kaylene asked the people at the next table (who were drinking margaritas) if they would taste Doug's margarita and confirm that it was really virgin. They were brave and tasted it for us. The woman wasn't sure and then the husband said "I know alcohol let me taste it--there is no way that that has any alcohol in it" It was a pretty funny trip to a Mexican restaurant!!

On Friday we stopped in Manzanillo. We didn't have any plans so we leisurely got off the boat and took a taxi into town. We went shopping in their little market place. I think that this was one of Russell's favorite stops because it was the shopping place where the local people actually shop on a day to day basis. Russell was able to speak with them. We went into a fabric shop, and in a couple of their clothing stores.

On one road there was an old pickup truck with coconuts in the back. They were chopping off the top and putting a straw in it. So for $2 we decided to try it.

The coconut water was ok--Russell liked it better than I did. Then he started speaking to the couple selling them--they were telling us that they mix it so it is a little sweeter so the woman stands up and gets a little baggy and scoops out of her garbage can some mixture into the baggy and then puts a straw in it. She insists that we try it. IT was the coconut water mixed with ice, limes, and sugar to make it taste better. So we tried it. It did taste better but we had a hard time drinking the whole thing (knowing it came out of a garbage can and wondering how clean it was!!)

Those are our memories and adventures of Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, and Manzanillo.

Cruise--Part 1

Ok-- I know it has been awhile since I have posted anything--but getting home from the cruise with only two days until Christmas was a little crazy, so finally I have a few minutes to sit down and tell you a little about our cruise. This is the travel day and two sea days.



We drove to Utah on Saturday, December 13th and spent the night. Our flight left at 11:00. This is a picture of our departure out of Salt Lake. When we arrived in SanDiego it was comical to see people in their winter coats and scarves--because to us it was very warm and we were taking our coats off and wondering where our flip flops were.

After we got our luggage and transported to the port we got on the boat and started exploring. We grabed some food (to start our week of endless eating!!)

This is as the boat was leaving San Diego.

In the late afternoon we went down for our safety drill. They squished us all in like sardines on the prominade deck to tell us what would happen if we actually had to abandon ship.

Here are some towel creatures left for us each night. With chocolates and our agenda for the next day. (I was always so full--I didn't even eat any of the chocolates while we were on the ship--the kids enjoyed them when we got home)

On the back of the boat there was a giant size chess game. Russell played his dad and then another passenger. (He one the first game and lost the second)

We also spent some time playing golf and sequence while we were gone.

This is Russell in the dining room. (this is a picture at breakfast time) We had the early dinner at 6:00pm and our table was upstairs. It was really yummy food and plenty to choose from--Russell enjoyed fish almost everynight.

This is the mini-golf game on deck 11 (Just a note about the decks--our room was on the 1st floor, Dining was on the 3rd floor, Lido deck {where all the other food was, and the swimming pools} were on level 9, the walking path was on deck 10) We only took the elevator 3 times the whole week.

This is the water slide. I didn't really think it would be that fun--but I tried it anyway and I ended up going down at least 6-7 times. The water was salt water so it was hard on the eyeballs. But fun anyway.

This is Tuesday night. We were out looking for sea life. We ended up seeing some dolphins playing and this beautiful sun set.

That is all for now. I will post about our 3 days at ports of call next.

ZIHUATANEJO

Today we are in Zihuatanejo WE SWAM WITH THE DOLPHINS--it was very fun. We got to kiss it and ride on it's belly. I will definitely let you see pictures when we get home. We also went to the beach and Russell and Doug went Parasailing. They said that it was really fun. We got sunburned everywhere we didn't rub suntan lotion--and we ate at a local restuarant (there is a story to tell--I will tell it when I get home!!)
Anyway--time is flying by and we will soon be home in the cold wintery weather. See you all soon!!

HOLA from Carnival Spirit

Hi everyone,

I didn't think that I would have internet option on the ship but due to checking our cell phone yesterday--Russell needed to do a little work from the ship so we have an account on the ships internet.

Anyway--we are having a great time. It is so warm--I know you are all freezing up there. (It is warm enough that I have already got a sunburn and it doesn't feel at all like the Christmas season. We will be stopping in Acapulco today. It will be nice to get off of the boat for awhile. The food is yummy and the entertainment is fun!! Best of all it is great to just sit in the sun and relax!!!

I must be starting to miss my kids because I am waving and talking to all the little people on the boat.

That is all for now. Have a great day!!

TODAY'S TO DO LIST

So getting ready for a cruise and Christmas at the same time is an interesting process!!!
This was the list of things to do today to be ready to leave tomorrow afternoon!!
(The things with an asterick are completed)
1. Clean the house--toilets, mop, vacuum, dust, laundry*
2. Put all clothes away
3. Pack children to go to granma's tomorrow*
4. Go buy new underwear :) * (but they didn't even have my size in so I guess the old will do)
5. Visit my sister-in-law and my new niece Paisley*
6. Take my mom to do some shopping*
7. Buy groceries so there is something in my house to eat for the week
8. I should wrap some presents so that I don't have to do it when I get back--but oh well I will do that when I get home!!
9. PACK
10. Go to the bank
11. Give all the boys haircuts
12. Deliver neighbor gifts

Will the list ever end or ever be completed?? Well if not we are leaving tomorrow anyway!! Have a great week--and we hope to as well!! Talk to you all when we get home.

Visiting Santa & Making Gingerbread Houses

Saturday night was our ward party--it was also the night I was watching my friends four children and my nephew. Russell went hunting Saturday morning and thought he would be back for sure in time for the party. Well--Russell called at about 3:30 and told me that he was still on the hill and they were hiking out and then needed to drive home--so I knew that I was on my own for awhile. Mind you I had 10 children at my house (oldest being Brinton 10, Four 7 year olds, a 6 year old, a 5 year old, a 4 year old, a 3 year old, and Logan being the youngest at the age of 1)

So my options were #1 stay at home and fix dinner for 10 children then clean it up or #2 Take all 10 children to the ward party where they could visit with Santa and eat dinner there. (If I would have weighed the options out any more I probably would have decided that it was easier to stay home and fix them dinner :)

Well, I decided to go--Santa was coming early so we went to see him. When I got there at 5:25 (Santa was no where to be found--I guess he didn't come and so they had to find a backup) As Santa rounded the corner, saying HO HO HO--Breanna ran up to me and said--"Mom, that is only the bishop" I had to explain to her that it was important to keep that a secret so the other little children would still have a fun time.

So me and my posse of 10 children stood in line to talk to Santa--all but one (who didn't want to sit on Santa's lap) told Santa secretly in his ear what they would like for Christmas.

Then we made it into the gym, where dinner was to be served. Look they decorated just for me and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to have my picture taken with my name.

As I said before maybe it would have been easier to make dinner for them myself at home. I didn't realize how hard it would be to have fill plates for 10 kids, try to get my own food, pour them water to drink, and then keep their little paws off of the yummy treat table. But don't worry--I had some great neighbors and friends who came to the rescue and helped me out.
After the primary kids sang their song--I couldn't handle dealing with the kids rolling on the floor and such--so I packed them all up into the van and headed home for pajamas and a rest. When I opened the garage door to find that Russell's car was missing--he had come home and gotten ready so that he could come help me with all the children and enjoy the ward party as well. (We must have passed each other on the road) And after he got home we gave showers to 6 of those kids, let them watch a movie, put them to bed, and followed soon after to our own bed!

GINGERBREAD HOUSES

Each year for preschool in the two weeks after Thanksgiving we talk about the Gingerbread Man, the Gingerbread Girl, and the Gingerbread baby, then we make gingerbread houses. It is one of my favorite days of preschool. The kids love it. My kids love it too because we make houses after they get home from school. Well Monday was the day. We invited some of our friends over and 2 cans of frosting later and a sugar high they all decorated their houses. We had a great time.

Christmas Tree

Saturday we decided to continue our tradition of getting a real Christmas tree. (It is a new tradition, 2 years ago Russell and the boys went, last year Russell and the three oldest kids went, this year we all went.) It is a great tradition and the children love it. This year instead of taking the four-wheelers we decided to hike instead. So we packed up the van and headed up to Heise. Logan wanted to drive--so we let him :) We started to hike the trail.

Here is the family half way up the hill. We were surprised that there was snow--but that was an added bonus.

Logan was happy to be outside but had to be held the whole time since he is walking great yet.

After searching and searching, we decided that we could search all day so we found this tree!!

Everyone had a chance to saw for a minute--then dad was the one to call TIMBER

Then we had to drag it out. It was heavier than it looked. Breanna made it a few inches, the boys made it a few feet, and dad drug it the rest of the way. Hattie informed me when we got home that she didn't get a chance to pull the tree (maybe next year).

Then we had to tie it to the top of the van. The whole way home--Russell kept on asking me to check and see if I could see the tree (making sure it didn't blow off the top) WE MADE IT!!

But then as usual the tree was a little bigger in our house than what it seemed to be on the hill. It wouldn't fit in the spot that I had intended for the tree to be. So we had to rearrange the furniture so we could fit the tree.

But eventually it fit and 10 strands of lights--it is up and decorated and I love it!!