Puerto Rico

One of the funnest vacations Darrel and I ever went on was to Puerto Rico this past April. Danny and Amanda very generously invited us to accompany them on their get-away and we went. We had such a great time and couldn't have gone with better company! Thanks Danny and Amanda!! We did fun things like go on a nighttime bioluminescent bay kayak ride, a catamaran cruise, we hiked up to a waterfall, and spend a rainy afternoon playing cards in our own private cabana. Puerto Rico was beautiful and relaxing and it was exactly what we needed. Here are some fun pictures from our trip:

Fun pictures of the boys

I took some fun pictures of the boys in the middle of March - I'm just getting around to sharing some of what we've done this past year. Enjoy the pictures of the boys...more pictures to come. Just for reference in these pictures Alex is 13, Johnathan is 11, and Zachary had just turned 6.

It's about time!!!

I doubt I even have people that still read this blog. It's my own fault - I stopped writing, so people stopped reading. I don't blame people at all!! I decided to start writing again. I also decided that if no one else follows this blog, I'm okay with that. I need to do this for me and my posterity. My sister, Elise, has set a great example when it comes to her blog writing/journal thing. She is always putting up posts and adding pictures and then she is able to have those posts put into a book as a lasting journal. I think it's a great idea and one that I need to take advantage of.

First news of the day...we're expecting our fourth (and final) child and it's a GIRL!!! My boys are thrilled, Darrel and I are thrilled also, but our thrill has more to do with the fact that everything looks good so far, she looks healthy, etc. Because of a very special blessing that I received at the beginning of this pregnancy we know that this little spirit is coming exactly when she is supposed to come and that she will complete our family. I am 21 weeks along and finally feeling good about 95% of the time. We are so blessed!!!

I need to pick up my camera more often and get more of my everyday life chronicled for this blog/journal...it is one of my goals this year. There's no way I could catch you up on everything that has happened this past year, but I will do my best to post a little every day or so and try to at least stay updated on what is happening now, plus give you tidbits and pictures of what has happened this past year. I'll do my best not to disappear into the night, as I did once before. :)

The group in Hawaii

Here are the two group pictures we took in Hawaii. This is everyone who came. We for sure missed the ones who didn't come, but thought you'd like to see everyone who was there.

This last picture was taken at Duke's restaurant...isn't the view behind us beautiful??!! I know it's hard to see in this photo, but it was basically grass, sand, beach. We all just kept saying how we couldn't believe we were really there.

Even More Hawaii...

This is a picture of Hideaway Beach. I don't know if that is the real name, but that's what we called it. So beautiful. The snorkeling was amazing, and right off the beach. This is the beach where I got to see my first sea turtle when I went snorkeling. Amazing. Incredible.

One of the nights we headed to a mall to see if we could see a performance of Hawaiian dancers. It turned out we were there on the wrong day but I snapped this picture of my mom and Ben because they matched. (Not on purpose)

This picture I took at Duke's restaurant. We went to Duke's to celebrate my Dad's birthday. The food was delicious and the view...incredible.

Here's what I ordered. I couldn't even tell you the name of the fish. I couldn't pronounce it, let alone spell it. It didn't taste fishy at all and it just melted in my mouth.

This is Darrel and I at Duke's. Darrel was talking to our boys on the phone and was a tad bit distracted.

Just some more beautiful flowers. I liked how these flowers had two little mini flowers in the middle.

This tree was right behind the LDS church where we attended church on Sunday.

This tree caught our eye the first time we passed it on the road and finally one day, we just pulled over and took a picture of it. Can you see how it grew out of the ground, turned sideways, turned down toward the ground, and then went straight up to the sky? SO cool.

This next picture is mainly to prove that I really was on the vacation. I did most of the driving in one of the rental cars (we had two mini-vans). This particular picture was taken by Danny who was a picture taking maniac if you ever handed him a camera.

Darrel and I at the scenic view point in between the South and North Shore of the island. I believe those are Karo fields behind us. (If I'm wrong, feel free to correct me)

MORE Hawaii

K - I know that there's two pictures of Danny and none of me and Darrel, but more are coming and I promise some will include us. :)

Hawaii!!!

Soccer parties and graduations

Johnathan and Zach both had soccer parties and Zach graduated from the preschool that he attends with his friend, Seth. I have to say when I attended the preschool graduation it was nice to go as just a parent of one of the children instead of being in charge of the whole thing. Zach looked so cute in his graduation hat and I loved being the mom who was taking a crazy amount of pictures. This was bittersweet for me. I do want Zachary to be able to go to kindergarten but I DO NOT want my baby to grow up. I can't believe that this is my youngest child. This is nuts! I guess we'll have to get busy one of these days and have ourselves another baby :) Enjoy the pictures from the party and graduation.

End of soccer season

Johnathan had his soccer party last night and Zach had his this week also. It's always bittersweet to come to the end of a soccer season. By the time the season is over we are always VERY ready to have it over so we don't have to figure out how we're going to get everyone to practice, and juggle three to four games per Saturday. Plus by the end of soccer season in Las Vegas it gets SUPER hot and games are not so much fun anymore. On the other hand we love the parents of the other players and it's fun to get together and chat with them once or twice a week. There's a certain camaraderie that comes from having your children play on the same team. Johnathan and Zach have both been playing on the same teams for two seasons now and so you start to really for a bond with the other parents on the team. We appreciate the friendships that have all come from our soccer team families. We will miss them but hope to see them again next season when we start the madness all over again. :)

There's always a rainbow

These last few weeks have been a bit emotionally difficult for me but I'm here to say there's always a rainbow after the rain. I am very blessed and so lucky to have what I have and to be where I am. My family and friends are so amazing. I am blessed and I love my life and I just wanted to share. I took this picture out my parents' window after a huge rainstorm. The picture does not do justice to how beautiful the rainbow was. I didn't have my zoom lens on my camera so I couldn't get any closer but the rainbow was incredible. Just imagine it being about ten times this colorful and amazing and you'll be close. Always look for the rainbow, because it is there...waiting for you to see it.

A wonderful weekend

The first weekend in May I went to Utah and spent a glorious weekend playing. I spent some time with my family, and some time with my friend, Brenda. Brenda and I drove up to Park City Saturday morning and then Midway Saturday afternoon. I've never been to Midway. That is a beautiful little town. I think I fell in love in about 15 seconds. The rolling hills and beautiful green valleys were amazing. I took some pictures of the scenery as we drove home Sunday morning - it was breathtaking. (see below) We had a wonderfully relaxing Saturday and then on Sunday I was able to listen to Brenda's awesome lesson in church and then spend a fun afternoon with my parents, my brother Ben, my brother David and his family, my grandma and our good friend, Heidi. Since every other weekend in May I am being a single mom because Darrel is out of town for one reason or another, this first weekend was so much fun and much needed. Thanks to all who hosted me and let me just relax and enjoy a weekend of friends, family, love, and wonderful scenery.