Just gotta share!

When we went to Utah we had family pictures taken (as you can tell from my new header!) It was a lot of fun! This by far is one of my favorites. Love that daughter of mine! I love all my kids . . . . but Halley and I, being women, share with each other differently than I do the boys . . . .

Aren't we cute?????

Flashback Friday (sort-of)!!!

I wanted to add more highlights of Halley and Ryan's visit . . . . . .

On Saturday we planned to go shooting at the shooting range.  We went and purchased ammunition, spinning targets, a clay pigeon launcher and of course, clay pigeons.  We got to the range nice and early, then got kicked out of the range nice and early!  We got all set up and didn't even fire one shot!  Apparently, during hunting season there is a two week break from the range.  There weren't any signs stating this fact, and the gates were wide open!  Over 200 hundred dollars spent and it was a dud!  At least that stuff keeps well . . . . . . . .

Saturday evening brought the BYU vs UTAH game.  Ryan's parents came to watch the game with us, and I think for the first time ever we had more Ute fans than BYU fans in the house.  Needless to say, there was a lot of cheering going on.  The women however, (except for Ryan's mom) were not watching the game.  For the life of me, I can't remember what we DID do . . . . old age is the pits!!! :)

At some point in the weekend we played 15 rounds of Mexican train dominoes . . . . . . . . even I got tired of playing dominoes, though I've had a hankering to get them out again since!

Sunday's highlight for me was singing a duet in church with Halley.  My dream has been to be able to play duets on the piano with her, but our talents don't quite click together in that area.  In the area of singing, Halley is much more talented, but I think we pulled it off.  I can't remember when I've been more nervous and my knees were almost clacking together behind the podium!

Sunday evening was supposed to be the end of H & R's visit.  Their time here was split half and half with Ryan's parents.  Ryan's parents called at the last minute and let us have them for another day!  I cried tears of Joy!  We quickly got out the Christmas decorations and "decked the halls."

Halley and her dad . . . . . .

Halley, McKay and Ryan . . . . . .

Myself and Halley . . . I don't know what was up with our camera. It usually doesn't blur moving images so much!

Monday was a bonus day . . . . . yippee!  Halley and I got some alone time because Monday was a "back to normal" day.  We got to finally have a chance to talk a little and we went and got our hair cut.  We topped off the evening by meeting Ryan's parents in Rockville and ate at a nice restaurant, their treat.  (always a bonus)

Sadly, it all had to come to an end.  I noticed McKay watching their vehicle until we couldn't see it any more.  He's growing up . . . . . . it is the first time he hasn't cried when Halley left . . . . but I know we all felt like crying.  Don't be sad because it is over . . . . . be happy that it happened (or something like that) - Dr. Seuss

Day Trip!

I found out recently that there is a Norman Rockwell exhibit showing here in DC.  Lincoln and I really wanted to go and so we asked my Mom and Dad and Halley and Ryan if they would like to go to it.  They all did and so we all went the day after Thanksgiving. 

This was a very enjoyable exhibit.  Steven Spielberg and George Lucas both collect these paintings and have made them available for the first time ever.  The paintings are much more vivid and alive in person.  If you live in DC and like stuff like this, it is well worth your time to go and they are in a Smithsonian . . . . meaning its a free exhibit!!!

I didn't take very many pictures and so stole this from my mom's blog!!  We are waiting in line to get into the Rockwell section. 

After we went to the exhibit, we ate in Chinatown.  Ryan learned how to speak Chinese on his mission which added an extra layer of enjoyment to the meal.  At lunch it was fun to talk about which paintings were our favorites and why. It was surprising to hear which painting were the favorites.  

We are so blessed to live in this area and try to enjoy it all that we can.

Savoring Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday. It is simply a time to eat, relax, and enjoy your family. This year was extra special because our daughter Halley and her husband Ryan were able to come and spend a few days with us. I tried to savor every moment. It has been 2 years since she and he have been here.

Enjoying the bounty. . . .

I made my mom sit down for a minute so she could be in a picture . . . . 

Halley and Ryan . . . . . while she was here we both went and got our hair cut.  She cut off 8 to 10 inches I'd say.  I got a few inches cut off of mine as well!

Lincoln was being silly about having his picture taken again . . . .  so sorry hon, I chose the best one of myself, yet again.

After dinner we played cards . . . . . .

And decorated gingerbread (graham cracker) houses.  This is becoming a tradition . . . . .

McKay was never far from his sister's side.

Getting started . . . .

Laying out a plan . . . . .

In full building mode . . . . .

Zane was especially creative . . . . . do you see his hanging snowman.  I think it was meant to be a "Ute" in anticipation for the Utah vs. BYU game.

Halley's creation.

Ryan's "Ute" house.

Opening up the Christmas season by singing Christmas carols.  More of us got involved, but no pictures of that :(  Stevie sure got into the singing this year!

The gingerbread village . . . . . .

The final days at sea (day 6 and 7)

On the balcony of our cabin . . . . next to Halley and Ryan and Marshall and Donna.

Volley ball bronze medalists.

Trying our luck at shuffleboard, and freezing our tushes off!  Ooooooo it was cold!

Lincoln's mom and his siblings.

The girls.  There were so many camera's flashing you'd think the paparazzi were after us!

gi

The guys . . .

Eating breakfast.

And watching our last sea day come to an end.

And McKay finding the beauty in nature once again . . . . . . out of the airplane window.

This was an awesome vacation!!!

Puerta Villarta (Day 5)

Puerta Villarta was my favorite stop. I took the least pictures here also! DARN! This is what we saw when cruising in to the port. This city seemed the most modern at first sight and more prosperous.

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Another view from the ship . . . .

The entire family went on the same excursion here.  We went snorkeling and then on a tour of a typical Mexican village.  This picture was taken on the boat ride to the snorkeling place.  There were tons of these little islands everywhere.  I've always wondered what it would be like to be able to boat around in an area like this.  Up close you can see that all the white stuff is bird poop.  Romantic isn't it???

Lincoln and McKay

Linc's brother Norman and his wife Lonnie.

Halley and Ryan.

Another view of some islands.

Lincoln's sister Celesta and her daughter-in-law to be, Amy.

Lincoln's brother Marshall (with the snorkel gear) and his wife Donna.

Colorful houses.

I have no pictures of the snorkeling . . . . . and then I left the camera and all of our money on board the boat when we got out to take the tour of the village.  I loved the village and wished I had my camera mightily!!!  This picture I stole off of facebook . . . . The thing that impressed me most is that most of the homes had no windows or doors.  No way to keep out insects, rodents, lizards, people or anything.  What a simple way of life. 

McKay

Stole this one from facebook also.  I liked this one . . . . we were at dinner, always a highlight of the day!

Mazatlan (Day 4)

In Mazatlan we decided to do a "canopy" tour.  We got off the ship and loaded onto a bus and then had a 45 minute trip to the "forest."  There was a lot of graffiti in Mexico.  I asked the tour guide about it and he said that it was just a bunch of young kids going around painting stuff.  No gang activity . . . . . a BIG FAT HA! to that!  Who was he trying to kid???  (me!)

I guess Mexico is just about to have an election. There were tons of signs up, and lots of people out in the streets campaigning for their candidate. We even saw and heard cars with loud speakers driving around trying to get votes for their guy.

The canopy tour is located on a Tequila farm.  This fence was interesting to us.  It is made up of partly cacti.

Lincoln's mother was super excited to go on this adventure with us.  She is 72 years old and didn't flinch one bit about getting "geared" up and ready to go!

Here we all are, ready to go!  Beautiful harnesses aren't they? 

Kinda pretty . . . . . They make tequila out of the Blue Agave (spiky plants) shown in the picture.

Loading up in our 6-wheeled German military vehicle for a "6 wheel" trip up the mountain. 

Ryan, McKay and Halley

Grandma and Josh listening to the safety talk.  We were kind of disappointed because the rainy season hadn't come yet to this area.  It looked dead, dead, dead and more dead.  A canopy tour without any canopy.  At least there were 9 zip-lines to go down.  It was fun, but ugly!

Grandma was the first one to go! 

McKay getting to go next, and I am waiting for my turn.

There goes McKay!

All of us waiting for our turn.

At the end we had to do a free fall out of this tree.  I told the man to let me down slow.  My family was telling him to let me fall free.  What do you think he did?  Scared me to death is what he did!  Halley had an extra experience here that we promised not to tell on the Internet . . . . . . . . if you remember, ask me later!!!

After the canopy tour we toured the tequila factory and then we shopped while the rest of the group tried the tequila.  This factory had to close down because the Mexican government was taxing it so much that they couldn't afford to run it anymore.  I guess the government decided to be easier on them and now they are back in business.  Is there a lesson we could learn here?  I think so! 

Observation:  There was not ONE Mexican citizen I came across that didn't speak English.  English earns them money in the tourist industry.  Even the children spoke enough English to get by and talk to the tourists.  VERY INTERESTING! 

Another observation:  There was only cruise ship that I saw going to the Mexican Riviera the week we were there.  On our Caribbean cruises there is a bevy of ships going the same direction and stopping in the different ports.  We were the only ship (that I saw).  Royal Caribbean is stopping all cruises to this area shortly after the new year.  The reason:  Crime.  They feel that they can no longer keep the passengers safe.  I am really sorry for the people there.  A lot of lives will be changed when the tourism slows down.  SAD.