CRUISIN' IN THE CARIBBEAN!

We flew to Puerto Rico on Sat. Feb. 6, 2010. We changed planes in Dallas and just as we were getting on the plane,I turned around and Curt and Lisa were right behind us!! We didn't know we were on the same flight. So that was pretty cool. We spent the night right downtown Old San Juan and the next day toured the sites. It was quite a shock for us to be in 85 degree weather but I wasn't complaining at all!!



Watching the superbowl on the seaside theatre!

St. Thomas was our first island and we took advantage of a beautiful beach with white sand. Donny and I snorkeled a little and saw some pretty fish.


We loved the card trick guy on the ship. His name was Matteos Ramous and he was pretty entertaining. UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!

The next island was Dominica!! We swam in cold water through Titou Gorge to a waterfall. Our guide (Kelvin) lifted us up the falls and then we jumped over the falls. I still can't believe I did that! It was so fun. Then he took us to Trafalga Falls and we sat in some natural hot springs and then in some cold pools at the bottom of the falls. Kelvin taught us a lot about the island.

One of the formal nights!

Barbados- We went out on a 57'catamaran and snorkeled two different places. First at a shipwreck and the reef. Our guides fed the fish so there were a ton swimming all around us but unfortunately the water wasn't very clear so you couldn't see the shipwreck or the reef. We were so exhausted by the time we got back on the boat because the waves were huge!! Then we got to snorkel with the turtles. That was so cool. That time I jumped off the boat instead of climbing down the steps. I was so brave haha! They fed us the most delicious lunch on the boat and then cranked up the music and danced for us.




Happy Birthday Donny and Curt!! We celebrated by going down 11 ziplines in St. Lucia.



This is St. Lucia!

After we got done on the ziplines,we had the cab drop us off at the market to shop before we got back on the ship. This guy showed us how he makes his baskets and made Lisa and I angel fish. I had a weak moment and ended up buying a basket from him! Then we went over to the fruit market and had all kinds of fresh fruit! I wish I had some coconut right now. It was so good!!

Lisa made birthday hats out of the Carnival Caper for Donny and Curt.

Today was a beach day on the island of St. Kitts. We went to South Frigatte Beach which was so beautiful. We got lots of sea shells and then we went shopping at the little shops at the port.

I LOVE this picture! Donny and I snorkeled at the very point of the rock in the center of the picture. We saw fish and an eel.

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Our last island was St. Maartin and we were going to have another beach day and see the airplanes fly over us and land but there were 12' swells in the ocean and they didn't feel it was safe for us to get off the ship. So we headed back out for a day at sea.

We are back in Puerto Rico.Oh, I am so sad to leave!

We planned this cruise over a year ago with Curt and Lisa. Who would have ever thought how perfect the timing would be for us! I can't think of a better way than this to just getaway and RELAX! Although, we were on the go a lot!!!

A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE ...

Ada and Boston on Christmas Eve. They were so blasted cute that night! It was fun having kids here for Christmas eve again.

How many puzzles did we start? and how many did we finish? Silly kids!

McKelle was so excited to make a ginger bread house. It was so fun having her here for almost 2 weeks!

Who says miracles don't happen? Jason and Claudia are known for showing up unexpected or early. Well, I had just talked to Claudia about packing for the trip and trying to get it done early so it wouldn't be so crazy right before. It was sunday and I thought Brandon and Kim and Blair might come over for dinner. We came home from church and Brody's car was in the driveway, we came in looking for him and Nollie and I heard a baby's voice (sort of)and we walked down the hall and there was Jason,Claudia,Ada, and Boston on my bed. I had a book in my hand and I just covered my face and cried. I didn't even rush to go hug them. I really was in shock! Donny just couldn't believe it. Turns out the whole family was in on it, even McKelle. And I guess they were trying to get Mandy to get in on the Christmas miracle too. We had the rest of the family here Christmas day to Sunday. I agree with Ada who said "This is the best Christmas Ever!!! We really had so much fun with our family all here. My house seemed a little small at times but we worked it out. We had gotten snow a couple days before Christmas and Jason's family got to spend some time playing out in it. They loved it!!

Feeling the Christmas Spirit at Temple Square

Cathy got 4 tickets to the Christmas Devotional at the Conference Center last sunday. We planned to go with Mom and Donny but Donny had to go to work early that night and mom didn't feel good enough to go,so Cathy and I made the journey to Salt Lake together. Cathy had not been to see the lights for probably 11 years so it was time. It had snowed and so everything was covered and the sky had a beautiful glow above the temple. It was so pretty and very cold. BRRRR!! We really enjoyed the devotional too. Thanks Cathy for getting us tickets!!!




We also made the trip down to St. George this past weekend to watch McKelle dance. They had a game Friday and Saturday, to we were able to see her dance twice and watch 2 games, which were pretty fun games to watch. Scott and Laurie Bronson and family and Kylie came to watch Wade play, so it felt like old BR times. We babysat Maddie and Tag on friday and took them to the game. They loved it! When they scored Tag would lift both arms up and say "yeah" and Maddie would just clap and keep asking for Auntie Kelle. We were so excited to have our grandkids at a ballgame watching Kelle dance.

I'm thankful for .......

I was so thankful for everyones help this year for the feast! Everything tasted so good and it's great to know my girls will be able to take over one day and cook the same yummy meal that my mom taught me how to cook.(BTW Maddie's not asleep just pretending)


Kim and Blair


Donny, Colleen and McKelle


Mandy and Cam


Mom and Cathy catching up on some reading and relaxing!!


Brody and Jocelyn with the guitar that her dad made her. It's pretty awesome!


Yummmmmmmmmmmmm turkey dinner!




Papi taking a power nap!!


Maddie's favorite thing is to dress up and she did plenty of it this weekend. Mandy was so happy that she couldn't put her swim suit on like she does at home all of the time so she opted for Mandy's work out top. She really wore that almost all weekend and I can't believe I didn't get a picture of her in it.


Maddie and Nollie are getting acquainted.


Cam's reading bedtime stories!!


McKelle found a website that you could put pictures of our heads on these dancers and it was seriously the funniest thing ever!


Blair and Tag going for a ride on Cathy's 4 wheeler. A little chilly but not to bad.



We got together with some of the Ayotte clan and played some games and ate yummy treats! Maddie and Tag were missing Ada and Boston the whole weekend and were excited to have some kids to play with. Thanks Aja for bringing Gage and Dallas!'And thanks Diana for planning the party!



We went to the Newgate Mall to see Santa. Maddie was so excited and asked for a duckie? and Tag was afraid but knew if he wanted some toys he'd better tell Santa so he did. (In looking for fruit snacks that McKelle had hid in the storage room, Tag found the kids presents in bags that I hadn't wrapped yet. He came and got me to come and look and showed me what he had found. He wanted them so bad and you all know me -aaah! what do I say, so I pointed to the shelf where I had Boston's toys and said that they were for Boston and he would get some for Christmas. He cried and said, that's a long time. Well he took it that the iron man, and the ninja turtle thing were for Boston. So in telling Santa he said "you know the iron man, and ninja turtle thing that are for Boston, I want them.")
We missed Jason and Claudia and the kids but they'll be here for Christmas and I'm thankful for that and everything else in my life!

HALLOWEEN IN ST. GEORGE!!!!

We went to St. George for Halloween!Mom and Cathy and all the kids came except Brandon and Jocelyn. They had to work and we missed them tons.The boys and Kim (our newest tennis star)enjoyed playing tennis! We went to Tags soccer game,the Dixie football game to see McKelle dance, and then the trunk or treat that night. Busy day!We went to church and then just caught up with everyone and enjoyed watching and listening to the grandkids.Boston kept saying "cary sor" for "scary dinosaur". He was terrified of Tags toy. Maddie changing clothes and wearing her dress up mis matched shoes everywhere. I love to listen to Ada talk. She enunciates every word so good. (Do you like my ruby red shoes?) And Tag falling down on purpose in his soccer game because Danielson did hahaha!) They are really so dang cute! We had to catch up on Survivor and also watched the amazing race! It was fun with everyone there!
Jason and Claudia weren't leaving till monday so I took the day off Monday so we could see them just a little longer! Did a little Christmas shopping with Mandy on monday which seemed just to early but really it isn't. We enjoyed beautiful sunny weather! Couldn't have been a better weekend!