Beach Trip 2011

Over Fall Break in October we went to the beach! We didnt get a site in the summer so we decided to go in October instead. Most of Jake's family went and also some friends. It was so fun to have everyone there. It is our favorite vacation as a family and I am so glad we got to go. It was a little bit cooler but not as crowded. We went to Knotts Berry Farm one day and spent the rest of the time on the beach. It was a week full of good food, games, and just relaxing! I went running quite a bit and Jakes Dad was the best running partner. We took our dog Flynn with us too. We love the beach!

Monsoon Madness Gym Meet 2011

Samara and Rebecca before the meet (they were really nervous)

Rebecca in 3rd place, her good friend from school is in 2nd place

Rebecca and three of the six girls on her team with two of her coaches

Rebecca is competing in Level 4 this season at the meets in gymnastics. She works out at the gym for 12 hours a week and loves doing gymnastics. I love that all the girls cheer and support eachother. She has made some really good friends on her team. This was her first meet and her team out of 8 teams placed first. She also took third in her age group. She has always been a little monkey!

Big Mack

Jake has a special nickname for Makenna and it is "Big Mack". When he calls her that Tessa will say "Dad, she is not Big Mack" she is "Little Mack"! Tessa knows where it's at, don't you know a girl does'nt want to be known as big! It has kind of stuck though and so "Big Mack it is, although recently she has been dubbed "Mc Tantrum!

Fourth of July 2011

Makenna and Tessa (do you recognize Makenna under all that dirt! Yikes!)

Biking with Dad

Rebecca on the rocks at the Creek

Sammi and friends at the Creek

Makenna much cleaner

Look at all those guns! Oh my!

Game time at the campsite

Katie, Tessa and Me

Good friends!

For the fourth of July we went camping in Payson with friends from our ward. It turned out to be a "mini ward campout" as we had about 8 families there. The kids all had someone their age so it was great. We were in an open meadow which was nice but it was really dusty so they all were really dirty most of the time. It rained on and off which was really great to have the rain and cool weather. We took our dog Missy and she got equally dirty but loved playing with all the kids. There was plenty of good friends, game playing, talking and relaxing. We hiked down to the creek and a lot of the kids got in the water. There were a ton of crawdads and the water was really cold. Those two kept me out of the water. On the fourth we packed up in the morning and headed into Payson for the fireworks and park activities. They had bouncies and activities and the kids all played and had so much fun with their friends. Glade and Laurie had a lot of their family and friends show up for the day and they had a barbeque. Lots of good food. We all headed home after the fireworks and got home late. Fun Fourth of July!

Lake Powell 2011

In June we took our now annual trip to Lake Powell. We went with Jake's sister Jill and her family. Rick has a boat so we went out tubing and a little bit of swimming. The water was a little cold. I loved hanging out and watching the kids play in the sand and water. Jake and I took the four youngest on a hike to the slot canyon. They loved it. The boys were doing "super jumps" off all the little cliffs and the girls were doing there very best to keep up. We took our dog Missy with us. We miss her very much. That is for a later post. I am doing my best to catch up on all our summer adventures, I have a few more posts to go! Then, I'll hope to stay caught up!

Mexican Riviera Crusie 2011

Shopping in Cabo San Lucas

Mini golf girls

On the deck

Formal night

Melanie and Robin

Laurie and Glade

Hanging out in the taco shop

Learning the art of towel folding

Jake and I went on a cruise for a week, with no children, but friends. We went right after the kids got out of school in May. We went with two couples in our ward who are good friends. It was so much fun. We all drove to California in Glade's truck and we were so excited to get on the boat. It was a week of relaxation, lots of food, dancing, karaoke, mini golf, and exploring. We spent two days in Cabo San Lucas and one day in Puerta Vallarta. In Cabo we spent the first day on the beach. The waves were kind of rough so not great for snorkeling but we swam a bit. There were these bright jellyfish all in the water and on the beach. I had never seen so many. Also, the bees were out in full force, I think they liked the scent of American sunscreen! The next day we went exploring the shops and did some shopping for our kids. They know when the cruise ship is in port so they were not willing to negotiate the prices too much. Jake and I got the best civiche from a guy selling it on the street out of his cooler. It was so good, we tried to get some the next day but he never showed up. I still think about it!

In Puerta Vallarta we had booked an excursion. It was the canopy adventure. We took a boat to the other side of the island. Then a jeep up to the top. Next they put us on mules and we rode tothe very top. After the mule ride I was so freaked out I was ready to just be done. I do not like heights at all. I had to be talked (forced) into this adventure. We went on about a dozen ziplines and rappels. The girl teaching us about the zipline looks and me and says "You look really nervous". I was in tears at that point. I did it though! It was so scary the first couple of runs, but then I started to have some fun. I am so glad I did it. Way out of my comfort zone!

We had such good dinners at night in the dining room and I got truly spoiled to eat in peace and not have to clean up anything for a week. It was the best to go with good friends!

Trek 2011

Men's pull with Jake in the front

Women's pull (Sammi is in the orange skirt)

Water break at the wagon

Sammi and Hannah

Us, Alicen, and Melanie and Robin (awesome Ma and Pas)

Laurie and Glade Smith (the best cooks and trek friends ever)

In March during spring break Sammi, Jake and I got to partcipate in the Trek. Jake and I were an Uncle and Aunt. It was the best experience and I loved every moment of it. We really got to spend a lot of time together hiking, talking and working together. I got to see him in a different light and I am so grateful to have him as my companion. Sammi was a trooper and she is so tough. She finished the womens pull and then ran back to help the other groups. I got to wash many heads of hair men, boys, and lots of young women. It was worth it just to get my fingernails clean. We slept out in the open on large tarps and it was so nice to climb in my sleeping bag each night, just exhausted. They had so many growing experiences for the youth but the adults came away with so much too. Just awesome, I would do it again in a second. So glad I got to experience it with Jake and Sammi.