Miss Emily

This past year I got to be Miss Emily and pick up teaching dance to little kids again. There is an amazing new dance studio in Bountiful called Creative Arts and I was so flattered when they asked me to teach Jazz there. I didn't want to take on too much so decided to teach just one class. In my class was my niece Olivia so it was so much fun. She got to see the mean side of her sweet Auntie but luckily didn't hold it against me once we weren't in class. I am not going to lie their were times during the year where I would get frustrated and wonder if it was worth my time, but by the end of the year I was head of heels in love with these little girls. They won a special place in my heart and did an amazing job in their concert. I was one very very proud teacher!!!
The theme for the concert was inspiration so trying to keep it age and level appropriate I chose to do a dance about Bethany Hamilton, the surfer who had her arm bit off by a shark and despite all, with her faith and determintaion succeeded and came back from a devastating injury. The girls loved it and were so cute. I found this quote by Bethany for the concert and thought it summed up exactly what I was trying to get across.

"Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness,heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of; the heck with sugar and spice.”
― Bethany Hamilton

 Some of my girlies dress rehearsal night!

 Just before show time!

Last day of class party time

I decided to take the summer off from teaching dance and already miss these cute girls. I am looking forward to taking on more classes next year and doing more advanced levels as well as company classes.



Paradise Continues...

 

I have always wanted to go parasailing and thought it would be a fun thing to do. Since returning home from Mexico I watched honeymoons in paradise gone wrong and lets just say if I would have seen that before going you better believe I would have not suggested to go parasailing. But hence I was naive about it and thought it would be a great adventure, and adventure it was. Mason and Simone went up had a great time and came down. Next up was Hank and I. I was already feeling a bit sea sick so when we went in the air and it was windy the whole time I thought I was going to puke. Luckily I didn't and the view really was spectacular up there. As we were coming down and about to land on the boat a big wind picked up and flipped our parachute so I went up and over the rope and we got taken under the water. It all happened so fast I really wasn't that scared but for everyone on the boat it was really freaky and looked really bad. We were all twisted up and in the water so they had to unhook us and we had to swim back to the boat. Needless to say it was a bit crazy. Funny story is a guy on our boat went up and when he came down he said his big regret was he didn't take his camera and he was trying to get me to take mine, luckily I didn't take his advice becasue our new expensive camera would have been a goner. The first thing he said when I got back in the boat was I am so glad you did not listen to me!

 All good and coming down

 Oh wait not so fast!

 All twisted up

Still smiles after the refreshing twist and dunk!

 

On our last day in Mexico we went on a Mayan Ruins tour with our guide Helaman. I really can't describe how great and informative and spiritual it was because there was just so much that went on, but we loved it and if you are ever in Cancun let me know I will give you his number, he is amazing. I felt like I learned more about the Book of Mormon in one day then I had in a long time. We went and saw two ruins sites (Coba and Talum) and swam in a xenote! It was a perfect ending to our vacation.

 

 Our tour guide Helaman, so serious....but so amazing!

 Koba

 Disclaimer: In the following swimming pictures I am not naked, it may appear so but I have a swimsuit on, ha ha!

 The water in the cenote was the most amazing color and so clear!

 I was getting really annoyed with all of Hank's picture taking, ha ha!

 Talum

 

 

As you can see we had a fantastic time but missed our kiddos like crazy and were ready to go home and hug them tightly!!! I hope this is a tradition that we continue for many years!

MEXICO

In March we took a much needed vacation!!!! Hank and I had not been on a real vacation since moving to Canada because we always spent all our vacation money and time coming home to visit family. While in Canada we always talked with our good friends the Dahls and Baldersons and said we will reunite on a tropical vacation every year. We dearly missed Michael and Amy but couldn't believe we actually pulled it off with the Dahls and were like kiddy school children when we met up with Simone and Mason at the Cancun Airport! As soon as we all piled in a cab headed to the ferry for Cozumel we knew our week long adventure was about to begin and boy did we have an adventure. The trip started off a little rough when on the ferry ride across the ocean Simone was puking her brains out, but from there on out it was one big party of relaxing fun. We really didn't have any agenda besides our ruins tour on our last day so we would just wake up and plan as we went which was perfect. It was the first time we had ever left Blakely but she stayed with my sister Whitney and their family and honestly I think she was sad when I came home because she had the time of her life.

So here is our Mexican Adventure through Pictures....lots of pictures!

 Ready to go!

 Hank loving his airport donut

BFFs Reunited

 Our View

Jeep Adventure

 Lunch at Coconuts

It was Sunday and it was so fun to see all the locals out with their families enjoying the beach too!

 Post Jeep Ride Crazy Hair

One day we decided to walk into town square and explore we found an amazing frozen yogurt shop and of course some CHURROS!

LOBSTER DINNER ON THE BEACH, YUMMMM

BEACH TIME: This was my happy place and where we spent 99 percent of our time lying on the beach reading books and relaxing. It was just what we needed!

Mexico To be continued including almost dying parasailing and the ruins tour!!!