St. Patrick's Day

I like to have a little fun for St. Patrick's Day.  I don't like the whole idea of Leprechaun's destroying my house but I always make something green for breakfast and we love to go to the parade with my sister.

This year's breakfast was green crepes and green smoothies.  I did make the smoothies with spinach and the kids loved them.  YUMMY!!

We all had a really good time! Isabelle even got her picture in the paper.

\

Cruise 2012

Ryan and I went on another cruise with his family.  We had the best time.  We left out of New Orleans.  We got into New Orleans a few days before the ship left so we toured a few places.  Our first night there we went down to the French Quarter to go to Cafe Du Monde for some Beignet's and hot chocolate and also to see Bourbon Street.  Kindof and evil place.

We went to the oldest cemetery in New Orleans.  

This is the tomb of a Famous Voodoo Priestess.  Some people believe if they turn around 3 times and mark the tomb with an X their wish will be granted.  The people who take care of the cemetery don't like the tradition very much.  

This is Nicholas Cage's tomb.

This is Oak Alley plantation.  It was really cool and has a lot of cool history.  These oak trees are over 300 years old.

Mint Julep

We also took a swamp boat tour but didn't see any alligators.  Turtles, but no alligators.  It was fun though.  Our tour guide had some fun stories.

We left New Orleans on Sunday and sailed for two days.  It was kindof cool.  The ship sailed down the Mississippi River until it got to the Gulf of Mexico.  When we left New Orleans it was cold and rainy but by the time we woke up Monday morning it was hot and sunny.  We arrived in Costa Maya Tuesday morning.

We first took a tour of some Mayan Ruins.  After that we went to a lagoon where we kayaked and swam.  I don't know why we don't have any pictures of that.  I guess we were having too much fun.  They also fed us lunch and it had to be the best Mexican food I have ever had.

A cool tree near the lagoon.

On our way back to the ship.  Such a great day.

Our next stop was Belize.  

More yummy Mexican food.  Gotta love the Mexican coke.

Jelly fish

In Belize we went zip lining and cave tubing.  We had such a blast!!  The zip line was so much fun I was only a little afraid of the height.

Cave Tubing

Next was Roatan, an island off Honduras.  This was our beach day.  I loved every single second.  The snorkeling was fabulous.  We got some video of it but no pictures.

We also met a few monkeys.  This is Diego.

Roatan was beautiful.

Our last stop was Cozumel.  We spent the morning shopping.  Lost of bartering.  We got some pretty good deals.

SO EXCITED TO SEE RASCAL FLATTS!!

While in Cozumel Rascal Flatts came onto the ship and did a concert.  It was fantastic.  We were so close.  I loved it.  I just wish it had been longer.  

After Cozumel we had another full day on the ship before returning to New Orleans.   

We had one more full day in New Orleans before going home so we drove to Baton Rouge to see the Temple.

Then back to the French Quarter for more Beignet's and hot chocolate at Cafe Du Monde.

So Yummy!!

We sat and watched some street performers.  They were awesome acrobats and very funny.  I don't know if you can tell but in this picture a guy did a flip over 10 people.

A shot of the Mississippi before it got dark and all the scary people came out.

We had a fabulous time! We really enjoyed spending the time with Ryan's family.  I think the next cruise we take we will have to take the kids.

BYU Football

We had season tickets for the BYU football games this year and it was so much fun.  We only have 2 tickets so we took turns taking each of the kids to a game and then Ryan and I got to go to a couple of games together.  We have some friends in our ward who have 6 tickets and were not able to go to the BYU/Idaho game and gave us their tickets so the whole family got to go.  We loved it.  We took the kids to Brick Oven for dinner before the game and Cosmo was there.  That was so cool.  We had a great time and we love BYU football!!

Halloween

Halloween was fun.  This year the elementary school let the kids wear their costumes to school.  That is the first time they have allowed that since we have lived here.  The girls were pretty excited.  However hats were not allowed so nobody could really tell that Aspen was a witch.  But they still loved it.  After school we spent the afternoon trick or treating to all the businesses in town.  That is the funnest part of the whole day.  We came home for dinner then went out again to the neighbors.  Hunter stayed home to hand out candy, Jaycee went with her friends, so Ryan and I went with the girls.  Lots of fun and lots of candy.

Hunter dressed as a spider web.  He went to his first dance at school.  I think he liked it.

Aspen went as a witch.

Isabelle was a Vampiress.

Jaycee was a mime. However we couldn't get her to stop talking.  She also got her braces off today.  Just in time to eat all the sticky gooey candy.

On our way home

3228 miles. 13 states. 2 weeks.  We are finally home.  In 2 days we drove from Winter Quarters Nebraska to home with a few stops along the way.  What an awesome trip.  Hopefully the kids will remember it.  I'm so glad we had this opportunity.  We had so much fun!!

Pony Express Station

Chimney Rock

At Chimney Rock they got to fill a wagon and see how much they could bring with them.

After a whole day of driving all the way across Nebraska we stopped in Scottsbluff.  FINALLY a hotel with a swimming pool. They were so excited!!

Martin's Cove was awesome and I wish we had more time there.  They did get to push a handcart and we were able to take a hike up into the cove.  

These statues are of the Sweetwater River crossing.

Thanks for the memories!! I'll never forget it!!