The Guam finale!

After 3 incredible years we've had on this little pacific island, we're finally packing our bags. Guam has been an incredible experience and adventure and we're grateful for the time we had here. We're going to miss a lot of things, including....
Giant Coconut crabs.

Actually the girls probably won't miss school projects like this leprechaun trap, but we threw it in anyway.

The ocean though we will really miss. Emma's excited to jump in.

If the water's warm enough for Emma, you know it's warm.

Jordan & Andie want in too.

We took family pictures right before we left, the girls loved it as you can see above, little posers we have.
Mom, Dad, & Jordan

The US fencing team came to visit..and Emma's taking it seriously.

Gymnastics is life!

A few days before we left we went to the ocean one last time to do some sunset snorkeling. Andie's either contemplating the significance of the moment....or just trying to get a very tight fin on that she's outgrown over the last 3 years.

Emma sometimes prefers the maskless approach

Andie

Kind of fitting that our final Guam pictures involve a sunset. Jordan jumpin into the sunset pretty much says it all.

Before we say goodbye to Guam, we have one final video to show you...actually a compilation of short videos taken over our years here showing our kids Guam adventures. Just click on this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gg9T_Tkn3g

We'll miss Guam for sure, but we're so excited to be headed back to Utah, back with family, back in the mountains, back home!

We should close on our new home in Kaysville in mid-July so if you're in the area come visit us.

Phillipines girls trip

I work as a Kindergarten aid at the Elementary School on base; one of the kinder aids in our group of 5 is Phillipino and invited all the Aids to take a Vacation to the Phillipines! And being the spontaneous, crazy girls we are, we said yes! So, Niah, me, April, Leslie and Ghia had a Ladies weekend out. Here we are in the Guam airport.

After arriving in Manila, we hopped in Ghias sister's car and loaded all of our empty luggage on top of us (because alas, we came to SHOP!) and headed 2 hours away to a mountain bed & breakfast called Sonya's Secret Garden. Can we say Beautiful?!

They made us get our own very fresh, very organic eggs for breakfast. mmmmm

We stayed in 4 bedroom villa. Yep, I am spoiled! Someone please come and open the door for me... Oh and what time was my second massage again?

Our villa entrance..
Looks like a hotel right? Nope this whole thing is ours!

A volcano in Tagayte
Then on to Makati, near Manila, This was the view from our 5 star hotel room. Oh yeah, did I mention this is all SHOPPING?!
Buying Pearls at Greenhills.
The Makati Shangri-la hotel. Vicki, Ems, Ghia, April, Niah, Leslie, Michelle, Golnara
Thanks Girls for a wonderful trip and thanks Hubby for the vacation, watching the kids and not canceling my credit cards!

Gone fishin'

Happy March from Guam. Everyone's doing good. Here's the latest from us:
Jordan fishing near the Navy base. A lot of casting and tangled lines, not alot of fish...but they had fun.

The girls were so excited to get their hair cut

Andie

Emma

We went back to Haputo beach. No the girls are not in Jr Baywatch tryouts, they're just excited to get their bucket of sand to their castle.

Jordan & his buds hangin in the waves.

Sometimes in life you gotta take the bull by the horns.

And hug your mom.

We visited an old Spanish fort on the cliffs off the western shore.

The David girls hangin at the fort

Some Jedi wear black cloaks, some wear sparkly red slippers.

The girls love dragging out the old costumes

Guam was fortunate enough to get a visit from the Marine's Drum & Bugle Corp. They were awesome.

The official silent drill team were great too.

The beach you see is Asan, the site of the American landing to re-take the island from the Japanese in 1944...sort of the "Normandy of Guam".

Finally, James got to meet his new niece on his recent job hunting trip to Utah. Ruby flanked by proud parents Jeff (James' little bro) and his wife Rachel. Ruby is just one more little reason we are SO excited to be moving back to Utah this summer. Just over 3 months to go!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We know we're a little late, but better late than never. The first picture below is taken at a beach called Haputo, and is basically our postage-free version of sending you a Christmas card:

" Wishing you a warm holiday season...and we know warm!"

We just had to rub it in for our last winter here before we join you all in the frigidness. In all sincerity we do hope you had a great holiday season. Below are more pics:

Just before Christmas the girls made gingerbread houses.

Christmas morning. The girls were so excited for their bikes. Jordan was at the point where sleeping another hour or two might have sounded better..

The girls got new dresses, make up, and new bikes....and of course had to trial all 3 at once! Here Andie in her streamlined pose.

And Emma shows us "No hands"

Jordan playing Halo:Risk w/ friends David & Jacob

Finally, after months of anticipation, they finally got a Basketball league going here. Jordan was so excited to play....but when he heard his team was going to be the Lakers he about reconsidered. After realizing not every kid can be Jr Jazz, he embraced his inner Kobe and began

Shooting free throws to warm up before the game.

So far they have him playing point guard, which he likes alot.

The hike down to Haputo where we took the Christmas card photo.

The David girls

We found cool sea life that day; including a giant yellow puffer fish and this blue starfish that Andie's holding.

Jordan's main Christmas present this year was SCUBA certification. Dad was so excited to finally be able to dive with him. Here on his last training dive at San Luis beach here on base.
Small tank, but small lungs meant 45 min dive no problem.

Dad & Jord ready to go. You can see in the background where the water turns deep blue about 50 yards out. That's where the water goes from a few feet deep to over 100, called the dropoff. We went there but the deepest we dove was about 50ft)

Finally, though he doesn't show it Jordan was so excited to be able to go on a real boat dive w/ Dad & his 2 best friends. Here he and friend David get ready for Dive #2.

Finally, Andie and Emma ride off into the sunset on a Carabell.
Being towed by a tropical Santa!

That's it for now. We're so excited that it's 2010. We can't wait to move back home this summer and having you see us in person instead of this blog. But until then we'll keep 'em coming.