Cancun

Here are some pictures of our resent trip to Mexico. We had such a blast with the McOmbers and the Robins. They are the perfect couples to travel with! They just go with the flow and are so much fun. We played all day and stayed up late playing cards and drinking too many Banana Mamas. We left 80 degree weather in Cancun and came home to -10 degrees in Denver. It was the perfect vacation. Thanks so much to Jake and Jessica who were so wonderful to watch our kids for us. Our kids love them and we are so grateful to have them living close by.

drinking our Banana Mamas

Stewart and Buffy

Heading out to go snorkling on the 2nd biggest reaf in the world ( I had no idea it was in Cancun). We saw a sea turtle, sting ray, lobster, and tons of other cool fish and coral!

A picture with our new buddy Paco! He hooked us up with the best things to do and eat in Puerto Morelos.Here we are at the restaurant Paco told us about. I was a little frightened when we first got there (yes, we are eating outside on dirt with lawn furniture). It ended up being the best meal I ate in Mexico. Yum...it was amazing! Homemade tortillas, guacamole, and the freshest fish I have ever eaten. Jose is in the picture with us too. Check out his cool crocheted cell phone holder. Sweet!

Buffy with her watermelon popsicle she bought off a street vendor. It has two watermelon seeds stuck on the top!

Here we are playing in the cenotes. This has to be my favorite thing that we did. These were out in the middle of a jungle and on a locals property. We payed our pesos and jumped on in. A cenotes is a whole in the ground that leads to underground caverns that you can swim and play in. These were called Siete Bocas (seven mouths) and had seven openings. We just swam and swam to each cavern. The water was an amazing crystal clear blue and seemed to glow in the dark from the light coming in from other openings. We had such a blast!

Check out the custom rope in the water that helped us not get lost.

The water was SO clear (my legs are under water)!

This has to be my favorite picture. Stewart and Buffy are falling backwards into the water (click on it to see their faces!)

Chichen Itza

Shopping at Walmart in Cancun for a toy drive they had for some local children

the view from our hotel room balcony

More pictures from Portland

I had to post a few last pictures of our fabulous Thanksgiving trip to Oregon. The cousins all have so much fun we we get them together. How grateful I am for such a fabulous family!

Emmie, Jake, and Clarie

The mall in Portland has a cool Lego shop. Kent bought a motorcycle set to put together with the kids. They had such a blast working on it together!

In the end, it was just the boys that worked on it until it was finished. I guess it is a guy thing. Both Jake and Drake had a blast playing with it the rest of the week!

While we were in Oregon we celebrated my Dad's birthday and his recent retirement. I am so proud of my Dad and love him so much! He worked 32 years for LDS family services. He sacrificed so much for his children and provided a home where we all knew we were loved. Thanks Dad for working so hard for us. Happy Retirement!!!

Fun times in Oregon

We have had so much fun visiting family that it is hard to leave. We have kept very busy going to movies, swimming, visiting the coast, going out to eat, running in the Turkey Trot, and playing with all the cousins. Thank you Pabst family and Mom and Dad for having us! Here are some of the highlights...

A night out with just the adults at a yummy sushi resteraunt in Portland

The Thanksgiving Turkey Trot was a 4 mile run through Washington Park and finished running right through the middle of the Portland zoo. It was such a blast! I was so proud of Abbie and Drake who did the entire thing with their moms, Nana, Papa, Aunt Carrie, Aunt Sara, and Uncle Spencer. After the big race all the other kids ran in the 1/2 mile fun run that started at the elephant exhibit and went right past all the animals. What a fun way to start out Thanksgiving!

Abbie and Aunt Carrie

Last weekend, while in Oregon, we had a girls night out. We had so much fun going out to dinner and then to Twilight. I thought the movie was corney but it was a good excuse for a girls night out with my sisters, mom, and some good friends.

Oregon or bust!

I have to admit that I was a little nervous taking the 4 kids on the plane by myself. I was so proud of them though... they were fabulous! If we hadn't have had a layover in SLC it would have been perfect. That last leg of the trip (from Salt Lake to Portland) was a little long and put Jake over the edge (plus it got into nap time and we had started the trip at 6:30am). The girls were such a big help though and did great. I won't mention the little puking incident when we were getting off the plane in Portland (poor Abbie gets motion sickness really bad!) To her credit though, it is miserable when they turn the dang air off when you are taxing in! They were all so excited to get there and be with all their cousins.

Go Cougars!!

Kent and I went with the McOmber gang to the Air Force v. BYU game. So much fun!!! It was a gorgeous day and we had awesome seats too! Cougs won of course (38 to 24)

Halloween!

Here are some pictures of our cute trick or treaters! It was such a fun night and we were so grateful the weather cooperated and it was nice and warm. This was Abbie's first year that she was able to go around the block with some friends and WITHOUT her parents. She was very excited!!!

Witchey Poo Abbie!



Chef Kate!



Witchey Poo Claire!

German Boy Jake!

The gang at trunk or treat with cheerleader Lizzy and Super Girl Azure! (notice no coats!!)

Jakey begging for candy

Pumpkin Patch

We had a fabulous time at the pumpkin patch this year. The weather was gorgeous and the kids had a blast. I am so grateful for wonderful friends that make days like this so fun and make it a little bit easier knowing that my family is far away.

Abbie's goal was to come home with the biggest pumpkin. If someone else found a bigger one she would head back out to find one that was even bigger!

On the hay ride with Abbie and my wonderful friend Michelle

Claire, Kaylee, and Kate

She is 5!!!

Today is our Claire Bear's Birthday!!! We love her so much. Here are 10 of our favorite things about her.

1. She has a hilarious sense of humor

2. She makes friends easily. Every day that I go to pick up Claire at the YMCA child watch she comes running to me saying, "Mom, I made a new friend today!"

3. She has an adorable dimple in her chin just like her dad

4. The way she says hamburger "han-ga-mer"

5. The way she is so clumsy and when she falls she gets right back up, looks around, and says, "I'm okay, I'm okay!" (she's already had 2 casts and a set of stitches)

6. She's so loud (just like her aunt Carrie!) and we love it!!!!

7. She is a fantastic big sister to Jakey. Sometimes she loves him a little to rough!!

8. I love that she is my little buddy during the day.

9. She shares her love equally. For example, if she is giving Kent some hugs and kisses and says "I love you" she will quickly look over at me and say,"but I still love you too mommy!"

10. She is one of a kind, unique in her own special way and we couldn't love her more!!!