Monday, January 9, 2012

Puerto Lobos

Some good friends invited us down to their beach house in Mexico over New Years weekend, along with some other good friends from our ward. We had such an amazing time. Taylor told me yesterday, "I miss Mexico, I wish we could go back!" We had 30+ people total with us and it was a non-stop, fun good time!

Puerto Lobos is a small fishing town about three hours drive into Mexico once you get across the border. It's a pretty remote little town, but the people who do live there don't have much. I wish I would have gotten a picture of some of their houses. Not anything like ours. I was grateful that my kids were able to see how blessed we are and to teach them because we have been given much, we are required to give much back. It was a very humbling experience and a good reminder for all us.
The view from their back step

Our last night there we got together with some of the locals for a serious game of soccer. Chase held his own and was in the game the ENTIRE time. He loves sports and lives to play them. Cort said one of the guys from the other team asked how old Chase was and said how impressed he was with how into the game he was. That's our Chase.


The first day there one of our friends caught an Octopus that all the kids got to check out. We also got to watch dolphins and a killer whale swim around about 15 feet or so from the shore, right out by where some of the men were snorkeling. SO COOL!


The kids got to snorkel for the first time. The water was SO COLD! I couldn't even bare to put my feet in the water, but they didn't let a little thing like cold water stop them and I'm glad that they got to experience it.





Playing on the beach never got old





Quad rides were a favorite too!

White Sand Beach. So pretty.





Sea shell hunting. There were huge sea shells everywhere all over the beach. Taylor couldn't get enough of collecting them.

Roasting Marshmallows at night. I was so impressed with all the teenagers who were there with us. I hope my kids grow up to be just like them. So kind, willing to help, and polite. What great youth we have in our ward/neighborhood.


Fun time with friends





Family time






Football on the beach. Once again Chase was loving it!


We couldn't thank the Davis family enough for the invite. A couple highlights of the trip that I didn't get photos of, were the 4 huge fish Mason caught with his spear gun while out snorkeling and then cooked up for us not even an hour later. Some of the best red snapper I have ever had. And then also, when we came across the Mexican military who were stationed along our drive down to Puerto Lobos. Ever had someone point a machine gun right at you from ten feet away?? We can now say that we have. Talk about making your heart pound. We were told by those who had been there before that normally they are never there, how nice of them to show up just for us! :) It was really such a wonderful trip. One I don't think we will ever forget.
Tally on the way home. All of the kids where asleep within about 5 minutes once we got in the car to go home. Party til you drop!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

All I want for Christmas is...

a SISTER. And I'm getting one!

Due June 13

Sunday, December 11, 2011

drawing class

This past fall Taylor and Chase took a drawing class together right after school once a week. They really enjoyed it and were always so excited to come home and show me what they did. I am pretty sure we will sign them up to do it again next semester. Such a fun class for them to do together!
A few of Chase's drawings





And some of Taylor's





And here's a little something we found on our front porch for Chase from one of his cutest little friends.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

thanksgiving highlights

We went to Utah last week for Thanksgiving. We were there a whole week. I thought for sure a week was long enough that we would be able to get everything in that we possibly wanted to do. I was so wrong. So many things that I had wanted to do didn't happen. But lots of good things and times definitely did. As they always do when we are there. Here are a few of the highlights from our trip.

The kids missed their school's turkey trot race while we were gone. So we asked my bro B to be our turkey and we had our own race.

Somehow though the race turned into a game of tag?! Thanks Beaufort for being a good sport and turkey!

Herriman girls night out, minus sweet Christine who had to leave early.

Our Willy, who none of us can get enough of. Every family should be lucky enough to have a William. The entire week Willy was right in the middle of everything. I would be fixing my kids lunch and look over and see two of my kids on one side and two on the other and Willy in the middle. I don't know how many times Easton and him watched Cars 2 together! Oh, how we love this kid!

My nephew is an amazing football player; he lead his team to the championship a few weeks ago. One day while we were at my dads, Tannon came over with some friends and asked Chase if he wanted to go out and play football with them. Chase was so excited. They wouldn't tackle him and he even made a touchdown against these sweet 7th graders. They sure made him feel special. What great kids! Chase was in football heaven and felt so big.

Cousins



We tried to go sledding while we were there. But couldn't find any snow. So the kids improvised!

Swimming at the South Jordan pool


Great friends


The UP house