Cancun, Cancun, I miss you so!!!

Billy and I spent the last week in Cancun, Mexico. It was the best get-a-way ever!!!! We stayed at the Excellence Playa Mujeres resort. It is an all-inclusive hotel geared entirely toward couples, super romantic! It has 7 or 8 super YUMMY restaurants, 7 beautiful, warm pools, a beautiful sandy beach, activities for just about everyone, and pretty much, it is AWESOME!!!! We spent the days going from pool, to food, to beach, to pool, to lounging, to pool, to food, to beach, to pool, to food and so on and so forth. We stayed for a whole week and it was a very sad day when we had to come home, not that I didn't miss my kids, because I did, it was just so beautiful and relaxing there. Here are some of the pictures from the week.

Billy and Me in paradise!!!

The chocolate cake of all chocolate cakes. It was a daily mission to seek it out, it was supposed to be available only through room service, but we found a couple of waiters that would track it down for us. SO YUMMY!!!!!!!

This is on the back deck to our room.

Room service breakfast on our back deck.

The view from our back deck. We had what they call a swim-up suite, which means we had direct access to one of the seven pools.

Breakfast of Champions: Chocolate Fondue.

Our friends, Deanna and Paul, came on the trip too. We had so much fun together. This is Deanna and I enjoying a very healthy breakfast!

Every night there was a show in the theatre. They were all pretty good but the Michael Jackson show was the best!!!! This guy was actually really good!

One of the beautiful views around the hotel.

Billy and I on a Kayak tour. We got to Kayak out to a sunken ship, it was fun, even though it was a lot of work.

Billy and I all dirty after driving the Boogies.

On Wednesday we went on a little excursion to the jungle. We got to do a zip-line course with 11 different zip-lines. We got to drive dune-buggies (Boogies).

AND we got to swim in an under ground lake. It was SO cool! The under-ground lake was amazing, it was so deep that you couldn't see the bottom even though the water was crystal clear. It glowed like it was lit from below, but it was natural light from the openings in the cave. It was so beautiful!!!

AND we got to jump from the cliffs into the water.

Billy goin' for the kill in beach volleyball.

Deanna and I with the Mayan guy at the flea market.

Billy sailing the Catamaran. It was a daily event!

AWWWW!!!!

Just some photos. . .

Lucy in the Auburn "Good ol' days" Parade. She will be playing a dwarf in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" ballet this Saturday.

Noah lost his first tooth this week. He actually swallowed it we think. He was eating a pretzel dog at the super mall and he just said, "Mom, there is a hole in my mouth."

Just playing with my new camera lens. She is too cute!

I think these two are trying to hitch a ride.

And of course, a stranger's dog in the swing, I had to take a picture it was hilarious! The dog loved it, you could actually see the smile on her face.

I love Noah. . .

Ok, so yesterday Noah had a T-ball game. . .

(Just to give you a little background, on the way to the T-ball game Lucy kept saying her tummy hurt.   She had been sick but we thought the fresh air might do her some good, turns out we were wrong.  So she throws up in the car, luckily we had a ziploc bag handy.  Then about half-way to the field, which is about a 25 minute drive from my house, I realize that Noah's glove is probably in the back of Billy's car.  We get to the field and it turns out I'm right, his glove is not with all the others that we have in our car.  So. . . I tell him he can use Billy's.  Well if any of you know Noah, he's not real big on change, we were at a new field, and he didn't have HIS glove so of course. . . he doesn't want to play.  So, he is throwing a fit on the side of the field and refuses to play in the field with the other kids.  After the other team got done hitting, I finally convinced him that he didn't have play in the field if he would bat.  So, needless to say, I am having a great evening.  (wink, wink)  Anyways, we make it through another inning and the game is over. . .) 

  I was chatting with some of the other parents and I kind of hear in the background, Noah's team giving the other team a cheer, they happened to be "the Huskies."  Noah marches straight up to me after and says,  

"Mom, why did you even sign me up for this team, they made me say, 'Go Huskies!'  Seriously!"  

And the best was the disgusted look on his face.  Ha Ha Ha!!!  He was seriously appalled that he had to say it.  Oh, I love that kid!!!

Lots of updates.

I just wanted to let you know that there are three new posts following this one.  Enjoy.

Happy Birthday Lucy!!!!

On July 9th we celebrated Lucy's 8th birthday. I can't believe she is 8!!! Lucy was lucky enough to get baptized on her actual birthday. It was a very special day. Her friend Cooper was also baptized that day. We were joined by a lot of friends and family. After the Baptism we all came back to our house for a barbecue. Most of you know that we have been adding a deck to the back of our house for a while now. (We started it last September) After a lot of work from Billy, Paul, and Trever (who finished it for us), it is now done. YEAH!!! It is so nice! We love it!!! Anyways, here are some pictures from the day.

Lucy and her Daddy.

All perfect after Baptism.

All the family that was able to come.

Our CRAZY family!!!

The side of our house with the new deck.  (It's bigger than it looks in this picture.)

The back of our house with the new deck.  (It goes the full width of the house)

Our summer toy.  The kids have had a blast with this and I love how easy it is to set up and take down.

When it came time to blow out the candle we had to search high and low to find eight.  I even turned to some of my decorative ones.

The next day we had Lucy's friend party.  Only 3 little girls were able to make it but I think they had a really good time.

Lucy splashes down the water slide.

Haley, Alex, Lucy, and Megan

Lucy didn't want cake, she just wanted ice cream cones, so that's what she got.  

Happy birthday Lucy!  I love you, and I'm so glad I get to be your Mommy!!

July 1-4

July 1st marked my 31st birthday. It was a nice day, I went to the Gym, went out to lunch with a good friend, went out to dinner with my family, went to Noah's T-ball practice, then went to my softball game (which we won to take the championship, whoo-hoo) and then went to Baskin Robin's for ice cream. Overall, a very good day!!

On the 3rd, a family in our ward had a big get together at their house to watch the emerald downs firework show, which you can see from their back yard. They have a lot of property for the kids to run around on, and they even had a horse there for the kids to ride. It was definitely a good time.

Lucy, Natalie Adams, Brooklyn, and Katrina Adams waiting for their turn on the horse.

Brooklyn and Katrina had a LOT of fun with the rocks and dirt while they waited.

Lucy on the horse.

Brooklyn gets her turn.  (My other kids didn't want to ride)

After the fireworks, I drove to Bremerton to visit my family for the 4th. My sister Annie and her family were there.  I finally got to meet my new niece Joyce.  She is a cutie.  We went to a ward barbecue, and then I took Lucy and Niko and went back to Seattle to watch the USA soccer team play at Qwest field.  We rode the ferry and Billy picked us up on the other side.  We got back just in time to light off some fireworks.  

Brooklyn and Kenzie playing at the Barbecue.

What do you do on an hour long ferry ride?  Take pictures of course.  I was trying to get a good picture of  Niko and Lucy's freckles.  

I really like this one.

This was waiting to get back on the ferry after the game.  Isn't she a cutie?

June 28-30 Moses Lake

We made another trip to Moses Lake. This time we had friends there. The White's, Child's, and Lewis's were all there and we had a lot of fun. We wake-boarded, tubed, swam, jet-skied, went to the water park, and just had a ton of fun!!! (All this in only 2 days)  

Billy on the wakeboard.  Lucy actually tried and got up really easily.  She did so good.  I took pictures with my friend's camera.  When I get them I will post some.

Noah at the Moses Lake aquatic center.

Brooklyn decided it would be fun to color Lexis.  It was pretty hilarious when she was done.

Lucy and Elli on the tube.

Brooklyn loved the little playground and the sand.  She was always trying to escape to get there.

Niko and Bridger on the tube.

Nichole wakeboarding.

Brooklyn, ready for a bike ride.

Whew, What a week!!!

This week was the last week of school, which around here means lots of activities.  We had 2 field days, Junior Olympics, an Awards assembly, 2 end of the year parties, and of course the last day of school which is always fun, oh, and a dance recital.  Here's a brief recap of the week.

Tuesday - Lucy's 1st field day of the week, and Junior Olympics for Niko.  Lucy's field day wasn't much like the field days I remember, it was more like a carnival where each room in their Pod (hall) had a different activity and the kids spend 1 1/2 hours visiting whichever ones they want.  The 5th graders get to participate in a district wide Junior Olympics.  I didn't get to go, but Niko's tug of war team won.  He didn't compete in any other events so I guess you could say he was undefeated.  Way to go Niko!!!

Wednesdy - Niko and Lucy got to participate in the 2nd field day.  (Lucy got to do both because she is in a 2 - 3 split class)  This is much more like the field day of my youth with water balloon tosses, spin around the bat races, and all kinds of other fun games, I didn't get to see it in person but have heard from several people that it was hilarious!  That afternoon was the awards assembly.  Niko received a full grown Orca award (because he attended Hazelwood K-5th grade) He was also in the top 10 AR point earners for the 5th grade.  Lucy got a Citizenship award for 2nd grade, was also in the top 10 AR point earners for her grade, and her Karaoke group got to perform their number in front of everyone. (She was the only 2nd grader who got to perform because they only do karaoke with 3rd graders and up, but again, because she was in the split class she got to participate, and she just happened to be in a group with three 3rd graders.)

Thursday - I went and helped Lucy's teacher move to a new classroom.  She will be moving up with Lucy's class and it will be a 3-4 split class.  (I'm so happy!  Ms. Ferguson is a GREAT teacher.  She is very good at pushing Lucy and the other students to their full potential.  They got to do a lot of fun stuff this year and these kids are amazing!!!)  That afternoon all of the 5th graders got to go to the gym for a yearbook signing party with music and cupcakes and juice.  It was a lot of fun to see Niko interact with his peers.  I can't believe he will be in Middle school next year!!!!

Friday - The last day of school!!  I went up to the school with some balloons for Niko.  I had told the kids I would pick them up but they didn't want me too.  Apparently, on the last day of school the bus ride is a little more fun than normal.  They get to stand up while the bus is moving and the busses do several laps around the parking lot while the kids yell and wave out the window at all the teachers who are lined up on the side-walk.  It was really fun.  Once we all got home, Niko and I went to his real end of the year party for the 5th graders.  We had it at an outdoor pool nearby and had the whole thing to ourselves.  Even though it was pouring down rain, the kids had a great time.  That night Lucy had a dress rehearsal for 1st dance recital.

Saturday - Dance Recital, it was adorable, Lucy did great, as did the rest of her group.  All the numbers were really fun, especially the ones with the little 3 and 4 yr. olds.  Brooklyn will probably get to do that next year.  It will be so cute!!!  Anyways, here are some pictures from the week.  And a video of the dance recital.

Lucy receiving her Citizenship award.

Niko and the 5th grade boys scarfing down some Hot Dogs.

Signing Yearbooks.

Last bus ride as a 5th grader.

Lucy and Ms. Feguson

Lucy after her dress rehearsal.  (She was having WAY too much fun pretending to be a model.  It was really fun to watch her this weekend, when she had her hair curled and was looking pretty cute, she totally walked with a little bounce and would wave her head around to make the curls bounce, it was hilarious.  Apparently, this girl likes to look good.)

Moses Lake

Well this past weekend we went to Moses Lake.  Billy was participating in an Olympic length triathlon so we picked up the kids from school and headed over there.  It is about a 2.5 hour drive for those who don't know.  We are members at a RV park there so that's where we stayed.  The kids love it there because there is a pool.  Anyways, considering how much Billy trained (not enough) and the fact that he has never done a triathlon, and the fact that he rolled his ankle really bad about half way through the run, I was really impressed that he even finished so GOOD JOB BABE!!!!!!  While he was swimming, biking, and running, the kids and I played at the park where all the transitions were.  Here are a few pictures.

After Billy finished the race, we went back to the cabin for some lunch and then hit the pool. Mind you, it wasn't very warm, and it was raining, but apparently our kids don't mind that sort of thing.  It also turns out that Brooklyn LOVES LOVES LOVES the water!!!!  Now every time I change her diaper she says, "I ready go swimmin' now."  Thanks to Billy's waterproof camera,  we got some fun shots and video.  Later that day it started lightning and thundering, the power even flickered a few times, (Yikes, we might've had to actually camp, well kind of), luckily the power never stayed off so we spent most of the day watching TV.  Which was probably good because my kids were still exhausted from Disneyland.  Niko was especially wasted because he had just gotten home from 5th grade camp before we left.  Overall, it was a fun weekend.