San Diego and Mission Beach

Megan and I left with the kids on Wednesday and drove to Phoenix after fighting a windstorm that actually closed I-40. We then continued Thrusday on to San Diego where Josh joined us later that night. We went to Legoland, Sea World and the Animal Wild Park. Those pictures will follow. We went to the beach twice and the kids loved it. That is until a wave knocked Nate and Abby over and got them all wet! They were good sports about it and went back the next day.

Ali loved to feel the wind on her face!

Abby before the wave got her

Nate was a little cold

Ty was experiencing the feeling of sand for the first time

Easter Pictures

Here are pictures actually taken the week after Easter because of conference. This might be the last time they can all dress alike because Ali is in the largest size of clothes that Gymboree makes! Sad ):

MAC Reunion

MAC stands for Mision Argentina Cordoba! Josh and I served in the Grand MAC and so it was fun to go to Utah for a reunion Easter weekend. After all, it all began in a mission reunion 11 1/2 years ago! Here are those who made it.

It was awesome to see Pte. Etchegaray. He was my second pres while being Josh's third! He came all the way from Uruguay for conference so that was why the reunion was held. He is a spiritual giant. When he bore his testimony that night I felt like a missionary all over again.

This is Hermana Hadfield, Krista now. We were such good friends on the mission and shared so many great experiences! We hung out tons after the mission also. I hadn't seen her in about 11 years to this was perfect. I am hoping we can pick-up where we left off. She has a cute family now that I was able to meet. I am glad we have reconnected and can't wait to tell her girls about all of our crazy times!

Here are both Elder Butterfields with Josh.

Here is Elder Hall. Spencer now writes the blog for the Utah Jazz. He was in my first zone, comps with Spangler. He was a great reminder of all of the good memories in Norte!


In conclusion, this reunion brought a flood of memories and feelings to the surface. First, my mission is still to this day the best thing I have ever done! Josh takes offense to that but I remind him that it was there that we met! No mission, no Josh! But seriously, it taught me so many things both spiritual and temporal. It molded my thoughts about my future eternal family and who I wanted to be. I made some of the best friends that I will ever have there. My patriarchal blessing says that sometime, somewhere, if I desire I will serve a mission. A little vague but no doubt about it the mission was for me!!

Belinda Carliel was right...

... HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH! No, this isn't a post card. I took this picture! This was our view of the Atlantic Ocean from the balconey of our room. For our 11th anniversary we went to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. The trip was awesome. Our hotel was amazing. Not only was is beautiful but the service was outstanding. They remembered your name, where you are from and even our favorite drink (ours was their freshly squeezed juice). Whatever you wanted they would find and try to make it happen. This was the perfect spot to relax! We can't say enough about the food, the rooms, pretty much every thing that has to do with this hotel and the Dominican Republic in general. The people are so friendly and the country is truely spectacular. Mostly Eurpeans vaction there but we did run into some couples from the USA. You must vist this amazing county.

This is me out on our balconey.

Can you belive our amazing view. Where most hotels give you an ocean veiw, here they put your room right on the beach.

This pool ran like a snake and throughout the property and then emptied into an infinity pool.




This is our room on the top.

The beaches were clean and went on for miles. There are only 53 suites on the property so at times you felt like you were the only ones there. No fighting for a spot on the beach or pool. They even bring food and drinks to you out on the beach. It's like room service. They have waiters that roam and ask you what you want. Now that's what I call a beach!

More of the amazing beach.

Josh and I

Josh, my P90x stud!

I love that Josh is a romantic at heart!

This was our amazing room.

Our last night there they had a dinner on the beach.

So romantic!

Here we are on the zip lines. They were amazing. This wasn't even the longest one!

Josh

The course we went on

We went to Santo Domingo for the day to tour the capital. It is a very beautiful and historic city. They are very proud to say that Christopher Columbus landed there. This is the oldest cathedral in the Americas. His remains are burried here.

In front of the cathedral

Here we are in the main plaza, outside of the Hard Rock Cafe where we had lunch.

This is the castle that Christopher Columbus's son and brother built.

Here is the castle again.

All in all the trip was amazing. We aslo went snorkeling and drove 2 person speed boats. It was just like James Bond. We took pictures of that with a waterproof camera so I will post those later. We love the DR. We will return.

Winter Pictures of the Kids

Here are some pictures I took of the kids after a snow storm in December. It's great to finally have a backyard for them to play in!

Christmas..... finally!!

The kids's tree in the family room.

The kids put all of their homemade ornaments and decorate it anyway they want.

Christmas morning


Some of the stockings and my new temple picture!!!

The 12 foot tree in the entry way

The living room after Santa came. (Yes, that is tree #3)!

Looking at the entry way from the 2nd floor

Daddy and Ty on Christmas morning.

Ali and Nate

Abby opening presents

Ali with her Book of Mormon action figure!!!

Sorry that it took so long to update the blog. I don't know where the time goes. Oh, maybe it is two kids in school, one in preschool, one 11 month old, 3 kids in basketball, 3 practices a week, 3 games on Saturday, 5 days of early morning seminary and one hardworking husband. I guess I have been a little busy!!!!