We're Back!

We're back from our cruise! We had such a FABULOUS time in San Diego, Catalina, and Ensenada. Last Sunday we left Provo for the long journey to Los Angeles where we stayed one night in a hotel, and then were able to board the Monarch of the Seas ship on Monday. Each day on the ship we would port so that you could go on tours or your own sightseeing adventure, then in the evening the ship would deport and head to the next location. On Wednesday morning we arrived in Catalina, California- which was our favorite place. We actually got to go jet skiing in the ocean! It came with a price, but it was well worth it. There were 6 of us in our group that Blake worked with this past summer that all went out on 3 jet skis. I never really thought riding a jet ski in the ocean would be that different than riding one in a lake, but I was pleasantly surprised. In the ocean there are so many swells without even trying to find them. Plus the salt water is much more harsh when it whips you in the face. By the time our one hour of riding was over, we were tired. We were hoping to see some dolphins, marlins, or sea lions while out jet skiing, but I think they were scared of our crazy driving. We did however see a few sea lions on our way back to the ship that day, and I was lucky enough to see a dolphin the next day in Ensenada when I pulled back the curtains in our room. Mexico was crazy, as usual. Blake had never been and I think he got talked into looking at everyone's stuff they were selling. We warned him about the kids with the Chicklets and jewelry so that he didn't get sucked into buying stuff from each one that approached him. So here we are, Blake and I, on this vacation and guess what souvenirs we came home with.....2 postcards, but a lot of fun memories! The one thing that I was repeatedly reminded of this past week was how thankful I am to have what I have in my life. There were so many people we came in contact with on our trip, whether on the ship or at the ports, that struggle through life a lot more than we do. Blake and I are truly blessed!

This statue we saw in San Diego by all the old Navy Ships-I loved this!

Our Royal Carribean cruise ship-Monarch of the Seas

This was our formal night dinner on the cruise ship

Catalina Island, California

Ensenada, Mexico

Is it in the air?

So I don't know if there's some bad karma floating around in the air, or if I have to face the reality that it's just me. I like the bad karma floating in the air option. Lately I've been so sensitive and crabby. I know what you're thinking.... typical girl's emotion because who else can possibly be sensitive and crabby all at the same time. I know right! Whatever the cause for this emotional crisis, I'm not enjoying it one bit. It actually caused me to ponder the question of whether or not when we return to live with our Heavenly Father and we are in our perfect form, does that mean our personality will be in perfect form as well? Where we won't have mean/catty/or insensitive thoughts, words, or actions? Where we will all live in peace and harmony with one another? I'm thinking that our personality has the ability to be in perfect form, but only if we are striving for personality perfection in this life. Looks like I have some work to do!

What we've been up to lately!

We had the chance to go white water rafting with my family for a weekend in June close to Leavenworth, Washington. It was really COLD, but we still managed to get a sunburn out on the water.

There were a ton of blackberries near our apartment in Oregon. We made it a Sunday ritual to pick them after church during the month of August.

I turned the ripe age of "27" this summer. Blake made me my favorite cake; rainbow chip cake with matching frosting. You can't see it in the picture but I ate some of the backside of this cake the day before my birthday. I was home all alone with the cake.....and let's just say the cake lost the battle.

Blake bought me this Camelbak for my birthday. He was so cute and actually showed it to me a few weeks before my birthday. He couldn't wait for me to have it.

As most of you know, Blake and I were in Portland, Oregon all summer. We really enjoyed our stay there. Now the reality of another semester of school has reared it's ugly head. We are back in Provo, and Blake is already elbows deep in reading and homework. I finally start work this week, which I am looking forward to. Anything to get me out of the kitchen..I've been experimenting with new recipes. All of the things I've made so far have turned out great, but then we have to eat all the stuff I've made and that's not so good. Blake, Mikell and I ran the Spanish Fork half marathon this past weekend. I came in dead last out of the 3 of us! Mikell beat my time by almost 30 minutes. She runs like Blake- like a gazelle; while I'm huffing and puffing the whole way to the finish line. We had fun, but it makes me a little more scared to run the St. George marathon in 3 weeks. As I crossed the finish line after running for 2 hours and 14 minutes straight the thought of running an additional 13.1 miles seemed like excruciating pain. Above are some pictures of what we were up to this summer, ENJOY!