Cabo Memories

A few months ago we decided we wanted to get away from the cold and spend a little time somewhere warmer than Edmonton. We remembered how lovely Cabo San Lucas, Mexico was last year when we went with Mark, so we decided to go there for out week vacation.

 

We invited Doug's sister, Rhonda, and her husband Jim to go with us. It as an exciting time planning to go and Jim was particularly happy to be there away from work for a week.

 

 

We had a very relaxing time, doing a lot of reading, but each day we would get out for a good walk around the area.

 

 

 

We went swimming and snorkelling one day near Pelican Rock Beach. It was a beautiful ride out to the beach in a 'glass bottom boat'. Rhonda stayed on the beach and read and tended our stuff, while Jim, Doug and I went snorkelling. We saw so many beautiful fish here, tangs, parrot fish, trumphet fish,and others...so fun!

We cooked most of our meals in our condo kitchen, we can get good food and groceries from the local supermarkets that carry very American type foods...and Costco is nearby! We did have fun trying out a few local Mexican restaurants.

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed our week in Cabo, and especially spending time with Rhonda and Jim. Just being in a green, warm environment really gave us a good boost.....we hope to get back there again!

 

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Dinosaurs and a Birthday Dinner

We've had a fun week celebrating Doug's birthday, he was born on his mother's 25th birthday...so each year on January 27th we celebrate Doug and Helen's birthdays together! This year she made him 2 dozen homemade cinnamon buns...he was in Heaven!! Our sweet dog, Rachel, turned five, so Doug shared a bun with her!

We took Helen out to dinner on Saturday night to Montanas Restaurant, and had a great time. Lindsay and James and Rhonda and Jim joined us and we all laughed so hard when the 'horns' went on Grandma and the whole restaurant sang to her... she was a very good sport!!

Earlier in the week Jon called and asked if we would like to join them on Friday in Drumheller, they were going to the Tyrell Museum with the kids. They wanted to meet up and celebrate Dad's birthday. So, we got up early on Friday and drove 3 hours to Drumheller and pulled in just as Jon and Tiffy arrived! It was so fun to see them all again! The museum was awesome!! It was so funny to watch Josh and Ava, especially when the dinosaur 'roared'...they weren't sure what to think!

Before long Ava was just a trooper...checking everything out and looking at each of the dinosaurs very carefully, especially the size of their teeth!! There were so many different kinds of dinosaur fossils, were all very impressed!

 

Joshie is walking on his own, and really tries to run everywhere! It is so fun to watch him just take off and go...it sure makes it easier for Tiff. He just wandered all through the museum and once in awhile would stop and play with some display he found at his level. He is sure starting to look like a little boy and not a baby anymore!!

We are standing in front of a dinosaur named 'Black Beauty'. It was discovered several years ago by two men out fishing on the nearby Red Deer river. They found what they thought was a small fossil, and as it turned out, this massive dinosaur was eventually unearthed!! So amazing that these great massive dinosaurs roamed right under our feet!! Of course that was 10 million years ago...

 

 

 

Looks like this dinosaur is coming over to take a bite out of Tiff and Josh...no way...he's mine... says Tiffy!!! Wow, we could almost imagine being surrounded by snorting, hungry dinosaurs!! We really enjoyed learning about their history here in Alberta and throughout the world.

The Tyrell Museum has the largest display of fossils in the world... It was so interesting, even the kids loved it! We had alot of fun together...and now we are all dinosaur experts!

It has been a great week, and I am so happy to be married to a man that doesn't seem older, but is always very kind and wise! He continues to be a wonderful example and friend to his children and grandchildren!!

 

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Christmas Fun with Family

We had a wonderful Christmas this year, we spent the weekend before Christmas with Jon and Tiff and Ava and Josh at their home in Calgary. We went down on Friday night and took Grandma with us. Doug and I and Grandma were able to enjoy a Temple Session in the Calgary Temple on Friday.

Then on Saturday Doug, Mark and Jon went skiing and Grandma and I babysat Ava and Josh while Tiffany took some time off to 'catch up' on a few needed things! While we waited for everyone's return we made Christmas pizza pies!! After dinner we exchanged gifts and had so much fun watching Ava and Josh play with their toys!! We really enjoyed ourselves! We came back on Sat. night to teach our classes at church on Sunday.

As Christmas grew closer, Mark came home, and we thoroughly enjoyed spending time together with him and with Linds and James. They slept over on Cristmas eve, and we read the Christmas story together, and ate lots of munches! We had a really fun Christmas morning. I gave Doug a new pellet gun, and he was very excited about it!! We had a lovely Christmas day, enjoying good food and fun! Doug got me a new watch!! It's funny how excited we still get for Christmas morning...

 

Lindsay and I managed to get James, Mark and Dad some 'speeders' gift cards, which they loved and used over the Christmas holiday! It was so funny watching them race the cars around the track!! It was truly the perfect gift for them!

 

 

 

On Christmas Day, Doug and I flew down to Phoenix and spent a week with Cam, D and their three little girls...we didn't stay in Phoenix, however, and we drove up to Flagstaff Christmas night! Cam had planned several activities for all of us during our three day stay in Flagstaff. Thursday we got up and did some Christmas shopping for the kids. That evening, we rode on the Polar Express train, and saw Santa and we even received a shining silver bell!! The weather was really bad and we got caught in a bad snow storm on the way home, but we said a few prayers and made it home OK! The next day we enjoyed playing together in the hotel room and eating food that Cam had graciously brought in for us from a nearby store, it was fun to be 'holed up' in a hotel room with the kids! We were never up early enough to catch the free breakfast becuse it was finished by 9 AM!!

That evening we were actually transported to Santa's workshop in the North Pole...it was really exciting to be with all of the elves!! We got to visit with Santa and he was so kind!!! It was a wonderful evening, especially because it was our 34th wedding Anniversary!

 

The next morning we were so lucky to see Santa again and to have breakfast with him!! He really likes pancakes and syrup! We loved the buffet breakfast and ate until we were all very full! We then headed back home to Phoenix.

 

 

We spent several more days in Phoenix playing and relaxing...we watched movies, played with the new toys and even made a 'Rice Crispy' train...it was delicious!! Before we knew it, it was time for us to fly back to Edmonton...it was hard to go, but we kissed everyone goodbye and off we went back home!

What lovely memories we have of our Christmas 2012! It's all about families and the love we feel and share together! The greatest gift we received at Christmas was to see our children and their families growing in the gospel, in their desires to be and to do good! Our lives are very blessed!!

 

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