Jamaica - Horseback Riding

We (Richard) decided on horseback riding for another activity.  Once again I was a little nervous.  I've ridden a horse before, but that was over 10 years ago and all I could think about was my horse having its own agenda and me flying of the back!  My mom, who hates (complete understatement) water did this on their last cruise and I couldn't let her show me up so I did it.  Here are a few pics...

 We did the private horseback ride, which I was so grateful for.  I like that the guide was right there to help because I was certain this horse was going to go crazy!  Our guide sang us songs, told us stories, and told us dirty jokes that I'm glad I've forgotten!  He kept telling us his name was Richard, but everyone called him Donny.  Not so sure about that!

 This shelter was built a few years earlier, but was destroyed by the hurricane last year.

 Riding through the ocean was fun!  Richard had a bit of a slow horse so our guide gave him a "third gear" (a stick) to keep his moving.  Richard thought it was funny to use it on the back of my horse instead!

 

 

  One of our butlers brought us coconut water after she found out Richard had decided not to use sunscreen!  This was supposed to help rehydrate him, but we both found it kind of gross!  Needless to say he spent the rest of the trip in the shade with his shirt on, while I spent the rest of the trip making fun of him for it!

 Richard ate a few ice cream cones.  One of his big complaints was that he didn't get enough.  

 

 One of our butlers.  Curtis was an interesting guy.  I'm sad we didn't get a picture with our other butler.  She was so great!

On our way back to the airport to go home we saw this guy riding on the back of a truck.  Being in a car in Jamaica is quite an adventure.  Lots of honking, cutting people off, speeding, and the list goes on and on.  There were a couple of close calls!

We had such a great time.  I am so lucky to have such a great husband to spend my life with.  I appreciate all he does to give our family all the things we need and then some.  Who knows what the next 10 years will bring??

Jamaica - The Falls

For our 10 year anniversary we (more like Richard) decided that Jamaica sounded like fun!  Water and sand are not two of my favorite things, but getting away and having some time with just Richard and I made me want to go anywhere.  We stayed at the Sandals Resort in Ocho Rios and had a great time.  Here are a few of the highlights...

 Our room was on the top floor.  We had a private pool for the 4 rooms in our building 

and we had our own butler.

 The sunsets were beautiful!

 Hiking Dunns River Falls.  I was a little nervous about this.  

Again it was involving water and that water was pretty cold at times!

 Our guide told Richard to go up the hard way. There was another lady who wanted to go up the hard way also and our guide looked at her and said "No way you gonna make it. Go the easy way."  

I couldn't help but laugh.

 He made it.  I'm not sure how I managed to catch him in this pose, but it was too funny.

 They had us fall backwards into one of the pools.  I didn't want to do it and had I not had Richard pulling me down I probably would not have.  And yes, I don't like water getting in my nose!

The water under this fall was SO cold.  They kept telling me to lean back into it, but there was no way that was happening!  Once again, I HATE WATER!

The falls were beautiful and in the end I was so glad we did it.  We were told by many people that it was a must do when going to Jamaica and they were right.  

Spots, spots and more spots!!

Arcadia's teacher loves Dalmatians so one of the other students Mom decided we should surprise the teacher with a Dalmatian themed ice cream party.  It's not very often I'm able to help with much because I don't really have babysitters during the day so I jumped at the chance to help make some cookies.  I found these cute dog, dog bone, and paw print shaped cookie cutters and went to work.  They turned out ok, definitely not the best, but I'm pretty sure a 1st grader won't notice!

Goodbye to First Grade!

After 2 first days of First Grade (one in Utah and one in Colorado) Arcadia has officially finished!  She had a great year filled with lots of learning and lots of fun.  She was able to play the Mother in the Nutcracker play, go on field trips to the Nature Center in Utah and to the "We the People" play in Colorado, and have countless crazy hair and pajama days.  She made new friends at a new school and absolutely LOVED her teacher in Colorado.  She has had a big year with big changes and made it through it all as confident as ever. She is an amazing little (quite literally) girl and we love her so much!

 First Day of School 

 Colorado teacher 

 Last day of school!!  

We were late and couldn't find a good spot where she didn't have to squint...she gets that from her Dad!!

Park Fun

On the last day of school the First graders went to the park.  Parents were invited so Mekensy and Brooklyn joined in on the fun.  I love that they try to include the parents as much as possible!

 Brookie had LOTS of mommies at the park. It's hard to tell, but Arcadia and one of her friends are pushing Brooke on the swing.  She loved it!

Be the Teacher

Arcadia had an opportunity to "be the teacher" at school last week.  As you can imagine she LOVED it!  I'm sure you can't picture her telling people what to do and taking charge.  I'm still not sure who she gets that from.  ;)  She I decided that she would be making dirt and worm cups.  She had a great time helping me make the pudding and putting the Oreos and gummy worms into baggies.  The day she was teaching she came running into my room at about 6:30 am so excited.  She did a great job.  Here are a few pictures.  I didn't get many or really any that are great because I was helping the kids.  I should have at least taken a picture of the finished product, but of course did not!

She even insisted on using the projector.  She had someone turn off the lights and then held her hand up in the air until everyone quieted down and listened.  It was quite funny!!  We love this sweet girl and are so glad to see that she has so much confidence.  She had a bad day in front of the class the week before, but she didn't let it stop her.  I wish I had as much confidence as she does.

May Visitors- Round 2

The week after I got back from Disneyland my parents and sister came to visit for Memorial Day.  We had a fun time and did some fun things!  The girls love it when people come visit.  We saw Epic, went to the park, went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and ate lots of yummy food! Of course I was bad about taking pictures, but here's what I got...

SPLASH PAD AND PARK

We have so many parks and splash pads around us.  We have a ward playgroup we go to almost every week and we have yet to go to the same one twice.  It has been so fun for the kiddos.

 Brooklyn hates having her picture taken!

 She wasn't so sure about the water splashing on her, but after a little while she warmed up!

 Kensy is our little monkey.  

She made it to the top rather quickly and insisted on getting down on her own.

 Arcadia is a little unsure of the height.

THE ZOO

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs is awesome.  The girls were able to feed the giraffes.  They had a great time checking out all the animals.  All Mekensy wanted to do the ENTIRE time was ride the sky ride.  We did almost come home with one less child (Arcadia).  Richard got a little excited to see the hippos and took off ahead of us.  Arcadia wasn't with me so I assumed she was with him...oops, she wasn't. I am a little ashamed to admit that it took more than a few minutes to realize she was missing.  Luckily she knew what to do and stayed in the same area and found a lady with kids and told them she was lost.  Scary moment for me!!

4 little monkeys

Thanks to all of our visitors this month!  It is so fun to explore new things with them all.  If you haven't come to visit yet, you should!!  It's lots of fun!!

May Visitors- Round 1

We had two sets of visitors in May (lucky us!).  Richard's parents came for a weekend while I was off in Disneyland with my Mom and Sister.  They had lots of fun and packed a lot into only a couple of days.  Here are some highlights!

Visiting the Downtown Aquarium in Denver

 Riding the train at the Denver Zoo

Mothers Day

I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing, but our anniversary and Mothers Day fall within a few days of each other.  This year it made me feel really spoiled.  Mother's Day was a little bittersweet this year because we are away from our Moms, but it was much better than last year!  Last year my Grandpa had passed away unexpectedly 2 days prior and no one felt like celebrating.  This year my amazing husband and kids made it a Mother's Day to remember.  I was able to sleep in, have breakfast and dinner made completely by Richard while I sat on the couch (that was actually really hard to do), watch my girls play in the backyard and just relax!  The girls gave me many cards and pictures they drew, Arcadia painted a flower pot for me and Richard is getting me much needed new phone.  I am so blessed to be a mom to these 3 cute girls.  I am not always the best at it, but I'm trying and I hope they know how much I love them and how proud I am of them.  If I follow the wonderful example that my Mom set for me then they will always know.

I have an amazing Mom who has always stood by me (even when taking her grandchildren away).  She loves her children unconditionally and has proven that time and again.  She is a rock and her faith in the gospel is immeasurable.  She is not only my Mom, but my best friend and I miss her.  Love you Mom!

Mekensy was really mad she had to be in a picture...she hates having her picture taken!

10 Years and counting...

I can't believe we have been married 10 years.  It makes me feel so old and looking at the pictures makes me feel so much older!  We have had quite a ride these past 10 years.  We have lived in 3 different houses, had 7 different cars, said goodbye 6 family members, survived a "surfing accident" resulting in collar bone surgery, had 3 amazing baby girls, been on countless vacations, lived in 2 different states, had kids with broken bones, tubes put in ears and spells of passing out, Richard graduated from the U and from Banking School and has worked at 2 different banks, and through it all we have shared lots of smiles and lots of tears.  I can't imagine sharing this life with anyone but him.  He puts up with a lot living in a house with 4 girls and he takes it like a champ!  The girls have the best Dad there is and they love him so much.  The move to Colorado has been so good for us and has taught us to truly rely on each other.  We have become so much closer as a couple and a family in the past 5 months than in the previous 9 1/2 years.  I am so grateful to have him in my life and without him I wouldn't be who I am and have the beautiful children we have.  Not to mention I wouldn't be so spoiled...We are going to Jamaica in June to celebrate and he gave me a beautiful ring.  I am one lucky girl!!  Love you Rich!

The Girl's Rooms

These rooms were a labor of love and I have to thank Richard for all of his hard work (and for the money to pay the painters).  I love to paint, but the thought of having to do it while 3 kids whined and cried for anything they could possibly think of was not appealing!!  Richard and I worked together on the beadboard and surprisingly enough with little arguing!  We are happy with how it turned out, but wish we had looked into a few more tips and tricks beforehand.  The girls love their rooms and it's a darn good thing.  Now we just have to make good on the promise that they could get fish.  But hey, I guess it's better than the dog they want!  Enjoy the pictures...