OUR CRUISE

Leif and I leaving our appartment to go crusing!!!

 Leif and I were super blessed to be able to go on a Carnival Cruise for 7 whole days.  Leif's Mom and Dad flew down to watch the kids for us while we were away.  It was nice to have a vacation with just Leif and I, and to know that the twins were in very good hands. 
We left out of Cape Canaveral and spent a day in Bahamas, St. Thomas, and St. Maartin.  Our ship was colossal!!!  We found enjoyment upon our ship by playing mini-golf, going down water-slides, ping-pong, Foosball, working out in the gym, swimming, hot-tubing, watching movies, watching live entertainment, dancing, relaxing, and eating.  YES eating is always the best part of a cruise.  Our ship had 24 hour ice-cream, pizza, hot coco, and room service.  One formal night we enjoyed  Lobster and crab.  Some of the appetizers' we ate were shark, alligator, and frog legs!!!  The food was impressive.  And the posts were impressive as well.   


Us getting on the ship



 Our first stop was the Bahamas.  We were only there for 5 hours so we walked to Paradise Beach.  That's right... we walked almost 2 miles each way but didn't have to pay for a taxi!!!  It was fun walking because we burnt off our morning breakfast, and we got to see a lot of the island.  Paradise Beach was stunning.  The water was turquoise blue, with white sand, and awesome waves.  Leif and I got to have fun in the waves as we body-boarded and crashed in the sand.  It was a very pleasurable day

Our second stop was St. Thomas.  Again we walked downtown were we shopped, explored, and climbed 99 sleeps to an old mansion and great view.  After see the sights downtown, we took a taxi to a beach at a Marriott Hotel.  We therefore got to swim in the beautiful ocean, along with a pool and hot-tub.  It was a very delightful day.   

Our last stop was St. Maartin.  We got off the ship at 8:00 a.m and rented a scooter for the day.  The Island is divided into two parts, the Dutch side and French side.  It was interesting seeing the difference in sides.  We first stopped at some beautiful beaches and sites.  Then we headed over to Loterie Farms were they had an "Extreme Zip-line".  Neither Leif or I have ever zipped line, so we were eager to do this together.  We don't have any pictures, since we didn't want to take our camera.  But it was so much fun.  The guide took us and 3 other girls up to the top of a jungle.  He explained to us how to zip, then he let us go.  Leif and I didn't see him or the other 3 girls after our first zip.  We therefore were alone together in this amazing jungle going over 13 different zips.  The last couple of zips were 100 meters or longer.  We were going upside down, backwards, and crazy.  It truly was a blast. 



This was our very first zip-line... they only got longer from here.



After zipping, we drove to Maho Beach.  It is a beach that is right in front of the airport.  We therefore got to see a dozen planes fly over us and onto the landing strip.  It looked like they were going to hit us!!!  And when a plane flew off, we felt so much wind.  We spend a couple of hours watching planes and playing in the waves.  It was also fun to see the French who were on the Beach.  It was a very thrilling day.

Can you see Leif swimming in the Ocean, and the plane coming in.??

 We loved our posts and we loved our cruise.  It was such a nice vacation.  I am so thankful that we were able to go and spend time together.  We are thankful our parents came to watch the twins.  We had so much fun and got to spend some very needed quality time together. 



Eating frog-legs





Our crew singing good-bye to us.



Saying good-bye to our wonderful cabin Stewart

Hocky Practice

The Tampa Bay Lightning Hocky Team is now just getting started.  To open the season they had a Free Practice for anyone.  They gave out a free lunch, had live music, and the bee mascot buzzing around.  A group of us mom's got together and attened the practive.  It was a lot of fun. 

What's NEW

Micah & Savannah got NEW aprons. Mommy made them.  They love wearing them in the kitchen and helping Mommy make cookies.

 Micah & Savannah got NEW helmets.  Now they will be safe when they are riding their tricycles.

January 2013

January is almost come and gone.  The twins are growing so fast.  They say and do funny things all day long.  I LOVE being home with my little ones.  They give me so much joy.  Every day they make me laugh. Every day they give me loves.  Enjoy some random pictures of January.

 I love Savannah's face in this.  She is truly confused with what her Daddy is doing.

 This is my beautiful daughter after story time.  She is reading her library book and wearing her new orange sunglasses.

 Micah loves wearing his sunglasses now.  We had a fun beach trip and he never took his glasses off

 My twins love to read.  They can spend hours just reading books.

 I found Micah like this one afternoon.  He made a little nest for himself.

Funny girl.  I can't believe how big she is.  She used to fit in one of these.s

Kaden's 4th birthday

Our Dear Little Kaden Would Be 4 Years Old January 3rd.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON!

I love Kaden's birthday because it gives me one day to remember and ponder my sweet son.  Kaden will always be a special part of our family.  He is what makes our family unique.  Having a still born is something that I never wish on anyone, but my memories of Kaden have become sacred and special.  I know that I will get to raise Kaden in Heaven.  I know that he had a special mission.  Kaden gives me a reason to keep going.  I will have to endure to the end in order to see him someday. I am so thankful for the plan of salvation. 

Today our family celebrated Kaden's 4th birthday.  I make him a cake in the shape of a lion.  The twins helped me decorate it.  We then went to the dollar store and bought balloons and blow horns.  I showed Micah and Savannah pictures of Kaden and told them that he was their brother.  We then sang Happy Birthday and blew our horns.  The twins had so much fun playing with the balloons.  They knew it was a special day.  

  

2013

Happy New Years to everyone.  

I remember being a young girl and watching my parents go to bed around 11:00 on New Year's Night.  I remember thinking that I would always stay up for New Years, and not be lame.  Well, due to Leif's word schedule and our children.... Leif and I went to bed and slept through New Year's.  Yes, we are officially lame.  But we look forward to a wonderful 2013.

I was thinking about 2012 and realized that we have been richly blessed.  Throughout the year 2012 we have gone on numerous trips and had several visitors.  Lairen was our first visitor in February.  We enjoyed her very much.  Then Amy came for Easter.   She was the one who hid Leif's Easter basket in the garbage!!  Leif's parents visited over Leif's birthday.  We had a great time with them and they bought us Bush Garden passes which we have put to good use.  Lori and her family came to Orlando in May.  The twins and I got to spending a week with the Sparapata's in Disney World.  No one wanted to visit us over the summer but we got to go to both Bear Lake and California for family reunions on both sides.  And to top off the year, my parents visited in September.  Together we all drove down to Key West. WOW... what a pleasurable year we have had.  We were so blessed to have so many visitor.  We have amazing families and can't wait to move closer to them.   

Leif is now half way done with his residency.   The twins are going up so fast and will be 3 this year.  Micah and Savannah are so much fun to play with.  Every day is an adventure.  We truly enjoyed 2012 and all the memories that accompany the year. 

Each year I make 2-3 New Year's Resolutions.  And each year I do fairly good about keeping them.  In fact 2 of my Resolutions from last year have now become habit.   I believe that making goals in life truly work.  Therefore my New Year's Resolution for 2013 is to read the WHOLE Old Testament.  I have read a lot of it but never cover to cover, and look forward to learning new stories. 

Happy New Years Everyone and thanks for making our year a great one.