Don we now our gay apparel

So Jason and I got invited to an ugly Christmas sweater party. We looked long and hard for some extra ugly sweaters but all we found were these super attractive ones. I hope we don't offend the hosts when we show up to the party and we're the best looking ones there.

Merry Christmas!

"The Cruise"

Please watch above video to find out why I now have a newfound gratitude for warm showers, warm good food, working toilets, windows, good smells and flashlights.

Jason and I had been planning to take our two oldest children on a fun warm vacation for some time now when my mother suggested we join her, her siblings and her cousins for a family reunion aboard a 7 night Mexican Riviera Carnival Cruise. We boarded the ship on the late afternoon of Sunday, November 7th and at 6 am the following morning we heard a loud grinding sound that vibrated the whole ship and it immediately started smelling like smoke and the power went out. We found out later that there had been a fire in the engine room but we were informed that they were working on it and would get the power back on asap and we would continue towards our destination. We did not find out until Tuesday that they would be unable to start the ship up again and that two tugboats would be arriving the next day to pull us back to San Diego. Because we had drifted even farther in the last 24 hours and because the tugboats could only pull us at a speed of 7 mph we would not get into San Diego until Thursday afternoon. In the meantime we had no warm showers, no light in our cabins or throughout the ship, no working toilets and no avenue to cook food. The stench became unbearable…the combo of smoke, rotten food, overflowing toilets…you can imagine. The food was less than desirable…green bean sandwiches, beet sandwiches, cold meatballs, hot dog salad… and the lack of light was not only difficult to find our way around but very depressing as well. We made the best of it by reading and playing cards when the sun was out and engaging in conversation when the sun went down. On the upside it was exciting to see an aircraft carrier up close as well as a navy seahawk as it dropped necessary supplies onto our ship.
As planned, we arrived in San Diego on Thursday morning where we boarded a shuttle bus that took us to a beautiful nearby hotel. We had a warm shower, had a hot delicious breakfast and we played in their pool. We stayed in San Diego a couple more days and had the opportunity to visit Old Town San Diego where we visited the Mormon Battalion Visitor Center, the Maritime Museum, the USS Midway and Seaport Village. Of course we were compensated for the whole trip, including our time in San Diego, and we were given a free cruise to book in the future. We are thankful to be safe and sound. Even though we had three and a half miserable days at sea, we joke now that we have learned how to be grateful for small things like windows. Ironically, we lost weight and earned money, from which I understand, is quite an accomplishment for one who has been on a cruise.

Humble Pie

Just when I was about to brag about completing my first triathlon, my dad sends me this picture...TOTAL BUZZ KILL.

Happy Halloween!!!

Jason got a little creative with our normal breakfast fare this morning. A little LA Confidential maybe?

Beware of dead cheerleaders!!!

Hi, I'm Pizza.

"Since I've already got glasses, mom, I guess I'll be Harry Potter."

"I wub Tinkerbell", said Clara.

Hope everyone had a spooktacular holiday!!!

Pinkalicious!

Move over Molly Ringwald...Clara Short has taken over the title "Pretty in Pink" from here on out!

Clara celebrated her 3rd birthday with 5 other little girls in the most "Pinkalicious" way. There were pink books to be read, pink cupcakes to be decorated and lots of pink balloons to be frolicked in (I guess that is what you call it when little girls run through a pool of balloons and think it's the best game ever).

Thanks Sarah for the pink scarf...it came in handy today considering the dress code for this party!

Cousin Madeline came all the way from Idaho for Clara's birthday. Just kidding. We just managed to celebrate her birthday on the same weekend that my brother Adam and his family were on there way to moving to northern California. They stopped in Oregon on their way and we got a couple of days to play. Can you beleive Clara and Madeline only have a month and half difference in age?

Family road trip

First stop: A trip down memory lane in Logan, Utah...

Jason and I in front of our very first apartment as newlyweds.

The beautiful Logan Temple
Showing the kids Old Main.

Next stop: Bear Lake for Heder Family Reunion

Highlights included playing in the hot tub and playing with Uncle Matt

Hiking through the Minnetonka Caves

and there were many hours playing on the beach...

And the ever so popular talent show (usually Grandma and Grandpa look proudly on as they relish in the talents of their offspring, but not this year...they stole the show with their musical number of "peanut butter and jelly" complete with costumes and choreography).

The road trip came to a conclusion when, after the reunion, we headed to Jackson Hole where we participated in a Bar J Ranch BBQ dinner and show, an outstanding performance of "Annie Get Your Gun" and a very rainy day in Yellowstone Park...