Cruise.....Mexico......Fun.......

Note to readers......we did not go on this Cruise to go to Mexico (frankly Mexico been there done it not too impressed) we went to go on a Cruise with our kids.  My Hayden (the happy boy below) is obsessed with the Ocean and everything related to it so hence--- a cruise.  We drove (we NOT do this again).....I will save the money and fly.  I do not do road trips. But we had a great time and the kids really had the time of their lives.  This boat was made for kids!!

 Above is Hayden's face after 11 hrs in the car and below is my face!!!

 This is the Happy Cabin Dance by Anna.  That bed above her head came out of the ceiling.  Pretty much a great way to start of the trip! They were so in awe of that!

 We have a Window (yes a window) a luxury of the poor crusier....they loved to sit in and watch the water go by!

 Highlight of the Ship.....the Waterslide...Hayden took to it right away.  Anna not so much.  It took her a couple days but after she tried it I could not get her off it. 

 This is Anna and her friend Lauren that she met at Camp Carnival (the AMAZING children's program they have on the ship).  Anna made a ton of friends and spent so much time there.  She loved it!

 Love the face on this kid!

 Another highlight for Hayden was this mini golf course.  It was always crowded and we didnt play much but this day it was soooo windy no one was playing so we went and played.  It was hilarious and fun!

 This photo was taken in the fantastic Theatre for the shows.  This is the one and only show my kids went to.  The costumes were a little more bare then I really wanted them to see so we only did one show with them.  The rest we went to while they were at Camp Carnival (blessed Camp Carnival)

 This is my kids RUNNING throw the corridor to race to open the door with the electronic key card.  Oh the simple joys in life!

 This was my favorite Towel Animal....my kids LOVED these every night!

 Anna in her first Taxi ride.  Hello...Mexico taxi's.....are very scary

 When I was here with my family 2 years ago Kell bought  a fabulous hat that I have always envied so we went and found the exact same store and I bought me one!

 Lunch a the Hard Rock Cafe...Puerta Vallerta

 The kids were fascinated with the blown glass.  The each bought one...Anna a purple turtle and Hayden a black and Red Scorpian

 Hello.....Watching the Jonas Brothers Concert while swimming at the pool....Anna was in Heaven~

 See....she did it!!!

 Love this picture....she is soooooo happy!

 Very BIG chair

 This was at a show in Matzatlan....the show was very Mexican and hokey but the kids loved the balloon animals the mime made for them.....have I mentioned I think mimes are creepy

 Hayden took this great photo of our ship in Cabo San Lucas

 Watching the Dolphins swim...the only things I would do different is I would have paid for my kids to swim with the Dolphins and done nothing else.  It would have been worth it!

 This is Hayden and I watching the Dolphins off the side of the ship....none of the photos turned out but it was fun to see them in the wild

 Hayden was also obessessed with the napkins and how they were folded every night at dinner.  He is so funny

 Water pad.....loved it!

Our waiter Al....Anna loved him so !

 this is fake sadness at our departure.....

Tons of fun!!

Gratitude--

1. Good Therapists (they are worth their weight in gold)

2. Yogotogo.....I am going to go broke but at least its healthy (ish)

3. My brothers--- so protective--- love them all!

4. The ability to paint-- I hate it but at least it makes things prettier!

5. Seeing clearly (really for the first time in a long long long time :)

Goliath.....

I have lived a good....mostly calm life up to this point.  I had an amazing childhood with great friend, amazing parents, supportive siblings whom I love dearly and even though I faced daily struggles (like everyone does) I really have had it really great! I have come to find out that everyone of us at some point in our lives will face our own personal "Goliath".  Not those struggles we fight daily but one thing that hits and nearly brings us down. These "Goliath's" come in many forms and differ for every person but we all will hit it one day. I personally was hit by my personal Goliath about a month ago.  I have come to realize it is not the "what" but the "how" we deal with this "Goliath" that we will personally be judge by.  It's easy to point fingers and say "Look what this person did to me....its isn't fair...I don't deserve this....and I deserve a pass." But we don't deserve a pass.  This is what life is about.  Learning how navigate through all the craziness and to be able to do it finding Joy even when "all the world is coming down around you".  I vow to do this as I face my "Goliath"....it will NOT BEAT ME!  I read this today and it hit me true to the core....."I have learned what the term "refiner's fire" really means.  It is the process of heating gold so that the impurities run off, leaving only that which is of lasting worth." The heat is hard and not fun but beginning to let go of my impurities I hope I can make it worth the journey!

Today is harder.....so I am going to have to dig deeper.....

Grateful for....

1. So You Think You Can Dance....I am signing up for a dance class in 20 more pounds

2. A working Lawn Mower

3. Friends who "get it"

4.  My new Blackberry (it was a feel better gift to myself)

5. My Hayden who loves to help.....

Sunday.....Gratitudes

1- Truth

2- Cheese....I don't know I just love Cheese!

3- "Wanting" to go to the gym again....7 weeks away was to long away

4- Conference Ensign

5- Laughter....it heals and makes it easier!!

Grateful for....

1. Texas Caviar Bean dip....I love you so!

2. Air Conditioning...:)

3. Honesty

4. Friends who are always there when I need them

5. The friends brought to me through my job this year (they keep me young and informed :)

Gratitude--

There has become a need in my life right now to remember the good things....Gratitude....a very, very powerful thing....there is ALWAYS something to be grateful for....

5 Things I am grateful for today:

1. Anna's ability to instantly make me feel beautiful

2. Hayden's "old soul"

3. My parents.....what would I do without them

4. My sister....she is my rock!

5. The Treadmill and Elipitcal....I secretly hate them....but they do make me feel so much better


Til.....tomorrow........