Thanks for Thanksgiving!!

We had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving. Pictures are worth a thousand words, so I will let them do most the talking.

We made it to California in a short trip. Besides pulling over because smoke was coming out of the vents, a everything went well :)

We got to the Goodman's house and did a LOT of this:

Nertz, for those of you who don't know us.

So for some weird reason, we thought we were supposed to check in a 4:00 PM. It was about 3:45 when we got out our itinerary to see what address we should put in our GPS, when we noticed that check-in was from 12:30-3:30!!!!! The boat left the port at 5:00! We were so stressed. We thought we were going to miss our cruise! We had to call and say we were late, and run from our car to the port! According to pictures you can buy in the boat, we were 13th to the last on the boat, but we made it!

This picture is on the bridge from check-in to the boat, so we weren't rushed anymore, but we're probably still sweating!

It was Bobby's first cruise, so it was fun to explore the boat with him. This boat had clubs, theaters, restaurants, ping pong tables, pools, hot tubs, a library, a mini-golf course, a slide, basketball court, shuffleboard, lots of places to lay out, and more I'm sure that I can't think of. They're huge! I remember the first cruise I went on just being in awe of how big it was! And it's floating!

We got an oceanview room because with the military discounts we got, it was cheaper than an interior cabin. And it was so pretty! It was always a shock whether we'd see land or water outside.

We had a very spacious room too! Maybe it's the fact that I shared a room with all my siblings last time, but we definitely could have fit two more in our room (Jacksons!).

Bobby's phone was still getting GPS in the middle of the ocean. "Middle" being relative.

Here we are at Catalina.

We rented a golf cart and drove around the island. It was surprisingly really fun! We got to see all these cool sights and shops.

We were like the only young people on board. I'm sure everyone thought we were on our honeymoon.

Ensenada was a fun day too! It was warm so a lot of the day we sat out and got sun. Sunburned mostly, no tan. But we had to get off the ship because that was our first time out of the country together :) It's helpful that Bobby knows Spanish, too. He got to talk to some of the natives. We walked around the little shops (Bobby got a shirt) and we got a couples massage!

I was so sad when the cruise ended. I'd like to do a longer one next time :) I wish we would have gotten a picture of our cute Philippine waiter too. And we randomly met up with the Gundersons from our ward on the cruise too! It was so funny. We played ping pong, shuffleboard, and went to a comedy show together. What a great time we had on that Carnival Paradise.

On Friday morning we got right off the ship and headed to Knottsberry Farm with the Goodmans. We got in for free because we're a military family. This was a scary ride we're on. Look how tightly our hands are clasped.

Carly and I went on this straight up, straight down one. Only lasts 15 seconds. It was scarrry but one of my favorites. Bobby- not so much.

After Knottsberry Farm we headed to San Diego to another free admission to Sea World! I had been to Sea World when I was little, but I didn't remember what to expect. Bobby and I LOVED it! Everything except for the crazy expensive lunch. People were feeding sea lions and they'd get so close, I'd pull my hand back because I was scared they were going to bite me.

Of course we watched Shamu(s). We got to the show early to get good seats, but I kept getting nervous we'd get splashed and be cold the rest of the day, so we changed seats four times. Eventually Bobby refused to move anymore, and we were still close up so we had a great view, but we didn't get wet. But people on both sides of us and in front of us did!

They let you pet the dolphins! Probably my favorite part of Sea World. They are so friendly! I was standing next to this man who was making them come to him like crazy. He would clap his hands under water and it would make them come. If you ever go to Sea World, try it out!

To my dismay, Bobby wanted to go to a pet show at Sea World, which I thought would be dumb, but it was actually awesome. I never knew they could train cats! And pigs! And birds! It was actually, yeah awesome, like I said. But we have no pictures.

From San Diego we headed North to St. George for a Marshall reunion. I have zero pictures! But I stole some from facebook. One thing I love is family reunions. We played games, ate a marvelous Thanksgiving feast, swam in the pool, went skating, visited a volcano...

went to Zion's National Park...

ran in a race (Bobby got fourth overall!), visited my first ever apartment, and went Black Friday shopping. Black Friday was quite an experience. My mom, sister and aunts went together to Target at about 11:00 to wait for the opening at midnight. There were still 900 people in front of us! (Someone counted). I got up the courage to ask people at the front of the line to buy something for my aunt (two iPod touches). A lot of people were rude, but we found this cute 16 year old who offered to buy them for us! We trusted him with over $400 cash! Luckily, he got them! But the best part about St. George was seeing my family. It was another sad goodbye.

But after two weeks it felt good to be home! We got home and the next night headed to Mesa for a couples slumber party with the Jacksons:) We went to the Mesa temple to see the temple lights and see the nativities.

It made me really miss Chelsea because there were so many cute sister missionaries. That, and Christmas time always reminds me of my beloved Jerusalem, which we share memories together. This picture is of a nativity set from Chile.

We got home and got to decorate our house for Christmas. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love the music, the lights, the memories, the anticipation, wrapping gifts, the smells, the jam-packed stores, and everything about it. I think the world loves Christmastime because as we think of Christ more often the whole community is blessed with the spirit. I think that what people call the "Christmas Spirit" is the same spirit we feel any other time of the year when we think about the Savior. And I love that Thanksgiving is right before Christmas. It prepares us for the next season of just giving thanks for our Savior. And I love that New Years is right after Christmas. We can think of the Savior for a season, then commit ourselves to being more like him.

This is our beautiful tree. Bobby went Black Friday shopping by himself and landed this beauty. 7.5 feet, pre-lit and very full! He did so well! And Alice was so kind to send us a bunch of ornaments from his childhood. Our tree only had one ornament before that box.

We are sure thankful for our Thanksgiving break.

Before, During, After

I've been in Ukraine

The first time I was really impressed with Bobby was when I called him and asked what he was doing. He told me he was at the nursing home- just for fun- playing Bingo with the residents. Sigh.

Well the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. My mother-in-law is a wonderful, serving person. Years ago she began a program called TOUCH (Take One Ukrainian Child's Hand) in Uzhhorod, Ukraine. The organization supports an orphanage, a program for girls to learn skills to take them into the workplace, a program for children without parents in the home, a Roma school, and even more stuff I can't remember right now. AND Bobby's dad helps in the medical field in Ukraine, and they send shipments of needed supplies from the US.

I had the opportunity to go with my in-laws to Ukraine! And what a incredible time I had. So many thank-yous to the Ramptons. I would love to go again next year with my mom. Here are some pictures of Ukraine, and our day in Budapest, Hungary the day before our flight home...

This is me with some darling kids from the Roma school. They were so so sweet.

This is our church in our hotel room on Sunday! Three members in Uzhhorod. So great meeting them.

This is of the wonderful TOUCH delegation. I met some really inspirational people there.

Below is me with the girl Bobby and I sponsor, Anna. She is a real sweetheart.

Here is a doctor his family we ate with one night. Ukrainians are SO hospitable.

The younger kids loved to have pictures taken of them, then to look at their reflection. So I have a lot of pictures of kids! I made collages of some of them to show you how cute they were.

This is the orphanage kids getting homemade quilts.

This is a picture of my father-in-law giving a speech at a rally against breast cancer.

We painted at the orphanage. Except the kids were so excited that they actually did the majority of the painting.









A bunch of kids that are part of an after school program supported by TOUCH. They put on a show for us, that I will have to download a video of later.

We went to a "hot tub" that had fire heating it underneath!

One of quite a few castles we got to see! The Ramptons took me to one up-close.

We got-by without knowing Ukrainian because of wonderful student volunteers who would translate for us. Ira was my favorite. I miss her!

One of Bobby's good friends, Nandan was there. And it was so fun to get to know him better. This is us in front of some orthodox church.






Although I knew we would be in Budapest for a few days, I didn't think about it until we were there! Budapest is a beautiful, incredible city! I have a lot of pictures from here but here are some favorites...

Getting gelatos :)

St. Mark's Cathedral

Looking over Budapest

Alice :)

Budapest at night

Going to Ukraine was such a special, life-changing experience. A big, huge, enormous, gigantic colossal thanks to the Ramptons for the opportunity. I feel so blessed to have gone. Thank you!

Should We Respond??

Mom

My mom left this morning back for Colorado. It was SO good to have her, and sad to see her go. What did her relaxing vacation entail, you might ask? Decorating my house! Not relaxing, but boy did I appreciate her help. She is a wonderful interior designer. We also ate at this great Mexican restaurant, went to Stake Conference, watched the BYU game, and played at the pool.

My mom is the best! I love being around her and so does everyone else that she meets. I want to be like her in so many ways. Thanks for coming out, mom!!!!

Next stop, seeing mom #2 in Ukraine!

"The Y"

As everyone (it seems) on my news feed updates their statuses about back to school, BYU, football, and pulling out their uggs, I begin to feel...not homesick, just sentimental- an emotion which Bobby thinks he sees much too much of.

This blog post is in memory of our Alma Mater (not Dura Mater, Bobby & friends), Brigham Young University. Here is to the game on Saturday (well done!) and to all the BYU football and basketball games we watched. Oh and frisbee, of course. Here is to those ward directories and dating classes during Sunday school, mona lake and Y mount. Here is to class prayers before starting algebra and cramming for religion tests. Here's to Jimmer.

We are grateful alumni. We loved our time spent at BYU. I seriously can't believe it's over. To all you freshman, get the kids meal at the creamery and sit by a window in the music room while in the testing center. Register for classes at 2:00 am instead of 12:00 am. And true story- if you get denied adding a class, it must be so that two young lovers such as Bobby and I could meet. Date those who follow the honor code. Rent movies from the library, and remember that you can always talk your way out of library fines. Take your History of Creativity project seriously. If you ask to shoot the canon during the football games, they will let you. And it's possible to live without a car for three years, but not four (dad). And common, cougars don't cut corners.

And enjoy beautiful BYU in the fall...while it lasts.

I've a Feeling We're Not In Utah Anymore

My suspicion why...

1. It is CAUTION:HOT here! This week the high was 118 degrees (or so I hear)! And instead of being cold when I go outside, it is cold inside of buildings. Especially in church, darn suit wearers.

2. (Related to #1) People want to come visit us! But not until the winter. Come winter time, our house will be hoppin'. (Our first ever guests- The Fowlers)

3. I have been corrected twice now to use significant other instead of assuming husband/wife.

4. After having trouble remembering names, I realized it is because there is no ward directory

for my neighbors. This...

makes remembering my neighbors names so much easier! Don't take it for granted, Provo kids!

5. The sky is huge in Arizona! Bobby and I think it's because there are no mountains in the way? Regardless, we love the blue blue blue in the day and the red paintings from Heavenly Father each night.

6. Craigslist.com is a new bookmark of mine. And found in purple instead of blue are "Furniture" and "Medical/ Health." If you know of any jobs in Public Health in Glendale, let me know. Never before have I bought furniture! Boy, has it been an adventure. We bought our couch from someone that looked like this:

(Pic had to be removed so I could put ads on my blog lol. Just imagine a gangster.)

(Here is the story- We found a sectional couch we really liked on Craigslist. We drive down down town to this sketchy neighborhood where we meet this gangster who is going to sell it to us. He leads us to his garage where I thought he was going to lock us up to the couch. He points, "There it is." Only problem was that was wrapped up and covered in boxes and mattresses and stuff. Bobby said, "Can we pull it out and look at it?" And the gangster replied, "Ah man, if we pull it out everything is going to fall." Well eventually he did let us take it out, but the couch that was supposed to be 4 parts was only 3. Looking shocked, he said that we could buy the middle section at any store....So we left. The gangster called us back a few minutes later and said that he really needed to sell it, and that we had been looking at the wrong picture- the sectional was really only a 3 piece sectional. We went back and again convinced him to take it out of the dark garage. He said that if we were to unwrap it, we would have to buy it because it would lose it's value. I know, sketchy right? Against our better judgement, we told him we'd take it if he would deliver right then. He agreed and stacked 3 parts of the couch on top of his truck- about 25 feet high. Bobby told me to unwrap that couch as soon as I could to look for tears or drugs or who knows what as he paid the gangster. He couldn't help us bring it upstairs because he was late for the casino. Turns out- it really is a brand new, spotless couch! And we love it. )

7. Meet our new friends, the Jacksons.

8. My baby is going to medical school! Wish us luck!! (He was too embarrassed to take this picture during the daytime)