New Do

This morning was a big deal in the eyes of Paige and Kayla. Paige has been wanting her hair cut for awhile and we finally convinced Kayla to get a haircut. They were super excited for the big event. Paige ended up cutting about 3 inches off. Kayla just got a trim, but we added bangs. I was sick and tired of the big flock of hair that was always hanging in her eyes, so we took care of that. They both look so much better, especially Kayla. She looks like a whole new girl and so much more grown up.

Before......

And after..........

The other morning when the girls were getting ready to leave for school and preschool, the boys were really wanting to go. They got their hats out and were putting them on. I couldn't pass up the photo op.

They are also really cute reading their books. They all get a book and sit on the bottom step and read together. It is priceless.

Snow Fun

On Tuesday the girls were getting their snow clothes on so they could go over to the neighbors house and play outside. As they were doing this the boys got their coats out of the closet and were getting mad, because they wanted to go too. So, after I got the girls ready I went downstairs and found three odds and ends snowpants to put on the boys. After about 10 minutes of getting them all ready, I took them out and put them in the sled and took them for a ride around the circle.

Brock, Collin and Aiden all bundled up for the snow.

Collin, Brock and Aiden (As I pulled the boys they all would start to lean back, so poor Aiden was always getting laid on and squished at the back.)

Collin, Brock and Aiden

They loved it. When we got home I started taking them inside and they got mad. So I took them out and let them sit in the snow. They didn't know what to think at first, but then they started touching it and they had a fun time. They loved it so much, that we went out again yesterday. This time around I put my snow clothes on and I went sledding down the hill Matt built outside with each of the boys. They giggled the whole way down.

Back to Reality

I think I am finally back on schedule and back into the swing of being a mom. Taking a week off does wonders for me, but not for my kids. The kids did so good while we were gone and were in such good hands between Grandma and Grandpa Ricks and Nielson (thanks you guys). Grandma and Grandpa Nielson even taught them all to go down the stairs. Yeah!! Now we are gate free and can get up and down any stairs without straddling a gate.

When I got the kids up on Sunday, they all just stood in their cribs and looked at me like "who are you?" It took them a few minutes, but they finally warmed up to me. Now the problem is, they don't want anyone but me. If I leave, they start to cry and think I am not coming back. I hope they get adjusted soon. It makes me feel loved and who could not love these three little faces.

Last Monday, Matt had the day off, so he started a much awaited project. He tore the carpet out of the kids bathroom and put in a wood floor and a new toilet. It took him a few days, but he finished and it looks marvelous.

Before........

And After..............

On Tuesday, Kayla started preschool at the college. She was so excited and she asks every day if she can go. Two days a week are just not enough for either of us. It is just nice for her to have something to do.

Cancun - Day 7

This morning we got up and packed and headed back for Cancun. When we finally got to the airport, we returned the rental car and got shuttled over to our terminal. I was so glad we got there early, because we waited in line to check-in for over an hour. The line was forever long, and I don’t think I have ever waited in that long of a line in an airport. After we finally got checked in and through the security, we realize our flight was about 30 minutes delayed. So we got some lunch and then waited to board.

I am actually writing this while flying from Cancun to Salt Lake. Matt and I have both had an incredibly fun week and it was fun to just spend time together without the kids. Don’t get me wrong, we have missed the kids more than I can tell you. It is the first time I have ever left the boys and I can hardly wait to kiss them and hold them. I know my life will be back to normal tomorrow with all the hustle and bustle of life, but that it is what I live for. I love my kiddos and this vacation has made me realize how much I do enjoy being a mom and taking care of them.

Cancun - Day 6

We got up and went back to give the Family Ruiz Pech a letter and a picture on our way out of Izamal this morning. Then we hit more backroads and drove to Ek Balam. Ek Balam is ruins, similar to Tulum and Chitzen Itza. They were just disco vered not many years ago. So we were able to get out and climb on top of some of the ruins and it was gorgeous. It was actually the first day that the weather was actually hot and humid, so I finally got to experience true Mexico heat.

After Ek Balam we headed to Vallodolid. We checked into our hotel and then walked around the town and went to some of the shops. We got drenched with rain, so that made the weather even more sticky. After that we drove to a little town outside of Vallodolid, called Uayma. It was one of Matt’s favorite areas. We stopped and visited Hermana Florentina and her family. Then we also visited the Family Vargas. On the way out of Uayma we were able to also see the house Matt lived in while serving and living in Uayma. They live in such humble circumstances, it is incredible.

We went back to our hotel and ate dinner and then walked around Vallodolid at night.

Then he was able to get in touch with another person he was able to baptize on his mission who had moved to Vallodolid. So Marcello (that’s his name) came to our hotel and picked us up to go visit with him and his family at their house. They were so nice to invite us in and it was fun to meet his wife, Carolina and his son Randy and daughter Stephanie. Him and his wife both speak English, so we were able to talk in English. It was nice to finally understand a conversation. We actually stayed at their house until almost 1 a.m. talking. It was fun.

Cancun - Day 5

Today we went into downtown Merida. We went into the Governor’s Mansion and looked at all of the paintings and learned some of the history of the city of Merida and the Yucatan. It was a really old building in the city of Merida, which was founded in the 1500’s. Then we walked around the center of town and went into an old church. The buildings are just incredible. To think that they were built over 400 years ago, it is just amazing.

After that we checked out of our hotel, and drove to the Merida Temple. It was built in 2000 right on the spot where the mission home was when Matt served his mission. The temple was closed for the annual cleaning, so we were just able to walk around the grounds. It is a very pretty temple and it was fun to see.

Then we started to drive around and try to locate a family that Matt taught when he served 10 years ago. It took us awhile of driving and stopping to ask several people directions, but we found it. We got out and tried to get the attention of those in the house, but they wouldn’t respond. We waited outside for a few minutes and no one came. So Matt left them a note and a picture and we said goodbye to Merida.

We drove on the back roads through all of the little villages and drove to Tixcocob. We found a family that Matt baptized and stopped and visited with them for a while. It was neat to see their reactions when they saw him and then it was interesting, sitting and listening to him communicate with them. I speak zero Spanish, so I just sat and marveled at the communication. It was awesome. We enjoyed seeing and visiting with them.

After that we headed down more back roads and drove to Izamal. We located the place we were staying. It was a bed and breakfast in the jungle of Izamal. We stayed in little bungalow type houses and it was kind of cool. We went into the town for dinner and walked around the town. We also went into the Catholic Courtyard, the second largest in the world. The pope visited there 15-20 years ago. So that was neat to see. To get back to our bungalow, we took a horse and carriage ride. On our way we stopped to say hello to the Failmy Ruiz Pech.

We spent a quiet night in the jungle and it was a fun experience.

Cancun - Day 4

Today was by far my favorite day. We got up early this morning and checked out of the Hilton and met our tour guide who was taking us to Tulum. We drove to Tulum and then toured around there. It was incredible. The ruins were so amazing to look at and hear some of the background of Tulum. The ocean was gorgeous from the top of the ruins. It is definately something I would recommend to anyone who comes here.

After Tulum we drove over to a Cenote. A Cenote is a sink hole that is a part of an underground river. We were able to get in and snorkel there. It was fun and the water was veIy clear, so we were able to see a lot of fish.

Then we headed back to Cancun and picked up our rental car. We got on the toll road and drove a little over 3 hours to Merida. This was one of Matt's areas where he served on his mission. I can honestly say that I am less comfortable here than I was in Cancun. It is very sad to see how the people live. They have so little and live in the smallest, rundown places.

After we checked into our hotel, we walked to the center of town and found a little place to eat dinner. Then we walked around some and headed back to our room. Matt is excited to be here and see where he served.

Cancun - Day 3

Today was another Cancun day. We ate breakfast at the pool and just relaxed in the morning. Around noon the fun began. We did a jungle tour. We got in a speed boat at the end of the hotel zone and then we followed a guide through the lagoon and jungle and out into the ocean. This was one of Matt's favorite things we did in Cancun. We drove the speed boat about 20 minutes and stopped out by the reef. Matt got to snorkel in the ocean and see the reef. It was an incredible view from out in the middle of the ocean. It was pretty awesome. On the way back it started to rain but it was an incredibly fun ride.

After the jungle tour we went back to the hotel and hit the hot tubs. I have been able to get in some good reading time and I have been enjoying that. We took the bus all the way down the hotel zone and ate at Chili's. The food was yummy. It was a fun and relaxing day and it just keeps getting better

Cancun - Day 2

Today we went to Xcaret. It is about an hour from Cancun and just past Playa del Carmen. We started the day doing the river float. We put on life jackets and got snorkel equipment and just floated down the river for about 45 minutes. It was really cool. We saw some pretty fish and had a fun time.

We then saw a lot of the exhibits, where we saw sharks, dolphins, jaguar, puma, sea turtles, flamingos, and a lot of other things. We also went to a butterfly exhibit. There were some of the prettiest butterflies. We also went and sat by the ocean for awhile.

At night at Xcaret, they do a big night show. We were able to see the show, but froze as we sat there. It was so windy and cool.

It was such a neat place and it was fun to see all the stuff they had there. We had a fun time.

Cancun - Day 1

We are finally here. I was hoping I could say I was in paradise, but it wasn't exactly paradise today. It was really cold and windy. Now when I say cold, I mean low 60's, so not to bad but the wind made it a lot colder. It was still a fun day.

We are staying at the Hilton Golf and Spa Resort in Cancun. It is gorgeous. The view from our balcony is incredible.

We spent the day relaxing and hitting some shops. We also both did a massage, which I really enjoyed. It was so relaxing. After the massages we took the bus to Market 28. I was amazed at all of the shops and the stuff they have to look at. Good thing Matt speaks Spanish, or I would be totally lost and confused. I am amazed at how well he can communicate.

After dinner tonight we watched a show that had traditional dancers of the different areas in Mexico. It was awesome. They did a bunch of tap dancing and even a sword dance. It was very entertaining.

It has been a fun and relaxing day. I am definately missing the kids, but we were able to Skype them tonight. The boys saw us and they couldn't figure out how they could see us and not touch us. Collin kept reaching out towards the camera for me. I feel like I should be looking out for the kids and I feel like I should be doing something when I am not. I could get used to this though. It will be a nice week of "ME" time.

We love you kids. XOXOXOXO

What was I thinking?

I don't know what I was thinking. I let the boys eat spaghettio o's and meatballs for lunch. And yes, I let them feed themselves. They were so messy, but they loved it and ate really well.

Life has been super crazy here this week. I have been trying to get everything ready so I can leave town. Tomorrow is the big day. Matt and I finally leave for Cancun. Yeah. I actually have mixed emotions. I am so excited to get out of the subzero temperatures (this morning it was -11 below) but I am also sad to leave all of the kids behind. They will be fine though, thanks to both sets of Grandparents.

Well, back to the laundry and packing. Aren't you jealous?

Welcome 2010

We had a fun New Year's. We aren't big partiers, but we enjoyed our family time. We took the girls to see Princess and the Frog and they spent about 2 hours out in the new snow. They are back out again, playing on the huge hill of snow Matt has built for them with the 4 wheeler. It is said to think that Christmas break is drawing to an end. The decorations are all down and school starts again on Monday.

The best part is, a week from today, Matt and I will be on our way to Cancun. A week away in the sun. I can hardly wait.