An EVENTFUL Vacation!

My wonderful boss took us on another cruise in January and we had such a fun time! I know this is a long post...but really it's the shortened version!

Friday January 21: I woke up at 4 am and felt so sick. The next 24 hours included throwing up every 20 minutes which was a splendid experience on both 3 hour flights, but we finally made it to Miami.

Saturday January 22: Joel and I flew standby so we arrived in Miami a day before everyone else (Thank you mom and dad you are the BEST!) We spent the day touring the city and went to South beach. My favorite color is turquoise and they had all these benches painted just for me:)



Sunday January 23: We boarded the ship feeling better and ready for a fantastic time!


Monday January 24: Since it was a day at sea we spent the day relaxing in the sunshine! It was formal night in the dining room and I had a lot of fun getting all dressed up! (Thanks Jenny for letting me borrow your dresses)




Tuesday January 25: Cozumel. This was probably my favorite day! We went on this speed boat called the Twister! We were harnessed in and the driver would go super fast and do 360's in the water. We got soaked but I have never laughed so hard! The boat took us to this private island called isla de passion (or something close to that). It had the most beautiful white sand, hammocks, volleyball, a water trampoline, and an all you can eat Mexican buffet. I loved it!







Wednesday January 26: Grand Cayman Islands. Joel, Dustin, and Dale went golfing and we took a yacht to Stingray city. The thing I loved most was the beautiful water. It was so clear that I could see the bottom of the ocean floor while riding in the boat. I'm not going to lie...I hated Stingray city. Don't take my word for it though because everyone else thoroughly enjoyed it. I just don't really like swimming with slimy, scary, huge animals. When I got off the boat and the stingrays started swarming us I got panicked and started crying (ya go ahead and laugh). I had to get back in the boat and calm myself down before getting back in. Don't let my traumatic experience scare you though, others loved it! I did kiss one... " 7 years of good luck."







Thursday January 27: Roatan. Oh I don't even want to post about this stop. The boys went scuba diving and we were just looking for a nice beach to relax at. Trying to get to a beach is a long story in itself but we ended up at the Parrot Tree Plantation. We didn't stay very long since we had spent most of our day in a van. On our way back to the ship we got hit by a car! This blue car was coming down this hill out of control going 50 miles an hour and hit us head on. I slammed my face on the seat in front of me and had my front teeth knocked clear back towards the roof of my mouth. I could probably do a very long post just on this accident but I don't want to overshadow the rest of the vacation. Just know #1 we were in a jungle and #2 it was very scary! We made it back to the cruise ship, everyone was cut up and bruised but it should have been a lot worse...and I am just so grateful we all walked away from it. Luckily I was with Dr. Nord (an orthodontist) and he popped my teeth back in place. They are still sore and I am hoping I won't need too much work done on them. I wish I had a picture of my teeth but I was in shock at the time and wasn't really thinking about a photo op:) I had a fat lip and the bridge of my nose was swollen (I guess some thought I looked like an Avatar)so picture taking subsided a little the rest of the vacation.




Friday January 28: Costa Maya. We went to a beautiful beach and had a very relaxing day. We shopped and had massages on the beach since we were sore from the previous day. After the accident, I thought I would never be able to leave the states again but I was glad we faced our fears and were able to enjoy Costa Maya. We also had another formal night back at the boat that night.





Saturday January 29: Day at Sea. We spent the day relaxing and did a photo scavenger hunt which sounds dorky but it was actually quite fun!



Sunday January 30: Said goodbye to Carnival Glory and the beautiful 80 degree weather!

2011... Already???

It has been a busy few months with school, work, and the holidays. In November we celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary and Joel's birthday. Christmas and New Year came and went too quickly and now it is 2011! Joel and I are taking the semester off of school and hope life slows down a little bit! Katie and Bridger moved out right after Christmas (she got a new job) and I miss them like crazy. I loved having them live with us and seeing Bridger everyday (Oh ya and Katie). I know I talk about Bridger a ton but he is my little buddy! The new thing he says all the time is "Kaela STOP it! Your MEAN! Hurt Bridger." So sad but I usually deserve it since its after I have been tickling him:)I always look forward to the new year and what life will bring. I hope 2011 will be a year of changes, fun memories, and more time with family and friends!
Here are a couple of pictures from the Holidays.

To get Bridger to take a picture just say "Let's see your fake smile or kissy face"

Summer 2010

I know, I know it's October but I thought I would post some pictures of this summer before I get even further behind.

LAKE POWELL-- Always a blast!


Joel and I ended up being in the worst rain/hail storm while in the ski boat. I took this picture just before all the action began.

Nice form right:)


Watching me face plant will surely make you laugh:)


Joel and I went camping for the first time together. I was a little nervous after the camp manager gave us a pamphlet on "bear safety" and told us he had removed a rattlesnake from our campsite the day before.


We made the best dutch oven dinner.

Speedy Spaniard 10K

#3 Triathlon
Bridger and Katie are still living with us and I love it! This is Bridger brushing between taking bites of his sucker. I hope everyone had a wonderful summer...here comes the cold:(

Long Update...

I am so happy it is finally summer! Here is a little update on what has been going on since my last post. Katie graduated from the DSC nursing program in May and we travelled down to St. George to go to her graduation and help her move. I am so proud of her! Katie and Bridger are now living with us which has been a lot of fun. Bridger is getting so big and destroys everything in his path. For the longest time he wouldn't say my name. Every time I would tell him "say Kaela" he would smile and say "no, no, no." I think he was doing it on purpose:) Then one day I was in the shower and had locked him out and he started pounding on the door shouting at the top of his lungs "KAELA, KAELA!" He is so adorable and mischievous at the same time! I love him to pieces...even though he is constantly putting dents in my walls:)

In my spare time (I say that like I have a lot of it) I have been working on family history. I have loved reading stories about my ancestors and completing their work. What a blessing to know we can all have forever families! Also at the end of May I did another triathlon. I woke up the morning of the race and it was 30 degrees and raining. It was freezing! On the way to the race it was pouring rain! I told Katie that I didn't need a big miracle, just a small one...if the rain could just stop for the race. Well I got my miracle! Although it was cold, the rain stopped just in time! Since Katie is living with me I have turned her into my new running partner. I want to run 10 miles before my birthday in August and work towards a half marathon.

Joel has been very busy this summer with work and school. I wish we had more time together! We try to visit family as much as we can and actually went to visit Joel's parents for Father's Day. I bought Joel a new driver for Father's Day (even though he is not really a Dad yet...I just know he will make a great one some day so I celebrate it anyway). We went golfing with his parents which was so fun. After golf we went back to Joel's parents house and Joel loved his driver so much he wanted to use it just one more time. Even though Joel's dad tried to tell him he would not clear the fence, Joel was determined to hit one more ball. It sounded like gun fire! Not only did he not clear the fence, he put a hole right through it! We both felt really bad (Sorry again Mom and Dad)

Look at his face!

Bridger helping with the garden
I would be smiling that big too if I was graduated!
St. George Temple
Salt Lake Temple, where we did my grandparents work
Provo Temple
Draper Temple
Nice work Joel!

Your Inner Crazy

For some reason I can't get my pictures to load onto my computer from our trip to St. George but I need a break from studying so I'm going to do a little post on all the things that make me unique (a nicer word for crazy)that you may not know about me. Here we go...

1. I have a glass of chocolate milk every day. (Skim milk with "no sugar added" Nesquik)

2. I hate folding laundry and unloading the dishwasher but I love organizing things and having a clean house. (I am a proud owner of a label maker)

3. If I get 99 out of 100 on a test in school, I dwell on the one I missed! (No I'm not a perfectionist)

4. I love babies! And when I see someone carrying a baby, I have to fight the urge to ask the complete stranger if I can hold their baby.

5. I can spend $200 on Joel without even hesitating, but I can't justify spending $10 on myself. I usually talk myself out of most purchases.

6. I love macaroni and cheese! Not the homemade stuff but Kraft! I could eat easy mac every single day! (And I usually do)

7. I'm very shy but can be the most competitive!

8. I can't sleep if the closet door is open or if there is anything on the floor.

9. I hate getting ready for bed (brushing, flossing, washing my face, taking my contacts out)it doesn't take long but I always dread it. I'm actually dreading it as we speak!

10. I own way too many eye shadows but would rather not do my hair/make-up.

11. My clothes in my closet are color coordinated and I only use white hangers because it just looks better! (I make Joel keep his this way too)

12. I have forced myself to like the following foods: bananas, oatmeal, peanut butter, avocados, zucchini, asparagus, pancakes, and syrup.

13. I get sooo nervous to speak in large groups and am easily embarrassed!

14. In my mind I can still tumble. I do one back handspring every year, but that's the extent of it.

15. I'm extremely goofy and when I laugh hard I always cry!

Well there you go, I have exposed my inner crazy! I tag anyone who is willing to do the same! (Especially you Katie because I know you are a lot weirder than me:))