Happiness

Catalina and Ensañada were amazing! Such perfect weather. At Catalina we went on a small hike up a small mountain to botanical garden. We didn’t go in- everything was so botanical around us already. We stopped for fish and chips on afterwards and then da along the beach with our toes in the sand. The beach is my happy place!  In Ensañada, I got roped into buying a brightly colored bag right away along with a few other trinkets. We wanted to get some pesos so we asked around and then stepped into a circle K and got some. I practiced my Spanish and the lady there asked me if I was Mexicana. So sweet! It made my day.  We had fish tacos, which was my goal, although we ended paying more for them than we wanted. Josh got some street churros and those were definitely on point! We walked around with our family and popped into a few shops to do some more souvenir shopping and then headed back to the ship. It was a neat day trip all around. We ended the day with a three course sit down ...

Talking to Elizabeth who helped watch the kids and our missionaries Ethan and Jonah since it was a Monday! Well, these pictures are backwards, but here you go! This past Summer, we traveled to Catalina Island, CA and Ensanada, Mexico on a Royal Caribbean Cruise ship with all of Josh's siblings and Parents- and some kids- to celebrate Josh's Mom's 80th birthday and in part have an awesome family reunion. My Mother in law Judy made the decision to do our family reunion as a cruise and it was the best decision EVER! No cooking, all meals provided for, did I mention no dishes? Plus dessert every night! And entertainment and stopping off at amazing sites. I also loved having Josh to myself for a kids free trip. Elizabeth and Asher watched the kids. We left port Los Angeles on a Monday and proceeded to see what all the hype was about concerning Cruise style food. It did not disappoint! We had already eaten at In n Out since our check in time was at 12:30 and we didn't know if...

  Asher was set apart on Sept 1st and started home MTC the next day. His setting apart blessing was so neat. He was blessed with patience and strength. Monday night after starting the MTC, Asher came down with a cold- complete with fever, chills and a cough. He was sick the whole time and listened to his online classes on the couch. He fly into Provo still sick and entered the NTC sick- poor guy! He just really wanted to go in with his district. He loves his district and has had a great experience so far with an awesome companion. He still has a cough but he’s doing okay. We are so proud of you, Asher! Keep up the good work! He leaves for THE Great Ohio, Columbus mission this Wed Sept 25th.

  These pictures are on backwards, but Ethan came home last Thursday! There was a car accident on the way and we barely made it in time, but through a tiny miracle we got there just a few minutes before Ethan walked through the gate! It was so very good to see him! He came home with three of his very good friends from the mission and has been hanging out with them before he starts school at ASU next Thursday. Oh, he's also working at a job gathering petitions as well. Welcome home, Ethan, we love you! Also, Rosie was just fine seeing him- a bit shy but just happy!