Cruising BLISS

Okay...Amazing...the cruise was AMAZING!!! We had nothing to do but eat amazing food constantly, go to shows every night, go scuba diving, kayaking, snorkeling, zip lines, repelling in Mayan Caves, and read books while relaxing in the sun. AMAZING!!!

So that's the short of it! Turns out there was a hurricane around where we were and the port we were leaving from was closed two days prior to our cruise. But we had no problems. We did a couple of the islands out of order and only had rain one night for a few hours.
We visited Cozumel Mexico first, that's where I tried Scuba Diving for the first time. AHHHH-new favorite thing in the world. Jess and I could have done nothing but Scuba Dived the entire time and been happy. He's been certified for like 10 years so it was nothing new to him. I, on the other hand, was a little worried at the first---people are not made to breath under water and my mind knew that. After a few minutes of ignoring my instincts--I was underwater and swimming with fishes and holding rays! (also, our picture under water that the guy took, I didn't know he was taking it and Jess and I both look like Zombies--But really, we loved it!!!) We made some new friends the first couple of days and they signed up to come with us which was lots of fun.


Next we went to Roatan, Honduras. We didn't book an excursion here but were taken to a private beach. Initially we tried to snorkel. But turns out...if you buy snorkeling gear for $10...it doesn't work very well, and you drink a lot of salt water. So we gave that up and just relaxed. (Turns out Jess is more of a busy body then I'd realized....he had a hard time just sitting--reminding me oh so much of my dad--and was kinda bored---he ended up finding some shade and taking a nap. Tabyana Beach was gorgeous!!! I listened to the live music, read, and took in the sun.




In Belize we took a bus to some Mayan caves. It was a lot of fun and we were with a fun group, but it was pretty easy stuff. I think Jess and I were looking for like millions foot repels, and zip lines for miles...so the beginner stuff that they have to do because they're for everyone were kind of disappointing...but the caves were really neat and Belize is gorgeous!





Oh, wait, I forgot about the rain in Freeport Bahamas! It was awesome! Downpour!!! We didn't care much, we were going kayaking and snorkeling so we were getting wet anyway. We kayaked to a little island and half way there the sky shook so loud with thunder--we loved it!!! Not to mention we took Emily and Riley's example and skunked everyone else--we have a need for speed I guess. The snorkeling was awesome--choppy and fun--and scary when we had to navigate over tons and tons of fire coral...which made it all the more fun!



People always talk about the food on cruises...it's so incredible. One of the nights we went to one of the fancy restaurants on board. It was a seven course meal with food I've only seen on "Iron Chef". Fanciest place we've ever been--that's for SURE!

Oh oh, and I was so happy that I didn't get motion sickness!!! I got the patch before I left and was loving the water-choppy and smooth.

The shows were tons of fun. On the nights they had the "Glory Dancers" me and Jess laughed. It reminded me too much of the dancing off of Saturday's Warrior--anyone seen that? AWESOME.

Anyway--I really could go on for DAYS...we loved it....everyone should go on one....the end!!!

NOW....THANKS SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH JULIE, ANDREA, AUBREY AND GEORGE! The boys had the time of their life while we were gone!!! They had a different party every day--Ben 10 party, Transformer Party, Power Ranger Party.... You guys are amazing!!! Thanks for everything! The boys loved it! We loved playing games (Cari especially!) with you guys, puzzles, marker war, leg wars...it was awesome....THANKS SO SO MUCH!

THANKS WINN FAMILY

Julie mom (Jess' mom), Aubrey, and Andrea flew out here on Tuesday! They're going to watch the boys while we're on our cruise. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! They are hilarious and Kade is so excited to have "3 mom's" while we're gone.
The other day when we came home from Karate I couldn't find anyone...then I hear Lukes little voice coming from behind the shower curtain...and little laughs--he's not the best at hide and seek. (that explains the picture of the three of the in the shower!) The boys LOVE them! YAY! Thanks again!
Also...here's a cruise weather update:
So...turns out there's been hurricane action down in Florida right? Well, the port we're leaving from was closed yesterday....but re-opened today! YAY! So we're good to go cause the weather is moving away from our area.

KARATE

So Jess and I are starting Karate! (We're super good so far--just trust me!) :) We're both so excited! Anybody else done karate and have tips for beginners? We learned a few blocks and self defense moves and cool stuff with the bo....we love it so far!

Our Scooter!

My SCOOTER STALLION!!!

So I LOVE OUR COOLEST NEW SCOOTER! At first I was totally lame on it and it made Jess so nervous when I drove it. He'd say, "just please try not to tip it" I couldn't make any promisses but I didn't want to do that either! Anyway--I didn't tip it once, and I'm not nervous to drive it anymore! I love it! YAY. SCOOTERS ARE AWESOME!

Kade's First Day of School!

So Kade just started school on Monday! He's been excited for like a year so it couldn't have come sooner--for him. I was so worried and just wanted to tell the teacher, "now listen, he's so special and you need to spend all your time on him and make sure he's happy all the time....." but I refrained. I followed him around all morning with the camera and when I dropped him off at school I just couldn't stop! I love being so excited because he's so happy!!! I know I would have stayed in the foyer all day if it hadn't been for my dentist appointment. I just wanted to watch him interact with all the kids ALL DAY LONG! At any rate he loved it and loves going everyday. His schedule is Mon-Fri from 9:30-1:30. He's most excited for tomorrow because it's "Fun Friday" and they're making pancakes for a snack. He sounds so grown-up sometimes, yesterday he said, "you know, Mrs. Nikki wore glasses the first day, and didn't today....that makes me curious." It made me giggle. Anyway--He loves school!

Happy Birthday To Me!

So Friday was my 26th birthday. First off, I just wanted to tell mom--thanks for doing all the hard work, and second, thanks mom and dad for all the hard work that came after the pushing! My entire life has been so happy and I owe it to you both! Thanks for all the patience and love and trust. I love you sooooooooooo much!!!

MOM AND DAD (BOOGIE BOARDING WITH US IN CALI)



FLYING KITES! (I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING...'WOW CARI, THOSE WERE SOME ROUGHER DAYS HUH? HER MOM WAS AMAZING TO LOVE HER ANYWAY! (IT'S TRUE) MOM'S SO PRETTY HUH?!)


DANCING WITH DAD AND UNCLE HAROLD'S WEDDING


ME AND DAD HIKING THE NARROWS IN AWESOME TIME!


CANDID WEDDING SHOT WITH MOM (I LOVE YOU!)


MOM, ME AND KADE ARRIVING AFTER LONG HOURS IN THE CAR DRIVING TO CALIFORNIA TO LIVE




YOU BOTH ARE INCREDIBLE AND I OWE YOU SO MUCH.

Andrea Got her Mission Call!!!

HIP HIP HOORAY FOR ANDREA! Jess sister Andrea FINALLY got her mission call last week. She's going to England!!! And for anyone who knows her--that is PERFECT. She leaves October 31st for the MTC out there. WE LOVE YOU ANDREA!!!



Also, we got a SCOOTER the other day!!! YAY! SCOOTERS UNITE! The pictures will be coming soon! It's soooo fun and totally not lame--if you thought they were goofy--you're TOTALLY WRONG! Cause seriously, we love it.
Also, me and Jess are going on a CRUISE August 23rd. YAY!! Anyone have any tips? We're first timers. Plus, I've been known to get motion sickness so...any tips there, as well, would rock.

A Visit from my Sis!

My sister Nikki and her kids came to visit us last week. It's an annual tradition that we invade the others house for a week or two and let all craziness break loose. It's AWESOME. She has Michael-3, and Jax-1. I think we commented a half-a-dozen times how bad we feel for mothers with 4 under 4. The boys laughed and played and hit and cried with activities like Jump City (LOVED IT), backyard pool (LOVED IT) finding all sorts of wild life in our wilderness of a backyard (in the picture above Kade is holding a jar with "Sarah" the frog they found-walks--bike riding (Michael learned while he was here! YAY) and lots of HOT HOT weather. They like to fight over movies to watch-computer time, the hose, playing on the top bunk and really anything once they got tired. AND IT WAS A BLAST! As for me and Nik, we squeezed in scrabble games, pedicures, card games, Nik read almost all the Twilight Series (for those who have read them, a few days is all it takes!), and I read Rebekah, and talking until way later then we should at nights. I loved it Nik! Thanks for coming.

Summer Life with the Winns

This morning our ward had a 4th of July program and breakfast. The opening song made me ball like a school girl. I've never really paid attention to the last verse in Star-Spangled Banner, and it's amazing. I'm sooooooooooo blessed and thankful to live in this free land that is blessed by God. Here's the verse:

Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust!"
And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

The boys both loved the fireworks last night on Base. Luke was worried at first and just cuddled with Jess until he was ready to watch. Kade loved it though. We got them glow-in-the-dark swords which they loved....and had tons and tons of snacks. Turns out the show was only like 10 minutes so...we'll probably go somewhere again tonight.








Let's see, Luke can count to 30 (prety much...it get's a little crazy for bit in there but overall--he's awesome. He loves singing his alphabet and is so good at it. He loves doing ninja moves with Kaden and playing with play dough. Jess and I love listening to him talk now with so much personality--it just keeps coming and coming with that one--he's hilarious!
Kade read his first real book this week. "When Sheep Sleep" and now is all excited about reading. He loves math and counting by 2's, 3's, 5's and 10's. Not to mention he's awesome at cartwheels and round-offs and is literally on his head probably 10% of the time.



So I look like such a nerd in the next picture--but I'm teaching myself to ride a skateboard. Our neighbors had a yard sale last week and we bought a skateboard for $2. The boys really like it....but I sneak my turns in there way more.
In January when I went snowboarding in Utah-- it made me realize how much I missed it and this is the next best thing right (except the whole--pushing yourself on the skateboard--I like the "lift" idea of snowboarding.)
Anyway--we have a really calm neighborhood which makes it great for riding bikes and skateboarding at night (when the heat drops and we can bare being outside). Besides the fact that I look so incredible "awesome" being 25 and learning to ride...I love it. If anyone has any tips or ideas to share about skateboarding--feel free. I could use it!

Oh, and having a yard---YIKES! I'll have to get some pics in the blog next time because our yard/dirt and rocks with some green crab grass--is out of control! So wish us luck with that. The back yard hasn't been mowed yet because it's taken us FOREVER to rake the rocks out....turns out it takes a lot more work then just mowing and watering a lawn--WHO KNEW? That's our main project right now on the house. Super fun :)


Jess has started taking his camera around more and he loves it. He loves photography. He's been slowing getting as much information and taking short classes on how do take a good picture. I've loved the ones he took two nights ago. For Christmas he wants a flash, and he can't hardly wait.