Cruise to Paradise (or at least Mexico)

The Sunday after Thanksgiving Matt and I and our friends Jason and Monica left on a Royal Caribbean cruise to the Mexican Riviera.

Matt, Jason, and Monica enjoying our first meal on the ship.

Matt and I dressed up for one of the formal nights.

Our first stop was Cabo San Lucas.

The excursion we went on was to a resort in Cabo. It was a beautiful hot day and a beautiful resort. We got a buffet lunch and chocolate covered bananas, YUMMY! We spent the day playing in the warm ocean and in the swimming pool and hot tub at the resort. It was Heaven!

The ship was beautiful too. It was decorated for Christmas.
The next stop was Mazatlan. We went to a show with Mexican singers and dances and the Papantla Flyers.
The Papantla Flyers started at the top of this super high pole (I think it was 75 feet).

They unwound upside down to the ground. It was pretty cool.

Then we went to a resort in Mazatlan. It wasn't as nice as the one in Cabo and the water was freezing but we still had a good time soaking up some rays and relaxing on the beach.


Our final stop was Puerto Vallarta. We did an amazing excursion here. We went on a zip line and canopy tour. We rode a speed boat through the ocean to where we met our guides.

We rode yellow trucks up the mountain to begin our adventure.

Getting ready for the excursion.


We each got our own mule to ride to the trail head.


Our first zip line


Rappelling down a waterfall

A free fall rappel



COLD WATER!!!






A race on the final zip line, the Roberts are victorious!

We rode back to the beach to get on the speed boat back to our cruise ship.


Marilyn, Monica, and Jason waiting on the beach for our speed boat.

A beautiful sunset over the ocean.

I ended up teaching Zumba a couple of times on the ship. It was so much fun!

The spa ladies doing Zumba. They gave me a free hot oil treatment, head massage, and wash and blow-dry for teaching the class. It was awesome!

The ship was so much fun! There was so much to do.
There was an ice skating rink on the ship. I know, right?! Who ice skates in the middle of the ocean. They also had an ice show that was amazing! I didn't get any pictures of it but it was our favorite show of the week.


There was a dodge ball game, guests against the crew. Matt and Jason played.
Matt

Jason

Matt

There was also a rock climbing wall on the ship. I didn't get any pictures of Matt and I doing it but we did.
Monica

Jason

And of course there were shows and games that we went to most nights.

We also found our favorite waiters and requested them every night.
Our asst. waiter, Rufino, Monica, Marilyn, and our head waiter Rudolfo.

A few times during the week we came back to our room to find towel animals. So cute!
Here I am with our favorite one, a monkey.

And here's our cute bunny (maybe a dog?) wearing my sunglasses.
We had an amazing time!

Fall Happenings

Here's a few pics of some of our fall activities.

Not really an activity just a cute picture of Addi and Oakley.

Another cute picture of Addi, Jensen, and Oakley.

Addi and Oakley played soccer this year.

Addi playing goalie

Oakley

Kolton is on drumline again this year which meant he also had to be in Marching Band. He also got Lexi to try out so she was in Marching Band also and is now in drumline.
Kolton

Lexi

Addi

Oakley

We headed down to Blanding for Thanksgiving this year. As usual we had tons of yummy food!

And if you're a Lyman you know the most important part is DESSERT! We had 8 different kinds of pie, pumpkin pie creme brulee, and pumpkin poke cake. I think I figured out we had 14 pans of dessert plus several individual creme brulee for 27 people. Just about perfect if you're a Lyman!

Annual Labor Day Trek

We made our annual trek to Colorado for Labor Day again this year. Our time there wouldn't be complete without . . .

Lots of good food! (Matt making homemade fries)

Crazy, chaotic mealtimes,

Watching the BYU game on a sheet,

Playing with cousins, (Oakley, Addi, and Livvy)

Catching crawdads, (BFFs Addi, and Livvy)

Geocaching,

Matt and Dad

Swimming, (Logan, Carter, Taylor, and Stacy)

Boating, and of course capsizing a couple of times, (Jensen, Addi, Livvy, Oakley, and Carter)

(Addi, Oakley, and Livvy)

Fishing, (Oakley)

Riding horses, (Addi, Jensen, and Oakley)

And fireworks!

It was another weekend of great memories! Can't wait for next year!

School!

Another summer came to a close. :( I've got to admit this year made me feel old! Kolton started his senior year and Addison, my baby, started kindergarten. Double whammy! Lexi is in 9th grade, Jensen is in 7th grade, and Oakley is in 2nd grade.

Oakley outside his 2nd grade classroom.

Addi waiting for the bus with her friend Sydney. Addi was so excited to finally be able to ride the bus like the big kids that she wouldn't let me take her to her first day of school. :( It made me really sad because she's getting so big and independent.

Home from her first day of school and she loved it!

Missing the boat

Wow, I just realized I totally missed Sept. and Oct. on my blog. I don't just mean posts, I didn't even change my background. I guess I better get with the program.