Holiday vacay

It is the saddest week. After a long, relaxing, school-free, family filled break, Scott is back in class which means late nights at the library. Cash and I are sure going to miss all the time and attention we got from daddy. It's now back to me and Cash, all day, everyday...which is kinda awesome. Especially on days he wants to cuddle and nap with mom.

 The Christmas decorations are all down and now it's time for some Valentine decor to be put up. I loved having the tree decorated for Cash to look at, he would just stare at it for at least 30 minutes everyday. It also was an easy way to calm him down, take him to the lit tree...he would stop crying and just stare. Along with Christmas lights, Cash really enjoyed Christmas music and wrapping paper. Those three things were probably made his top favorites. Next year I'm sure it will be candy canes :).

We spent Christmas in Vancouver with Scott's family and New Years in Prosser with my family. Even though Cash is only 16 weeks it was still so special having him with us for the holidays and seeing him experience Christmas for the first time. Cash's grandpa Loren dressed up as Santa Christmas Eve, I don't think Cash really looked at who was holding him but just smiled away while we snapped some pictures. We helped him open his presents Christmas morning and he seemed amazed by the ripping of the paper...oh and he liked the presents too I guess ;). He got lots of toys and jammies!
As for New Years of course Cash didn't stay up and neither did his parents ;). I debated on whether or not it was worth it to stay up until midnight and lose my precious hours of sleep. Nope. Scott and I kissed goodnight at about 10:00pm! After having a baby I have said goodbye to late nights, I kinda enjoy going to bed early. Still not a huge fan of the early rising yet though.
Cash's face in all the pictures Christmas morning melts me, his lips and cheeks are so relaxed and chubby. Scott and I call them his bulldog cheeks :). I'll cherish his first Christmas pictures forever!

Playa Del Carmen

For Christmas this past year my in-laws surprised us with an amazing and generous gift of a family trip to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico for this Summer!

At that point Scott and I had just started trying to have a baby so we were a little worried that we would possibly not be able to go. Little did we know we were pregnant...but it all worked out just right, I was 34 weeks when we went and 36 weeks is the cut off on traveling during pregnancy!

I have to admit I was pretty leery about leaving the states and traveling while being that far along with child, but it was so nice to have a last hoorah before our due date. 

I'm so grateful that nothing went wrong and I didn't come home with a mexican citizen baby ;).

The beach was exactly what I needed.

The ocean was perfection. 

It was so fun swimming in the water, it was almost like my belly weight was lifted when I was swimming. If you have ever been pregnant you know that carrying around all that extra weight in the front can be tiring!

We left EARLY (I can't even recall the time, that's how early it was) on July 31. We had a layover in San Francisco on the way down. When we finally got there and stepped out of the airport to find our ride the humidity hit us like a brick wall. I have never experienced humidity like that before!

We arrived at the house we stayed at late evening after stopping at Walmart to get some necessities for breakfast and lunches. 

The house was gorgeous! I don't think my in-laws could have picked a better house for our family vacation. It was a two story home with a pool and waterfall right in the front. It was a short walk to the beach and a community pool.

Our daily routine went a little like this:

Leisurely wake up. Eat breakfast. Change into bathing suits. Pack beach bag. Walk to the beach. Tan. Swim. Tan. Swim. Swim. Swim...it was too hot for me to lay out long. Walk back to the house. Eat lunch. Cool down. Rest. Take a short nap and/or watch a movie. Shower. Get ready for evening festivities. Walk to 5th avenue (the street with everything). Eat dinner. Shop. Stroll. Head home. Play a game. Go to bed. Repeat.

Some of my favorite things about the trip:

We found the best tacos for only 80 cents each.

In other words, the food!

Miami Vices, virgin of course.

Swimming in the PERFECT temperature ocean. 

Getting tan.

Looking at all the fun shops.
Mexican Coca-Cola.
Hearing the testimonies of the locals at church and Scott translating.

Playing games.

Swinging in a hammock.
Not caring about fixing my hair the whole vacation.

Scoring big on a cute little hupil clutch that just so happens to match my Nena & Co diaper bag.

Being with family.

During this vacation Scott caught a fish. He caught a turtle. He cut open several different coconuts. AND he touched a sting ray. I think I have a little adventurer on my hands.

Scott was determined to get so tan that he looked like a local, and I believe he achieved his goal haha. There came a point where I don't think he could have gotten any tanner.

So grateful for the family that I married into.

Seriously sooo relaxing.

Scott and I saw about 50 of these things climbing down the tree next to the house one day.

We found this hammock in a drawer in our room literally about 10 minutes before we left for the airport. BUMMER.

It was definitely a relaxing and fun vacation! 

Thank you so much Loren and Velenti for the amazing trip and memories! We love you!

A little video my brother in law put together: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdOITToivco&feature=youtu.be%E2%80%8B

Spontaneous road trip

Last Thursday evening as Scott and I were laying on our couch he informed me his classes on Friday were optional, so naturally we packed up and drove to Utah that night. My parents were there for the two BYU basketball games so it was the perfect time to take the trip. Anytime there's an excuse to go to Utah, I take it. Scott doesn't get all the hype about Utah, but I love it there and am going to miss the short 3 1/2 hour drive once we move to Washington. 

We had so much fun being with family, as usual. We also had lots and lots of yummy food, which was PERFECT because I have not been the best at planning meals and cooking for Scott and I the past couple of weeks. Poor Scott. We both got our cravings fulfilled with some Cafe Rio, Kneaders, Jdawgs, Brick Oven, and of course a cougar tail while we were at the BYU basketball game Saturday night. I swear Utah has every and any restaurant your heart desires. 

Love our road trips to Utah, they never disappoint. 

Christmas break

We had a very Merry Christmas. I loved having my hubby with me over the holidays this year. I can't say this enough, marriage makes everything so much better :).

We spent Christmas in Detroit with my parents, Julie, and Kellen. It was so much fun seeing their cute townhouse and being able to go to a Detroit Lions game. We played plenty of games, spent several hours on a puzzle, made gingerbread houses, visited greenfield village, watched the Christmas Carol, enjoyed melting pot, and made lots of treats.

(I have the best husband ever, he got a pedicure with me)

After a fun week in Detroit we flew to Vancouver to spend the New Year with Scott's family. We took many trips to the local DI and Salvation Army and found some great finds: a mirror and a dresser that we are going to refinish. We accomplished another puzzle; for some reason the holidays bring out our desire to work on puzzles. We also received a great surprise from Scott's parents while we were home, a paid family vacation to a sunny location. We are so excited! Our last day we went to the Portland temple, I loved it. Scott and I want to try to make into as many temples as we can!

We loved the family time we had over break. However, we were both anxious to get back Rexburg, we really do love our little apartment ;).