90: another day in the sun

It's days like this that remind me why I LOVE living in So. Calif.

It was another gorgeous and sunny day, spent with dear friends at the beach. By the end of the day, Ryder was pooped and fell asleep on the rocks behind us, while his brother and friends tormented poor little squirrels.

89: soak city

The fruits of their labors!

It was a gloriously sunny, 90 degree day in Palm Springs! 

We work hard..we play hard!

88: slave laborers

Yes..it's spring break and I've put my boys to work! I told them that if they would help me clean the grout downstairs(nearly 1,500 sq ft.), I would take them to Knott's Soak City in Palm Springs the next day. They worked and moaned through the whole thing, but they proved to me that they can do hard things...even if I had to go back and redo a lot of their sections! For them it was an hour or so..for me, it was ALL DAY! 

87: end of an era

After 7 years of playing soccer(3 on club), Skyler has decided that he wants to try something new..so tonight was our last end of the year soccer party. Onto the rough and tough world of football.

86: elder & sister watkins

My parents were set apart today as missionaries! They will be leaving in a couple weeks for Nauvoo. Not all the family could be there, but this was 3/5's. We can't wait to go visit them this summer.

{Tella..I updated tonight just for you!}

85: belated present

Skyler finally got a birthday present. He didn't know what he wanted(after we shot him down on the cell phone idea..no way, not at 12). Jim and I were strolling the isles at Costco friday night and came across this. We knew he'd love it and he totally did! He told us it was the best present ever! Don't know if putting it in his room was the best idea as I'm hearing baskets being shot late at night!

84: jayden's world

When I ask Jayden to clean up his toys, he always seems to interpret "clean-up" in his own whimsical way. Instead of putting his gormitis in the toy box, he decided they'd be better off lining the top frame of the bathroom door. What I would give to spend a few minutes in that brain of his! (a few minutes is probably all I could handle!)

83: ryder's laziness

I've never had a child who has begged me to go shopping..until today! Ryder pleaded with me to go shopping for new shoes. He has shoes that are perfectly fine, truth be told, he doesn't want to be bothered with laces anymore..laziness at it's best! He just wants to slip them on and go. 

82: map my run

Gone are the days where after my run, I get in my car to clock how far I went. Now I just go to mapmyrun.com and hit in my route and it tells me exactly how many miles. I'm now up to 5.66, and that's a very hilly route!

81: groceries

With grocery bags in tow, I made my first visit to the grocery store in a couple of weeks. It was slim pickings at our house.

80: i hate tickets

Today marked the first day of the onslaught of "fight your ticket" postcard mailers. I do, indeed, plan on fighting my ticket, just not sure I'm taking this route..but glad I have options and even if they want money, glad to have people in my corner.

79: ordination day

Skyler turned 12 while we were away and today he was ordained to the the aaronic priesthood and is a full fledge deacon! Grandma and Grandpa Watkins wouldn't miss this special day, even if we had to take back our dinner invitation because Ryder was hurling all over the place and my dad has a weak immune system.

78: school carnival

Skyler taking on the rock wall at the Tony Tobin school carnival!

77: reality bites!

If this isn't reality, I don't know what is! 2 sick kids home from school. This is the most quiet I think I've ever seen Ryder in his entire life. I know he's really sick by how lethargic and listless his little body is. Poor little guy..everything that went in, came right back out!

76: st patty's day

The boys' St. Patrick's Day breakfast

75: late balloons

The annual balloon picture! We actually bought the balloons before we left so he wouldn't feel that all tradition was out the window. I just didn't get the shot till a week after his birthday.

74: pain at the pump

A $100+ to fill my beast of a tank! Yuck!

73: flying home

Vacation is officially over! We left Ft. Lauderdale at 6:55 a.m. {about 3:55 California time}. A few more hours before reality really hits!

72: a sunday drive to the florida keys

 The first sunrise we've seen our whole trip! We got off our ship around 7:00 a.m., rented a car and decided to take a drive {about 150 miles} down the Florida Keys. Making the most of every minute of vacation!

Having never been to Florida before, I didn't really know what to expect. I thought you took a bridge-like highway the entire way to the end, but it's not so. You do stay on HWY 1 the entire time and several parts are over water, but you drive through various little island towns. It really quite quaint!

The islands are extremely colorful..take for instance these homes. There were also orange and green but they couldn't fit in the frame.

Naturally, I had to find the final resting place of Flipper! The dolphin who played Flipper was actually a girl dolphin named Mitzi. Flipper is a big part of my childhood! For many years I thought I was going to live the life of Ranger Rick, Sandy, and Bud.  

It depends which way you go. This was actually our ending! 

 We have now been to both of the southernmost points of the U.S.A. {the other being in Hawaii} I love that Key West is considered the Home of the Sunset..I do love a great sunset!

Randomness that I love!

What a way to end a perfectly incredible vacation!

71: last day at sea!

Last day at sea..everyone is working on their last minute tans.

The Sprinkles frozen yogurt machine is where we spent a lot of quality time!

Rock Climbing at Sea..how cool is this!

Our wonderful waiters for the trip! Never thought twice to bring us 2 or 3 appetizers, dinners, or desserts..just so we could taste!

70: labadee, haiti

Welcome to Labadee, Haiti! This little section of Haiti was purchased by Royal Caribbean and is their own private island for their cruise line. They just finished building it up about a year ago. It was pretty amazing! 

 Jim and I took the Wave Runner tour while on Haiti. We cruised along the outskirts of a few villages which we were told had no electricity or running water. It seems so primitive next to such an elaborate build up of a resort. The Haitians were very aggressive vendors. Here we are in the middle of the ocean and all of a sudden kayaks come at us from every angle trying to sell us trinkets and stuff. Who carries money while on a wave runner? I felt so guilty and sad not being able to buy something!

A little siesta on a hammock by the sea!

Another beautiful sunset to say good-bye to Haiti! 

69: san juan, puerto rico

Zip-lining in La Marquesa rain forest, Puerto Rico.

Amazingly twisted trees

Flying through the jungle..what a rush!

 X-shot is out and ready to video! The lengths I go for capturing the experience!

The various sites of Puerto Rico..couldn't believe I saw the "boat"..the same station wagon we had growing up like 28-30 years ago! One of the happiest moments in Puerto Rico: when I found a smashed penny machine!

 Back on the ship..we hit the flow rider! I finally mastered getting up on my knees and doing a body roll. Jim, he was a pro. He mastered the roll on his first try. I will post the video later! (or maybe..just go to my facebook. Blogger takes forever!)