We're Home!!

after...

13 airplane flights

3 temples

2 bladder infections

1 hospital visit

8 hotels

3 countries

1 continent

a few sleepless nights

and SO many new memories...

WE'RE HOME!!!
It has been an adventurous few weeks. After visiting Argentina, Brasil, and a quick stop in Paraguay we are finally home. We had so much fun and crammed so much stuff into our 2 1/2 week vacation. We started our trip off in Argentina, went to the temple there, and visited some people from Drew's (trae's younger brother) mission. It's official that Argentina has the worlds best Ice Cream ever. We didnt stay there very long but had a great time, met some amazing people and saw so many cool things. Then we headed to Brasil where we spent the rest of the trip. We went to Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Cuiaba, Recife, Olinda, Porto De Galinhas, Iguacu Falls, Rio de Janeiro, and the Pantanal. I still can not believe all of the things we saw and did in that amount of time. My favorite place was definatley Iguacu Falls. It was absolutely amazing!!!! I got sick with a killer bladder infection that turned into a kidney infection so i had a few miserable days and had to miss out on a couple of things but i went to the doctor, got an antibiotic and started feeling much better. We went out to dinner with Trae's mission president, met some people he baptized, went to dinner with Dee's (Trae's dad) mission presidents family from 25 years ago, met some people he baptized, went to a few beaches, swam in a coral reef in the Atlantic Ocean, almost got attacked by an alligator, saw the Christus Statue, did alot of shopping, and went to two temples there. We really did have an amazing time, but it sure feels good to be HOME!

see you in 3 weeks!

well.. i'm checking out of the blogging world for a few weeks and going on vacation baby!!! We're heading for South America bright and early tomorrow morning. It will be so nice to get away from Provo for a few weeks and get a much needed vacation before school starts again. Too bad we just found out it was 32` F in Argentina today... i got my jacket packed. Hopefully Brasil will greet us with warm, sun tanning weather. Trae says some of the worlds greatest beaches are in Brasil..sure hope he's right. Well... see you in a few weeks!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

HEY MEAG--- happy birthday sis!! thanks for the best 22 years of my life! You are so amazing and i am so stinkin lucky to have a sister like you!! hope you have a fantastic day. LOVE YOU!!

What a week!!!

My stinkin cute cousin Chelsea got married this last week!! She is one of the most amazing girls i know and made the most BEAUTIFUL bride!!! She married Mr. Greg Roper in the Mount Timp temple. The reception was the night before their wedding and it was so pretty!! They are so happy and cute together!!Meag and i were designated kitchen help... there was sooo much good food and we made sure to taste test everything quite frequently to make sure everything was still good. I have never eaten so many chicken salad sandwiches in one night!
My dad had his last chemo appointment on Thursday...YEAH!!! He is such a rock star!!! My parents are both so amazing and i think they are just the cutest thing ever.
Here we are at the temple. Meag, Chels, and i are just a few months apart and have been so close since we were little...now were all grown up and married! After the wedding i came home to Burley and spent some time with Trae's family. Drew brought home his new girlfriend Mary. She is the sweetest girl and so much fun!!
and this is the crazy hail/rain storm that greeted us on Monday. I have never seen such outrageous rain or hail in my life. Within minutes thier driveway was covered. WHERE ARE YOU SUMMER???

Oh Mother...

My cute mom..what a woman she is!! I'm pretty much in debt to her for everything she has taught and done for me. Look at this girl...all 5 foot 4 inches of her is pure sweetness. Everyday I am amazed at the things she does as a mother, wife, daugther, friend, peacemaker, leader, etc.!!! I sure do love you mom!!

What i love about you....

1. You love our Dad and are so positive and supportive of him with the things he is going through right now. I'm sure there are days when you want to through in the towel, but you never show it and make sure he is taken care of all the time.

2. I can still call and talk to you every single day, (and I do). I know sometimes my call are pointless but i'm so glad we have a relationship that i can call and talk to you about anything.

3. You are my greatest example of service. You have shown me how to serve others so willingly by your example.

4. You love the Gospel and make sure your children know it. I love how you share your testimony often and let us know how important the Gospel is to you.

5. You raised three kids under the age of 1... (i don't know how you did it but i think we turned out alright)...and then three more after that. I only hope i can be as good as a mother and nurturer as you are.

6. You make me laugh.

7. You make me cry.

8. You said you won't come and visit me when i have a home if it's dirty. (I'm sure glad you dont see my house everyday) but i love how tidy you are and am so thankful for your example of cleanliness.

9. You have always been my best cheerleader and supporter. Even if you didnt always know what you were talking about, i loved that you were so involved and hardly ever missed a game or meet.

10. You are so strong and positive through your trials and help everyone else get through theirs. I've never seen some with so much gratitude for the things they experience but you help me know that whatever it is that i face, it could always be worse and i still have blessings to count.

all six of us kids home with our mom on Mothers Day.

We love you Mom!!!

My BLogGiNg DeBuT!!

so, here i am...writing my first blog. It has taken me a while to jump onto the band-wagon of blogging, but i've finally done it, now i just have to find things to blog about. Maybe this will be motivation to go out and do fun things so that i have something that is blog-worthy! but anyhow, here i am, happy to be a blogger, and loving life!