CATCHING UP

4TH OF JULY---HEBER, AZ.

We celebrated the 4th at the cabin in Heber. The weather was great...there was even a hail storm, but thankfully it all cleared up right before the fireworks!
SUMMER FUN IN THE BACKYARD

Since it's been like 200 degrees here in AZ the boys have really enjoyed cooling off in the play pool in the backyard.

PORTLAND, OREGON

What a beautiful place! I felt so lucky to tag along with Jared to Portland while he attended a dental seminar Friday and Saturday. Again, the weather was perfect and the shopping was just divine. Jared was supposed to have classes all day Saturday too, but he ended up finishing early, so we walked around downtown and then headed to the Temple. It was a nice little trip.

UNBELIZABLE!

AMBERGRIS CAYE, BELIZE

JUNE 2008
The group

Me and my dive buddy

The bike ride of my life

That's me!

Our short plane ride from Belize City to Ambergris Caye

The dive shop
Handsome guy at the best pool ever!

Our first scuba trip seriously couldn't have been better...beautiful resort, great company, good food (whew!), nice weather (not too hot), and exciting scuba diving! I loved everything about our trip. Thanks Ladd, Janet, and Preston for inviting us!! I am hooked on scuba diving. It is the coolest thing to be able to breathe underwater. I loved seeing all of the interesting fish and wasn't even scared to hold sharks and see eels. The last night we were there we all decided to go on a night dive. That was the only time I felt scared. I didn't appreciate the very large sting rays hiding under the sand, or the barracuda following us. My light died before the end of the dive, but that didn't bother me. I was more comfortable not knowing what was around me. I'm not sure if I will ever night dive again, but if I do the visibility will have to be better (it was a little stormy when we were there) and I don't want any currents (I felt like I was going to get carried away, never to be found again). I was pretty impressed with the food, and even felt inclined to try crab, scallops, and grouper...and liked it! It was nice hanging out by the pool while drinking virgin pina coladas, playing Settlers, watching the footage (thanks to Ladd and his underwater camera) of our dives, reading, walking along the beach, taking the boat taxi to eat... Although we dove twice each day I felt totally relaxed...until "the" bike ride. Ladd, Preston, Jared, and I all decided to take a nice bike ride into town to look for some souvenir t-shirts. We followed 2 young local kids and the bike ride went on and on and on. Turns out town was a little farther than expected...and not an easy bike ride at all! We biked through deep sand, pot holes, tiny city streets...all on semi-flat tires. While in town we did find a delicious custard shop that made it all worth it. When we decided to head back it was getting dark and I was a little nervous because I knew there would be little light. But, somehow we all made it back unharmed and I'm pretty sure I was the sweatiest of all. The best part of the whole bike ride was before we even left our resort. Preston rode right into the ocean! He was riding fast to catch up to us and saw a sharp turn up ahead...thinking the brakes were on the handle bars he tried to slow down, but the brakes were on the pedals. It was great! He simply got himself and his bike out of the water all while a bunch of people on the dock and the rest of us were laughing hysterically! Good times, good times! Of course the trip wouldn't have been possible without my in-laws help. Jim and Ola Mae, thanks for watching the boys! Jared, thanks for a wonderful trip! Until next time...

Possibly the scariest picture of me...ever! Jared and I were trying to look tired (trying?) while we waited for our delayed flight (7 hours total)! Preston told me I looked like a meth addict...and Jared agreed. Thanks.