Where Did July Go???

Every time I go to blog Dave says that's bragging. My wonderful friends said "Just don't tell him." So let the bragging begin.

July was so much fun and busy. The last week of June and the start of July Chase and Raquel came home. For the Fourth of July weekend, we were at the cabin with Chad and Chase's families. The weather was pretty cool, so we didn't boat. But we did go 4 wheeling. We had alot of fun. On Sunday, Chase and Raquel left to fly back to Ohio. Chase started school on Monday, the fifth of July.

The next weekend my folks were in Manila with their travel club. We made it there Thursday night to have dinner at the Hub, with everyone. There were 6 couples of mom and dad's friends, and Dave and I. Dinner was good, thanks Dad and Mom. Friday night they came to dinner at the cabin. Dave grilled ribs, they brought salads, rolls, corn on the cobb, and dessert, and had there monthly meeting.

Monday the 13th, I left for girls camp. I was asked to serve in Young Women for the third time in May. So off to camp I go. Smith and Moorehouse. It was warm the first couples of days and very cold at night. Later in the week, the days were hot and the nights were cool. The girls were so much fun. We swam in the freezing cold lake, hiked around the lake, fished( or practiced our casting) and they sniped hunted(I skipped that one). Slept on the ground for 4 nights, (ouch) and had a couple of water fights. Had my hair sprayed green. I hope I can go again.

On Sunday, July 19th Dave was released as the Bishop. It was an emotional day. What a journey. I am grateful for his service, and excited to sit by him in church. That evening some of the ward members came and gave us a "Heart Attack". They covered our yard with hearts and poster of thanks and love. They wrote messages in chalk on the driveway. It was so sweet and made Dave feel better. Thank you.

On Tuesday night the Young Women came swimming and we grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. They swam for 2 hours and left very tired.

Wednesday, found us on the way back to the cabin. Chad, Emily, and their 2 kids(Kyler and Raegyn). Thursday we went 4 wheeling, it was hot. We found some points that look over Sheep Creek, beautiful views. Friday, down to the lake. Chad did some wake boarding. We all played in the water. Raegyn is 2 and has learned to hold herself up in her lifejacket. She is a crazy girl. She would jump off the boat and swim around and around. She was shaking from the cold, so Emily would put her out on the boat and say "get warm and then come back in". But before she could finish maniac girl was back in the water, swimming and shaking. It was so fun. We pulled Devon, our nephew on the wake board, but it was a pretty bumpy ride. The wind came up and so did the waves. That night we had dinner with Dave's parents, sister, brother, and their famililes. Chad grilled some tri-tip, that he marinated in several different flavors. Salads, Dutch oven pototoes, homemade rootbeer, ice cream sandwiches, and Dave's mom famous eclairs. It was a lot of fun. Thanks everyone!!! Saturday was a little rainy, so we packed up and went home to have a swim party. We had pizza, breadsticks, soda, and ice cream. Our grandkids are all fish. Alicia and Darcie's kids have been taking swimming lessons and were excited to practice. Shelby was showing us her diving. Kennedy was swimming the length of the pool. Braxton and Carsten were diving for the rings and sticks. Avery was up and down the slide. Kyler was having a great time squirting everyone. And Raegyn was again jumping in, and swimming all around. In other words, a great time.

So again I ask where did July go? It was such a great month, sorry it's over.

Crazy Tag

  8 Places To Eat Out

1. Rio

2. Olive Garden

3. Crown Burger

4. Subway

5. Red Lobster

6. Five Alls

7. Macaroni Grill

8. Mimi's

  8 Top TV Shows

1. NCIS

2. Biggest loser

3. Mentalist

4. The Appentice

5. The Practice

6. Jazz

7. Oprah

8. Home and Garden network

  8 Quirks

1. boots or sandals ( can't stand shoes)

2. don't like reptiles

3. can't read while car moving

4. can't sleep with tv on

5. hate my husband to wear sweatpants, unless he's working out.

6. hate dogs to lick me

7. like to watch Jazz with sound off

8. hate quirky tags

8 Things I Look Forward Too

1. Swimming parties

2. Working out

3. Warm weather

4. Fishing

5.  Camping

6. 4 wheeling 

7. Chase and Raquel to come home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8. China

8 People To Tag

1. LaDean

2. Diane

3. Jodie

4. Kim

5. Emily

6. Lindsay

7. Brandie,

8. Rachelle( let's get started)

I know that you thought I would never update, but miracles happen. 

Home

We are home safe and not quite sound, but we are getting better. We had bad jetlag for a week.

Here we landed in Tahiti. It was very hot and humid. We changed planes, and on we go.

We made it to Auckland. Our hotel is right across the street from the pier. Tomorrow when we wake up the ship will be looking straight into our room. We had a very nice fish dinner on the wharf. The temperature is probably 70, maybe a little cooler, but no coats. 

Lots of boats. Big, small, tall, and short. Fast, slow, sail, and paddle. Bring your $$.

In Auckland, we visited a park. Here we are riding in a vehicle, thru the penguins because it is very cold. Probably zero or below.

That is one large turtle. They had a very large aquarium. Lots of different kinds of sealife.  We had a good time. They had a walkway under the aquarium that went around in a circle, so you could see lots of fish and sealife. They were swimming over our heads and in front and behind us. Pretty cool.

Melbourne

Off for a 2 hour bus ride. Scenic style. We went to swim with the dolphins and seals. But first the bus driver took us along the coast. Lots and lots of beaches. Blue water, palm trees.
Next get your wetsuit and snorkels. On to the boat and back to sea.
We first pull up to a pavillion, full of seals. Someone built a structure, cement floor and a roof. 30 or 40 seals laying in wait. So we got got in the water, wee bit cool. It took your breathe away. Swam over to the pavillion and swam with the seals. Don't touch. One baby seal was following dad, and copying him. If he did a circle so did the baby. Very curious they would swim by and look at us, like are you crazy. Some weighted as much or more than 500 or 600 pounds. They would bark and growl at each other. One was in a fowl mood and picking fights. They get right in each other face.
Next we were looking for dolphins. We found a school of 5. They would follow them, then have a group of 10 jump in the water and grab the rope and look down. The dolphins would swim under them. When it was our turn, the dolphins ditched us. But we still got to see them from the boat.
Back to the city, our bus driver took the freeway home and did a quick tour of the city. Have you watched any tennis lately. The Australian open is here in Melbourne. We drove by the stadium. They have alot of trains that run here, like our traxs. But lots more. Lots of high rises, busy city.
Several stadiums in a couple mile radius. Great day!!

Sea-again

Oh the weather outside is delightful. 80's. We sat out in the sun and baked for several hours. Yeah!! Finally, the storms have passed and the forecast is looking good.
Both of us are getting over the our colds.
Today is Australia, fourth of July. They had a big barbie(bbq) out by the pool. The Aussies were carrying flags, wearing flags pinned to the clothes and we even saw one lady wearing gym shorts over her clothes. That had a flag on it. Aussie's our known for their high beer intake and their barbies. No worries, mate. (Then 2 thumbs up)

Tasmania

Sun, dry land. We went to Bonorong Wildlife Conservation Center. We hand fed Kangaroos. Seen one Kangaroo with a foot sticking out of her pouch, one big foot. Another one had a little head sticking out of it. Also we were able to pet a kakola bear. They sleep 20 hours a day. But they are sure cute.
Emu's are the 2nd largest bird. Kinda like ostrichs. We seen a few. An eagle, weird looking.
Tasmanian devils, keep your fingers out of the cage. They eat meat, but only leftovers. They don't kill, they let others do the dirty work. They don't look like the cartoons. We have pictures we'll load later.
Also we seen a wombat, a peacock and big lizards. Fun day.

At Sea- day 3

It's very eerie aboard ship. The captain sounds the foghorn every 2 or 3 minutes. We are totally floating blind. Fog, we can only see 20 feet past the ship. Rain and cold. I thought this was their summer.
We have played more cards. We win almost every time, beginners luck. Lots of movies. Lots of food. Miss you all.

At Sea-again

We have had the worst weather. Rain and cold. Swells are huge. I thought for a while we were in the twilight zone. The fog was so bad we couldn't see 20 feet past the ship. The captain keep blaring the fog horn every 3 or 4 minutes for most of the day. We were hoping we didn't hit something. Can you imagine being out on the ocean and hearing a fog horn wondering which way would you should move? The temperature were in the mid 60's but felt much colder.
We have played lots of card,s, watched movies and of course dined. That's it for now, looking for calm water and sunshine. Miss you all!!

At Sea

What a crummy day, it has rained all day. The swells are huge. A crew member said some were 16 feet high. A little queasy, but most people are.
We learned a new card game, hand and foot. Maybe it's like canasta or is canasta. Pretty fun.
Pretty boring day at sea. Hope you are all warm and safe.

Fjordland National Park

What a rough day at sea, 5 to 7 feet waves, but we are fine. Dad went to the doctor today, he has a cold. 4 different meds and a good nap, he is ok.
We made it into Milford Sound, a beautiful National Park. We missed the other 2 cuz the weather was so bad. But at 4pm it cleared alittle and we made it in. Beautiful waterfalls. Sheer cliffs, volanic rock, trees and 10 sun bathing seals. The days are getting longer. The sunsets are beautiful. Take care.

Port Chalmers

Today we took a train ride, to the Taiqueri Gorge. We went thru 10 tunnels and over 12 bridges. Beautiful country. Lots of sheep roaming the countryside. Then back to the city, onto the bus and up the mountain to Lachturn Castle. It wasn't a castle like I expected. But a large house, from the victorian period. Beautiful gardens-amazing flowerbeds. Green and plush. Even a bagpipe player.
Tonight the captain came on over the speaker and says bad weather tonight, after midnight. Make sure your gear is stored. Never in all our travels have we heard that. So this should be fun, I thought of packing and abandoning ship, but I'm still here. We'll let you know tomorrow how it goes. Wish you were here!!

Lyttleton, New Zealand

We are in Lyttleton. It is a port town, Christchurch is the main town. Across the mountain or I should say thru, you take a tunnel thru the mountain. It is very cool.
Anyway, we took a 2 hour car ride up to a place called Rangatata Gorge. Then put on wetsuits, wetshoes, windbreakers and lifejackets. Boy did they smell. Got back in the vehicles and rode another twenty minutes to the river. We had 7 people in our raft. Cal and Jodie, a couple from Canada, eh! And a girl from California. Our guide was Ben, he has been a guide for 20 years. He was very funny and told us great stories. He taught us the rules and started us down the river. Pretty slow going at first, that lasted for about 30 minutes. Then we did a class 2. Soon we were into the heavy stuff. Class V. First, we got out of the boat and hiked up the hill to check it out. One girl decided to walk. Back to the boats and into the deep. Jodie and I got soaked. We never fell out and just kept paddling. The weirdest thing is paddling and no water, weird. The first class V was pretty short. But the next one was quite a bit longer. We have some great pictures, but whenever we go to download them, it ends up kicking us out. I think their server is to slow. It is kinda cool here, about 70, but alittle cloudy and rainy. We hoped for warmer, but no snow.
A great day!

Tarangua, New Zealand

It has been cloudy and rainy today. A bit on the cool side. We took a jetboat ride, up a river. It was so green and beautiful, it looked like a rainforest. We were flying up the river at 40 mph and we would do 360's. You felt like you were getting thrown out of the boat. I was quite concerned I would get sick, but alas the wind blowing in my face and the cooler temp, keep me ok. But Cal's friend Kent started to look alittle pale(green)!
We were also at a kiwi and avacado farm. We fed a donkey, sheep, cow and a goat. We seen a boar pig named Boss Hog. He was extremely ugly and had some huge fangs. He had three rings pierced into his nose, they keep the boss from digging in the grass and mud.
We have some great photos, but we can only access the internet from windows and I don't know how to download from there. But we are still having fun. Love you and miss you, kiss the grandkids for us.

We're Here

We are here. We flew 8 hours from LA to Tahiti.  Tahiti was very hot and humid.   We were on the ground for maybe 1 hour and we were off again. Five hours later, we are in New Zealand.  Our hotel is across the street where we will load the ship tomorrow. It is on a beautiful bay. Dad has been looking for the old Zealand, but only finds New Zealand.  He says he'll keep looking.

We had dinner at a nice place on the wharf.  Dad says people talk funny here.  Our pictures aren't down loading, it is taking to long, so we will try tomorrow. We miss you all.

LAX

We are on our way, 

we left Salt Lake at 5:15 Wednesday.  And now we are sitting in LAX airport. Our flight leaves at 11:55 pm for Tahiti, with an hour to gas up, then on to Auckland,  New Zealand.  This is the worst part for me. Sitting, and airport food. Yessiree, we had mickey d's for dinner.  Totally gourmet. Now that we are totally fulfilled, we will be flying about 13 hours.  

Avery Birthday

They say it's your birthday. nan nan nan nan na. Well I hope you got the drift. Happy Birthday Avery.  Five years old. Hope you have a very fun party with your friends.  We are so glad you are part of our family.  We love your smile and fun personality. You keep us going with your treasures and trinkets.  Avery's favorite color is not pink, or purple,  but glitter.  I hope you can see what a special girl she is.  We love you lots!!!!