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Mexico

The trouble with going on vacation for a week is the coming back to reality. This is especially true when you have just spent the week on a cruise where there are people who make your bed, clean your room, make and serve you breakfast, lunch, and dinner and cater to your every whim. This hit me when I came home from church and my bed was just as I left it, unmade, and there was no ten course lunch waiting for me.

Mexico was fabulous. Unlike me,I didn't take a lot of picture this trip, but here is a recap...

Day 1-2 was at Sea. There was a lot of eating, sleeping, sun bathing, reading, oh and did I mention eating going on. I did get up on Sunday at 6:00 a.m. and run on the treadmill. Why 6:00 a.m. you ask? I have no idea, but for some reason I was up everyday before 7:00. The early hour was worth it to see the sun coming up- it looked like it was coming right out of the water- simply breathtaking.

Day 3- Cabo San Lucas
We took a boat tour to the famous Lands End Arch, I got a pedicure (I have decided this needs to be a once a month event), and we went to lunch at this great local restaurant- The Crazy Lobster.

Day 4- Mazatlan
We did not have anything planned for the day so we just walked around the city. We saw a really amazing Cathedral, but other than that I was not impressed with Mazatlan. It was dirty,smelly, hot, humid, and you could not walk five inches without someone trying to sell you something. As a side note, as I ran on the treadmill (yes again at 6:30 a.m.) that morning it was raining with thunder and lightning. The lightning was incredibly beautiful to watch. I probably should have been a little scared about being struck by the lightning since it was so close, but instead I just ran, watched, and enjoyed. Definitely my favorite part of the day.

Day 5- Puerto Vallarta
We took a catamaran across the bay to this secluded tropical island. There we had a show, ate dinner, and watched the sun go down on the beach. Perfect!

Day 6-7 - At Sea (see Day 1-2 above)

Great trip- but good to be back even if I have to make my own bed.

Zumba- I'm a Fan!

I went to my first Zumba class two weeks ago. I was complaining to one of the aerobic instructors at Golds regarding the lack of kickboxing classes available. She told me that Zumba was the new rage, so I had to try it out. I am not the most coordinated person and at first the dance moves were a little tricky for me and I thought everyone was staring at the crazy girl (me) who can't get the steps right...but then I came to realize that I was being a little narcissistic- no one cared what I looked like. Now it is just fun and surprisingly a really good workout. (I apologize in advance for the scantly clad women in the video.)

1st Annual Girls Weekend

This weekend my sisters and my mom decided we needed to run away for the weekend and decided to land in St. George. Unfortunately Becky lives in Ohio and Jenny had to work and were unable to join the festivities (we missed you guys). On Saturday morning we hiked around Snow Canyon for a few hours and saw some amazing rocks, petrified sand dunes, and cactus. It was even State Park day so we got in for free. Emma was a trouper and let us drag her around in the heat up and down hills without being too cranky. After our hike we had lunch at In and Out Burger (a reason in itself to visit St. George) and then went shopping at the outlet stores. That night we had tickets to see Le Miserables at Tuachan (it was amazing). Sunday morning we slept in and then spent some time walking around the St. George Temple grounds before heading home. We really should have spread all of this into a couple of days instead of 24 hours- we were all exhausted when we got home.

Football and Pumpkins Cookies

We know when Fall has arrived at our house when football is on the TV every Saturday and Sunday and we make our first batch of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.

For those of you that don't already know- Scott is a football junkie. He told me about three weeks ago (on the opening day of the college football season) that he looks forward to opening day of football season more than Christmas. So yesterday he was in heaven when a friend invited him to go the the BYU vs UCLA game. It was even better when he got to watch the Cougars shut out the Bruins 59-0. Jon, Brittany, Emma, and I cheered them on from the comfort of my couch. Here is a cute picture of Emma watching the game. (Notice the BYU onesie).




Here is another tidbit about Scott... He is a great cook, much much better than me. This afternoon after church we decided the time had come for us to make the first batch of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies of the season. They are the best with a cold glass of milk-Yumo!

Scott mixing up the dough.

The final product.

And here is the recipe if this post made any of you want to make a batch:

Pumpkin Cookies
1 cup shortening 2 tsp baking powder
3 cups sugar 1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs 1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla 1 tsp cinnamon 2cups pumpkin 2 cups chocolate chips
5 cups flour 1 tsp nutmeg

Cream shortening and sugar. Add the eggs, pumpkin and vanilla. Mix well. Add the remaining ingredients. Drop by teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Ice with cream cheese frosting. This makes about 60 cookies.

Cream Cheese Frosting
8 ounce package cream cheese 2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter 1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients. If too thin: use more powdered sugar. If too thick: add a little milk. Enjoy!

Seattle

When I was growing up we would periodically visit my dad's brother who lived north of Seattle. I think the last time we went as a family my baby brother was in diapers (he is now serving a mission in Veracruz, Mexico), but I think those vacations are what started my love of Seattle.

So when we got the opportunity to go to the BYU vs Washington State football game with the Cougar Club we jumped at the chance. The Cougar Club took care of all of the reservations and chartered us a flight out the Provo Airport (which was one of the best parts of the whole trip).

On Thursday we got into the Seattle around noon and had the afternoon and evening to explore the city. We toured the Underground and had dinner at Elliots right on the waterfront. The clam chowder and chocolate souffle were to die for.

On Friday we went Pike Market, the space needle, and I went Antique shopping while Scott took a nap. That afternoon, the Cougar Club had arranged for a BBQ before we headed to the Mariners-Yankees baseball game. Some highlights of the day...

The skyline from 520' a top the space needle. It was an amazing view. Last time I was at the space needle it was so cloudy, you couldn't even see the skyline, but we had great weather without a drop of rain. If you look really close in the background you can even see Mt. Rainer sticking out of the clouds.

We got to meet a special guest at the BBQ.

At the space needle. Notice the blue sky!

Pikes Place Market. There were the most beautiful flowers I have seen here for only $15 for a bunch. I could live in Seattle for just the flowers.

At the Mariners game. We had nose bleed seats above 1st base, but we had a great view of the space needle and the city skyline. In general I am not a baseball fan, but this was so fun. The pitcher for the Mariners, Brandon Marrow, was pitching for his first time in the majors. He pitched a no hitter until the 8th inning and we had a great time cheering him on.

Scott catching with the Mariners.

On Saturday morning we had breakfast with Ty Deitmer, Coach David Rose (basketball coach for BYU), and the rest of our traveling companions. A ferry then took us across Union Lake to the football game at the University of Washington. On the way, I saw the house where Tom Hanks lived in Sleepless in Seattle. The stadium sits right on the harbor and all of these Huskies fans were tailgating in their boats. We hopped off the boat and walked right up to the stadium-that is the way to arrive to a football game. You can see the harbor in the picture below. About 5,000 BYU fans joined us to cheer on a last second win by the Cougs.

I think our family has a new fall tradition.

Emma Rae

My sister Brittany and her husband, Jon, blessed their new baby, Emma Rae, in Idaho this weekend. Here are some of my favorite pics from the weekend...

Emma Rae

Emma with Uncle Matt. I think she has this big guy wrapped around her little finger.

Four Generations: Great Grandma Howell, Grandma Hillman, Brittany, and Emma

Emma taking a nap with Grandpa

Brittany with Emma. My mom made her blessing dress from some fabric Jon's mom had before she passed away.

Uncle Scott and Emma...checking each other out. Scott was so cute with her. I can't wait until he is a daddy!