Cabo San Lucas, Mexico- Final Days

Jason devouring a peanut butter roll- every morning our breakfast was served with a new type of bread in the basket. This one was Jason's favorite. Most of their breads are really dry but still tasted amazingly good.

He never failed to order his freshly squeezed orange juice with breakfast- in fact, the waiters just knew that's what he wanted and started bringing it for him without having to ask for it.

The birds on the beach would linger, unafraid to eat food that dropped from the tables. Jason just started throwing a bunch of crumbs to them. So, naturally they always came back!

Lunch- bon appetite! Once I finally discovered their french toast I had it for two meals in a row. I was sad to discover this amazing meal on the second to last day we were there. You wouldn't think french toast would be a highlight on the menu, but it was to me! It was so different- their whipped cream had fresh peels of coconut in it straight from the tree. YUMMY!

This was one of the swimsuit cover ups I bought from the vendors on the beach. Once again...the view over our balcony was beautiful to say the least.

At the restaurant...the umbrella shade you see at the top of the picture was the balcony of our suite and where we usually ate our breakfast every morning. You can see one of our oh-so-funny waiters in the background making a face.

We couldn't leave without a picture of the waiters at the restaurant. It didn't take long before they became our friends and buddies. They gave service you would never see in the States. If you were cold, they brought you a blanket; if you asked for something special, they made it grand; if you got up, they helped you back into your chair; if you even appeared to have a question, they asked what you needed; and you never had to ask for a refill, it was just automatically done...and they did it with a smile on their faces as if it made them happy to make other people happy.
Our greatest compliments to the chef's and crew who served!!! AMAZING.

This was our favorite time of day in Cabo, right before the sun went down! The sky would turn purple and you could feel the mist of the ocean cool you off from the sweltering heat of the sun. "Ahhhhhhh," is all we could say.

This was a bitter-sweet night for us because it was our last dinner there on the beach, yet one day closer to getting to see our kids again.
We ordered dessert, but when I asked for chocolate topping I got something ten times more...an entirely new creation from our waiter made especially for me. He turned my little brownie sundae into some sort of chocolate a' la mode layered brownie pie! And Jason's little 3 scoop ice cream dish turned into a 5 scoop cookies and cream phenomena! We ate it with much enjoyment and satisfaction...even if we did already eat quadruple the calorie intake than on any normal day :)

The water from the ocean came right up onto our beach. People had to grab their towels and umbrellas and scatter like mice.

At the Cabo Aeropuerte going home!
It was a dreamy vacation free from distractions, totally relaxing, and completely rejuvenating.
Thanks to Jason for surprising me with one of the most memorable vacations anyone could ever have!!! Happy 6 years honey-buns :)

Little Monkeys

This is Brooklyn and a friend and their very red faces! They had just come in from outside riding their bikes in the middle of the hot day. I just think they looked cute and had to take their picture :)

On the scooter...they just kept yelling "faster daddy- go faster!"

Girl's Camp 2010!

All of the leaders

We went retreating to the hills of Wyoming. It was the perfect place to be surrounded by the most beautiful scenery and be isolated from our usual environment. We wanted our girls to remember who they are and where they came from so we did a princess theme symbolizing that they are daughters of a King.
These were their gift bags where they received their secret sister gifts as well as gifts from us as leaders that corresponded with the days events.

This is the group of leaders who put on the skit "The Paperbag Princess". I was Prince Ronald because of my masculine and extremely large muscles :)

We decorated our own flip flops...

Flip flop mania!!!

We played Minute-to-win-it in between our skits...it was hilarious!

Each team had to act out a princess fairytale highlighting one of the Young Women Values.
Can you tell which one they are acting out?

This was one of our evening devotionals on a little hillside near the cabin. We read "Fanny's Dream" and everyone shared with the group one thing they liked about themselves physically and one thing they liked characteristically. Then they shared something they like about the person next to them. It was very interesting to hear what the girls had to say about themselves. Fun night!

What would teenagers be like without a little Justin Beiber rock out?

Me, Kychelle, and Kristin

Some of the girls...

The gorgeous (and freezing cold) glacier lake we swam in!!
It was clear, beautiful water at our fingertips.

Preparing for our "rock" hike

The view as we hiked

Just a pretty little sight :)

This is where the leaders took over and carried the rocks for the girls in their backpacks the rest of the way up the mountain symbolizing how the Lord carries our burdens for us. The girls carried their own rocks the first part of the hike.

Lunch!

I jumped into the freezing lake...it was soooooooo cold.

I was so cold my lips were frozen in this position.

This was a presentation we put on at the end of the night before testimony meeting. It was the most amazing experience and such an incredible way to end the day. Every person in that room was sobbing by the end of the night. We blindfolded each of the girls and had a cd with narration and music playing talking about the events of Christs life from His birth up to His death and resurrection. They held things in their hands, smelled, things, and ate things that symbolized a part of narration being told. The girls said this helped them realize that their Savior was real person and that the events of His life came to life for them.

Saying goodbye to Wyomin' and the beautiful cabin (yes we were spoiled).

Brooklyn, the Puzzler

Brooklyn's finished product!
She put this Ariel puzzle together all by herself. She kept whining when she got stuck and would cry out in misery "I can't do this mom- it's too hard to do all by myself!" I just let her keep working on it by herself, but I kept the camera in hand and ready to go during her last few pieces because I knew she was about to accomplish the entire thing.

This was the reaction I knew I would capture as she put the last piece into the puzzle. She was so involved with her puzzle that she didn't even know I was standing there with the camera until she looked up in shock that she had finished it by herself.

A little out of order, but this was Brooklyn 'in the zone' as she finished her puzzle.

...and i found Beckam in the office trying on a random pair of glasses. What a handsome little nerd!