skiing...the snow kind...

Our friends Heather and Robert Leishman decided that we needed to go to their ward ski night...I immediately said "NO!" Because skiing is not one of my favorite things at ALL...unless it's on the water, then I'll definitely go! But snow skiing, gross, cold, wet, and stupid! Well I am eating my words because we actually had a really good time, it was a little cold, I wasn't as spazzy as I thought I might be since I haven't been for at least ten years! So thanks Robert and Heather for practically forcing me to come...I had a good time! And here's the proof....

Corey and I on the lift (sorry about the nose shot)

Heather and I on the lift!

Heather, Robert, Me and Corey Skiing together!

All of us close up...having a good time!

my new project...

Now that I've been home a couple of days...I decided that it's time to just snap out of my depression and start doing things! So I decided to pull out my new calendar kit I got for my birthday! Then I bought some cute new paper and embellishments....and this is what I came up with (I think it's pretty cute) and it was relatively easy!

That's coming from someone who hates scrap booking, but does enjoy making stuff...maybe you should try it! All you need is...
* Paper of your choice
* Matching embellishments also of your choice
* A picture if you so choose
* A chipboard with a clip on it any size (mine is 9 x 9)
* Months of the year stamps
* And a calender template

Happy projecting!

bienvenidos! To the longest post ever.....

So we're back now from our awesome and much needed vacation! But let me just say that coming back to snow and freezing sucks when I just spent a week of 85 degree weather and around 75 degree nights! IT'S COLD HERE! Of course I think I'll share with you day by day what we did because don't worry I documented nearly everything...coming back with 185 pictures! Before you think, "I don't have time to look at that many pictures", I'll tell you that I've just picked some of my favorites...but it'll still be a long post! ENJOY!

DAY 1....traveling there!
Yuck....I didn't even take a picture because it was so disgusting! We left at 12:30 am and didn't get to beautiful Punta Cana, DR until 2:00 pm. Sick I know....so pretty much we got to the place....waited to get checked in for like an hour....ate some dinner at Franco's Pizzeria (which was soon to become my favorite!)....walked around the resort (huge)....and then we all went to bed at like 7:30 PM. I don't know if I've ever slept so darn good!

The view from our room!

DAY 2....finally getting to enjoy! P.S. Happy Valentines Day!

This day was fun because it was time to relax and enjoy the beautiful beach and lovely weather! Not to mention warm water! It was really nice...simply soaking in the rays! But let me just say the sun is so hot there...I've never experienced such an intense sun! WOW! So of course we had to cool off with the water....and we were swimming...only to find a baby sea turtle that looked just like of Nemo but smaller! It was the coolest thing I have ever seen! Too bad I didn't have my camera at the time! But I will never forget it! For Valentines dinner we went to La Choza, one of the six restaraunts on the resort...it was pretty darn good...not as fancy as restaurants to come...but such an enjoyable atmosphere! The waiters dance around and sing to the live music...it's awesome!

Before Dinner.... Pictures at the Point

Dinner at La Choza

DAY 3...going into Punta Cana

We decided to get adventurous and head into town where there were supposedly restaurants, shopping, etc. So we got on the shuttle and went...then we figured out it's like a little town completely made for the tourist! So it wasn't the real deal! But we got some Baskin Robbins ice cream (my new favorite flavor Polar Bear Dip)

And later in the day we hiked to the Natural Lagoons at our resorts ecological reserve...crystal clear...and beautiful! And then Cody accidentally fell into one of the lagoons while trying to take a picture! I wish I would have got that on film...but don't worry more accidents were to come...


Later that evening after eating dinner italian style we couldn't find anything to do (just keep in mind that the nightlife of this place is very low key and nothing goes on) so we found our own entertainment ....

PING PONG

Day 4...You won't believe what we saw...and until I get a video of it...I cannot fully post about it until then!

We went to the "real town" called Huigey about an hours drive from our hotel. Words just cannot describe that place! And we didn't end up getting to our final destination! I learned how to say the word vomit in Spanish this day, and I tried to buy a fresh coconut to eat...but instead my words got lost in translation...i got the liquid from the coconut and that's all! Later I think i discovered that they don't have the same coconuts as Hawaii does!

On the side of the road, buying the coconut and the man cutting the coconut open with a machete. Don't worry, they put ice in the cup so my Dad wouldn't even let me try it...he dumped it out next to our car! I hope they didn't see!

Later that night we felt adventurous and went to Bavaro (another beach town up the way) and checked out some other resorts....found a shopping mall, ate at Hard Rock Cafe and Tony Romas the same day....and gambled at one of the casinos. Corey won 18 dollars...he was on fire!

Day 5...Happy Birthday to Me!

I got to pick what we did for my birthday, so we did a morning beach walk and it was lovely, a little windy...like always but then you don't feel like you're frying! We rented some bikes and rode them around...and then we partied at the beach!




Where I also fell in love with my favorite new ice cream treat called Magnum...delicious!






After soaking in the sun all day...it was Salsa and Merenge lessons (yes Corey said he would because it was my birthday!) But unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of us dancing, but it was a lot of fun! Then it was time for dinner, and we had reservations at La Yola, a restaurant right at the marina. So Corey and I both got showered and ready....

Little did we know that outside it had started raining a little while we were getting ready. So my family came to pick us up, and we were going to wait for the shuttle to take us over to the marina. So we waited and waited, not shuttle....obviously we began to wonder if it came at night...or if we'd just missed it! So Cody went down to look at the sign and I decided to follow...don't worry that I slipped on the first step down and flew in the air until my back stopped me on one of the steps! Happy Birthday to me! FREAK! It was really painful and my Dad was the only person who saw it, and he said that my feet just went right out from under me, flying in the air and nothing broke my fall except my back....wanna see the war wounds?

That's the shot of my back today...not to mention I've got another bruise on my leg and scratches and mega bruise also on my forearm! Not pretty!

So pretty much that ruined my whole night. We still went to dinner and all that, but it sort of sucked that I had to get hurt on my Birthday....lets just say the night ended early and with me screaming because Corey made me ice it and it was burning!

Day 6, 7 & 8.....all a blur!

Pretty much the rest of our trip we tried to just soak up as much sun as possible! So most of the time was spent at the beach hanging out....and those were the days when I took the most pictures! So Here's a little slide show of some of my favorites! It's long though.....sorry!

vacation here we come.....

My family just decided that we all needed a vacation...so we're going to the Dominican Republic next week! YAY! I'm so excited...we'll be there from the 13th to the 20th! That means Valentines Day and another Birthday in a beautiful place! I can't wait! Thanks parents for saving me from this weather!

seeing double.....

Yep, it's finally happening! We're having twins...okay not really! But today I got a taste of what it would be like to have twins. My cousin called this morning and needed a sitter and so I volunteered my services. Honestly, twins aren't that bad because they play with each other and entertain each other! However, that being said, I don't have enough hands when I'm trying to take care of two kids at the same time! One wants to get on your lap and the other wants a cracker and then to get down, and then back up, back down...when I'm already holding onto one of them! So there I was holding two 1 1/2 year olds...but I had a lot of fun playing with them...and I'll be sitting on Friday too...so maybe after that day I will have changed my mind about twins being easy!

Stewart & Wesley

st. george.....

We're back from visiting our family and seeing our cute new niece! It was so nice to go down there...not to mention that it was 65 degrees while we were there....made me so spring hungry it's not even funny! Anyway, I wanted to share some pictures of us on our short but much needed trip!

Uncle Corey & Baby Angela

Aunt Brandy & Baby Angela

The Happy Aunt & Uncle

So Precious!

And of course a trip isn't complete without some mini-golf! But doesn't it just look beautiful?

angela kae brown....

I promised I'd post more pictures of my new niece when I got them....so here you go!

Just Born....

All Cleaned Up....and going home!

uncle corey & auntie brandy.....

The day has finally come....Corey and I have a new niece and are finally aunts and uncles for the first time! We're so happy for Corey's sister Leslie who gave birth just before 9:00 PM to Angela Brown, 6 lb. 1 oz. and 19 in. tall! Congrats to her and to us! We get to go visit this Friday down in St. George...can't wait!

(Taken by cell phone...sorry it's not so clear)
More Pictures to Come!

sleeping like kings....

I finally caved into buying some new bedding...it was time! But I said I would wait until we could get a king size bed...which means waiting until we move because there is NO way that we could fit a king in our puny room! At IKEA yesterday, my parents peer pressured me into getting it and simply make it work until the king comes to pass...so I did it...and am very happy with my purchase! It totally brightens the room up and is completely different than anything I have ever had...so much fun!

tribute to the birthday girl....

I know I'm six days late and feel like the worst cousin in the world....i came up with some old pictures and compiled them into a slide for you NAT....HaPpY 25tH bIRtHdaY! I hope you had a wonderful day!