Boonshaft Children's Museum

We were supposed to go skiing and do a lot of fun stuff this weekend but responsiblity and chores that needed to be done while the weather was sooo nice won. So on Monday we decided we better at least take the kids somewhere so we went to the local Children's Museum and out to lunch....and since we have a membership and used one of our gift certificates from Christmas, today's fun was free.

Oops

I attempted to move the food storage shelving over a little to add another shelf and it all fell to the floor.

Preschoolers do the Dangest Things

One the way home from preschool today...Rachel and Tristan are having the following conversation. Rachel do you have any other boy friends? No just one...states Rachel. You mean me right, says Tristan. Then Rachel says, "Yes and if it is right when we grown up I am going to marry you." Ok says Tristan. Hmm

One funny I forgot to put up about our cruise. While we were at one of the formal dinner nights on our cruise. Tristan was having a hard time sitting still through 4 dinner courses and somewhere in the middle he decided he had to go to the bathroom, so we sent him and Dillan to the restroom. Well on the way there are lots of chilling wine bottles in ice buckets and they are just at his level. So he decided to put his finger in someones wine bottle. We didn't know it yet but the boys came back within a minute. As we are quizzing them why they didn't go to the bathroom a lady walks up and hands me a wine bottle and says I can have since my kid had put his finger in it. Well I don't drink so what do you want me to do with it??? She was not happy but she got a new bottle of wine compliments of the ship (note we offered to pay) and we had a good laugh.

Manzanillo, Mexico

Our last port was Manzanillo, Mexico and was the warmest...it was above 70. Ah heaven. To bad the week after we got back it was a ice storm. Why couldn't that happen while we were gone having fun in the sun.Mariah and Mikayla playing at the beach

Tristan was the happiest little boy after we bought him a shovel set, we even had to pack it home. Playing Baseball with the Langstons.

Pat and Mikayla buggy boarding...

Mariah and Mikayla got braids.

Tristan and Mom on the bus ride back to the ship.

And then it was time to disembark and go home :( The End!

Dillan Puerta Vallerta Waterfall.wmv

Mariah going down the waterfall

Puerta Vallerta

Our next port was Puerta Vallerta. The Langston's and our family went to the beach outside of town and on the way we got to see a lot of the city. We had to find a tour company with a 15 passenger van which isn't a easy thing. Of course right as you get off on the pier there are lots of local vendors to sell you their crafts or people with animals to take your picture with them. So we finally gave in and let the kids hold a parrot. The lion cubs we had to say NO> they weren't very happy.

Hanging out at the beach. The kids loved the sun and warmer weather. They build sand castles, played in the ocean and some of the adults got massages. Pat working on his tan.

Jordon, Todd and Jase Langston

Tristan loves the beach.

Tristan, Mom and Mikayla...they finally got me to get in the water here since it was warmer.

Mariah loved it and went buggy boarding for hoursMikayla
After leaving the beach we went to a waterfall up the coast a ways. It is a fresh water river with restaurants along it.
The whole Gang by the waterfall.

Grandma Hardy and 10 of her grandkids!

Brandon and Derek Langston, Dillan and Mikayla...exploring the area.

The waterfall that a this guy dives off into the pool below. He offered to take any of the kids that wanted to down the waterfall...only Mariah took him up on it at first. The water was really cold but she did it.
After Mariah did it several of her cousins decided to join in the fun. Video to come soon.

Cabo San Lucas

Our Cruise ship the Oosterdam...made it's first port in Cabo San Lucas ahead of schedule since we were not going to Mazatlan any longer. This confused the local businesses and thus we weren't bugged by a lot of salesmen trying to get us to buy their goods or go on their shore excursions. This is a picture of the Cabo San Lucas Arch, the famous arch rock formation that juts out of the ocean where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean.


Our whole itinerary changed on the cruise due to violence in the streets in and around Mazatlan. Thus we were not going to that port any longer but to a new one further down the coast. We took a tour of the bay in a "glass bottom boat." A rather interesting boat it turned out to be. It had two square holes in the bottom of the boat that were about 2ft x 3ft with plexi glass in them and you could faintly see through it. I should of taken a picture of it.

Kaden, Branden and Derek with Janelle...waiting to see what excursion we were going to take. The Langstons decided to go four wheeling in the sand dunes and we went for a boat tour of the bay and snorkling on Lover's Beach. Kayla and Tristan waiting for our boat trip to start....they were so happy.Family shot in front of the Arch, courtesy of the boat driver.

Pat, Tristan and Mikayla looking at the fish under the boat. Sea Lions beached on the rock. They follow the fishing boats around looking for easy food.

After our glass bottom boat tour we were let out at playa del Amor ("Lover's Beach) to go snorkeling near the rocks to see the fish. It was rather scary since we didn't have life jackets and the glass bottom boats come and go right around the rocks the people snorkel by...but they assured us they watch out for snorkelers. Hmm I am not sure about that. Luckily there were some entrepreneurs on the beach that had life jackets for rent since our tour had already supplied us with snorkel equipment. We rented all the kids a life jacket which made me feel a lot better...now just to watch out for the bad boat drivers.
Tristan wanted nothing to do with the water since it was cold. He was just happy to chase Sea Gulls and feed them bread. Dillan and Mikayla trying to snorkle. Dillan was successful and saw lots of colorful fish. It was to wavy and cold for Mikayla. They took bread out while they were snorkeling to attract fish.Dillan and Pat getting ready to go snorkeling. Mariah also enjoyed it...but I never got her picture. I was the designated beach bum to watch the equipment and take pictures...I loved my job. Plus I got to stay dry and warm. At the end of our tour and we were pulling back up to the dock there wasn't anywhere to park...no problem. Just shove your way in between the boats and there you have a parking spot.

Fun at Sea on our Mexican Cruise....

We were able to go on a Mexican Riviera Cruise with Pat's family. We went with his sister Janelle's family and his Mom. Our kids loved it...the following was their favorite part:
Tristan loved the pool and lots of food choices especially jello and ice cream that was available all day long. Mikayla loved all the food selection and Dillan loved everything!

We flew into San Diego, CA and had a few hours so we explored downtown. Patrick served his LDS mission in San Diego so he was our tour guide and took us around. AS you can see in the pictures the kids were not happy about walking around after getting up at 400 am.

Horton Plaza in San Diego....Note the tired kids and if there was sound you could hear lots of whining!The first night on the cruise the kids wanted to go swimming and they were the only people in the pool....it was rather chilly. Patrick and Lavell at our formal dining night.Tristan didn't make it through dinner since we went to the later seating of dinner.
All dressed up for Formal Night

Attending one of the shows after dinner.Once again, Tristan didn't make it through to the end....One of our towel creations that they left in our room every night.We pretty much wore Tristan out everyday!
Stay tuned for more pictures of our days in Port!