Tahiti

So, to celebrate Steve's weight loss mostly
 and a little bit to celebrate his 40th and my 30th birthday,
and a little bit for Christmas,
but mostly because we love to travel -
Steve and I decided to go to an island,  then we started looking at Costco travel and realized that Tahiti wasn't so expensive that we couldn't afford it - and at the time we were thinking when we have kids we won't be able to do this, so over Christmas break we booked our trip - and we left for Tahiti and Moorea on February 26th - and spent 7 nights in Paradise. 

The pictures featured on this blog are a combination of photos we took our last day on the island - after we had packed our good camera (stupid Jill) - which someone stole the memory card out of - and some photos we got some from friends from Payson that we met on the trip -

The Tahitian Airport - when we arrived all was perfect - warm weather etc - leaving was a bit crazy and included about two hours of standing in crowds of smokers with no air conditioning - good thing we had already fallen in love with French Polynesia by then.

Our accomadations in Moorea - we spent our first two nights in Tahiti - not our favorite and in fact for those two days we wondered if we had made a mistake and "should we have just gone to the Bahamas" - when we got to Moorea and saw our bungalow the view and ocean just off our back porch - we knew we had made the right decision.

The pool at the Tahiti Resort - wow can you believe this is a real picture and not a post card - the best part of our trip was there were no crowds (except at the airport as we left) - Tahiti receives the same number of visitors in a year that Hawaii receives in a month.

The Pools at the Intercontinental Resort on Moorea where we spent our last 5 days - Heaven

Intercontinental Resort Moorea - Wow

More of the Intercontinental Resort Moorea

The Sunsets were amazing

Our last Sunset - at this point we had not been in a hotel room for almost 12 hours - and we still had about a 5 hour wait prior to our 8 hour flight to LAX - followed by a 3 hour layover and a flight home to SLC - despite all of that I would reccomend that anyone and everyone go to Moorea!

We got to swim with the sting rays and feed them when we took a tour around the island - unfortunately the pictures of us doing this - were lost - but here are some of the sting rays provided by our friends.

Reef Sharks - Steve was out there snorkling with them - I opted to get back in the boat when they appeared.

After our tour around the island of Moorea - they took us to a small Islet - for a BBQ and more snorkling - Steve got to try Poisson Crue and we got to see about 50 wild cats a couple of wild dogs and hundreds of wild chickens.

Polynesian Dancers at Tiki Village





The last day in Moorea we rented a car and drove around the island twice - 40 miles all the way around - we used about 1/8 of a tank of gas - when we stopped to fill the car up - it was approximately $15 - many it makes me feel better about the fact gas was $3.50 per gallon when we got home.

Belvedere Lookout - you can see Cooks Bay on one side of me and Opunohu on the other





Our friends Derek and Kemarie from Payson - what are the odds we would run into another couple from Utah - that had booked the exact same trip for the exact same days from Costco

Steve Turns 40!



On January 29, 2011 - the love of my life turned 40 Years old - it was a great day and a great celebration.   Unfortunately I neglected to download photo's from our many celebrations prior to our trip to Tahiti... were the memory card to our camera was stolen... so instead I have a few pictures taken our phones to remember the day by - I love you Steve and was so glad I got to celebrate this day with you!



I was struggling with how to celebrate this big day for Steve - especially since he had done such a great job of marking my 30th Birthday Milestone - finally I settled on 40 gifts... It was much harder than it sounds gifts 1-15 easy - 30-40 took a lot of thought - but here are few photos of Steve opening his first set of 10.





We woke up to a lovely site on Saturday morning - Kim and Dave and the nephews also went with the theme of 40 and placed 40 balloons and 40 diet cokes on our lawn with this lovely Happy 40th Birthday sign.

Welcome 2011

Welcome 2011!!!

Never before have I been so excited to see a year change - but 2010 was tough, and I believe that maybe just the changing of the year can help to change the tide.

That being said - I know it is important to value all experiences in our life because that is what makes us who we are - and while I can't yet say that all of what happened in 2010 is something I am glad to have experienced; I can definitely appreciate what 2010 included Good & Bad:



1 - The loss of my sweet Mom




2 - My 30th birthday - along with a great surprise party thrown by Steve

3 - Steve was diagnosed with Type II diabetes - but has since lost over 60 lbs in his battle
to not let this disease rule his life.

4 - We had a failed attempt at InVitro Fertilization

5 - It was a tough economic and service year at my work



6 - Mark & Cera got engaged - and Aurora is growing into one of the cutest little toddlers we have ever seen

7 - Steve was promoted into a new department at work

8 - We were able to re-connect with old friends and family - it is funny how loss

brings you closer to others in your life 

9 - 3 Trips to Washington DC / Back East - A) I went in April to see my friend Kathleen B) Steve and I took his parents on a DC/Philadelphia trip in September C) I took my Dad back there for a train show

10 - Many other great trips including: Disneyland, the Cabin, Denver and of Course St. George

Welcome 2011 !!!

Fall 2010

Fall of 2010 has been a busy time... packed with lot's of fun!

I went back to Hershey and Washington DC with my Dad - so he could go to a train show - I got to spend a few days with my good friend Kathleen - which was wonderful as always.  And I got to show my dad some of my favorite places!

My Dad at Hershey's Chocolate World - maybe the happiest place on earth!

At the Strasburg Pennsylvania Railroad Museum - I always like the train museums that have real trains in them much more than those that have model trains - after the museum we drove through the rest of Amish Country and my dad finally got his Amish dinner that we deprived him of in 1998



As we walked through Washington DC - I was able to accomplish my goal - and after walking from the Capitol - through two Smithsonians - The Archives around the WWII Monument and the Washington Monument before we could continue on our walk to the WhiteHouse my Dad asked to take a rest --- it was a beautiful moment to have not been the first to suggest the rest when walking with my dad.




My Dad at Mount Vernon on the last day of our Trip.




The Weekend after I got back - we took a girls trip for Book Club up to the cabin - after the girls left on Saturday, Steve, Justin, Carson and Reese came up to join April and I for the rest of the weekend.




Justin and Carson at the Pond by the Cabin



Finally the weekend after the cabin Steve and I went down to St. George for the Monster Dash 5K with his parents.  It was a great trip and a good race Steve set a new personal record of 47:45 - last year the same race took him over an hour.


While all the traveling was fun and I miss it when I haven't gone somewhere for a while to be honest this weekend just being home has been a treat!



Trip with Steve's Parents

So we recently returned from a trip with Steve's parents, it was great, included visits to: Hershey Pennsylvania, Gettysburg, Washington DC, Mount Vernon, Monticello, Amish Country (Lancaster PA) and Philadelphia.  Below are a few great pictures from each spot:

Steve, Margaret and Dave at Hershey's Chocolate World



Jill & Steve @ Gettysburg Visistors Center



Dave & Margaret sitting on the Lincoln Memorial Steps - looking out of Washington DC at night

Dave, Margaret and Jill outside the Capitol before our Capitol Tour

Dave and Margaret - Mount Vernon back porch - overlooks the Potomac river

Dave, Margaret & Steve at the Washington DC temple

Dave & Steve at Jefferson Memorial

Lincoln Memorial from our Potomac River Cruise on Saturday Night

All of us at the Liberty Bell - in Pennsylvania

Amish Country - Lancaster PA

Valley Forge, PA

On the last day, Steve, Dave and I went to the Philidelphia Museum of Art - so Steve could recreate th Rocky experience

JFK / Love Plaza - Philadelphia our last attraction of the trip

Great Weekend - Turning 30

So, today August 31st, 2010 - I turned 30 years old - I don't feel any older... and that makes me happy, but the thing that has been best about this birthday is all the people that have helped me to celebrate, starting last Thursday night when my sweet husband decided to throw me a surprise birthday party -

The Evening was filled with Cake, Pizza and great times with family and friends

I was greeted by about 20 different friends and family - Steve wanted to make sure that I felt surrounded by love this birthday and he did a fabulous job!

Following such a great surprise party - I was able to spend Friday evening with friends at a movie, and then dinner.

Saturday was a fun filled day at the Steve's work summer picnic and 5K

The race was a family affair - Steve's brother was in charge, Spencer, Kim, Me, Steve, Evan and Perry each completed at least part of the race - Steve set a personal best as far as time goes - I am so proud of what a great job he is doing in controlling his health.

Saturday night, I was able to go to dinner with my Dad, Grandma and Steve, last night my book club celebrated my birthday, today at work some friends took me out for lunch and tonight Steve's parents took us out to dinner. 

Most of you reading this probably already know that I was concerned about celebrating  my birthday without my mom around, but I must say that my family and friends did everything they could to insure it was  great day, and week.   I still miss her and of course I miss the daily calls, and today especially I miss her calling to sing me a Happy Birthday!  But, I am so grateful for all the wonderful people in my life, and I know that she is grateful to them as well.  Thanks Everyone - here's to my 30's!!!