Lots of things going on in our lives that I didn't take the time to blog about these past few months...
This picture of me and my mom and sisters is one of my favorites because it was such a fun day. We had lunch and went shopping and just had a good time together, which doesn't happen very often now that I've moved up here. I love my family.
Layton played basketball for the first time and had a lot of fun. Vance and I helped coach his team. Now that he has a little bit of experience, I think he might try out for the junior high team this year. He has graduated sixth grade and will be going to Snowflake Jr. High in the fall.
After Basketball season, Layton tried track for the first time and found a new love in life. He is definitely a runner. Just like his dad was. The junior high lets 5th and 6th graders participate on their team so he ran against 7th and 8th graders and did awesome! He ran the 100M dash, 200M dash, and the 4x1 relay. He usually came in 2nd or 3rd in the 100 and 200 and the relay team always took first. Layton was the 3rd leg and it was SO EXCITING to watch him run! He usually brought the team back from behind and pulled us ahead. That kid can run!!! He was the only 6th grader on the relay team (and he was the tallest). Why are my kids so big?
I started subbing for Snowflake School District in April and I love it! I became a long term sub in the library at Layton's school, Taylor Intermediate, while the librarian was on maternity leave. It was fun. And I got to see Layton at school all the time! Josh finished 10th grade and will be a junior this fall at Snowflake High School. He passed his test and got his learner's permit so now he drives everywhere - LEGALLY. He's been driving since he was 11 but now its legal. He will be 16 in August and dating and I wish time would just slow down! He is getting his wisdom teeth out and then braces soon so that they will have time to do their job and be taken off in time for his mission. We thought we had plenty of time before he turned 19 to get his braces going but now that the mission age has been lowered to 18, we may just barely get the braces off by the time he leaves!
The week after school was out, we went to Rocky Point for a week and took some friends with us. It was perfect weather and wonderful waves and we wish we could have stayed longer! Vance and I will always love Rocky Point and now I think our kids are forming the same feelings for it. On our drive home, Layton informed Vance that he would rather go to Mexico than have Christmas.
This is our group as we shopped for Mexican treasures:
Vance, Loye Willis, Layton, Josh, and Luke, McKenzie, Noah, Sam, Randy, and Colette Whittle
Vance and Layton just chilling under the cabana waiting for the burrito lady to come by. Yum!
This is Josh trying out the paddle board Randy rented. It was fun and we all got to try.
Vance on the paddle board:
Me falling off the paddle board:
Banana Boat ride!
This is an actual shark jaw we found in one of the shops near the fish markets:
The loves of my life:
We tried a new Mexican Restaurant since the one we used to go to is no longer there. Don Julio's. Josh got the nachos:
We stopped at a roadside taco place so Vance could try some authentic Mexican tacos made from meats on a spit. He said it was very good:
While we waited for the food, this guy brought out his rag and bucket of water and washed our whole car for us. Josh gave him $5.
Back on the beach, under the cabana, Vance, Josh, and Loye tried a Pina Colada. It was cool to see them core the pineapple and use it as a cup.
And the other love of my life, JoJo loved running in the water:
We saw lots of cool things on the beach. This gooey slug thing was so big!
Josh found this Octopus early in the morning before the tide came in:
josh found this awesome shell in town by the Marina:
Layton and Luke spent some time looking for crabs:
And they found three of these! They were the size of my hand!
Then we buried Layton in the sand and altered his physique a little:
My boys:
The Whittles: what a fun family!
Man, I love him:
Colette and Randy Whittle:
Back under the cabana, the two Physical Therapists enjoy their week away from work with tacos and burritos and Mexican Coke:
The whole group:
Someone has put on some serious weight: Yikes. Treadmill here I come!
Josh found a waterproof camera at the Salt River a few years ago and it still works but sometimes the pictures come out distorted. And the screen is too dark to see what you're taking a picture of so I just pointed it in the general direction of people and hoped I caught some good shots. I took this of Josh boogie boarding on the first day, right before the wave he was riding took me down!
This is Josh, Noah, and Loye:
Noah and Loye:
The pools at La Palomas are awesome. I love the lazy river:
Josh took this one of the resort against the sunset:
HOT TUB!!!
The view from our room:
Noah and Josh and Loye modeling some of the Mexican attire in town:
This is right inside the entrance to the Mexican version of Walmart, the Bodega Aurrera. There is also a Sam's Cub now and a Little Caesars.
It is always sad to leave Rocky Point and a week never seems long enough but we are so glad for the time we do get to spend down there. This year we were blessed to stay up in a three bed two bath condo at the top. Some good friends of ours own the condo and gave us a smoking deal on the rent and we had a wonderful time! I think I will always have a place in my heart for Rocky Point. Its in my blood now. It is part of me. And I can't wait to go back.
