As 2009 comes to a close, I've been reflecting back on what has happened this year and the things I am grateful for. So that I don't totally bore you, I've listed my top 5...in no particular order.
1. My health. I've been cancer free for a year and a half and having this whole year with only check ups has been wonderful. I came down with a cold this week, and it's the first one I've had since 2007. So even besides being cancer free, I've been generally very healthy as well. And this week has reminded me how much I hate being sick.
2. Shane. I know, I've been married for almost 2 years so I should just think it's no big deal anymore, but I do. I love having Shane in my life. Besides how much I love him, I love everything he does for me, how patient he is with me and how hard he works at his business. We never get sick of each other, even when we're together 24x7 on trips, etc.
3. Facebook. I know this one sounds crazy, but since I signed up on Facebook this year, I have been so grateful for all the past friends that I've found that I had lost touch with over the years. Some didn't even know I had gotten married. It's been fun catching up with everyone.
4. Hair. Finally...the last few months I can honestly say I feel like I look like myself again. I didn't mind having short hair that much but whenever I would see pictures of myself, I just didn't looke like 'me.' Finally my hair has grown out enough where I look like me again. I love it. Although I don't love having to blowdry it again, but I do it and am grateful I have enough to blowdry.
5. Vacations. Since the doctors won't let me have anything to do with starting a family, we've been fortunate enough to go on some fun trips this year. One day we won't have the luxury of just packing up and flying off somewhere...although I'll be grateful for that change as well. We've had some fun times and great memories.
Happy New Year everyone!
2009 was better then 2008 and here's hoping 2010 will be even better!!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Mele Kalikimaka
Shane and I decided to go to Hawaii the week before Christmas. I had some more time I needed to take off before the end of the year and we both wanted to go somewhere and get out of Utah for a bit...so Hawaii it was. We had both been to Hawaii before but neither of us had been to Maui, so that is where we headed. We were there for 6 nights and to say we had a fabulous time would really be an understatement. There are going to be a lot of pictures, I'll try to just use the best ones but feel free to scroll through any you don't want to look at.
Day 1
We got in really late the first night. We had found a little one bedroom condo right on the beach and hoped it was a good choice. When we got there the first night, I could hear the waves crashing from our living room...I was pretty excited but went to bed. The next morning I woke up to this...
This picture was taken from our lanai with my cell phone, no zooming. I was sooo excited! I jumped into my bathing suit and headed down to the pool which overlooked the ocean. The ocean came right up to the wall of where the pool was so there was no sand to lay on there, which was a little sad, but I didn't even care. Here's what I looked at every morning while at the pool/ocean right outside our place.
So as I sat there the first morning, I had my book and I was all prepared to read and relax. As I started the first page, I happened to look up and out to the ocean and low and behold, there was a whale that I could clearly see from where I was sitting. I almost started screaming I was so excited. I didn't have my camera and not sure I would've gotten a good picture of it, but it was so fun to watch. You could see the tops of their backs and then a few times I saw their tail fly up in the air. Needless to say I didn't get one page read that morning, and in all I saw 5 different whales for the couple hours I was down there.
That afternoon we went exploring to the north end of West Maui. We saw a few different beaches, hiked to a blow hole, and checked out the Ritz Carlton while laying in one of their hammocks. The blow hole was pretty cool to see. It wouldn't do anything for a while and then would blow pretty big.
That night we came back to our condo and watched the sunset. The tradition at the place we were staying is that every night at sunset everyone blows their conch shells to announce sunset. I tried doing it, but was horrible, Shane did a great job.
Later that night, Shane re-enacted our day right in the comfort of home. So you don't really have to go to Hawaii to experience some of the things we did, you just need a bottle of water.
The blowhole re-enactment
The conch shell re-enactment
Day 2
After sitting at the pool/beach for the morning and seeing no whales, we decided to go whale watching. We lucked out and booked a trip that usually holds 110 people and only had 60 on our boat, so we had lots of room and we had a great trip and saw several whales. Twice we saw 2 whales together playing and splashing around. It was super fun and I loved seeing them closer up. It was hard to get good, clear, pictures, when you are trying to focus, hold the camera at the exact spot waiting for the whale to pop up and take it at the right time all while the boat is rocking back and forth. I got a few good ones I think.
Why is Shane looking at me, and why I am taking a picture of Shane, when the people behind us seem to be taking a picture of some whales?
Day 3
Thursday we headed down to South Maui to check out the beaches and area over there. We laid on the beach for a while and then drove around. We checked out the Grand Wailea resort...beautiful, and just enjoyed the area down there.
That night we decided instead of paying $100 each for a luau, that we would have our own luau at the condo. So we had teriyaki chicken, rice and fresh pineapple and listened to some hawaiian music all while watching the sunset. After dinner we went over to the boardwalk at Kaanapali beach and low and behold we came across some fire dancers just finishing a luau and we were able to get a good view of their finale, which was an excellent way to end our luau night.
Day 4
Friday we stayed around the area and just decided to head over to Kaanapli beach and just lay around and and play in the sand. I decided to make 'Frosty the sandman' and I have to say I think he turned out pretty good. Lots of people walked by and were looking at it smiling. I knew they wanted a picture of it but no one dared ask while we were there.
That night (after the pretty sunset below...I love watching the sun set!) we decided to go on a Hawaiian Christmas Lights tour. I decided that the houses in Maui, either had no lights, or they went all out, and I mean a ton of lights. Several houses could've been featured on Lampoons Christmas Vacation.
We saw this cute little display of Santa in a bathing suit being pulled by dolphins instead of reindeer.
They lit up the famous Lahaina Banyan tree (pictured in the daytime we saw a different day. The lights, which in no way compare to the lights at Temple square, we wished they would've done it that way, but still fun.) It's all one tree in the picture and you can't get the whole tree in one picture.
Day 5
Today we ventured out and drove the famous 'Road to Hana.' For those who don't know what that is, it's a very long, windy road but has a lot of waterfalls, beaches and beautiful scenery. It takes ALL day to drive it though. You can only go about 15 mph and many bridges are only one lane so you have to stop and wait for cars approaching you before going over the bridge. We left our condo at 7am and got home about 430 that afternoon. Here are some of the highlights from our day trip of the Road to Hana.
There was a storm rolling in (luckily it only rained on our way home) but the surf along the beaches was huge and so incredible to watch. I could've watched it all day. The pictures don't do it justice.
We saw tall waterfalls, big waterfalls, a black sand beach, red sand beach, a lava tube and then 7 sacred pools (of which there are not 7, it's a made up name, but still a really cool spot to check out.)
Day 6
The last day we were there, we packed up and left our beautiful condo on the beach. For our last day there we decided to drive up to Haleakala Crater. You start at sea level and go up to 10,000 feet to the summit. You start at 80 degrees and when we got up there it was 45. You start below the clouds and soon you are even with them and then above them. At the top there is this beautiful valley, which they call a crater but technically it isn't a real crater. Anyways, it was beautiful to look at and the views of the island were incredible.
After we came down we went and got some dinner and sat and watched some boogie boarders and surfers ride some pretty decent waves. I was impressed and some of these kids were pretty young. We enjoyed our last sunset and then headed to the airport for our long red-eye flight home of which I slept very little.
One additional comment...every single morning I (Shane luckily enough usually slept through it) was woken up by a loud rooster. It was so annoying. So I did some research only to find out that Maui has a rooster 'situation' that has gotten out of control. Low and behold on the road to Hana we saw several roosters just wandering around. Just a random fact I thought you might want to know about.
Are you seriously still reading this? If anyone is still reading this then I am sorry this has been so long, hopefully you at least enjoyed the pictures. Just know I have probably triple of what I actually posted so it was hard to just pick these ones.
Hawaii really was amazing, relaxing, fun, fabulous, incredible, beautiful and just down right what a real vacation should be all about.
Day 1
We got in really late the first night. We had found a little one bedroom condo right on the beach and hoped it was a good choice. When we got there the first night, I could hear the waves crashing from our living room...I was pretty excited but went to bed. The next morning I woke up to this...
This picture was taken from our lanai with my cell phone, no zooming. I was sooo excited! I jumped into my bathing suit and headed down to the pool which overlooked the ocean. The ocean came right up to the wall of where the pool was so there was no sand to lay on there, which was a little sad, but I didn't even care. Here's what I looked at every morning while at the pool/ocean right outside our place.
So as I sat there the first morning, I had my book and I was all prepared to read and relax. As I started the first page, I happened to look up and out to the ocean and low and behold, there was a whale that I could clearly see from where I was sitting. I almost started screaming I was so excited. I didn't have my camera and not sure I would've gotten a good picture of it, but it was so fun to watch. You could see the tops of their backs and then a few times I saw their tail fly up in the air. Needless to say I didn't get one page read that morning, and in all I saw 5 different whales for the couple hours I was down there.
That afternoon we went exploring to the north end of West Maui. We saw a few different beaches, hiked to a blow hole, and checked out the Ritz Carlton while laying in one of their hammocks. The blow hole was pretty cool to see. It wouldn't do anything for a while and then would blow pretty big.
That night we came back to our condo and watched the sunset. The tradition at the place we were staying is that every night at sunset everyone blows their conch shells to announce sunset. I tried doing it, but was horrible, Shane did a great job.
Later that night, Shane re-enacted our day right in the comfort of home. So you don't really have to go to Hawaii to experience some of the things we did, you just need a bottle of water.
The blowhole re-enactment
The conch shell re-enactment
Day 2
After sitting at the pool/beach for the morning and seeing no whales, we decided to go whale watching. We lucked out and booked a trip that usually holds 110 people and only had 60 on our boat, so we had lots of room and we had a great trip and saw several whales. Twice we saw 2 whales together playing and splashing around. It was super fun and I loved seeing them closer up. It was hard to get good, clear, pictures, when you are trying to focus, hold the camera at the exact spot waiting for the whale to pop up and take it at the right time all while the boat is rocking back and forth. I got a few good ones I think.
Why is Shane looking at me, and why I am taking a picture of Shane, when the people behind us seem to be taking a picture of some whales?
Day 3
Thursday we headed down to South Maui to check out the beaches and area over there. We laid on the beach for a while and then drove around. We checked out the Grand Wailea resort...beautiful, and just enjoyed the area down there.
That night we decided instead of paying $100 each for a luau, that we would have our own luau at the condo. So we had teriyaki chicken, rice and fresh pineapple and listened to some hawaiian music all while watching the sunset. After dinner we went over to the boardwalk at Kaanapali beach and low and behold we came across some fire dancers just finishing a luau and we were able to get a good view of their finale, which was an excellent way to end our luau night.
Day 4
Friday we stayed around the area and just decided to head over to Kaanapli beach and just lay around and and play in the sand. I decided to make 'Frosty the sandman' and I have to say I think he turned out pretty good. Lots of people walked by and were looking at it smiling. I knew they wanted a picture of it but no one dared ask while we were there.
That night (after the pretty sunset below...I love watching the sun set!) we decided to go on a Hawaiian Christmas Lights tour. I decided that the houses in Maui, either had no lights, or they went all out, and I mean a ton of lights. Several houses could've been featured on Lampoons Christmas Vacation.
We saw this cute little display of Santa in a bathing suit being pulled by dolphins instead of reindeer.
They lit up the famous Lahaina Banyan tree (pictured in the daytime we saw a different day. The lights, which in no way compare to the lights at Temple square, we wished they would've done it that way, but still fun.) It's all one tree in the picture and you can't get the whole tree in one picture.
Day 5
Today we ventured out and drove the famous 'Road to Hana.' For those who don't know what that is, it's a very long, windy road but has a lot of waterfalls, beaches and beautiful scenery. It takes ALL day to drive it though. You can only go about 15 mph and many bridges are only one lane so you have to stop and wait for cars approaching you before going over the bridge. We left our condo at 7am and got home about 430 that afternoon. Here are some of the highlights from our day trip of the Road to Hana.
There was a storm rolling in (luckily it only rained on our way home) but the surf along the beaches was huge and so incredible to watch. I could've watched it all day. The pictures don't do it justice.
We saw tall waterfalls, big waterfalls, a black sand beach, red sand beach, a lava tube and then 7 sacred pools (of which there are not 7, it's a made up name, but still a really cool spot to check out.)
Day 6
The last day we were there, we packed up and left our beautiful condo on the beach. For our last day there we decided to drive up to Haleakala Crater. You start at sea level and go up to 10,000 feet to the summit. You start at 80 degrees and when we got up there it was 45. You start below the clouds and soon you are even with them and then above them. At the top there is this beautiful valley, which they call a crater but technically it isn't a real crater. Anyways, it was beautiful to look at and the views of the island were incredible.
After we came down we went and got some dinner and sat and watched some boogie boarders and surfers ride some pretty decent waves. I was impressed and some of these kids were pretty young. We enjoyed our last sunset and then headed to the airport for our long red-eye flight home of which I slept very little.
One additional comment...every single morning I (Shane luckily enough usually slept through it) was woken up by a loud rooster. It was so annoying. So I did some research only to find out that Maui has a rooster 'situation' that has gotten out of control. Low and behold on the road to Hana we saw several roosters just wandering around. Just a random fact I thought you might want to know about.
Are you seriously still reading this? If anyone is still reading this then I am sorry this has been so long, hopefully you at least enjoyed the pictures. Just know I have probably triple of what I actually posted so it was hard to just pick these ones.
Hawaii really was amazing, relaxing, fun, fabulous, incredible, beautiful and just down right what a real vacation should be all about.
Monday, December 21, 2009
A 'no picture' post
I haven't posted in so long. A lot has been going on. I mean how can it not, being as it is the Christmas season. We have been up to a lot, but for some reason haven't gotten one picture of anything. So this post is just a little of what we've been doing to celebrate this Christmas season. And to make up for no pictures, the next post, coming shortly after this one, will have LOTS of pictures, I promise...and really pretty ones at that. Oh the suspense...
Temple Square Lights - By far the best lights ever. I went down with the Young Women to watch the Alta High Madrigals perform. 2 of our laurels (Alex and Linda) are in the madrigals so it was fun to see them perform. Then we walked around temple square to look at the lights. It was nice going on a week night and a little earlier then usual because it was not crowded at all so it was very enjoyable...although very cold that night as well.
Thanksgiving Point Lights - One Friday night Shane and I decided to go drive through Thanksgiving point and see the lights. I have always wanted to see them, but never had. It was fun in our warm car and it wasn't that crowded, but overall I wasn't that impressed with it. I think if we had kids it would've been a lot more fun for them. But I'm glad we went and did it.
Family Cousin Christmas Party - Every year my parents host a Christmas dinner for our cousins on the Goold side of the family. We always have so much fun getting caught up on what everyone has been up to. We also play a game, that I am not even sure how to explain but I'll just leave it at...our side of the family always beats the Peterson side of the family. We also usually play the chimes although we end up screaming (in a funny way) at everyone that messes up, we rarely get it right the whole way through one song. A fun night as always.
Forgotten Carols - I love the music from Forgotten Carols by Michael McLean. Every few years or so I like to go and watch the performance of this very cute and clever story. I love it. This year Brigitte and Tyler came with us and we had a great time. Of course no Forgotten Carols would be complete unless we could link arms at the end and sing 'We can be together forever.' So link we did, and this was the first year I really could link arms with my cute husband and sing it like I really meant it. Cheesy I know, but so fun too.
Ward Christmas Party - Shane and I are on the activities committee for our ward and so we had to help with our ward Christmas party this year. We did the advertising and then helped set up, serve and then clean up. Last year when we went we sat on the floor in the corner eating our dinner because there was no where to sit. So this year now that I am on the committee I insisted that they set up more chairs and move the food to another room. They did, and I and many other people were very appreciative. I think it turned out really nice and several people said it was the best one in many years.
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert - I won the lottery. I know Mormons don't believe in the lottery but when it comes to getting Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert tickets....they do. I entered the 'randomly selected' drawing and 'was selected' (aka lottery) 4 tickets to the Sunday morning concert. It was early, cold, and snowing that day, and the tickets were all the way in the balcony on the side...but it was still worth it I thought. It was so good. Natalie Cole was their guest performer and I loved the songs they sang.
Stacy's visit - My good friend Stacy came and paid us a short visit one weekend. She actually came for a friends wedding but it was fun because she stayed with us. In the past her parents have lived here and she would always stay with them. Well they moved this year, and now she gets to stay with me when she comes out. I hope she'll come visit often...in fact I wish she would just move out here!! hint, hint...
Tim Tams - If you remember the post from last year about our Tim Tam slam party, this has been the first year that we haven't had it...sad. The good news is that Tim Tams are now sold at your local grocery store. I've seen them at Smiths and Target, go get yours now. I've had Tim Tams at my house straight since I found out. Oh so good. Although, they don't replace the Tim Tam slam party, maybe we'll still have it in January. This has nothing to do with Christmas other then it's always around this time of year that we have the party and having Tim Tams around all the time has been a real treat for me.
Cameron's Waffle Dinner - Our friends Cameron and Megan invited us, Brigitte and Tyler, and Robert and Carey over for a waffle dinner one night. It was fun to get together and the waffles were great. Well at least mine was. Cameron and Robert had the most disgusting toppings on their waffle. Cameron, I found out that night, is a blog stalker of mine...so this was for him so that maybe, just maybe he'll make a comment. :)
Shopping completed - I was able to get all, and I mean all of my Christmas shopping done by December 12 this year. I know that doesn't sound that great to all of you who get it done before Thanksgiving but that was very good for me. It's nice not to have to rush out in the crowds...and today the snow to get the last few items done. I feel so free. But, the main reason I did this is because Shane and I decided to go to Hawaii the week before Christmas...wahoo! Next post coming shortly.
Temple Square Lights - By far the best lights ever. I went down with the Young Women to watch the Alta High Madrigals perform. 2 of our laurels (Alex and Linda) are in the madrigals so it was fun to see them perform. Then we walked around temple square to look at the lights. It was nice going on a week night and a little earlier then usual because it was not crowded at all so it was very enjoyable...although very cold that night as well.
Thanksgiving Point Lights - One Friday night Shane and I decided to go drive through Thanksgiving point and see the lights. I have always wanted to see them, but never had. It was fun in our warm car and it wasn't that crowded, but overall I wasn't that impressed with it. I think if we had kids it would've been a lot more fun for them. But I'm glad we went and did it.
Family Cousin Christmas Party - Every year my parents host a Christmas dinner for our cousins on the Goold side of the family. We always have so much fun getting caught up on what everyone has been up to. We also play a game, that I am not even sure how to explain but I'll just leave it at...our side of the family always beats the Peterson side of the family. We also usually play the chimes although we end up screaming (in a funny way) at everyone that messes up, we rarely get it right the whole way through one song. A fun night as always.
Forgotten Carols - I love the music from Forgotten Carols by Michael McLean. Every few years or so I like to go and watch the performance of this very cute and clever story. I love it. This year Brigitte and Tyler came with us and we had a great time. Of course no Forgotten Carols would be complete unless we could link arms at the end and sing 'We can be together forever.' So link we did, and this was the first year I really could link arms with my cute husband and sing it like I really meant it. Cheesy I know, but so fun too.
Ward Christmas Party - Shane and I are on the activities committee for our ward and so we had to help with our ward Christmas party this year. We did the advertising and then helped set up, serve and then clean up. Last year when we went we sat on the floor in the corner eating our dinner because there was no where to sit. So this year now that I am on the committee I insisted that they set up more chairs and move the food to another room. They did, and I and many other people were very appreciative. I think it turned out really nice and several people said it was the best one in many years.
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert - I won the lottery. I know Mormons don't believe in the lottery but when it comes to getting Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert tickets....they do. I entered the 'randomly selected' drawing and 'was selected' (aka lottery) 4 tickets to the Sunday morning concert. It was early, cold, and snowing that day, and the tickets were all the way in the balcony on the side...but it was still worth it I thought. It was so good. Natalie Cole was their guest performer and I loved the songs they sang.
Stacy's visit - My good friend Stacy came and paid us a short visit one weekend. She actually came for a friends wedding but it was fun because she stayed with us. In the past her parents have lived here and she would always stay with them. Well they moved this year, and now she gets to stay with me when she comes out. I hope she'll come visit often...in fact I wish she would just move out here!! hint, hint...
Tim Tams - If you remember the post from last year about our Tim Tam slam party, this has been the first year that we haven't had it...sad. The good news is that Tim Tams are now sold at your local grocery store. I've seen them at Smiths and Target, go get yours now. I've had Tim Tams at my house straight since I found out. Oh so good. Although, they don't replace the Tim Tam slam party, maybe we'll still have it in January. This has nothing to do with Christmas other then it's always around this time of year that we have the party and having Tim Tams around all the time has been a real treat for me.
Cameron's Waffle Dinner - Our friends Cameron and Megan invited us, Brigitte and Tyler, and Robert and Carey over for a waffle dinner one night. It was fun to get together and the waffles were great. Well at least mine was. Cameron and Robert had the most disgusting toppings on their waffle. Cameron, I found out that night, is a blog stalker of mine...so this was for him so that maybe, just maybe he'll make a comment. :)
Shopping completed - I was able to get all, and I mean all of my Christmas shopping done by December 12 this year. I know that doesn't sound that great to all of you who get it done before Thanksgiving but that was very good for me. It's nice not to have to rush out in the crowds...and today the snow to get the last few items done. I feel so free. But, the main reason I did this is because Shane and I decided to go to Hawaii the week before Christmas...wahoo! Next post coming shortly.
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