General Conference was so awesome it I hated it to end.

Our First Disney Cruise.....What a BLAST!!!

Romeo and Stepe' our servers

Kathleen and Jack

We took our first Disney Cruise last year at the end of January first of February.  It was so fun!  We'd been on a cruise before and wasn't looking forward to dodging the offense drinker, the gambling mid ship and the "adult" crudeness that seems so prevalent. That is the main reason we chose Disney.  We weren't going with any children and people thought we were nuts.  You're paying more money to go Disney and you don't have any kids.  "Won't you get annoyed with all the children?" "What things can an adult do?"  Believe me there was plenty to do.  We wanted this vacation as a restful one. One reason a cruise rather than a destination trip.  But we were plenty busy.  Leave it to Disney not to miss any of the details that make your traveling a pleasure.  We were met at the airport were we left our luggage in competent hands. We boarded buses with entertainment to take us from the airport to the port.  There we were ushered up to the boat and welcomed aboard.  We could have gone swimming or watched a movie or do just what we did - explore the ship.  The only places closed off were the cabins themselves as they were being cleaned for our departure.
   We were on the top deck when the ships party began. Everyone that wanted one was given streamer pon poms to wave as we danced to the music and waved to the people on the shoreline.  As the horns were about to blare there was a warning to cover our ears.  And then the horns blared out. "When you wish upon a star". (Just prior to leaving Brian and I both confessed that life had been so hectic that we weren't in the mood to travel we were a little surly.) but those horns started. Magic came into our hearts.  The feelings were there that we could relax and have the greatest of adventures. We partied like all the other people happy to be on the way and waving good bye.
    We got to our room our luggage there and looked at the schedule for the rest of the evening. We had early dinner in Luminar's cafe.  It was fun and we sat at a table with Jack and Kathleen, a couple that during the week we looked so forward to meeting at dinner so that we could talk about our day. Our server Romeo and Stepe' were awesome.  They got to know us well and would offer us just what they knew we'd like.  The thing about a Disney cruise is that you don't stay in the same dinning room every night, you rotate through 3 dinning areas and your servers rotate with you. The food was heavenly and I thought just the right amount. I always ate desert and usually the sampler platter.
   After dinner we would go to the large theatre for an evening show.  It was always a Disney character show but for us that was thrilling.  The show was awesome and streamers and confetti were shot into the theatre and we were showered with fun! Then off to our cabin for a goodnights rest.
   Since we were in the cheapest room possible we didn't have a window so in the morning it was still pitch black we soon learned to turn on the TV and watch the outside and see the shining sun.  We were up and about to play. Off to eat a great breakfast, tour the ship, exercise in the gym, take a class and of course watch a great movie, and then lay on the deck and read a good book. The vacation had really begun. The first two days were at sea and that is just fine for me.  I love the book gliding along or even rolling in windy weather.

Water taxi

Brian on the truck up to the top of the island.

Me (Sally) looking at the pouring rain over the rain forrest and wondering if I would drowned.

The rain in the rain forest.

St. Martin

The trail head and our guide.

Tropical but not too dense.

Steeper than it looks

Listening to the history from our guide

Mid way down a little sweaty but in good shape.

Old plantations

The island is divided between French and Dutch

   On the 3rd day we landed at St. Martins. We went to the top of the island and did a 4 hour hike through the rain forest. It was a fun way to learn of the land, and see the sights.
   When we got back we were tired and sweaty, we cleaned up for a wonderful dinner Parrot's Cay.

Memorial Weekend

Sunday - McKay, Jena, Moab and Nahvi came over and join Paige, Mason, Kazzie, Evan, Emy, Brian and I. We had our usual flowers to build arrangements for the graves.  We had a great dinner together then went to the cemetary

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Whining

I don't think anyone reads this so today I'm just going to whine.  I'm so tired of hurting.  I when to the gym today to workout with the trainer.  We did abs not good for my back. So now I'm hurting. I know I'm working out because I want to get my back stronger, but I've been hurting worse ever since I started. I just want it to go away. I really have a good life, but I'm so tired of trying to look happy and function with a smile when all the time, I'm just fighting the pain. I know wah wah wah.....

Mallow Family Home Evening

Why oh why didn't I get out my camera last night.  We had our whole family here with the exception of Scott and Jami.  And I didn't get any pictures.  It was so fun.  On the 2nd Sunday of the month we have an extended FHE. We ate dinner before the lesson of Hawaiian Haystacks.  Always yummy and everyone has something they like to eat.  Then we came in the house and we had a lesson on Listening. Listening to the child, the parents, your partner, and of course to the Spirit. Brian got out Grandpa Reese's old radio and tuned the dial to a radio station.  The kids had never seen an old radio like that and it was fun! Then we watched a YouTube Mormon message "Voice of the Spirit"  It really set the mood.  Then I used Russel M. Nelsons talk on learning to listen and finished with a letter I received this week from a friend that had been touched when Reese listened to the Spirit. It was touching. I felt good about the lesson.  Then we went outdoors and lit the fire pit and roasted Marshmallows and had smores.  Everyone had fun!  Hyrum and Angie were hear from Chicago and it was so good to see them. McKay, Jena, Moab, and Nahvi' were here. Jena just getting home from her huge relay race from Brighton(?) to St. George. (She's amazing) and Paige, Mason, Kazzie, Evan and Emy were here from just around the corner. Reese came down, Jami had come to visit him but had gone home before the FHE. We really did have a great time.

Antelope Island Stampede and Balloon Launch

Every year we like to go to the Antelope Island balloon launch.  Even though we have yet to see a real successful one.  This year was blustery and cloudy, but we went regardless. We got up early and loaded our bike into the van.  We ask Scott and Paige if they would shuttle us from the parking lot outside the gate to the event and then drive our van home afterwards so we could ride our bike.

Crazy Winds

It was cool. I'm glad I brought my sweatshirt.  They did try to inflate a couple of balloons but none could launch because of the winds.  I could see why it's scary to launch around alot of people because the ropes get pull across a huge area.  But it was an education and lots of fun. Kazzie ask if she could be the photographer and she took a few of the shots. We had a great time looking at all the beautiful colors.

After the disappointment of not seeing the balloons launch the kids needed a reward for their patients so over to the train ride we went.  They love this little ride and it takes a while so Paige and Scott sat down to relax while Paige fed Emy.

Proud of JENA

AWESOME FAMILY

Isn't she beautiful! Jena has been such an inspiration to us. She joined Riverton's Biggest Loser contest. She worked out on her own and watched her diet. She was always pusher herself hard and giving us all hope and inspiration for our own goals. At the end Jena's friends felt like she needed a make over since she was so awesome. She looks so incredible. She came in 4th place. It was amazing there was the tiniest difference in weight. Fractions of a pound. It was fun for us to see Jena and she didn't stop with the contest. She's gone on to run in half marathons.