BECCA'S ENGAGED!!!

Becca went up to visit her boyfriend (Zach Wixom) in Idaho Falls on Saturday, August 20. She met him at BYU-I and they dated all last semester. I checked on her a few times while she was up there and it seemed like she was having a great time. She was going to come home Monday or Tuesday, but when I called her Sunday, she said that she was coming home on Monday.
We waited all day Monday for her, and she finally made it home around 8:00 that night. She walked in the door, but then someone else walked in behind her. It was Zach. At first it seemed strange because we didn't know he was coming back with her, but then it all hit us. Becca showed us her beautiful ring, and they shared their engagement story.
We are so excited for them. They have set their wedding day for Thursday, December 22, 2011 in the Bountiful temple. We will have a reception that night, and then the next night in Idaho Falls.
She has her wedding dress already, and we are making tons of plans. Becca has to head back to BYU-I in twelve days, so we want to get as much done as we can while we are together.
CONGRATULATIONS, BECCA!

OUR CARNIVAL CRUISE

Our family took a cruise to Mexico just a couple of weeks ago. We went to Cabo San Lucas and Puerta Vallarta. We were on the Carnival Splendor.

It was so fun to take our kids with us and show them what we have been doing when we go on our cruises. Chelsie signed up for Camp Carnival and Nathan signed up for Circle O, but they didn't spend much time there. Mostly, they were with us.

In Cabo, we got a water taxi to take us on a tour, and then they dropped us off at a beach where we played in the water for a couple of hours. Our second day in Cabo, we just shopped (without spending much money).

In Puerto Vallarta we got a taxi/tour guide who took us downtown and told us about the culture and interesting facts about Vallarta. He took us to a beach and then up the jungle to a "water fall" to clean the salt water off of us. We did a little shopping, and really enjoyed that port.

Formal dinners were fun. Every night we ate in the formal dining room (The Gold Pear), but only Monday night and Friday night were the nights that you dress up in your best. Most of the kids tried lobster, Nathan ordered Alligator, Frog Legs, Escargot, and Sushi. There was a section on the menu where they had interesting foods like that. It was fun to watch Chelsie order from the menu, and it was fun for all of us to get treated special. Our servers were Michael (from the Phillippines)and Jhoni (from India).

We did the water slide, swimming, and miniature golf. Danny and David competed in a ping pong tournament. Becca, Nathan, and David did Karaoke. We watched the movies out on the big (huge) screen. The gang checked out games from "The Board Room," and they checked out the library. We saw some fun shows and enjoyed the comedy show.

Every time we turned around, someone had a bowl of ice cream or an ice cream cone in their hands. The kids ordered room service at least twice a day.

We just really had a good time.

CHELSIE TURNS 9

Chelsie had her 9th birthday yesterday. She had a great day at school. Becca and I took her out to Costa Vida for lunch. After school, she got to swim for two hours at her Marissa Urry's house. We got her home and changed just in time to go to Texas Roadhouse for her birthday. She loves their hot rolls and cinamon-honey butter. She got to sit on the saddle (their birthday thing) and have them celebrate her birthday and eat her free ice cream with chocolate sauce.

When we got home, she opened her presents. She received a candy machine and some refill candy, a jewelry box, some crayons and a coloring book, some money, her own pound of Cavanaugh's chocolates (she has been wanting that for months), and her own DSi.

It was a good day. She had a white cake with Oreo cookies crushed up in the batter with vanilla frosting with Oreao cookies crushed up in it and Oreo cookies crumbled over the top. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHELSIE!!!!

NATHAN TURNS 13

Nathan had his 13th birthday on the 4th of July. We didn't have "normal" birthday candles, so we recycled some that were in our candle bin. He was o.k. with that.

RACHEL'S GRADUATION

Rachel graduated from Bountiful High School on June 3, 2011. She is such a sweety. David and I are the only ones who attended the graduation ceremony because they only pass out two tickets. We could have asked for more, and if they had any available, we might have gotten them, but we probably could have only gotten 1 or 2 more.

We went to Sizzler with the Behunins (our long-time friends) before the graduation. It was very relaxing and pleasant. Kathy's mom and dad were there along with the White family. It was a nice day and we were so proud of Rachel. After graduation, Rachel went to the all-night party till about 4:00 in the morning. She had fun, but slept all day the next day.

CARISSA AND DANNY OPEN PRESENTS

Carissa and Danny returned from the honeymoon to San Diego, and on Sunday, May 15, came to our house for a present opening party. His parents and some of his siblings came along too, and we had Sunday dinner together. We had to wait for David to get home from his meetings at the church, and may have even started opening presents without him. I can't remember.

Anyway, they got lots of nice presents. People were so generous, and all of the gifts have really helped them set up their cute little apartment.

CARISSA AND DANNY GET MARRIED

On May 6, 2011, Carissa and Danny were married in the Bountiful Temple. It was a beautiful day, which was a miracle. Every day before and after seemed to be cold and stormy, but on their day, it was a lovely, warm day. They seemed to be having such fun the whole day.

The ceremony was beautiful. It was different being the mother of the bride. I guess I never thought too much about the day that I would be sitting next to my daughter as the officiator in the temle counciled the couple and performed the sealing. We could only invite 50 people, so most of the poeple there were family. The sealing room was full. Carissa and Danny were glowing.

Taking pictures outside the temple went well. The bridal party stayed around as others headed to the church for the lunch. Danny's mom and dad supplied the lunch of Chicken Cordon Bleau, yummy rice, rolls with butter, green salad, and a variety of cheesecakes. It was set so nicely and tasted delicious.

From there, we headed to the Allred's backyard to get ready for the reception. They were so generous in letting us use that as our setting for the reception. It was so pretty with their white picket fence, lovely greenery and flowers, and peaceful back yard. Thanks to many friends, the decorations, tables, food, and music were perfect. It was amazing. I had such a fun night talking with people I hadn't seen for years along with my family, ward family, and neighbors. It was delightful!

Carissa put a lot of work into her reception, and it payed off.