BahamaLand

Nate and I were blessed to have a little "get away" last week. Several months ago, a company sent him a brochure about a conference they were hosting at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island of the Bahamas. And he decided he wanted to go. It was a very fun and incredibly relaxing trip. My mom flew out (THANKS MOM!) and stayed with the kiddos for the week. I'm pretty sure that it was great for all of them. Clay even had to take a living show-and-tell (grandma) on Tuesday after we got back. He told some pretty random things about her: how Uncle Andrew's car used to be hers, but he's the youngest and needed the car; how she let them play the x-box when they were done with all their chores; how he likes to play at her house because she has a huge Rescue Heroes ship that they can play with when they go there; but the very cutest thing was at the end, and the teacher asked if there was anything else, he wrapped his arms around her and said, "and I love her." It was just so sweet I wanted to giggle. They made bracelets, turkeys out of cookies, and chocolate butterflies for Vanessa's cupcakes. It sounds like they had fun. I think they needed a break from me just as much as I needed a little break.

Nate, cruising down this insane slide that tunnels through a pool of sharks. Funny thing is that you go too fast to actually see any of them.
Lovely beaches Lonely palm tree

Even more lovely beaches

Amazing aquariums


Unique cultural experience at the Fish Fry.

The rats were much bigger than the fish, but the fries were surely bigger than the cockroaches.

Beauty

The t-shirt says it all. Many people in the Bahamas sported t-shirts declaring their support of the newly elected American President. According to one fellow we talked to, he is the man who will create peaceful resolutions and cure the ailing US economy, on which the Bahaman economy depends for its own well being {tourism}. I really hope they're right.

Atlantis Resort

Morning walk on the beach. Quiet. Peaceful. Salty ocean air blowing through my hair. Ocean waves teasing my toes. Rhythmic pounding of the waves against the shore. What is there not to love?

Happy Halloween

Just a quick picture of the kids from tonight. We have Sam as Indiana Jones, Clay as Mutt Williams (aka Henry Jr), Amelia as Little Bo Peep, and Emma as the lamb. I wish I'd taken more time to take pictures because they were all so priceless all night long. We do quite a bit of traveling in the car on Halloween night, making visits. It really is fun and has become somewhat of a tradition to visit Grandpa up at the ranch, Uncle Burton and Aunt Evelyn, and our old neighbors, Mark and Meryl. This year we added a couple of friends(and about 20 miles) to our list and we were happy that we did! Our little lamb and bo peep did not make it home awake, but when we pulled Emma out of her car seat she was surrounded with candy. Amelia caught on pretty quick and was the first one to each door, reaching for all she could to hit that doorbell. Emma was very interested in each thing that was put into her pumpkin. When she got a little can of playdough, she ran to the car, waving it at Nate (who was driving), saying, na-na-na-na-na-na. What a riot. Clay had to show off his missing teeth and his new sword to everyone we stopped at. We had to tell him to stop telling people that Sam couldn't have the candy they were passing out {he's allergic to nuts}, that we would all combine and redistribute so that Sam was taken care of. I think he enjoyed the socializing just as much as the candy. Sam was the first and the loudest to say thank you. He's really a very gracious boy. OK, so you got more than just a picture. I guess I didn't want to lose the feeling of the night. We really had a ton of fun.

New Favorite Quote

Obstacles are what we see when we stop looking at our goals:

• I'm reminded of this when the reasons why get overwhelmed by the reasons why not.
• I'm reminded of this when all I see are the dangers, rather than the multitudes of opportunity.
• I'm reminded of this when I see the drop-off, the rocks, the stumps rather than the smoothness of the trail that my bike's wheels travel so easily along.
• Yep, those obstacles loom large when I look at them but they disappear as soon as I focus on my goal.

Here's to invisible obstacles and larger-than-life goals.

~missy park, founder title nine

Nate's Elk

This spot is reserved for the hunting story told by Nate. All bragging rights reserved.

Witches & A Pumpkin Patch

There's more to that story, but for now, here's one great picture I got today.

New Dress

Looks pretty cute, huh?

Beautiful work, darling purse.

Thank You Grandma!!!

My Man

I don't think that I have ever been tagged before, but it looks like I'm it. Thanks A.

So, you want to know a little about my man Nate? Here goes.

What's your husbands name? Nathan

How long have you been married? 11 1/2 years

How long did you date? 7 months

How old is he? 32 and 11 months

Who eats more sweets? me, hands down.

Who said "I Love You" first? I can't remember. I think we both knew that the feeling was mutual right from the start.

Who is taller? Nathan

Who is a better singer? tough one. we are both just mediocre. Nate has a nice voice, but a little off key

Who is smarter? Not a fair question. Who's the doctor?

Who does the laundry? Me-all of it

Who pays the bills? Me-all of them

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Me

Does he snore? not usually

What does he do in his spare time? hunt (in the fall) baseball (in the summer) read (at night)

and family stuff

Who mows the lawn? Me - he trims

What is his favorite candy bar? Reeses peanut butter cups

Who cooks dinner? Me

Who drives? Nate

Who is the first to say they are wrong? neither, we're both pretty stubborn

Who kissed who first? Nate kissed me, but only because I told him it would be ok.

Who asked who out first? Who flew to Ohio and was on the doorstep of the plane when I got home off my mission?

Who wears the pants? Depends

Does he say he loves you every day? I believe so.

I should have done this on a day when he hadn't been gone hunting for 3 days and called to tell me he just shot an elk. There is one thing we don't really see eye to eye. He loves it. I don't.

Nonetheless, I love Nate more and more as we experience life together and work to create a loving, honest, and hard-working family. I admire his faith and his gospel knowledge. I love that he adores me and the kiddos. He's wonderful.

So, My turn to tag. I will tag the Perkins girls...Amy, Laura, Vanessa, and Bonnie...you're it!

Just answer the questions above!