We just got back from a 3 week trip to the US.  I debated on putting the whole trip in one blog post, but I think it would make the post extra long, so I am going to break it into smaller posts.  Our first stop was LA to board the Navigator of the Seas Cruise ship.  My dad gave us the most awesome Christmas present of being together the week before Christmas on a cruise ship.  I am not just talking about him gifting my family of 6 the cruise... he gave the cruise to all of his kids and grandkids, so my whole family was together, and it was awesome!  We had the best time, and my kids say the cruise was their favorite part of the whole trip.

Before I go on about the cruise, I must mention that my baby brother, born 17.5 years after me, just came home from his mission a few days before the cruise.  We were not able to meet him at the St. George, UT airport, but we got to see him the day we flew into LA. We were both jet-lagged in the picture. lol

Not only did we get to see little brother, Aaron, but I haven't seen most of my family since before he left on his mission when he was getting ready to go.  It was a happy reunion to see everyone, and I feel like the week was too fast.  

The first day we loaded the ship, and headed for lunch.  One reason I love cruises is because of ALL the food you get.  If you know me, you know I LOVE FOOD.  Payson takes after his mother, and he said his favorite part about the cruise was the food.  We enjoyed all you can eat free ice cream on the pool deck, and fancy dinners every night, plus breakfast and lunch buffet, and the ship even had a place to get food for free in between meals when the restaurants were closed. 

Our second day was a cruise day, meaning we spent the day at sea.  The kids had a blast exploring the ship which had water slides, a rock wall, mini putt, swimming pools and hot tubs, and a sports court.  My bigs, Alexis, and Kayla, and I all went ice skating, as well. In the morning,  I booked us a conference room for a couple hours, so we could have some good ole family time and play games.  We took funny pictures, passed around a giant ball of saran wrap with candy inside, and played Ship Island.  Later that day, we dressed up real pretty to take a big family portrait, and smaller individual family pictures, as well, only to find out they were not that good, and costs $250 for one digital print.  Needless to say, we didn't purchase the pictures, but we had fun at our fancy dinner that night.  In fact, I had my littles with me, and we went to the wrong dining room wondering why everyone else was late.  Finally, a server came and told me I was in the wrong place.  Oh, and the dresses the girls are wearing in the pictures, were all made by their Grandma Teresa!  

Our third day we ported at Catalina Island.  It is a cute quaint island off the California coast. We walked around, found a couple playgrounds, and waded our feet (some of us), except Avenly and Trexton, who got more than just their feet wet.

I haven't mentioned any activities after dinner, but the shows we went to, including the ice show, were all awesome and very professional.  One night the girls sang karaoke, and stole the stage. :)  

Our last full day on the cruise we ported at Ensenada.  We took the kids off the boat with us, so they could buy souvenirs, then we put them in Kid's club, so we could have a little date off the boat.  We just went to the Mexican grocery store, and watched Benji and Kayla try spicy gummy worms.  After date time, we pulled kids out of Kid's Club and hit up laser tag.

I was not ready for the cruise to end.  We seriously all had so much fun, except Josh didn't feel that great, but he even had a good time.  Here is the report (everyone's favorite thing) from the cruise:

Me- The food and being with my family

Avenly - Rocking climbing wall and water slides and playing with cousins

Zaylee- Free ice cream

Payson - Playing with cousins and free food and ice cream

Trexton - Toys in Kid's Club

Josh- Nice Dinners, especially the french onion soup

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas with my family in St. George.  The kids decorated gingerbread houses with their partner, went swimming, and played at the park.  I love St. George weather in the Winter!  

We stayed in a hotel really close to my parent's house. Avenly was not happy we were sleeping in the hotel and not Grandma and Grandpa's house, but it worked out. Santa still came to the hotel, and then after church, where Uncle Aaron gave his homecoming talk, we went over to my parents to open the rest of presents, which wasn't many.  We gave the kids (and ourselves) Disney T-shirts with a ticket to Disneyland in the shirts.  They were pretty excited to get Disneyland as their big gift, especially because Grandma Molly came with us, but that's another blog. We also did white elephant on Christmas, and it was pretty fun to see how the little people reacted to what they got.

After church we took a picture with the nieces and nephews of Aaron and put them in the same position they were in when we took the same picture two years ago before his mission. It is fun to see the pictures side by side to see how everyone has grown and changed over the last two years.

    
Since our giant family picture on the cruise didn't work out so well, we attempted one in the church.  Payson's eyes were rolling because he was trying not to blink, so I used a little app to swap his head.  It probably didn't make it look any better, but  that's why he looks wiggy in the picture.

I love my family, and so glad for the time I got to spend with them. Thanks, Dad, for the cruise and memories!