Guatemala

I wish I knew Spanish
March 25th - April 3rd

We left for a 10 day trip with four of our favorite people in the entire world. Off to see Guatemala, up close and personal.

Guatemala City - Lane is in his element - Santiago market - Jer goes native - boating on Lake Atitlan - iced drinks served poolside - safe travels

Singing hymns in Spanish - a damp towel doubles as an iron - Guatemalan hot chocolate - walking into Mexico - Izapa Estela 5 stone - hitching a ride in the back of a pick-up

Quetzaltenango, a.k.a. Xela (8,000 ft elevation) - Santa Maria volcano hike to 12,256 ft - clean feet - goober sandwiches - Flores - pyramids - safe hiking

black beans - Hiper Paiz - Tikal - Antigua parades - five queen beds in one room - TUMULOS! - safe travels - signs - The finale, Guatemalan LDS Temple

We are indebted to Stephanie & Jerel, Meredith & Tyson for allowing us to tag along. An extra thanks to Tyson and Meredith, our outstanding tour guides.

Where to next guys?
Love, Dad & Mom

March Gladness

I'm glad because...

My Bedroom wall art projects are completed and hung. I threw a private birthday party for my honey, who let me beat him at Gobblet - a fun game - gobble up, line up, and win! I attended Spoken Word w/ Colleen, Gaylin & Kyle Poulson. Bumped into freshman roomie, Cathy at Spoken Word. I enjoy cooking GREEN, at least on March 17th. Callie asked my advice for Raylie's room. SPRING is budding in my garden next door.

See...

March gladness beats March madness.
I acknowledge God's goodness in my life.
My soul is happy!

Carolyn

Ya'at'eeh

ROAD TRIP
Red Rock & Blue Sky Country
March 2nd - 9th

We took our favorite car for a ride...okay, so it's our only car (for now).

Our destination: Glendale, Arizona - a superb suburb of Phoenix

Reason: to visit Carolyn's youngest sister, Cecile and her family. The Shumways have 7 children; 2 daughters and 5 older sons. Caleb served a mission to Peru, LeGrand is coming home from Korea, Jordan has his call to serve in Atlanta, Kendric graduates HS this year and Dallin is 14. The girls, Anneliese and Tayva are pretty and pretty talented. It has been a joy watching this family grow up. They are so good and kind.

Way points included

Moab, Monticello LDS Temple - Valley of the Gods - Goosenecks State park - Monument Valley - A Phoenix Suns game (vs the JAZZ!) - Shumway digs - Airport (met LeGrand's flight) - Grand Canyon West

Other than seeing LeGrand we didn't plan anything before hand. Just threw stuff in the car and headed South on i-15. No route was mapped for us. Went with the flow.

Surprises:

-Valley of the Gods is most worthwhile prior to entering Monument Valley

-"The View", a new hotel inside Monument Valley

-Hiking trail around the West Mitten

-Reservation for dinner took on a whole new meaning (Navajo tacos by Navajo Chef on Navajo reservation)

-Discovered Jazz were in Phoenix 3 hrs before tip off

-Shumway kids grow cooler every year

-Amazingly sweet heavy laden grapefruit trees

-cameras on skywalk are forbidden

It was a stunningly beautiful road trip.

Always grateful for the experience and to be safely home.

We cherish our family,

Mom & Dad

Carolyn and Lane

February features

Callie & Rayson celebrate birthdays. Brennan joins the family! Downtown Salt Lake City continues to rise. Princess Audrey plays sleeping beauty. Jami and Carolyn goof off trying on skinny jeans just for laughs. Chuck E. Cheese entertains while Bullocks go cruising.

We do so enjoy our lives, do we not!?

"When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands of our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities."
--- Pres. Benson ---

Love,
Momma & Poppy
Carolyn & Lane

Sweet Home UTAH

January 2010 wrap up:

A 3 hour layer over in Seattle yields breakfast with Lincoln & Carrie's family and Britni & Brian's family. A small happy miracle!

My momma hosts her annual "snowman" dinner in the dead of winter. All local Creek children appreciate the culinary talents of this renowned food-pusher.

Anissa's science project measures the likelihood of drawing out a red M&M from a bag. (Why didn't I think of that?)

Jami turns 23 and shares her chocolate mousse pies after a swim party.

Tagg makes every blog better!

Lane loses his 3 week beard and we are happy to be home again.

Love,
Dad & Mom
El & Sea

OAHU done right!

Our plan: 1 island - OAHU, 4 different beach house rentals on 4 different coasts/shores.

But first...what to do when the airline delays your Waikiki Beach access 7 hours?
-Eat at the LAX Encounter Restaurant, using your free airport vouchers.
-Download backgammon on your iPhone.
-Crochet an afghan.
-Nap on the floor.
-Take great pleasure in the FREE first class upgrade to Hawaii.

Waikiki...Diamond Head...next stop...
North Shore Highlights
Jan 5th-10th

Randi...Hau Tree Beach House rental... ...Matsumoto's Shave Ice...Bonzai Pipeline...PCC (Polynesian Cultural Center)..."Ha', the Breath of Life", stage show...

West Shore Highlights
Jan 10th-14th

Wai'anae beach house rental...unusual home design...sounds of crashing waves lull us to sleep...sunsets on the front lanai...keep the black flag handy for ants...nearby transient beach camps...you know you're in Hawaii when milk is $7.29 a gallon...

Waikiki Beach Highlights
Jan 14th-17th

Sunsets...Ala Moana Beach Park...McArthur girls visit...Paige transforms into a sea creature...Lane transforms into a hairy monster...Carolyn crochets...Honolulu Stake Conference...

East Shore Highlights
Jan 17th-22nd

Kailua beach...Lanikai beach...Boots & Kimo's macadamia nut pancakes...Musibe sandwiches (spam, rice, seaweed wrap)...indoor lizards...snorkeling with sea turtles, dolphins, fishees, McArthur Clan...horseback riding...

Mt. Olomana hike...

puzzle building...

afghan complete...out of yarn projects...time to head home.

ALOHA!
Dad & Mom
Lane and Carolyn

two zero one zero

Good bye 2009...it's been an experience.

We look back with grateful hearts.

An Ensign article held special meaning during a particularly trying time for us. A few quotes follow:

"In one way or another, great or small, dramatic or incidental, every one of us is going to spend a little time in Liberty Jail - spiritually speaking...
"Furthermore, we note that not only has the Savior suffered, in His case entirely innocently, but so have most of the prophets and other great men and women recorded in the scriptures. The point is this: if you are having a bad day, you've got a lot of company - very, very good company. The best company that has ever lived.
"...every experience can become a redemptive experience if we remain bonded to our Father in Heaven through it. These difficult lessons teach us that man's extremity is God's opportunity, and if we will be humble and faithful, if we will be believing and not curse God for our problems, He can turn the unfair and inhumane and debilitating prisons of our lives into temples - or at least into a circumstance that can bring comfort and revelation, divine companionship and peace."

Thank you Elder Holland. And thank you to each of our children for your support, prayers and listening ears. Talking it out proved very theraputic.

Welcome 2010!!!

Love, Dad & Mom
Lane & Carolyn