Christmas!!!

We had a super fun Christmas this year. We all went over to Todd's brother's home for Christmas Eve dinner and then spent the night at Mike and Sues house because of the blizzard. It was shocking to feel cold weather after having spent two weeks in warm humid weather. It was a reminder of the time of year though. Christmas morning we woke up and had breakfast and had a leisurely day with Mike, Sue, Brock, and Leslee. It was wonderful!!

Todd and I making silly faces at the freezing cold weather outside!!!
Dylan getting ready to eat some yummy dinner
Mike and Sue enjoying dinner
Nathan waiting to get something from Grandpa
My handsome Todd
Grandpa and Nathan playing at the table
Todd having to shovel the ridiculous amount of snow from our driveway once we got home.
And sweet Kaylee enjoying the comforts of her own yard again.

With us being away for the majority of the Christmas season it really gave us a chance to experience the true Christmas. We didn't hustle through the lines in stores, we didn't watch movies and commercials that focus on materialism. Instead we came home to our family (Kaylee and Addie) and enjoyed a peaceful Christmas. Todd and I are lucky this year!!! Merry Christmas!!!

We're back!!!!!

We had an amazing trip and I have millions of pics but I'm sure you are going to get bored so I have put together a slide show so that you can enjoy at your own leisure...


Well our trip has come and gone and boy did we have fun. We were lucky enough to go on a 14 day cruise through the Panama Canal and stop at some wonderful places.Here is a brief overview of the trip. This is going to be a long one and I apologize but there is no easy way to trim down two weeks!!

Ok here we go.....

Day 1..
We left Miami and had time to explore the ship

Day 2...
We were at sea and met our favorite waiters and stateroom attendants


This is Roy and Renaldo, they were both from the Philippians and had fun teaching me Filipino (Salmait-thank you, Oh-oh-yes, Pakamin-please, no-no)

They were honest to goodness the best waiters ever, and I know people always think they have the best but we tested other guys out and they really were the best. They defiantly spoiled us because now when its time to eat Todd and I look around to see who is going to serve us a 5 course meal and continuously refill our water, I'm not going to do it.


This is Apostle and he is from Bulgaria. He was our wonderful stateroom attendant. He was the funniest guy Todd and I have ever met. He was trying to learn English but was getting very good at it. He had fun teasing us and he always made us laugh. Here he is climbing up a pole on the top deck to get a better view. Todd and I fell in love with him right away and had a great time getting to know him.

Day 3...
We were scheduled to stop in Jamaica but the weather was bad with 10 foot swells so we didn't dock. I was sad but everyone I have ever talked to that has been to Jamaica says it is awful and everyone on the cruise was happy not to dock so we had another wonderful day at sea.

Day 4...
We had another sea day so Todd and I decided to soak up the sun rays at the pool.

The average age on our ship was 65 so we were some of the favorites on the whole cruise and all the 'older' people got a kick out of us. Nobody else would get in the pool and all the sun bathing chairs were empty, but the chairs that were covered by the top deck were taken and had to be scouted out and saved before 6 AM.

Day 5...
Santa Marta, Colombia

This was an awesome awesome day. When you hear of Colombia you think drugs and danger, but that wasn't the case. The people here were so wonderful and would stop us on the street, not to sell anything, but instead welcome us to their country.

This was an old old Catholic church from the 1500's. It was fun to walk around and see the stories of the Saints that had founded this country.

These are the streets we were walking down all around this sweet little town. The people here were so humble and were trying to fix up their country to make it a more pleasant stop for tourists. It was amazing to see!!!

When we were trying to cross the street here, there were cars flying by and no stop lights. So we were waiting for the perfect time to cross, which never really came. But suddenly from out of nowhere an officer came (he had a HUGE gun and a beating stick) and he politely walked us across the street and back to a more populated area. I wanted to take a picture but I thought it might be awkward for everyone.

Day 6...
Cartagena, Colombia

This was Todd and I's second favorite stop!!! This town is amazing and has so much history it is unreal.

There is what they call the 'old city' or the 'walled city'. It is a walled city that was founded by Christopher Columbus. The walls were for protection and all the buildings inside of this area are original to that time period. They have been renovated but still have the quaint charm.


The roads are too small for cars so you are dropped off outside the city and then you walk around inside.

Another cathedral that is super old. This one was neat because inside of it there were gardens that open to the skies, and the church was surrounding those gardens.

Todd caught a parrot on his arm inside the church was awfully excited.

This is where I get confused. These are the bones of the Saint that founded this church and city. They have him on display front and center of the church. When they go here every Sunday to worship this is what they look at while they pray. Kinda creepy....

Day 7...
At sea

Day 8...
Puerto Limon', Costa Rica

This was a super fun day. Todd and I went ziplining through the rain forest here in Costa Rica. We took an hour drive into the deep jungle and then hiked into the mountains and then ziplined back down. There were eight platforms and we were about 200 feet above the ground at some points. It was nerve recking but very fun. At one point I looked to my right as I was passing a tree and saw an iguana (half the size of me) eating leaves while watching us all zip past him. Then I looked down and saw a three toed sloth. It was very fun!!!! I wanted to take pics but we were going to fast.
Since we were going so fast and I was unable to take a pic I found this on the internet. This is what the sloth looked liked as I past. Cute but creepy right?!
Here is one of the banana plantation they are famous for.

Day 9...
Panama Canal, Panama

This was an exciting day on board. This was the moment 85% of the people were waiting for. We starting to head into the canal around 7 Am and didn't get out until 6 Pm. We found out our cruise paid a fee of 100 grand just to pass through the canal. (Todd took a lecture on board before we sailed in)

It was raining as we entered so we took the first couple of pics through the window but you are able to see what it looks like as you enter into the first lock system of the canal. Three are three chambers in the first lock system and each chamber raises the boat 25 feet. (It is in a sense a water elevator.)

Here you can see the boat in the 'lane' next to us about to be raised up to the level of the water in the next chamber. If you look close you can see the doors opening and the water on the other side is higher than the boat.

Once you pass through the first lock system you enter into a huge man made lake, 25,000 men died making this lake. it a holding cell for all the ships as we wait until we are able to pass through the next lock system. The scenery was beautiful!! Panama is a gorgeous country.

I just think Todd looks handsome here. He was striking a pose for the camera.

This is the last set of chambers we had to go through in order to enter into the Pacific Ocean. There are two chambers in this section and the lower you back down 28 feet each.

Are you asking yourself why they are going to raise you then go through all the hassle to lower you right back down again?? If so great question. The answer is because the Caribbean side and the Pacific Ocean are two different elevations and rather than sail all the way around the coast they cut through Panama. So the locks raise you to the level of the lake and then locks lower you back down into the Pacific Ocean!! Easy enough huh?!?

Day 10...
At sea again

This was fun for Todd and I because we became art collectors. On every cruise ship they have art auctions, or so we hear. Well Todd and I went the first day because a guest artist was on board and gave a lecture on her process, and we were both intrigued. We ended up falling in love with the artist and buying a couple of her paintings. Here are 2 of the 4 we ended up with.

We love them..and it kinda looks like us in "High Society". (the one on the right)

This is Todd with the artist. Her name is Lena Sotskova. (she is Todd's newest crush)

Day 11...
Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica

This was a fun day. We got off the ship and had a group of 10 and decided to get a taxi and have them give us a tour of the country. We all pilled into a van and off we went. The first stop he took us to were the crocodiles, they were HUGE!!!
This is just one. At this particular lake there are 50 crocs every 50 meters. Awfully scary!!!
This country is beautiful!!!!
Then we were off to a resort that had shopping and fun activities.
This resort was in Jaco, and it was gorgeous!! Todd and I had fun walking around and enjoying the scenery.
After the resort we went down into the downtown area and did some bargain shopping. This is the town Jaco!! The ocean is right behind these shops, adorable!!!

Day 12...
San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

This was Todd and I's absolute favorite stop!! We are trying to find a way to move down there. The people here are so nice and humble. They still have their fire wood delivered by ox pulled wagons. And they are so grateful for the tourists coming into their town. This stop really reminded Todd and I how lucky we are and how silly we are for wanting the things we do. The song lyrics "Its not having what you want, its wanting what you've got" really rang true in this town and we are better people having been here.
This was our view from our room. Isn't it adorable??
Cute roads we walked to to get to the town area.
Gorgeous beaches..
This town was the best place on earth. It couldn't have gotten any better!!

Day 13...
Last day at sea

This was an exciting day for Todd and I. We were lucky enough to have Lena Sotskova (the artist) come to us with a gift. She fell in love with Todd and I (I attribute it to Todd bashing his eyes at her every chance he got) and she actually presented us with a drawing. She had taken the time out of her busy days and drawn a one of a kind original picture of Todd and I. OH MY GOSH right?? It gets better, then she had told us that we should look at her pictures in the future because she thinks it might end up in one of her paintings one day!!! We felt honored and I even swelled up with tears.
This is a terrible picture but this is her giving it to me.
Here is the image she drew. I had to shrink it in order to save it but this is it. She drew us beautifully and we are still in a bit of shock after the whole thing!!!

Day 14...
Huatulco, Mexico

This was a fun stop as well. We got to get off the ship and enjoy our last day at a port. Huatulco is a great place and we fell in love with it here as well.
This was a bitter sweet day. We were excited to be getting back home but we were sad to say goodbye to all the friends we had made.

Day 15..
Acapulco, Mexico

Today we disembarked and began our journey back home.

It was an amazing trip and honestly a once in a lifetime trip. I am so glad that we had the opportunity to experience life outside of our bubble here in the US. Seeing the way others live in third world countries help you to appreciate the things we have here. I am soo excited to be back home and start a new and fresh beginning!!!