Cruise 2

I think JB and I have found our new favorite stop. It used to be St John, US Virgin Islands. Now it's Harvest Caye, Belize. 

The small island was CLEAN and organized and well-planned and bright and beautiful. Apparently Norweigan Cruise Lines owns it all, and partnered with the government of Belize. All the restaurants and shops are owned by locals, but only the cruise ship stops there one at a time. I believe they planted each palm tree exactly the same distance apart.

This was our view under a big umbrella -- a zip line going down over the water.

We kept talking about how our kids would love the huge pool system and splash pad. We stayed and read and napped and walked, then finally wandered back to the ship so we could eat some more.

After another day at sea, our final stop was Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. This was a great beach as well. 

JB's view looking up.

We randomly sat by an older retired couple from the ship and became fast friends when we bonded over family size, political views, and ideas about the world. Since then I have been writing her, and writing another woman I met at trivia.

Here we are tendering back to the ship, and JB thought he saw a couple across the tender boat that he knew on his mission but we never got to check. By the way, there were a lot of Brazilians on board, and he talked to several in Portuguese and I think they were quite surprised.

That was Thursday, and overnight the Jade sailed back to Miami. We had one last amazing breakfast, then had to disembark and head to the airport. It was a long day of flying before we finally got home that night to our kids again.

Max and Ben were at a scout campout, so we didn't see them til the next day. They stayed some of the time at Nona and Papa's, and other times she slept over at our house so going to and from school would be easier.  John took the boys to their basketball games. We owe them so many thanks for their help. I think it may have tired them out plenty!

Cruise

The last week of January was the BEST. JB and I got away for a Southern Caribbean cruise. It was like months/years worth of dates and relaxation we hadn't been able to have together.  

We sailed out of Miami on a Friday-Friday itinerary on the Norweigan Jade. Part of the deal JB found included three upgraded meals on the ship's premium restaurants. The first night, pictured above, we had a reservation at Moderno, which was Brazilian-style and oh-so-good.

We had an inside cabin, which was perfect for sleeping and sleeping...but I still set an iphone alarm so my brain knew what time it was in the dark. They had new movies constantly going on the TV channels, and I caught up on a lot that I'd wanted to see.

The staff left towel animals....par for the course on a cruise but still appreciated...

And every chance I could I participated in the cruise staff activites so I could get a signature on my card and earn points for prizes at the end. I brought back NCL keychains and frisbees and decks of cards for the boys from my endeavors. 

My favorite activities were the morning and evening trivia challenges. My strategy was to cozy up to a couple or group and join their team, then watch their surprise when I knew several answers.  More than a pretty face, this one.  Also, it was a chance to get to know other people and maybe share a little bit about the Church, because they always asked about it after I said I was from Salt Lake City. 

Our first stop was Costa Maya, Mexico. JB and I stopped here on our honeymoon cruise, but I read that they have had a hurricane and big rebuild since then. On that cruise, we took a taxi to the beach. This time, we took a tour of Chocchoben Mayan ruins.

Hugo, our guide. VERY smart. He mentioned to JB that some of his family members joined the church, but he is Catholic.

I was fascinated by these trees. One type of tree takes over another and eats it alive.

Hugo taught us the joy of eating a chili powder mixture on honey pineapple.

Then that night we learned the joy of Tepanyaki style cooking in another one of our restaurant reservations onboard. The chef was hilarious and talented, and the chicken and shrimp and scallops and filet were heavenly.

Ok long enough post, more stops in the next one!

Unbraced

In early July 2016, before Millie was born, Max got braces. Here's a picture of that day.

And here's a picture from this week, right before his 2 hour appointment.

And here's the picture with the new teeth with the braces off.

His jaw line changed, his face has changed as he's gotten older, but we all love his new smile. Now he has to get used to wearing his new retainer.

We don't know yet which boy will need braces next, but Max can give them lots of advice.

Andrew's baptism

Andrew was baptized this month!


His two friends were baptized the same day - John Hilverda in his primary class, and Cory Cummings, who used to be in his class before they moved to Texas (they were visiting Utah for the holidays).

Here's a picture the stake primary secretary took as we all walked down the hall to the font.

You can see both Uncle Joes in the background and some cousins. I never got any pictures of everyone eating at the lunch afterward. It seemed to go really fast. Everyone was picking up the chairs and tables when I turned around (we are an efficient crew).

Max and JB had ditched their ties by then so they look matching handsome casual below.

People talk a lot about "so-and-so's choice to be baptized," and I get it, there's power in using that word -- but sometimes I still think these 8 year olds are so young, what do they know? And so I talk about this important step in their life, and how Christ was perfect yet he was baptized and we follow his example. And now Andrew will have the Holy Ghost with him.  Kids need it more than ever these days to be a guide and a comforter.

New Year's Eve

We sure missed Katie this year at the New Year's Eve party with the Peters. She is serving a mission in El Salvador and doing such a great job (but could use any prayers people would like to send).

 

JoLynn and Roger are just such dear friends. And now Roger is in the bishopbric!

We ate and ate, then did all the poppers and noisemakers and went to bed before 10pm.

Glow sticks and glow rings and glowing glasses were a hit.

The boys played the Wii downstairs while the adults talked and watched the Utes lose the Holiday Bowl. It feels like that was all ages ago! I guess it was.

Radio hosting duties

I may be a professional journalist but I am a horrible picture taker. How do people take selfies that look so good? Huh? I still don't even know where to look nor how to frame the shot at all.

Nevertheless, the hosting opportunities I had over the last couple months had to be documented.

I filled in with Dave Noriega on the Dave and Dujanovic talk show (9a-12) on November 21st and had an absolute blast. I found out later that they wanted me on again, but there wasn't someone to fill in for me in the newsroom.

I co-hosted with Tim Hughes one Friday morning on our morning drive, and got a couple nice texts from listeners in to the station account saying they liked me! I wrote back, "Mom? Is that you?"

I recorded "A Woman's View" for air two Sundays ago (a sample is here: https://kslnewsradio.com/category/podcast_player/?a=35055&sid=2001&n=A+Woman%27s+View+with+Amanda+Dickson)

I've also done the noon news a few times now. Here's my attempt at documenting that.

And you can hear a sample of the last noon news I did here: https://kslnewsradio.com/category/podcast_player/?a=35153&sid=2024&n=Utah%27s+Noon+News

Millie the sleep monster

Our 2 1/2 year old is allergic to her crib. 

She in the past month or so has taken to screaming at nap time and bed time. So, JB often takes her out to the couch and holds her so I can sleep. I have no judgement for other parents any more and their sleep decisions. 

He'll take pictures of when she finally decides to curl up.

On weekends I take the watch.

Sundays are a different matter. Afternoon church means a sleepy girl. Sometimes she stretches out on the floor of sacrament meeting.

 Then last Sunday, she curled up on Max and my friend Valeri snuck a picture.

He kept looking over at me like, "I can't move!" and I was like, "Don't move! She needs a solid hour!"

This Sunday we go to 9 am and that will be great. She can nap in her crib. That is, if she doesn't scream the whole time.