Magic 2012

We had so much fun on our cruise!! It was all so amazing ... from the moment we first saw the boat to the moment we got back off a week later. Our cruise went to Cozumel Mexico, Cayman Islands, and Montego bay, Jamaica. We feel so blessed to be able to go on this great vacation together and know that Liliana is safe and sound.

First the cruise ship its self is amazing! There is so much to do. Lots of hot tubs, pools, comedy shows, different entertainment shows every night, great food, buffets, dance clubs, casino, shops, piano bars, karaoke,outside movies, and so so much more. Every single day there was lots of things going on and you always had a list of things to do that day when we were on the boat. I think we had four days at sea and every single day was a blast. We layed in the sun, went on the water slides, eat whenever we wanted, went to different shows and so on. Needless to say the ship was no disappointment and the days at sea where almost just as fun as the days we ported! Our cruise ship had over 4,000 people on board plus the 1500 staff members. And yeah sometimes there were lines but by no means did it feel like that many people. Also we were so impressed with all the staff. They are all so nice and are from all over different parts of the world. It is truely incredible how many people we met and talked to that were from places and cultures that are so different then ours.

Mexico- When we ported they told us that other cruise ships were also porting at the same time as us so that there were aprox. 12,000 tourist in Cozumel. CRAZY!! Carnival owns the port in Cozumel that we ported at so it was very Americanized and there was tons of shops. Luckily almost all the prizes were in pesos and dollars so it wasn't too confusing. And all the people we talked to spoke English as well. So we did most of our shopping there in Cozumel. Then we ran into another couple from our group and decided that we wanted to split a cap and go find the beach! Luckily she spoke Spanish as well as English because she is from Guatemala. We felt a little safer being with her and she was able to negotiate a good price with the cap driver. They first took us to some more shopping off of the main drag so the prices were a little cheaper, which was great. Then they took us the the Mayan Ruins, they were pretty amazing and we got to see a lot of huge lizards that would almost jump out of the jungle in front of the walk way.. lol. Then they took us to a beautiful public beach. Again there were shops there, but what was really cool is there way a restaurant and pools right on the sand. The water was beautiful and it felt so good to be in the water after doing all that walking at the ruins. There was also tons of tables and even beach chairs to lay on. It was great! Then after that we headed back. One of the best parts of getting taken to all these spots was the drive to them.We went threw down town, main villages, and so on. It was so so hot and humid there everyone was sitting outside there house. Tons of women breast feeding outside of these tiny tiny houses with little kids running around them bare foot. I loved the drive, getting to see the culture of Cozumel. We spend a huge part of the day spending time at all the stops and we were worn out! It felt good to get back on the ship and hit up the buffet!


Cayman Islands- We ported and had no idea what we were going to do. We walked into a shopping area and were looking at this booth that had things to do on the island. The lady at the booth said I have a bus leaving now... so we jumped on : ) They took us on a tour of the island and our tour guide had a strong Jamaican accent and he was hilarious!! He told us so much about the Island and there history it was great. He explained that they are under England's rule. It was a beautiful Island and everything was clean and new. Very orderly, they do drive on the wrong side of the road tho : ) but in Mexico it was like a free for all when it came to driving but in the Cayman Islands it seemed so much more structured. He said it was a very safe Island with not much crime and that the police officers don't even have firearms. It is such a small Island but they have the most banks in the world. I think that's where all the wealthy people have their "off shore accounts" : ) Anyways he took us to  HELL... and back luckily. Its a huge joke there but it is a town on the Island and they have this little bitty shop next to the coolest rocks I have ever seen! They look like lava rocks... it used to be under the water because the sea level used to be a lot higher. Pretty interesting... everyone on the ship would ask you did you go to hell? lol it was kinda strange but funny. Then he took us to the famous place where they make their rum and rum cake. Its supposed to be amazing they actually soak the cake in rum not just bake the rum into the cake. Then we went to some beautiful public beaches. There was a man on the side of the beach selling these beautiful marble turtles.. we got one there. Then we headed back. It was so great to learn so much about the Island and to be taken around almost the whole thing.

Jamaica- We had booked to do an excursion threw carnival with some other people in our group before we got on the cruise. But since we didn't leave for our excursion until around eleven we got off the boat early and hit some shops before. Right when you got off the boat there were some locals selling stuff and they were fun. That's where I did my first bartering ... they were pretty easy but still I am proud of myself.  I am glad we booked the zip-line in Jamaica because on the boat they were going over things to do at each stop and when they got to Jamaica they warned everyone to be very careful and to make sure they trusted the person that was taking them some where. Anyways I had been looking forward to the zip line the entire trip. Most of the pictures I have of Jamaica are taken from the bus that took us up to the zip line. Our bus driver was of coarse Jamaican and was just as funny as our one in the Cayman Islands. We got to see a lot of the Island. Most of it was run down and it was amazing how and what they can live on. When we got to the excursion we all went to the bathroom first. There was a Jamaican women in there and every time after someone went she had to poor a bucket of water in the toilet just to get it to flush and then for the sink they just had a faucet then poured into a bucket. It was the only bathroom I had been in like that. Then we went and got buckled up in our harness and got all our equipment on. They also gave us a little crash course on how to do it... make your self slow down and so on. Then they lead us into the jungle... it was so beautiful. We even took a truck up higher to do one of the zip lines. There were about six total and they were all so much fun. The last one was the longest and you were so high up. The jungle looked so amazing and we even went over water. It truly was breathtaking. Our tour guides were hilarious their names were Gussy and Kim Impossible they had me laughing and smiling the entire time. My cheeks where seriously soar from all the laughter. After the zip line we headed back to the ship. It took almost the entire day and we were beat!! So much fun.

The last two days were just at sea as we headed home. We missed our little Lili and were excited to get to see her! We hung out in the sun and in the pool and it was hot hot hot!! Not to mention the humidity was 95% ! But we loved it and we enjoyed our time on the ship.

Number Two

Big News...

WE ARE HAVING ANOTHER BABY!! 

My due date is September 23rd!! We are so excited for Liliana to have a brother or sister. They will be about 2 years and 10 months apart, and I'm sure they will be best friends! We are so happy and are looking forward to the new addition to our family. We feel so blessed to be having another child!

I went to the doctor this week and so far so good! I was having pretty bad morning sickness but it has recently just subsided a little and I am so grateful for that. Already this pregnancy has been different then with Liliana. It is just so exciting!!

9 WEEKS!

Newly Updated

 Cake! for breakfast... wonder why the big smile

 Mommy & Lili silly pics

Pretty hat her Great Grandma Meeter made for her

• I know I'm not very good at updating our blog some times so I just wanted to write a little update with a few new pictures of Liliana. 
• Liliana is 27 months now and is finally realizing the power of being a two year old. She loves to watch movies a few of her favorite are Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, and her newest one Lion King. We took her to see Beauty and the Beast, and Lion King in 3D when they were in theaters. She really enjoyed it and ate lots of popcorn. She also loves Mickey mouse and has a stuffed Minnie mouse that is her favorite and has to go everywhere with her. She loves princess anything and is really such a girly girl.. She is also a total Daddy's girl and cant wait until Javis walks threw the door in the evenings. She loves to dance to music and to Skype. Every time the computer is on its "I wanna talk to Gam'ma" She is a lot of fun and there is never ever a dull moment in our house.She is also realizing how Mom does so much for her so when she asks me where her Minnie is for example , I'll say its in your room go get in and she responds with "Mommy get it". ahh my little sweet heart is realizing the power of those baby blue eyes : ). She is talking more and more everyday and knows more and more animals and colors every time I ask her! She sleeps in a big bed now and is doing really well, of coarse it matches her zebra room and she is just so excited to sleep in it every night. She is also working really hard on potty training and goes as many as four times in the potty a day. But she still has accidents so she is in diapers still. But she is getting so close!
• As for us we are doing great and loving life. Javis is working hard like usual and is busy busy. We are getting ready to go on our cruise this Saturday we leave!! I am so excited and cannot wait. I'm so grateful that my mom took all this time off her 3 jobs to come stay with Liliana at our house. I feel so comfortable knowing that she will be here and that Liliana will have everything she could possibly need! Also when we are gone by Grandpa is going to come stay for a couple days so that he can see Liliana and spend some time with my Mom. I'm so thankful for family and how much time they put into Liliana. She is the luckiest little girl to be able to have her Great Grandpa around so much! All our family does so much for us and is such a big part of Liliana's life.

TILE me Crazy

So a couple months ago we put up a back splash in our kitchen. We wanted to just give our kitchen a new look. I was super excited and figured it would be pretty easy since we had some neighbors that did it themselves a while back & seemed to think it was pretty easy. So we went to Lowes and the guy there got us everything we needed and gave us a crash course on tile work. We were feeling pretty confident and putting the tiles up was pretty easy. We had to let them sit for 24 hours before we grouted, and we were just admiring our work and feeling pretty confident. Javis was even saying how we could do some tile work in our bath rooms and we were really excited. We wanted the tiles to have a rich color so we used a black colored grout. For any of you who have tiled you know how messy grouting can be... anyways we got threw it and we are so so happy with the outcome. But it was so hard to get all the grout off every single small tile. My kitchen was covered in black dust and so were we! Javis changed his mind at the end of grouting and said no more tile projects : ) but I'm glad we did it ourselves and I'm so proud of it because I know how much hard work went into it!!

 Before

After!!

Blessings

Lately I have been feeling a overwhelming feeling for all the blessings in my life. And of coarse my number one blessing is my Family.Things happen in our life's and we all go threw trials but we go threw them together. We never go threw anything alone & that is something to never forget. I have a beautiful family and I could have never imagine I'd have all of this. Time changes the way we see things and I believe time heals. We need to always be grateful for what we have. Even if some days it doesn't seem like its much. <3

New Year!

Welcome 2012!!
This past year has been a big stepping stone in my life, so much has changed. We bought a house in a neighborhood that I was afraid of never knowing anyone. I have been blessed with so many great people who not only are great friends but that live right next to me. I am extremely thankful for all of these people who help me when ever it is needed. I have built friendships that I know will last my entire life. This is proof that God does answer our prayers. I kept praying that he would help me meet new people and make connections with people. That I could get out of my comfort zone. The Lord has blessed me with more then I could ever have imagined in this past year and Utah does feel like home now and I feel that I am where I belong.
Liliana has changed so much in the past year and is now two years old. I don't know where time has gone? She has so many friends in our neighborhood and I feel so grateful to live in a neighborhood where all the kids are close to each other. She does nothing but talk about them and if she ever sees the door open she/s begging me for her shoes so she can go outside and play. She is becoming so independent and such a little daddy's girl. There is never a dull moment in our house and we cant imagine how much we are going to miss these days in years to come.
But this year has been filled with trials as well. And as everyone knows that when someone close to you goes threw something unexpected and devastating you find yourself going threw it with them. I know that this next year will be hard for our dear friends and that they will have to endure more then I could imagine with the loss of there sweet baby boy. I intend on being there every step of the way to help them whenever it is needed. I feel grateful to have them as our neighbors and good friends and they have always made me feel like family.They are my family and I hope they realize just how special they are to us. The Lord has a plan for all of us and he knows what he is doing. Even tho its hard not to question certain things, we must keep our faith strong. I wish I could have held her sweet little boy and kissed him but I have to remember that I can still see him when this life is over. I have to be strong and not let the what could have been in the way of what I know. And that is that he is in a better place and that he is with heavenly father.
All in all this year has been a year to remember a year to never forget. We have been blessed and have so much more to look forward to. For 2011, I am grateful, sometimes life takes you by surprise and that has happened this past year but like I said I know that what happens doesn't just happen for no reason. <3

Christmas 2011

Our Christmas tree 2011

Mom & Lili on Christmas Day

Our Family on Christmas 2011

Liliana with G&G Cornett on Christmas

We had a wonderful trip up to Tri-cities and got to spend Christmas with Grandpa&Grandma Cornett! Our time spent there was so wonderful and it absolutely was hard to leave. We got to see so much family and are extremely grateful for the time we had with everyone. New Years we spent with my parents and we got to spend a couple days with them! I'm so happy they made the trip and I feel blessed that we are able to see each other as much as we do. On our way up to Tri-cities and on our trip back home we stopped in Boise. Its about exactly half way and I have family there so its a nice break. We got to see my Aunt and my cousins and my Grandpa... I love spending time with them and I am so lucky that we live closer to them now then I ever have, I have been able to become closer to them and that's especially important for Liliana!

This Week...

We have had a busy busy week!

Tuesday Javis and I went to the Guns & Roses concert. It was a total blast and I'm so glad we got to go. Wednesday we had Javis's work Christmas party, which is always fun! Thursday we had our family pictures and after we had another Christmas party. It was a packed week for sure because on top of all the activities in the evening I was babysitting during the day and Javis was working of coarse so that made us too exhausted individuals. We also found out that Liliana got her very first ear infection and she really wasn't sleeping well or feeling well at all. So all of this was adding up fast. I also was a emotional mess all week which didn't help.

     Last week my best friend and neighbor was planned to be induced and I was so very excited for her. I had thrown her a baby shower and I was so ready to finally meet her little boy and get to hold him. So we would talk about how I had this busy schedule planned but that I would also have to fit in time to come and see him, of coarse. I was so so excited for her, she had had a painful pregnancy and I knew how hard it had been for her.

      He was born on Wednesday December 7th and was healthy, I was so excited I cant even explain. I ended up hearing from her the next day saying that her baby was extremely sick & that he was in the nicu, they were running test but at the time they didn't know what was wrong. I was so worried, I cant even imagine how that would feel. I must have checked my phone a thousand times wondering how they were doing. Later she told me that he had Group B Strep and that he was in critical condition. My heart broke for her but I continued to comfort her and believed that it would be okay and that they would be taking him home. The whole time he was in the nicu she kept me posted on how he was doing.. it felt horrible to know that not only was the precious little boy sick and I couldn't do anything but that my best friend was going threw this pain and that I couldn't be by her side. We found out very early Tuesday morning that he had passed. It was the worst feeling I have ever felt. So many emotions were running threw me, I was mad, upset, confused and so many other extreme feelings. All week long we have had all these plans but nothing really mattered because deep down I was broken inside for my best friend had just lost her beautiful child. I had been fighting so many feelings all week, wanting to be there for her but knowing that that time isn't here yet. They are grieving just like anyone would and I have been respecting that for I know that is what she truly needs. Friday I went to the showing with another neighbor and close friend. And Saturday Javis and I went to the funeral and burial. Both parents spoke such beautiful talks that touched my heart and gave me comfort that they will be with him again and that this is not the end.There was a moment when I saw my beautiful friend speaking to her three year old and her face was glowing, she was glowing. As if angles where surrounding her. I can't exactly explain it but it gave me so much peace. I knew at that moment that she was not alone. I have never experience the death of anyone close to me, so it was hard for me to do. But not all things are easy in life and not all things are made for us to understand. My believes have been tested this week, and I have felt many feelings for this wonderful family. I do know that they are strong, amazing people who where chosen to be parents to this beautiful loving boy so that he could get his body and return to our heavenly father.

     I share this so that maybe everyone can be reminded to hug our children a little tighter every night. To not take anything for granite, that life is beautiful and that we are blessed with many many things each and every one of us. My dear friend Stephanie is one of the biggest blessings in my life and I am extremely grateful for her and her family.

TWO!!

We took Family Pictures/Liliana's 2 year old pictures last week on Thursday. It was actually pretty darn cold outside and she had a hard time but we did get some good ones. We wont get them all until after Christmas. But here is a sneak peek!! They all melt my heart! She is so perfect.

Thanksgiving!!

We went to Boise this year for Thanksgiving and spent it with my parents, my Aunt and her family, and my Grandpa. We had a blast!! The food was amazing like always and we even got to go out and play football with everyone. Everyone from my Grandpa all the way down to Liliana was out throwing the ball and it was even a beautiful day outside! The next day all of us girls went and did a little black Friday shopping. It was the first time I have ever really done that and it was only really fun because I was with all of my family : ). We had so so much fun and got to do so much while we were there. I'm so thankful for family and for all the amazing people I have in my life. I am thankful for heavenly father and all of the many many blessings he has given Javis and I. I am so very thankful for this time of the year, it truly is magical.