Hudson and Nyles with their alligator shirts on, "A" is for Alligator. Cute Hudson hugging his blankets while sleeping. Hudson eating some of Grandma Hegerhorst's canned pears, yummy!
Hudson so tired. Carter w/ his birthday crown from preschool. They took turns celebrating summer birthdays. Great quote.
The playhouse finished w/ the new coat of paint we put on it. Hudson wasn't feeling well (teething most likely), but he still wanted to go out and play in the sandbox and jump on the trampoline while Nyles and Carter are at martial arts. Steve also cheered him up w/ some bubbles earlier.
On Friday, Carter had his year end program, along w/ his graduation. They did some really cute songs.
Carter all graduated w/ his teacher Mrs. Julie. It was held at the old Draper Theater.
His older cousin Chandler Lake graduated from Newcastle also.
Saturday morning, Steve, Nyles, and Carter went over to LuDean's place to help Dave plant her flowers from Mother's Day in her yard. They were good helpers.
Then later that afternoon w/ Rob, they went Carp fishing w/ their bows.
Hudson and I playing outside again while the boys were fishing. Our pretty Lilac bush in bloom, while Hudson and Piper play in the water table. Hudson likes to try to throw the ball to Piper as well. We're starting to see pears on our tree again. Hudson also likes to draw on paper.
A pretty Iris in bloom. Hudson going down the slide and looking through the telescope.
Then playing in the sandbox and playing w/ bubbles.
Carter giving Hudson a ride in the big truck while Hudson eats a ring pop.
Carter, Nyles and Hudson having some popcorn and watching a movie.
Sunday we had dinner at Diane and LuDean's, then played a game.
Hudson eating some M&Ms and Carter looking at the pictures on her rotating digital picture frame. The one he's looking at was from our Disney cruise.
I took work off on Monday, May 2nd (the day after we got back from our cruise vacation) to catch up on laundry. The boys went back to school though. They loved telling their friends and teachers about our Disney trip though! Here are some other highlights.
Hudson singing E-I-E-I-O to himself before taking a nap.
When we got home from our trip, I had a snack box waiting for me from my work. The shirt we ordered for Hudson for our cruise came in the wrong color, so they sent another one. Of course it didn't arrive until after we left. It was also waiting for us when we got home (cute Hudson). Piper was so happy to have us home again. She was definitely relaxed now!
We went on a walk w/ Piper, and Hudson wanted to help walk her. Hudson and Nyles playing on the trampoline w/ his new stuffed animal shark he ordered online since it was cheaper than getting on our cruise or down in Florida. Silly Hudson likes to climb up on the oven so we have to watch him so he doesn't get hurt. Our pretty Lilacs waited to bloom until we got home as well. I was so excited to enjoy looking at them and smelling them. Cute Piper!
We stopped by the park to play on night.
Trying out our new wagon. At the park. Carter at martial arts.
Nyles got an award at school, the Cosmic Cadet Award.
He works really hard and does his best. We are so proud of him!
Nyles and everyone else from the other classes who got an award, standing next to their principal.
Carter at his Best Buddy Day on Saturday at his preschool.
Steve and Nyles went w/ him while I stayed home w/ Hudson, who took a nap.
Cute Hudson, exhausted and asleep. Our pretty Lilac bush in bloom.
Carter's picture he drew at his Best Buddy Day at preschool.
Cute Hudson pretending to be on the phone. Steve lifting up Hudson, since he thinks it's so fun. Going for another walk w/ Hudson and Piper. Nyles and Carter like to stay home and jump on the trampoline. Since Nyles has his Gabb watch, he can call us if he needs us. And we're just around the corner.
Hudson trying to throw the ball for Piper.
After getting Hudson to bed, the boys wanted to get the fire pit out and make S'mores.
My and my 3 cute boys on Mother's Day. I love them so much!
I was spoiled on Mother's Day. The boys sang in Sacrament meeting, then gave me each a Rose. I also got to go to Relief Society. Hudson even went to nursery for the first time and did awesome! Nyles and Carter also made me things in Primary and at school. So sweet! I love them all so much! I am so thankful to be their mother and my thankful for my mother and the wonderful example she is to me. I'm also thankful for all the wonderful women in my life and their great examples!
Cute Hudson w/ his Mickey Mouse shirt on, which he loves (the mouse is fuzzy). We went to LuDean/Diane's for mother's day dinner. Dave brought a coconut for the kids to try.
Hudson digging into the strawberry shortcake w/ 2 forks.
Hudson helped vacuum after dinner. Nyles, Conor and Lynsie wanted to size up to see who was tallest. Nyles is the tallest, then Lynsie, then Conor. Conor is the oldest (born in July), then Nyles (born in August), then Lynsie (born in December).
“There are few things more powerful than the faithful prayers of a righteous mother.”
—Boyd K. Packer
“The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work. Please know that it is worth it then, now, and forever.”
We got off the cruise ship Saturday morning. We then took the shuttle from Miami back up to Fort Lauderdale. Traffic was crazy, but thankfully it was mostly on the other side of the freeway. We had a couple hours before we could check in, so we walked to some nearby stores for fun. We then went and got lunch at Panda Express, then checked into our rooms. Hudson was ready for a nap by this time, so we put him down. Nyles and Carter wanted to go swimming again, so Steve stayed w/ Hudson and I took the boys down to the pool. Diane and Joann joined us as well.
Carter playing in the pool with his snorkel mask.
Then later jumping in making a big splash.
Nyles doing a cannonball.
After Hudson got up, Steve came down w/ him.
Steve relaxing at the pool while I swim w/ the boys. Dave got a coconut for Nyles to try, but unfortunately it wasn't a good one. We went and got another one, but it was bad too. So, ironically when we were back home in SLC, Dave got another one for him to try, and it was good.
Sunday, May 1st, we woke up at 4:30am to catch our shuttle to the airport at 5:30am. We finished packing the last few things, then hurried downstairs to catch the shuttle. The front desk called us as we were on our way out the door, telling us the shuttle was here, but when we got down there, it had already left. So we waited for the next one at 6am. By this time there were a few more people trying to catch the shuttle as well, but thankfully they brought over another van to take everyone. We got there in good time, then went through security and over to our gate. I was amazed at how busy the airport was that early in the morning.
Carter asleep on the floor at the airport while we were waiting for our plane to leave.
Nyles and I walked around the airport a little and looked at a couple of the shops just for fun.
The boys enjoyed the plane ride home, watching movies mostly. Hudson took a little nap, then bounced between our seats. Hudson sitting w/ Aunt Diane next to Carter and Nyles. Dave and Joann in front of them.
We made it back to SLC by noon. It felt a little cold to us coming back to only be 55 degrees when we were used to 75 degrees for the past week. Rob picked us up and Phill picked up Dave, Joann and Diane. When we got back home, Steve went over and picked up Piper. She was soooo excited to see us again! It's always nice to be home and back in your own bed, but sad as well knowing the trip is officially over. We had a wonderful trip and are so thankful to have gone.
Some of the blessings we noticed during our trip:
We made all our flights and shuttle transfers on time.
No one got hurt or sick on the trip (minus the sea-sickness I had the first night on the ship).
Hudson was flexible and took naps in his stroller and car seat.
All the kids slept well through the nights, both at the hotels and on the ship.
The kids did great w/ the time changes and were pretty happy the whole trip.
We rented a mini-van in Fort Lauderdale, but it was dirty inside, so they upgraded us to a Ford Expedition. It had GPS in it, plus running boards that came out. It was very nice and more spacious all around.
We had perfect weather, between 75-80 degrees each day, and no rain!
We had great service and the kids tried different foods.
We got on the ship (no one tested positive for Covid).
Many things were back to "normal" right about the time we were sailing such as:
Masks weren't required once on board the ship.
They had the Sail-A-Wave Party and Pirate Party back.
Kid's clubs were open again and you didn't have to reserve a time (you could drop off/pick up anytime you wanted).
They didn't limit seating in the theaters either, so everyone could attend, plus they had more shows than they did just a month prior to us sailing.
They switched to rapid antigen testing before boarding which were faster than PCR.
The ships were still at lower capacity, so the lines weren't bad if there was one, and Castaway Cay had PLENTY of room for everyone so you didn't have to rush off the ship to get a lawn chair and umbrella.
We're also grateful that Piper survived the 9 days w/out us. Also for Rob and Phill taking us all to the airport and back. And for everyone who helped care for Grandma LuDean while we were all gone and who took her dinner. We appreciated everyone's help to make our trip possible.
It was such a wonderful trip w/ everyone. I'm so glad we have pictures to look back at and remember the amazing times we had. More than anything though, we're thankful for the time we had to spend w/ one another and grow closer together as a family.
On the last day on our cruise, we stopped at Nassau in the Bahamas. We decided to do a dolphin encounter at the Blue Lagoon Beach. Here are some highlights.
We boarded another boat to take us out to Blue Lagoon.
Once we got there we walked over to the Dolphin Encounter area.
Video of our Dolphin Encounter a Blue Lagoon Beach in the Bahamas.
Some pictures from our encounter. We got to pet the dolphin and hold his fins.
Having fun w/ the dolphin.
Getting a hug and a kiss from the dolphin.
So cute.
He was surprisingly pretty heavy when you gave him a hug. Then a group picture. It was so neat to actually touch a dolphin and play w/ it. Such a neat experience! We all loved it! Dave, Joann and Hudson watched behind us as we had our encounter.
The dolphin doing some tricks. Beautiful scenery!
Such blue water. After the encounter we went back to the beach and played and hung out.
Carter especially wanted to keep playing in the sand w/ the rocks, so I helped him build a rock sand castle. A beautiful Hibiscus flower.
Getting a picture just before boarding the ship again. A cool lighthouse as we were headed out.
Back on the boat to shuttle us back to the cruise ship. Goodbye beautiful place.
Our last night on the cruise we were in Animator's Palate for dinner. The walls start out white then fill with color. We also all made a cartoon and then they made them come to life on the tv screen. It was so awesome to see!
Cute Hudson wanted to be a pirate again. Steve w/ Mickey Mouse.
Joann and Dave at dinner. The boys looking out from the ship, sailing away from Nassau.
Nyles at dinner at Animator's Palate.
The boys checking out the gift shop to see what fun stuff they had.
That night was our final show. They did a fun play about a girl learning to get her magic. Many of the Disney characters came to help her and sang their songs. It was awesome!
Afterwards the boys got to meet Captain Mickey!
We then had to pack up our suitcases that night and put them outside our staterooms so they could get ready to debark the next morning. As they say, "All good things must come to an end." We had such a wonderful cruise and had such a great time. It was so neat to go w/ everyone. It went by so fast, and we were all sad to leave, but at least we have our pictures and memories. Until next time....
On the 4th day of our cruise, we were back to Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. We were so excited to go there and experience it again. It's such a beautiful place! After breakfast at Cabanas on ship, we got off the ship onto the island. We took the tram again, taking us over the family beach.
Hudson excited to play in the sand again. Nyles, Hudson and Steve getting breakfast. Hudson playing w/ a caution sign as we were leaving our staterooms. Carter saying hi to Olaf on the island.
Hudson at the beach, then later at lunch he took Steve's burger and ate it.
Nyles and Carter laying in the hammocks on the island.
Joann ready to go snorkeling. Carter went out to the larger snorkeling area once, but then just wanted to look around at things near the beach. Nyles and I went out many many times, and Dave, Joann and Diane joined us once also. It was so fun to see the cool statues under the water and the sea life. We even saw a wild Stingray, though kept our distance since he still had his stinger in tack.
Carter eating some ice cream after lunch. Thankfully Hudson took another nap in his stroller again so we didn't have to go back to the ship. Beautiful palm trees w/ coconuts in them.
Beautiful Castaway Cay. Steve and Carter taking a break and relaxing.
Cute Hudson. Getting our feet washed off before heading back to the ship.
One more group picture in front of the ship before boarding.
Hudson waving to Aunt Diane in the car in front of us. Beautiful scenery all around.
Back on the ship, as we were changing, Hudson wanted to hug his Diaper Genie for some reason. It was awesome that Disney provided one for us, along w/ the Pack-n-Play in our stateroom though. Nyles and Carter wanted to go swimming again once back on board, so we took them up to the pool. Ironically they were the only ones in the pool, which was nice.
I went down the yellow slide w/ Carter, and then down the red/back one w/ Nyles. Carter wasn't tall enough for the black one so he kept going down the yellow one. For the black one, you stand on a clear plexiglass, enclosed in a tube, then Donald Duck counts down, "3, 2, 1" and the plexiglass opens up, and you fall down the water slide! I closed my eyes the whole time! Nyles asked me to do it one more time, so I did, then said that's enough for me. He went back several more times though and thought it was really fun. No thanks!
Nyles and Carter wanted to keep swimming and going down the slides, so we decided to just eat dinner up on deck 9. Dave, Diane and Joann went to our regular rotation for dinner though so our servers wouldn't be wondering where we were. Later they came up and had ice cream w/ the boys and watched a movie on deck while we put Hudson down to bed.
It was another wonderful day at Castaway and on the ship!
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