Colombia Trip

We recently went to Colombia to have a family vacation and visit my parents before my Dad retires. Everyone except Peter came and stayed for a week, while I stayed for 2 weeks. So did Ben, who had minor surgery down there. We had a lot of fun hanging out together!

The adults went out and had some traditional Colombia cuisine at an old colonial house-turned restaurant in Bogota. Austin kept ordering fruit drinks they never brought it to him!

We went up to Monserate, a monastery that overlooks the city. It was a pretty steep gondola ride to the top.

We went out to a more tropical region for a few days and stayed with my parents friends. Cute newlyweds!
Having some poolside fun!
I was trying to shield my eyes because it was so bright. My Mom thought it looked like I was saluting. I was trying not to go blind!
We went out for ice cream one night and had some sundaes with fresh fruit. They put shredded mozzarella cheese on top. It was a little strange.
Look at this monster yawn I caught Luke doing. He was so tired from a day of swimming and running around.
Coming back, we bought some roadside pineapple.
The Buseta gave up on us on the way back to Bogota. We were stuck in a small town for about 4 hours. We stuck out quite a bit, to say the least.

We went to this cool zoo with lots of tropical animals here is me and Seth in front of the tiger cage.


Seth in his usual form. ooo, ooo!

We stopped at a roadside restaurant that had arepas, platinos, lots of different grilled meat and potatoes. We shared a big ol' platter of everything.

With Antonio, our driver and the coolest Colombian I know!

Group photo! There was a really nice view from here.

End of Year Wrapup

Wow! I can't believe 2009 is already over. Time goes by faster and faster. It's been a good year. We've had lots of fun. We've been to Park City twice, Goblin Valley, Washington, and Disneyland. We've ridden our bikes more this year, making use of our new bike rack. Its been great for me not having a job and being available to help out family (Peter is especially grateful). We were happy Ben was living closer to us most of the year and got to spend more time with his family. Mae got engaged and is starting off the new year as a married woman on Jan. 9th. Lots of exciting things have happened, like selling our townhouse and building a new house that will be done in April.

Here's some pics that haven't been posted yet. Happy New Year!

Starting off with some Disneyland pics of our trip in October



Silly Time with Zach!
Boys on Christmas morning

Us with the our tree we bought on clearance last year ($7.00!)
I want presents! I want preseeeents!!!

Looking cute in the Panda hats Dad brought back from his trip to China!

Past Few Months

I admit it..I've been a lazy blogger this year..but here are a few pics from the last couple months.

Mae and I took a hike last weekend- trying to get in a nice fall hike before the really cold weather sets it. I always have a good time with my sister!

Way back in June Mom and Grandma celebrated their birthday (its on the same day) Aren't they cute?!
We had a good time in Park City with my fam in the beginning of July. Seth and I were planning on doing a lot of biking on the mountain trails. We got one run in and then let Peter and Jenny borrow them. Peter somehow managed to bend the seat post on Seth's bike..that was the end of that dream...Anyway here's Dad and Mailee(plus Jenny and Luke in the background) chillin' outside.
Mae and I celebrated our birthdays (one day apart) in July as well. Here we are with our watermelon cakes, one healthy, one unhealthy.
July continued to be a good month with the McCombs Family Reunion in Washington. We got to play on the beach with our cousins Jaycee (why can't I remember if this is the right spelling?) and Aubrey, cuties! Sure Mae will appreciate me putting up the swimsuit pic!
In August I got to accompany my parents at a CNG class reunion in Dallas, TX. It was mostly people that went to the school in the 60's and 70's, but I somehow got pulled up to center stage and introduced at the welcome dinner. Probably 'cause I was the only graduate from the new century. Anyway, the best part of the trip was that my BFF Meagan lives in Dallas and I got to visit her! We hung out at the hotel and took care of Kyla while my parents socialized. I had the best time! I hadn't seen her since 2002! I think we will always be friends no matter what happens! Exclamation point overload!!!
Seth and I went to Vernal to visit Ben and his family back in August. We went to the county fair and scored some free samples! I think that one was Cinnamon, what a random sample!
It was Seth's b-day last week, so I made him this "Rock Star" themed cake, due to his severe addiction to Rock Band. It turned out ok. Those multicolored blobs are supposed to be flames.
Other than that, I've been making a lot of knit hats for charity lately. Seth snapped this beauty of me in progress last night, what a guy! I'm constantly picking up random bits of yarn off the floor now.
Other updates: We sold our house in July and are looking for a new house while residing at my mother-in-law's basement apartment. She is awesome for putting up with us! Wish us good luck in finding a house! Also, Seth's office is moving to a new location a few exits closer on the freeway. I'm sure he'll appreciate the slightly shorter commute.

In the Valley of the Goblins

This Memorial Day weekend we went on a little camping trip to Goblin Valley, Ut. It was fun except when it rained all day Saturday, but by Sunday it cleared up. We hiked and biked and got messy in all the mud. It was a nice place to get away to, though.  
Me cooking in the rain, we camped in this other valley about 10 miles from the Goblin Valley National Park. It was nice, lots of hiking and funky holes in the cliffs.

Some of the incroppings we hiked up to behind our campsite.

In Goblin Valley, Seth found a nice bowl shaped formation to take a nap in.
Other pics of our interesting finds.

TWILIGHT B-day!(Jenny turns 25)

Haven't blogged in a long time, wow! Anyways, one thing I did this week was throw my sis-in-law Jenny a surprise twilight party for her 25th birthday. It was a success in that we did surprise her! It was at my house. I wish I had some more photos, but my camera ran out of batteries, the dang thing. Anyway, here are some pics.

I got her a twilight poster and put her face on it so she could be Bella. I had everyone sign it, sort of like a big b-day card. Peter asked me why I didn't put his face in it too.. I told him it would ruin the fantasy if it was his face...
Some decorations and food. Jenny's sis-in-law Trisha said "Wow, I thought you said we were just having a few snacks!" Well, that is a few snacks for a party, in my family, thats how we roll. Its practically a sin to my Mom not to feed guests!
I made a cake to look like the book. It turned out alright.
The Birthday Girl! Isn't she cute?

What I've been up to lately..

I've been really busy since the holidays have gotten over. I did enjoy a week in Park City with the 'rents and the fam right after new years. It was nice to go skiing and try my hand at snowboarding, or as i like to call it "bum sledding" (at least for me anyway). But I've haven't had much of a break lately. We decided to put our house back on the market and that inspired me to launch into a painting/re-organizing/cleaning rampage.  Its been a lot of hard work but I am happy with the results. My house has never looked so clean...its almost sterile looking to me. Its funny, because after all that work, you almost DON"T want to sell it... it should be mine to enjoy!

So here's some pics..

No Molly, don't lick the paint! Mae was a good assistant to me (Seth too) couldn't have done it without ya!
I repainted the living room and added a brownish accent wall. wish this pic wasn't so dark looking
Our CLEAN bedroom! no clothes on the floor or anything!
For fun: me and Luke Christmas morning...good times!