Beach Love. Cheers to Miami

This was the last pic I took of Miami on South Beach!

Take a close look at all the details.....

(and turn up my music :)

Look at the color of the sky with the ocean!! and notice the parasailer in the back drop. Oh and the swim suit photo shoot behind the umbrella.

Such clean lines and colors...its a beauty here.

In Miami,

all the beach front hotels (south Beach) set up chairs and umbrellas for their guests...

This hotel went the extra mile and set up a play ground for the kids!

I sat and watched the guy set out shovels and buckets in perfect

symmetrical lines!

He was worried about me stepping on it! Don't worry I wouldn't dare!

And I love his perfect lines too!

This is what Miami is all about...

sun, sand, waves, and R E L A X I N G!

and truly the water is so turqouise blue.

It is as pretty as Cancun or anywhere in the Caribbean. (well almost!)
Our hotel below:

The Richmond Hotel.

Miami South Beach


This is the pool to our hotel.

We love the Richmond for it's color and design. Plus it is one of the more affordable hotels on South Beach.

We used to stay at the National Hotel but it is now way to much money..but so beautiful...and the pool area, honestly breathtaking!

Anyways, the Richmond's pathway heads S T R A I G H T out ot the beach!

IT sits right on the ocean blue!

The flower pots, umbrellas, everything is in perfect

order.
So we arrived in Miami and it was a sunny 87 degrees.

Ahh sooo perfect.

Much better than the 50's in Utah.

We walked out to the beach and this is the first thing Ryan did:


>
Do. you. feel. the. love???

We were both so happy to feel those warm rays again!!

We went out and put our feet into the ocean water.

We sat on the beach most the night.
WE love Miami.

Ry and I have been many times.

Ry likes to see his Miami Dolphins play once a year at their stadium.

He says it is his moment, his getaway, his need to feel the Miami love.

He works hard, and it's his divulgence. So off we go!

The good thing about Miami is that it is central to all other locations of the Carribean:

Cruise lines, the Bahamas, Cancun, Playa, Cozumel, the Keys...

we have been to all these places because it is so easy to access from Miami!

Miami is also know for it's bright colors. The hotels designs and colors are so cool. Each hotel is unique with it's beautiful decor.

Ry really loves Miami for it's atmosphere and feeling of fun.

I just like Miami because it is HOT year round... and it's a BEACH!

so we agree it's perfect for both of us.

We try to avoid the nightlife and just stick to the relaxing side of Miami...

The first night we stayed in Miami and then we went to the Key Largo for a few days and then back to Miami for the Dolphin game.

WE decided to hang on the beaches and just relax BUT

Ry doesn't love to layout all day so we planned something fun each day.

In Miami Ry went parasailing....

It was so hot with a cool breeze...it was fun to be on the boat and watch Ry fly above the Miami beaches....

It was a great day!

Isn't that pic cool? I took it from the boat!

Here is another one.

I stayed on the boat and let Ry fly hight. I sat and talked with the boat guy about his life and how he was from Brazil living the American dream. It was cool. He had a great outlook on life and kept saying,

" my mom said I could be anything I want to be in America...!"

So he chose living the life of flip flops, sand, and the water. He loves to take people parasailing every day. His skin was dark and his hair bleached...he was living his dream. And it's funny because you could tell didn't have much, but he didn't care,

his life was simple and happy.

Something to be said for that. simple and happy with his fam and friends.

The days were hot but with a breeze off the coast. Clouds blew in as fast as they blew out. I was so happy just sitting in the sun and feeling the warmth again. I soaked up every minute knowing the snow was in my midst. I woke up and would run along the beach. So many people were up early running...It was so refreshing!


WE decided to watch the sunset every single night.

Then we would go to dinner. It was great!

My it was hot!

I was so happy.

I really feel that Utah is my home

BUT I sure could live in 90 degree heat year round.

Oh how I would love that....I know that I am

a flip flop sun girl at heart....

maybe when I retire eh?!

Miami has so much vegetation.

Palm trees, shrubs, flowers....

with the sun year round you get beautiful growth.

Back home, all the leaves were falling, colors changing.

I just couldn't believe that a climate can be

so different and produce such different results.

We went snorkeling and kayaking in the keys.

We also went to the Miami Dolphin Game.

(which was the highlilght of the trip, it was so fun watching RY soooo happy to be with his fellow Dolphin fans in his element!)

But I will post later in Nov. when nothing is going on!

My posts will be sad because the winter season is upon us!


>

Well Miami was blissful, fun and happy.

We relaxed and had so much fun.

We love the hot weather and beautiful beaches.

We really love it here. It is a guaranteed happy trip! Out


I have to end with some Miami and Key Largo shots...


>
Goodbye Miami love!

Halloween week.

We woke up at the crack of dawn....all excited for the day's events!

I love my job.

I love staying home.

I love being able to be apart of all the kids experiences....

Exhausting. Yes.

But well worth every memory!

2 more days and counting!

H a p p y H a l l o w e e n!

halloween messages.

my first try at this collage. it only took minutes...but couldn't get the perfect orange backdrop!

off to more halloween fun.

3 more days....!

my music: bach's tocatta. scary music! love it.

happy haunting days

~Just finished Mace's Halloween program!oh so cute... little 3 year olds singing their heart out of all the Halloween tunes! We luv Mizz Thompson!

~Tonight Trunk or Treat at the ward for all the kiddos!

~Then off to the Halloween parade tomorrow morning for the witch and the two deadly vampires!

~Next is the Twins class party Kim and I are in charge of for 25 happy, hyper, candy-filled children

~Friday is a Halloween party at hubby's work filled with spooky games, treats, and prizes...

and then...THEN.. THEN

It is Halloween....oh the kids can't wait!

I'm glad to be back even if it's 60 degrees cooler! it is soooo cold. yikes!

and do you like my spooky music?? I do!

getaway

ohh Miami is so beautiful! we love it here.

we are home.

So much to say on my bloggy, but way too much to do!

some words:

sun. sand. happy. love. warm.

Ry passed his series 9/10 tests!

(investment advisor general securities..finance jargin!)

But yay. that was looming over him for a year!

Passed and off to celebrate:

Miami Beach, Key Largo, and Miami Dolphin game.

First off,

We are so grateful for his parents to take care of our kiddos.

They were great and kept my kids happy and safe!

WE were able to enjoy are trip knowing they were just fine.

I have so much to say and such pretty pics,

but not now, don't have the time...

There is much to do like the rest of you:

clean, organize, school papers, school parties, laundry...!

and

( by the way)

so glad Halloween is back!

in Miami there was no sign of

Halloween or

fall or

leaves falling

or pumpkins

or KIDS!

I was missing it!

I want to do 3 posts for my bloggy journal: Miami, Key Largo, and the Dolphin game.

you know me, I take LOTS of pics and love the scenery.

so eventually, I am not sure when, I will get to them.

Maybe AFTER Halloween,

AFTER everything settles down!

I feel craziness and need to get everything in order...

(and again, sooo grateful to ry's parents for all their work and love for my kids!)

BUT quickly said, we had a great time.

A fun week getaway.

Ry plans a Miami Dolphins game once a year (in Miami) and we decided to throw in extra days at the Keys.

AND it just so happened he took his tests the day

before we left and passed. yay. It felt good!

WE L O V E Florida for so many reasons.

Key Largo Marriott

But gotta go, feel guilty even posting pics. I need to give the kids love, the house love, unpack, organize...blah blah..the list goes on.

Okay wait, I want to end with my F A V O R I T E pic of Ry!

If you don't know by now, my hubby LIVES and DIES for his Dolphin team. For reals.

Loves them with all his heart.

He is a fan forever.

He was soo happy when he walked in his stadium.

He was home with all his dolphin peeps. I felt his love!

Okay, gotta go!

I can't believe Halloween is in 4 days!

We have like a kagillion parties to get ready for and activities to go to..

ta ta,

missed ya all!

xo

and holy smokes,

might I add

that is snowing like a blizzard out my window.

and

just

yesterday

i was sweatin' in the 90 degree heat

running

along the beaches of Miami.

I knew this would happen. SUN to SNOW.

wow. what a few states away can do...

B E A U T Y.

Last weekend we decided to drive up to the canyon and take the kids on a hike.
We went to Little Cottonwood canyon, about 5 miles
to the mouth of the canyon
and 2 miles up.
Here is our journey!

We started our drive up the canyon and we were

instantly blown away.
Look at all these gorgeous colors.


All the kids were so excited to go explorin' up the mountains....

We drove up till we found a trail head.

We ended up at the Granite quarry trail.

(This is where the pioneers got all the granite rock for the Salt Lake Temple

and the granite for the new Conference Center!

It was so beautiful.

(and a good learning experience for the kids!)
Me and the kids took off while Ry stayed home and studied for

his series 9/10 license. ugh!

so I went with the Larsens.

I put Mace on my hip, and off we went!
ahh look at this view!

It was fun to hop around the huge granite rocks.

The kids were in heaven.

I, on the otherhand, almost tripped hard with Mace!

But up, up we went.....

and this is what we saw at the top:
Are you ready??
>
Color Color Color Color!
wow wow wow wow!

Talk about the view.

The kids couldn't believe all the fall colors.

They were so happy to be up so high in the cool mountain air.

We sat there for about 40 minutes enjoying the view of the Salt Lake valley.

(looking back down to the valley)











Ty hopped off the big granite rock and snapped up pic of us on top of our big rock!

It was a scary drop off!

The pic below is a real pic of the leaves I took on our hiking trail.

The leave colors in full glow!


Here come the collages! I couldn't resist.

It is so fast and easy

Amber and Mace nestled among the tall cave of trees....

The sun peaking through lighting up all the little leaves.

It was so beautiful.

It was like we were in our own little land. The kids kept climbing up every where! We try to hit the mountains often, BUT we definitely need to go more!

Amber and Ty helped me with Mace. He loves them like second parents!


The kids could of stayed A L L day if we let them.

We ended up staying 3 1/2 hours exploring the mountainside.

The day was gorgeous, the weather perfect.

We were loving every second!

And we know we are so lucky to live in such a beautiful state!!
(I say that often I know!)
Ty and Jake exploring...

more mountain leaves.

My shoe hiking in the mountains.
Ashlyn thinks she is a mountain man and can hike
any mountain without help.

She made me nervous!!.

She was all over the rocks. Back and forth they all went.....

like I said the kids kept saying how much fun it was....



Here is the view of the mountains directly South of us.

In person it honestly takes your breath away

to be surrounded by a

360 view!

Austin in the wooded mountains.

One of my favorite pics below.....

We decided to all sit and take in the view.

ahhh what a lovely afternoon!

seriously life doesn't get much better! ! !

Next we went down the mountain and crossed

the street to the river.

The kids wanted to wade their feet in the icy, cold water....

Oh it felt soooo good.

The kids wanted to jump in and swim in the clear smooth water!

We let them walk out as deep as they wanted.

The view was perty!

They were having such a great time p l a y i n g

around just being kids......

Mace sitting by me staying nice and dry!

Notice Ty and Quinn were going in for a cold swim!

Quinn got $10 bucks to get in up to his shoulders! I am not that nice!

Ahhh what fun adventures!

We had such a fun afternoon.

We hit the mountains at the peak of their colors.

Cheers to a lovely day!

It was perfect.

Soon the snow will cover our valley.

Then the colors are gone and the temp drops!

We have loved summer and fall around here....!
*and I will be back in a bit, off to see the Dolphins with the hubby!

spooky, colorful, happy days part II

Saturday

was one of the best days of the year.

The warm fall air, the glowing sun, and the pretty backdrop made a for a perfect day!

We held a Halloween party for the cousin love.

The kids dressed up, games to be played, candy to be eaten, and happy memories to be made.

The trees at this park felt like we were in a spooky forest.

It was great.

I love the pic below because it captures the Halloween spirit perfectly.

Halloween cake walk.

Prizes, music, eager kids...!

Look at the warm sun. It was almost 70 degrees!

What a treat for us!

scary music + skipping kids = P R I Z E S

On we go....

Halloween obstacle course

and toss the skeleton!

Lexi Lou, Jakers, and Ashlyn

spooky vampires and evil witches!

Wrap the M U M M Y game.

The kids got a kick out of it. So simple but so fun.

This pic is scary!

It is cool with the wooded trees,

spooky skeleton, and the wrapped mummy (Aus)

(before that pic)

Quinn wrapping Austin up as the two spidey boys watched.

Mace and Carson!

more and more toilet paper...
the rest of the kids wrapping their mummies!

My Halloween collages.

Sorry I do them often BUT it is the best way to consolidate pics! Plus it's fun to create the pics with the colors and theme!

btw, Brookie and I are chowing down a donut in our pic!
In the top far right pic, Ry is leaning over the bridge checking the river for any fishies. (of course)

My spooky man. I like him.

He is now hanging in our entry way greeting all our guests!

Aren't those fall colors sooo darn pretty??

Goodbye!

Cheers to a lovely Halloween day.

It was such a fun day, the weather was great the kids had a blast.....


Happy spooky Halloween day!

12 more days of

Happy Haunting....
and geesh, I say spooky way to many times in this post but it was fitting! sorry!
xo~