Living in Texas and taking our first Cruise

In honor of Uncle Bill and Aunt Marie's 60th wedding anniversary, the Houghtalings organized a cruise and invited all the Haynies to come. Since we were planning on a family cruise around the Ft Lauderdale temple dedication, we did not plan to go.

As that got pushed further towards 2014, Dad and Lucy twisted our arms and persuaded us to join the party (we were the last holdouts)

We flew to Miami Nov. 9 along with Hugh and Lucy to spend a little time looking over our Florida house. Mike and Myra Michaud graciously put us all up.

We spent a great day Saturday inspecting the house with the Silva's

We toured the new temple as far as the front gate (No Trespassing) and headed for Hollywood beach in the afternoon

The next morning we had time to attend Plantation ward meetings before running off to the Port of Miami. We caught the last of a Stake Presidency meeting so I got to see some old friends (the current Stake President is Scott Richards with Cesar Rincon and Fred Bethel counselors) Since the Weston ward was dissolved most of the members went to Plantation and we got to see a lot of friends. Everyone says hello.

Dropping Hugh Lucy and Peggy off at the Port, I ran the car back to Sixt rental at the airport and caught a shuttle to the Port. The rest were already on the ship so I hustled on.

By around 5 the ship pushed off (they have sideways steering propellors that maneuver the ship around like a toy) and headed down Government Cut. We had an awesome view of downtown Miami and of Miami Beach.

After an all night cruise and plenty of food already we pulled into Cozumel, the island off of Cancun, Mexico. We had arranged for a Book of Mormon tour of the ruins of Tulum. With the ferry schedules and the driving distance we ended up with only an hour in Tulum but it was still worth it.

The way the cruise is structured is travel overnight with excursions during the day. After a short overnight trip we docked at Belize. Even though it was a rainy day, we got off to explore Belize city. We haggled over a van tour and set out with Dad,Peggy and I to see the sights. Belize is the shabbiest city on the route but still fun to see. We stopped and ate "johnnycakes" from a street vendor.

Christmas this year

We went sledding at Aspen Grove after Christmas and Cara smashed her face into a drift with sunglasses on. Ouch!

Although Christmas was not white this year, we had some excellent snowstorms before and after

Christmas morning brought Wesley a snowboard and Cara an ipod Touch. Spoiled?

This year we have one more family close by so we had even more fun. I took off the week of Christmas to New Years and ended up with a fun project. Even though the weather didn't cooperate, Wesley and I built an 8'x12' treehouse in the big backyard mulberry tree.

Christmas Eve at our house included the traditional pajamas

Mom got to run to Sanford for Grandma's birthday earlier in the month. It's always good to be with family.

Doing the December scramble

We are off in all directions this evening. Mom is in Sanford for Grandmas birthday party/Mortensen get-together. She went with Marsha yesterday and will get back Monday night. The kids have been trying to finish up homework. Cara finished first so I dropped her off at the ward Christmas party then came back home to help Wes get his done. He is writing his online book report out long hand, then I will enter it after he gets to go to a birthday party.

It is fun to be in December, though, with the house glowing and presents starting to pile up. There are lots of things to do and good feelings all around.

As you all enjoy your families and celebrate our sweet Lord Jesus, may you all continue to be blessed. We love you all.

Nobody wrestles like our bear cub

Wesley started wrestling for the Mountain View Jr team and had his first tournament yesterday. He got to wrestle 4 matches and won the last two, coming home with a bronze medal. He is a total novice but has a great time and shows talent.

Not bad for a middle school jazz band

Cara got a shot at a solo during the years first concert. Here is just a minute of a classic old Chicago number. Wes is playing tuba as well this year but we couldn't get a good shot of him.

Joy of joys

All of us at the Timpanogas Temple, the shrunken family and the girlies and boylies. (More to come. I am being tutored in this procedure.)