Jordan at Disney

This year Disney Theme Parks are doing a promotion to get in free on your birthday. So Craig and Jordan went to Magic Kingdom to celebrate Jordan's 13th birthday. Jordan was so excited to go.


Jordan just inside the park. Cinderalla's castle is in the background of this picture.

Riding the train, something you just have to do at disney.

Parades. They went to the afternoon parade and the evening parade.

Hum.... I can think of times I would have liked to have put Jordan in the stocks!:))

In front of Thunder Mountain.

Can you find Jordan on the thunder mountain ride?

On Tom Sawyer Island.

During the evening parade Ursula from the movie Little Mermaid, came up to Jordan and asked if he would be her friend. She said she would like to add him to her collection!!

Jordan had a great birthday!

Scout Camp

Craig and Jordan went to scout camp July 19-26. Camp LaNoche was the spot this year, same as last year. In this picture, the boys with birthdays in July were called up to celebrate. Jordan has on a hat and camo pants.

Bishop Smith helped the boys with crafts and prerequisites. He helped Jordan to make a cool pouch out of Rabbit fur. Jordan went to camp with his the money he had earned with the plan to make the pouch. Thanks Bishop for helping him to meet his goal.

Jordan and Craig had a good week. They of course home dirty and with lots of laundry, but it wouldn't be a scout outing if that wasn't the case!!

Craig & Christina Vacation, Part 1

Craig and I went to Orlando for a couple of days. Thanks to friends and relatives that helped with the kids. On my birthday we went to disney's animal kingdom. It was a lot of fun. The day was hot and being six months pregnant I waddled very slowly through the park. So glad we went.









This giant ant eater was one of the first things we saw. He is big (he is in the middle of the picture right in front of the palms). I didn't know that they slept for 15 hrs a day.










We took a ride on the safari, one of two rides I could do being pregnant! Of course we saw many more animals then we could get pictures of, but here are some of the animals we got to see.

Black Rino










Lots of Hippos.













American Aligators










































There were several giraffes.

























African Elephant, Craig likes elephants. The baby elephants were cute following the mamas.















This tree looks like it its upside-down!



















Whit rhinos.













Male lion, he is right at the crest of the hill under the tree.














Ostrich, my inlaws used to raise them. They had laid their eggs all over the savannah, but I didn't get a picture of them:(

I loved this mural, it was inside one of the buildings.

This is the skull of a female African Elephant. It is huge. At the nutrition center they have skulls all over, but this one amazed me!

Craig in front of Rafaki. I love the Rafaki character from the Lion King movie. I like that Rafaki can see the right even when no one else does.

The next three pictures are of the carvings around the "tree of life". This is a huge man made tree (with a theatre inside) that has carvings all over it of different animals. I took a few pictures as we waited in line to see the bug movie that was inside of the tree.

The title of the 3D movie we saw in the tree "It's tough to be a Bug"

Craig and I look great in our "honorary bug glasses"!

Another shot of the tree of life. Which animals can you pick out?

Craig & Christina Vacation, Part 2

More of our vacation. We went to Rainforest Cafe for lunch, it was in the park. I have wanted to go for a long time, but the prices drove me away. But this time we decided to just to it. I am glad we did.











This elephant outside the resturant had such a cut expression on his face. Craig was so thrilled to pose for a picture!!












Aquariums amaze me. The entrance to this cafe was two aquariums on the side with one over the top. To cool.




















There are so many animated animals all over the resturant. They come alive every time the "thunderstorm hits". Very cool to watch, although I did jump everytime the storm started!


















We both had sandwiches. The portions were huge. I could not finish all my food. It was the best burger I have ever had. Yum!!












After being stuffed with the hamburger, they brought out a birthday sunday for me. It was fun to be sung happy birthday to. I only ate a couple of bites then gave Craig the rest.


















Just a couple of pictures of the animated animals around the resturant.





































Okay, I am not really a frog person, but I think this frog is so fun looking!!

















Craig enjoys squishing pennies as souveniers. He did 11 this day.

Of course we watched the parade, you can't go to disney without watching a parade!

I loved these huge puppets in the parade, this is the elephant.

Mickey Mouse!!

This monkey puppet was awesome. He even looked right at us, perfect for the picture.

In the evening, when I really couldn't walk (waddle) anymore, we went to Cirque De Souil. It was captivating. Acrobats have so many skills that I did not think were humanly possible.

Our brief time away was wonderful and much needed. I love you Craig and am glad we had a few days for us!

David Archuleta's Fireside

On Thursday, July 30, 2009, we took our family to a fireside where David Archuleta, singer, was the speaker. David was the second place winner on American Idol, a reality TV show for singers, in 2008. David is an 18 yr old young man with a strong testimony of the gospel. Kendra Lowe, David's accompanist, also spoke.

I know the pictures are tiny. Sorry about that.

Things I want to remember from the fireside:

Kendra said that we have each been given gifts of the spirit. She asked us to read Doctrine & Covenants 46. She also reminded us that we can ask the Lord which gifts he has given us.

David, of course, sang: "We Will Bring the World His Truth", "Be Still My Soul" (his favorite), "The Spirit of God", and "How Great Thou Art". Beautiful hymns that bring back positive memories for me. David shared with us his spiritual journey about learning to sing and eventually being on the Tv reality show, American Idol. He said he learned that the Lord cares about every detail of our lives, even being a reality TV show. David also talked about going to the temple for the first time. He said that the temple feels like going to his grandmother's, a place where we are always loved and welcome.

I am glad we drove the almost two hours to the fireside. We were all tired, but uplifted by hearing Kendra and David's testimonies and hearing the hymns sung.