Tuesday, December 28, 2010

the be-lated honeymoon

Life is FINALLY starting to slow down after a month of pure craziness with school and Christmas preparation. We are so happy to have competed another semester and that we are still friends after it! The day after we finished finals we jumped on a plane headed for cancun and never looked back and hardly thought of home, work or school!! Spence was kind of a nervous wreck in the airports because he was afraid we would miss our plane or go to the wrong gate or not make it through security...i don't blame him, it was our first time traveling alone.

We were welcomed in Cancun with 80+ degree weather and a fabulous pina colada at our resort check-in. Our resort was BEAUTIFUL. We felt like royalty having someone wait on our hand and foot and never seeing the bottom of our virgin drinks...(mmm, i'm craving a pink panther right about now). The food was just OK for me, spence enjoyed it though. Although I didn't absolutely love it, I ate PLENTY! I hope I can lose the weight I gained from this vacation before our next one in March. :)

The ocean....oh the ocean. I consumed lots of delicious salt water from it and cleaned out handfuls of beautiful white sand from my swimming suit and hair. We spent 2 full days out on the ocean body boarding, kayaking, jet skiing, and snorkeling. We took in plenty of sun while laying out and taking naps on the beach...(our most severe burns happened the day before we left, thankfully, or else we would have spent more time inside). The sun burn on my face was severe...huge blisters and all. I have bright red skin coming in underneath the many layers of peeled skin. It looks like I have a terrible case of dandruff, but don't worry, its just skin falling off my face. We only played one game of beach volleyball but spence and I and a couple guys in speedos put a bunch of Chicago kids in their place.

When we weren't on the beach you could find us taking naps, shopping at the market or on an excursion. Our second day there we went a little further south and zip lined over the jungle, free repelled, snorkeled in cinotes (or caverns filled with rock structures and the most clear and fresh water) and then went on another snorkeling adventure in the ocean where we saw 3 sea turtles, a massive, scary looking barracuda, 2 sting rays, and an assortment of fish you only see in the movies. It was awesome. The next day we spent at the market. It was so much fun arguing prices and getting swooned into shops filled with 'real silver' jewelry, quality oakley sunglasses, sombreros and ponchos, and hand carved stone animals. The treasures we collected consisted of a rooster belt, sunglasses, earrings, a nativity, a tree ornament, a fabulous chess board, and a little rock sea turtle.

My favorite part of the whole trip (and I know this sounds real newly-weddy, but hey it was our honeymoon) was spending every second with spencer. He seriously is the man. I can't help but smile all the time around him. He takes great care of me and works so hard for us. We had so much fun watching crazy people, being lazy, exploring a new part of the world, covering our eyes at the topless women who shouldn't be topless, taking late night strolls on the beach, and drinking pina coladas while laying under palm trees. Needless to say we had the greatest time...together.






the beach.
(isn't he cute??) 














(a night stroll on the beach)

 (our beach through Spencers eyes)




 the excursion.







ok so a little preface to these next fabulous photos...we wanted a picture of us in the ocean after snorkeling SO we ask this gentleman who was building a sand castle on the beach with his son to take our picture and NATURALLY he was a professional photographer (who would have guessed) so one picture standing in the ocean together turned into a sexy photo shoot.... enjoy...we sure did.










the resort.


(my favorite thing to do!!)









 
 i think thats a giant rat...nasty


the real classy entertainment.





and finally...the love birds.

Monday, December 6, 2010

holidays at this Mendenhall home are looking merry and bright





 Tell me those aren't the cutest stockings you've ever seen. Well, Christmas is looking pretty great at our house. I am getting super excited for the Holidays because that means I get to be out of school, go on a rocking honeymoon, blast my speakers (way too loud) with Amy Grant, read the story of the birth of Christ in the Bible, go shopping, make and eat (but mostly eat) Christmas carmels, peanut brittle, fudge, and more carmels, go sledding/skiing, watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas, see the lights at Temple Square, wrap presents full of surprises for the Mr., listen to the beautiful devotional from our inspired First Presidency, snuggle up in a blanket by the imaginary fire and read a book,  decorate my house with garland, lights, nativities and my new stockings :), enjoy one too many Christmas parties with the family and listen to Grandpa Garrard read to the entire family stories about Christ, service and families. I still get as excited about the Christmas season as I did when I was 7, but now it means a lot more than waking up on Christmas morning to legos and a new basketball. I love the words of President Uchtdorf, "Let it be a time of remembrance, gratitude and forgiveness." And also President Monson, "During this season, forget yourself, and find time for others. Let it be a time of peace."

Have a fabulous Christmas Season!