A couple weeks ago we drove out to Utah. My sister Sasha had a baby boy in June and he was being blessed in church, and my dad was having a birthday party the day before.
Dad's party was up at Sundance Resort, which is special to Eric and I because Eric used to teach ski lessons there in college, and we liked to go up there for walks because it's so beautiful. I've always dreamed of having a cabin up there. We were excited to take the kids up there to see it.
The party was great, and after a couple games everyone went off to explore the meandering paths and walks.

It was great to get to see my parents, step-mother Lisa, the rest of my family and Lisa's family. My siblings and I grew up down the street from Lisa's nieces and nephews, and we spent lots of time hanging out together back then. It was so fun to meet Sasha's baby, a beautiful little boy who weighed less than 7 pounds! I don't know what to do with a baby that size; mine are much bigger when they're born :)
On Sunday we went to church with Sasha and James. Baby Ezra was blessed and afterward Sasha and James threw an amazing barbeque. After that we headed home, ending a weekend that was way too short!

When Eric and I got married we chose to go to Washington for our honeymoon. We spent time exploring the beauties of the Hoh Rainforest and took a trip to Victoria. It was an amazing and beautiful trip, and I wouldn't change it for anything.
Every year Eric's parents take a trip to a tropical climate, on a beautiful beach. I have to admit I always wondered how they could go to the same kind of place, year after year.
Just like Eric and I went to Boston with Scentsy a couple years ago, we were lucky enough to go a couple weeks ago to the Dominican Republic. They had an incentive trip there for their consultants, and we helped out Eric's boss by going for part of the time. I know, big sacrifice!
One night there was a Scentsy 70's/80's dance. Talk about heaven on earth! I got Eric on the dance floor with me for two whole hours! I must have burned 1500 calories. It was awesome. Eric was going for the whole Magnum P.I. look, and grew out his beard just so he could shave all but a moustache that night. At first it creeped me out, but I don't know, I kind of got used to it.

We spent most of the time on the beach, reading and body surfing. The DR reminds me a lot of Puerto Rico, where my family spent some time years ago. I was especially excited for the fruit and fruit juices, and they did not disappoint. We probably ingested 20 virgin piña coladas during the five days we were there.
The flowers and greenery were amazing! I only wish the resort had labeled everything for us. We stayed at the Hard Rock in Punta Cana.

It was hot. And humid. I pore on the sunscreen but it wasn't enough.

Eric's parents watched the kids for us, bless their angelic hearts! We didn't worry about the kids at all.
One day we went with a group of consultants to a zipline tour about 20 miles from Punta Cana. Some of these shots I took on our drive there. Neither Eric nor I had ever done one before. I was looking forward to the views more than anything else.
I was nervous before the first line. Eric is afraid of heights but for some reason this experience wasn't bothering him. I just wanted to make sure I didn't screw something up! What if I got stuck in the middle of the line? Or couldn't stop in time and injured someone? It was that whole unknown thing.
But it was awesome and after that first line I didn't worry anymore. It was so much fun, and the views were amazing, just like I had thought they'd be!

At the end of the line we'd reach a tower, walk down to the bottom, jog to the next tower, climb to the top and zipline down again. It was a great workout!
Unfortunately the time between mine and Eric's turns wasn't very long so it made it hard to get any great pictures of us.
At the beach. The last night of our stay we had dinner on the beach. It was so beautiful! We were able to hang out with some friends that we had made and say goodbye.
I understand now why Pete and Ami take their trips to the places they do. When you're at the beach all day, it's so easy to relax and not feel guilty about it. It was great!