When David and I found out we were pregnant, we figured out pretty quickly that we no longer qualified for the family trip to Beijing in June for Paul's HS Graduation. Seeing how we were going to be missing out on our big trip for 2014, we thought it would only be fitting to take a different trip before I got too big - thus the babymoon plans were born!
After a lot of research and comparing hotels, locations etc, we finally settled to leave over the first week of February to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. We booked our stay at the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel and anxiously awaited our escape from the snow! In fact, the week prior to our departure, we did get a little snow in Carson, which just made the sunshine that much sweeter :)
Traveling to Punta Cana is a little more difficult than traveling to Mexico as we first had to fly to SFO, have a layover there, then take the red-eye to Newark. Then we flew from there to Punta Cana. Thankfully, both David and I slept pretty well on the flights! The airport in Punta Cana has a roof that looks almost like it was made from straw and it is basically an open-air airport with big fans on the ceiling, keeping things cool. There was also live music, which was kind of fun. After a slight debacle trying to find our ride to the hotel, we finally made it and were checked in. Oh, the beach and pools were a glorious sight, but our first goal was to get some food in our bellies!! We made our way over to the pizza place and enjoyed our first meal there! Then we enjoyed taking a loooong relaxing nap. Believe me, this was the BEST vacation for a pregnant girl. All we really did was sleep in, lay by the pool or beach, eat lots of food, read books and take naps. I couldn't have asked for a better vacation than this!
Here are a few (ok, maybe more than a few) pictures of our time in paradise.
The nice guy at the airport helping us find our ride
I had to take a picture of the bump, since the vacation was all about her!
Our awesome room!!
David on the beautiful beach
I love this man
We love each other
He was sad that no one was there to pass him a basketball
He was sad that his brother and sister-in-law decided to not join us
Every plate of mine was at least 3/4 full of fruit!
This was the best beach we've ever been on!
Enjoying our first day on the beach!
His lemonade had alcohol and tasted gross
Loving hanging out in the pool
Ghetto $10 glasses broke
The main building behind me
Part of the resort
They had all sorts of cool displays
David with some famous person's motorcycle
A sparkly limo! I obviously needed a picture with it
Us in the sun. We don't turn the same color in the sun ;)
This is obviously the only kind of picture I had the "time" to take
Handsome husband in the pool
We loved the pools
David convinced me to get up early the last morning to catch the sunrise
Us and the sunrise
He's my whole world!
It was a fantastic trip and I am so lucky to be married to my best friend who really knows how to spoil me!! We were sad to leave, knowing that this would be our last trip like this for a long, long time. But we're so excited for the adventures ahead of us as our family grows!
Right now I am the Secretary in our ward's Young Women's group. We only have 3 girls right now since we just lost several who graduated! Our group is small, but we have a lot of fun!
This Tuesday I was in charge of the mutual activity, which was on Inner Beauty. I had so much fun getting ready for this activity, and I hope the girls learned something. Middle School and High School is such a daunting time and can be harsh on a young girl's feelings of self worth and beauty. All of our young women are so beautiful, inside and out, and I hope that this activity helped them realize that even a little bit! I wanted to share some of what I did for this activity, though.
We first spoke about how the world defines beauty, and the girls had good answers of how it is defined by how you look on the outside. Then we moved to talk about how beauty is defined by the Lord. To teach this part, I used several quotes and scriptures.
"The world prizes body-baring "beauty." Hollywood markets it, advertisers exploit it, and the media promote it. The Lord, however, "seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7) - Elder Lynn G Robins
"The world places so much emphasis on physical attractiveness that they would have you believe that you are to look like the elusive model on the cover of a magazine. The Lord would tell you that you are each uniquely beautiful. When you are virtuous, chaste, and morally clean, your inner beauty glows in yoru eyes and in your face...We have been taught that "the gift of the Holy Ghost ... quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections...It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features." No, that is a great beauty secret!" - Elaine S Dalton
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10
I then read a story by Susan W Tanner
"I remember well the insecurities I felt as a teenager with a bad case of acne. I tried to care for my skin properly. My parents helped me get medical attention. For years I even went without eating chocolate and all the greasy fast foods around which teens often socialize, but with no obvious healing consequences. It was difficult for me at that time to fully appreciate this body which was giving me so much grief. But my good mother taught me a higher law. Over and over she said to me, "You must do everything you can to make your appearance pleasing, but the minute you walk out the door, forget yourself and start concentrating on others."
"There it was. She was teaching me the Christ-like principle of selflessness. Charity, or the pure love of christ, "envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own" (Moroni 7:45). When we become other-oriented, or selfless, we develop and inner beauty of spirit that glows in our outward appearance. This is how we make ourselves in the Lord's image rather than the world's and receive His image in our countenances. President Hinckley spoke of this very kind of beauty that comes as we learn to respect body, mind, and spirit. He said:
"Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiriting than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth."
We talked about this story for a while, and then showed them this video.
Then I gave them each little package of things. Here's some of the treats that I included:
I had this quote on top of a small manicure set with a mirror
I can't claim this cutely designed quote, but I had Sis Dalton's "Shiney" quote
attached to little lip gloss
I can't figure out how to flip this picture, but I had this attached to some gum
Beauty Tips by Audrey Hepburn
I had each of the girl's moms write them a note
Here's one fo the cute packages!
After this we then did hair and nails! Ok, ok, I know that this is the opposite of inner beauty, but it's easier to make an activity with this type of thing, and it's fun :)
Megan was brave enough to let me do her hair!
Such a cute girl
Doing their nails
Our little group is so much fun!
Looking pretty, girls!
The rest of the week was busy with work and trying to catch up on my CME (continuing medical education) requirements for my licence renewal by the end of the month. I also spent some of Thursday night with Irene (my fellow camp mom) and my YCLs for Girl's camp, getting our group flag designed and other decorations. It was a lot of fun, and Irene is AMAZING at this girl's camp stuff.
Today (Saturday) was busy and fun. I went to the farmer's market and picked up a whole bunch of strawberries. With them I made some freezer jam that only requires mashed up strawberries, pectin and apple juice. It was really easy to make. I also went to a birthday party for a cute 1 year old in our ward and to a baptism for a cute 8 year old!
Lots of mashed up strawberries!
Mmmm yummy
All set!
Alright, that is all for our going ons this week. I guess it was mostly about me (Rachel), but I guess it's because I'm the one writing ;) And David worked a 60 hour week this week, so he didn't do much more than work and sleep. I'm lucky to be married to such a great and hardworking guy. And yes, life is still...better off Webb!
Last weekend David and I were happy to have Jeremy, Lindsey and their cute boy Devin come to visit us. For those of you that do not know these wonderful people, Jeremy is David's cousin and his best friend growing up. Lindsey is currently 8 months pregnant with their little girl, and so was quite the trooper to drive all of the way out here AND go camping with us! She definitely wins the prize for most brave!
David took Jeremy and Lindsey to Virginia City on Thursday afternoon while I was still at work. They had wanted to take Devin on the train, but unfortunately they missed it by a few minutes! I hear they still had a good time, though. That evening, they went to South Lake Tahoe to visit one of Lindsey's former college roommates, and David and I went to see Superman, Man of Steel in 3D. It was such a great movie!
Yup, we're the coolest people ever
After we got home, David of course had to show Jeremy and Lindsey our 3D capable TV :)
We had to make them look cool
Yup, Lindsey looks cool too
The next day we decided to drive up to Reno in the morning to check out the Sierra Trading Post or something. Jeremy had seen a catalog for this store before and so was excited to check it out, but then determined that the catalog was more exciting than the store.
Blurry, but here's Devin enjoying the swinging chair
Checking out the paddle board
Yup, we're super fly
Testing out the doggy tent
After that, we went home and got ready for our camping adventure! David had booked a place at Zephyr cove, but since they were overbooked, we actually got to move out to a less busy area of the camp site and spread out more, so it worked out perfectly! Here are some pictures from our night of camping :)
Devin has such a cute smile!
Bubble to keep Devin entertained :)
David's creepy hand...
Walking the dogs
He kept leaving on trips
Beautiful campsite!
David taking Devin on a walk
Ready...set..GO!
Devin won!!
So proud of himself for standing on a big rock
Loved our campsite
He posed for me after he got marshmallow all over his face
David: This is the Big Mac of s'mores!
So glad I didn't marry a creeper ;)
The next morning we cleaned every thing up and then headed over to the lake. Lake Tahoe is just so gorgeous!
David looking dapper at the beach
Taking pictures
We love each other
Penny decided to take a dive into the water
Such a cute family!
The water is so clear. And David is so handsome
Posing with the MS Dixie
We then drove back and went to the farmer's market. We bought some honey sticks, fruit and bison burgers for lunch. It was delicious.
David with one of the honey sticks
Taste testing peaches
He wanted my honey stick
Ordering bison burgers
We then went home to clean up and rest for a bit. After long naps, playing in the backyard and chatting, we finally settled on where to go to dinner and headed out.
Devin at the table before they brought the booster seat. So funny!
David and I. We don't have a picture of Jeremy and Lindsey because the picture is on their camera
After we got home the boys decided to play "chubby bunny" with the ginormous campfire marshmallows that we had left over.
David feeling confident that he could get two marshmallows in
Struggling to smile
And there it is, folks
Jeremy's turn...trying to get the first one in
Thinking about getting a second one in
Aaaand...it didn't happen
Devin trying to play with smaller marshmallows :)
Love this kid!
Jeremy and Lindsey left early on Sunday morning. It was sad to see them go, but we are so grateful that they took the time to visit us. We had such a great time. Now it's our turn to start planning a trip out to see them after baby girl is born!
