Back to Life at Home...

So - I am home and nothing too exciting is going 0n. No stories like I had while I was in Guadalajara. It is nice being back in San Marcos but I am definitely missing my home in Guadalajara.
I have been able to spend a lot of time with my family and I am really enjoying that part of my summer. Although, when I am not home with them I am working hard at the pool. I am head guard almost everyday and then I started teaching lessons on Monday. I only have 2 classes and they are both a 1B but the skill level in the 2 classes are completely different. In my first class I have 2 girls that are almost 9 years olds. I definitely have to teach them their own skills. It's like a juggling act.

The Final Ciaos

I just got home from saying goodbye to my amazing group. All I can think is that it is a good thing the Church keeps everyone so close together. I know I have already said this but they really have become my family. I can't wait to see them all again in Provo and I am looking forward to every reunion. Plus - from what we have figured - almost everyone has verizon. What an easy way to keep in touch. My heart hurts just thinking about spending the rest of my summer with out them...Good thing we have texts and facebook. Maybe I can get some to take another vacation and visit me :) We will see how that goes.

And then the kids we have met in the ward down here. They have done everything for us. I really love them and I hope that we can keep in touch. I don't know if I can thank them enough. They have been so understanding and so willing to help. They talk to us - even with our broken, struggling spanish! They drive across Guadalajara to pick us up. They have really spent every minute they can with us and I am horribly sad to say goodbye.

Goodbyes: ROUND 2

I have already said goodbye to my cute service girls and last night I had to say goodbye to Hermana Stallings and her family. They really have become my family out here. Hermana stops anything to help us and she so sincerely loves us. I am so happy that they will be a family I can see time and time again while I am studying at BYU. Her daughter, Rachel, reminded me so much of Kelsey. You know, that funky yet adorably unique style? So Rachel. She is so sweet and always ready to have fun. Then Stephen reminded me so much of Porter! Tuesday at the dance party on the boat - definitely Porter. He has that adorable round face and is just the entertainer. Although - Stephen dresses like a little skater boy with his tight pants. Porter wouldn't be caught dead wearing those! haha They also had a friend with them, one of those friends that you grow up believing is a cousin. Natalie. She is so special and amazing mature for going into 12th grade. I had a ton of fun with her. She is rambunctious and daring. Fearless and fun. I will miss them. Good thing everyone lives in Utah!

tonight will be the hard part - saying goodbye to my friends. This group of 25 that has literally become my family. I have a whole lot of new sisters and 2 amazing new brothers. I am a little nervous to not have them for the rest of my summer.

Under the moon

We tried sleeping on the beach again last night. This time it was a success. We could see the moon and sometimes even some stars. We even had a full moon so everything was well lit up. I think we had a bat chilling at the top of our little umbrella hut - the moment Nat and I stopped talking to go to sleep he started making noises. I guess everyone had a rough time trying to sleep on those chairs but I am pretty sure I didn't move once. It was a wonderful night :)

our day cruise!

We spent yesterday on a boat. It was an amazing amazing adventure. We started with a breakfast of fruit on the boat and then headed to some rocks for snorkeling. There was a total of 3 types of fish and if you saw one, the other 2 were close by. You didn't have to do much searching...They were cool fish but the water wasn't very clear and we didn't have coral to watch the fish swim in. Not the best snorkeling but we had a ton of fun. The water is amazingly warm.
After snorkeling we dropped people off for lunch and those who wanted to go hiking to the falls (ME!) got to keep going. It was like a half hour walk there and back. We also followed horses, which wasn't all the pleasant. The scenery was beautiful though. And when we got to the falls - gorgeous! We swam for a little at the bottom of the falls and enjoyed the rock slide going along side the fall. We played there for about half an hour and headed back. There was a 6'8'' boy on the hike with us with is 5'11/6 foot girlfriend. I noticed they were both wearing ucla shirts - later come to find out he is going to be a sophomore for the ucla basketball team. I think he is from Serbia. Nikola Drac...something. Pretty crazy!
After the hike we went back to the beach and enjoyed some lunch. Ashley, Jess, and I swam from the boat to the shore. It was so nice to just swim...although there were some jellyfish and Ashley had already gotten stung the first day of our trip. We were screaming and trying to swim as close to the top of the water as possible. I am sure everyone just thought crazy americans. After we ate we dove write back into the water. The beach here was clearer and not as sandy - it was more rocky than the silty sand at our beach. It reminded me a little of Waimea. The waves crashed pretty much on the shore and would have been horrible for boogie boarding but turned out wonderful for just playing around.
The boat ride back was the best. We get on the boat and before long they are playing the Macarena. Our group was at the front shaking what we had. Everyone else loved it, of course. Then we went into the new electric slide dance followed by Achy Breaky Heart en espanol and of course YMCA. Soon we found ourselves upstairs dancing on the open deck. The boat swayed a lot more up top and pretty much our dancing consisted of trying to keep balance as we moved back and forth. Ashley tried to dip me and of course here comes a toppling wave. haha We both ended up on the ground - the only 2 to fall. We really had a good time.
Once we got back to the harbor Hermana walked up to me and in spanish said that my mom must have taught me how to dance. I laughed and told her I couldn't dance. Then she went on to explain that I know how to move my hips and she actually seemed very impressed! haha I still don't know what she is talking about. I remember mom trying once to teach me to dance to Back to life by Soul II Soul back in like 7th grade. haha That was a joke and we haven't tried since then. They also had a huge map of the states of mexico on the ground and I should have gotten a picture of me standing right north of Baja California. We actually found people to make the entire west coast. Made me miss home...

Mas Sol

I am sunburned. Surprise.
Ok - so yesterday was father's day. We went to church and really that was it. Church was really good but I won't lie, we were all beat dead. We never seem to get enough sleep. But it was SO nice to just relax and enjoy ourselves. No rushing, no appointments, just having fun. On the way home, lucky me, I sat on gum. I noticed this once we reached the hotel. I could feel it on my dress but it took me forever to see it. I asked the girls if they saw it but they had to search. The gum is exactly the same color as the flowers on my dress and that is right where they were.
Last night I went on a walk with Ashley and Jessica. Before long we were walking in crocodile land - good think I remembered one of the girls in our group mentioned that and we turned around and made it home safely. It was beautiful to walk along the beach at night though. We then decided we should sleep out on the chairs. I was out in no time ( soo tired) but before too much time passed the girls woke me up saying it was raining. I was under the fun umbrella hut so I had no idea. We had fun though!
Monday was spent on the beach. Nat and I had tried kayaking on Saturday with Natalie and Maggie - that was an adventure for sure. 4 on one kayak - with only 3 paddles. I am slowly finding bruises. But Monday, when Nat and I tried, it was so amazingly simple. I was all excited for some huge work out - ha. Then we boogie boarded all afternoon. I had a last run - I must have caught the wave horribly. I have never hurt myself boogie boarding until yesterday. My board went straight into a nose dive and so I tried to push it one way and somehow my chin got it good in the sand. I got up and was afraid to move. My jaw was pretty tight and my ears were aching. Now - I feel like I went to the orthodontist and he messed with my mouth...but really, so far so good.
Last night we went and visited the real Puerto Vallarta. So we are in Nueva Vallarta - which is in a different state completely. Just neighboring cities though. Puerto was fun, definitely not beaches like the one were are on but we walked down the boardwalk and enjoyed taking pictures

I LOVE MY DADDY

happy father's day!
I am so thankful for my daddy. Everything he does is for us - his family. He knows my potential and pushes me to reach that. I can go on and on with stories I have of my father, and for the most part they are actually quite entertaining, but I will restrain from sharing all.

This last winter semester was really hard for me. I was having a hard time getting into my program (special education). Who knew it was so hard! I made it on the waiting list and was devastated - but then there was my dad. He had so many stories to tell me about waiting for doors to open when it comes to careers and just having faith. It was amazing to hear all the things my dad did for my family and how he only makes choices through the help of our Heavenly Father. His faith amazes me.
He has a testimony like no one else I know. When he gets up there to bear his testimony I can't control myself. I love his face when he bears his testimony. You can tell it is taking everything out of him. He is so sincere and I always look forward to hearing my father bear his testimony.

I remember we had this ward youth conference in Utah. We watched The Testaments one evening and when we walked out - there was the Salt Lake Temple, beautifully lit up. Kelsey and I were still trying to dry our eyes from the movie and just looking at the temple. Then comes dad. He just wraps us in his arms and we stood there together, tears streaming down our faces, for a good solid 5 minutes. I will never ever forget how much love was felt in those minutes.

Then, of course, there is the jack black, pee your pants funny side of my dad. He makes everyone laugh and really is the heart of any good party. Get him singing some karaoke and your life will forever be changed. Or start him going on some good movies like Nacho...Have you ever seen the faces he makes at all the cute little kids at church?! haha Those were the faces I grew up with.

Dad's new big thing is photography. I love it! He will come back from BYU games with the greatest pictures! His action shots are the greatest AND then he has this amazing shot of Bryan Kehl. Haha That will always be my favorite.

So all in all - I love my dad. I used to be easily embarrassed but nothing he does can embarrass me now because I know he loves me and I love him and that is all that matters! He is the greatest. He is my foundation, the one who is never dramatic and keeps me from being quick to judge and worrying too much about what others think. He is my example and has set a high bar for me to follow. I know he has faith in me and that he loves me more than life. He is so willing to give me blessings and help me make it through all the "troubles" of a young college girl.

I am and forever will be your kukiluki. I love you dad!