Cruisin'

Last week we drove down to Apple Valley to see this handsome little guy get baptized.Everyone was there (besides Jon, who's on his mission), and it was such a wonderful occasion! Livia was VERY interested in the baptism and confirmation, and has talked to me about it multiple times since then.

The next day Chase and I said goodbye to Miss Livvy and boarded this little beauty.

Oh, the relaxation! It was so nice to be completely responsibility-free for a week, and knowing that Livia was in such good hands (and having the time of her life at Grandma's house), made it that much better.

We spent a day in Cabo San Lucas (just look at the coloring on that water!)And a day in Mazatlan, where we toured the city, rode waverunners out in the ocean, and hung out at a hotel resort. Then we spent a day in Puerto Vallerta. This was by far my favorite stop.

Partially because it was gorgeous (I love hills/mountains. Especially hills covered in rainforest, dotted with cute little villages, and stretching straight out into the ocean)

(I'm also a sucker for cobblestone streets)

And partially because Chase and I splurged and went on an "Outdoor Adventure."

We took a boat to a more remote area of Puerto Vallerta

Rode a truck up the mountain over what MAY be called roads, but I have my doubts. We very much needed those straps hanging from the ceiling, or we'd have been thrown out and left in the dust.We rode mules the rest of the way up the mountain, and then made our way back down the mountain through a course of ziplines, rappels, and river crossings.

Here's a shot of us rappelling down a waterfall.
Seriously? It was such a blast! I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and I think Chase had a great time too.

We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around Puerto Vallerta, admiring sand sculptures and the beautiful scenery.

Since Chase's birthday was the week before, they sang to him one night at dinner and we ended up with FOUR desserts. Yowza!

The whole experience was great! The family we sat with at dinner was from the Philippines, and they were so nice and fun to talk to. We enjoyed the shows at night, spent lots of time reading...and eating (There was lots of eating going on, even though I have to confess that I found the food good, but not great), and overall it was very nice to spend unhurried time together, just the two of us.

Livia had a marvelous time while we were gone, and was VERY upset to leave Apple Valley. It took us an hour to coax her into getting in the car to head back home! (Funny side note: Livia thinks that Apple Valley refers, not to a city, but to Grandma and Grandpa's actual house. Same with our city referring to our particular apartment. Makes me feel like I live in a country estate in England!)

And now we are home. The giant pile of laundry is finally done, the suitcases are unpacked and put away, and Chase is working never-ending hours. In other words, life is back to normal!