Hola from Portugal

Well Ryan has class every morning for three hours. I usually go wander Lisboa and talk to cute old ladies while he is gone but this morning I've decided to be lazy and just enjoy this beautiful morning by myself. So for all of you, and mostly my sweet little Raiyah here are some pictures of our trip so far. Portugal is beautiful. There are many things I don't like: EVERYONE smokes, including all of the high school kids, and everyone looks at me like I'm crazy when I smile or say hello. So it's not the happiest place in the world unless you get outside the main cities, which is what we have found we love doing. It's kind of nice to just let Ryan take care of everything, because although I like to pretend like I speak Portuguese really well obviously Ryan is a little better than me. :) The people we are living with sit and talk "at" me forever, and Ryan just told me to nod my head and smile like I understand because they are truly just talking without waiting for a response. Pretty funny.

This was my first Professional European soccer game. It was a blast. The crowd even yells at their own players for hogging the ball, getting off sides, or not moving fast enough. It was a lot of fun.

We went to a REAL palace. It honestly was the place of every little girls dreams. And it's Portugal so we just walked through the entire thing. It was absolutely amazing.

This is part of a castle we went to. For every girl who is in love with the galant knights of old, this place was a dream as well. Ryan and I had so much fun wandering the entire thing. It was incredible imagining what used to happen within those walls.

Took a ride on the wine boat in Porto. This is my favorite "big" city. There was something new, and incredible around every corner.

My favorite little village, Obidos. It was just a maze of cobblestone, tiny white houses, beautiful flowers, and churches.

So as we were driving to Nazareh I looked over and saw this bench full of cute old men just hanging out on a beautiful Sunday. It may sound funny but this is the scene I was looking for all over Portugal. I knew I would find it if I looked hard enough. It was so fun to stop and talk to all of these cute old me. They were so animated and happy. They all would stop each other mid-sentence, shake their fists, and were just so friendly. They all wanted to get cute and handsome for a picture with me, it was so much fun. I was giggling in the car for a long time after we left them.

TOP OF THE WORLD...

Okay, not really but close enough for me. I hiked to Kings Peak (hightest peak in Utah) last weeked with my family and some good family friends. I wouldn't say it was the funnest thing I've ever done but I loved every minute of it. We did this trip when I was in eighth grade too but I got sick the morning we hiked the peak so missed out last time. I had a major headache the night before we were heading up the peak so I was pretty nervous I wouldn't be able to go- but no worries everything turned out fine. :)
I had quite an adventure on the hike- I took my own route (my Dad likes to say I got lost) but I could see the peak the whole time so I was not lost. I had to boulder up the East side of the peak which was one of the more scary things I've done. I was mostly worried that a huge boulder would kill me and no one would have any idea where I was, and I'd never be found. But after a little prayer and a little hope somehow my Dad heard me yelling and sat at the top of the peak waiting for me. It was truly a life changing experience. I'm glad I went even without Ryan (who had to stay home and go to drill) Sorry sweet heart. I thought of you on our 6th Anniversary as I was sitting at the top of the peak.

Do I look cold? Because it was freezing at the top.

As you look at this picture keep in mind we are on a backpack trip and there is no way to get clean other than the baby wet wipes I stole from my kids on the way out the door.
Picture of me and my Dad at the top of the peak. The man I know I can always count on to hear my cries. Thanks for waiting at the top of the mountain for me. Ilove you

You know that creepy feeling you get in the woods like there has to be something out there... it's because there usually is. As we were hiking back to the parking lot on the last day my Dad needed to go to the bathroom. He walked probably fifty feet off the trail and there was this moose just staring at him. I took this picture and could have gotten a lot closer becasue he was just staring us down. But I chickened out and just went back to the trail. I knew he was still standing there when I got to the trail but I couldn't see him. I really wonder what is out there when you get those goose bumps knowing something is watching you. :)

Family Photos

Still working on a family photo that actually looks good of all of us. We will triumph one day. :) In the meantime we are having fun.

Does Malakai look a little different? It's probably due to the fact that this is his third hair cut and he is only seven months old! His hair grows soooo fast, but I love it. He is still as sweet as ever and finally getting to the fun playing, crawling, eating, and loving his Mommy stage.

Raiyah is still her precious self. She constantly reminds me that she

is my princess. I cannot believe how grown up she is. This next week she will start Joyschool with some kids in our neighborhood, and ballet class (which she practices for every day on her stage aka the fireplace.)