Thanksgiving

 We spent Thanksgiving in Burley this year. We drove up on Thursday before dinner so Charli could get a nap in. Everyone was so excited to see us. All the girls were fighting over who could hold Charli. After dinner I got EVERYBODY to go outside for a 1 mile Turkey trot. Kam and I told everyone earlier in the week to bring some walking shoes. Not everyone finished the mile but it got us outside. Grandpa set up the skeet shoot and Jake set up the target for Jayli's little bow. Jenna, Kasey, Kam and I did a little black Friday shopping later. The next day all the adults....besides Jake and I, went to Elba. Our girls were a little sick of being inside so we decided to take them bowling. But realized that all the other kids were bored too. So we loaded up all of them and we had a blast bowling! Bentlee, Emi, Dane, Nick, Jackson and our 3 girls.

On our way home we stopped and cut down our Christmas Tree. Kynli was asleep in the van so I stayed in the warm car with her.

Marshal Islands donations

Every year for Christmas with Jake's side of the family, we find a way to donate to someone in need instead of buying gifts for each other. This year was our turn. I've been reading Brey's missionary emails and the people in the Marshal Islands have so little. We rounded up some things Brey and the mission president thought would be beneficial to ship. Jake's family contributed clothes and  money. I bought extra things so send and luckily the Marshal Islands are a US territory so we could ship everything in flat rate boxes. I vacuum sealed all the clothes to fit a lot. I've included some of our correspondence below.

A clip from Brey's email: "I could just see how poor they were but they still dressed their best for us and they looked amazing. They prepared such an amazing meal for us, it was some kind of weird crab thing haha and rice and just a big meal. They were so poor and yet they prepared one of the best meals I have ever had. I just sat there after I got done eating and saw the joy that this family had and I felt awful. I had been so selfish and thinking poor me. I just felt so humbled sitting there in the home of this amazing family and I felt the spirit so strong. That night I learned that I need to be way less selfish and to start thinking of others like this wonderful family. This family ended up coming to church yesterday and my companion and I were so happy. That night I just couldn't stop thinking about them. I love that family so much. The dad even let us cut his hair and he shaved, he looks like a completely different person. I am just so humbled to see how much they love the gospel and how happy they are."

My reply: "Brey, I was able to talk to your mission president’s wife sister Larkin. I’m shipping lots of items to her this week. It takes about 3-4 weeks to arrive I’m told. She’s going to get all 4 boxes to you to distribute to anyone you think needs it! I hope this will be so fun to give to those that are less fortunate. Jake’s entire family helped me with this. We decided to donate to the people there in Kiribati instead of buying Christmas gifts for each other. I’m including a list of everything in these boxes so you can know ahead of time and be thinking of who you want to give to. Mostly clothing but we hope it’s all helpful. 

Lots of children’s clothes, toy trucks and small animal and people figure toys, necklaces, bracelets, newborn receiving blanket and caps, men’s white shirts, women’s dresses, bags, hats, sunglasses, church coloring books, crayons, suckers, 3 pocket knives, hair ties.

I’m also sending a couple things for you. Dried chicken, ground beef and sausage crumbles. I use these in my regular cooking and thought it would be nice for you to have some “regular” food. It’s easy to use and lasts a long time! Just soak the meat in some water for 5 minutes and drain off the excess water. Mix it in pasta or soup or whatever you’re making. It’s real meat and awesome! My little family loves reading your emails every week and think your mission is just so amazing and we’re so proud of you! Keep it up Elder Guiles!

Tayli Nelson"

Cabo Cruise

 We planned a girls trip on a 5 day cruise from LA to Cabo and back. Thursday-Tuesday So we made all the arrangements and went! The first day on the ship we got settled into our rooms. Mom, Kam and I in a room and Mel, Mimi and Jen in the other. They had a setting sail dance party on the top of the ship as we left LA. We all cut a rug and the camera crew kept putting us on the jumbo-tron. Obviously we had the moves. Every morning I couldn't sleep past 6:30! I don't know why. I got up every morning and went to a zumba class and walked around the ship while everyone slept.
The second day was another sea day. We shopped, laid in the sun, ate tons of food and relaxed. Jenna gave us all matching bracelets at breakfast. So cute! That night we got dressed up for formal night.
The next day, Saturday, we ported in Cabo. I face-timed Jake and the girls. I was so excited to see them! Kam and I had a snorkeling excursion, so we got to get off the ship in the first group. We found Marco Polo (recommended by Aunt Diane) and he set us up with a water taxi that took us to see El Arco and swim. On our boat with us we met a group from Ogden of all places. Jill's family was super fun and nice. We felt part of their group by the end of the day. We played on a beach by Pelican rock and swam in the ocean. The water was so warm. We didn't snorkel because jelly fish were reported in the area. We met up with the rest of the group later and shopped in town. Everyone stayed and went to get dinner. I was pooped from getting up so early so Mom, Mimi and I went back to the ship to eat dinner there and go to bed.


The next morning, Sunday, I was up and early again. I called Mimi in her room and we decided to have a day together in Cabo. Everyone else wanted to relax on the ship. Honestly.... this was my favorite day! Mimi was having the time of her life! She was so much fun. We got a private water taxi from Fernando. He played mexican music and showed us a good time. We went over to El Arco. We saw lots of fish, sea lions, huge waves, lovers beach, the key hole and lots of sunshine. Mimi just kept saying, "This is so amazing! I can't believe everyone is missing this! This is just too good to miss!" She was dancing and laughing and taking pictures. We had SO much fun! After we got back to the dock we decided we weren't done yet. We shopped and found a few things she wanted... including a cold coke. We brought boxes of cereal from the ship and handed them out to the kids in town. We walked til our feet were tired and headed back to the ship for lunch. Later we changed into our suits and we out to the pool. We laid out in the sun and watched the ship leave Cabo. That night for dinner we all wore our rompers. We were adorable. After dinner we watched a movie out by the pool.
The next morning after zumba I found the fitness room and ran on the treadmill. We shopped around the ship and bought our group pictures. I git into it with a cruise employee. He thinks everyone drinks and makes poor decisions. I let him know I have values and choose not to drink. I cooled off on the deck and felt really ready to see my family. We ate some lunch and took a nap. That night after dinner we went to Karaoke. We sang "girl's just wanna have fun" with our new friend Jill. The next day we got up early to get off the ship. Last minute I realized I forgot my sweater in our room. I ran up to get it and bumped into Jill. I could tell she looked panicked. Her mother grabbed me and hugged me and said Vern (Jill's husband) had a heart attack and asked our group to say a prayer for him. I let everyone know what happened and we said a prayer later outside where it was quiet. He was in a coma for a few days but recovered. When Kam and I got back to my house I was so excited to see my family. Jayli was still at dance but I got to hug Charli and Kynli. They were so cute when they saw me! Giggling and hugging. I loved it so much!

While Mom was away

Planning on being away from the people you love most is a lot of work. I try to plan as much as I could to make less work for Jake. He planned to take the girls to Highland for the weekend to have his family's help. So I packed bags for the girls and tried to have everything clean and meals planned. We tried to get in enough snuggled and kisses for the 6 days I'd be gone. I had to leave before they woke up so Jake face-timed me while I was waiting at the airport and we said good bye. Jake took the girls to Highland that day so his family could watch the girls while he worked. Charli didn't feel well. By 9pm she had a high fever. Jake didn't have a thermometer so Jen ran to the store and bought one. When he took her temp, it read 105.5! That's so much higher than I've ever seen with any of our girls. Jake and Becky immediately ran to the car to have Charli seen. Jake called the insta care in Provo because they were still open. He told them he was on his way with a 13 month with 105.5 fever. They got there right before they closed the doors. They triaged her and said they could't seen her because her fever was too high. They had to go to the ER. Jake was so mad because he had told them that before. So they jumped back in the car and drove to the ER in Orem. Her temp there only read 103. They did and US to check for a appendicitis. They cathed her and checked for a UTI. They ran blood work on a Virus panel. After a couple hours with still a fever they gave her ibuprofen and tylenol doses together. It still took over an hour for her temp to come down. Without any answers they admitted her. Jake said the pediatrician there was really great. She said her panel came back negative for the virus they tested for. She could have roseola that cause such a high temp. She decided to send them home so Charli could sleep better. Jake said his dad was still in his clothes on the couch when they got home to listen for the girls. In the morning Tiff came and got Jayli and Kynli to come play at her house so Charli and Jake could rest. We're so lucky Jake decided to stay in Highland an extra night. Everyone chipped in to help. Leon even washed and folded all the girl's clothes. Charli slept a lot Sunday and her fever never returned. He said they all talked about it and decided not to let me know until I got home. I would just be worried and there wasn't a way to get me home any sooner. I'm actually glad they did. I would have been a mess. Because I was bawling they whole time Jake told me about it afterward. They came home Monday. Bre brought them dinner that night. We had already planned on that but it worked out perfect. I had made her husband and kids dinner while she was on a trip a week before. I got home Tuesday evening. Kam and I rang the door bell and Charli and Kynli were so surprised to see me on the front step! They jumped in my arms and hugged me. Giggling and jumping up and down. I loved it so much! Jayli was super cute when she got home after dance at 6. She told me she kept my kissing hand and missed me a lot.