Mexico

We spent this last week kicking around the water in Akumal, Mexico at Half Moon Bay and let me just say when you wake up to an ocean view every morning you really begin to wonder why you chose to live in such a cold and snowy place...

My dad and his wife Kate invited us to go and nothing sounded better than a warm get away with great company!

We spent the majority of our time in the water. We went on about four Scuba dive trips. Two dives in Cozumel, one night dive in Akumal, and a Cenote dive.

I get cold really easily in the water so while Derek would wear a shorty diving I would wear a shorty under my full body wet suit! In the picture above I was going diving in a Cenote (fresh water caves) and they are really cold so I put on an arctic suit complete with a head cover and had the warmest dive of my life! Which means it was absolutely wonderful!!

We also saw a lot of sea life

Trumpet fish in the Yalku

Foreign Fish in the Yalku

Great White!?

Oh no it's just Derek who is Great and looking pretty White underwater

To bad you can't see that my entire body is 100% goosebumps! Not that the water isn't a pleasant 80 degrees, I am just weak sauce.

There were a lot of turtles in the bay in front of where we were staying

This is a 4.5 ft barracuda that I swam up on in some coral formations, me and the fish startled each other half to death. Derek kept trying to get me to swim next to it for scale but there was no way I was going near that thing seeing as it was almost longer than me and those teeth look so menacing!

The view at Tulum

My dad nicely offset by the crystal blue water backdrop

Derek and I testing out the waters of Tulum

There were hundreds of Iguanas everywhere we turned that seemed perfectly posed for photos

My dad ordering food, now for him the only essential words he needs to know in Spanish are as follows Coca, Langosta, and Zucaritas

Derek took us all out sailing on a catamaran one day

My dad was a little nervous about the whole thing

everyone else enjoyed it...

well except for when the boom came flying across hitting Kate and me in the head

Thanks Dad and Kate for the memories and adventures!

We love you XOX

Catch a Wave

The other night a group of the cousins were able to go over to the Roney's house to try out their acclaimed artificial wave! It was one of the coolest things Derek and I have tried out-aside from being a little sore the next day- we all agreed that this is a quality investment!

There were a number of outstanding falls, which were probably more fun to watch then actually being out there on the wave. Oh and ladies a one piece is recommended because that thing will and I mean WILL rip your bathing suit off!

This is one of my super girly attempts at surfing...

Brady's Wedding

After the New Year our family had some big changes happen. My Grandmother (Mom's Mother) passed away the same week that my older brother got married. We had a wedding one day and a funeral the next.

Both are rights of passages, marking new stages of progression for our family and it made the beginning of the new year bitter sweet.

Back in high school I lost a best friend due to an accident and I learned from that experience that in death you aren't losing someone you are simply passing them on to someone or something else and you learn and feel that they are still there it's just... different.

So, I want to start off my first blog of the year with my brothers wedding which I have no doubt that my grandmother attended. Now without further ado here they are Mr. and Mrs. Brady Daniels married January 5, 2010 at Le Jardin

I now have two darling nieces Allison and Mckayla. They were perfect flower girls and ring bearers' at the wedding.

My Grandfather and me getting ready to hit the dance floor.

Mckayla standing next to the cake

My mom signing the marriage certificate

All the girls; mothers, sisters, nieces, and new sister-in-laws

Here is a shout out from your sisters Brady and Audra,

CONGRATULATIONS! We Love You Muchos! Now go be happy

Christmas 2009!

OK so with blogging I realize there are certain things that you can never fully explain or capture and Christmas is one of those.

Nothing is better than hanging out with friends and family for days on end, all in the comfort of your P.J's. There are only things that can add to the better-ness like Arnie's gravy, chocolate eclairs, or puppies that won't come back in the house.

We spent the first part of Christmas Eve in Deer Valley with Derek's family.

Vander seems to be silently contemplating the meaning of Christmas

Pheonix and Brandon in their new ever-so-manly jackets

If anyone ever wonders how "crazy grandpa" got his name you need wonder no more. Here he is up to his usual antics.

After dinner it was time for p.j time!

Grandma and Grandpa Neaman, Tutu, and Crazy Grandpa with all their grandchildren/great grandchildren

Next Derek and I went down to my mom's house for another Christmas dinner!

I did a horrible job at documenting the event but the picture of Madi and my mom's white German Shepard Blue should adequately sum up the festivities.

Christmas morning!

Deja getting her cute new collar, which she didn't seem to appreciate all that much.

River with is first BB gun from Uncle Derek. The one and only Red Ryder

My new motorcycle jacket!!! LOVE IT!

River got a new rat from Santa!

Here is the end of Christmas 2009 which could not have been documented so superbly if it weren't for a new camera from Santa!

Now for whatever reasons present opening always wipes a person out, even if it was only a measly new collar nap time is always in order after presents.