blow hole, rum point, and snorkling

Wow, I can't believe another week has gone by.  The time seems to fly by so quickly.  We have been busy.  I am happy to report that after much searching and contemplating we found a place to live.  Yay!!  We will be moving in the 1st of August.  We are very excited to get out of our little studio and finally get settled in and actually feel like we live here.  It will be nice not to live out of our suitcases anymore. 

We have become really good friends with Chris's interns Margret and Jordan, they are mid 20's and have been married almost a year.  We have found that most of our spare time is spent with these two new friends of ours and we quite enjoy them.  I especially, since I tag along as a 3rd wheel on their day off while Chris is at work.  Fun for me.  This week on their day off we headed over to Cemetery Beach.  Side note: Cemetery Beach is part of Seven Mile Beach, but since 7 mile beach is so long, being 7 miles, they have sections of it which are called more specific names so you can locate and meet up with people easier. 

I am constantly amazed at how blue and clear the water is here.  I have never seen such clear water, you could be  in water 60 feet deep and still be able to see the bottom. 

Cemetery Beach is a great place for snorkeling.   The fish are crazy here, they are accustom to being feed so they will swim right up and around you and encircle your body.  It is almost a little creepy. But also very entertaining trying to jet out your hand really quickly and see if you can touch them, or if you are really brave try to catch them with your bare hands.  They are quick little buggers.

This is Margret and Jordan and our shaded little set up here at Cemetery beach.

On Chris's day off, we had already settled on a place to live so we actually had the whole day to do whatever we wanted.  We decided to drive around the island, we circled the outer edge of the east side and went up to Rum Point.  The drive there took about 2 hours.  On the way we got to see lots of sites we had heard about, one of which was these really cool blow holes.

As we drove around the east side it is amazing how different the island is over there, it is like being on a separate island, everything is very spread far apart, it feels a lot more country and a lot less city, it is very green and lush.  

Rum Point is on the northern side of the island.  It is a very fun beach and atmosphere.  Great for small kids cause the water is fairly shallow for quite a ways out.

Here is our set up where we beached.  

Sunday night Margret and Jordan had us and the missionaries over for dinner.  After dinner the six of us played a few games of Scum (this is a family favorite of mine), we had a really fun time.  The missionaries here are a pretty cool set, one of them reminds me a lot of my little brother Chandler, he is tall and skinny and has a very funny and quirky sense of humor.  We like them.  Grand Cayman is actually part of the Jamaica mission, the whole island of Grand Cayman is one area and we have one set of missionaries for the whole area. Because it is so expensive for the missionaries to transfer areas since the only way to transfer is by plane, the missionaries are typically in one area for 6-9 months.  I like this because we can get to know them really well and build a relationship with them.  It seems like when they are transferred every 6 weeks you barely get the chance to have them over for dinner more than once and they are already gone.  

   Well that is what we have been up to this week.  Until next....

Our Temporary Home...

Well we are here.  We have managed to get as settled in as we can living in a tiny studio apartment, which is really like a hotel room with a fridge.  We have been busy looking for more permanent housing, but I thought I would show you where we have been staying for the time being. 

Here is the conch shell I found in the ocean by where we are living. 

Pretty Sweet!

We have been in Grand Cayman a little over a week now.  We are finally starting to get more acquainted with the island.  This past week had been really busy.  Chris has started his new job, we have been house hunting, we have gone out to eat with several people from Chris's work, attended a big marketing party for Chris's work, went to church, were given callings (Chris is Young Men's President and I am a counselor in Relief Society),  I have job hunted, I found a job (I start Aug. 1st.), went to a branch beach party, went to a work beach party, swam in the pool, went to the beach on our own, went to Harry Potter in 3D, and have watched lots of movies on our laptop. It is weird not having a TV. 

 These were taken at Camana Bay which is a really nice shopping complex kinda like the Gateway in Salt Lake City, and it is where the movie theater is located so we came here to watch the new Harry Potter.

 Here are a few pictures of one of the beaches we have gone to multiple times called Smith's Cove.  It is with in walking distance to where we are staying right now. 

It has been a busy week, with lots going on. But we are doing well, and everything seems to be falling into place.

Recap: the last four weeks

Long time no post, eh, sorry about that.  Chris and I have been home with the family enjoying every minute, and I didn't want to spend a moment away from them to update my blog. 

I really wasn't very good at taking pictures while I was home, so I decided I am going to quickly summarize the last four weeks in one long post.   

Week One:  I flew home with Zuri (she did great on the plane and really travels very well).  My sister competed in the Miss Idaho pageant so I was able to attend that with her.  What an exhausting 3 nights, and I wasn't even the one competing.  She did awesome, and I am so proud of her!

 After the pageant was over Chelacie and I both hung out together, going to the gym, sleeping, watching movies, eating, and pretty much being really lazy. 

Week Two:  Chris came to Idaho.  He had stayed in Florida a few extra days, then made the 48 hour car ride home to Utah. Luckily, his dad flew out to help him make the drive.  After a couple days in Utah recovering he drove to Idaho.  We had a great time with the family, playing games, watching movies, going for walks with the dogs, riding horses, shopping, going out to eat, visiting extended family, spending time with grandparents, and going to the Weiser Fiddle Festival.  

Week Three: Chris and I drove back to Utah and headed up to Snowbird for his annual family reunion.  We had fun, playing with nieces, nephews, and second cousins, going for hikes in the mountains, having snowball fights, playing games (especially our new favorite Family Fued), eating, and celebrating my birthday.  Chris got me facial at the spa, and we had a fun party with cake and ice cream.

Week Four: We headed up to Bear Lake, where we could be with both sides of the family.  My family came up and we all stayed at my Aunt Shauna's cabin, even Zuri got to come.  We had a really fun time, boating, wake-boarding, jet skiing, playing with the dogs (all 5 of them), playing in the sand, sitting around the fire, playing games,   visiting with cousins, riding four wheelers, grilling out, and getting shakes at La Beau's.

Chris's family also brought there trailer up and camped out.  We were able to spend his 30 birthday with lots of people dear to us.  Lisa was amazing and cooked this great dinner, we had cake and ice cream, and then Jeff took us on the four wheeler ride of a life time.  We went way up into the mountains, going over mounds of snow, and up and down steep cliff sides, it sure was a great time.  Then we headed back to the cabin for our very own fabulous firework show.

The last few days we spent getting ready to move to Grand Cayman.  We sure did have an amazing time.  We are so thankful for our families and all the love and support they give to us.  

We love you, and thanks for everything you do!