PANAMA Day 1

DAY 1
WOW!!!!!!! Is all I have to say after our trip to Panama. It took this Cali girl and put her in a world she had never seen before. It is so different from the US in so many ways. It was nice not to go on a typical vacation. I have been to Hawaii and places like that and to be honest it is just like going to somewhere nice in CA. Panama was a true adventure and eye opener for me. My sweet Hubby planned EVERYTHING from A to Z. He really showed this girl a wonderful time. So here are some pictures from our trip. The whole time Cade kept asking me what I thought and most of the time I was speechless because I was trying to process things and take the country in. So finally here are my thoughts sweetie!
















The entire trip we were going going going to as many places as we could. No rest! :) So we got off the plane checked into our hotel and went directly to the Panama canal. It is an amazing place. From what Cade tells me it looks a lot different now that Panama owns it.

The huge tanker ships wait their turn to enter the canal. They have to pay at least 3 days in advance to enter the canal. One of my favorite things was to see all of the ships waiting. It is amazing how huge these ships are.

The dirt road in the distance is where they are building another canal so that larger ships can go through. I think they said that by going through the canal instead of going all the way around South America it saves 2 weeks and $100,000 (I think).

So on one side the water is high. If you look to the back of the picture it is a HUGE ship, but you can't see it because they have lowered the water lever on that side.

A tanker going through.

I took this close up because you can see the little trains guiding the ship through. I think those special made trains cost like 2 million dollars each or something crazy like that.

They also had a really nice restaurant at the canal. This is our view from lunch.

Panama Viejo ruins

You climb some stairs to the top of the tower pictured below and this is the view. It is of Panama city. I think they have at least 15 new sky scrapers being built.

A Panama market.

Panama Lesson #1

Bring your own T.P.!

If you don't you will be left high and well I was going to say dry, but that doesn't work...you know what I mean! If you don't will have to ask some and that is just embarassing!

This is called Agua de Pipa. It is a coconut. To serve it up they take a machete and wack off the end of it. Then they take some kind of kitchen tool and make a hole into the middle, stick a straw in it and give it to you. It was really good. This was Cade's favorite thing to drink when he was serving his mission. Funny thing though. At home Cade doesn't like fruit or fish. In Panama he LOVES fruit and fish. Sounds kinds fishy to me!!

I think the coconut was almost as big as my head.

On the was back from the ruins we stoped by the temple. We were going to go through a session later that day, but they were closed, so we took a rain check for the following Saturday. What a beautiful temple it is. It is literally set in the jungle! I think it is amazing that Cade helped there be a need for this beautiful temple by serving and baptising the people of Panama. I seriously don't know how he did it. It is sooooo HOT ALL of the time.

The temple grounds. It was so amazing.

Panama Lesson#2

You will not DIE in a taxi. It just seems that way.

We took taxi's on this day. HOLY CRAP! They drive like crazy people. I know they have traffic laws, but NOBODY obeys them.

Panama Lesson #3

Taxi drivers are CRAZY and they honk constantly.

You think people honk a lot in LA? Not even close to how much people honk in Panama.

Panama Lesson #4

Nobody in America should EVER EVER whine about what they don't have or how hard their life is in any respect.

Even after one day in Panama the poverty was shocking. I can't even describe it to you. Count your blessings and be grateful for every single thing you have because I can guarante you the people of Panama have 10 times less that you do.

Day number two to come....

Diva's of 207

My freshman year of college I had the best roomies EVER! I was only 17 when I went to college and these girls were a year or two older than I was. They all looked after me and were the sweetest most fun girls to room with. Because we were all so incredibly mature then we decided to call ourselves the DIVAS! HAHA! We have been out to lunch now and again since then, but this was our 10 year reunion. Everyone, except Emily, flew down to California and we stayed with my parents in Newport. Let's just say the party started when they got off the plane and didn't stop until they left! They are the kind of friends that you can not see for a year and pick up just where you left off. I love these girls!

HAIL TO THE BIG UNDIES!!

We had a ton of sayings posted around our apartment and we also had a pair of HUGE undies on the wall. So in memory of the big undies Mindy brought some! So random....gotta love it.

I also brought some fun pics from that and notes the girls had written me from that year. It was fun to go through them and remember what a fun time we had.

Getting ready to bike ride down to dinner at the Crab Cooker.

My sister came Friday night and pampered us all with facials. You are the best EVER Kendra! Everyone loved it. Then we shopped til' we dropped the next day! Don't worry they really sell these flowers at Nordstrom for girls to wear. Not my little Reagan size girls. Girls that are15 and up! Can you believe that!

My parents were awesome enough to watch Reagan for me the whole weekend. My friend Summer watched my boys for me. Thanks Sum you are the BEST! Here is Reagan and my Dad eating breakfast together. She loves her Grandpa.

Sat morning we went Kayaking. Holy Cow! It was the most fun EVER!

Divas of 207!

Angie low ridin' in her Kayak

Brook workin' it.

Kim and I

Kimmy. Love this pic!

Don't worry.....we kayaked out into the OCEAN. All the way out the buoy with the seals. We ROCK I know!

Seriously!!! WAY out in the OCEAN! Angie is rowing back.

Angie was the only one who had a little accident! We almost made it all dry!! :)

Action shot!

Pre jump pic.

My parents and friends. My parents were so wonderful. They really went the extra mile to make the weekend amazing. Thank you sooooo much. You are the best.

I love you girls! Can't wait for next time!!

Pretties

I am obsessed with buying bows and bracelets for my little girl. We call them her pretties. That being said she has all of them hung on her wall with a ribbon. One day she pointed at them and wanted them ALL on her head. Who am I to say no????




























Getting a little sick of them all on her head.














OK MOM! I am done with this! I love you Reagan! You are the most perfect little girl in the whole wide world!!

Biggest Brother

Cooper is the best biggest brother ever!  He is so amazingly cute with his little sister.  He is always always helping me out with her in every way.  Thank you so much Coop, for all of your help.  It means a lot and I know someday it will mean a lot to Reagan.  We are so proud of you!

Just give me a SNACKPACK!!!!

My little Reagan is into EVERYTHING!!!!  Cooper had finished a snack pack and left it on the table.  Well it didn't take long for her to find it and make a mess of it.  If you will also please notice the tooth paste behind her.  I find toothbrushes and toothpaste all through out my house.  It is my new favorite pass time.....finding my toothbrush and toothpaste.  You should try it, it's a blast!!

So proud of herself!