Robert and I decided to take advantage of a great offer through Icelandair and booked a 4 day, 3 night package including our hotel and tour. We are home now and are so glad we took advantage of that offer.

Iceland is an amazing country. (Remember, Iceland is Greenland and Greenland is Iceland) It wasn't too cold, perhaps 35* F with a little wind in the evenings. I've learned that if you have the right clothing, it's never too cold! We did luck out and get sunny days the 4 days we were there.

Our first day we arrived at 730am and it was pitch black, it made us feel like it was evening and we could just get to our hotel and sleep through the night. No such luck, we couldn't waste a day in Reykjavik, Iceland. We took a two hour nap and then grabbed the shuttle to downtown Reykjavik.

We found a cafe and experienced our first Icelandic dining experience. Let's just say, they eat potatoes like the Irish, only the Irish don't smother them with the most delicious mayonaise. In Iceland they like to mix ketchup with mayo and call it cocktail sauce. Forget about yellow mustard, and don't ask for it or you'll get a funny look.

There is no tipping in Iceland so it's pretty casual dining. You get your own water and you just might have to sit down at an uncleared table, but they'll clean it as soon as they see that you're a new customer. The food is very expensive...everything is expensive in Iceland.

We walked around Reykjavik the rest of the day and saw the following sights.

We had a wonderful spring break, riding ATV's and shooting guns, in St. George, Utah with Grandpa and ma Gordon. r even got to ride a motorcross cylce for the first time. After a few days,we returned to Las Vegas so the kids could see the broadway show "Lion King". Fun was had by all and the sunshine was a wonderful sight! I feel like I should say, "Yee Haw!"

Every boys dream, pow pow pow

Watch out I'm packing heat!

Am I getting bigger or is the bike getting smaller?!

We had a nice Christmas holiday. We decided to try a new Christmas event each week of December. The photos above are of the decorated boats that were in Lake Union. Argosy cruise line decorates and has a choir singing on their boat and they have smaller boats follow them as they sail in the different lakes. It was an awesome sight to see all the boats decorated. The choir music is broadcasted from the boat and the crowd watching the boats will all sing along. It was a really fun event that we'll add to our Christmas traditions.

We were able to talk to Stephanie on Christmas day. That was the best Christmas present ever. We talked for over an hour. It was nice to hear her stories, hear her speak Portuguese and to hear how happy she is. She is really enjoying Brazil, the people and the work, everything except the hot. humid weather. January will mark her 1/2 way point.

r and E are back in school. E is attending the community college. A is home from BYU-I. Her school track is Fall Spring/Summer. A found a nanny job to save money for school and hopefully, study abroad this Fall. It's nice to have the house almost full again.

We wish all of you a very happy new year!