Not your Usual Sunday

Yesterday was our second Sunday here. I forgot how different church was here, and by different I mean crazy. During Sacrament there are at least 5 babies crying at the same time and at least one cell phone goes off during the sacrament or a very spiritual moment. Then comes Sunday School and Relief Society. Lets just say that my grandma likes to comment. Usually she talks more than the teacher, interrupts other class members and deviates from the topic all the time. For some reason no one sees this as been rude by me but it's okay to interrupt the teacher whenever you want. Whenever someone wants to comment they just say it even if the teacher is talking. I've given  up on raising my hand because even the teacher thinks it's weird. Even in the middle of all this commotion, these last Sundays have been some of the most spiritual I've ever had. On testimony day all my family stood up to bear there testimony, including Stephen and me. It was such a spiritual experience. Stephen's testimony was particularly special. He was so nervous and I could tell he was having second thoughts but he took courage and went up. His testimony was short and simple but full of love and devotion for our family, the Lord and the Gospel. I am so grateful to have such an amazing husband, I don't know what I did to deserve him. 

After church my mom made a delicious lunch. My grandma brought some of the best chap sui I've ever had. To say the least, this past Sundays have been great.

Don't we look like a cute little family? 

Amazing Dinner

If I look like my
mom at her age
I will be happy

Don't I look just like my grandma?

I love this lady

El Zamorano and Maria's Reception

This weekend has been packed with stuff. Everyone is shuffling in and out of the house. Marce got here yesterday so the family is finally complete! (well almost complete we are missing Davidson). Poor Marcela got here and two hours later we were out to go to Maria's reception. Our cameras and phones were all dead so the first two pictures were all we could get. Which sucks cause it was amazing up there. It's a private super romantic restaurant up in El Hatillo, where I grew up. The view was amazing. Maria and her husband Jeff looked so happy, they reminded me of what a joy it is to be married. Stephen and I enjoyed the view so much and decided we are going to go up there someday on a date with Marcela and Davidson while grandma takes care of the gran kids. Stephen esta insoportable. We had to pull him away from the couples book because he was thinking of something inappropriate to write in it. Have I mentioned how loud my family is. Half of the time when we talk it sounds like we're fighting but that's just how we talk. Well I'm embarassed to say that all the reception we could be heard throughout the whole restaurant. Oh well what can we do atleast we had fun. 

The view was amazing the lights behind us are Tegucigalpa

Today was a very relaxed Saturday. We slept most of the morning, woke up and had some amazing breakfast and played some games. In the afternoon we went on a drive to get some ice cream to el Zamorano. El Zamorano is a little town with a very prestigious agricultural school. They make some of the best ice cream and dulce de leche I have ever had. We bought some ice cream and gathered around a picnic table and listened to grandma tell stories about her younger years. The drive back was a scary adventure. We hit huge rainstorm and could barely see the road. We made it through thanks to my grandma's inappropriate jokes. Being with my grandma reminds me alot of why I turned out the way I did. I am seriously gonna gain ten pounds down here. I have been eating so much! But what can I do I miss Honduran food sooo much. Stephen is soo funny. His Spanish has gotten so much better just in the past week. He is so smart and picks up all the stuff he hears my mom and siblings saying. Some of them not very appropriate...I can't wait to teach our kids Spanish, I hope they sounds as cute as their dad. I love being here with my family. Every day I am overwhelmed with gratitude for being able to be here with them. I forgot how funny and amazing everyone is.

We stopped by the road to buy some coconuts and
tiny Honduran bananas.

I eat this for breakfast every morning. I will needs tons of
Zumba when I get back...

Sweet Sweet Grandma

Hike Day

I have been hiking all my life and have gone on some awesome hikes, but today I went on one of the best hikes I've ever been to. It was as awesome as it was hard. It took us about 4 hours and the area was insane dangerous and hard. We literally had to jump from one huge rock to another. The first part of our journey was easy. It was pretty easy we walked through a long winded road for about 40 minutes. I thought "this is pretty easy" until we reached the mountain. The road, if you can call that a road, consisted of a bunch of rocks with about 4 inches of mud and cow poo. Did I add how steep it was? It was insane steep. That lasted for about 20 minutes. Then we hit the river. Oh sweet sweet river. It was fun at first but then we reached this huge rocks that we had to jump over. After about 30 minutes I broke down. I sat on a huge rock and refused to move on. I told my little brother, the guide of the hike, that as soon as we got home I was going to kill him. Every 5 minutes he said we were almost there but somehow almost there never got here. Finally my little sisters yelled "I can see it". I was so tired I forgot all about our destination. As soon as we got there I realized it was worth the hike. We were in a huge beautiful lake surrounded by trees and tundra. It was so peaceful, mother nature at her full. We all ripped our clothes of and jumped in. Well I made Stephen carry me in his arms but those are small technicalities. We had the best of times. We saw some awesome stuff on our way there from a huge bull just chilling to a tiny baby horse (which reminded me of Kristen). Now we are getting ready for an awesome game night. We'll see if I stay awake after our long hike. 

I wish I could relax just like this bull

We found this cutie next to the road with his mom

These are the little taxies in Tatumbla. I've added it to
my list of things to do.

Half way through the hike

For about 30 min of the hike this is what we
had to walk on. 

This is why I love Tatumbla

Destination point

Last few days in Paradise

I've been meaning to blog since the day we got here but either we are doing something awesome or I'm exhausted. We are doing something every minute of the day. Don't get me wrong I love it-i'm the one making everyone do all this stuff. I want to make sure we get all the fun we can get here. But by the end of the day I'm literally out. For example last night I went to bed at 8:00pm. To defend myself, we did go shoe shopping all day and then got home to a post muddy yard from a rainstorm and then my mom remembered she had to give my grandma her heart pills cause she ran out, no biggy, and I decided I wanted dulce de leche (best best dessert ever if you haven't tried it). Quick story with the dulce de leche. Since I was a little girl I have loved this specific dulce. I have tried brazilian argentianian, mexican and other honduran ones and none compare to this one. There is this sweet old lady down the road from where my grandma lives. She has been making it for years. When I was younger I would save up money and sneak out of the house and buy it and hide it so I wouln't have to share. This particular item was always included as one of my christmas and birthday presents either from my mom or my grandma. Here is a pic of what it looks like:

Back to our trip, we have been having the most amazing time. We went bowling the other night and to the surprise of everyone my dad was amazing. Stephen was amazing to but that was no surprise:) at least not for me. From game nights every night to exploring the area we have had so much fun. We especially loved a trip about an hour away to Valle de Angeles, a pueblo specifically for tourists. It was Honduras at it's best. Stephen loved it. We bought all bought stuff and walked around looking at little stands different artists have with awesome things they create themselves. We also had amazing food: three tacos, a gringa and a honduran drink. We also got to see a small horse show practice with gorgeous horses. My mom is amazing with horses, she rode all the time when she was younger. All the horses would let her get near them and touch them.

Only Marcela is missing:(
But she will be here on Friday!

This is how all the stores in Valle de angeles looked like.
 I wanted to buy everything and decorate my house.
If only I had a 6 foot suitcase...

This bracelet came from my favorite stand.
This guy takes copper and molds it like bracelets or rings
and then  puts little precious stones in them. 

Stephen makes a great Bob Marley:)