New England/Canada Cruise October 2013

Scott and I had the wonderful opportunity of going on a cruise for the first time.  We flew to Boston, spent a couple of days there, then boarded the ship.  We had four land excursions, two in Maine and two in Canada before cruising back to Boston.  Here are some highlights:

We flew in Friday evening and had all day Saturday to tour Boston.  It's a beautiful town that has a feel of "Old Town" history to it.  This photo is of the newer part of downtown however.

This is Paul Revere's house that was part of the Freedom Trail tour.

We were lucky enough to be there during the peak of the fall colors.  It looked like this all over Boston and all through Maine as you will see in later photos.

Of course we had to go see Cheers.  It looks exactly like it does on TV on the outside, but the inside is quite different.  It was fun anyway and we had lunch there.

We were able to do a session on Saturday evening at the Boston Temple.  It is beautiful and the grounds are very peaceful.

On Sunday we found a church building by our hotel so that we could attend a Sacrament meeting and ended up in a Stake Conference.  Afterward we headed to the pier to board the ship.  The process was much less hectic and time consuming than we had thought so that was very nice.  Our room was quite cozy and we were bumping into each other a lot, but it was comfortable and we weren't in there that often as there were many things to do on the ship and ashore.

 

Our first shore excursion was in Portland, ME.  Our tour included historical sites in Portland and a drive out to Kennebunkport, a quaint little fishing village:

It's a great place to walk around and enjoy the scenery.  It also has fun little shops.  I loved the Christmas shops.  It seemed that there was a Christmas shop at every port.  I was able to find a Christmas ornament at every stop we made on the cruise. 

There were a lot of "summer cottages" such as this one.  I think my term would be "mansion", but I guess it's a matter of perspective!  There are so many coastal homes like this all through Maine.

This is the Bush estate in Kennebunk.  The fact that the flag was flying meant that George and Barbara Bush were still there but they didn't come out and say hi unfortunately.

This is a solid chocolate moose and bear.  There were a couple other bears on the other side that didn't get into the photo.  There was a fence around the display warning people not to get too close.  Darn!

This is a shot of some of the Maine coastline.  Most of their coastline is rocky like this.

The next day we were in Bar Harbor, Maine.  This is a beautiful village and the surrounding area was just one beautiful scene after another.

If you have ever wondered where the extremely wealthy live, the answer is Bar Harbor.  The Rockefeller's, to name one.  They have their own island there.  They said the average high temperature there in the winter is 0-30 degrees.  Thus, it is a nice summer home!  It was beautiful when we were there, in the 60's.

 On Wednesday we were in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.  It was mostly city but they are famous for the Bay of Fundy and its reversing falls.  We were expecting actual falls, but it was really just the flow of the bay that reverses itself in the early afternoon. Below are photos of the Bay.

 On Thursday, we were at sea all day.  We were very happy to sleep in that day as we had been getting up early to go on the tours.  We had a leisurely breakfast and then went to the first of Michael Ballam's four concerts he did for us.  On Thursday he gave two concerts about the history of Broadway.  He started back in the late 1800's and worked his way to present day.  He would tell us about a play or song and how it all started and then he would sing.  It was fabulous.

 It was also a day we could just hang out and explore the ship.  We played mini golf, ping pong, and even shuffle board!!  I guess we're getting old because it was a lot of fun even though we weren't very good.

Thursday night they were showing Man of Steel on the big screen outside in the pool area.  We hadn't seen that one but figured it would be canceled because it was raining.  But we went down there anyway and it was playing.  It wasn't raining very much by that time so we dried off a couple of lounge chairs and sat down with blankets.  About 20 minutes into the movie it started raining harder so we moved over to the bar where there was an overhang and sat on the bar stools.  I went to the cafe and got us some hot chocolate and then sat on the bar stool with the blanket wrapped around my head.  Scott thinks it was totally worth it to see Man of Steel.  Me, not so much.  But it was an adventure!  There were about 8 or 10 other brave souls who thought it was worth it too.

On Friday we were in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

It was still really overcast that day so the photos are kind of gloomy but it is a beautiful city.  We found a Maritime Museum that had displays of the Titanic and the Halifax Explosion.  When the Titanic went down, Halifax was the closest port so they went out with their boats to collect the bodies.  Then they brought them back and gave them burials.  They weren't able to collect all of the bodies but there is a Titanic cemetery there.  Five years later, there was an explosion on a ship in the harbor that spread to land and killed many people.  It sounds really dreary and it was, but we learned a lot about what they had been through and the history of Halifax.

 This is an actual deck chair that was on the Titanic.  Not sure how or why it was saved.  Scenes around Halifax:

On Saturday we were at sea again and we had another two concerts with Michael Ballam.  One was a Christmas themed program and the other was a variety of personal experiences.  We also got dressed up for our last dinner on the ship.  It's true that cruises provide you with as much food as you want.  You can order as many entrees at one meal as you want.  I will admit that there was one evening that I ordered two entrees.  However, I did not clean either plate, way too much.  What we mostly ordered more than one of was dessert, sorry to say.  We were a little disappointed in the quality of the food.  It wasn't heavenly like I had hoped.  And for me, the choices were just too weird, like asparagus and brie tart, cauliflower curry with cumin seeds, tomato pasta with plump mussels, etc.  I'm just not that brave.  Scott was in heaven with all the seafood though. 

 All dressed up for our last dinner.

 The moon was so bright that night and reflected on the water which was beautiful although we are blocking your view of the reflection so sorry about that.

 You probably won't believe me but there is a whale out there.  The white out there in the middle is the whale blowing air at the surface of the water.  No, really!

 Michael and Laurie Ballam

And we're back in Boston Sunday morning.  It was so nice to wake up to a beautiful clear day after a couple days of overcast and drizzly weather.
We had some time before we had to catch our plane so we went to Harvard and Minuteman Park.  I'm so glad we went to Harvard.  The campus is so pretty and I can say that I used a restroom at Harvard University.  I feel more intelligent for having done so.

 Below are photos of Minute Man National Park.  We couldn't stay very long so we didn't get the whole tour and history of it but again, the landscape was GORGEOUS!!

Then after six hours on a plane, we were home again.  I wish I could show all the photos, but I took 477 of them and so it would take days to post them all.  We loved the cruise and highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking about taking the adventure. 

Utah Trip

I spent this past week in Utah visiting with family and friends.  It was so fun and the weather was SUPER!  (By "super" I mean cool and rainy, which is not most people's definition so I thought I would clarify.)  I flew up on Monday and spent the afternoon with my roomies, Pam and Ellen, two forever friends that I love so much!  We had lunch at the Lion House and gabbed for about 3 hours catching up.  Then we walked around City Center, Temple Square, and the Church Office Building grounds:

There are flower gardens all over the grounds and they are gorgeous!!

 

Pam dropped me off at Nicole's and I spent the next few days PLAYING!  Camden is talking up a storm and in complete sentences no less.  Nicole is doing such a great job of teaching him things everyday.  He can count to 13 and knows his ABC's and colors.  And he is so much fun!!  Some of these photos are a little blurred because he would just not stay still, but you get the idea.  This first photo is compliments of Nicole who was able to get the perfect pose!

 His favorite activities include puzzles, playing with his toy food, playing trucks, coloring, and building towers: 

Helping Mom put his trucks away:

 We also spent a morning at the Thanksgiving Point Farm:

Thank you Dan and Nicole for everything!  On Wednesday, I went down to Provo to see Jared.  Jo Ann came down also and we were able to see Jared's office at the BYU Counseling Center, go see his new house, and go to dinner.  Thanks Jared for picking such a yummy place to eat and for showing us around!  Whenever I go to Provo, I get a little homesick for those days of yore.  I love the atmosphere and LOVE being at BYU. 

I also spent some time with Jo Ann and she helped me shop for some new clothes for our cruise - an actual positive experience shopping where I found some things to buy- thank you Jo Ann for all your great advice!  I was also able to visit with my dear friend Jackie.  So great to reconnect with forever friends!  It snowed in Lehi the day AFTER I left!  But I was able to get a shot at the airport of some snow on the mountains when I was leaving to come home. 

Thanks to all for the fun week!  Scott stayed home this week and did his normal routine while also taking care of our home and Riley.  I feel so blessed to have such a loving husband who is so supportive in all of my running around!  I will update again after our cruise, 12 days and counting!  Until then......

Updates

I looked at our blog this morning and was so embarrassed to see how long it has been since we have posted anything.  Well, it's time to make amends.  I will attempt to update you on a few things that we have done over the past several months and then try and keep up from now on!

I'll start back in May - I went to BYU Women's Conference for the first time.  My friend, Katheryn McCurdy (former BYU roommate) and I went together and shared a dorm room in Helaman Halls.  I came away very grateful I never actually lived there as a student. I think I would have had permanent back problems from the wooden-like beds.  But it was fun being roomies with Katheryn again for a few days.  And the conference was awesome.  I hope to make it an annual event.  I loved being on campus again.  A lot has changed in 30 years (Did I say that?) but that wonderful nostalgic feeling was still there.

 

While we were there, we met Jared in the Cougareat and visited with him for a little bit.  Then on the way to the airport we stopped in Lehi and saw Nicole and Camden.  Camden, of course, gets cuter every time I see him.

Then in June (I think it was June anyway.) Dan, Nicole, and Camden came down here for a visit.

Camden learned to play the piano.......

.....and became an expert at ping pong all in one week.  Cute AND smart!


In July, we went up to Utah for a Klundt family reunion.  We stayed in a house in Heber City and spent the week playing games, going for walks, and catching up with members of the extended family.  We were also able to get in a couple visits with Mom and Marlowe in St. George at each end of the trip.  For some reason, we have no pictures of that entire week.  I have no idea why.  You'll just have to take my word for it that we had fun.


On August 15, my sweet grandmother (Nana) passed away.  She was 94 years old.  She was not doing well at all and I know she is at peace now, but I will miss her terribly.  Whenever I see canned peaches, crocheted blankets, chocolate covered cherries, calico kitties, or patchwork rugs, I will think of her and smile.

Last weekend we drove up to Prescott to celebrate Ashley's birthday with her and Jason.  We spent Friday evening at Jason's parents' home.  They cooked a wonderful dinner then we played Wits and Wagers and ping pong.  It was really great getting to know them.  Then Saturday morning we went out to breakfast with Ashley and Jason then back to their apartment to visit for a few minutes before heading back home.  It was fun spending time with them and it was a nice break from the heat of the valley.

Don't let the bonfire fool you.  She is only 25 years old, but the camera is very illuminating.

This is a sewing machine she got for her birthday.  Looking forward to seeing her projects!

Well, that's all I can think of for now.  But keep checking back for more updates, I promise!!

October 2012 Utah Trip

We also went up to Utah in October for Gillian's wedding and had a great time visiting family and enjoying the cool weather!

,

Gillian and Bradlee got married in the SLC Temple on October 18, 2012.  It was a beautiful day and they seem very happy together.

 We also got to spend a few days at Dan and Nicole's where, of course, all of the picture taking was focused on the most adorable member of the family!  Camden is growing up fast and he was a lot of fun.

He is almost 10 months old now and is crawling all over the house.

We took him to the petting zoo at Thanksgiving Point where he was interested in some things.....

....and other things not so much.

We also celebrated Julie's birthday while we were there.  She turned 32.  (Scott got me a cake and had them write "Happy 32nd Birthday, Julie" on it so I'm going with that!)

Stay tuned for more fun and excitement on the Klundt Family Blog!!!!!!!!!!!

Scott and Julie's Hawaii Adventure!

We went to Hawaii for our 5th anniversary and we had a great time.  Here are a few highlights:

Pearl Harbor was the first thing we went to on Tuesday morning.  This is us at the Visitor's Center with the USS Arizona Memorial in the far background.  There were several museums here and we watched a 20-minute film about what happened here.  Then they took us out to the USS Arizona Memorial by boat.

This is the entrance to the memorial as you get off the boat.  And here are some photos of the actual ship:

It was very sobering to think about what they went through and the lives that were lost.

We also went to the Dole Plantation that day.

It was really interesting to see the tiny pineapples just starting out.  We ate the YUMMIEST pineapple we had ever tasted and the Dole Whips were very refreshing on a hot day!

On Wednesday, we went to the beach in the morning, and then went to the temple in Laie.  It is a very beautiful temple, although much smaller than we had thought.

On Thursday we spent some time at the Polynesian Cultural Center.  There were six different cultures or villages we could visit and they each had presentations/shows/activities to see and do.  It was lots of fun.

As you can see, we were treated to a colorful display of dancing and entertainment.

On Friday, we went on a catamaran that took us out to a place where we could go snorkeling.  We saw lots of fish, a sea turtle, and an octopus!  After we were finished snorkeling, we sailed on the catamaran for awhile and saw a pod of 7 dolphins swimming together -- it was pretty cool!

That evening we went back to the Polynesian Cultural Center for a luau and their evening show.  We weren't allowed to take pictures but that show was one of the highlights of the trip.  It was amazing.

We saw some beautiful areas of the islands all during the week.

And in our in between times, we spent some time at the beach.  The water is beautiful and it's really nice to swim in.  Those were my favorite times.  It was cool and relaxing and so "Hawaiian!"

We had a great time and hope to go back one day to visit one of the other islands.