Dominican Republic

The catamaran on the left is the one we mistakenly climbed aboard.

This is Carlos our favorite waiter!

Peurto Plata, Dominican Republic

More Bahama Mamas (no alcohol)

My trip to Peurto Plata with Mom

I just got back from the Dominican Republic! Mom and I just spent a week in Peurto Plata relaxing in the sun and working on our tan, also a bit of shopping! We left on Jan. 18 and got back on the 25th. We were a bit disappointed with the resort we stayed at but still had a great time. I can't believe how fast a week can go by! I was missing my kids by the end of the week though, and was ready to rejoin my family. Jared took 3 days, and worked from home, and my good friend Gina came over for three of the days to watch the kids (thanks Gina!). Everything went very smoothly (at least that's what they tell me).

Above is the view from our ground floor patio door, not exactly the ocean view we requested. The resort, Holiday Village Golden Beach, is an elusive Signature resort, they give it 4 stars, we give it 3 at the most! We also requested two double beds and got one double and a mattress on the floor!!!! Have you ever heard of a hotel putting a mattress on the floor! We shared the double. The staff at this resort was horrible, if something was missing out of your room(in our case toilette paper, coffee, and batteries for the remote) it didn't matter how many times they sent someone to your room to restock the item, no one ever came. Also there were power outages everyday and the water was out the first day. Also we never got shampoo in our room, thank goodness Mom packed some. Anyway, enough complaining, we didn't spend much time in our rooms anyway. The other pic. is of Mom in front of our room. They were two story villa style buildings. The weather was great, just right, not to hot but nice enough to be on the beach (I think Mom would say it could have been hotter) we did have some clouds though. We met many many many friendly Dominicans, the waiters, and men in the market can be a bit over friendly! They like blonds! The last day we went on a catamaran boat to do some snorkeling, it was so fun to see all the different fish! While we were snorkeling the guide called everyone back to the boat for lunch, so we headed back for lunch. I climbed on board, removed all my snorkel gear then realized it was the wrong boat! Mom hadn't climbed on board yet so I yelled down to her "It's the wrong boat!" This got a laugh from everyone on board, as well as the guide who invited me to stay for a quasadia! We were to worried that our own boat would leave without us so I declined and we swam over to our own boat (I didn't know Mom could swim so fast!). We made it back on time for lunch on our own boat, just buns and ham though, quasadia sounded better to me. I got burnt on the boat ride, my nose is peeling now. We had a great time, and were glad for the time together.

Christmas in Clavet

Christmas

We had great Christmas this year! This was the first year that Kade was excited about everything. Dylann of course , was very excited. We spent the 23rd with Jareds family and the 24th with mine. We were home on the 27th-30th then back to Saskatoon for Loseth Christmas and New Years! Lots of traveling but it's nice to see everyone. On the far left, my brother Travis, Auntie Shirley and Uncle Gary. The picture next to it shows how excited mom gets to open her gifts, she's just like a big kid, she just about knocked Auntie Gail out! There were many games played, our favorite was pit, Mom likes catch phrase, Auntie Shirley and Auntie Gail prefer the fast paced competetive games like the fishing game, and they choose there competition wisely! (see the pic. above). We all had a great time and the kids always love to see all there Uncles and Aunts they get spoiled.

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Photos of friend's babies

These are some pictures of my friend Theresa's baby Jaxen, he's a cutie!

The little cutie in the red hat is Maliyah, my friend Gina's little girl. I have tons of pictures of both of them, I love to take them because at this age they sit but can't escape. They also give smiles and laughs willingly.

Kade & Dylann

Rosie

This is Dylann and Rosie one of our two dogs, she is almost 1year. We also have a golden retriever, Sabian, she is 6years old. The kids love the dogs but it makes a full house! I love the picture above, Dylann is asking for a kiss, and Rosie is looking at me as if to say "do I have to". We plan to breed Rosie in the Spring, so anyone who needs a little pug love give me a call.

Kade

Kade is very different than his sister, he loves to get a rise out of me! What can I say, he's a boy! If he can throw it he will, if I tell him to come he'll run! He loves to tease, his favorite thing to say right now is "I sad Momma, I sad" because he thinks he'll get a cuddle. I have to say, it was cute at first but it's getting a bit old. As mischivious as he is though he is also a big cudler, and often comes for a hug with a "I wuv you Momma". He is harder to leave with anyone, he's alot more attatched to me than Dylann ever was. There is usualy a lot of tears if I have to leave him. He is harder to get a good picture of, I have to take Dylann's pictures first, this gets him good and jealous, and he's ready to be the modle for a bit, then you should see him perform! He'll strike a pose or two then. He keeps us laughing!

Dylann's 5th Birthday

Dylann is 5! I can't believe it. She had a cowgirl, birthday party. A few days before her birthday (Jan.2) she lost her first tooth! It had been loose for a few weeks, then she pulled it out all by her self. I was up till 3:00 waiting for her to go to sleep, (so the tooth fairy could come) she was so excited! She is very independent, she can play alone for hours, she's always been this way. She has a great imagination. When my Grandma Berge(Besta to Dylann) passed away, she said "I bet Besta is in Heaven singing with Grandpa and Johnny Cash!". I didn't tell her that Besta wasn't much of a Johnny Cash fan. These pictures of the kids I took the week of her birthday so we could give out a cowgirl picture to all her friends. The one on the left is the one we chose. She loves to get her picture taken! My mom gave her a kids digital camera for her birthday and she loves it. She can be heard saying "oh! that was a good one, tilt your head a bit, good good !" It is so fun to watch her. She started pre-school this year and loves it. She has no fears, all the other mom's were getting good-bye hugs and wiping tears. I didn't even get a hug, she was off! No fears! She has made a lot of knew friends.

Our family

This is our family picture taken in December, 2006. I set up the picture then had our friends Gavin and Theresa come over and take it. Our daughter Dylann just turned 5 and our son Kade will be 3 in May. They sit very well for photos because Mommy has made them do it since birth. I have started up a small business Photography by Carmen it's going well. I do a few weddings a year and a lot of family, child and baby photos. I love the babies the most (they don't run away) . Weddings are fun but stressful! Someday, I'll have a studio in the basement but for now I use the living room or I go to a location. In the meantime I will always have the full time job of Mommy! Jared was made partner at his engineering firm this past year. Work has been busy for him this year, but he enjoys it.