These are some random photos of our lives for the month of December. I always record what type of food I eat to keep myself in check. Eating healthy for me is not just about looking good but it is also to keep my autoimmune disease from making my life harder.
Jared took me to San Francisco for his Christmas work party. I had a blast and I met another extrovert like me. Her name is Sam and we spent most of the time chatting and laughing. I love her. We always stay at the Fairmont hotel when I go to SF with Jared.
Our church outfits were on point! We also attended a ward activity where we went caroling. Milo asked me to accompany him to pick out a present for his girlfriend, Jane Hill. Although they're no longer dating, he still got her a beautiful necklace and some tanning drops.
That was a new experience for me—it was so funny when I was asking about tanning drops! The sales lady kept looking at me and asking why I needed them. I explained they weren’t for me but for my son's girlfriend. I also get a kick out of people thinking my kids are my siblings.
It turned out to be the perfect opportunity for a mommy-and-son date with Milo. I took him to Nordstrom Cafe, where we had tacos, burgers, and crème brûlée. Afterward, we went to buy Vans to complete his look and then headed home.
Later, Milo went back to Temple Square with his church friends to see the Christmas lights, but it ended up being a bittersweet visit.
For Christmas we went out to eat at Orkit Cafe. This is my dear friend Catherine Thorpe, she is French and we love to talk about how odd Americans behaved sometimes. Doesn't matter how long we have live here, you can always find the funny things that Americans do.
On our way to the Dominican Republic!
We had an early Christmas celebration at home and flew out on Christmas Day. The journey was quite the adventure, with an 8-hour layover in Arizona before heading to Florida and finally to the Dominican Republic. The boys were traumatized by the long flights. Jared had gotten the cheapest tickets he could find, but he ended up paying for it later—he hurt his back so badly and was in pain for most of the trip in the DR.
As for me, I’m finally used to long flights, so it wasn’t as bad. Being short has its perks, and I’ve developed my own process for handling jet lag.
I was so excited for everyone to see the Boca Chica apartment. Jared loved it! The kids each had their own rooms with AC, their clothes, and all their things—it felt like a third home for them. The apartment was spotless, thanks to Manuel, who worked so hard cleaning everything and even bought groceries for us. Sadly, I had to let Manuel go as my apartment manager because I needed someone who could be there full-time.
Jared and I enjoyed some fun mocktails at the airport lounge before the flight, and seeing the boys in the upstairs rooms of the apartment made me so happy. The apartment itself is 2,000 square feet, with a stunning 1,000-square-foot balcony. It’s such a blessing to have this space to share with my family.
My apartment is on the 8th floor and has the most beautiful view of Boca Chica. You can even see the skyscrapers of Santo Domingo in the distance. Boca Chica isn’t a quiet beach; it’s a lively and loud place with a bit of a ghetto vibe—that’s part of the reason I could afford the penthouse. Many beaches in the Dominican Republic have been gentrified, and I’m sure Boca Chica will follow in a few years.
I actually like it here because it makes me feel young. The kids, however, weren’t used to the constant noise pollution. People party until 3 a.m. every day—unless it rains. When it rains, the streets clear, and everyone goes home.
I haven’t visited during the high season for tourism before, and honestly, it wasn’t as fun. Restaurants and beach clubs hike their prices to nearly California levels. Despite that, I love hanging out at the little beach shacks, especially in the early mornings.
My morning walks are always a highlight—there’s something fascinating about seeing people having breakfast beers because they never went home from the night before. It’s such a unique, vibrant atmosphere.
Jared loved the view. He was also annoyed by the super loud music and DJ adonis. jaja. Oh well, different culture Jared.
I took the boys to the Colonial City, hoping to show them all the wonderful things the island has to offer. We were there for two and a half weeks, and yet we barely scratched the surface of all there is to do.
Mario absolutely loved the museums. I also have to mention how amazing Mario dresses—he made sure not to look like a tourist. Jared, on the other hand, definitely gave off tourist vibes.
I took the boys to make Dominican chocolate bars. We used locally sourced Dominican cacao and got to see the entire process of creating dark and semi-sweet chocolate bars. While waiting for our chocolate to cool, the boys enjoyed some delicious chocolate milkshakes.
It’s important to remember that on island time, you can’t be in a hurry—everything takes forever. But if you embrace that mindset, your experience will be amazing. It’s about enjoying the moment, not rushing from one thing to the next.
If you’re the kind of person who vacations by constantly "going, going, going," then destinations like Latin America, Italy, Portugal, or Spain might not be for you. Or, you can always stick to McDonald’s everywhere you go—your choice!
We also visited La Fortaleza Ozama, one of the most iconic landmarks in the Colonial City. The tour was incredibly informative, and the history within those walls was palpable. At the end of the night, we were treated to a mesmerizing light show, which beautifully illuminated the fortress and brought the stories of the past to life in a captivating way.
One of the highlights of our visit was the VR experience in the museum. It took us through the island's history, from the lives of the Taínos, the island's original inhabitants, to the colonial era, and up to modern times. The VR had vivid imagery and details that made the history feel real. However, it was also deeply emotional to witness the tragedies of the past. Seeing how the Taínos were exterminated and learning about the inhumane treatment of the enslaved people brought to the island by Europeans was incredibly sad.
The history of the fortress itself added another layer of heaviness. The building in the back wasn’t just a part of the fort—it was used as a jail and a place of torture, even as recently as the 1980s. Walking through those areas, you could feel the lingering energy of sorrow. It was as though the walls themselves carried the weight of the people who had been imprisoned there.
Despite the sadness, visiting La Fortaleza Ozama was a powerful experience that connected us to the island's rich but complicated history. It was a reminder of the resilience of the people and how important it is to remember and honor the past.
