Recycling

I mentioned to the kids this morning that we probably should be better about recycling......someone was actually listening to me for once.

Kaleb wanted to dress up like a Lamanite and since I didn't have a Lamanite costume just lying around the house:), Jordyn created this one with a plastic grocery bag and Kaleb was thrilled!

Hmmm...do you think he'll wear this for Halloween??

Hawaii-Day 4

It will be a stinking miracle if I blog about our entire Hawaii trip, especially since I'm severely behind on Family History Friday, kids updates, and...the millions of other projects outside of blogging that need to be attended to. But, for now, I'll concentrate on day 4 of our fabulous trip and hopefully while I'm immersed in beautiful Island photos, I'll forget all about my "to do" list for a few moments!

Day 4 was booked with a bus tour around the Island which was fun and relaxing especially since my dear husband didn't have to drive and I didn't have to navigate along with the annoying GPS lady. We just sat back and relaxed on our bus while listening to our tour guide/bus driver rattle off tidbits of information about the Island and every so often we pulled over for photo opportunities and pit stops. DJ and I particularly enjoyed the full day of near silence in a vehicle (something that rarely happens in our Toyota Sienna! Some of the stops we made along the way were Turtle Bay, Hanauma Bay, the blow hole, Chinaman's Hat, Kualoa Ranch, The Macadamia Nut Farm, Valley of the Temples, Dole Pineapple Plantation, North Shore to name a few. It was another extremely windy day so I guess we picked a good day to spend the day viewing the Island from a bus. It really is a beautiful Island with so much to see and I could've taken pictures of just about everything. I really wanted to video tape the entire trip and take it home to my kids so they could be a little part of it but I'm praying that we'll get the opportunity to take them someday.

Believe it or not, we weren't the youngest people on this bus!

Hanauma Bay- We later went snorkeling here where we swam right by two big turtles!

This was Pali lookout on Pali Highway which provided a gorgeous panaramic view of the windward coast of Oahu. The wind was out of control that day, I think our tour guide mentioned 50 mph which explains the crazy hair-do. My glasses literally blew off of my face. DJ and I were laughing our heads off as we tried to snap photos in the hurricane.

Mom got back on the bus after being out in the wind and everyone was laughing at her crazy hair (including me) sorry mom, like I had any room to talk! She was a good sport as you can tell by the photo!

This was a pretty stop, the lighthouse directly in back of DJ was fun to see and I just couldn't get over the beautiful blue color of the ocean!

Next stop was the Valley of the Temples, a beautiful valley located at the foot of the 2,000 foot Koolau Mountains. We visited the Byodo-In Temple where we took a turn ringing the gong, we passed over a little bridge where there were 100's of fish below waiting to be fed. We removed our shoes before entering the temple, I took a few photos inside (I wonder if that was okay) and then spent a little while wandering around enjoying the beautiful view. I really enjoy learning about what other people believe so I really enjoyed this stop.

Next stop, Macadamia Nut Farm. One word, YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Really, I am a little obsessed with Macadamia Nuts so I was giddy when the tour guide said we would be making this stop and added that we would be able to sample many flavors while wandering through the gift shop. Well, he wasn't kidding, we passed through a long line with little bowls full of the yummiest coatings you've ever tasted, caramel, toffee, garlic (not my favorite), honey roasted, sugar. chocolate, etc. I guess I could've purchased my souvenirs at this little shop but resisted because you can actually purchase the same size bag for a couple of dollars cheaper at the flea market, Walmart, or the infamous ABC stores which I spent way too much time in, by the way!

Day 4 isn't over...I'm just out of time....more to come tomorrow (hopefully)

Going to great lengths....

TO WIN!!!

Here's how a game of hide 'n seek goes at our house:

kids hide, DJ finds them in nothing flat.....

then it's his turn to hide, he comes up with an ingenious hiding place....

kids search for approximately 20 minutes and then GIVE UP!

This is where we finally find him after he hollers at us from the top of Jordyn's closet--

(one time he actually lifted up our couch downstairs and got underneath it, then set it back down on top of himself. We looked forever and finally I noticed the couch looked a little tipsy after walking by there at least a dozen times--the kids will never forget that one!

Entertainment!

I couldn't find Kami for a few minutes last week and finally found her in the computer room sitting on our swivel chair holding the little earbuds in her ears listening to Regan's MP3 player. She even has good music taste....I think she was listening to Chicago!

My kids are obsessed with freezing any drink I make so they can have slushy the next day. The babies have caught on to this and beg at the kids feet for a bite. Kamryn was extra lucky this day, Jordyn actually shared her entire slushy.

These big eyes just entertain me--not to mention the girly hat on his cute head!

See the mouse holes in my loaves of bread....that would be evidence that Kami helped herself to my freshly baked bread! Once again, I'm entertained, for better or for worse!

Kaleb came in to show me this invention...."Look mom, Mr. Potato Head is screaming." Pretty ingenious if you ask me! Speaking of Kaleb, I was fixing dinner one day last week and he came running in to the kitchen and said, "mom, it smells great in here, what are we having for dinner?" I informed he we were having soup and salad and he said, "YEAH, I've always been wishing for salad for dinner!!" He seriously loves salad especially with "those crunchy bread things" (croutons) He can never remember that word!

Yesteray Porter decided to entertain me at church! He was just plain rotten from the word go. I was out in the foyer before the Sacrament even started....and of course, if I take one baby out, the other has to go or they will start screaming. I made Porter sit on my lap the whole time we were out while I tried to keep Kamryn sitting beside me because I really don't want them to think this is party time. I decided to take them back in for the last talk and Porter was good for approximately 10 minutes until he decided to try to escape while I wasn't looking. Little does he know, I have eyes in the back of my head. He turned to run away and I caught him by the back of his shirt and he let out the loudest scream so out we went again. So, we headed to the nursery where he behaved for approximetly 45 minutes, just until the time I was to give them their little lesson. While all the other children sat quietly, I wrestled with the little noisy maniac while trying to keep my composure and give my lesson. Just one of those frustrating days! All I can say is it's a good thing he has those adorable big eyes!


Don't know if I mentioned yet that my mom graciously watched the three oldest girls hear at our house while we were gone to Hawaii and DJ's sister, Ann, watched Kaleb, Kamryn, and Porter in Burley! Ann shared the cutest story with us a couple of days ago. The day we left for Hawaii, we met Ann and her husband down in Pocatello in the Shopko parking lot. We transferred the babies and Kaleb in to their car and by then, the babies were both bawling their eyes out. I guess they got in their van with 2 screaming babies, and not knowing what else to do, said, "let's have a prayer, and immediately, they both stopped crying, folded their arms and were quiet for at least a few minutes! As you can tell, Kaleb was anything but sad!!


Speaking of being entertained, the girls had a big Hawaiin themed party planned at my mom's house when we got home from Hawaii. My sweet parents put up with all sorts of planning details throughout the week and indulged the girls as they planned a yummy Hawaiin Haystack dinner, dressed up in their Hula Skirts, decorated 2 walls full of pictures they'd colored all week, practiced musical numbers, you name it, they did it. Thanks to my patient mom and thanks to our sweet girls for making us feel so loved and missed!


It doesn't take much for us to be entertained, we spent Saturday cleaning out bedroom's, storage room, toy room, etc. By the time we were finished we had a van full of toys, clothes, junk, you name it! And, the best part about it is the kids willingly got rid of some of their things w/out too much whining and today we can't even remember a single thing we junked which means we obviously had way too much. Jordyn excitedly said, "we're giving all of this stuff to the children in Haitey, mom!"

By Saturday night, DJ was ready for some peace and quiet so we left Regan with the kids for an hour while we went and grabbed Subway Sandwich. You should've seen the kids faces when we told them we were going on a date, Regan said, "but, you just had a week long date in Hawaii!" True, but once you've had a little taste of freedom, you just want a little more, right?? While we were sitting in Subway eating our sandwiches, I mentioned to DJ that we should be using the time to visit and he said, "oh, I was just enjoying the silence!" I guess I don't blame the guy.

The kids and I went to visit a few people in the ward yesterday and we experienced a miracle while doing so. Our good friend Susan that was baptized 3 years ago and hasn't been back to church in a very long time finally opened her door to 4 VERY excited children who wrapped their arms around her and begged her go come to dinner. She is coming for FHE and dinner tonight and expressed a desire to come back to church soon. They kids bounded down the steps screaming, "Susan's coming for dinner and she's coming back to church!!!" It really made my otherwise stinky day, great! I guess this could be labeled a "Tender Mercie." Oh, by the way, if you haven't checked out LDS.org lately, check out the new video titled "The Tender Mercies of the Lord" by President Bednar. It's beautiful!!

continuing Hawaii

Day #3- Pearl Harbor & Punchbowl Cemetery

Pearl Harbor is one of those places that I've always wanted to visit so I was grateful that we had the opportunity to spend as much time there as we did. We first took a ferry boat out to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial which was a really humbling and sacred experience especially as we viewed the huge wall at the end where all the names of the Americans who lost their lives that day were engraved. It was so sad to look down and view the remains of this Battleship and think about these men that lost their lives that day. We took the ferry boat back and then caught a bus over to the Battleship Missouri where we had a 30 minute guided tour and then wandered around on our own. That is quite an experience to walk through the halls of the ship where these men once made their home. I have to admit I got a little claustrophobic and was glad when we made our way out to the light of day. But, I learned so much and I'm so grateful that I had this opportunity.

Next we made our way to the Punchbowl Cemetery which is really a beautiful area but so sad to see all of the thousands of headstones lining the grass as well as the thousands of names engraved on the walls as you head up the long set of steps leading up to the monument. We took a hike up the path above the Cemetery to the lookout point.

In the evening we did more walking up and down Waikiki which was both relaxing and alarming. It's such a pretty place but so crowded by hundreds of people walking the streets and some people doing any thing they possibly can to make a buck. We saw the strangest guy dressed in a suit, top hat, glasses, etc., spray painted silver from head to toe standing as still as a statue with a collection bucket at his feet. If you looked too long at him he'd freakishly point his finger in the direction of the bucket so as to invite you to donate. You have to wonder about some people!! Other than that, it was just fun to wander in and out of the hotels, checking out all the shops and live entertainment that was available.

More Hawaii to come!

Hawaii Vacation!

DJ and I enjoyed an amazing week long vacation with his parents in Hawaii on the Island of Oahu last week. I seriously amazed myself at how well I did w/out the kids. Don't get me wrong, I missed them like crazy but I didn't worry and fret about them the whole time but enjoyed absolutely everything we did, well, everything except the driving around Honolulu part of it. DJ was the driver and I was the navigator with the help of the GPS lady (which by the way WAS wrong a time or two. DJ teased the whole time about having to listen to two women giving him directions. (poor guy) We started the exciting trip with the Tsunami scare in Hawaii due to the Earthquake in Chili. Thankfully we were not on the plane to Hawaii yet when we heard the news, and I was actually grateful for the 3 hour layover in Portland where we sat watching the news awaiting the outcome. An hour before we were to board the plane, they announced that the Tsunami never hit and that it would be safe to land. In the back of my mind I was recalling all the times the weather men have been wrong (no offense weather men) but you know how it is?? We left Portland at 5:15 and arrived in Honolulu at 10:30 p.m, picked up our rental car, and made it to our Condo a little before midnight. Needless to say, were were all exhausted and ready to hit the sack! The next morning we got up and went to church and were greeted with "Aloha's" in every meeting. People were so warm and friendly and we enjoyed each meeting in the neatest setting. The chapel was really beautiful but then you went outside to the prettiest garden area where you entered each classroom. Am I allowed to say that I totally enjoyed sitting beside my husband not wrestling little monkeys and just enjoying every meeting to its fullest? It really is a rarety in this stage of my life so I particularly enjoyed that day! That afternoon we ate, rested, walked along the beach, and just relaxed!

Day #2- We visited the Honolulu Zoo, had an upclose encounter with a Hippo, not the cutest animal but fun to see that close up! We probably could've done w/out the zoo but it's always fun to check out the new surroundings, plus the flower's and trees were gorgeous! I always used to make fun of my parents when they would marvel at the mountains, trees, flower's, etc. and use words such as "majestic, grandeur, gorgeous, amazing," but I found myself having many of the same thoughts as we visited the many places on the island. Sorry for making fun of you, mom and dad!! That afternoon we went for a Submarine ride and went 101 feet down to the bottom of the ocean! I thought I would be freaked out but it was so much fun and we saw so many different kinds and colors of fish as well as two sea turtles hanging out on a sunken ship. Our tour guide was the funniest and kept us laughing the whole 45 minutes. I loved the ride out to the Submarine on the Ferry boat but got just a tad sea sick, nothing serious, but it makes me wonder how I would do on a cruise. Anyway, the ocean was the most beautiful blue color and it was fun to view the island from that standpoint.

Ignore my goofy face in this picture but look in the background at the hotel with the rainbow on it. The rainbow is formed with thousands of colorful tiles all down the side of the hotel!

More on our amazing trip to come..........