Hawaii 2011

Greg has impressed the heck out of me lately. We have always talked about going to Hawaii. Even before we were married. That is where we planned to honeymoon, but you know how it goes. School gets in the way, then you plan for a first year anniversary, but once again that pesky school business poked out its little head, and we forked over the money for tuition, and there wasn't enough left over for a trip. This went on and on for years, and when he wasn't in school, I was, and then when we were both graduated, he always had to work over our anniversary. While we were living in Delta, our anniversary came around again, but remember we were tethered to Millard County. The farthest we could really go was Fillmore, and if he felt like he could push his 20 minute radius from the hospital, we would hurry over to Nephi and get a frosty at the Wendy's. This particular anniversary he really razzled dazzled me at the Arby's in Fillmore. If any of you have been to the Arby's in Fillmore you know darn well that it is located inside the Chevron gas station. We pulled up to the Chevron and he walked around to open the door for me and he found me in tears. When he asked what was wrong, in between sobs I said,

"This used to be a pit stop for me when we were traveling down to St. George and now we are going to dinner here."

I know he wanted to laugh, and laugh hard too, but he saw that I was in no mood, so he hugged me tight and lead me in to eat my roast beef sandwich with a big sobby face, and he even let me finish the chocolate shake we ordered for dessert. Such a gentleman, even at a gas station restaurant. Then we had to drive like mad back to Delta because he got called in to the hospital for an epidural. Story of our lives there, but not this year. Although Greg really did have to work over our anniversary again, we were married on September 3rd, we post- poned it until October.
He surprised me with this way fun trip. Never in a million years did I think that I would ever go to Hawaii, I thought my world travels would consist of California, Utah, Idaho, Arizona, and sometimes Colorado, but only if the highway I was on crossed over there at times. The top picture was the view from my hotel room. Not so shabby, although we slept in Waikiki, we didn't spend more then 15 minutes there during the day, we opted for the other side of the island where it was absolutely gorgeous. So, we jumped in the rental jeep and explored every single part of that island. We had so much fun.

Greg is always making me laugh, I know this isn't a very flattering picture of me, but I just loved the sunsets, each and every one. Living in Utah, we have beautiful sunsets every night too, but there is just something about the sun dipping itself into the ocean every night that I will never get sick of, and obviously I will never get sick of taking pictures of it either.


You want to know a little secret. The Dole Pineapple Plantation serves a soft serve pineapple yogurt that everyone goes cuckoo for, me included, but you don't have to go all the way to Hawaii to get it. I keep telling them that it is called the Dole pineapple whip and you can get it at Disneyland in front of the Tiki room, but my real secret is, Krave, a local yogurt shop sells it too. The Dole pineapple whip, and I can get it anytime I want, and I do. The owner recognizes me now, and he knows that he better always have it well stocked, or he gets the angry fist from me. You have to be careful of impostors though, there is a flavor called pineapple tart, or pineapple delight, these are not the same thing. It has to say DOLE PINEAPPLE WHIP. If you come across this flavor, and you dig pineapple like I do, get it, you will not be disappointed.










Greg and I got pretty good at taking self portraits everywhere we went. Not that I didn't trust anyone to take my picture, I just don't speak Japanese, because that is the second language you are going to need while visiting here. Greg's Korean was no good to me here, but the more I think of it, Greg's Korean has never been any good to me anywhere.

We were fortunate enough to visit the Temple why we were there. The Temple and the BYU campus are right next to each other, and if I turned around and took a picture the other way you would see ocean, not so shabby. It is absolutely breathtaking.

The flowers! Don't even get me started. They are so beautiful. I hope that heaven is filled with them. I have seen pictures of the flowers before, but I have never seen them in person, and I do not have the words to describe them. Before we we went I was telling Greg what trees and shrubs we need to pull out of front yard, because I would like to have something with a flower on it, but after seeing what Hawaii has in compared to what I could actually get to grow here in the desert, I may as well be one of those people that have rocks for a front yard, because there is no way that I could ever get anything this beautiful. I took hundreds of pictures of the flowers, all different kinds, and the sunsets, it drove Greg bonkers.

We had such a wonderful time. The kids stayed with my parents in Salt Lake and they had a wonderful time as well, but honestly a week was a little long for me, I was ready to come home, living on a small island kind of gave me the creeps and I missed my kids. I need someplace to go, a long open highway that I can go hundreds of miles on, or I start to feel tethered like I did in Delta. Not that I need to go anywhere, I just like to have the option if I so choose.

And a sappy sunset picture to end my post. Just for you Greg!

It only took 13 years!

I know that I have a cute little town home, but that wasn't a permanent solution to our housing situation. I have longed for storage, a basement, and a garage to call my own. I have lived in many other places that were not my own, and although I cared for each and every one, they were never really mine. My town home is mine, but a family of four with two growing kiddos, we were downright busting at the seams here. My closets are literally bulging with all of our treasures.

But do you know what Greg did. He bought me a house!! It is right in Bloomington, so the kids won't have to change schools, and I can still get to a Wal-mart in less then a minute. I have waited for such a long time, and although this particular house is a fixer upper, I think it was well worth the wait. I LOVE house projects and let me tell you, this is a project!! It will take years for it to be what I am envisioning in my head, but I thought it would be fun to let all of you enjoy the ride with me. I will be blogging updates on my redo's. It will be fun, and if you have a chance, you should come for a visit. So, I will post pictures of the before. Now keep in mind, this house was a short sale, and it had been vacant for a very long time. I know that it is dated, and some people have different taste then others, and believe me, I have a VERY different taste then the previous owners had. So let the fun begin!!!

I don't want to be Captain Obvious here, but this is the front of the home.

This is the view from the formal dining room/ living room patio doors. The yard is huge. 3/4 of an acre. It is so big, and so full of weeds!

This is the kitchen. There is plenty here that I would love to rip out. Notice the lovely home job rock work around the window above the sink. I think I am going to ask for a crow bar for Christmas. My way cute Father-in-law asked what we were going to put in that really big space under the cabinet.

Really?

Here is a view from the kitchen into the formal dining room/ living room. I do love all the big windows, but they are going to be so much cuter with some plantation shutters, and what is with all the green, and the primitive chandelier. It looks like something Greg made in shop class in the 7th grade out of an old funnel.

This isn't the best picture. But this is the staircase that you see when you first walk in. It needs some TLC, but I love that staircase. So, as you can see, I have some major work ahead of me.

Wowzers!

This picture has nothing to do with my post. I just thought it was a darn cute picture and I wanted to share it with you. The little chunk of cheese is my nephew Lliam. He is so dang cute. he is more like a brother then a cousin to my kids. He is really something else.

Anyway, it has come to my knowledge some of my friends are wondering about my absence on Facebook. I still love each and every one of you, I just was done with it, but that doesn't mean that I am done with all of you. I am sorry if I offended any of you, Facebook just wasn't for me, so I deleted my account, but we can still be friends the old fashioned way. You know, through phone calls and emails. Lunch dates and visits. Girls weekend and movie nights. I just love all of you and thank you so much for your concern, I am shocked that people even noticed, darn well melts my heart to know that I was cared for, even if you didn't notice, I still kind of like ya.

Happy Birthday Mr. Sanders

Mr. Sanders is 36 today. He is getting more and more handsome as time goes on. He is starting to gray a little bit, and I am sure that I have caused each and every one. Well good news for him, because I actually dig gray hair, not on me of course, I don't have a single one, because Katie is the best hair dresser ever, but I look forward to the day when my husband is an absolute silver fox, you know, kind of like President Uchtdorf! Woot Woot!

What I love most about Greg is that he is so easy to please. It isn't that I don't put thought into any of my gifts, he is just happy to be remembered. I could put a brick in front of him and he would be just as shocked and gracious as if I surprised him with a trip around the world.
Aren't husbands great! Mine sure is. I just love this guy.

He is a super hero to the Great Kambino. I love this picture, just don't look at Kam in his underwear and my ratty chair. But their faces! Oh their faces can melt my heart!





He is Hallee's go to guy. He will do anything for this gal. Even if it means pumping his girl around on a sparkly beach cruiser.









And as for me, He is my best friend. He knows how I am going to react in any situation. Even when somebody plops down a grilled cheese sandwich in front of me. I love him more and more every day. He has shown me what real friends do for each other and I will forever be grateful to him and his example. Happy Birthday Gregger! I wish you the best!

My Hals

Miss Hallee and I had a fabulous weekend together. The boys had Fathers and Sons, so the girls got their girlie on. We watched three movies in one night. THREE! All girl movies of course. We went to dinner and then we got mani/pedi's. We had a blast. That Hallee can be one funny kid.

I am always up for some fourth grade humor.

Speaking of fourth grade humor, I went on Hallee's fourth grade bike ride. She and I were the only two that brought our sparkly beach cruisers. I was really quite surprised, any way we had a fun time riding on the Bloomington bike trail with about 100 other students. Complete Chaos! The two of us just stayed in the back and enjoyed ourselves. All the boys were racing, so there was one major clump, and then a trickle of girls that followed. Secretly, I wanted to race with all the boys, because I knew that I could of held my own as the leader of that pack, but I refrained, knowing that Hallee was enjoying her time with her mom.

I love that Hallee. I asked her if I embarrass her yet. She told me that I will never embarrass her. She said she loves that her mom and dad are always volunteering in the classroom and attending field trips. She said she likes it when she can hear me cheering for her whether it be at school, or at dance, or if I say her name while I am walking by her classroom at church. I know that is not being reverent, but I want her to know that I am thinking of her, and I want her to know that she is loved. But I do it in a reverent manner. If the door is closed then I will peek in the window and pull a face at her.

After the fourth grade bike ride, we made a pit stop at Bloomington Park and let the kids run around a bit. A fire engine was driving by, it didn't have its lights on, so I didn't think it was going anywhere important, so I ran to the side of the road and made the ole' arm pump to get it to honk at us. A whole gaggle of kids followed suit. Then we all cheered when the firemen honked back, and then all the students got in trouble by their teachers, and I had to go and tell the other adults, that it was an adult that started it. Oops! So much for being a chaperon. At least it was a supervised activity!

All of Hallee's friends have told her that I am not like thier moms (I am not sure if that is a good thing or bad thing). I love that she just laughed at them and said, "My mom just really loves me."

Those words mean the world to me. Isn't that why we get up in the morning? To make sure that our kids know that they are loved and safe? I love that she can just laugh it off. She told me I will never embarrass her, but I have a feeling that one day she will want me to drop her off a block away, I hope not, but I am enjoying it while I have still got it.

Mothers Day

I have a love hate relationship with Mother's Day. For me, I have a hard time thinking that this particular holiday is for me. I have spent a lifetime honoring my own mother, and grandmothers, and a mother-in-law. I forget that maybe my kids or husband would like to do something nice for me as well. I get so worked up about what I am going to do for my Mom each year, and what gift I am going to get my own mother -in-law, that I forget that this day is about me too.

This year we were really busy on Mother's Day, Greg had church meetings starting at 8:15. It was mighty christian of my Bishop to postpone PEC until then, because it usually starts at 7:45. He wanted to make sure that the men were available to help their wives.
All that really did was delay the chaos for 15 minutes, while I am trying to read the kids Mother's Day cards, eat my pancakes, while I was getting everybody ready for 9:00 church.

My kids cards were so sweet. I could tell that they put there heart and soul into each little picture drawn. They both expressed how much happier I am when the house is clean. Kameron had drawn a sparkly clean toilet on his card and said that his mom is happy when he cleans the bathroom and does his chores, then it proceeded to state that my favorite thing to do was to sleep. Then he continued to draw me lying in bed with z's coming from my mouth.

Hallee's card said that when she picks up her clothes at night is when I am happiest, but at least I got a nod for being a great cook in her card.

I LOVE my kids and I LOVE being a mom, but my kids cards hinted around that I am more like a slave driver then a Mom. I snuggled with them all day, and hugged and kissed them, then right before we took Greg to the shuttle for the airport, (he had to fly to Texas on Mother's Day!!! Bummer.) I asked him if this is what he and the kids really thought of me. He looked at me, and he gave me the look like " Do I say something or lie, I can't lie to her because she knows when I do."
His silence and hesitation answered a lot of questions for me, and then I started to cry. He scooped me up in my tears and assured me that he and the kids do not think of me as a slave driver, they just recognize that I like a happy orderly home. Then he asked the kids if there is anything else that they could think of that made their mom happy. Then all the answers came that you usually find on mothers day cards, things like, picnics, family time, hiking with each other, snuggle time before bed and mom's hugs before we go to school each day. Then I teared up because they do appreciate all those things that I do do for them.

So after a lot of thinking and pondering on how I can make my family a happier family, I have realized that I still have a responsibility to teach my kids how to cook, clean and have manners, but sometimes the laundry and the dishes can wait.

Easter and other ramblings

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. I love everything about it. I love the church aspect of it and I enjoy a good Easter egg hunt as well. I just find it all enjoyable.

I always get my kids Easter clothes for church. Every year, no fail. I love going to church and seeing everyone else all dolled up in their Easter get up. Gone are the days of wearing hats and gloves though. My mom never bought me those kinds of things, but there was a girl in my ward growing up that always had the hat, gloves and usually the matching purse. I would stare in utter amazement and wonder how on earth she does it. How does she get her mom to buy it for her? Now that I am older, I can see why I don't put my little girl in an Easter bonnet. I get it now, well at least I think I do.

I find myself looking at pictures of my grandmas in their earlier days. They wore hats and gloves all the time. They wore them to go shopping. Not a ball cap or a hat with a little bling on it, I mean a hat. With feathers and a maybe a little flower. I LOVE it. I wish I could bring it back in style, but I know I would just look plain stupid down at Walmart in my grandmas' hats. There is a time and place for everything. It looks as if my only chances to wear a hat are to be invited to Prince William's wedding on Friday, because the English still wear hats, or I will just have to attend the Kentucky derby because those ladies know what they are talking about.

Until then, I will wear my hats, in the privacy of my own home, eating all my kids Easter candy while they are at school. Today I started a Denise Austin workout DVD because I started to feel guilty about the peanut butter eggs I just inhaled, twenty minutes into it, I sat and watched the rest of the workout. That Denise Austin looks like she never enjoys a good peanut butter egg, and I bet she could wear the heck out of hat at the Kentucky Derby, so I'll will try again tomorrow!

My Little Man!

This little guy is one sweet talker. I know I blog about him a lot, but some stories are just worth sharing!

He is a rough and tough little man, but he also has one of the most tender little hearts that heaven has given.

The other day I picked him up from school. I found him in a puddle of his own tears, and when this guy cries, it is the saddest sound ever. It will absolutely break your heart to see it, I'll tell you what!

Anyway, apparently there was a "situation" with a bouncy ball. To make a long story short, he earned a trip to the treasure box, picked said bouncy ball, and then due to classmate interference, did not come home with said bouncy ball. Oh, the worries of a first grader.

I got out of the car and scooped up my best man and put him in the car, buckled him up, and promised him a new bouncy ball when he got home, because lucky for me, I had just found a long lost bouncy ball when I moved the couch earlier that day. HA! Problem solved, well at least in my mind it was.

After a tearful smile and hug and a very slobbery "I love you Mom," we were on our way home, but the tears refused to stop. I asked Kam in a very sincere way if there was anything else that I could do for him, because the kid just lost a bouncy ball for heavens sakes!

I looked in the rear view mirror at that tear stained little face, and through countless sobs he said, "Yes, mom, all I need is a little tender, love and care, a little Voltron, (a cartoon from the 80's. Thanks NetFLix!) and a Jr. Bacon cheeseburger!

I looked at him to see if he was going to crack a smile, but he never did, because that boy was dead serious, but the little lady and I laughed all afternoon about it. So for Family night, we had Wendy's for dinner. Problem solved! Finally!!