Aloha, Hawaii

During the second week of December, we got to go to Hawaii again for a conference. It was a crazy time since we had just moved, hosted Thanksgiving, and had Christmas around the corner, but hey, it was Hawaii so we couldn't refuse. We were on the island of Oahu and stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Darin and Jen Allred travelled with us (well, Jen did. Darin's ticket didn't get purchased, just reserved, so he had to fly by himself and arrived a couple of hours later). The hotel was beautiful and we were so excited to be back. We met up with some great friends, Ben and JaCoy Robinson, the next day and spent the entire week together. We also got to reconnect with other friends from residency during dinners, hikes, chillin' on the beach, and karaoke at the coffee shop across the street.

Scuba diving at Haunama Bay was first on our list of things to do. After a delicious breakfast of Jamba bowls and oatmeal at Jamba Juice, we were energized and ready to go. The water was great and we spent a few hours snorkeling along the reef. Then we headed back to the grocery store for some snacks and cream puffs to take on our hike to Manoa Falls. It was a beautiful hike and the scenery was fun. There were thick bamboo plants all over and long vines hanging from canopy trees as we walked up to the waterfall. The water wasn't flowing as heavy since it was wintertime but still pretty. After hiking back down and cleaning up at our hotel, we went to a restaurant called Haleiwa Joe's. It was the favorite of the week. We had some amazing fish and the boys were ranting and raving loudly about how great the food was. Definitely a high recommendation.

Next on our "To Do" list was the Dole Plantation. We ate lunch there, ate pineapple ice cream, and walked around the grounds. Then we drove up to the North Shore to watch the surfers. The waves were coming in pretty good and we just sat there for hours watching the locals surf. Our boys even body-surfed a bit but were getting pretty thrashed out there.

The Hale Koa hotel next door held a luau for all of us that evening and it was fun to visit, hook up with old friends, and see some Hawaiian entertainment.



Next was golfing for the boys and para-sailing for the girls. I have never done this before and I was so excited. JaCoy, Jen and I got to go together so it was really fun for all three of us to be up so high looking at Waikiki and scream on the way down when they dipped us in the water. It was a great experience.

Then we just hung out on the beach until the boys arrived and watched the sunset while taking goofy romantic pictures of each couple.

We also went on a ATV tour at Kailua Ranch. It was gorgeous. It has been the film site for many movies and television shows including LOST, Jurassic Park, Pearl Harbor, and many more. It was a lot of fun driving through the country and Hawaii is absolutely beautiful. It's amazing how lush and green it is there.



That evening was the buffet and night show at the Polynesian Culture Center. Joe was so excited to finally get his Pineapple Delight. The show was great with all the dancers and entertainment.

We visited the Laie Temple and Visitor Center and Giovanni's shrimp truck before driving up to another hike at Waimea Falls. This one was on a paved road and when you got to the top, there was a big pond that you could swim in. Lifeguards were keeping watch to make sure our boys didn't do any cannonballs off the top of the falls. The water was FREEZING. JaCoy and I counted and just got in. I started swimming quickly to keep warm. Jen had left her swimsuit in the car but due to peer pressure from her friends, she jumped in fully clothed. What a sport!

The last day we toured Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial.



It was a wonderful vacation...I mean, conference.

Tiny Tim

Clark was Tiny Tim in his school play, "A Christmas Carol". Once again he stole the show with his one-liner, "God bless us, everyone!"

(Actually he had about 4 lines but he really got the audience with those famous words and his sweet dimples when he froze his smile for the next scene) We are proud parents ;)!

Three going on Seventeen

Carlee turned 3 years old on December 7. Even though she is 3, she acts like she is 17.
Here are my favorites about Carlee:

*She is such a diva picking out which outfits to wear
*She smears her lips with lipgloss over and over throughout the day
*She packs and re-packs purses for her trips to the school, bank, and stores
*She loves to wear heels and boots with her outfits that have to match
*She talks all day long on her cell phones
*She is full of energy and personality
*She is hilarious and wise beyond her years
*She talks non-stop
*She gives cheesy grins or will look at you shyly but with smiling eyes
*She loves to pretend and play with her toys
*She loves Tinkerbell and My Little Pony
*She wads up her blanket underneath her and between her legs when she goes to bed
*She has to have hugs and kisses before she falls asleep
*She loves Cafe Rio
*She loves milk
*She loves "hanitizer" (hand sanitizer)
*She loves to sing and dance to Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana and Taylor Swift
*She can't sit still for longer than about 3 seconds
*She can't be quiet for longer than about 3 seconds
*She loves to flip her hair around and smack her lips when she talks
*She loves babies and dogs
*She loves to color and draw
*She loves to play games on my i-Phone

I can't believe that she is 3. It seems like yesterday that I was having to hold her all the time because she would not let me put her down. Every morning when we drop the kids off at school, she looks at me in the mirror and says, "It's just you and me, Mom! What are we going to do today?" She is always quick to help me in the kitchen when making a meal or doing chores around the house. She also loves to go to Target and want to go shopping there every day.

She wanted a My Little Pony party for her birthday. We had gotten some mini My Little Ponies from McDonald's a month or so ago so I got this brilliant idea to make a carousel cake with the ponies on the carousel. On a sidenote, just about every cake that I make does not turn out very well. It is just not one of my talents and I'm okay with that. They are absolutely amazing in my head but the execution of my idea just doesn't always come out. They turn out fine and the kids are happy with them but I am always disappointed because my ideas are so much grander. A lot of times, I end up just purchasing a cake. This year was no exception in my disappointment. Joe and I really enjoy watching "Cake Boss" and we are always amazed at his talents and making up ideas for him to do for us. We decided to make the top of the carousel out of rice krispies, just like he does. My first problem was that the frosting wouldn't stay on very well. It kept seeping through the krispies and didn't look very smooth. The second problem was that when I stuck the dowels through the rice krispies and down through the cake, it started to lean. I hurried and took several pictures while it was still standing. A few minutes later, it fell over but luckily, Carlee still loved it and got to blow out her candles while it was still intact.

She loved her birthday presents--a My Little Pony Playhouse, a R/C Pony motorcycle, Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure DVD, and a tricycle bike from Grandma and Grandpa. Plus she got money and a tutu from cousins.

This kid sure has a lot of spunk and personality and we love her to pieces for it.
Happy Birthday, Coco!

Christmas Cuties

The Boys

The Girls




All in a row

My Birthday Babe

Joe turned 35 on November 29th. We had a few friends over and ate his special chocolate cake with ice cream. And to celebrate this important birthday, he didn't want the gift I was going to get him. He bought his own gift that he has been wanting for several years now. With a Black Friday special and a super deal, he finally bought a big screen television. He was so excited to open it and set it up. So now, the entertainment unit that fit perfectly in the media niche in our family room is now pushed to the side and he has his T.V. sitting on a table until he builds a shelving/media unit for that space. He now justifies buying a table saw so that he can build these built-in shelves for his birthday gift. "It can't just sit there on a table!" What happened to my stipulation that the T.V. had to fit in the entertainment center so we don't have to deal with these rearranging and building issues?? Oh well, it's his birthday and I love him. What's a girl to do? Happy Birthday, hon!
(Let the building begin...)