Hawaii Update

We survived our first few rough days in Honolulu. Here are a few things we have learned.
1. Make sure your reservation days are actually on the days you are going to be there :).
2. A Mini Suite is just as good as two adjoing rooms.
3. Fitting 7 people + a baby, and all the luggage into a Ford Expedition Long is hard.
4. Waikiki night life is wild. Great if you are down enjoying the loud music at 4am, not so great if you are trying to sleep after a long day.
5. The World Market is a lot like Mexico, except they are all Asian, but still a great place to get a souvenier.
6. Thieves are NOT our friends!
7. It's hard to find a new swim suit at Wal-Mart in 10 mins, when you have looked for a whole month to find one that would fit.
8. We have a love/hate relationship with "Victoria" (the GPS)
9. Hawaiian beaches are beautiful!
10. Snorkeling is a lot of fun once you stop hyperventilating.
Last... Cooper is a Trooper!!!
We had a rough start, but the rest of the week will be great!
Now we are off to the North Shore! Pictures and more updates will come later!!!

Malia's Preschool Graduation

I thought I better hurry and blog about this so I can get the pictures off the camera before we go to Hawaii!
Malia had her cute little program this morning at the Park. We ate hot dogs, chips, and cookies, then the kids all lined up to sing their songs. You know how in a group there is usually that one kid who is louder than the rest? Well, that one kid this time was Malia. Last year she barely even sang, well this year, you couldn't hear anyone else almost! It must have been a good day. She was even on tune maybe half the time. :)
Then she got her graduation hat and diploma! I can't believe she is going to kindergarten next year!!





Malia's best friend Graecey

Papparazzi

Cute Boys

Father and Son Campout

Gunner and Ian went on the Father and Son Campout this last weekend. Gunner was so excited the weeks before to go "Church Camping". For some reason he got the idea that they were going to go camping at the church in his little Cars tent. The few days before, I could get him to do anything, saying he had to do it if he wanted to go camping. The camp place they went was right on the beach and they slept in Adirondaks (sp?) Ian said he had fun, and did really good.
Here are the pictures.

Also they play a game every year that is called Wack a Dad where the kids get to throw a sponge filled with whipped cream at their dads. This is a picture of our Bishop and his son. Ian said that Gunner would not do it, saying he didn't want to be mean. Too cute!

Mother's Day Weekend

We had a fun busy weekend. Friday night we helped Ian's parents with a District Scout Dinner, then Sat. morning I had our primary activity. It turned out great, it was about growing love in your family. I was in charge of helping the kids makes hershey kiss roses for their moms, and then they painted rocks for their dads that say "You rock!" Then they played games centered on helping in the house, and had dirt and worms (choc. pudding, oreos, and gummy worms) for a treat. I wasn't in charge this time, but it still feels good for it to be over. I took Malia and Cooper, and Gunner stayed home to help Dad mow the lawn and power wash.
We got home and I dropped off Malia and went to a friend's baby shower. She had her baby 4 weeks early so her week old baby was actually there. He's really cute, and joins the three other baby boys born recently in our ward.
Then I got home from that, and we planted our garden. The prophet said to plant a garden, not that everything had to grow right? This is definately an experiment. I grew up with my mom doing a wonderful garden, but I guess I didn't pay too much attention to the actual planting of it, (only the weeding and eating). So we will see if we actually produce anything. We planted corn, peas, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, pumkins, and a family in our ward gave us a bunch of plants too. So we also have about 4 different kinds of tomatoes, garlic, basil, and peppers.
Then we ate dinner and got the kids ready for bed, and I got to go out with friends for a girls night. Thanks Ian! We went to Roses and got dessert, yeah that is really helping my desire to look halfway decent in my swimsuit when we go to Hawaii in 2 1/2 weeks. But it definately was fun.
Then it would have been nice to sleep in on Mother's Day, but we have 8:30 church so that wasn't happening. I did get to go to Relief Society because the Priests came in to help with Primary. It was nice, they had cake, nuts, mints, and punch. (Yeah not helping either)
Then I actually got an uninterupted nap, which hasn't happened in forever! Ian was outside with the kids getting the BBQ ready for dinner. His family came over and he made the best ribs! My favorite! He is an awesome husband!



(I didn't get a picture of the finished product, they looked too good, and we were too hungry!)
And despite all the yelling I do sometimes :) I do love my kids and being a mom.

And I have to share this chubby little smile. Poor kid has a bad case of baby acne though. That was definately the worst day of it, thank goodness it doesn't look that bad anymore.

Cooper 6 weeks

Cooper has been rewarding us this past week with some smiles. He especially likes his Dad, and he really has a cute reaction when Gunner talks to him, I can see their connection already. It is really interesting to see the different reaction he has to Gunner compared to Malia.
Here is a picture of an almost smile, hard to time the camera for those brief seconds we get to see. I am determined to get one, so hopefully you will see one soon. And as you can see in his little cheeks, he is gaining weight pretty good now. :)


Here are a couple extras...
Being big helpers on the roof.



And our OCD boy Gunner and his cars.