Paradise AKA Hawaii!!

Kathy (Graham) and me right after we got off the plane.  We shared a room and had such a great time together, sunbathing, swimming, trying new foods, shopping and sightseeing.

My good friends, Phil and Donna Horner invited me to go to Hawaii with them.  They have a   timeshare there at the Marriot Ko Olina on Ohau.   It is an amazing place and felt like a dream the whole time we were there.  I have never been to a more beautiful resort.  I loved every minute and I am so thankful for generous, amazing friends to share my trip of a lifetime with!!

H

It was a windy rainy day but the beaches were spectacular.  We saw Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach and Turtle Beach.  They were having surfing championships that week so the waves were huge.  Sheri took us all over the north shore and to Honolulu.  Thank goodness for an experienced tour guide!!

Some of the best ladies ever in front of the Laie Temple.  (Sheri, Bonnie, me and Kathy)

 

Val and Bonnie Smith have been friends for over 30 years.  They shared a condo with Kathy and me and we couldn't have asked for better roomies!

Another beautiful sunset and our favorite pool.  It was called the reflection pool and no kids under 10 were allowed.  It was so quiet and relaxing there.  All OLD people!!

View from our condo on a cloudy day



Morning by the pool.  Nancy was teaching all  us how to pose!

This is where Kathy and I spend most of our time.  Beautiful beach and was never very crowded.

Spent the day at Pearl Harbor.  Very humbling and an amazing experience.  I have been reading books lately about WWII and so I was very inspired by everything that happened at Pearl Harbor.

This is me (Johnny Cash) the day we left paradise.  It was so sad to leave.  I had an amazing time and it was a trip I will never forget and one that I am so thankful for.

Halloween 2013

Had the boys over for Mummy Dogs and Witches Fingers.  We made monster cookies and Mummys filled with candy

Jack as a 49er, Coleman as Luigi and Lincoln as Skywalker 

 

Cute little Owen as a Dragon (last day in Utah) 

Time with Owen

I feel so lucky and blessed to have been able to spend 9 days with this adorable, blue eyed blondie!  He is so much fun and kept me on my toes.  We built forts, went to the park, spent lots of time in the toy dept at Target, ate and played at Chick Fa La and watched lots of Mickey's Club House, Animal Show, Bubble Guppies and Team Umi Zoomie!  He is a joy and I am a little sad that he will be so far away when his Mom & Dad move to Maryland in November.  I'm already looking at flights for January!

I loved hearing him say these things everyday:

I love you Grammy
Good job Grammy!
Come here Grammy
You tired Grammy?
I wake up Grammy

Shopping at Target!

 He loved the stickers I brought him!

Ready for bed

Oh how I LOVE this little boy!!!

End of Summer?

Summer is winding down, but I'm not convinced.  The temperature is still saying summer and the 90+ weather is getting annoying!  I am ready to turn off the A/C and open the windows and enjoy the fresh air.  Soon, I hope....  August was busy with lots going on.  Lots of exciting things happening.  A new Patrick baby will be arriving in April!  Jordan's family is moving to the Washington DC area in November! A trip to Hawaii in November!  So many changes with many more to come.  Life has so many surprises... some we want and some we don't but it still goes on.....

Shauna was home for a few days before she left on her working trip to London and Barcelona.
She will be gone for 5 months.  So far she is loving it but missing American TV and food!

Football has begun! 

Poor Coleman has had his share of sick days this summer.  He had strep and Scarlet fever.

First Day of school for these cute boys.  Jack is in 4th grade, Lincoln in 2nd and Coleman Pre-K

Throw back to 1989 of my cute kiddos.  Erin was starting Jr High, Megan 5th grade,
Shauna 2nd Grade and Jordan Kindergarten.  How quickly the years pass.....

 

Favorite Quote!!!

Utah!

Jack and I had a great trip to Utah to visit Jordan's family.  It was his first time flying and he loved every minute of it!  He was a great traveling companion for me and a real trooper with all the plane changes and waiting around.  It was so fun being able to spend time with Owen and see how much he has grown.  He is such a fun little guy.  We crammed lots of stuff into four days and Jordan and Kristine were so great keeping us busy and taking us to so many great places.  Utah is so beautiful, especially in the summertime.  We went to Thanksgiving Point, Steel Days Carnival in American Fork, Bridal Veil Falls, Sundance and Squaw Peak.

 



And we're off!  Jack was able to sit by the window on all 4 flights.
He killed time on the layovers by playing on his Kindle Fire.

 Thanksgiving Point - It was sooo hot!

Steel Days Carnival in American Fork



Nothing like a refreshing Hawaiian Shaved Ice on a hot day!

Jordan hiked with Jack up Bridal Veil Falls.  It was so beautiful there and Jack loved it!

Jack, Owen and me at the falls.

Sundance and Squaw Peak

Sundance - Such a peaceful place

 

June 2013

Lots going on this month.  I had the boys for a week while Megan and Justin went on a cruise.  We had lots of fun swimming, going to the park, eating pizza, doing a puzzle, crafts, and more swimming.  It was pretty warm all week so the pool was the only way to keep cool but the boys didn't seem to mind!

 



National Donut Day!                                            Waiting for Mom and Dad at the Airport



Movie Night!                                                         Fun Night out with Pam to see Le Miz

               Owen in front of the San Diego Temple                                        Owen is 2!  Here he is with the loot I sent him.

Words to Live By