Katchup

I feel like I havent BLOGGED in the longest time. . . I dont know where I have been or what I have been doing that has stopped me from posting... NOT that I have anything NEW and EXCITING to talk about.. Life is going along just like usual... This week was early release for Ashlyn (Parent-Teacher Conferences) Ashlyn is doing GREAT at Franklin South. She was already good with recognizing and knowing how to write all her Letters... HOLY COW though.. Franklin teaches such great handwritting skills... I AM LOVING IT... she as a Kindergardner has better handwritting than my boys... ok so she is a girl and that has something to do with it.. but. She is such a cutie. I am loving the time we share every afternoon doing homework and hanging out going to lunch or wathcing movies.
Braeden.... What a cutie... I SERIOUSLY LOVE the DIMPLES... and his BIG EYES.. He is such a good helper with Irelyn. He is always RIGHT THERE to play with her, help feed her, get her out of bed, etc... OK so yes sometimes... it gets a little annoying to have him so helpful... but I am so glad I can see so much of Chad in him.. and I KNOW he will be a great dad. Brae is doing so well in school. He reads and is so good at math, and such a good student. We just have to work on his handwritting a little bit... OK one more time.. . those DIMPLES are KILLER...
Lochlin... Such a STUD... He is doing really well in school... He loves Cub Scouts (thanks to the FABULOUS leaders) and he is quite the social bug... I love that he is so FRIENDLY to people. He is so sweet and innocent still... I dont know how much longer I will hear from my boys about Kids at school sticking up their middle finger, or using 'cus words... I laugh sometimes because I think about my boys growing up and telling me these things when they are 16... I just hope they aren't EVER the ones doing these naughty things.. and I HOPE that isnt just wishfull thinking.
Loch is a good big brother too.. He likes to help with Irelyn. Actually Most fights between Loch and Brae are over who gets to hold or help Irelyn with things. Loch is so cute because he likes to take his homework and go sit in a corner in his bedroom at the foot of his bed to do it. He likes to be alone and likes to be in QUIET places.
Irelyn... Walking everywhere... getting into EVERYTHING... and starting to have such the PERSONALITY... Her smile and Laugh are contagious. I love to watch her DANCE to music or TV shows. I love to see her interact with her brothers and sister. She loves to carry around all the remotes and phones and LOVES to look at herself in the mirror (the little vanity mirror of Ashlyn's is the perfect height for her) She is becoming such a GIRLY Girl... I can't believe how fast she is growing up. It makes me sad to think that OUR FAMILY wont be having anymore BABIES... Yes.. we are DONE... but I am so glad I can enjoy the 4 beautiful, sweet children I have.
I LOVE my HOT, SWEET, SEXY, Hubby.. Seriously... He is looking even better as the years go on.. Oh, how I love him and all he does for me and OUR family... He is so amazing. I LOVE that he puts the kids to bed every night with a "Scary Story" I love that he helps me with things around the house... I LOVE that he has been able to work from home more often so I can see him every once in a while during the day. I seriously LUCKED out snagging such an AWESOME guy!!!

OK as for me and my ISSUES... I have This COUNTER in my kitchen.. NO MATTER WHAT... I cant keep in clean... I will buy anything or do whatever I need to... I NEED SUGGESTIONS.. on how to maintain the chaos of papers, pens, keys, receipts, etc... This is actually on a good day... I HATE this counter IT COLLECTS EVERYTHING... oh.. that and the DARN FRIDGE... How do others display artwork, party invites, school notices, calendars, and chore charts. again.. HELP if you have any suggestions... I have dreams of a clean fridge with NOTHING on it and a counter that is clutter free... I am not talking just moving the clutter to another counter... I NEED ways to ELEMINATE IT from collecting...

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

International Talk Like a Pirate Day (ITLAPD) is a Parodic holiday invented in 1995 by John Baur ("Ol' Chumbucket") and Mark Summers ("Cap'n Slappy"), of the United States, who proclaimed September 19th each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a Pirate. For example, an observer of this holiday would greet friends not with "Hello," but with "Ahoy, me hearty!" The date was selected because it was the birthday of Summers' ex-wife and consequently would be easy for him to remember

You can learn to Talk Like a Pirate from this website.

Enjoy Yer Day, Arrrr!!!

eyes lips face

Ok so I got a phone call from Phanelb a few minutes ago...

YOU MUST at least Check out this site...
Pretty much EVERYTHING IS $1.00
Brushes, Polish, Lipsticks, Eye shadows, etc....
eyeslipsface.com
There is a coupon code: CAROLINA
this takes $10 off your total of $20 or more and makes your shipping only $5
I loaded up my cart with 20 $1.00 items... went to check out.. my total with the coupon code including shipping was onl y $15.00

Hope this is fun for many many other girls out there.

Pay It Forward!!!

It's the PAY IT FORWARD Gift Exchange! (PIF) Here's how it works... I will send a handmade gift to the first three (3) people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your bolg. (so you must be a blogger to participate). I was QUICK to comment on EMILY's BLOG, so now I am paying it forward!

Who doesnt like Gifts JUST BECAUSE!!! Not quite sure what I will be making.
I will be thinking about it while I wait for the first 3 comments.
I don't care if you are blog surfing either.
It is always fun to see what people are looking at my little ONLINE journal.

So... Just make sure that I get your email address in your comment so I can get your address.

HAVE FUN!!!

The Howey Dance

So I have never released footage of the dancing Chad and I do at night... but... I decided it was about time... Usually after we get the kids in bed we like to get some exercise the ol' fashion way. DANCING!!!! Chad has great moves doesnt he!! Plus... I'll have to admit he knows how to WORK the camera!

This was FUN!!!

Got this from Emily's blog:

My roommate and I once: played dressups in silky pj's and took pictures.. We were trying to capture what it looked like when we were sleeping.. Turns out we just look like fools... Dont worry the pictures will NEVER surface!!

Never in my life have I: been happy with my weight

High School was : luckily a long time ago and has lots of good memories.

When I am nervous: shake my legs or pick at my arms

My Hair: Long, thick & curly (unless i take the time to streighten it) oh and I have random kinki crazy hairs that I pick out and ok I will admit I have a few gray hairs (but Chad always seems to find those and yank them out)

When I was 5 : I was in trouble because Cherry wrote my name in crayon on the floor under the kitchen table and my mom thought it was me so I got spanked and finally my parents realized I couldnt write that neatly and I HOPE felt really bad

When I turn my head left : I see a picture of Chad and I from our wedding day... yes it is one that gives me goose bumps when I look at it. I LOVE MY HUBBY!!

I should be : Nicer, More Patient, Thinner, Happier, More Organized, Ummm... can I stop now I am getting depressed!!

By this time next year : I hope to be in a different house. We are totally outgrowing this one. But I hope my life is just as good. I really am happy!!!

My favorite Aunt is : I agree with Emo.. Is that even allowed in writing... I love ALL my Aunts.. I definatly am closer to some more than others... but I HAVE an AWESOME EXTENDED FAMILY

I have a hard time understanding : lots of things... I am afraid to admit all of them for fear EVERYONE will think I am totally DUMB!!!

My ideal breakfast is : served to me, and I can eat SEATED instead of standing up. I would have my husband on one side of me and be able to look at our 4 beautiful children all eating happily and not making a mess, then the dishes would clear themselves and load themselves into the dishwasher and someone elses hand would wipe up the table and put everything back in order. Oh... I could care less what it is... I am not a big breakfast eater. Maybe a protein shake or some grapefruit and granola.

If you visit my home town : You'd probably be sweating like crazy so I'd hope you'd stop by and say hi and visit for a while in my nice Air Conditioned house!!! I could make you some cookies or bananna bread if you want!!

If you spend the night at my house : You would stay up really late with Chad and I and laugh till your sides hurt. We'd all probabally fall asleep on the couch (which is totally the most comfortable couch EVER) and then you'd be woken up at 7 AM to my children helping themselves to cereal and waffles.... and probably fighting over who gets to help Irelyn.

I shouldn't have been : so grumpy today. I was up late last night and woke up early this morning for church, then had Primary meetings all afternoon and when I got home I was kinda grumpy to Chad. I know he was watching the kids and I snapped at him that there were dishes on the counters and a few toys on the floor.. I mean.. Who cares.. He watched the kids for 4 hours... they were all happy and having fun. and I was a total jerk.. I am grateful for my hubby and all he does for our family (he sent me back to the room to read NEW MOON and take a nap) but I got online and blog surfed instead...

Last night I: made the most delicious salad; I put chicken breasts in the crock pot with 1 cup salsa, 1 cup water and a pkt of taco seasoning... then shreaded it and put it on a salad with grilled corn, black beans, tomatoes, onions, cheese, guacamole, salsa and a homemade cilantro ranch dressing... YUMMMMMYYY!!! it was seriously so delicious... Thanks Marci McLain for the Chicken Recipie and Phanelb for the Ranch Recipie. Oh Chad had some people over to watch the UFC fight on SPIKE I worked on the computer doing some primary stuff and ended up being up WAY WAY to late... That is why I was kinda a grump today!!

A better name for me would be : MOM, Shmoopy, Dirty Dawn???

I've been told I look: Exotic and like I have bedroom eyes

Nails Nails Nails

So I decide to use a gift certificate To Sunshine Nails & Spa I got for my 30th Bday (thanks Tiffany, Selia and Katie) and get a Manicure and Pedicure today... Well we have all done it.. We go to these little Vietnameese run places and I am sure EVERYONE has experianced Something similar...
I walk in.. one of the ladies who is currently in the process of doing another customer's nails looks up. "what we do for you?" Ummm.. Can I have 2 taco's No lettuce and a diet coke? DUH...(ok i dont say that) I want a manicure/pedicure "Pick a color" how you say FRENCH manicure in YOUR LANGUAGE....
She walks over and turns on the water for the Pedicure footbath. OF course it has to be on BOILING.. I guess they dont know what WARM is. So I sit down and begin to dip my feet into the bubbling water. "oooouuucccchh" I'd say it but who in there other than the few other customers would understand. So as my feet are turning bright red and getting used to the "warmth" of the footbath as she taps ever so lightly on my left foot. No words necessary. I know what to do. I have already mentally prepared for this moment all day. The kids are at home. I can just sit and relax and enjoy someone else rubbing my troubles away. As I find the remote to the massage chair and push ON... She begins removing the old polish, burrr... that is a little cold.... But I allow my mind to go back to the warmth my right foot is feeling in the water. I move my foot around in the jet stream coming out from the back of the chair. . . It feels good to kind of itch my foot with that strong force from the water. Then... another tap this time on my right foot... without looking I place my left foot in the water and bring my right foot out. as the cool polish remover covers my toe nails. Whoo... another tap on my left foot.. This is going fast. as she begins clipping the cuticle off (dang... there is a ton of that crap.. how does it get so bad!!) And another tap.. more cuticle clippings. Ahhh... the callus remover... Ummm, heck yeah I need that.. I have been slacking on moisturizing my heels this summer and they sure can use a good scrubbing. I hear a faint noise and open my eyes to see My Lady, Nhu Mai Tai, begins talking to the salon guy and another salon woman. What are they saying??? Trying to be silly I say jokingly "are you making fun of my gross heels?" The guy quickly looks at me and says they are talking about how they are going to Vietnam... SURE YOU WERE.. then why were you laughing... (at this point I am feeling like Elaine in the Nail Salon from Seinfield... If only I had a translator... I would have known)
The pedicure begins to take a turn for the worse here... Usually when someone works on my heel callus's there is a little pressure behind the scrub... This lady did the motion but there was nothing to it... Was she just trying to tickle me? I felt like saying DIG IN and SCRUB GIRL!!! Then I thought maybe my feet aren't as bad as I thought, but they were... a quick dip of each foot and she is draining the footbath. That seemed kind of fast .. I am getting ready for the best part though... THE MASSAGE!!! I feel the cold loation being squirted on each shin. . . Nhu begins the rub, her hands bairly touch my legs and there is absolutly no pressure behind it either ...and it doesnt feel as good with plastic gloves on anyways.. but whatever.. She slides her hands up to my knees and a quick wiggle behind my calf and back down to my ankles, heels and toes.
She jumps up.. and I look down. I still have streaks of loation all over my lower legs and feet. Nhu comes back with hot towels.. In my head I am screaming WAIT, that cant be it... she rubs off remainder of the loation. I look at my friend Heidi next to me confused. Was that it??? Heidi says loud enough for Nhu and her pedicureist to hear. "The tip is all in the massage!" I couldnt agree more... Nhu is NOT getting a tip from me.... as I pout a little Nhu begins to paint the white on the tip of my toe nail. It's over ... I look over at Heidi who is enjoying a nice long leg massage and is even offered the Sea Salt.. I totally would have dont that... I would have done anything to get Nhu to rub my legs a little longer and harder... I feel so depressed but Nhu doesnt seem to mind she goes right on with the rest of the Pedicure. It was over... My legs still craving a little rub and Nhu walks away leaving me in the Chair. . .
She did hear me say I want a Mani/Pedi right?? after a few minutes I lean over to Heidi's Lady, who is still deep in the massage on Heidi's legs, and say. . "Am I going to be able to get a Manicure?" Crap... she calls for Nhu to set it up... AAAHHHH..... I go over to Nhu's station. She gets a cold mini bowl of water. again. NO WORDS... at least not to me.. It is like listening to a Vietnameese Talk Radio Show on the Lowest volume possible but it is right in front of you... How do they hear what eachother is saying across the salon? I can bairly hear and she is 1 foot away from my face. The Manicure was just as cold and fast as the Pedicure. It was over.. I didnt get a good hand massage either. I go to pay. I AM NOT TIPPING AT ALL!!! I hand over my gift certificate and look at what it was for. $35.00 at least that covers it and I dont have to pay anything.
But Nhu looks at me confused because she doesnt know English AT ALL... ends up calling another worker over to let me know that I OWE MORE than the $35.00 on my Gift Card. I have to pay $45.00... I see Nhu pocket the extra $10 as I walk out SO FUMMING MAD and set NEVER TO GO TO THIS PLACE AGAIN... Well... at least NEVER USE NHU MAI TAI there.

Here is what my Certificate should have covered this is from their flyer..Sea Salt Pedicure: $25.00 & Manicure: $10.00; Soak your feet in a warm footbath and relax, this is everything you need to rejuvenate tired feet. With Sea Salt Exfoliation Followed by Steamed Towels and a Foot Massage with Stress Relief Oil and A Full Manicure Including a Long Hand Massage and Polish.

I guess they dont follow through with what they are writing in their flyers... I am so mad... I have thought about going back in and complaining...

I found this clip on You tube... I got a little laugh... Hope you like it too..

What do you do in your Free time??

what do i do when i am not blogging....

Of course i am still on the computer but I am oovoo'ing with Phanelb and Emo...

Yes we are dorks... here are a few pics of our night together...

Go to www.oovoo.com and sign up and give me your screen name.. you can join our silly chats...

On a Lighter Note....

I got a new phone... the Nokia 5330.. It is really cute and It has been fun to play around with it... It has an MP3 Player and Ashlyn and Braeden already know how to use it... I swear they carry it around with them everywhere so they can rock out to Gwen, Nelly, Akon and Justin Timberlake..... "Wind It Up"

And... I must just go on for a minute about my WONDERFUL Husband.....

Ok some husbands let their wife do all the household stuff and kid stuff... NOT MINE... I seriously think I TOTALLY LUCKED OUT!!! Not only does Chad Help me with all that stuff... .but he actually LIKES to do it... Maybe part of it is like most women... I do concider it foreplay (sorry mom for typing that... but it is true) It was so nice yesterday not only did he help me with the poo poo incedent... but he did the dishes (this happens so frequently at my house I just had to take a second to let him know i really appreciate it) BTW... he was totally rocking out to my new phone while doing the dishes too.... He is so cute...

Cleaning my house is not fun for anyone is it??? the worst part for me is the counters in the kitchen and the hall... I can keep up on the dishes and wiping down the food... but Somehow... They make papers and garbage and junk totally multiply.... with me tossing the mail up there... the kids putting all their school stuff there, chad empties his arms there... I just dont know how to keep up on it.. so this is a dirty secret of mine... I grab all the papers from all the counters.. and bring them back to my room... Generally they end up on the desk for me to eventually sort out... but sometimes... when the piles are so large... They end up on the floor.. This is a project I have to dig into...

What a wonderful World

Anyone up for learning a new talent? this guy is AMAZING!!!

YucKKK AGAIN!!!

OK so I have been told that I post some GROSS pictures.. But what can I do... THIS is my life and isnt that what blogging is about.. SO Irelyn is sick STILL!!!! I am going NUTS.. She is on antibiotics now... The dr. last week didnt think she needed them but I BEGGED for him to give her something because she isn't feeling ANY BETTER.... I am so sick of being puked on... I am sick of washing her crib sheets 2 or 3 times a day... I am sick of giving her medicine (Musinex, Motrin and Breathing Treatments) I AM SICK OF HER BEING SICK....
I will be looking into an alergist because someone suggested she may be alergic to things and that is why she is always sick...
I DONT DO SICK... I am an ALLEN... Just ask Chad... I suck at being a parent, or wife, of someone sick.... I grew up NEVER being sick... You can cry when there is blood (but there better be a lot of it) and seriously ..... My family NEVER got sick growing up... I dont know how to give sympathy or how to handle it...
SO GET BETTER IRELYN....

AAAhhhh.... I love motherhood....

OK so my kids seem to be sick A LOT!!! Esp Irelyn I don't even know how many ear infections and days of diareah we have had since she was born... but this morning / afternoon i realized how being a mom means you have got to get over all those things that gross you out... So Irelyn sick like usual... begins puking on me this morning.. oh it was just the slimy kind from having a really runny nose.. so it was clear, thick and yes gross.. but it is over my shoulder... some running down the front of me and most of it running down the back of me and hitting thank goodness the kitchen floor... So i proceed to the bathroom to go clean up.. well.. she starts puking more.. i am able to hold her more over my shoulder so it hits mostly the bathroom floor and my shoulder still... So i am standing there... humm... how exactly do you take off your shirt without spreading the nasty puke all over my face and hair... yet still try to comfort my baby who obviously isn't feeling good. well... i eventually get her bathed and cleaned up and go put her in her bed for a nap.. and ahhhh.... i hear her screaming.. and this is what i find in her bed... now i know i am not the only one who has had to clean up puke after puke and diareah after diareah... it is just what comes when you are a mom.... but i hope my kids know how much i love them

It's Been a While!!!!

Ok so life has begun to calm down from our BUSY summer..... Our family has had such a fun time going from Hawaii, to AZ and to Utah..... but I have had many complaints (mainly from my sisters) that I need to get back into blogging... Ok I am sitting down and doing it... So we went up to Utah the last week of July for a ALLEN FAMILY REUNION.... It was so much fun to reconnect with all the extended memebers of the crazy Allen Fam... and It was SO MUCH fun to all be able to stay at Sherri and Spencer's home... THANKS a MILLION!!! We did so many fun things from going to the Lagoon, Horse back riding, and singing around the piano (thanks Derek for being our pianist), the girls (ok we are moms not girls anymore) but we would stay up late playing silly cup games around the island in the kitchen and the boys (dads) would play late night basketball... The Kids all had a blast going into the secret rooms and riding the elevator between the floors of the house. Little Spencer and My boys were always together and Ashlyn and Sabrina... WERE INSEPERABLE!!! This reunion was FABULOUS!!! Cant wait for the next one!!! Well we headed back to AZ to meet up with Little Steph and her friend Jeff visiting from California... It was fun to hang out with them.. then Steph and Dave were able to hang out with us while they were in town for Dave's brothers wedding. . . So that has been the past two weeks...

Saturday was Irelyn's 1st Bday . . . i cant believe how fast this past year has gone by... My baby is 1!!! We had a mini party last night for her...

and TODAY... was the 1st day of school for my kids... Loch started 3rd Grade, Brae started 2nd grade and Ashlyn started Kindergarten... Ok so i thought I would be able to hold myself together but a few tears escaped as i looked at my kids are realized how fast time goes... They are growing up so fast...

I so love my family... My kids are my world... I love seeing them smile and hearing them laugh with eachother... It is fun to see them so excited to start this new year, anxious for all the new things to learn and the new adventures... I truely feel so blessed to be a mom...

Blog Surfing Anonymous (BSA)

Hi, My Name is Dawn (Hi Dawn) and I am a BLOG SURFER…

I thought it must be about time for me to admit to one of my weaknesses I have developed on the internet. I have fallen in love with blogging, and well along with that comes my addiction to blog surfing/stalking sometimes.

I find myself laughing or crying at complete strangers comments, pictures, and LOVE to poke around from friend to friend on each site. I always think “Humm… I wonder if THEY know someone I Know???” and well… sometimes they do… I have come across people I knew from YEARS and YEARS ago, or random people from High School I never thought I would see again. And to think… I can “Secretly” look in on anyone’s life, see their children, etc… then I think to myself “Do I comment?” “do I need to explain how I came across their blogspot site?” “will they think I am crazy for clicking randomly till I found them???” Still… I do it… sometimes I comment…. Sometimes I don’t…

If you are a blog surfer/stalker I hope you will comment and let the WORLD know…

Some other addictions some people may have….

EGO-SURFING: When you frequently check your name and reputation on the Internet.

BLOG STREAKING: “Revealing secrets or personal information online which for everybody’s sake would be best kept private.”

CRACKBERRY: “The curse of the modern executive: not being able to stop checking your BlackBerry, even at your grandmother’s funeral.”

BLOG-STALKING: Defined as “snooping online on old friends, colleagues or first dates.”

CYBERCHONDRIA: “A headache and a particular rash at the same time? Extensive online research tells you it must be cancer.”

PHOTOLURKING: Flicking through a photo album of someone you’ve never met.

MYSPACE IMPERSONATION: Many of us pretend to be someone we’re not when we are online, but some will pretend to be a well-known figure

WIKIPEDIHOLISM: Excess devotion to contributing to the online collaborative encyclopedia, Wikipedia. (Wikipedia even has a page where you can test whether you’re an addict

Braeden's Fear Factor Party

I know it has been a while since i have posted.. It is hard to get back into real life after being in Hawaii for so long... Here is what I have been working on all week... Brae's Party.. Phew... it was fun... and NOW it is OVER!!! Time to plan for October's bday's Loch, Ash and Chad

This party was a LOT of FUN!!! We started out with Eating the BRAINS... Kids got so grossed out but it was just spagetti and jello in a mold.. Kinda funny... we got some moms to even join in on that. then we did the Cow's Blood... again... kids were grossed out.... but it was just koolaid and blended up fruit cocktail. then we did the dice game.. everything was labeled and kids ate what they rolled... there was this one little boy (Colton Koontz) who ate pigs feet, anchovies, kipper snacks but couldn't stomach the black licorice. LOCH even ate some of the pigs feet and anchovies... Then we had the SLIDE... i put snakes at the bottom but the kids just picked them up and played with them ....as for the CAKE... I am pretty anal about the cakes but this one the kids helped me with ... they helped me top the cup cakes with worms, eyeballs, and bugs... I think it turned out pretty cute...

Our New Pet

So we went bowling last night at the GAME ROOM at BYU and on the way home Chad and the boys found our new pet in the middle of the street... So they had to bring him home and get a few pictures of Him before we tied him up in the backyard to guard us.

Ok so we really let him go but the boys think he is still outback.

4th Of July in Hawaii

We started out our 4th by doing NOTHING... we were just sitting around the house wondering why arent we at the beach... so we finally packed up and went to Hukilau Beach... The kids love to catch waves and play in the sand. And when i say KIDS.. I mean Chad too..

Then we headed off to Turtle Bay Resort for a BBQ activity. We got some yummy chicken and rice and listened to music.

Then we decided to head over to the Pool at Turtle Bay... where we would have the most amazing view over looking the ocean. The kids were hanging out on the rocks at the edge of the grass section. Chad and I kept saying HOW DANG CUTE our kids are.

We watched the fireworks with Steph and a bunch of her friends... Kim and Jansen, Ashley, Evan, Jeff, and a few other I dont remember. Being in Hawaii makes anything amazing...

but I must say watching the fireworks explode over the ocean at Turtle Bay... It was breathtaking... (and I dont use that word) If you look in this picture you can see the reflection on the water...

Catch Up on Hawaii

WEDNESDAY June 27th 10:00PM..... So CHAD Finally made it to Hawaii... 3 weeks without him was hard on all of us. But we are sure happy now he is here with us.

Actually the night Chad got here... we sure needed him because there was this huge centapede on the stairs and phew... Chad caught it. It was so gross... then when we got upstairs there was a giant cockroach.. Thank goodness there was a boy around. I just screamed like a little girl. I HATE bugs!!!

THURSDAY June 28th..... See how white Chad is... Well... it was a very over cast day and we were only at the beach for a little bit BUT.... the FAIR IRISH MAN Chad is... He got sooooo BURNT.. The kids and I have been WAITING for him to peel so we can start ripping the skin off his back.. ahhhh...

FRIDAY June 29th.... Pearl Harbor/Dole Plantation Day... Ok so with only a few fights from getting lost going and realizing I can't read maps very well.. We made the drive from the North shore over to Pearl Harbor. It was really intersting to get to be there in person.. What a beautiful place. It is crazy to think about the Terrible Day back in 1941. Hopefully the kids will remeber a little of this when they grow up. We had to wait for 2 hours to get on the Fairy to the Memorial but we still were able to enjoy the peaceful quiteness that still hushes over the sunken Arizona Battleship.. On our drive back we decided to stop at DOLE to get some of their PINEAPPLE whip ice cream. YUMMM...

SATURDAY June 30th . . . Beach Day. We just LOVE Hukilau Beach. It is so perfect because it is right across the street from Grandma's house. The boys love to boogie board or body surf the waves here and YES even Chad wore a Rash Guard today.. He is still FRIED!!!

SUNDAY July 1st . . . Church Day. . . Ok so I guess you realize how long you have been some place when you NO LONGER are introduced in Relief Society as the New Person. . . after church we went to this musical fireside at the temple and on our walk home we came across THIS TOILET just out there on the street. ONLY IN HAWAII... ok we couldnt pass up some funny pictures. The kids thought this was the greatest. I couldnt help but think of all the germs that were still lurking on that nasty dirty toilet... ICK...

MONDAY July 2nd . . . Waimea Beach Day... We spent pretty much all day at Waimea Today. It was a beautiful day even though it sprinkled a little bit (nice to clear out half the crowd at the beach) We snorkled, ran rocks (chad's favorite part), and even jumped off the cliff again. It took chad a while to convince him to go off. . . Kinda funny... Loch and Chad climb the rock... Chad thinks he is going to go off with Lochlin but Loch wants to go by himself. So Chad has time to look down.. and realize how high he is. So I climbed up and remembered how scary it was for me a few days ago to jump but think I can do it and Maybe Chad will jump with me. Well I get up there and try not to look around. Man it is scary to be up that high. I dont know if the pictures show HOW HIGH it is. Well.. we finally do it. Yes I jumped first then Chad, but we went up and did it 3 or 4 more times and even did a family jump with Loch. Irelyn even slept at the beach so it made her so much more pleasant to deal with. She looked so cute curled up in a little ball on the towel. Hawaii is so beautiful... We are LOVING IT HERE...

Church Canceled!!!

So today we got a call about 1 1/2 hrs before church notifying us that there was a water(sewer) leak and the power was not working at the building so church was canceled. SO... we decided to take the troops to the Temple Visitor's Center and watch the Joseph Smith Movie. It was nice because we were able to just walk down the street to the temple (right next to my parents church building) Yes I captured the memory and thought I would share a cute picture of my kids... NOTICE the Shark Tooth Neclaces on the boys..

THEY LOVE THEM...

WE MISS YOU DAD!!!

They are all counting down the days

(3 more) till Chad joins us!!!

So After church we got home and the boys hit their favorite hang out "the TREE"

They are ALWAYS in this tree.. luckily it is in perfect view out the kitchen window from MOM's house they even EAT in the TREE. So the kids were taken care of and the MOM's (Emo, Steph, Mom and I) along with Shelly and Dave Senior (Aunt and Uncle) were able to eat dinner in peace. Then we played the recorders and listened to Emily and Steph play the violin. It was a pleasant sunday.

Irelyn Walks

She Walks... Ok so not all the time.. but watch those steps.. She is so cute. It happened so fast. I am sure before we get back to AZ she will be pretty good at it...
WHAT A CUTIE!!!