Hawaii

We had a wonderful time in Hawaii! This was the first time that Shayne and I have ever truly vacationed in almost 13 years (house-hunting doesn't count). Shayne was invited to BYU Hawaii to discuss ways to improve business studies and student employment opportunities. So, being that BYU Hawaii is in Laie(lah-ee-ay), we stayed on the north shore at Turtle Bay, which was awesome. It is on a peninsula, surrounded by water, and those waves were HUGE!!

So, the first day we got a tour of the campus and I was able to listen in on Shayne, Nate Henderson and his friend, Lance during a student presentation. I have to say that the three of them were inspiring, and I was considering businss and computer science...for a mini-second! And, I was thinking how good my husband looked giving his presentation, hands off girls! We met the coolest people, and the wives got to sit in on a meeting discussing future plans for the school. I felt the spirit really strongly as they discussed what could be done to "build up the kingdom" in the asia/pacific region. Jim Richey is a wonderful LDS business man that is dedicating his time to help the school, and he personally made sure that our entire stay was great. We were invited to the president of the school, President Wheelwright's home for dinner. His wife, Margaret, was the picture of graciousness and we were served by the students a wonderful meal.
We were treated to a luau at the PCC(thats what they all call it), the Polynesian Cultural Center. The pork was yummy, but I was grossed out when I realized that the pico de gallo I mounded on my plate, was actually a salmon salad, bleh! The show was great, I am all for bare chested Hawaiin guys doing anything, oh yeah, they danced good too!
So, while Shayne was away on business I ate macadamia nuts by the pool and read. Does is get any better than that?
We tried out snorkeling in Hanauma Bay. It is a nature preserve, so the park employees warned us that there were 50 sightings that day of jellyfish. In my mind, the jellyfish had all met together and had a meeting and were out to get me. Drama, I know, but I am the center of the universe, so why not? Luckily, we weren't stung, but I did kick Shayne in the head, and he didn't appreciate me pulling on his shorts when I panicked. I did enjoy it, and had fun.
We went to Pearl Harbor on our last morning. I always find it interesting that we see grainy, 2 dimensional black and white pictures and the people don't seem real... when they actually had pink cheeks, smelled like aftershave or grease, and smelled the same salty air that I did.
North Shore is awesome, and I loved staying up in that area. Surfers everywhere, and all I could think was "where are they all from", "where are their shoes" and "do they ever work?"
The best part of the trip was just being a couple. My favorite memory will be us going to the beach, and driving home, with sandy hair, in our bathing suits, windows down, along the north shore. sweet.




my thoughts on this picture...I shall never wear that bathing suit again, especially in a picture!

what a reverent place to be, 23 sets of brothers were among the fatalities that day
we were on the way to the luau, wearing 'tiki clothes' as Drew put it
President Wheelwright, Shayne and I after dinner at his house, he was funny!
the morning view at the hotel, this is the bay that you would snorkel in
the picture of hawaiian vacationing....business attire!
I just really love the flowers, and especially birds of paradise

The Official Halloween Picture

We have an indian princess, Wolverine, and a lawn gnome. Jordan got asked several times if he was Santa, and also the Travelocity gnome, which he was cool with. Drew's mask stayed on 5 min total, due to extreme itchiness. Because of the scaredy cat stage he is in, he only hit up every 5th or 6th house, due to scariness.
They have all traded, bartered and blackmailed with their candy loot.
Now...to throw it all away a handfull at a time while they are away...

California or Bust 2009

The year started out with us really wanting to make it to Orlando, but with Shayne's busy schedule and my school, we decided on California. Being a native Californian, I really do enjoy getting back to the dewy mornings, the roses and birds of paradise in everyones yards, and being close to the beach.
The trip started off late, and so we got there at 2am Thursday morning, which was a worry considering we were to got to Disneyland that day. We ended up sacking out hard and waking up ready to have fun. Getting in the gate was $350 alone, gasp. I had mentally prepared myself for an expensive day so I could enjoy it.
The next day, we went to Knotts Berry Farm. It is more for older kids as there are a lot of thrill rides, but the cool thing is we literally walked on 90% of the rides, no lines, and great weather. That night, we went to Northwoods Inn Resterant in La Mirada. An old Baxter favorite, so many memories and a great meal.

Drew is in the "scared of everything" stage", and so he opted out of Haunted Mansion, Toad's Wild Ride, Matterhorn, and we even had to talk up Small World a lot to get him on the boat...H really loved getting buried in the sand up to his neck and had a lot of fun collecting "clams" on the beach.
Kennedy is our little thrill seeker. She will ride anything! Disneyland made me all the more aware of how she is growing up....not at all enamored with Princesses anymore. Knotts Berry Farm has a ride, called Ghost Rider, a giant wooden coaster that she and Shayne rode, and she she loved it.
Jordan is a little more ride weary than Kennedy. I pressured him into riding something at Knotts that was a little out of his comfort zone, and after seeing his face, I will never do that again! He loved the beach, tried his hand at boogie boarding and had a blast jumping waves with Shayne, Kennedy and I.

Things I learned this trip...
-it take a good 9 hours to get to Anaheim from Vail, don't try to tell me otherwise.
-kids love the word 'diarrhea'. They sang about it for way too many miles...
-a $13 boogie board from walmart is worth about $3..it lasted about 30 min before it got munched. Also, kids don't need beach toys, just plastic cups.
-that little extra panel in your bathing suit bottom, is really just there to collect sand, LOTS of sand...
-paying $350 to get in Disneyland will put you in the "we will have fun whether you are tired or not" mode for 13 hours
-put a dad in a teacup, and he will view it as a personal challenge as to how fast he can get it spinning, this was not enjoyable for me, as a rider...

this and that...

Busy, Busy...the theme for October. We are at a place where Shayne emails me his itinerary, so I will know what state he is in and when. If you have seen a busty girl running on Camino Loma Alta, thats me! I am working on the Couch25K program as some of you know, with the goal of running a 5k in December for charity. I have always thought running was something that a girl like me just couldn't do, and so I am having to develop the "can-do" attitude. I am not at a place when I am running that I am "in the moment", its more like when is this leg over, where are my underwear creeping, there's another 1. ant hill 2. poop pile and so on.. I am glad when I see ya'll driving, because now I have proof that I am actually doing it!

Kennedy is back in volleyball, and just loves it! We are so lucky to have Rachel B for our coach, she is so great and knows what she is talking about. She also plays vball with us moms on Wed morning, where I am sure that her serves are atomic! She is really encouraging the girls to pass the ball, and Kennedy's serves are continuing to be more consistant

I just read Andi W's post about kids sleepwalking, and thought I would add my experiences. Poor Kennedy sleepwalks, and more recently, sleep showers. I heard someone go into my bathroom and turn the shower on, when I asked her what she was doing, she said "taking a shower" and when I asked why, she said " I don't know"

The poor thing is afraid to spend the night at friends houses because she is afraid of what she will do, so we are trying to help her with that fear and remind her that her friends love her.

I had terrible night terror's growing up, so far her episodes haven't been too frightening, just confusing. Finding her wander the hall is not uncommon, and I once found her on her dresser pounding on the wall!

Jordan has been keeping busy on break by collecting crap, er, building a fort in the backyard. I hope no one calls the cops on us , a la Phillip Garrido, the structure is getting larger by the day..

I know they are building memories, my parents backyard was one fort after another for years.

Lately, Drew has been quite the little sass, and knows exactly what will get a rise from me. All that sass must wear him out, because around 3 or 4 most days, he lays on the ground, strokes Macy's head and falls asleep.

I am halfway through my first class, Elementary Algebra, and doing okay. I must admit, I have actually scored a 47% on a quiz, luckily I can take it up to three times (yup, I had to take all three to get a decent score). Oh man, I am in for it, this is going be interesting...

Bad Blooger!

I just realized that I spelled 'blogger' wrong, but since I have been such a bad blogger, I'm leaving it...


The last month has seen me through my first 2 chapters in Elementary Math. It is been fairly easy, the stressful part being that it is online and my knowledge of all things 'computer-y' is not the best. Lets just say, cut and paste is my best friend.


Shayne's grandmother passed away a few weeks ago, and so we were happy to have his dad, Charlie, step-mom Veronica and brother, Ryan here for the weekend. The boys spent one morning at the gun show, where Shayne pulls the 'its in our best interest' ploy to buy ammo, and huh, what's that? a new gun. Blame it on all the testosterone floating around those places.


I am thankful for Charlie and Shayne's comments at the funeral, I felt the spirit when Shayne bore his testimony of the Atonement, and how we are ALL part of it.


I have had all three kids' parent-teacher conferences. I am thankful for bright, social children. Jordan is a little chatty in class, which I knew would happen as all of his buddies are in the same class. Wonder where he gets that from....

new beginnings....( with brief potty commentary)

The blog post sounds so Jack Handey-ish don't ya think? I started my first semester back to school through Pima Community College yesterday. I am taking Elementary Algebra this semester, didn't want to overdo it, next semester, I plan to take 3 classes.
What am I going to school for? I am not sure. I have always told Shayne that I am ornamental, a trophy wife so-to-speak, and not to expect me to bring in any money. I think he wants a return on his investment, though.
I graduated in 1994 from high school, so I am feeling a bit rusty. Although, my area of study has been broad over the last 13 years....
STAINS101- a review in crayon, chapstick, poop, and ketchup removal
AUTOSHOP-what to do when you lose your keys at the mall in 100 weather with 2 small children (I am famous for calls to the locksmith)
AUTOSHOP2- how to remove the paint off the bumper from a 7-11 when you hopped the curb and hit the building(removing paint to avoid husband confrontation)
CULINARY ARTS- how many ways can I dress up 1. chicken, 2. tortillas, 3. pancakes and the art of camouflaging foods with ranch dressing
CHILD PSYCHOLOGY-will it scar the children long term to wear two different socks to school, a study into the benefits of reverse psychology and long term guilt-trips
SOCIAL STUDIES-Help! My child just peed on the floor of Dillard's and I have no wipes to clean it up, and other pee/poop/barf case studies

So, I honestly feel like I have been working toward a degree already, so this is just extra credit.
What have some of your areas of study been????

Alison's Talk

Alison P. from our ward gave a talk on adversity this last Sunday. It was wonderfully, and sincerely given, and rather than attempt at retelling it ( I would totally botch it up), I would like to share this quote she included in her talk.
I love, love, love this quote...
President Howard W. Hunter said: “If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right” (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, ed. Clyde J. Williams [1997], 40).