12 of 12 February

This happen to fall on a VERY sick day for me.  The past 2 weeks the whole family has been sick, so this seemed appropriate, but I definitely didn't take pics of me this day.

1. Netti pot:  I'd never heard of this before a facebook plea for help with my sinus'.  I went and bought this immediately.  I'm not sure it worked since I couldn't even get it to flow at all.  I was way too clogged up.  At 8:30 am, my friend shopped by to give me oils to use on my sinus' and in the pot.  This seemed to help things flow a little better.  I'm so blessed with good friends.
2. A book to read: My friend borrowed my car yesterday and checked me out my book on reserve.  I finished it in one day... lots of time to sit and lay around means lots of time to read.  This friend also gave me a head massage to relieve some pain.  SO sweet! I'm so blessed with good friends.
3. Usually I am really on top of the kitchen mess.  A messy kitchen shows how awful I am feeling.  Another friend dropped off some medicine late last night and offered to do my dishes.  I was embarrassed and said no, but all day I wished I would've let her because the mess was overwhelming, disgusting and a cause for more headache.  I'm so blessed with good friends.
4.  Hallie decided to wear the top and skirt I made her last week.  She looked so cute.  Too bad no one saw her and too bad I was too sick to do her hair.
5. My bed... at least it was made right? I took 2 naps today!  First when Mariah was sleeping I gave Hallie the leap pad, the kindle AND the ipod and slept.  Then all 3 of us slept during 2nd nap.  I was still tired all afternoon.  I guess I really needed it.
6.  My kids got to watch TV and get their own snacks (cereal)
7.  Jackson talked me into a game of life which was torture for my headache.  He was good enough to pick up all the toys on the floor to 'earn' playing time with me.
8.  What happens when kids get their own snacks.  I hate stepping on cereal on the floor.  Big pet peeve!  My cousin brought over dinner so I didn't have to cook.  This was a LIFESAVER!  I loved a hot meal without having to go through the pain of preparing it!  I'm so blessed with good friends.
9.  Mariah.  Thankfully she is feeling better.  I couldn't smell her stinky diapers, so I caused a bit of a diaper rash, but besides that she's been so pleasant and happy.  I didn't breast feed at all today.  Low milk supply and feeling crappy I just didn't want someone sucking the little life I had out of me.
10. Sleep time. Luckily Dave got home right at bedtime to help out.   I love that Jackson falls asleep reading books every night.
11.   Usually Hallie is up for much longer than Jackson, especially on days she takes a nap.  Everyone in the house was asleep before Hallie tonight.  She stays in her bed reading and singing until she falls asleep.
12. Sweet Mariah sleeping.  She is not sleeping through the night yet, getting sick for me and her meant waking up with her.  Usually she is up around 3 or 4 and again at 5 or 6.  She goes right back to sleep after eating a bit.  Hopefully, by 1-year-old she WILL be sleeping through the night.

Oahu with Kids

 We got to spend 5 nights on Oahu.  Getting there was quite difficult.  There seemed to be plenty of seats, but it continued to creep down and the stand-bys got more and more.  2 hours before the flight a party of 6 jumped on before us.  We were stressed.  Then Dave had brought a shovel that was not ours that he accidentally brought through security.  He was taken back to have it checked.  This stressed me out because we were considering flying to Maui and hoping to Oahu the next day.  I didn't know if Dave had what he needed if we had to do that plan.  We also had signed up to do a mystery shopper for lunch.  We only had a few minutes and quickly had to fit it in which is stressful because you have to write an evaluation in detail in order to qualify.   We finally got tickets to get on, but the stress continued because we had 5 individual seats located all over the plane.  Everyone was traveling together, so no one would switch us.  More and more people got on and we still had yet to find even 2 seats together.  Finally, Dave finagled getting 2 seats accros the aisle from each other and a couple sitting by one of our seats agreed to split up a little.  This means we got 3 seats in a row.  We also had one seat behind and switched someone to have a seat accross.   It worked out great, but was so stressful getting there.  Mariah slept for 2 hours.  Hallie slept for a couple hours.  Jackson made good friends with the grandma sitting next to him and played with her iPad and his kindle the whole flight.  He was great.  The flight lasted so long for me!  Finally, we arrived and Dave picked up the car while I waited for our MANY pieces of luggage.  We brought enough food for Breakfast and lunch every day and snacks for the duration.  2 full boxes of food.  We brought 3 snorkel sets, floaties, sand toys, baby items, and of course clothes, and other necessities.

We got in late on Saturday night.  The kids didn't go to sleep until  midnight our time (and they were so hyper and couldn't fall asleep).  I was hoping this meant that they would sleep in, but not to be.  Hallie woke up at 4 am and Dave took her outside, while Jackson, Mariah and I slept longer.
  We went to church for the full 3 hours (although we barely missed the sacrament ... we were there, but they didn't bring it to the halls :( )  We then headed to Pearl Harbor.  It was a neat way to spend a sunday, especially since the attack actually happened on a Sunday.

 Jackson was very interested in the story of the attack and I enjoyed explaining it.  Such a teacher :)  It was pretty hot and the breeze was welcome!

We took dinner to the airport to welcome Dave's brother and his kids to the island.  

 We checked into our resort at the Hilton Wakiki.  It was a beautiful place with a great pool and view.  We got a huge family room and it was nice to unpack for the week.  

We headed to the beach early on Monday (the kids were up at 5:30 an hour later than yesterday!)

We took a break in the hotel for a movie and then headed to Hanauma Bay.  Despite my months living on Oahu, I never made it to this bay, it was incredible!  We love snorkling and this is absolutely the place to do it!  Jackson was 'cold' and a little nervous so he only lasted a few minutes.  Dave and I took turns and saw some incredible fish, coral and other aqua things.  

Mariah got the messiest at this beach. so cute!

Our one sunset of the trip :(  We love ourselves a good sunset!

 On Tuesday (The kids slept until 6:30.... 9:30 our time!!)we headed to Ko'olina to spend the day with our kids cousins.

 The daddy's (With a little help from the kids) made an GIANT sand structure with a moat out to the ocean. 

We spent 9 straight hours on the beach and in the pools. Tom grilled hamburgers and sausages for us (delicious) and we spent time with the cousins and family.  Hallie and Jackson absolutely LOVED their cousins grandma and were so (overly) friendly to her.  

On Wednesday, we drove up to the North shore.  We visited the Temple and ate lunch at the snack bar at BYU-Hawaii.  We then met a missionary friend at the PCC.  We took our kids to visit the islands of the Pacific.  The kids were more interested in doing thing rather than watching the shows, but that worked out just fine.  

We ate at the best fish taco place ever.  and the kids fell asleep on the way home.

We headed to Diamond Head on Thursday morning.  I didn't realize how high it really was and was really worried the kids wouldn't make it (Esp. because I didn't bring good shoes for them)  They were tough and made it the whole was (and I was tough for carrying a baby, that didn't mind the carrier, the whole way)

 We cleaned up our hotel and spent the afternoon at the pool and hot tubs, riding the water slides.  We cleaned up and watched an outdoor movie (A Bugs Life) before heading to the airport for the red eye home.  We luckily got 2 rows and the girls slept in carseats, I stretched out across the 3 seats and Jackson and Daddy got the floor.  Everyone but Daddy slept all night long.

Good bye Hawaii... Hope we see you again soon!

(Yes, we have visited an island a month for 3 months. . . I guess February calls for Maui :))

Hallie's 3rd birthday

Hallie turned 3!! 

 I had so much fun planning a pink princess party that I knew would be a hit with her.  I couldn't pick just one princess, so we went with ALL of them.   

When the girls showed up they got a crown (homemade and not as cute as the pinterest version) and then a wand.

The table was spread with food and goodies and the girls were excited about it.  

We danced to princess songs using our wands.

We played 'Follow the princess' from a DVD of princess games

They guest colored a bit

We played kiss the frog although most of our guest opted for the lipstick and REAL kiss version rather than the lips I printed.

The girls mixed together glittery princess putty.

Opening presents was a highlight.  Hallie is so easy to please... anything girly, pink or princess she LOVES.

 Mariah crawled around the mess of girls and had a great time in the chaos too!

The kids made food "Wands" with ham, cheese, grape tomatos and chunks of bread.  We also had grahamn crackers with cream cheese and strawberries, pink punch (with sparkly rimmed cups), watermelon and strawberries.

Cake time!!

Each kid picked a princess cupcake topper they were excited about.  I love the cone cupcakes since there are no wrappers all over the place.  SO much easier for the kids and the cleaner :)

We are so glad Hallie has so many friends so close by! We love having play groups and park days and so much fun with everyone!  Thanks for coming!

P.S. I got most of my ideas from my pinterest board here

12 on the 12th (January)

1. My new resolutions of getting up by 6 and exercising 5 X a week.
2. Packing lunches for my hubby and my son... all while making breakfast for 5.   Mornings are always a crazy busy time.
3.  Seeing Mariah in the morning is the highlight.
4.  Love my roses from Dave.  He is sweet and sensitive and gives so much to our marriage.  So lucky to have him.
5.  Mariah following me around the house whining.  Although she is usually a calm, contented baby, she has been fussy and needy for the last week  with a cold,  So sad to hear her whine.
6.  Hallie nap time.  She actually slept today!  I love her bedding and I love the time to read with her.
7.  Mariah got 2 shots.  so sad, but she stopped crying pretty quickly.  I am not afraid of vaccines like many in our society today are.  I think the protection from horrendous diseases is worth a small and short prick.
8.  Hallie also had her 3-year-old check up.  She is healthy and perfect!
9.  I am always packing (or unpacking) for something and this weekend we get to go to Hawaii for 5 days!!  I am so excited, but have alot of work to do.
10.  My notecards of chores to complete today.  Being sick and doing Hallie's party last week has me WAY behind, so I spent playgroup cleaning like a crazy lady.  I love the cards to keep me focused.  I love to put them away and see my progress throughout the day.
11.  After school homework help.  We come up with creative ways to do spelling so Jackson will be willing to do it.  It is getting more and more difficult to get him to do homework.   Today, he made the argument that he doesn't need to do it because he already knows it all.  This is true... and yet, I still think it is important to do it.
12.  Chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles.  I doubled it and made dinner for my cousin who was sick today. The kids ate it well, which doesn't happen often so I am happy!

Christmas

Christmas Eve started with the first present of PJs.  Princess, super hero and soft fuzzy feet-ies for M.  The kids were thrilled with their stomper slippers as well.  We enjoyed the Nativity re-enactment as well as family time talking about Jesus and the importance of his birth to us. 

That night the stockings were filled and Santa came to our house.

M loved a new walker and can even take many steps with it!

Hallie was thrilled with TWO cinderella dolls and lots of girly accessories. (as well as the nightgown she asked for)

Jackson got a leappad which occupied every travel second since.  He also loved a giant lego set, a knight costume (so he can save the princess). Both kids also got bikes, which they enjoy in the beautiful weather here.

I got a new phone which actually takes good photos and has some awesome features.  Dave got luggage, work clothes, a home-made Hawaii calendar and shoes. 

We had a wonderful Christmas!  So happy and blessed this year.