A fun month

May has been a fun month. We had a great trip to Hawaii (minus the lei rash), Rob and Jared put a new patio for me in the backyard (sorry it was such hard work boys), I received a beautiful watch from Jared and Cassidy for Mother's Day (thanks Connie) and a gorgeous necklace from Brandy and Dave (they know I have a passion for jewelry), we got to spend some time with Rob's family which we don't get to do very often, the weather started to warm up and then to top off the month we (the whole fam damily) went to Park City for four days to celebrate our anniversary and Memorial Day. I wish every month could be like this month has been!

My new patio installed by two patient men!


Enjoying our delicious Memorial Day hamburgers.

The women hard at work...hahaha.


Jared, the one that really did the work!


The fam (minus Mom - I had to stay behind to take photos) as they headed up the mountain to ride the zip line down in Park City.

Don't I have the cutest little family?!?!

We're Back

Well unfortunately our Hawaiian vacation had to come to an end! We had a great time and I am so grateful for my amazing husband who planned such a fun, relaxing trip for me. I have the best husband in the world. On our flight back there was an older couple setting next to us. The husband kept catering to his wife's every need (getting things she needed from the overhead luggage bins, adjusting the air for her, etc.) and I looked at Rob and commented on how that looked like us - because Rob is constantly doing things for me. I am so grateful for the past 30 years that I have had to share with him and I am looking forward to spending another 30 years with this wonderful, sexy man!

I will never, never...

... get another lei! There was some Hawaiian jewelry that I really wanted but decided to save my money for a project we are working on at home. Well I ended up spending the money that I would have spent on the jewelry on going to the doctor and getting a prescription for prednisone and cortisone cream for this awful rash from that darn beautiful lei! I will never, never be enticed by the beauty and smell of a gorgeous flower lei again! Mel promised to remind me the next time we are in Hawaii to NOT go near the leis - so don't forget your promise Mel!

ALOHA

This was taken today after spending the morning at the pool. In the background you can see Diamond Head.

My goofy husband!

My wonderful Mother's Day Brunch with my cute husband!

The Hawaii Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is closed for an 18 month renovation.

I just wanted to give everyone an update on our trip! We have had a wonderful time doing absolutely nothing!! We have lounged by the pool (the beach is only a stone throw away from the pool but we prefer the pool over the sand of the beach). Rob has done a lot on the computer and I have read two good books. We have done a little shopping and we have also driven around the island to the North Shore. We went to dinner with one of our oldest and dearest friends, Mel, and got caught up on what has been happening in Hawaii (he works for a Hawaii State Senator) and did some reminiscing about old times (he still remembers holding Brandy when she was a tiny baby) and of course he had to update me on one of my favorite locals - Dog the Bounty Hunter!

We have been coming to Hawaii every two years for about the past 15 years and over that time we have seen a lot of changes but this time there are a few things that have really stood out to us. When you use to get off the plane in Honolulu you would be greeted by Hawaiian music and the smell of plumeria trees. Well now when you get off the plane there is no music and the only smell you get is diesel fumes from the planes. Actually we have heard very little Hawaiian music during this trip and we really miss it. Another issue is traffic. Driving out to the North Shore use to be such a relaxing, beautiful drive but this time we felt like we were in rush hour traffic the whole way. What use to be about a three hour drive to drive completely around the island turned out to be about a five hour drive due to bumper to bumper traffic. Hawaii really needs to do something about the traffic congestion. And then lastly going to the International Market Place use to be one of our favorite things to do because your could barter and get some good buys but that has not been the case this trip. The prices are set and bartering is not an option! But even with these changes we will still be back because this is Paradise!!

Reminder to self....

....do not get "lei-ed" in Hawaii (get your mind out of the gutter folks). Every time we come to Hawaii I am drawn to the beautiful, sweet smelling lei's and forget that my skin does not like them, not even for a few minutes. Friday night Rob bought me a plumeria lei and I wore it for all of thirty minutes and woke up Saturday morning with an awful rash around my neck. So after a visit to the pharmacy for cortisone cream, calamine lotion and benadryl I still have a ring around my neck that itches, is not pleasant on the eye and hurts when in the sun. You would think that after going through this several times in the past that I would have learned, but no not me!!

Happy Mother's Day to Me

I have had a wonderful Mother's Day in Paradise. It started with my beautiful daughter (you all know she is Hawaiian by the way) calling me and waking me up. I guess she thought I would be up at 7:30 AM. After she woke us up we decided we should get up and get ready for the day! We had a delicious Mother's Day Brunch at the hotel full of many of my favorite foods (shrimp, fruit, whole pig, etc). After that my second born called to wish me happy Mother's Day. I am so blessed to have two amazing children. I am also fortunate to have my Mother and to have been able to talk with her today. She liked her Mother's Day present (we gave her a new family picture) and she even complemented me on losing weight (that's my Mom). Rob was able to have a brief conversation (she had company) with his Mom also .

So to all you Mother's out there HAPPY MOTHER'S Day. I will try and blog more about our trip later tonight (oh, sorry I forgot that it is night where most of you are). We are off to enjoy the sunshine and a little Hard Rock Cafe!

Just Another Day in Paradise!!!

Yes my dear husband took me to our other home and the birth place of our daughter - Honolulu, Hawaii! Today has been a very relaxing day. We got up and went to Zippy's (a hot spot for the Hawaiians) for breakfast and then came back and went to the pool where we spent a good portion of the day - with me reading and Rob working on the computer (they have Wi-Fi in the pool area). Then this evening we went to the International Market Place (one of Jared's favorite places to shop) and did a little shopping and had dinner. After dinner we came back to the hotel and took a romantic walk on the beach (well if you call romantic Rob complaining about getting sand in his tennis shoes the whole time :) So until tomorrow.....Mahalo!

Where are we....

...any guesses! The one thing I can tell you is that Rob made arrangements for a beautiful suite with an outstanding view. I have the most romantic husband in the world! The first person to guess where we are will get a surprise!!!!!! Happy guessing :)

New Adventure

For the past two years our Bishop has not seen a need to give me a church calling - he has pretty much put me on a shelf and forgotten about me (even he agreed). So after alot of "asking" I finally gave up on having a ward calling and went out and found something for me to do myself. I am volunteering at the LDS Family Services Office 4 - 8 hours a week. I answer phones,input information on incoming clients, put together packets, pretty much anything they need me to do. The office I work with deals in adoptions, child abuse and marriage counseling. I have really needed something to boost me spiritually so I hope this does it. It is hard being forgotten by your own ward.