Happy Birthday Alexa!

Happy Birthday to Alexa! She is now 2 years old! We love this little one. She is such a joy to have around and we can't imagine life without her!

Lots and Lots of Rain (and a luau)

It was raining all day. We went up to the north shore to see some sights including the lighthouse. But guess what? We couldn't even SEE it, the rain was so strong. So we went back down to the south and snorkelled in the drizzle. It's much warmer down south. Here's us at the luau

Here's the boys flirting with my grandma

My mom and Alexa

Me and Alexa. It was so humid I had to keep in a braid or it was MEGA curly.

Here is Alexa dancing to the music. She LOVED LOVED LOVED the luau. She was even called on stage to dance, but would dance up there. A few years ago when we were in Maui we went to the Old Lahaina luau with the older kids. One fell asleep and the other ate only a strawberry. And they cost money. This little one was free but ate her weight. And the music. With every song she said, "This is my favorite song!"

Kauai 4 - Poipu State Park and shopping!

We hung out with this monk seal today

Alexa pretending to be a monk seal

She wont get anywhere near the water. Even at the pool!

Pretty day! At least until about noon. Then it rained rained rained so we shopped shopped shopped.

Kauai, Day 3

We started out the day at a time share presentation and made a quick $125. We then ran to the farmers market for some super crowded fun buying some yummy local fruits. We also bought grandma the lei she's always wanted.

What trip to Kauai woulod be complete without a trip to Puka Dogs? I got cocnut salsa, ryan got mango. My mom got starfruit. They were ALL delicious!

Next we went on the Fern Grotto Tour. We had such a blast. The workers made us all get up and hula, sing, etc. We loved it!

Safe???

Here's us at the grotto.

Remember back in the day when you could go into the cave? Long gone. They built a fenced in area we had to stand on and look. Still beautiful, though!

I think she is pointing at the HUGE spider we found. HUGE!!!

Finished the touring today with Opea'aka Falls. Or something like that.

Kauai #2

Alexa's Madonna pose

Tidepools by our condo

Ryan and Alexa on our morning walk

Kind of windy at the top of waimea canyon

the canyon

Being Sunday, we did a little less. Mostly driving, walking, reading, enjoying.

Sunset of the day

Our day in Kauai, #1

Me and LuLu at Spouting Horn
Poipu
The fantasy Island waterfall. Da Plane, Boss!
Poipu

We are so lucky to have our condo right across the street from the BEST snorkelling spot on the island. The Beach House in Poipu. Wow! Is all I can say. When we got in last night it was freezing cold and windy as no other. We were a little worried this morning when it looked like it would continue. Well, the cold weather wont stop Ryan and I from snorkelling. While Alexa was taking her nap (my mom was in the condo with her) Ryan and I ran across the street. I stood in the 70 degree water for at least 10 minutes hoping I would get used to it. It never worked. So I just sucked it up and dove in. OOOOh Invigorating. Or cold, whatever you want to call it. But THE MOST AMAZING snorkelling ever, I was so glad we did that!

I did it all by myself!

Remember this ugly thing? Well, here is the final picture! I did it all by myself! NO (can I repeat NO) help from the hubby. We got in a fight at home depot over the beadboard and he washed his hands of it. It's been a lot of work, but I AM DONE! And I love it!

Zoo fun

This weekend Ryan's sister, Julee, came into town with 6 of their 7 kids. We met them at the zoo on Saturday. Julee and Aaron's #1 and #3 and Ainsley
The squirrel monkey that walked in the pathway and was almost stepped on

Julee and Aaron's #5

Alexa looking so darn cute eating her snow cone

#4

Julee and either #6 or 7. I'm not sure which twin came first!

Another of Alexa because she is dang adorable. (BTW, she asks for the princess leah hairstyle when she first wakes up and brings me a brush and 2 rubber bands.)

Aaron and the twins

Brandon's Funny's

Yesterday Morning
Ryan: Brandon, you stink. Go take a shower.
Brandon: (after sniffing his arm) What are you talking about? I smell like chicken nuggets!! I smell beautiful!


Yesterday Ainsley and Brandon were watching the Zack and Cody episode where they all get married for school. They were on their "honeymoon" and eating hot dogs for lunch.

Brandon: What???? Lunch? Honeymoons are only supposed to be at night time!

Star Wars Mania!

Last weekend Ryan and I took Brandon, Jake and their friend Logan to the Star Ways Mania concert at Symphony Hall in Phoenix.

The symphony played all kinds of space odyssey, star wars and close encounters music. The boys loved it and we had a great time. It wasn't very long. So short, in fact, there was no intermission. Before it started, there were all the Star Wars characters dressed up in the lobby for photo shoot ops. This was probably the best part of the day.

Now I know nothing about Star Wars (I have never made it through one movie without snoozing.) The boys, however are total fans and know EVERYTHING. So here I go trying to describe who we saw.

Here they are with some pilot guy and some jedi's (I think.)

I have no stinking idea who this is.

Storm Troopers

***edit. I have since been corrected. These are: one sand trooper and one clone.

Some fat Luke Skywalker, Princess Leah and shorty Hans Solo.

(BTW this princess Leah crushed all of Ryan's hopes and visions of Princess Leah.)

Bobo Phet (Just don't make me pronounce it. I always get yelled at.)

Chewbacca

And last but not least, the Jawa's. (The favorite of the day.)