Christmas 2014

Christmas 2014

Disneyland!

I have LOTS of catching up to do since our big move to Utah. We invested in Disneyland passes this year. Our hope is to go down to California every month or every other month. We LOVE having Disneyland passes. Everyone loves it and has a good time... including Dan! Here are some pictures from our first Disneyland visit of the season. We went four days straight... and we could have gone more!

Spanish Fork Hot Pods

So we made it to Utah. We are adjusting to the cold and the COMPLETE lifestyle change. 

We aren't hating it here but there are days we miss Hawaii so, so much. Dan has a really fun schedule in Utah, were he pretty much works half of the month ALL day, and then he has the rest off. Those days, we try to travel, explore... we try to appreciate Utah.. while we are here.

A few weeks ago Dan and I took the girls on our favorite hike to the Spanish Fork Hot Pods. Dan and I have done this hike many times. Dating, newly married, we even took Brighton up here when she was a baby. Its about a three mile hike each way. Brighton walked the whole way (with the promise of icecream at the end of it if she didn't whine ;)

We got there and we had the entire hot pods to ourselves (minus one naked dude). It was nice to sit in the water and enjoy the scenery. It was so beautiful, and peaceful. The girls loved it as well. 

Aaand he is out

Its hard to put into words how I feel about this post. Our Hawaii Journey has come to an end. It's hard to write out how I feel about our experience in Hawaii over the last 6 years, all the people we have met, all the amazing things we have done and experienced... there really are no words. It's been the most amazing thing I have ever done, and all I can say is that I feel blessed to have lived here. Blessed to know the people here.. really there is no place on earth that can compare to this little island. Life moves at a different pace, and I like that. But Dan is no on his way to Utah, and our family is starting a new journey. Dan has received a good job offer and and hopefully this opportunity will lead us in a good direction for Dans career. It has been an extremely hard decision to make, but we made it and we are trying to make the most of it now. Utah will be fun for our family. So many new things to experience! Just hope we can get through winter.... ;)

Family Photos 2013

Brightons Gymnastics Video 2013

Here is Brightons Gymnastics video this year. Much better than years past. She is finally opening up and enjoying activities now, and performing! We are loving it... however, I have learned one thing about this performance... hairspray is important...even for 4 year olds... her hair looks a little cray-cray. Thanks Cassandra for all you do for our kiddos!

Easter 2013

I have to say, Easter this year was pretty ideal. Mellow, and we spent a lot of time together as a family. We started off the festivities with our third annual Easter Egg hunt at Gunstock Ranch. It was the same as always, hot, tons of kids, a couple of stinky hard boiled eggs, and lots of cow pies on the soles of our shoes. We really go for the free horse rides.. 

 

Brighton of course loved it, but would ONLY go on a horse with a short tail??

And Kirra was fearless. The horse walked right up and she immediately point at it and started talking like she wanted to get on it! She did, and loved it!

We set up a little scavenger hunt for the kids to find their easter baskets. Brighton loves the stuffed animals and Kirra couldn't stop stuffing her face with candy... all.day.long

Brighton is always up to take a picture in her Sunday best... Kirra on the other hand, wasn't cooperating.

We had a really fun dinner and egg hunt with good friends. The kids of course loved it, and us as much as them.

Big Island with the Downs Family

A few weeks ago I got to escape to the Big Island for the weekend. My good ole BFF Shelby Downs was headed there and her family invited me to tag along for a bit! I couldn't have been more excited. Shelby helped get me through High School with lots of laughs and adventures and started out my college career by taking my to every UF game that she could! Saying I love and miss this girl is and UNDERSTATEMENT, she is so awesome and has accomplished so much! Anyway.... It was great to get away and hang with old friends... picked up right where we left off. Such an easy friendship... thanks so much Shelbs and Momma Downs for the trip!

We may or may have not scared Momma Downs to death by exploring this Lava Tube.... ;)

 

The best lunch spot... Ever

Our view from the house... Kona.

Thanks again Downs family.. now come to Oahu so I can spoil you!!

Sacred Falls

A few weeks ago, we decided to try one of our first family hikes. We wanted to see if Brighton could handle it, soooo we chose a super long hike to test her out ;) It turned out to be alright. Brighton was a trooper and hiked the entire four hours! Dan and I were both pretty amazed. With the bribe of Cotton Candy Icecream as her reward, we heard hardly any whining.

This was my first time hiking Sacred Falls. It has been closed for quite some time now, and Dan has always been super nervous about getting caught. I had heard of a lot of people hiking this trail without any problems, so we decided to risk it. Turned out alright. Everyone did awesome, and we ended up without any run-ins with the law ;)

 

Celebration Ribbon Dance? Duh

The reason why this hike is closed is because people died as a result of a rockslide at this waterfall... anyone see the ghost at the bottom of the falls looking at Dan? CREEPY!

Kirra had the best time throwing rocks into this little pond.

A moment with Kirra Girl

Little Kirra girl is growing up right before our very eyes. She is still in her fun stage where she doesn't talk back, and everything is the best thing that ever happened to her. Her temper tantrums are still amusing 50% of the time, and will still on occasion give me a good cuddle. This little one could get away with anything in my book... her gap tooth smile and little dimple almost make it impossible to not get frustrated with. (Don't get me wrong, there is still the other 50% where I don't find it so amusing ;)

She is starting to try to talk and communicate with us, and that is always fun. Her little phrase which I think is the funniest is, "Idonwani..." listen to the video you will hear her ;)

 Photo Credit: Carlos Mozo... thanks dude!

Brighton turns 4!!!

After having 3 "birthday parties" on the mainland, we decided that Brighton needed to have ONE more... who doesn't want 4 birthday parties?? Because of Brightons obsession for animals, The theme was "Party like an Animal!" I attempted face painting, and animal balloons... that was a fail. But the kids had fun dressing up as animals, acting like animals, and Dan set up a Cheetah Relay Race for the kids. Hope you had fun Brighton! 4 is going to be GREAT!

Candy Cane Fairy

Catch up time! 

Before we left for the Mainland for Christmas, Brighton had her first Dance Recital! She was really excited, me probably more than her... ;) 

She was so cute with her buddies, and you could tell she was really proud of herself. I however, was not too proud of my tutu making skills... maybe by the time she is a teenager I will be good at it!