Hawaii Vacation

Mark and I had so much fun last year in Hawaii that we HAD to go back! So, we somehow talked my mom into coming and watching our THREE kids so that we could enjoy another vacation together for 8 days 7 nights in beautiful Oahu! Of course we had tons of fun and lots of relaxation!




This trip we did take a quick flight over to the Big Island for a day where we took a helicopter ride over to see the volcano and the part of the island that's covered in molten rock and also where the lava flows into the ocean. It was a really cool thing to see. We got to see some beautiful waterfalls and we stopped at a black sand beach where we met a big friendly sea turtle just hanging out on the beach. We also went to the new Kona Hawaii Temple that night and then flew back to Oahu on the last flight of the night. That was pretty much our busiest day the whole time and much of the rest of our vacation was spent relaxing and taking it easy!




















We also went to the Polynesian Cultural Center for a day which was tons of fun. We ended our trip with a bang...Mark went golfing for a morning, so I got to go get a massage at the Spa and loved every minute of being pampered and relaxed! Oh how I love Hawaii!!





We had an awesome trip and loved every minute of spending time with each other and enjoying such a beautiful place, good food and gorgeous beaches! What more could I ask for! I did miss my kids so much and especially my baby but I know I came back rejuvenated and ready to be a happy mom again! Thanks so much to my mom for all she did and for taking such good care of our three kids. I know it's not an easy thing and she happily did it even though it was pouring down rain most of the time we were gone. Thanks Mema!! We love you and miss you already! and Thanks Grandma Stacy for taking Zach and Kali for the weekend too! They had a blast playing in the snow and those pictures will soon be coming too!

Getting Big!

Okay, so it's been a while since I last posted and I have plenty to post about just not time to do it. So here is a little update on our sweet Madelyn. She is growing like a weed and becoming more mobile by the minute. She is now 8 & 1/2 months old and weighs about 16-17 lbs. This month has been a month of FIRSTS for Madelyn too. She had her first ear infection (2 weeks ago), cut her first 2 teeth the same day and she is now pulling up on whatever she can and standing with whatever help she can find. This girl would prefer to stand over sitting any day...even if it means doing the splits, she'll do it!(see pictures below, taken about 2 weeks ago.) Madelyn's other favorites are climbing under the table and chairs and she has also discovered the pantry, As long as the door is open she is in there standing and pulling down cereal boxes or whatever she can find.





Madelyn says "bahbahbah" and has started clicking her tongue when she sees someone else eating and she wants to eat. It's really cute. She is loving her baby food and will eat almost any veggie or fruit jar at this point. She wants nothing to do with cheerios or fruit puffs...she gags every time we try. SO, we decided to try the biter biscuits which she loves as you can see in the pics. If you look closely in the one of her smiling you can see her teeth that are cutting through.



We just love our sweet baby girl and she is so much fun to have in our family!

Time to Baby Proof ??...

This past Tuesday, the day after I got home from my great weekend getaway in Texas with my sisters, I went upstairs to put away some laundry and left my kids downstairs happily playing in the toy room. That includes Madelyn too...she is crawling all over and crawls happily all over the play room moving from toy to toy. Well this day she must have seen me go up stairs because when I came down the stairs this is what I saw...


That's right! She has discovered the stairs and when I first saw her she actually had a knee up on the first step and was about to climb up but I didn't catch that in the picture. AHH!! I was hoping it would take a lot longer for her to discover the stairs!! Now there's no turning back! I haven't ever had stairs with a little tiny one so this is a first! Time to get the gate out and somehow get it to work on this impossible stair rail! Dang!

Since then, Madelyn has also discovered a new toy that used to be Kali's and was in Kali's bedroom until this week. It is this adorable little chair that sings and lights up. Madelyn LOVES it and crawls to it anytime I put her down to play with toys. She thinks it is the funniest thing when it starts to sing songs and talk anytime she pushes the light or seat.



I also forgot to mention that she LOVES to pull herself up and stand with the toy. I can't believe how quick she is!! She is very much like her brother in that way. Gotta love her though! She is quite the little cutie!! I have a feeling it won't be long until she discovers the cupboards and drawers!! But who could get mad at that adorable face?!!