The day after Hawaii

Hey here are some pictures of home the day after we got back from Hawaii. Jaren had to use the backhoe to get a snowblower up on the porch. There was soooo much snow here when we got home we could not believe it. I got stuck in our drive way trying to take Sawyer to school. I love it. It has been a bit warmer so the snow has settled here a bit but still alot more than the past few winters. Even the dogs are a little overwhelmed on what to do with this much snow. We are headed to Island Park for the weekend. We have rented a cabin at Philips lodge. The boys are really excited. I am sure we will have a blast.

Polynesian Cultural Center

Here are more Hawaii pictures. While back on Oahu we meet a new friend, Summer Batini. She is from St. Anthony and moved over to Oahu around 8 years ago. She was our personal tour guide at the PCC (Polynesian Cultural Center) and Oahu. So Summer picked us up and and to the North side of the island we went. We got to the PCC just as they opened. If you have never been to the PCC there is alot to see. We started in Samoa. That is the best island to go to. The guy who climbs the coconut tree and puts on the little show is sooo funny. He also does the fire dance in the main show. He was the best!!! Jaren had a companion on his mission from Samoa and this guy new him. That was cool for Jaren. Next we went to Tonga where they beat the drums. That was pretty cool too. We also went to New Zealand, Hawaii, and Fiji. Jaren and I learned to dance while we were visiting Fiji (no thanks to Summer's connections) Just kidding, we love ya Summer! We (me and Jaren) dont do real well at the self-embarassing thing but we did have fun learning to dance. Jaren even got thumbs up from the Fijian girls. Hands off girls he is all mine! We went to the luau and ate pork cooked in the ground, purple rolls and of course pineapple. Then we went to the night show. It was really cool. The Samoans were the best (again) They are just such a happy people and quite funny. They do a great fire show that has to hurt. It was a fun day for sure.

The next day we went to the swap meet at the football stadium. That was the best. We got most of our gifts for people at home there. Great t-shirt prices,shell necklaces etc. It was great. Then we headed for home and crazy weather. We had no idea what we were in for. But we didnt care. We were so homesick for our kids that I dont think anything could have stopped us.

To finish up our trip...we had a great time, but next time no cruise and we are taking our kids. So Hawaii since you never say "goodbye" how about "til we meet again" Hopefully that will not be to awful far away.

Aloha!!!

Aloha! We are newly back from a 10 day cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. We really had a fun time. When we left home it was -25 below 0. When we got to Hawaii it was around 74 degrees. We flew in to Honolulu and had a day to explore the north shore. We were lucky enough to do a temple session at the Hawaii temple. It was a little different from home but still a good experiance. They are soooo much more laid back over there. A girl could get used to the low level of stress in Hawaii. We went to the Dole Plantation and had my first taste of pineapple?!?! I know 32 years old and yes it was my first taste and I loved it!!! I am so addictied. I eat, sleep and dream of pineapple. While we were at Dole we were eating lunch and these little birds would come and eat right out of your hand. It was pretty cool. We got on the ship and went to the big island (Hawaii) on the Kona side. We had rented a car and drove around the island a bit. Sooo different from Honolulu. Alot less people. Open fields and room to explore. Then we went to Maui. We have friends that live in Maui (Richard and Brittany Tomlinson) Hey Guys! They gave us a very local view of Maui. We visited Jaws (if you have seen pictures of someone surfing on a calander or magazine it was most likely taken at Jaws) It requires a 4wheel drive pickup to get to. And not good for pregnant girls. Brittany is due early March and was not feeling her best after this ride. But it sure was fun getting there. We also got up early and watched the sunrise on Haleakala Crater. I think that that was our favorite part of our whole trip. The only downfall was...it was sooo cold up there. I think around 34 degrees when we went. I can handle 34 degrees if I am dressed for it. Shorts and flipflops would not be considered dressed for it. but it was so beautiful. After Maui we tried to go back to the big island of Hawaii so we could explore the volcano but the ocean was way to rough and we had to stay on the boat for an extra day. We next went to Kauai and if we ever go back that is where I say we go! What a beautiful place. And the people were so nice on Kauai. We went on an innertube ride down this old irrigation ditch that has been carved into the mountain for sugar cane fields. We went through a few tunnels and really had some breath taking views. What fun!! Then back to Maui. This was our first day to just lay around on the beach. It was a fun day. Jaren's idea of a vacation is sometimes different than mine. I love to just lay around and do nothing. Jaren loves to explore. So for me it was a fun day. Then back to Honolulu!!!

Christmas Fun!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I am a little slow at posting the fun Christmas festivities. There has been way too much going on. On Christmas Eve, my sister Kate had a party at her house and we had such a blast. It had snowed soooo much that day and set the mood for Christmas Eve. We made pizza and the kids frosted sugar cookies for Santa. We watched Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase (my mom and dad had never seen it. They laughed through the whole thing)we also played a white elephant game and had a really good time. After the party we drove home and the boys searched the skys for Santa. On a few occasions they were sure they saw Rudolphs red nose. (Sorry to say it was either cell phone towers or pivot lights)but they were convinced it was the big guy. Soy was so excited that he just couldnt sleep. Keller and him slept in the same room with the door closed and every time I checked on them Soy was still awake. Finally around midnight he came and slept in our room but still couldnt sleep. I sure remember the days when we couldnt sleep. Chad would say that Santa was looking in our windows as we played another board game. I would make Heather tell me stories until I fell asleep. Which she always did and then had to lay there by herself after I was asleep. What a mean sister I was. Christmas morning came and we all got spoiled. The boys got every toy imagined, Jaren got a 4wheeler bag and my boys gave my a cute heart necklace. Overall we had a very fun day.

Here are some pictures of the party and then the boys in there Christmas jammies. There is also a picture of all of us just before church the other day. We figured out how to do the self timmer on my camera. Not to bad!

The rest of the pictures

Here are the rest of the pictures. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Keller!!!

Happy Birthday Keller!!! He turned the big 4 years old this Tuesday. He was up at 5:00 a.m. that morning due to all of the excitement. The grandmas and grandpa came to our house that night to open presents. Everyone called and wished the birthday boy "Happy Birthday" He got a geo trax railroad trax, thomas railroad trax, a john deere loader, a transfermer, and lots of fun things. He is soooo lucky to have a big brother like Soy. He was right there to help unwrap presents and blow out all of those candles. Keller helped me make cupcakes for his pre-school class and he really got into it. I think overall he had a really fun day.

Jaren has had his ingrown toe nails worked last week and is still recuperating. But he is doing much better and should be able to join us at Targhee next weekend.

Here are also some pictures of the boys at the ward Christmas party with Santa and the ginger bread "Polar Express" we made. Keller is in love with the Polar Express and anything trains. He keeps asking me if we can eat the candy train. I will come in and see him licking the candy on the train or he will tell me that some candy fell of and hand me half chewed pieces of train candy. This last Sunday he had his first Primary talk and in the talk said "I have faith in Jesus Christ" but what came out was, "I have faith in the Polar Express, oh ya Jesus Christ" etc.

Way to much to do so I am impressed that I am posting pictures today. Actually I think I am just putting off what needs to be done. I hope that everyone is happy and well and getting to the end of your Christmas to do lists. Mine is just getting longer not shorter. Til next time!

Rub a Dub Dub a couple boys in the tub!!!

If these are not the cutest pictures you have ever seen you dont know what cute is!!! There is so much excitement at our house with Christmas coming and all the fun it brings. I am on the hunt for Optimus Prime (from Transformers) for Sawyer so if anyone finds him please let me know where I can get it. Sawyer and Keller have started gymnastics again and are so happy about that. We took Keller snowboardting last week and he did quite well. And Sawyer didnt forget a thing from last year. Watch out X games 2020 the Ball boys are in training. Dylan is just about crawling. He scootches around the house on his belly and that kid can move. I think that we are going to Utah next week to look at the lights at Temple Square. Hopefully I can take some cute pictures and have something to post later.