Mellow Christmas

 I love a nice, slow Christmas Day, and actually managed to have one this year.  Our plans included, presents, a pot roast and going out to the movies.  LOVED IT!!!

The big surprises of 2012, were the new additions to our menagerie.  Despite our many warnings that Santa may not be brave enough to have snakes on his sleigh, that Jolly Old Guy made our boys dreams on true.  Now named Yoda and Chewbaca,  these two have been a surprisingly enjoyable.  Little Autumn  just loves them and giggles as they whined around her hands and arms.  Madeline, grandma Kathy and I admire from a distance, but do not feel the anxiety I had anticipated.

 The big worry was Edward, Madeline's cockateel.  Santa and Mrs. Clause picked him over 20 other birds for his sweet nature, however, the trauma of being moved twice had left him very upset.  We were worried that we may have to return him, or worse have to give an empty cage in the morning, if he did not calm down and start eating.  With patience, Madeline talked to him and waited until he was ready to be held.  You can see her tears from when he bit her just a few minutes before, but she bravely tried again and, at long last, had her Christmas wish.

After that, it was Wreck it Ralph and Les Miserables.  I cried in both!  Loved our Colorado White Christmas!

"There were never such devoted sisters"

 These two are such good sisters.  They are just 18 months apart, and have always been close.  I admire their easy friendship and fierce loyalty.

Good Sabbath

 After a day spent trekking to Waikiki to see Wicked....yes, again, we had such a great Sunday, here on the North Shore.  I started with a long beach walk and sent a message back to my wonderful man.

Then, we headed into Kahuku, to attend sacrament meeting.  It was so wonderful.  The poor "howli" bishopric member struggled through reading in 15 people's names into the ward.  He was literally sweating through it and the Tongan bishop was cracking up behind him.

The first speaker was a Tongan woman, speaking on the importance of celestial marriage.  She did so by complaining about her husband, but still bringing the spirit in through her honesty and sincerity.  At the end of the meeting, we all stood up and sang Aloha Oi to solute a girl who had graduated BYU Hawaii and would be moving away.

We headed down the street to Leia, and toured the Temple and visitors center.  It is quite the mormon town, we could find a place for lunch as they were all closed.

The rest of the afternoon, was filled with sunbathing, me getting stuck in the elevator for 15 minutes and a giant rain storm.  Our plans to watch the fire dancing were no longer possible, so we stayed in, watched the Survivor finale and played Snertz---a great card game that Angie taught us.

Now, I am super sleepy and ready for the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Pipeline Masters

How cool was it, that the finals to the Bonsai Pipeline Maters competition was 1) just down the road 2) a first-time experience for our whole crew and 3) totally FREE!!  We showed up, sat on the beach and just watched these Pros do their thing.  It was so kick back.  We could learn a lot of the island way of life!

 I snagged a photo of Kelly Slater.  I had never heard of him before today, but I now know that he is a surf legend and that he needs his own security team.

I loved this whole day!  We finally got in the water and were able start our tans.  We headed toward Leia and ate at the Kahuku Grill.  It's just us ladies,chillin', eating and chatting.

Aloha from The North Shore!!

The trade winds are a blowing here on Oahu!  

Touring the Botanic Gardens.

I love watching my mom and her sister chat.  The stories they tell are hilarious and they are just the epitome of sisters.

We are off!!!

Oh my goodness.  It is a ridiculous task, to prepare to be gone from my home.  It took 10, typed pages of instructions and I still feel like I left some things out.  No wonder my mind feels like it is always spinning...it literally is spinning.  Still, Grandma Marty and Papa Ed are all set to help Jro run this show for a week.  Cross your fingers and say a prayer....not for the kids, for the adults.

After our rough day last Monday, I decided the best thing we could do, would be to take my mom to her favorite place in the world...Hawaii.  We planned it that night, and now we leave tomorrow morning at 6:45 am.  It is a girls trip, my mom, my sister, my Aunt Diann and my cousin Angie.  Being able to look forward to this trip has made the past week of roller coaster emotions bearable.

I always get hesitant right before I leave my kids.  I get feelings of absolute dread and don't want to leave.  I like my little life, my schedule and our routines.  I have a hard time traveling without Jason and miss experiencing things with him,  but this vacation is needed and will be a treasured memory forever!

I'll be posting from there, so I'll try to be informative, without boasting :)  ALOHA!!!!

Christmas scenes

I'm up late, waiting for our smoked salmon to be done.  Today has been a crazy Sunday.  I haven't had a restful Sunday in a long time...well, a year and a half to be precise.  Certain callings can do that to you.  But, it was a good/ happy day here.  Jason was off ALL WEEKEND!!!  That only  happens once a month...maybe.  It's so nice!

I have been driving myself crazy getting ready for our impromptu trip to Hawaii.  I am not complaining, but it is an immense project for me to turn over the reigns of Jroz Crew.

Here are few pictures of our Christmas season so far.  Tomorrow, FHE tree decorating.