Minigolf!

While in Rexburg visiting the fam last month, we took the kiddos to Fat Cats and discovered a new fun pastime: miniature golf! There was a 9-hole glow in the dark course and the kids had a ball playing on it. So naturally they've been asking to go minigolfing ever since. 

Derek happened to get off early on Monday, so we took family home evening to Jungle River Minigolf! The kids had a great time again, of course.

Golf Posers

Daddy tried to teach a little technique... you know, how to hold the club, how to swing, keep the long part of the putt forward. Just a few basics. Roman did pretty well with Daddy's help:

But left to his own devices...

Need I say more?

Xandri was also given a lesson... or two.... or six on how to hold her club. She kept forgetting and going back to her default- which looked so uncomfortable. Here, though, she's looking great.

Atta girl!

Avril didn't need much guidance herself and the other two looked on, impressed. Or impatiently. 

 She did a great job and even got a hole-in-one at the end!

After we finished our round, the kids begged for a ride on one of those quarter rides--- they had a whole row of like ten of them or something. And yeah, try three quarter rides. We only had three quarters between us, so  we picked the one little carousel that would seat the three of them. It took them around and around in a circle and while Xandri & Roman got their cheap thrill, Avril was less than impressed. I can't wait till they're big enough to take on real rides!

Mother's Day

Fantastic Mother's Day this year... started off right with sleeping in and a phenomenal breakfast in bed!

Then the kids offered their sweet presents.

Roman's, made at church:

Xandri's, decorated and gathered at home from her own treasures:

Avril's, created with time & love at school:

Dear Mommy and Daddy,

Thank you for,   Love and care and to be a mommy so I could de born and

Thank you for,  cooking for me and thank 

you for good night kisses and hugs and also

thank you for theaching me to be good

by giving me spakes and handsquees and sending me

to my room and giving me school so I can

Lean and thank you for being the best mommy

ever ever ever ever have in the whole

wide world.

Best. Note. Ever. 

These are the rewards of motherhood.

Thank You note

From a little girl Avril made friends with at the Hickam Air Terminal while waiting to catch a flight to the mainland for Micaela's wedding....

9 Years Later....

Driving to Electric Beach on the morning of our 9th anniversary, (thanks Diane for watching the kids!) Derek suggested I take the camera out to document our anniversary. I promptly obeyed.

Please enjoy the first picture taken on May 2, 2011. It will always hold a special place in our hearts. 

It was shortly followed up by this one:

Since I knew it was unlikely I'd outdo those on the ride I decided to stop while I was ahead. 

We went, as stated before, to Electric Beach. It's across from this electrical plant that has these vents that run out into the water. They're these giant pipes that have coral growing all over them and fish LOVE it there. Which means so do snorkelers, scuba divers, and snorkel tour boats. We saw several of each-- and some spinner dolphins out performing for some tour boats. We considered swimming out to them, but didn't know if we'd have time. 

It's crazy, because the water just shoots out of these vents and it's so warm that even though you didn't think you were cold before when you get back into the normal water you have to readjust! It was crazy how many fish were there, especially how many different kinds of fish and they'd swim right up next to you. We both agreed afterward that it's the best snorkeling we've ever experienced. 

This is how happy good snorkeling makes us:

Me being something like 23 weeks pregnant:

Seriously, though... how many husbands can say they still look like this after nine years of marriage, a medical degree and 3 1/2 kids? 

For some reason, obviously next to the good-looking guy in the picture, I really like the boat in the background here. Not sure why. 

I love you, hon. It's been a crazy nine years, with many ups and downs-- but mostly ups. I'm looking forward to every day of the rest of our lives together- to growing old and growing better with you. I can't wait to see what life brings us, but at the same time I enjoy savoring each and every one of these moments with you. We've made so many wonderful memories together and I know we have many more ahead of us. Thank you for loving me, for overlooking and forgiving my quirks and faults, for helping me grow into a better version of myself. Thank you for being my husband, my support, my lover, my provider, my companion, my partner, my best friend, my other half. When I'm with you I know we can conquer the world (if you're into that sort of thing).

Happy 9th Anniversary love!

Kayak Attempt #2

Went kayaking again with Shane and Maggie. About halfway through the girls wanted to change kayaks. Yeah. Surprisingly no one got dunked!

"Don't worry you guys, I got this one." 

For some reason the paddles were pretty much the funnest thing to play with that day. A little hard to keep a hold of and to wade with, but you gotta do what your sisters do.

Quick family pic after the ride. This was a tricky one to catch since we were all so hyper from the fun kayaks. I mean, Derek and I could barely hold still, much less look at the camera with a normal face long enough to get a picture. The kids were perfect angels, though and reined us in. 

Kayak Attempt #1 Slash Hickam Beach with Maggie

We've been eyeing up the kayaks and paddle boards available to rent for cheap at Hickam from some time now. So when we went with Maggie yesterday, we were ready.

Unfortunately, they weren't ready to rent to us. Apparently it was "too windy" that day and they weren't renting anymore for the day. 

I told the guy who apologized to me about to go ahead and inform my two year old boy about the turn of events and he opted instead to let us paddle around close to the shore. Ha. 

The kids loved it, of course, definitely didn't complain about not going out farther!

Roman was a bit nervous about the whole affair and spent the entire time flanked securely by Mom's legs.

Afterward I relaxed on my beach towel and soaked up some rays while Maggie made sandballs with the kids.

Cold and thirsty and back on the towel. Family photo op!

Shane showed up a little later and he and Maggie played with the kids in the water. The girls took turns clamoring for Shane to throw them into the water.

Meanwhile, Roman got chilly and came back in for a warm-up snuggle. All in all, a great day at the beach!

Sleepin On the Couch

What could possibly be more fun than your very own bunkbed to sleep on every night?

The living room couch, of course!

Or in Roman's case, this ultra comfortable antique school desk. That fits him perfectly. Except for a couple inches up top. And maybe a couple at the bottom. 

And it makes sense that the littlest girl sleep on the biggest couch,

while the biggest girl curl up cozily on the chair. 

Doesn't her neck look so comfortable?