Maui, Heaven on Earth

Nana gave us a trip to Maui for Christmas, lucky us. Such a great time of year to escape the cold and head to paradise. Just wished we could have stayed longer (I know, I'll stop complaining). Maui was like a second home to me growing up (I know again, so spoiled) then Troy and I made it our wedding site, so it's always been a very special place for us and feels like returning home. Now if we could just find a way to actually make it home, however I don't think they need cobblers to fix all those flip flops. The boys were in heaven chasing the waves, digging in the sand, catching geckos, swimming in the pirate ship kiddie pool and boogie boarding. We saw tons of whales right of the coast and I even got a free whale watch boat trip thanks to my single sister catching the eye of the boat captain (thanks Paige). I thoroughly enjoyed basking in the sun, doing nothing and playing photog with my new Canon. Troy got excited about all the fabulous, fresh seafood. He was our personal chef, grilling up ahi tuna, mahi mahi, Hawaiian ono and fresh pineapple on the BBQ every night. Tasty! Flight day: Wake up with Mason coughing/high fever and Christian with pink eye. Oh joy. We were being punished. Christian didn't make a peep on the 6 hour flight with his new DS in hand and Lego Star Wars game and didn't ask once when we were going to be there. However Mason took 3 of us constantly juggling him to keep him happy and entertained. The joys of traveling with kids. So worth it once we arrived to the warm, tropical air! Picture Overload - be forwarned!

Boogie Boarding down the pirate slide!

Hawaiian Dudes

Hot waterfall pouring in the hot tub, heavenly.

Very clever Uncle Johnny, boys will be boys.

Who can resist their birthday suit in the great outdoors?

New Ukuleles

Whale Watching Boat Trip - Whales everywhere, I have 100 shots like these!

Paddle Boards

Love my BEACH BABES!!

Brave Christian riding the big slide solo, love the goggle face.

Aloha to Maui, until next time! It was truly wonderful. Mahalo Mama/Nana for the fabulous Hawaiian getaway, you're the best and we love you dearly! We don't even have any pictures to prove you were there...

Born Too Early

My cute cousin is newly married and was pregnant with twins, due in July. Well those babies had another plan, they were born last week at only 23 weeks (4 months premature!). I'm worried sick for my cousin and those tiny, tiny babies - girl weighs 1.5 lbs. and boy weighs only 1 lb. I just can't even imagine giving birth so early, not being able to hear my babies cry, not being able to hold and cuddle them in my arms and not knowing if they will survive. It's so heartbreaking. I can't stop thinking about it, such a hard way to start out mommyhood. I'm praying and hoping for the best, whatever God's plan may be for them. Stay strong new mom, dad and little angels!

Lost Kitty Shelter Drama

So we lost our kitty a couple weeks ago. She went outside one day and just never came back. I'm sad and hope she didn't suffer but I'm not devasted about it. Growing up, our cats always came and went, not like dogs who are always so loyal. I was feeling a little guilty about not "looking" hard enough for kitty so we made a trip down to the animal shelter yesterday to see if she had been turned in (knowing it's very unlikely, I mean who calls animal control when they see a wandering cat?) And knowing the animal-lover inside me would kick in wanting to rescue all the cats, and having my kids in tow, I really knew it wasn't the best idea... So I tell all the shelter employees I'm looking for my cat and they show me the strays and the cats waiting to be adopted - SO MANY!! Of course my kids start asking to take one home and the cute cuddly kitties staring at me start pulling at the heartstrings. After a good hour of debating and holding our favorites, I make the judgement call..."sure kids, let's get a new cat!" We picked out a darling long-haired cat with big blue eyes. The DRAMA The staff sends me to the back office to meet the "Adoption Specialist." I start filling out the paperwork and running my mouth how we came in looking for our cat and now we're going home with a new one, thinking it was funny. Obviously I'm an animal lover or I wouldn't be there. The lady immediately rips the paper away from me and starts drilling me - "how long ago did you lose your cat?? what have you done to find her? have you taken postcards to all your neighbors and posted signs at the shelter?" I stutter trying to assure her we've been looking when she announces that I haven't grieved long enough and I need to search for at least 30 days and grieve longer before I can adopt another pet. WHAT?!? Who is she to tell me I haven't grieved long enough over my pet? It's not like I'm going to return the cat if it doesn't work out. I mean I'm trying to help the stray pet population and she is denying me?? Ridiculous! she even flagged my name in the system like I was a freakin' criminal! No wonder they have so many animals needing homes. If I wanted the cat bad enough I'd just send my husband or a friend back in to get it for me - and forwarn them NOT to mention having lost any pets. Be warned! So I'm over it for now...so many cute, cute kitties needing homes but there will always be another cat available and life is chaotic enough at our house right now. Sorry boys, no pets for now :(

Circus Dancers

I took my boys to a very small scale circus, in fact it was the perfect size for young kids. With blasting club music, my boys (who can't resist a good beat) were more into dancing than the actual circus. Very easily entertained...and so was I by watching my personal little Circus Dancers.

Too bad I can't get the dancing videos to upload here - they are hilarious!

Who can resist a snowcone when it's 10 degrees below zero outside?? And Mason sharing, that's a RARE photo op.
Watch for the Jordan World Circus to come to your town next year. They reel you in with free children's tickets then rob you with elephant rides, pony rides, light up swords and bouncy houses during intermission at 10 bucks a pop!

Thanks Christa and girls for the fun circus date.

Coconut, Troopers and Such

Just a few of Mason's latest fads.

He calls the color white "coconut" and it's so dang cute I just can't correct him. What color are your eyes? Mason: "um, blue and coconut." And his trooper helmet? Also coconut and perfectly pronounced. Love it and love him. All started with Christian requesting the white Jelly Bellys which are coconut flavored. Too funny.

He's obsessed with "twoopers" - Star Wars Clone Troopers - and he carries at least 3 lego troopers in his pocket everywhere he goes - to bed, to swimming lessons, the store, you name it. He bites their heads off when they fight the bad guys, they must have a gun or sword in their hands at all times and he talks about everything Star Wars all day long - definitely a little obsessive. Shouldn't he be into Elmo or Thomas the Train?? He's only 2 and 1/2 for crying out loud!

He has marathon conversations with himself in bed at night (we're taking a good hour and half). "What happened to Darth Vader? I forgot what Luke Jedi Knight do to his father? I like Captain Rex and Commander Cody and Boba Fett..." It's like he's talking to someone and he'll even answer his own questions. I guess his big brother is partly to blame for his extensive Star Wars knowledge. He knows every character's name and who flies which ships. It's hilarious. Then he'll bust out singing the Star Wars theme song. Piece of work. Almost daily Troy and I look at each other and ask "where did he come from?"

And Mason the BULLY, that's a whole other post...he is constantly teasing his brother, cousins and random kids we come across. I wonder how many parenting books exist on "how to raise a bully" or "when you're child is the bully." Guess I better start doing some research.

He sure is a cute bully though.

Winter Blues

How would it be to wake up to this view in January?? I definitely wouldn't have the winter blues. Now I see why my mom never wants to leave...


The freezing cold temps and yucky inversion sent us southbound to sunny St. George for a whole week. It was HEAVENLY to see clear skies and sunshine! We played at the park without coats, swam in the hot tub (boys fave activity) and shopped consignment furniture stores with the ladies (my mom, Grammie and aunt). Wish we could all just move down there for the winters. Need to work on getting jobs down South or early retirement of some sort. We were all punished with horrible colds when we returned (fevers, chest coughs, the works) - not fun! And we all know moms are NOT ALLOWED to be sick when their kiddos are sick. Just wanted to sleep all day, be waited on and get a little sympathy - yeah right.

Nerf Gun War

Christian's preschool field trip to Discovery Gateway Museum - Mom & Mason got to tag along.

Who could resist this face??

Many of you know I had a shih tzu for 10 years and he was my BABY. Well my mom and I spontaneously "borrowed" this darling shih tzu puppy overnight (horrible idea). I was in love, calling Troy telling him I wanted to bring her home (to which he threatened to leave me)...but by morning I was singing a different tune. The dang puppy kept me up ALL NIGHT - digging at my hair, whining, peeing, running laps on my bed. So horrible! Guess I needed to be reminded that I don't want a puppy anytime soon. Toddler are enough work!

Christmas 2010

Oh the anticipation...

Always Mr. Attitude and The Entertainer

Troopers in action

Annual Matching PJ Pose at Nana's

X-mas Morn - Star Wars Fam

Another Christmas has come and gone in a flash! It's always a very busy and exciting time of year. We had a GRAND holiday season filled with family, friends and lots of laughter. We are truly blessed. The boys were in STAR WARS heaven Christmas morn - trooper helmets, blaster guns, light sabers, ships and all the guys. Who could ask for more?

Other holiday highlights:

• Personal visit from Santa at our house - kids running to open door with huge eyes then Mason turning to run the other direction. When he left, Christian looked up and whispered, "I hear the reindeer." Priceless.
• Directing the wild kiddo Nativity at Morgan fam party (30+ kids in costume)
• Having hubby/daddy off work for 2 weeks!
• After-Christmas White Elephant Party with the Durbanos (always a classic, with gifts of breast implant samples, hidden cash and an impromptu marshmallow war). Party ended with everyone piling their bad gifts on my lap and singing happy birthday!

Onto the New Year...If you're like me, I struggle with setting New Year's resolutions and don't typically do it at all. Too much pressure. However I liked this idea I stole from a friend's blog (thanks Jen) and thought I'd share. She picks a "word of the year" to focus on as an inspirational way to better yourself throughout the year (with a lot less pressure). Check it out here. I may even steal her word for 2011 - "focus" as I could use some focused attention in many areas of my life - my clutter, my patience, my fitness, balancing work/home life, etc. I also like these ideas for words of the year: simplify, joy, gratitude and present (living in the moment).

I'm looking forward to a new year of adventures and memories (and warmer weather). Bring on 2011!

Dancing Machine

This is what I see in my rear view mirror daily, finally captured it on film.
My boys sure LOVE a good beat!
And what great hair for whipping around...