Polynesian Cultural Center

The day we chose to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center was probably the hottest most sunny day we were there. It was still awesome even though there was sweat running down my back. The hair quickly went into a clip.


Rainbows of Paradise Pageant of the long canoes. All of the Islands perform for you. It was pretty amazing.






Learning the hula.
Andrew in front of the traveler tree. They always grow North and South helping out travelers. Although some rebels have planted them to grow east and west.
The Ha Breath of Life show that night was amazing! It is incredible what they do there.

Samoa and New Zealand were our favorite shows.

Dolphins, turtles and dessert.

Wa already know we love tropical plants, but we just couldn't get over how cool the trees were. They all looked like giant umbrellas.

We went out on a boat for a dolphin excursion. Our captain was very cool. They first dropped us off at a place where the turtles like to hang out. Our turtle picture is not the best, but we did see many on our trip.

We found the dolphins! The captain has to try to predict which way they are going and drops you off in the ocean. Then you watch as they swim by. It was pretty cool. Sometimes they stay and check out the people, too bad they didn't that day. They do love to surf off the wake from the boat.

Then they take you out to a pretty coral reef to snorkel with tons of fish. It was pretty cool.



After that we drove over to Honolulu, It took us forever to find a place to park and after paying to park, we walked for about 10 minutes before deciding it just wasn't our scene. We ate at Ruths Chris Steak house before heading back to the north shore. they did have the most yummy dessert. We ate these beautiful cup cakes and had the creme brulee. It was divine!
I wasn't planning to go out to a nice dinner or I might have brought something to fix myself up with. Oh well.

That never happened before...

The Hawaii vacation.

Andrew and I were blessed enough to take a trip to hawaii, and even better leave the children in the capable hands of Emilee and my Mom. So why is there a picture of a broken car?

Well we decided to upgrade the rental car to the convertable camero. A pretty sweet ride. We got in this very pretty silver one and took a few minutes to figure out how to put the top down... Next was reverse, We moved about an inch and it sounded like there was something like a soda bottle under the front. We stopped and looked at each other wondering what it could possibly be? Andrew decided to inch back a little more. There was a worker standing a little ways away as we stopped, he was frantically waving his hands at us.

Andrew hopped out and BAM! What a way to start the vacation! Whoever had parked the car previously had parked a little too far up on the curb. Thus when we tried to back out off came the front bumper.

We had to fill out an accident report. Andrew said he would, but it was not his fault it was parked where it was and we would not be paying to fix it.

Then we were off in the red one I am standing next to in the back of the picture. Police magnet for sure. Andrew was a very careful driver. We did arrive at the speed limit of 35mph in the blink of an eye.
We stayed at the Turtle Bay resort. After checking in we went down to the pool and ordered hamburgers. Pretty yummy.
Wednesday brought the scuba dive at Sharks Cove. I was nervous about it to say the least.

Andrew signing his life away. We got all of our gear on after our lesson on flooding and clearing our masks and the dreaded taking the regulator out under the water and putting it back in. Both of these things terrify me! Why would I willingly flood my mask?! Take my air out!!! Are you kidding me?!

I know, I know these are nessessary skills. I listened and understood the concept. I just didn't know if I could bring myself to do it.

So we loaded up the 50 pounds of gear onto out backs and headed down the steep trail to the beach. It was tricky sitting on the slippery rocks trying to get my flippers on. We managed, and a bit out of breath we swam to the middle of the cove.

As it got closer to the time to demonstrate the skills I was completely panicking. I felt like I couldn't get enough air, the bubbles were too close to my mask... I told Andrew I would just wait on the beach. I would be perfectly happy. I just couldn't voluntarily take my air out of my mouth.

Our very nice instructor Chase tried to calm me down and said we would go down a little ways and if I still didn't want to go I didn't have to. Fine. But still panicking. He held onto my shoulders and I held his and we sank down the 10 feet to the bottom.

Once there he had Andrew do the technics and then we started to swim(with my arm linked with his) Ah the relief! He didn't make me take out my source of life!

We dove for about 35 minutes and saw many beautiful fish and coral canyons. Then went back up the beach and got another tank and down we went again.
I made it! Of course Andrew was as cool as a cucumber the whole time. I even swam through the canyon and a little overhanging of coral. I am a little scared of small places. It was fun and amazing. My most terrifying experience is also one of my favorites.

Shut the front door, He's four!

Happy Birthday to Rigdon!

Since school just started and we are all alone, we had very casual party with some of his cousins and his friend Dallin.
All I heard all morning was how his friends love balloons, and his friends love cupcakes. Pretty much anything he saw me getting together for his friends he just knew they were going to love!
Nine little kids came over and had a great time.

After Andrew came home we had a little family party and blew out some candles. Lemon cake because Andrew was really wanting some on his birthday two days before, but we got busy and never made it to Costco that day.

Today we went to preschool orientation. It was so fun and he is going to have the best time!

He put his Hand print on his bag, and filled his pencil boxes. Then they all made little hand cookies for their families while the parents learned how the year would go.
His cousin Daigen is in his class and he's so happy about it!
Miss Maren and Miss Miquel. I wish the picture was better but he wouldn't take another one. Miquel looks so heavenly. He told me as we left he was bored of taking pictures.
It's going to be a great year! He has an awesome class.

Rigdon loves...

Mommy

Friends

Cars

Being outside

Swimming

His Family

Snacks

and Dinosaurs.

They're off!

Grandma and Grandpa White have spent the last two weeks at the MTC (missionary training center)

They returned home to gather the rest of their things and go on to Texas for the next 18 months. While they were here we had a dinner and family home evening together. I am going to miss them terribly!

It was wonderful to listen to them share the experiences they had at the MTC and how it was different from when dad went as a 19 year old. Mom even gave her testimony in spanish! They will be great missionaries.
These are some of the grandchildren who will miss them. Eight are missing and one is on the way. Oh and Angela's new puppy Maggie seemed to make it into all the pictures.

It's getting closer!

It's that time of year when the house is filled with children having had a little too much togetherness. Sienna is counting down to the moment she goes back to school. The house is all a flutter with the news of new teachers and the shopping bags are full of pink pearl erasers and pencils.

Tonight we go to meet the teacher! I have all the supplies packed up and ready to drop in the classroom. My wallet is a little lighter.

We have been out to get a couple new shirts for all the kids. They don't need much we just freshened up the wardrobes in the spring. No need for jeans for a few more months.

Ashlynn will be meeting all of her teachers tomorrow night. A child in Jr. High!!!! What the heck?! She has practiced opening her lock till she's a pro. It will be a fun adventure. At least she doesn't look as dorky as I did at her age! Or maybe I should be trying to nerd her up a little...

Rigdon gets to meet his teachers on Friday. Three whole hours three times a week, what to do with myself?

It's been a wonderful summer, We have had much fun with friends and family. But the school schedule is calling. Maybe I will stop forgetting scouts.

I really thought we would have a baby by now, but alas it doesn't seem to be happening. So I will enjoy this newfound freedom.

If you happen to have a new baby, I hope you will share I do love them.

Smells Funny

So on Saturday I was feeling pretty productive. I got my self out of bed and went right out to the pool to clean out the filters. They were due, since the last big dust storm.

It's a pretty big job, there are four filters and the come a little above my waist when on the ground. They are very heavy when filled with dirt and muck. But I succeeded in getting them out and spaying them all clean.

Next job up was to get the extra dirt and rocks that have made their way into the filter area due to water run off. It's pretty tight back there so there was some sweat involved. Then I went around the pool raking and picking up just trash in general, and spraying off the bird pooh.

By the time I was finished with the pool area It was 11:30. I had started at 8:30. Andrew did finish digging out the area where the water was causing all the rocks to run down by the filter.

Well on to the rest of the house. I took the boys in their room for a good cleaning and stripped all the beds down. Moved on to scrub the bathroom, Rigdon's room and finish up the girls room. My room wasn't too bad but also received a scrub down in the bathroom.

Can't stop yet the kitchen needed to be done. sweeping and mopping. All the while pausing to go put the sheets back on the beds once they came out. While in the boys room Ashlynn came in to offer some help.

Ashlynn: these sheets smell funny.

Me: They do?, I just washed them.

Ashlynn: Oh, were you sweating outside?

Me: Um, Yes It's hot out there.

Ashlynn: yeah, then it's probably you.

I finished up around 4:00 the house was finally finished. I took a shower to get rid of my SMELL.

Yes, I do have my children clean. This day I just wasn't in the mood to be after them all day. It is more exhausting to stay on top of helpers sometimes.