Day at the Park

Last week we had some nice weather so the kids and I headed down to the Aliante Park with a couple of our friends. We had a great time!




Ava and Raquel. Raquel is an awesome photographer and everywhere we go you can find her snapping the perfect picture. I finally got a picture of her doing what she does best!


Casen loved just looking at all the birds, geese, ducks, etc. At first he tried to walk right into the pond, not fall or jump, just walk right in.


Brinley found a turtle that would actually let her pet it. The kids were all pretty excited... especially my kids who always remind me we don't have any pets!



Casen was pretty excited to see the turtle, but scared at the same time. He would poke it then run away!


Casen has gotten really good at going down slides all by himself... even though Melanie had to give him a little push, he still had fun :)


Dresden and Casen riding in the car.


Even though I had a lot better pictures of feeding the ducks, I choose this one because it most accurately shows what went on... Brinley threw bread to the ducks, and Case ate the bread. I think he threw one piece of bread for every ten pieces he ate.


Apparently last week the park made it so you aren't allowed to feed the birds anymore... so after we got in trouble Brinley decided to eat the old bread herself.



After the park we all headed over to U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt. Ava, McKinley, and Brinley... what cute girls! Brinley LOVES "dice-cream". Anytime she finds money she asks if we can go get ice cream, I'm pretty sure she thinks all the money we have actually goes to icecream :)


Casen also LOVES frozen yogurt. He won't stop til he has eaten all of his... and mine...and anyone elses in the vicinity.


Karrissa and Kylie enjoying frozen yogurt, don't they look cute? I think Karrissa was even more happy for fro-yo than Kylie!

FIVE year Anniversary Trip!

Five years ago Ryan and I got to go to Maui, Hawaii for our honeymoon. It was wonderful and we were finally able to return for our five year anniversary (we went the first week of Feb, but our actual wedding date is Feb. 18th). We were able to stay in the same condo, which my Grandpa and Grandma Luebke so kindly let us use. It was great to be back, and especially to be able to have some time together. We needed it after 3.5 years of never leaving our children's side! I had a wonderful time... but it was way harder to leave my children than I expected. I guess after spending the 1,200 days of my life being a Mommy, I wasn't quite sure how to survive with out them. But I loved every second with Ryan, he has given me the best five years of my life!

I do realize there are a TON of pictures in this post... but that is pretty much I created this blog, to have somewhere to put the never ending pictures I take! :)







I love the drive on the North side of the island. Its turns into a one lane dirt road. We were driving along the edge of the cliff, but because of Ryan's mad driving skills, we survived!




We took a quick ferry over to Japan... I had no idea it was so close :)




I LOVE fresh coconut, already bought 2 since we've been back!


View from our balcony



Rainbow Eucalyptus trees, pretty amazing.


Apparently the Garden of Eden is in Hawaii?




When we came here for our honeymoon I jumped off this waterfall... and then Ryan had to do it cause I did :) This time Ryan was the tough guy and jumped off the 30 ft cliff on his own... yeah pretty sad to say I chickened out, oh no, not cause the jump, but because of the cold water at the bottom!



Ryan loves this black sand beach, I think it is pretty cool too. Just beautiful there!





We got to go on a snorkle/whale watch cruise. It was so fun to see the whales! They were everywhere!







We woke up at 3:00 am to go on a bike tour down the volcano on Maui, Haleakala. Even in HI, it is FREEZING at 10,000 ft. Despite being very cold, it was amazing to see the sunrise. Biking down was tons of fun too. The views were beautiful, just wish I could of stopped more along the way to get more pictures!







It was so amazing to be up above the clouds! Beautiful!












This mug was in my grandparents condo. My Grandpa and Grandma Luebke traveled the world together, but Maui was their favorite and they spent a lot of time there. My Grandpa passed away just over a year ago, and seeing this mug just made me happy to think of all the wonderful times he and my grandma had there... I'm so glad that will be with them forever :)




SO fun to get back and see our children! Definitely happy to be home! Being away from them just made me realize even more how lucky I am to have them!