Second half of April

 Casen had fun cleaning cars for preschool :) His teacher texted me these pictures.

 One morning we had a rough start and I wasn't able to pack a good lunch for Brinley, so I picked her up for lunch and we headed to Burger King. Marlee was glad she got to come along.

 Love these 3 kiddos!

 After picking up Jess from the airport we grabbed a yummy dinner together. So grateful for my little sister, and her willingness to watch the kiddos for a weekend!

 Brinley reading to us after school, I have been loving this :)

 Marlee taking her turn reading :)

 Jessica was able to stay for a few days after we got back from San Fransisco.  We made a trip to U-Swirl.

 Group photo in the backyard... Not sure what's going through Marlee's mind :)

 Ryan watched the kids so that Jessica and I could go to the temple together. It was great to get to be there with her.

 One night we were able to go to the Browns for dinner and Family Night.  Marlee had so much fun with Tia, she kept bouncing her on her lap and tipping her backwards :)

 Marlee, Tia, Maddie, and Brinley

 Koda and Casen joined us at the adult table.

 Maddie did a great Family Night lesson that all the kids actually listened to!  Afterwards they had lollipops for a treat.

 I just love Mandi. She was one of my first friends when I moved to Vegas and I look up to her so much. I will definitely miss this dear friend of mine.

 Marlee chillin' in the kitchen sink :) I don't know what to do with this girl! I just have to smile and take a picture!

 Messy Marlee! Poor Case has to eat almond or soy yogurt, just not the same and that sweet boy loves yogurt!

When I got a pedicure Marlee got to have her nails painted, she just loved it. She is definitely a girly girl!

Hawaii Day 6 and then heading home!

Janelle said that the "Character Breakfast" was one of their favorite things at the resort. It does cost extra but we decided to go ahead and do it. I am sure glad we did cause it ended up being a lot of fun for the kids... especially Marlee :)

We woke up early for our 7:15 breakfast and headed down in our jammies :)

Marlee just loves Mickey Mouse but she was a little shy at first!

They have Mickey at the front before you go in for breakfast and then the rest of the characters walk around while you're eating.

Had to have a hug before we headed off to breakfast!

Marlee really loved Goofy, she followed him around quite a bit. She says his name so cute!

They were so awesome to kids with food allergies! They had the chef come out to talk to us and then they made these special pancakes and waffles with almond milk just for Casen! I think it is so neat they do this cause I can imagine how not being able to eat the same food as the other kids could ruin the whole morning for some little ones!

This photo is such a crack up! Look at Marlee just attacking her! haha, I loved it :)

She sure loved "pincess bickey house" :)

Group shot with Minnie, but Marlee was a little distracted.

They had a little parade that the kids joined in. They sang lots of fun songs they could participate in too.

Marlee shared her drink with Goofy and he pretended to drink it. It made her day! She just thought it was the funniest thing! Then he gave her a drink too. Everytime she saw him she would try to share her drink. Now when we sees him on TV or in a pic she starts laughing and says "Goofy my drink!"

Checking out all of the cool fish before headed back up to our room and getting ready for the day.

We got our suits on and then played in the pools and at the lagoon all day with a little break for Marlee's nap.

The last night Ryan took Brinley on a "Daddy daughter". They got dinner and sat out on the lawn chairs to eat.

This was their view :)  I love when we get to spend one on one time with our kids. Casen got to go out with him the night before to get a treat and watch a show but cut it short cause Case was too tired and said the show was boring :)

The next morning we woke up early and headed to the airport. We were running a little late and had to return the rental car. I hurried to grab some trash to throw away and then took all the kids and luggage to go through agriculture and then get in line for our tickets and bag check. Ryan was going to return the car. Once I was in the ticket line I realized my cell phone was missing! I went back through agriculture and searched the car. Ryan and I were both getting pretty nervous. And then it hit me, I had thrown it away while cleaning out the car! I hurried and used Ryan's phone to call mine and sure enough I could hear in ringing in there! Unfortunately it was one of those square shape ones that have the lids and just little side holes to put your trash in. I had to shove my arm down the hole and try and find it. I start panicking when I can't... kids waiting in line, Ryan needing to return the car, running late for our flight! I ask security if they can use a key to give me access to the trash and they can't! Ryan gives it a shot and shoves his arm down there but no luck. I say a prayer and tell Ryan I will try one more time. I shove my arm down there and literally feel my phone resting in my palm. It was seriously a miracle! I got it just in time for us to check in (by then we were at the front of the line). We grabbed our tickets and Ryan went to return the car. I literally can't believe I found it. I always say how grateful I am to a loving Heavenly Father who answers our prayers even when it is things that aren't important in the grand scheme of things but matter to us in the moment! This was definitely one of those times :)

After a 6 hours flight (and all 3 kids staying WIDE awake the whole time) we made it back to Vegas! Yep , this is how we travel on a 6 hours flight with 3 kids. I guess looking at the picture, maybe Ryan was right and I did pack a little much! Isn't Marlee's face perfect, this is what the face of a very over tired two year old looks like :)

This seriously was the perfect little family vacation and I am so grateful we were able to go before our crazy summer! I sure love my little family!

Hawaii Days 4 & 5

Kids woke up Sunday morning and had fun making shapes out of Fruit Loops :)

We headed to 9:00 am church and I am glad we went. I thought it was a really good meeting. A girl from AZ actually spoke and talked about using the Atonement in our homes and as a family. I enjoyed her talk but Marlee made it so I had to leave a little early. I took her outside and she had fun finding "bebe fowers" or baby flowers :)

As I was sitting outside I noticed this beautiful yellow flower growing out of the stone/rock wall.  It was like a little devotional to myself :) Amidst all the hard places we find ourselves in in life, everything that holds us back from reaching our potential, we still have hope! We can take in all the nourishment we can and reach for the light and we can grow and become what God intended us to be. It won't be easy but He is there to help us, and it is possible.

We wanted to try and keep the Sabbath day holy and so we chose not to swim. I knew the kids would be sad, especially with everyone else swimming around us, but they did it and were such good sports. We tried to make it into a fun family day with a little relaxing. The kids had fun participating in the little "surfing" activity.

We took a walk on the shoreline and really enjoyed the beauty of God's creations. Even the kids took it all in. It was beautiful and calming.

Marlee was too interested in the "princess" that was getting married in the adjoining beach and was too concerned with trying to get the princess to wave to her that she didn't take in the ocean like the other kids did.

Monday morning the kids were ready to hit the beach! We had a VERY hard time finding this beach but had a great time when we finally made it there!

Marlee loves water but someone she loves playing in water more than the water you actually swim in. So she enjoyed playing on the beach (again) and finding lots of seashells.

They had $1 boogy board rentals and so the kids had fun trying them out.

Casen was able to ride this wave in and couldn't have been happier! :)

He came running to shore and told me he wanted to give a picture of him riding the wave in, to all his Las Vegas friends :)

Marlee and I weren't exactly able to catch a wave but we still had fun.

All sanded off and wrapped up!

During Marlee's nap Brinley and Casen went to Auntie's Beach House (pretty much like daycare but the kids LOVED it). When Marlee woke up we all headed out to the pool. They didn't have a height limit on the slides so here is Casen going by himself.

Even Marlee got to go!

I love how you can see from the side she is laughing in this one :)

Casen telling about how awesome the slide was all by himself! Man I love his expressions, he is so animated when he tells stories!

We spent some time in the kiddie area. Kids only allowed on this play structure.

Running up so he can go on the slide again!

I know Marlee looks scared in this one but she was loving it and they went over and over again!

What a big girl! She would climb up and them go down this slide all on her own!

Hanging out in one of the lazy river entrances. We had a lot of fun doing the lazy river and went 5 or 6 times. Marlee loved the cave at the end that had smoke and bubbles in the water.

We made sure to get out of the pool in time to snatch a picture with Mickey and Minnie. Marlee kept calling Minnie "Pin-cess- Bickey - House" or "Princess Mickey Mouse".  She wasn't excited to take the picture but sure loved giving them hugs!

Done for the day!