HAWAII TRIP JUNE1-6, 2009

Only two more days until we leave for Hawaii. Only one more link left, the night before. Ready? One, Two...

THREE! I give this stinking place one more night and then I'm leaving for Hawaii!We've arrived! Who is the hot mountain man that has bathed in milk?

Throwing the football with Dad at the new slide pool. Dean told me the other day that if he only had 30 minutes left with the kids, he would go out and throw the ball with them. They love it.

Brinley was scared of the water for the first couple of days. The only one "strong" enough to take her out in the water was Dean. Eventually, she let Danielle take her out and they counted all the numbers in the pool. It was very sweet of Danielle.

Drew buried Danielle in the sand.

Danielle and Brinley shared a bed the whole trip. They traded off with Drew between the sofa bed and the king. They loved this big, fluffy, comfy bed. Brinley would come in every day for her nap. She basically would collapse on the couch watching "Barbie: The Prince and the Pauper." That is one of her faves right now.
The other thing we did inside was play this card game called, "Golf" that the Deans taught to us. We had so much fun playing it one night while we watched the sunset from Grandma and Grandpa's porch. We even got a noise complaint! Gasp! Face cards AND loud laughter?! Say it isn't so!

Cliff jumping on the north shore. After this we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant there.

The Lauau! sp? We do this every time we go. This time, just Danielle, Drew and I went down. It is always great food and wonderful entertainment against a beautiful beach sunset. Amazing!

Waiting in line to get tattoos.

Drewbee trying to make fire.

YUMMY!

We went to the tide pools and got some cool shells and saw some HUGE crabs.

Brinley got used to the water after the first couple of days and would "swim" at the beach pool, her favorite pool. She did not want to go the beach again after our trip to the northshore. "Too much sand!" she would say.

MORE BEACH FUN...

This has been my swim purse for about 6 or 7 years. It has been to Hawaii four times and the Cottonwood Recreation Center a million times and the Spanish Fork pool, Seven Peaks Water Park, Knotts Soak City and countless other private swimming pools. It has served me well and I have always kept my bracelets on the purse left over from the first time Dean and I went to Hawaii together and stayed at Ko'Olina. Finally, the lining was ripping and it was asking for mercy. It has served my well. Farewell, my swim purse, thanks for the memories. Farewell Hawaii and Ko'Olina, our favorite resort. Thanks for all the good times.

BUT THE TRIP WAS NOT OVER! WHAAAAAAAAAT?

Brinley was so ready to go home. She got a fever on the way home from Hawaii. We arrived late in LA and told the kids that since it was so late, we were just going to spend the night in a hotel there and leave in the morning. Brinley's chin started quivering when Danielle explained it to her. Poor thing, she missed home! What the kids did not know is that the Erikssons had been at Disneyland all week staying at the same hotel. We planned to meet down in the lobby the next morning for breakfast and surprise both sets of kids. However, when we were getting ready the next morning, Dean ran out to buy some Children's Motrin for Brinley (it was a rough night), he heard Amber say, "Tait! It is your turn in the shower!" They were right next door! Fourteen floors, and we are right next door. Dean came in to where I was putting on my make-up and mouths the words: "They are right next door!" in the mirror. Too funny. So several texts and secret phone calls later and Drew and I walked out at the appointed time. Who do we see? Aunt Amber. Amber says, "Who are you?" and Drew just stood there in shock. I asked him, "Who is that?" Then Danielle comes out and after saying "What?" She gives Amber a big hug and then Ty came out and he and Drew embraced in a bear hug. Then it was just hugs all around. It was so fun. We had breakfast downstairs and then went to see the LA Dodgers play the Phillies! Tad, Drew and Ty...driving to the game.

Zoie and Brinley - Blankets and thumbs

Brinley took a little nap. How would it be to be able to sleep anywhere like that?

Trying to get on the jumbotron!

Brinley painted her face with red lip balm on the way to Red Lobster.

It was a great game that the Dodgers won with a walk-off home run in the 11th inning. It was so fun! Then we went to Red Lobster for dinner. We will see the Erikssons again when we go to UT next week. Loved the little taste of family! The whole week was a week to remember and treasure. So grateful that we were able to do it. So grateful for each other and our many blessings each day.