More Hula

Gracie has really enjoyed taking hula this past year and they had another performance at Mililani Town Center this past weekend. She did great!!! We love to watch her perform. She has come to love to perform and I just love that she is having FUN!!!

Well Sunday night when Deven was on call, we decided to enjoy some chocolate Popsicles. Dylan wanted his own so I thought why not. He looked like he was painted brown. He was such a sticky mess but he sure enjoyed his Popsicle.

Wisdom of a first grader

Through the eyes of Gracie. So we were running errands tonight and got talking to Gracie about jobs and how we get money. I have to work for so many things. You want me to earn my ule ule's, a watch, and a dog. I think you guys should just buy it for me because I already have to many jobs. I have to go to school and learn that is my job. I said really Gracie, well do you know I have more jobs than you. I have to cook for you, do your laundry, and clean up after you. And Gracie said, " well then I have infinity jobs." Deven asked, "oh really, how much is infinity?" Gracie said, " only Jesus knows." As the night goes on Gracie was being funny. Deven asked her why she didn't finish her drink? She said "what, you want me to drink... I don't drink beer because I believe in Jesus." Deven and I just roll our eyes... Literally. What do you do with a child like this. We just laugh and blame it on others... like the grandparents.

First day of First Grade

Well the summer flew by, sometimes I feel like we didn't even have a vacation. Gracie started first grade on Monday and of course she is loving it. Her teacher is Mrs. Kamanishi. She loves her. She says she is really funny. Of course she thinks she is so big so taking pictures at the bus stop on the first day ... well you will have to catch me while I am walking to the bus I am to old to pose for pictures I have to get to school. Gracie has grown up so much. She loves to learn but her favorite subject is of course recess. She has turned into our little social butterfly. Here's to a great year in first grade. We love you!!!
My other one has turned into TROUBLE. I am not sure if it is the age or if it is because he is a boy but he is full of mischief 100% of the time. I am just asking for 10 minutes a day when you are not destroying something or taking things out of the cupboards or off the shelf. He has started to do a few signs and say a few words. He signs bird, milk, and ball. He loves to chase the birds, he runs after them doing the sign and saying brd brd brd. His first word was a toss up between cracker or thank you. He loves to bring me things and say thank you. He loves to put things in the toilets, rip the toilet paper into tiny pieces and put it in the bathtub. He has learned how to turn the dishwasher on and off and he know how to open it. So there are so many times I go to unload the dishes only to find out they are wet because Dylan has started and then stopped the dishwasher several times that morning. He copies so much of what Gracie does. He squeezes his nose and goes around saying beep beep. He screams the same way Gracie does. He follows her around and I keep telling her to teach him good things not naughty things. We love you Dylan you are a handful but so much fun.

While we were home we were able to get family pictures taken. Thanks to a great family friend, Heather Telford. She took some amazing pictures these are my favorites. Now I just have to decide which ones I want to get to hang on the wall.

The Rest of our Summer Vacation

Here are the Lake Powell pictures. Deven's family practically grew up on this lake so Deven was so excited to go back with his family. Dylan was enjoying himself as well. There were so many buttons for him to push and he just wanted to drive the big boat.
We decided to hike to Rainbow Bridge. Dylan got a great ride. He loved it.

Rainbow Bridge
Dylan loved the water and this is him enjoying his first tube ride with Daddy. He is trying to wave.
Gracie and Dylan out for a boat ride
Deven skiing one morning. Deven says and I quote "Wow he is amazing"
I am trying to keep up with Deven. Ha Ha I will just stick with the knee board.
Deven air chairing. He has been riding this since he was 16. He thinks he still has it!!!

Gracie just enjoying the ride
Dylan enjoyed the ride way too much.

So Deven talked me into skiing. I am not very good, but at least I got up and that is pretty good for me.
Gracie helping Grandpa drive the house boat.
Dylan driving the ski boat
For our 8th year anniversary we went to the Inn on the Hill. It was in downtown Salt Lake. It was so fun to ditch the kids for a night and go to dinner and shopping at the Gateway. I had way to much fun.
We got to do a session in the Salt Lake Temple this was our first time going through that temple... and Deven went in like this. He just told them he was from hawaii and they let him right in. (actually he didn't bring any church clothes on this trip... they had compassion for him)
The Utah Arts Festival. Gracie had a lot of fun.
A visit with a dear friend and Cousin. We grew up together it is so fun to get together and catch up.
Gracie and her cousin Sarah. They had so much fun together and Sharon made them these adorable matching dresses.
We got to enjoy the Ute Stampede with my brother and sisters, this was the opening they had the flag dropped from the sky.
We got to spend a little time in the mountains doing a little hiking with my Aunt LuAnn and Shirece. The kids loved it. It was so beautiful and it was nice to get out of the heat and enjoy some cooler weather.
Thanks everyone for a fun summer vacation. It is was so fun to come home and spend it with family. We already miss everyone and hope we can come back soon!!!

Summer Fun on the Mainland

(Waiting for the concert to start... my mom stayed home with Dylan)

We have been having a good time here on the mainland. I sent our main camera home with Deven because I wasn't sure how I was going to carry it all home. So I don't have all the pictures I will have to post our Lake Powell Adventure when I get home. Thanks to Lisa for taking these pictures for me. We had a rough start but finally made it home. We took a red eye flight home but had some "electrical problems" right when we were suppose to take off. We ended up being delayed 2 1/2 hours on the runway before we finally took off. Because of that we missed our connecting flight into Phoenix and had to wait another 2 1/2 hours until we could get another flight to SLC. But we made it. What a long trip. We spent the first week down at Lake Powell with the Cox's ( I will post pictures later). Then Deven and I were able to ditch the kids and go to SLC for our Anniversary. We stayed at a The Inn on the Hill (thanks to a recommendation from a a friend.) We loved it. We went to dinner shopping at the Gateway and even did a session at the SLC Temple. It was a great break. Deven had to fly back way to soon and then I headed to Gunnison to see the Sorensen's. It was time to celebrate the 4th and all of my family came in. You have to love small town celebrations. We had so much fun!! We went to a "Neil Diamond Impersonator" concert on Friday. Only in small towns but it was so fun. We danced and acted like we had never grown up. It was so much fun to be with the sisters. They had fireworks after and then of course the parade and park the next day. Nothing beats a small town parade and all the candy. After we went to my Grandmas for a hug BBQ. The kids had fun playing in the water and I enjoyed visiting with all my family.
Afterwards we wanted to get our picture taken with him and of course we had to buy a CD... my Brother in law Rick is a die hard Neil Diamond fan so we thought he might appreciate his impersonator.
Waiting for the parade to start on Saturday. Gracie painted her own shirt thanks to my sister Sharon and her creative ideas to let the kids make their own 4th of july shirts. Gracie loved it!!!
Gracie going down the slide. I loved this picture!!
Of course the train ride is a must we have done it every year we go to the Gunnison Celebration.
What would a carnival be without Cotton Candy.
My dad and Dylan at the parade drinking his chocolate milk. This is what is great about living in a farming community they pass out chocolate milk at the parade. Dylan enjoyed some as well.
Dylan playing in the "kiddy pool" at Grandmas he loved to splash and get wet.
Gracie and Sarah had a blast on her slip and slide. There is so much more to post but I just had to post a little bit.