HAWAII 2011

HAWAII

We just got back from the most fantastic vacation with my family to Maui, Hawaii. It was so relaxing and warm. The Rohwer's, Wood's and Haslam's really know how to have a good time. We haven't done a big family vacation for a couple of years because of James being on a mission. It was so much fun to go on a family vacation and have everyone of us there.

Drake was so good on the plane. He didn't sleep at all on the way over. Probably because of all the sugar he had!

Thanks to Dora, she also made the plane ride more enjoyable for us, and everyone around us.

We got there really late on Saturday night and Drake had been such a trooper, but he was exhausted. So exhausted in fact that he didn't sleep very good the first couple of nights. He was so off on the time change. But once we were there a couple of days, he got right on track and did awesome.

Drake was definitely the life of the party. He was the crowd favorite and everyone was so glad he came! Most of the evenings we just sat around and watched him.

We had an ocean view room. Listening to the ocean was awesome. It was so nice to just sit out there and take it all in.

Drake took over everybody's space and everyone catered to him! He came home so dang spoiled. We are still trying to recover!

Here are some of the fun things we did...

BEACH

Drake wasn't so sure about the ocean and the sand at first. It scared him, but after some time he started to love the sand, but still didn't want anything to do with the ocean.

After we took that picture of my Grandma above, she got stuck in the sand and couldn't get out. I couldn't help but just laugh at the old girl!

Drake had sand all over his body. He had a few baths a day just so he wasn't itchy.

POOL

This is where Drake was the happiest. Right by the pool, or in the pool playing with his toys.

My little sister is so cute!

WALKS

Drake loved going on walks. He would look at anyone that was around and say "Walk" and get into is stroller and wait for someone to take him. Good thing it was a beautiful place to take a walk and there was always someone willing to take him.

Road to Hana

I am still not quit sure why I did this again. It was my 3rd and last time! I get car sick and this time it was the worst I have ever felt it. It is so pretty up there and some of them hadn't seen it so I decided to go along. It was fun for the most part, but driving back was awful!

Drake loved the black sand/rock beach. He just sat there and threw rocks.

I know.... CRAZY!

He loves his Grandpas

Grandpa Larry

These waves were strong! I got knocked over so many times. There were a few of those times I didn't think I was every going to get back up.

HANGIN OUT

We did a lot of hanging out. We had a kitchen in our condo, so we at a lot of meals at home. It was nice to just hang out and not have to get dressed up to go to dinner.

I tried on my Grandma's Muumuu (yes that is how it is spelled). That thing is comfortable. No wonder she wears that thing around.

These two played on their iPads so much!! Once the sun went down, you could find them playing games on this thing.

ENJOYED THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY

NAPS

We all got a couple of good naps in!

ATE LOTS OF YUMMY FOOD

Thank goodness for this thing. Drake was an ANGEL at dinner!

We went to Cheeseburger In Paradise.

Ate lunch on the beach.

Bubba Gumps

Awesome snow cones

And Inari Sushi. It is so good and Drake loved it!

WARREN AND ANNABELLE'S

If you haven't been to Warren and Annabelle's in Maui... you have to go. It is one of the best shows I have ever seen. Josh and I went to Maui for our honeymoon and saw this show then. We went again this trip with my Grandpa, Grandma and James who hadn't seen it. They along with us were laughing so hard. It is a great show!

After the show we hung out on a hammock right by the ocean.

Drake stayed back with grandpa and grandma Rohwer and Aunt Laur Laur.

FAMILY PICTURES

We brought a couple of our nice cameras and tried to get some family pictures while we were there. We took so many pictures and were able to get a few good ones. Drake is so hard to get a good picture of!

This trip was so much fun. Yes, the place we went was wonderful, but the best part of the whole trip was spending time with each other. I am so grateful for my dad who works so hard and travels so much for work. If it wasn't for him, we never would have been able to enjoy this vacation together. Thanks Mom and Dad for such a wonderful trip. We love you!

A Lot of Change

Our life has changed quite a bit the last month or so. For a while now Josh has wanted to go back to school for a Masters Degree. He has wanted to do this since we got married, but we didn't feel right about it. The thought kept popping up from time to time, but again with thought and prayer it just wasn't right. Well, the time has come where it does feel right, and Josh is actually already in a Masters program. Josh did some searching and again after a lot of thought and prayer we came to the decision that he was going to do an online Masters program through Gonzaga University. This decision was made the middle of April, he took the MAT test on May 2nd (which he did awesome on), turned in his application and resume, got accepted to the school a week later, and started school on May 16th. When we got married Josh was done with school, so this whole going to school thing is new to me, but I am excited for Josh and support him 100%. I know it will be a busy few years with him working and going to school full time, but it will be worth it in the end. The good thing about doing an online program is I have family and friends here to keep Drake and Me company while Josh is studying.

In the midst of all that crazy school stuff, we decided we should look at some homes/town homes to buy that were in our price range. We looked a year ago and found some that we liked, but again didn't feel right about it.... well right after we looked Josh got called to be in the Bishopric and that confirmed why nothing was feeling right. So, we have stayed here a year longer and have loved every minute of it. But now the time is right! We met with a Realtor and he showed us a town home in Smithfield that we have had our eyes on for a year but didn't think we would be able to afford it. It has just been built and is a beautiful little place. The second Josh and I walked in we both thought....This is our home! They told us the price and it was right in our price range. The builders are going to pay for our HOA fees while Josh is in school, so that knocks $55 dollars off of our payment. We walked away and later that night the Realtor was at our house and we were making an offer. We should be closing this week and moving in this weekend. We are thrilled to be moving out to Smithfield. We are moving to a town home with way more space that we have now for the same amount we are paying in rent. The best part about this place is it is a short walk away from the Neils, which means we will be in their ward (I hope they are as excited as we are). Also, Josh's sister Robin and her family live just up the road! We are very excited to be residents of Smithfield City!

We feel really blessed right now! When we moved in the apartment that we are in now, we felt that we would only be there a few short months and then we would be moving on to bigger and better things! We felt bad for ourselves that we had to be in this little place, and leave our house and ward in Nibley. Well, little did we know we have been the happiest we have ever been living here and have met some life long friends in this ward. I will definitely be sad when we move out of this place. We have learned a lot by living here. We have been surrounded by some of the greatest people we know who have taught us things that we might not have learned had we moved shortly after moving here. I am grateful for all that I have and excited for our next step!

After moving we are going on a family vacation with my family, so it might be a few weeks before I post again. Hopefully when we get back it will be summer in Cache Valley!

Drake's 18 Month Old Pictures

Drake,

You are such a special boy! You make me smile and laugh every day. I am so lucky I get to play with you everyday. You wake up with a smile on your face and go to bed with a smile on your face. Your daddy, grandparents, aunts, uncle, cousins and friends all love you so much. You bring so much joy to your dad and me! Every night before I go to bed, I go into your room and pick you up and cuddle with you for a few minutes while you stay fast asleep. It is my favorite part of the whole day! You have such a funny personality. Below are some things about you.

• You talk to yourself and to me all day.
• You blabber and then say "yes" or "no"
• You love to watch Dora and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
• You will eat anything I put in front of you
• You talk really well and repeat everything
• You know where every part of your face is and then some.
• You dance anytime you hear music
• You know how to jump (but don't get off the ground)
• You can count to 2 in English and Spanish
• You SCREAM when I change your diaper (my least favorite part of the day)
• You also scream when we brush your teeth
• You love baths given by Daddy
• You love to drink water and ask for it all day
• You love to read books
• You can get out of your highchair, so we have to tie you in with one of dad's old ties
• You grab your ears all of the time...(nothing is wrong with them, you just like to hold them)
• You are good at putting your binky in your crib and leaving it there when you wake up
• You give everyone "loves"
• You are very stubborn and love to do things on your own
• You call any type of food a cookie
• You love to play outside
• You love your blankie
• You just started nursery and hated it your first day
• You like to wave to dad at church up on the stand
• You have started to laugh at your burps and farts
• Every morning when you wake up you throw Simon out of your crib so I hear it when it hits the floor. It lets me know you are awake
• Occasionally I can get you to say "I love you"
• You put up with me kissing your cheeks all day long

I took you to get your pictures taken from a girl in our ward. You were pretty good for us, but you were more interested with all of the toys she had than sitting and taking pictures (what kid wouldn't be?)

Mommy made your bow tie for you. I think you look so handsome!

After we were done with pictures I took you outside to play and snapped some pictures myself. You were pretty burnt out of pictures at this point and only let me get a few.

Always remember how much I love you Drake. You are my first born, and will always have a special place in my heart. Love you buddy!

Love, Mommy

Easter Sunday

I love Easter Sunday! I enjoyed all of the talks and lessons in church about the resurrection of Christ. I was able to teach Young Women that day, which made for a great Sunday as I spiritually prepared for my lesson. I am so grateful for the atonement in my life, and for everything that Christ did for each and everyone of us.

After church we went to my Aunt and Uncle's house for dinner and an easter egg hunt. Drake loved getting the eggs just to see what was inside of them. I am pretty sure he consumed over a pound of jelly beans that day.

Boston with his basket of eggs.

I love my siblings!

I love my husband too!

Elli and Hannah

Drake found his basket from the Easter Bunny....

...and Josh found his too. If you have a hollow chocolate egg, why not put milk in it?? He is weird!

Watching TV In The Nude

We love him!

An Accident At Angie's

We went to Angie's for dinner a couple weeks ago. A couple days leading up to that night, Drake had an upset tummy and was going through a lot of diapers. Well he had a bad accident right when we sat down to eat. So, he ate dinner in his diaper and looked cute while he did it!