ALOHA! (*Warning-picture overload*

The trip that we had been looking forward to for a year FINALLY came! We were fortunate enough to go to Maui for a week! It was an AMAZING week of fun,sun, and best of all RELAXATION! Some people may think we were a little crazy for taking the kiddos with us, but it was great having them with us!
Traveling to Hawaii from Laramie is an adventure in itself! We first had to drive 6 hours to Salt Lake City, then the next day- a two hour flight to LAX and after a couple hour layover-a FIVE hour and FORTY minute flight to Maui! To say we were ready to be there after all that was an understatement! The kids traveled pretty well considering! It was great to see friendly faces when we landed, my parents met us there.
The time change was something for us to get used to- its 4 hours EARLIER in Maui than in Laramie, so I was always up early-but so was my mom. Every morning we took a walk together and if any of the kiddos were up, they would join. (Kevin finished school/finals a week earlier, so I tried to let him catch up on a semisters worth of sleep as much as he could.) On our morning walks we would walk to Whalers Village and do some window shopping in all the fun swanky stores-Eliza may have been introduced to Louis Vuitton-gotta teach them young-right?  ; )
Our mornings were spent pool side most days- the kids LOVED it! The report we stayed at was super family friendly, so it was fun watching the kiddos

explore the kiddie pool area and play with other kiddos. We did have to work while being in Maui- but working outside..poolside...yes please!
One day we went to explore a little town that was on the way to Road to Hana (no, we didn't venture that!). It was such a cute little town and after we went to a near by beach to let the kids explore the ocean and beach a little bit-they had soon much fun waiting in the ocean and having the waves crash their feet and feeling their toes in the sand. We realized though why people just stay at the resort...SAND EVERYWHERE in the poor rental car!
While we were there I wanted to do something special for Kevin's birthday. (We weren't actually in Hawaii on "the" day, but his actual birthday was spent getting home from Utah on our way home.) After searching for the perfect gift I decided I wanted to give him a memory...not a "thing" he would get rid of in a few years after using it. Decided to go a little BIG...drumroll please....A HELICOPTER TOUR OF THE WATERFALLS ON THE ISLAND!I wont lie I was a little freaked to go...but I knew it would be worth it and I knew it would be something he can't do at home. IT WAS AMAZING! I wish everyone could get the opportunity to do it...its too worth the money! It was so amazing to see these massive waterfalls up close. The best part is that it had rained the previous day, so the waterfalls were super full and had a ton of little ones that only run after rainfall.

Kevin and I also decided to try something else new while in Maui-Paddle Boarding. It was too much harder then it looked, but an AMAZING adventure. Its one of those things that require you not think of how to do it, just to do it-which I'm not the best at, but I finally was able to get up and stay up. Kevin was a pro, he got up right away! I will say, the times I spent on my knees instead of standing up did pay off-the ocean was soon clear you could see all the fish and corals under you, I even got to see a Sea Turtle swim right under me!

It was a FABULOUS week- we couldn't ask for a better time! There are too many pictures for me to choose to post, so heres a few more great moments!

                                      

  

Luke is growing up...tear

WHOLY COW-Luke is going into Kindergarten!?! WHAT? Those who know me well, know that Im not one of those women who cry often and gets too emotional about things. I'm officially, one of "those" Moms-you know, the ones that get teary eyed over their kids accomplishments- yes, I got a little emotional over the fact that Luke is officially done with Preschool! Our baby boy is now a little man-he's going to be going to school ALL day soon (which of course has its blessings)! 

Luke really bloomed this last year in Preschool-he was a little sponge, soaking EVERYTHING UP! He wasn't the only one that learned something though. Luke taught his teachers too this year, not about number or anything like that... about CARS! Yup, Luke's love for cars goes beyond love-its an OBSESSION! At his graduation, Luke's teachers commented that they now know more car brands then they had at beginning of the year, thanks to Luke. : )

I know this emotional "mom moment" is bitter sweet. I know that the next chapter will be so exciting for our little man!

Thats our goof ball of a kiddo!

Spring Break 2016

For Spring Break this year we decided to go on a mini road trip with our friends the Olers. We decided to hit up Denver-the zoo, the aquarium, shopping, great food and with good friends-what could be better?
We decided to go for just go for 3 days, but it was 3 days of fun! We decided to leave Laramie really early and head to the Zoo. The kiddos had a blast seeing all the animals! Luke's favorite was the Zebra and Eliza was pretty found of the Penguins. The Denver Zoo is super family friendly and has a great picnic area so we had a picnic at the Zoo-the kids LOVED it! It was good thing we went to the Zoo the first day, the weather was a little cold the rest of our stay.
The next day was Aquarium day! I think everyone else in the Denver area thought the same thing as we did-IT WAS PACKED! Those who know Eliza well, know her "Miss. Independent" attitude and wants to be a "big girl" like her brother-she wants to walk like big brother Luke and NOT be in the stroller. With the Aquarium being soon crowded, Eliza was in the stroller-which OF COURSE she was not happy about, she was also not too happy of dim lighting that the aquarium had. Luke on the other hand, "Mr. Easy-Go-Lucky", LOVED every bit of the aquarium-especially when he got to touch a Manta Rey-sadly, it was too crowded to get a picture : (
Day 3, our final day was spent shopping! Now, to most people you wouldn't qualify this as a spring break activity- but living in Laramie- going to a REAL mall- one that has more than 10 stores, that is an exciting outing, especially a mall as swanky as Park Meadows! Most malls when they have cars advertised in them they're your typical cars that the every American can afford- this mall is so nice they had a Maserati sitting in there, not sure who was more excited-Luke or Kevin! We ended the trip with dinner at one of our favorite places that we miss from living in the "big" city-CHEESECAKE FACTORY....yuuuummmmm!
Our spring break trip was a nice little getaway from Laramie, with a lot of fun memories made!

Thanks for a fun trip Olers!

Where Did the Last 5 Years Go!?

Luke turned 5, yup- F I V E  on January 25th! I can't believe he's going to be going into kindergarten in the fall?!? I remember when he was born and I would always get told "enjoy it, it goes by too fast!"  Though there are a few days that contradict that statement- for the most part its soon true! I don't know where my little chubby 9lb'er went. Luke is my little man, he's crazy OBSESSED with cars- can tell you what brand of car is sitting in a parking lot, he's LOVES being a big brother and playing with his sister, enjoys learning mechanically how things work, always wants to help, is a social butterfly, loves going to preschool everyday, is the class clown, and ALWAYS makes others smile. I love my Luke, Im so grateful and lucky to be called his mom!
 When I asked Luke what kind of party he wanted- he replied "camping party." I was super excited, its hard to to have parties in Laramie at the end of January- so something I could do with stuff we already had PLUS do indoors- I'm in!
Luke loved every bit of his camping party- we had the tent set up, did fun crafts, and of course a yummy log stump cake. Luke had a blast with all of his friends. Thanks to all of those who made him the happiest 5 year old!


                                  

Happy 2016!

Does anyone else this its crazy that is 2016? We were ringing the New Year in Dubois. Its a tradition in our family to have Chinese food for New Years Eve dinner. Well, a Chinese resturant in Dubois,Wyoming is non existent. We HAD to keep with tradition so thanks to the Pioneer Woman ( if you haven't tried her food-YOU NEED TO!) my mom and I were able to cook our Chinese feast. We had a great spread: Homemade Cream Cheese WonTons, Orange Chicken, Lo Main and much, much more! It was soon yummy!! I felt I was at a Chinese restuarant  instead of being in the middle of Wyoming.

New Years day is a magical day for us-its one of the handful days we don't have to work-woo hoo! We took the opportunity to PLAY! My dad gassed up the sled and we suited up to go up to Togwotee Pass (between Jackson Hole and Dubois) and enjoyed all the fresh snow. Nana and Papa Don had kid duty and met us at the lodge up there for lunch. It was a lot of fun- so much that we went a couple more days before we had to return to the "real world" of Laramie. 

   

Christmas 2015

Christmas in Dubois was a blast! It was wonderful being with family! We started the trip off by starting one of our favorite traditions....making tamales. Those who've never participated in the tamale making process...it is just that...A LOOONG PROCESS, but the results are beyond delicious! I really enjoy the times that I get to do it with my mom, can't wait till Eliza is old enough to help...have 3 generations of women cooking.
It was wonderful to have my Papa Don there. This was our first Christmas without our sweet Yaya, I know it was especially rough on Papa Don so Im glad he was surrounded by family to support him. I loved watching him with our kids.
Papa Don lives in Southern California, so sadly we dont get to see him as much as I would like. I grew up always spending time with him and my Yaya- we would spend a lot of our summers and  most holidays with them. I have special relationship with my Papa Don and knew I always wanted my kids to share the same joy I did growing up. So to see the kids play with him and enjoy him for the two weeks we were together was the best Christmas present ever!
Our kiddos got waaaay to spoiled. They of course LOVED every minute of it. Its so fun that Luke is now old enough where the magic of Santa and Christmas is starting to make sense for him. He was so excited that Santa brought him exactly what he wanted- a Treasure Truck. Eliza, was just shy of 18 months so she's still a little young for it, but still loved all her gifts.

Road Trippin'

My parents who live about 6 hrs away were finally in Wyoming for the first time in 3 years for Christmas in 2015, so of course we decided to drive out to Dubois and spend it with them and my Papa Don. 

There were a few things that had to be accomplished before heading out for our Christmas vacation... number one, was a must for Kevin...seeing the newest Star Wars movie...on opening day of course ;) I will say I was actually very impressed with the movie- and Im not a Star Wars or sci-fi fan. 

Next on the check list, packing. Packing with a toddler always comes with its challenges- everything i put in a suitcase, Eliza will take out- or put random things in it when Im not looking. We also had the challenge of fitting all the gifts, suitcases, 2 dogs ( ours and my parents that we were pet sitting) and all four our selves into the car...Kevin should go the olympics for packing. 

We finally were off to Grandmas house, traveling thru Wyoming is one of my favorite things. You can truly see the beauty of God all around you.

 

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Since being out in Wyoming, away from most of our family; we've been able to start some Christmas traditions of our own.

Our first tradition of the Christmas season is the tree. The weekend after Thanksgiving we get a Christmas tree. Kevin was a trooper this Christmas. We weren't planning on even being home for Christmas, but still kept with our tradition of getting a Christmas tree AND even put the lights up on the house. I loved having the house feel like Christmas even though we weren't home on the actually day.

One of the best parts of Luke being in school (preschool, but school) is all the fun 1st things he gets to experience at school. The preschool hosts an annual Christmas program that all the students participate in by singing songs, dancing,  and playing little instruments. Now, those who know Luke- a stage, a microphone, and a spotlight....the kid was in HIS element! It was so fun watching these kiddos ages 2-5  sing and dance their little hearts out! Of course Luke had to get out of line with his other classmates and sing directly into the microphone.

Catch Up...Fall 2015

I really need to start scheduling in "blogging time." I started this blog in hopes that it would be more of journaling experience since I stink at writing in a journal-well, I'm 0 for 0! So now its almost 3 months into a new year and I haven't even finished off last year-none the less began on the excitement of 2016!
To begin our speedy trip thru the end of 2015- we'll start with my favorite time of year-FALL! I love everything about fall- the changing of the colors, the crisp air, the smell of spices, pumpkin pie, and of course its the beginning of all the major holidays.

Fall in Laramie, WY is GORGEOUS and the fall of 2015 held up to its standards. The kids and I enjoyed going the park and embracing the beauty of this town.

The kids got to enjoy an awesome Halloween in 2015. I was trying to be "that" mom and have a cute family theme for our costumes...to sum it up, I failed. Luke was sober excited to dress up as Batman-so Kevin WAS going to be Robin, Eliza-Catwoman, and myself- Poison Ivy. Well, do you know how hard it is trying to find a Robin costume for a 6' 3" tall man? Or a Poison Ivy costume that isn't made for a Kim Kardashian wannabe body type?  So by the time I finally figured everything out, we went to buy Lukes batman costume and they were OUT-of course, right? So, plan B happened..."Ok, Luke...all of these costumes are your size...pick one."
Luke ended up being a Storm Trooper, something he knew was from Star Wars-but had no idea what it was. Eliza was our cute little kitten.
Laramie does a wonderful thing for Halloween, a downtown trick-or-treat. I love this because its too FREEZING at night to take the littles house to house, as well as we aren't too big on the candy thing so the kids (for now, Im sure as they get older this will change) get just enough to enjoy but not enough to get too big of a sugar high. Luke also loves seeing all the different costumes that are roaming down town.  As for actual Halloween night-I did accomplish a "beingthat mom" moment of making a halloween themed dinner and the kids- especially Eliza- got soon excited to pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters.

With Fall, also is one of my favorite holidays-Thanksgiving. I love that Thanksgiving is the ONE major holiday that its not gimmicky. Theres no gift buying, stressing out  about seeing out cards, or making it all commercial like all the other holidays have become. Thanksgiving is solely about reflection. Reflecting on family, blessings, and showing gratitude...ok and maybe a little bit about eating yummy food until your fat pants even get tight ; )
I love cooking for Thanksgiving- mostly because I'm not alone in the process. I didn't marry a huge sports fan (sorry for those that did), thus Kevin isn't watching football like most men on Thanksgiving-he's in the kitchen with me. I love that our kiddos can see us working together in the kitchen (luckily, kevin loves to cook so it doesn't just happen on Thanksgiving).
We usually stay here in Laramie for Thanksgiving since the weather in Novemeber in Laramie is a little unpredictable. For 2015 Thanksgiving we decided to invite our friends from church, The Olers.
The Oler family are from Canada and are here in Laramie for school- like the rest of us ; ) I was so excited to give the Oler family their first American Thanksgiving with all of our families traditional dishes. It was a wonderful night of food, friends, and focusing on our blessings.