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!