Maui

Bryan and I went to Maui to celebrate our 10 year anniversary! We went with our friends Jon and Shannon who were also celebrating their 10 year anniversary this year. We had a great time! It was a well needed and well enjoyed vacation.
We did a lot of snorkeling, beaching it, guys golfing, watching amazing sunsets and of course eating! This was our 3rd time to Maui so we had some favorite restaurants we just couldn't wait to eat at, and when I say we I really mean me!
We got in late on Monday so we just ate at one of the favs on my little list- Cheeseburger in Paradise. It is right on the beach and the atmosphere is just cool. The burgers are YUMMY! Then it was off to bed for us.
Tuesday we got up and headed out snorkeling.

Us walking down to snorkel at Honolua Bay. Great snorkeling!


Walking down Front street in Lahaina
Eating at Bubba Gumps- another fav
This is how you let your waiter know if you need any thing. One side says "Run Forrest Run" The other says "Stop Forrest". Fun Uh
He He He! Fun atmosphere
Wednesday the boys went golfing at Makena. I must admit the course and the views were amazing, not that we went with them. We headed to Wailea beach. We had a great time playing in the ocean and enjoying the sun. That day we hit two other of my fav eating spots. Alexnders, which has the best fish and chips. No lie they are amazing! The other was Freds! I love love love this place. I have been to Maui 3 times and San Diego a million times and ate at them both more times than I can count, and never made the correlation that these two Freds are the same! Silly me! The best mahi mahi tacos on the planet!! YUMMY!
After dinner we crossed the street and watched the sunset! I love the sunsets and will miss them terribly!
Thursday the guys got up early and headed over to Lanai for some world class golf. Shannon and I spent the morning doing some shopping down Front street and ate lunch under the HUGE banyan tree. Then took a ferry on over to hang out on the beach there and meet up with the guys.
Lanai was so fun. It is not populated at all and only has 1 city and 2 resorts. The beach was amazing and just full of alot of locals. It was a lot of fun to chat with them and watch them surf. The little kids there amazed me. There were 2 kids who had to be close to Dawson and Addy's age and we just were in awe at watching them body surf and boogie board. So cute! When the boys were done them met up with us at the beach and we litterally just chilled on the beach. It rained a little so we just walked up and down and watched all the locals surf, swim and boogie board. Man they can get some air!
Friday morning we went snorkeling at Molokini. Molokini is 1 of only 3 volcano craters in the world that is submerged in the water. The snorkeling there is beyond cool. Visibility is like 250 feet. Needless to say we had a fantastic time!
That night we hit up a Luau. It was great!



Saturday we played at Makena beach all day, which was amazing and had HUGE waves. We literally played in the ocean for hours. We were like little kids. However Makena beach is not a good beach for little ones, at least not in the summer when there are southern swell.



That night were the fireworks for the 4th. They shot the fireworks from a barge on the ocean. It was really cool and of course it was to music. I must admit I did miss being with my kids on the 4th and I really miss how much they would have loved them!
Sunday Bryan and I got up and went to church. There are few words to describe how wonderful the Hawaiian people are. There spirits are incredible and we could not pass up an opportunity to attend church.

Us right outside the front church doorsAfter church we headed to eat at Buzz's Warf.
Then we went to a new beach to hang out for the rest of the day.
Monday was our last day there. Everyone but me got up really early(6:00) to go snorkeling one last time, I have priorities people! Then we packed up, did some last minute shopping and then headed over to Piai to eat at the much anticipated Mamas Fish House. We decided to take the road north and go all the way around the island. It was only like 38 miles. No problem right??? Wrong! It was crazy scary and yet one of the funnest times I had. The road halfway around is a 1 way road and is twisty tourney with shear cliffs on the sides of you. I laughed so hard at the whole essence of the situation and the comments being made, I nearly peed my pants! We got to see some incredible scenery and the cutest little town ever! But needless to say we were way late for our reservations. Our last meal on Maui was worth the wait. Dinner and the views were nothing short of fantastic.


Here is our dessert. So cool I just had to take a picture. Yes it was as awesome as it looks!We had an awesome time in Maui and I can't wait to go back!!! Any takers?????

Girls Camp

This past week was girls camp. I went for the whole time and it was a blast!!! We have amazing girls and I just adore them all!


All the girls all nice and clean the first day! What a beautiful bunch
YW President, what a hottie!
We won the Amazing Race #2! We rocked it!


Just chillin in the tent, great entertainment in the rain
We had a resident hair salon in our tent. Most all girls got there hair done, including me, but a couple actually got their hair cut! Brittany did an amazing job! We were definitely not bored while it rained all day!
On Thursday Bry brought the kids up to see me. It was a awesome surprise! I loved seeing them. I missed them a ton! Addy decided she wanted to stay, which was so fun. It was fun to see her learn some camp songs and be there for testimony meeting. We got to star gaze that night and see Saturn along with it's ring and moons! So cool. We cuddled all night in a sleeping bag on 1 cot, it was actually comfy most of the night. I really enjoyed spending that time with her. It wont be long before she is old enough to go. Oh they just grow up way to fast!I got the "I'll do it" award. HUM wonder what that really means????


I had a great time at girls camp but I am not going to lie...... I was so EXCITED to come home and SHOWER!!! I have never been so happy to shower in my life. It was also so wonderful to sleep in my own bed. Oh the comforts of my home. Even though I was excited to come home I can't wait till next year!!!!

This weekend the kids and I headed up north for a quick visit. My nephews live with their dad in Cali and they were up for a short visit between football camps. It was so great to see them, we miss them a ton! My sis had a BBQ at her house. It was great to see all, well most all, of the fam. Especially the boys and my grandma who is 94 in August!

Me and my Grandma, LOVE HER!!!!


My nephew Ray and me-girls he is single!!!

Ray, Steven and my kiddos

Being silly, its what they do best with my kids
All the cousins
Being goofy

Fireworks!

Last night was the Summer Games opening ceremony complete with FIREWORKS! We love fireworks at the Wood household. Fireworks are like a summer must, even though it has not felt like summer due to our freezing cold weather, it did last night! It was great. We went with our friends Julie and Jason and Trisha and Aaron and their kiddos. We stopped off for a much needed treat at DQ and then headed off to the fireworks.

Ky was in heaven! He loved staying up late being surrounded by all the kids. He felt all the excitement. He loved the fireworks, just stared and pointed. Although I think the finale was a little over whelming for him. He just held on to Bry so tight with eyes as big as saucers!


The kids had a blast. Jaden, Jamie, Addy and Janae. Strike a pose! Some of my pics came out blurry- UGH bummer! Have I mentioned lately how bad I need a new camera!

Cade, Dawson and Carter


Trisha and Aaron- Little love birds
Julie and Jared-So cute!
The fireworks were awesome! Fun was had by all. By the time we got home everyone was tuckered out. If only bedtime was that easy every night!

Our Little Swimmers!

Today was the last day of the kids 1st session of swim lessons. The kids love to swim so I normally put them in at least 2 sessions a summer. Not only do they love swimming but it gives them something constructive to do, plus it really wears them out by then end of the day!

Dawson has come along way. He is not afraid of the water at all and as far as I can remember never really has been. However his big struggle is to just float! Dawson is a mover as you all know and never slows down or sits still. That doesn't change when he gets in the water. He hits the water and looks like a mini tornado flailing his arm and running in place. His teacher did a great job at getting him back to basics and concentrating on just floating. The rest will come easy after he gets that down!






Dawson and his teacher Shauna, she is AWESOME!



Addy is now full on swimming! She is fine tuning her technique. She also had Shauna as a teacher. YEAH! She can swim from the shallow end to the deep end. She has been learning different strokes and diving as well. She now can dive off the diving board, however I think she prefers to do silly jumps.








Addy and her buddies Sage and Malia



Even Ky had to get into the swimming mode! So CUTE!

Ten years ago yesterday, June the 5th, was one of the best days of my life! I married my best friend. Yup that's right 10 years baby!! My how time flies. It really doesn't seem like it has been 10 years. To me that is a good sign since that is a mere fraction of eternity. We have a wonderful marriage. Now that is not to say that it is perfect. He is DEFINITELY not perfect, I am DEFINITELY not perfect and together we aren't perfect either. However we are PERFECT for each other. The last 10 years has had it's high and lows, it's ups and downs, and I would venture to say a lot more high's than lows and a lot more ups than downs. No matter what, we have gone through them together. I am so lucky to have him in my life! So here is to you babe and another wonderful 10 years!

Mommy's Big Helper

Ky loves the vacuum! He loves to watch me vacuum but most of all he likes to vacuum himself. I love it! It will literally keep him busy for a good 20-30 minutes. It is like the one thing he does that actually does not leave a mess when he is done, YEAH! Did I mention I love it!