Family Vacation

We made the trip down to Anaheim, CA and stayed in our usual hotel at the Embassy Suites just down from Disneyland.  It was hard to leave Sammy, and a little strange to be on vacation without him, but it was the only time Sam had off, so we made the best of it.  The plan was to go down for a few days, Sam fly home on Sunday to work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, then fly back for our family reunion starting on Friday the next week in San Diego.  

The girls really wanted to go to Disneyland and California Adventures, but Sam and Jackson did not, so I took the girls and Sam and Jackson picked up the boogie boards from Aaron's work and went to the beach.  I took few pictures, but love the ones we took.  The last picture in the ride photos I have my eyes closed.  I wasn't feeling well, tired (blame it on my hyperparathyroidism), so I was enduring the ride with my eyes closed.  I think that was my last ride.  I was ready to leave at 5:00, but we stayed a little longer so the girls could get their fill.  We went on the Tower of Terrors for the first time.  The girls like it so much that we went again right away since the line wasn't very long.  I think I'm good for a lifetime with that ride.  :)

 We sent a picture to Sam (upper right) telling him what a fun time we were having.  This was around 5 when I needed to rest for a little bit explaining why we should be done.  It didn't work so well.

I took this picture of my beautiful girls in front of my favorite ride at Disneyland.  I'm glad they talked me into going.  I did have fun.

I think I almost forced these girls to go get their pictures taken with the princesses.  There was hardly any wait at all.  Usually there is a 2 hour wait.  I think it was 20 min.  Why wouldn't we go in?

Bell is Aliza's favorite, but we made due. Maren says Cinderella is her favorite.  I'm glad she was there for us.  My favorite is Sleeping Beauty.  I've always like the movie growing up.

I think the girls were glad once they were in there to get their photos with the princesses.

It's so sad that they are growing up so fast.  The magic is going away. :(

Saturday was beach day.  We had a great time as always.  I enjoyed the usual relaxing under the shaded umbrella on my beach chair enjoying my family.

Sunday, Sam didn't have to be at the airport until late afternoon, so we found a ward that met in the late morning and went to church.  We took Sam to the airport, then headed back to the hotel for one more night before heading to Aaron and Brock's to stay and play with them.  I had the kids write a little letter on the hotel's note pads to Sammy so he would get a letter from us while in the MTC.  He's only in there for 13 days.  We mailed them from the hotel Monday morning.

Thanks again Hon, for a wonderful trip to the South.

Last Minute Vacation Destination

When I didn't think we could be more crazy, something comes up to prove me wrong.  We have had this week off more months.  We have had no idea what we were going to do this week.  Not even when we got in the car and drove away.  We had thought about the Redwood Forest, but Sam thought it would be too far.  I thought we were going to go though.

 Here is a text between Anny and Myself---Anny: Did you leave yet? Where are you going?  Me:  We just left half hour ago.  I think we are heading south to California.  We are still throwing out ideas for up here area but kids all want to go south. I do not want to go to California.  We were even going to haul the camper down there had it at the house and ready to be packed but decided to drive van instead.  We cannot make up our minds.  Anny:  So funny.  So you left but don't know where u r going?  Let's all go to Moab:) Not the redwoods huh.  Me:  Nope.  I'm sad about that.  We are going to Huntington Beach area.  Just like every year.  Boring.  Anny:  I'm sorry

So, we left Saturday late morning, and decided down the road to drive straight through.  We got to Corona, CA at 6:30 a.m.  I called up Aaron to see if we could stop by and have a little rest while they went to church.  I feel bad that we always pop in to Aaron's, but they were up for it.  We saw them for about an hour.  Watched the kids play and get ready for church, then we slept for a few hours, grabbed our beach stuff, then headed off to the usual hotel.  I know in my text I didn't want to go to California, but once we decided to go, I was excited and hoped we would do some different things.

This trip we had three days.  We decided to do Hollywood, the beach, and Disneyland.

HOLLYWOOD

We walked around for a little bit, then got tickets to go on a tour bus throughout Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

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We stopped to see the Hollywood sign, but as you can, it can barley be seen.  Oh well.  The guide pointed out where Justin Beaber's house (well roof) was across the valley and the girls loved that.

THE BEACH

Maren brought her Activity Days dog, Wags, along and we had to get pictures to put in his scrap book.

Even though it was a little over cast, the kids has a blast boogie boarding again.

This time however, thanks to Anny's suggestion, we rented bikes and went for a good hour long ride up and down the beach.  Sammy and Maren road together on a tandem bike.

Sam was up in the front and I was in the back.  Some how I feel better in the back making sure no one is left behind.

 So Cute!

Aliza

This isn't my favorite picture, but I did want one of Sam and I on the bikes.

DISNEYLAND

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

Of course the kids all wanted to go to Disneyland again.  So we went.  Sam stayed for quite a while today.  He did have to go back to rest his back for a little while.  The lines weren't too bad.  Even though it was the 4th of July.

The girls did bring their Ears from last time so we didn't have to purchase new ones this year.

We did go on the submarine ride this year which we had never been on before.  We probably won't go on it again.

We got to go on Splash Mountain before the line got too big. It was fun to see the picture at the end.  Not a bad picture of a picture.

Sam, Jackson, and Sammy were ready to go back to the hotel before the fireworks, so they left and the girls and I stayed.  It was a beautiful show with beautiful old fashion American music in the background. 

It really ended up being a great time in California.  How could it not.  On our way out of town, we dropped our beach stuff back off to Brock and said good bye.  

Well, who knows maybe we'll be back next year.  

Even though I really want to go to the Redwoods.

Maui Scenes

On a road with lava rocks EVERYWHERE.

Taken while sitting in a chair at the pool at our 2nd hotel.  

What a beautiful sunset.

Love this tree 

 Just a quaint little town away from everywhere.

 A State Park in Hanna

On our way back, picture taken from the car of course 

There were lots of these old run down looking bridges on the Road To Hanna

Sam wouldn't stop, so I had to get this shot as we were moving. I loved this scene as we were ending our Road To Hanna drive.

 One of the bus stops.  I love it.

Maui - Last Day

Our last day. 

 It was one vacation I wasn't ready to leave.  It was such an enjoyable and relaxing vacation.  We didn't have to be at the airport until 7:00 that evening, so we had one last day of play.  The kids had enough of the beach and played at the pool all day.  Sam couldn't believe they chose the pool over the beach. Maren said she didn't want to get sand in her swimming suit any more.  We sat next the the rope swing again and watched the kids doing their tricks.  Aliza finally mastered swinging out and doing a back flip.  The girls got a braid in their hair with some beads.  It was very nice and relaxing.

Sam and Jim graced us with their presence for about 10 min. before they were off again either snorkeling, or finding some food.

 Aliza posing for me out on our balcony.  It was such a beautiful ocean view.  The picture below was looking on the other side of the hotel.  This was our view out our door and walking to the elevators.

I can not believe this is the only family picture we got at Maui.  I'm so disappointed.  I was hoping to get one while at a Luau we were planning on going to all dressed up, but it ended up being booked.  So, this is our family picture.  We were walking up to our hotel to get ready to leave when I realized we hadn't taken one yet.  I had Sammy come down from the room, and Anny was kind enough to snap a photo for me.  

I guess this is better than none at all, right?

We left Maui at 9:30 p.m.  Got into L.A. at 5 a.m.  then headed to Salt Lake.  Arrived there at 10:00, got in our car and drove home 8 1/2 hours to Montana.  We were definitely tired, but the kids didn't have school Monday, so it was nice to have a day to get back into the swing of things.

Maui- Days 7 and 8

The boys were able to practice their gainers before the rope swing opened up in the mornings.  They were pretty good.  This is Jackson.

 Anny and I made the boys try paddle boarding.  We only rented two for an hour, so the boys had to take turns sharing one.  I think they were ready to be done after an hour. :)

 We then took the Franckowiak's over to the State Beach that we went to the first day.  It was the usual of doing flips, jumping waves, boogie boarding and.......

Burying my feet and making a monster face out of it. 

Our last full day, we took the road the Hanna. It is more of a rainforest type area.  Very beautiful.  It was very windy.  By the time we were on our way back, most of us were sick from all the curves.  We didn't stop as much as we would have liked.  We did see some waterfalls, and beautiful ocean views.

We didn't walk down the the black sand beach, but it was a beautiful sight from above.  Look, we are still smiling at this point.

I love these girls!!!!!

I can't believe we actually went out to eat once we got back.  We ate at our pizza place again, one last time.  Those boy noses look so red. 

Maui-Day's 5 & 6

We finally all got moved to the same hotel.  The Grand Wailea.  The beach is right behind those beach chairs, but the kids wanted to hang out at the pool instead.  It was a pretty awesome pool.  A swing rope, slides, lazy river, hot tubs... We hung out at the rope swing the most.  The kids loved showing off their back flips.

Zack, Max, Jackson                               Maren

                              Maren                                                               Maren and Brynn

                                              After a while, we decided to take a drive around some of the island.  We saw some whales swimming somewhat close, so we stopped to watch for a few minutes.

I thought it was pretty amazing. 

 We ended up at another restaurant, it was late again, but the kids seemed to do a little better this time.

There was a man outside while we were waiting that had made these flowers out of leaves.  The kids each bought one.  They didn't last very long, but it was amazing looking.

 The next day was beach hopping.  We snorkeled down a little ways from our hotel.  Sammy saw a big sea turtle, and we all saw an eel and lots of little fish.  The kids all did great snorkeling.

Aliza, Maren, Max, Sammy, Zack, Jackson, Brynn, Blake, Brooklyn

 Sam wanted to shake things up a little, so we got some cheep boogie boards and tried to ride some waves.  It was a little hard to do, because they crash almost immediately. Sammy sat this one out for a little while, but later got in.

 We walked around this quant little town, and came upon this cool tree.  Someone was kind enough to take a picture of all of us.  I think this is the only one of the whole clan.