FUN IN THE SUN

We went with our friends the Bergs and Jensens to St. George over UEA and stayed in the Ritchie get away home.  Our friend, Mandy had never been to St. George, so we took it upon ourselves to show her the sights of the town.  We did everything from hiking to swimming, to playing football, and eating yummy food, then we would stay up late playing games.  It was a blast!

Logan warming up to the swimming idea with his Dad.

Logan discovering licorice for the first time, yum!

Once again, Logan. . . determined to hike alone.

Here are the Dads with the baby boys starting the hike in Snow Canyon.

Bryson with his cute cousin, Kinzie Parker, who lives in St. George.  We meet the Parkers at a corn maze.  It was totally crazy, there were so many of our kids running around in the maze, I'm glad we all made it out before dark!

Garrett riding some kind of swing at the corn maze.

Mckay and Mac Berg.  We call them the two Macs!  We were being pulled by a tractor over to the cornmaze.

Its was so fun to get away for a couple of days!  The only negative to the trip was I lost my cell phone.  I seriously have no idea where it could be.  But, I did get a new cell phone out of it! Yippee!  I don't know who is more excited about my new phone, me or my boys.  All I know is that me ring tone keeps getting changed, it has become the new toy of the house.

Family Pics

Okay, I know that we are not regular bloggers, but I do have a testimony of blogging.  So, this is my feeble attempt to start up again.  Here are some pictures my friend Lindsey took of our family last week... What do you think?  I've decided it is pretty much impossible to get 5 boys to smile at one time.  But, I think she did a great job!

More Pictures of my boys

Okay, there were some better ones of Garrett, but this one totally captures his personality and makes me smile.
Logan  - I know he's adorable!  Its hard to believe that a baby so cute could get into so much mischief, looks can be deceiving!
Mckay, my little preschooler.  I love his enthusiasm for life, he is my pal and big helper while the other boys are at school. 
Tanner, showing off yet another lost tooth.  He is such a sweet boy and our little peacemaker.
I'm not sure when Bryson grew up.  I can't believe he is turning 12 in two weeks from today and will be a deacon.  I am now understanding what people mean they say, "Enjoy them when they are young, they grow up way to fast."  He truly is an example to his brothers and I am so proud of him.

Just a few more...

Paul and I.  What a good lookin' guy, no wonder our boys are so adorable!  I hope they all grow up to be just like their Dad.
The boys looking their best...
The boys planning their next move, ready to be done!

Top Ten Highlights of Hawaii

These highlights are in no order, but just what was memorable for me...

1-  Running in the mornings by the beach with Jessica.

2- Meeting up with Brady, Karen, and Zachary.  Having Brady try to teach me to surf.

3- Having Logan take a nap, so I could lay in the sun and read New Moon.  (I know, I know I shouldn't be tanning)

4-  Going to the Luau and the fire show at the Polynesian Cultural Center with the boys.
5- Just hanging out with my sister-in-laws.
6- Trying pineapple ice cream at the Dole Pineapple Plantation.
7- Watching my competitive  boys (including Paul) try to beat records in going through the pineapple garden maze.
8- Hooking up with Scott and Natalie for dinner before their flight home.  We were so happy Natalie was okay...(we will let Natalie share all the details).
9- Watching the boys having fun with their cousins and get to know them better.

10- Seeing Zachary and watching Logan "play" with him.  Logan was happy to give him lots of kisses.

Week Long Water Party

I wish I had better pictures to do our trip justice.  We stayed at the Mariott Ko'Olina Beach Villas.  Their pools were amazing and my kids were in paradise with 2 huge pools (like the one above), hot tubs, a sandy beach pool, and the ocean just down the steps, it doesn't get any better.  Well, actually it did for the boys when they realized they could order shaved ice at the pool bar and have it charged to our room! 
Here's Tanner trying out the snorkeling equipment in the pool.
Paul is always the fun Uncle.  Here Paul is with a bunch of cousins in the ocean with a mini trampoline we rented.  It was so fun.
A picture with the "older cousins".  Paul and I (and Logan) took Bryson and some of the older cousins on a hike up to this waterfall.   I was so mad I didn't have my swimsuit with me on the hike, but we had fun watching the kids and Uncle Charles swim around.
Logan was such a great sport, we took him every where with out a problem.

Hawaiian Easter Egg Hunt

We just got back from a fun filled week in Hawaii with all of our cousins.  You are now thinking that I have lost it and have posted the wrong pictures, do not adjust your computers, yes we indeed did an easter egg hunt in Hawaii in May.  Thanks to M'Recia (Paul's sister) for planning our daily events.  On Monday for FHE, we had a BBQ, followed by a kickball game and then an Easter egg hunt.  We did this all on the lawn of the resort.  The kids had a blast, and with over 50 Ritchies (yes that is what happens with 8 kid, spouses, and grandkids) we were quite the show.  There were people stepping out on their balconies snapping pictures of all of our festivities.  

Getting ready for the hunt.

Nothing says"Hawaii" like fresh pineapple for our BBQ!

Logan and Grandma Carolyn

After trying to find all the labeled eggs for 1/2 hour, we finally brought them all together and sorted them out.   The kids were extremely excited to have a bag full of candy to start off the week.  Just what we needed, something to keep the kids wired just a little longer.