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.

FRIENDS

I am just thinking tonight how grateful I am for such wonderful friends.  I have no sisters or daughters, but have been surrounded with amazing friends (including my mother and sister-in-laws).  My friend, Lindsey Danley just threw me a b-day party Monday night for FHE with a bunch of friends in our ward.  We had amazing Mexican food, my favorite (no curry, hee hee).

I, of course forgot my camera, but you can see the pics from our party at:

heberdanley.blogspot.com/2008/05/cinco-de-mayo.html.  We had a blast, it was so fun to have a party outside again.  Lindsey not only makes good food, but she is also an excellent photographer. It's nice to have such talented friends. 

Oh, I plan on posting soon on our amazing family reunion with the Ritchies in Hawaii!  Stay tuned... ALOHA!

9-1-1 and the middle finger

Our little Mckay (who just turned 4 on Tuesday) keeps us laughing - well at least now we are laughing.
Saturday afternoon Mckay came up to me and said, "Mom we don't call 9-1-1 huh?"
I quickly said, "No, unless there is an emergency". I thought to myself, I wonder if he could really call if he needed. Then I didn't give it another thought and went back to cleaning the house. Within a few minutes a policeman was at my door. The policeman explained that someone had called 9-1-1 from our home. I told Mckay to come and see who was at the door, he took one look, starting crying and ran and hid. The policeman was very nice and said that this happens all the time when a class learns about 9-1-1. I told him that I was sorry and it would never happen again. He just laughed and said, "I doubt it." What did he mean by that?

Sunday during church Mckay kept putting his sacrament cup up to his eye to make himself look like a pirate.
I said in a whisper,"Mckay, stop doing that right now or I will take your toy away."
Mckay (in a loud voice), "If you do that, then I will put a my middle finger."
Me, "Mckay, stop it right now and give me your toy."
Mckay, "Okay Mom, here it goes, I'm putting up my middle finger, see!"
I keep thinking we are past crazy sacrament meetings, but last Sunday proved me wrong. People should have to pay to sit behind us. We do distract from the spirit a little, but we are super entertaining.

The "Spontaneous" Magic Kingdom

About a month ago, we decided to plan a trip to Disneyland with our kids for Spring Break.  We decided to keep it a secret until Tanner's birthday (just days before the break).  We told the boys Thursday morning, then as soon as they left for school, I got a call saying that G'ma Orton wasn't going well and would probably pass away in the next few days.  So after school we told the boys that trip may not happen after all because we maybe going to St. George for a funeral. Grandma passed away the next day. Luckily she was staying with Jim and Carolyn, so we were able to go see her before she passed away. We will miss her greatly, but we are so happy she is with her husband and others who have passed on before.

We called and cancelled airplane tickets, a car rental, and our resort reservation, then headed to St. George for the funeral.  We had a couple of fun days playing in the sun there, then went to the funeral on Tuesday.  Paul said on the way to the funeral, "Hey, lets leave after the funeral and drive to Disneyland for the rest of the week!"

I am not good with surprises and like to have everything planned in advanced.  I explained how this wouldn't work because I packed the wrong stroller and I didn't have the right shoes.  Paul said that he wished I could be more spontaneous and just go.  After mulling it over during the funeral, I decided I would be okay and we hurried and packed our bags and headed out.  The drive wasn't bad at all!  Especially with the DVD player and my "New Moon" book, it was easy!

The first night we stayed in a hotel right next to Disneyland where we could watch the fireworks from the park.  We got up early the next morning and played all day at Disneyland.  We had so much fun and were able to get in every ride we wanted at least 2 or 3 times.  I think everyone's favorite was Splash Mountain.  Logan was so good!  He was happy to sit in his stroller all day and just watch everyone.  The boys were exhausted at the end of the day.  

I decided I should write a book on how to take 5 boys to Disneyland.  I have learned a few things.  One is its easier to put all you kids in the same color of shirt - that way you can see them easily, without trying to remember what they are wearing.  I tried this out in California Adventures, it really helped.

The next tip is to be ready to answer lots of questions, like "Are all these boys yours? Are you going to try for a girl? How do you do it?"  I felt like we were being watched everywhere. Luckily the boys were good and we actually had a lots of compliments on having such well behaved boys.  My favorite comment was while we were sitting down eating lunch, a man walked up to me and said, "Mam,  I think you shouldn't have to pay to come here with 5 boys,  somebody should be paying you for trying!"
Tip #3:  Take 2 cell phones and a stroller.  This way you can divide up with big kids and little kids for awhile, then let the big kids get you a stroller pass so you can go again with them.  Also, bring lots and lots of water and treats, unless you want to pay $5 for a bottle of water.  Tip #4:  Most importantly,  don't let your 4 year old hold his arms out of the tram while riding into the park, its kind of embarrassing when the conductor stops the tram to come and tell your son not to do that anymore.  That is when you should look around trying to figure out who that kid belongs to and why his Mommy didn't teach him any better.

More pics of Disneyland

All my boys, just taking a break!  What a handsome bunch.

Waiting for Aladdin the show to start, it was awesome!  A must see!  This was my idea and no one was to thrilled, until it started.  The boys loved the genie and real flying carpet.

Mom and her boys after going on a river rafting ride at California adventures, Garrett got soaked!  Somehow I got lucky.

Logan watching the parade, he loved every minute of it!

Mckay at Bug's Life, ready for the show!