DisneyFreak

I recently joined a group of bloggers who on Wednesdays all take a trip down memory lane. If you would like to join in, or just read other peoples memories, click on the link and follow the directions!

Most of my friends and family know what a Disney freak I am. When I found out that we were moving to Georgia in 2005 the only good thing I could find about it was that I would be that much closer to Disney World.

We actually ended up going twice in the 3 years we were there. I feel so lucky and the memories of those trips always make me smile.

Now don't get me wrong, I still love the original West coast version. (Disneyland) In fact, I have been to DisneyLAND about 7 times. We have taken the kids there twice as well.

When you're at the Disney parks it's like you just forget reality...you're in a fantasy world and EVERYONE feels like a little kid again. It's WONDERFUL! The downside is when you go back home and reality sets in again:(

I treasure our vacations no matter where we go, but the Disney trips will always be my favorites.

The kids with Tigger. Disneyland 2001

Our first trip to Disneyland was in June of 2001. Andi was 9 years old and the twins were 6. We were living in Fort Lewis, WA at the time so we decided to make a full fledged vacation out of it. We drove down the Oregon coast and made a stop at the Sea Lion caves near Florence. Then a stop at the aquarium in Cresent City, CA and that night we camped in The Redwoods. The next morning we made a quick stop to visit Paul Bunyan and Babe the Big Blue Ox at the Trees of Mystery park. We also took a tram ride up to the top of the mountain there and were able to see whales breaching in the ocean. It was beautiful. We then traveled further south and visited Great Grandma and Grandpa Allen who were serving a mission in San Leandro, CA. Finally we made it to Disneyland and it was wonderful!

The kids with Mickey. Disneyland 2005

Our second trip to Disneyland was in February of 2005. It was during California's monsoon season or something, but we still had fun. Even if we were wet most of the time;) The things I remember the most about this trip is it was the kids' first time on an airplane (we flew down from Seattle) and it was our first character breakfast. Since then, we haven't been able to take a trip to Disney without at least one character meal. They are always the hightlight for me:)

Dave and the kids with Mickey. Disney World 2006

Our first trip to Disney WORLD was in July of 2006. We were new to the south at that time and we foolishly chose to camp at Fort Wilderness to save some money. Don't EVER camp in the south in the summer...especially if you're not accustom to the humidity! We took Cosmo (our dog) with us and just trying to sleep at night was a chore! We were miserable when we weren't at the parks. Thankfully, we were only at our campsite in the evenings and we were too excited to sleep at night anyway:)

Amy and the kids at Epcot. Disney World 2007

Our last trip to Disney World was in March of 2007. It was just before mine and Dave's 16th anniversary, so we got to wear buttons saying we were celebrating our anniversary and got a couple cute "perks" as well as lots of cast members giving us their best wishes and congratulations. It was a lot of fun. Plus, this time we stayed in a hotel on property. (the Port Orleans Riverside) and we knew what we really wanted to see and what things we could skip. It made for a much more relaxing trip. Oh yeah, we also left the dog in the kennel at home this time;)

I keep hoping we can go back again sometime. Maybe in a few years when we leave Hawaii we can stop by while we're in CA;) Or maybe I'll win the lottery and we can go anytime we want! Hey, I can dream, right? :D

Paying It Forward

Ok to win on another site I had to post this on mine.. Paying it forward The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a hand made gift from me during this year. When and what it will be is a surprise. There's a small catch...You knew there would be didn't you? Post this on your blog then come back and leave a comment, telling me you're in. Fun, huh? Remember, only the first 3 comments receive the gift. Let's see who looks at my blog!If I don't have your home address, please leave it for me. ...and don't forget I get a whole year! SO maybe when you least expect it!!!!

President's Day Weekend 09

Punalu'u Beach

As I've said before, I'm bound and determined to get this family out experiencing Hawaii whenever we get a chance (or an extended weekend as the case may be:)

This weekend was the first weekend since Dave got his bike back so I suggested we take a road trip. Me and Andi rode in the van all the way and the twins took turns riding with Dave on his bike.

We decided we would drive around the northern end of the island and down the east side to the macadamia nut farm. The drive along the coast alone was worth it and somehow we missed the farm entrance. So we decided to just keep going and we ended up stopping at a place called "The Valley of the Temples". Basically, it's a cemetery, but it's a beautiful, BIG cemetery with cool little Japanese temples scattered through out. At the very back of the cemetery is a Buddhist temple called Byodo-In Temple. It is the biggest temple there and you actually have to pay to get in to see it. It was pretty cool to see though. I had never been in an actual Buddhist temple. It had a cool pond in front of it with lots of coi fish and black swans.

Byodo-In Temple

We then took the H3 Freeway back towards home. The H-3 is probably one of the most scenic freeways you'll ever take. It had some beautiful views of the mountains and it has a big long tunnel the takes you actually through the mountain.

For today we had decided to go to the beach. We wanted to try one of the beaches we had seen the day before on our drive. Dave participated in the Great Aloha Run (an 8.15 mile run that the city of Honolulu puts on every year) with his unit. But when he got home, we headed for the beach. Made a quick stop in Laie at McDonalds for lunch. (right between the Polynesian Cultural Center and the BYU Hawaii Campus entrance) and then on to Punalu'u beach.

The first thing we noticed as we set up our beach towels was a dead sting-ray laying on the beach. It was interesting...never seen one like that before. It's head almost looked like a dolphin head. All the rays I've seen before were just flat. Anyway...here are some pics from our weekend.

Cownose Ray?

Good News All Around

Here's some of the latest happenings in our happy home...

The best news of all is that last Sunday Kierian was ordained a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood. We are very proud of him! Now we just need to get him to work on his grades...Eagle Scout and Missionary here we come!! :)

The next good news came in an email from the principal at the twins' middle school.

The high school that Andi now attends and the one the twins will attend next year, Leilehua High, was voted Parents Choice for public high schools in the state! To view the award you can go to www.greatschools.net, click on the tab about a quarter of the way down the page that says "top high schools" then click on the tab that says "view top schools in your state" scroll down to Hawaii and you are there!

Also awarded to Leilehua recently is the US News and World Report Bronze award . To access that go to the US News and World Report, click "top High Schools" and then scroll down to Hawaii.

YAY! GO MULES!!

And finally, the biggest news of all in Dave's mind...he FINALLY got his Harley back yesterday! He was SO excited! Of course it's supposed to rain all weekend, so he may have to wait to ride it again, but he probably had a lot of bugs in his teeth just from the ride home because he couldn't stop smiling!!

It still needs to have the gas tank replaced, but the bike shop said that could take another month or so and Dave just couldn't wait any longer!

Dave's bike the day we brought it home (in Georgia)

Pro-Bowl 2009

Our family had the oportunity to go down to Aloha Stadium today for what they call "Ohana Day" (Ohana means family for those who don't speak Hawaiian or have never seen Lilo and Stitch..hehe)

I wish we could have got tickets to the game as well, but our budget just wouldn't allow for it this year.

Anyway, I'm going to put a few pics up here, but if you want to see them all you can check out this link to our Snapfish album. http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=263640094/a=1529554/t_=1529554

Chris Cooley- Washington Redskins TE - Went to high school in Logan then went to Utah State before making it to the pros:)

AFC Players practicing

David Archuleta performing

What do Raiders Fans wear for Halloween?


Us at the Aloha Bowl

Leis

Today our Relief Society enrichment activity was lei making. Of course, me being new to Hawaii, I was ALL over that!

So I made one at the meeting and when I picked up the kids from school the girls decided THEY wanted to make leis too. So we ran to Wal-Mart and got the supplies and the pictures below are what we came up with.

Kylee holding and modeling our leis

Our girls

Last night was the girls' New Beginnings night for Young Womens and it was great! I was so proud of my girls.



Andi had to give a talk about Individual Worth and she did a really good job. She has also accepted the calling to be the Youth Council Advisor for our ward. So she will be helping at the stake level to plan their upcoming Youth Conference. She also received STRAIGHT A's on her last report card! That's the first time ever and now that she's a junior, it's a good time for it! That will look good on her college apps. Let's hope she can keep it up. Her english teacher also suggested that she take the test for AP English classes next year! That's another good thing to have on her record when trying to get into college...plus then she won't have to take it once she does get into college.



Kylee also is doing really well in school. She has a 3.9 GPA. She had all A's and one B last quarter. This morning I was able to attend a "Breakfast of Champions" at her school where she and all the honor roll students were honored. She has such a sweet spirit and good attitude about things. I know that she will go far in life as well. She can't wait to start softball again, maybe she'll be the one of my kids that goes to college on a sports scholarship? hehe



Don't get me wrong, I'm not forgetting about Kierian. Things have just been a little slower coming for him. He seems to be fitting in great at school and has already been to sleepovers at his friend's house. Strange enough, he seems to be my most social child. Usually girls are all about the social stuff, but he's got a girlfriend (from back in Georgia) that calls him EVERY day and a couple of boys that still call and talk to him. He's so eager to learn and grow and meet people. Deffinately not shy. He's a good boy and I can't wait to get him going in boy scouts again.

He did fairly well on his grades, but I think he's so smart that the homework bores him and he just doesn't do it. So while he does well on tests, he still gets D's in math! He is actually the first one of my kids to be on the honor roll back in Georgia. Infact, he made it 3 times back there, so we KNOW he can do it here. We just have to stay on him about doing his homework.

All in all we have 3 great kids and are very lucky and proud of them all!