Hawaii!!!

We just got back from Hawaii today! We had a ton of fun. It is definitely a little different to travel with a 1 yr old (i.e. a lot of work), but still worth it. My mom was great enough to watch the kids a bunch of times so we could go do non-baby activities.

So...what did we do? The fun started on Sunday (we went to church), and then we headed up to the north shore (working our way back down). We went to a few beaches and went snorkeling. We did a little hike that leads to lava rocks that the waves wash over forming a pool (called Queensbath). It was fun and there were a bunch of fish in the pool.

Monday morning we did the coolest hike to the bottom of a waterfall. I've seen the waterfall from the top every time we go to Kauai - but I'd never been to the bottom. Jackie had done it before and showed us the way. It was so powerful and loud! We tried to swim as close as we could but the waves coming away from it were so strong we couldn't even come close. The water was cold but felt good after the hike. The first pic is at the top, the second you can see our tiny heads at the bottom left.

Monday we also went scuba diving. We did one easy dive (to get everybody accustomed). Then we did a second dive, Sheraton Caverns. Karl and I had done this dive when we went in '06 and loved it so we were excited. We learned on the first dive that we all go through air differently. We all went down and Karl was down the first to peel off - way before anyone else. Then Jessie peeled off. Then Dad and Vickie had to head back up. Jackie and I were about even and got to stay down awhile longer. We all got to see lots of huge sea turtles, eels, fish, and a bunch of things the guide would point at and do hand signals to explain what it was but I had no clue what the hand signals meant...I just appreciated the under water experience.

Tuesday we decided to take it easy and I honestly can't remember what we did. Maybe an update later.

Wednesday stunk since I came down with a cold and was running a fever all morning. Mom had volunteered to stay home and watch babies and she ended up taking care of me too (Thanks Mom). Everyone else went Kayaking up a river, then hiked to a waterfall. Karl and I did this trek last time so I wasn't completely heart broken, but it would have been fun. It sounded like they all had a good time. (Pics posted online).

Thursday we went to a local beach and relaxed some more. Pool time too. Here are some pics of Carson playing in the sand. We had a real hard time keeping it out of his mouth. You can see Grandpa's hand taking the shovel away.

Friday we drove up to a lookout and then started a hike that was supposed to go to another lookout (I think...I was just along for the hike). The trail got really muddy and I kept waiting for it to get better but a mile in it was just getting worse. We decided to turn around and call it a hike. The lookout was amazing though.

We went boogie boarding that afternoon. Everyone took a turn, including Dad. Dad also gave us all pointers on how to do it better. I never realized that when my dad lived in Hawaii as a young adult, he and his brother got pretty good at boogie boarding/body surfing.

Saturday we checked out but had the whole day to kill. We did some shopping and then hit my favorite beach (Kealia, in case you are traveling to Kauai in summertime). The waves are pretty big and the beach has this unique thing where there are waves moving away from the shore as well. So the waves going out and the ones coming in will hit and pop you up in the air a bit. We also boogie boarded. You'll ride the wave and then all the sudden pop up into the air. Then we headed up north again (the fancy side of the island). We were doing a little shopping and eating shave ice when we ran into Rob Lowe! I stared at him a long time trying to decide if it was him or not before I realized that I was rudely staring at him forever. But when he took off his sunglasses it was for sure him. It added a little excitement to our last day.

Other generals - Carson loved having Cordell around. They played together pretty nicely. There were a few fights over toys but really not that bad. Carson did try to give him hugs though. But Carson's hugs end up as tackles to the ground. Cordell held his own though and didn't let Carson be a bully. It was great to hang out as a family and relax.

We got home and within a half hour I got a call from the bishopric asking me to be the 2nd counselor in the primary presidency. They normally don't do it over the phone but they really needed to call me this Sunday because next Sunday the president and the 1st counselor are out of town...so I'm in charge. Hmmm...I don't even know how primary goes, so this will be interesting. I also sit for the first section of the CPA a week from Monday! Welcome home - back to the real world. But I'm excited about my calling, I love primary. I know I'll be nervous for awhile though.

I'll post all our pics with in the next few days. It's nice to be back home!

Happy 1st Birthday!

So Carson had his first birthday yesterday. We invited some friends and family over and had a little party. I made Carson a cake (my first ever). It ended looking pretty good, not perfect but I was pretty proud of myself. It looked like a snake. It was two bundts cut in half and pieced together, a fruit by the foot for a tongue, and peanut M&Ms for eyes. I was going to do the decorating (as seen in picture) over the entire body, but I decided I shouldn't undertake something like that on my first cake. So I made the snake a diamondback. I felt it appropriate being in Arizona. Carson got some cool new toys, books, movie, and clothes. He got lots of little trucks, a basketball hoop (so he doesn't have to use a baby swing), a Bee Movie, and lots of other fun stuff.

Karl and I waited to give him chocolate till his birthday so we thought he would just go crazy for it. At first he didn't even want it. He kept trying to throw it on the ground, but once Karl got some in his mouth he realized it wasn't too bad. He ate some and naturally got messy but what he really loved was the ice cream. He had a big handful and was sucking on it and then would smile.

He was a little bit cranky all night though. He's got teeth coming in and had a slight fever the whole day (off and on). The ice cream probably felt good on his gums. So he wasn't the happiest, but it was still fun.

He had a doctor's appointment this morning. He weighs 24 lbs 8 oz and is 32 1/2 inches tall. He's 75 percentile for weight and over 95 percentile for height. He's one tall boy. He got three shots and was not happy (obviously). The doctor said his gums are really swollen and it can take awhile for these next ones to come in. So that's fun.

Next time I post it will be about Hawaii!! Aloha!

More Water

So with it already being 110 degrees here and Carson and I have all day to hang - we've been doing a lot of water activities.

He started swim lessons, every Tues and Thurs. They don't actually learn to "swim" but they get really comfortable with the water and I'm learning a ton about water safety and good water games. He's learned how to kick and blow bubbles. We also learn how to spit (I know, awful) but then they don't swallow the pool water. They've learned how to monkey crawl around the edge and climb out of the pool (Carson still needs a little help with these two). Most important is called queuing though. He's learning that he can't get into the pool till I come around and count to three and bring him into the pool. There's a few other cues they're working on. Next week we start getting comfortable with back floating - which he'll hate. He's never liked being on his back - even on land. But it's fun and he absolutely loves it!


On Wednesdays we go to water park play group with the other ladies in the ward. It's just a park in a neighborhood near by that has a big water center. So free, cooler, and fun. He was actually a little apprehensive at first which is a very rare thing for Carson. But once he found a shovel (something to hold) he felt more comfortable - kids are so funny. By the end he was literally sticking his head directly in front of the shoots and thinking it was great.

And on Fridays we've been going to the pool play group. We just meet at someones house with a pool and all bring a snack. It's pretty fun too. Carson has a little rash guard so he doesn't get too much sun - he's got a little farmer's tan now - barely though since he still wears SPF 50. Carson loves all the activities - he gets a little stir crazy sitting in the house all day...oh wait, maybe that's me.

Karl and I had a fun anniversary weekend. We got a spa package at a hotel. We've never really celebrated our anniversary before so we figured for year 5 we should do something really fun. The massages were great and they had a relax area to go to before and after the massage - steam room, sauna, jacuzzi. It was really nice. We went out to our favorite restaurant, Ra. It's a sushi place and it is sooo good. We got a ton of food and then Karl was determined to finish it all. Needless to say he was full. Then we went and saw Iron Man (pretty good). Karl and I love to analyze movies afterwards. I think when we first got married I would always do the analyzing and he would just listen - but now he looks forward to it after the movie too. We saw a few major flaws and had some unanswered questions...but still good. Karl's parents were nice enough to watch Carson for Sat and Sun so we could relax. Here's just a pic of us before we went out - yes we took it ourselves with the timer.

Here's just a video of Carson in that shelf again and him making a homemade basketball hoop (Thanks Kari for letting us borrow this multi purpose toy). He just makes me laugh.