Driveway sledding is best left to children...

Well of course we had to try it, the girls were having so much fun!

My turn!
Here goes Brent! :)

Learning to Love the Snow...

We have never been able to get Gracie or Faith to go sledding. It's just too cold...and the hills are too scary.

But Gracie sure wanted to go out and build a snowman. The only problem is that the snow is too powdery.

Well Dad found a solution.

Driveway sledding. Not too fast, no big hill to look down.

Right next to the house, for when they get too cold.
Gracie wanted to try this (hill?) out herself.

This was the best driveway sledding ever! Just watch out for cars. :)

What one person receives without working for...

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it
~~~~~ The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 - 2005 ~~~~~~

Christmas May Be Over..But the kids still love Christmas Songs!

My kiddo's singing Christmas Carols might actually be the cutest thing ever. But don't take my word for it :0)Listen to those girls sing!Faith sings one on her own. She's so very talented at age 2!

My list of Crazy Firsts from Hawaii & My Favorite Random Pic's

Sadly I didn't get pictures of most of them. But I had a whole bunch of crazy 1st's on our trip to Hawaii.
For example:
I had my 1st actual cab ride.
1st time being stuck in traffic behind a landslide.
1st time driving on a 4-wheel drive Hawaiian cattle road, in a 1980 something Toyota corolla during torrential rains.
1st time visiting Hilo, where I also had my 1st time seeing flood water wash over the hood of our car.

Don't forget 1st time driving in rain so thick you could only see the 1st reflector on the yellow dotted line to guide you on your road.


I just have to say, that this car was SWEET! It was very old, and smelled like mildew (especially after all the rain!) But this car got us through, crazy flooding, back roads we never should have been driving on. And took us all over the island with no problems whatsoever. (except the stinking) Did I mention also that it was free? Brant new someone from the ward who knew a member over there who let us borrow it. Pretty sweet deal, since there were no rental cars to be had Christmas weekend.

Plus we looked like locals in it, so we really didn't have to worry so much about having someone break into our car.
I will fondly remember this car as one of the best parts of the trip.

1st time eating at Bubba Gumps...it was also AWESOME!

I already mentioned the flooding and torrential rains.

1st time eating coconut ice cream at this little shop! It was also AWESOME!

Not my 1st time getting a head hug while Brent snaps a picture. We did this all the time when we lived on Oahu.

1st time I've ever been given airline tickets anywhere. What an unbelievable gift!

1st time going on vacation with my bishop. Which was actually really awesome! Brant & Brent have become really good friends. I've become great friends with Jen, and that friendship means a lot to me.

I will love these guys forever!

This isn't a 1st anything, I just think he's so stinkin cute!

Don't let me forget to add:

1st hippie colony.

1st time seeing nudist body surfing at the beach. (It was a bit horrifying!)

1st shoulder dislocation while snorkeling.

1st time having Brent (re) locate my shoulder. :)

Who can forget the 1st time I sat on a sea urchin?

1st time seeing a wild bore.

1st time eating Thai Food. (I loved it!)

I didn't keep a list like I should have so that's all I can think of for now. But it was definitely a trip worth remembering. And one that I'm deeply grateful I was able to be part of. Heavenly Father blesses us in many ways, this one was huge!

Maybe this is what Heaven looks like...

It can't be heaven...without love...

When I see a beautiful sunrise, or landscape with the kids I will ask, "Do you think that's what heaven looks like?"

Well, I definitely think Heaven could look like some of these!

You can't help but be amazed at the sheer beauty.

And what would heaven be without good friends?

It wouldn't be heaven without him...

I stand in awe of the beautiful world our Heavenly Father has created for us...

Red hot lava...or the lack there of.

We went to try and see the Lava flowing from Mt. Kilauea into the Pacific. However, for the 1st time in I don't remember how many years... The Lava had stopped flowing.

All you could see was steam rising from vents in the ground. You can see the spot where the Lava had been flowing into the Ocean.

We couldn't believe the little homes out here in the middle of the lava fields. People actually live out here. (I wouldn't be able to sleep at night!)

The lava made some awesome patterns, it was beautiful to see.

Here's a street sign that was almost completely engulfed by the lava flow.

The remnants of someones fence sticking out of the lava...

This tree scorched on the side that was closest to the lava...

Here's the hole where the trunk once stood.

The steam contains sulfuric acid, which would be kind of a bummer to breath...since it can cause death and stuff.

We walked out till we found a hot spot, you could actually feel the heat coming out of the ground. We figured that was probably close enough.

Last time we were here Brent walked out to where the Lava was flowing into the Ocean...(the park ranger wasn't thrilled but couldn't stop him...remember the constitution..?) I'm glad we didn't make the trip this time, seeing as how the lava wasn't flowing!

You can see how the Lava just engulfed the road. Talk about a force of nature!

Thet thar's the tallest grass I's ever seen...

Brent & Brant... they're boys, what can I say?

Brent just had to check it out and see if it worked as good as the grass back home.

These photo's have not been edited, the grass in Hawaii grows pretty flippin tall!

Hawaiian flowers for my Mommy....

We used to live on Oahu, and when my Mom & Aunt Sharon came to visit they literally spent hours looking at all of the flowers. They used to work together in a florist shop and they new most of the names, and were amazed to see them growing.

I have no clue what their names are, but they remind me of my Mom and my Aunt. I miss them both very much.

Dear mother all flowers remind me of you...