more Maui

This is the veiw from the backyard of the house - it's no wonder we spent a lot of time there.
Dave and Noah wading into the river in an area of rainforest.
Looking out over the black sand beach at a state park near Hana.

We spent one day on the big island, Hawaii, touring the volcanoes. The volcanic gas coming up from behind grandma, grandpa and Noah is from the vent hole created from an explosion of lava this past March.

Noah body surfing at the beach in Ka'anapoli

This is where the actual lava is flowing out of Mount Maouna Loa and landing in the sea. The hot lava hitting the cool water creates a geyser of rock, gas, steam and ash.

We did several other wonderful things in Hawaii, but have no record of them. As you know, I claim to be a scrapbooker but am not good at taking pictures - go figure. Well, my camera battery ran out of power about mid-way through our vacation and I had not had the forsight to pack it's charger. What a great scrapbook this vacation is going to make!

Anyway, we went snorkeling with fish and giant sea turtles, ate lots of wonderful tropical fruit - even picked our own pineapple on the plantation, went to a amazing aquarium, of course did some shopping, rode a speed boat that went 60 mph and lots of other activities. I did not want to leave paradise but was a little tired of eating fish and had to get home for the start of school. Although I do not have pictures, I will never forget the absolutely incredible place that Hawaii is.

12 days of paradise

We were all recently treated to a wonderful vacation on Maui, Hawaii for almost two weeks. My parents, Dave's parents, Dave, Noah and I all stayed in a gorgeous house in Lanai. Here are pictures of some the activities we enjoyed while there.

On our way












Pop made us pina coladas almost daily.



















We swam, played badmitton, hung out in the hot tub, louged in the hammock, soaked in the sun, and made smores in the fire pit all overlooking the ocean in the back yard of the house.

Dave, Noah and Grandma went parasailing. They rose 800 feet into the air!

Time for Two

In July, my mother was wonderful enough to take Noah for a few days so that Dave and I could go somewhere alone together. No dogs, children or church. Unbelieveable! We decided to go to Sedona, AZ because we had heard so much about what a gorgeous place it is and its not too far - about 4 hours from Tucson. It was fabulous. We spent the time wandering around the rocks and taking in the scenery, lounging in bed in front of the tv (a real treat because we don't have a tv in the bedroom), and getting pampered with a massage. We even got to have a great Indian meal, something we do not get to do here in Tucson, especially with Noah. He is very sour on Indian food because we dragged him to Inda Oven in Logan at least twice a week. Even two years later, he still cringes at the mention of it. Dave and I savored every bite and gorged ourselves on it in Sedona. The time together was much needed, we should definitely do it again in another few years! We always say we need to do it more often, but life takes over and we don't make it to happen. Many, many thanks to my mom for forcing the issue. Parents do know best. I would highly recommend this as a destination for anyone in the area. We will be back for sure, maybe with Noah this time.

Here is some local wildlife

Up, Up and Away!

I had misplaced some pictures and just found them. Among them were these pictures of Noah and dave in a ballooning adventure this past May. They had gotten invited to help "chase" the balloons that go out every Saturday. This meant helping them get into the air and getting them put away after landing. So they got up before the crack of dawn one weekend and wnet to help. As luck would have it, someone who was going to ride did not show, so after quickly signing their lives away (leave it to a dad to allow this for his child), they got to go for a flight. Noah said he was amazed how quiet it was up in the sky. What an awesome experience! Now I wish I had agreed to go help. I am up for any exciting thrill, but the early morning scared me out of it. I guess the early birds do get the worm.

Here is Noah standing inside of the hot air balloon.

A Souvenir!

Other than the wonderful memories, a few extra pounds, and some Farmer's Market soap, we brought back another souvenir from our trip to Utah.

Eli Johnson, one of Noah's best friends, flew back with us to Tucson.It was his first time flying and he was a trooper. His visit was great - we went to the Discovery Children's Museum in Phoenix, the Saguaro National Park, Speedracer movie at the Imax and did a ton of swimming. Eli says he likes the heat, so maybe he can convice his parents to move here....

He and Noah got along wonderfully and we will definitley have him back again sometime.

Back to Utah

The day after I got back from Cedar City, Noah and I hopped on a plane to head back to Utha, this time to Logan. Again, I did not take very many pictures - will I never learn? However, my wonderful friend Emily Zebarth did and she has already posted them to her blog site. She's much better at this than I am. Here is her site where you can see several entries of our time in Logan - http://www.zebarth.blogspot.com/. Check out her entries titled "Rocking Rollercoasters", "Peace Train", and "Crazy Photos from Photobooth" to see some of out goings on there, or check out her whole blog - you might make a new friend.

Anyway, the time flew by so fast and I really wish we had had more of it. I feel like I did not get to spend wuality time with all the people I wanted to, ut we did get to spend some very wonderful time with several of our favorites.

We began with a three day stay at my Grandmother's in Ogden. It was so nice for Noah and I to really be able to get some one on one time with her. We went to see Indiana Jones and visited my cousin and her children. The kids had a great time together and I always appreciate how hospitable Michelle is when we come visit. She made us lunch and showed us around her amazing place in Honeyville. I am completely amazed by what she is able to handle and accomplish. She is one of those people who has 42 hours in her day while the rest of us only have 24. And she never complains. Taking care of three children, 2 house dogs, several labs they are breeding and 4 horses! Not to mention, at this time, the neighbors pets and lambs. And it's all clean! I'm not even on the ball enough to get pictures of it all. I'm so ashamed and in awe!

Once in Logan, the Sawyers were gracious enough to house us again, for the rest of the week. We love staying with them and are grateful to them for keeping us. As soon as we got there, it was like we had never left. Lauri, Andrea, and Emily put together a fun girl's night hosted at Laura's - it was like old times with all of us together again. Many thanks to Jay who took this kids to a a movie for us. I love being with these girls! We always have so much fun and I hope that no matter how old we all get or where we all end up in our lives, we will still be able to get together regularly for Girls Night.

It was definitely a trip full of favorites - friends, food and fun. Other highlights included: eating at the Indian Oven (my favorite, not Noah's), eating at Firehouse Pizza (Noah's favorite), going to the demolition derby (a Logan must), going to the Summerfest (a Logan tradition), going to the Celebration Center and Salt Lake city on the train(see Emily's blog), and having the privilege of spending the day with our friend's the Deberards on Marta's Momentous 40th birthday.

Marta is 40 and pregnant and smiling! Another amazing woman who puts me to shame.

Here are Matty and Noah comparing their height. I think Matty is slightly taller, even without hair.

We also got to spend time with Debbie and family who made us a very good dutch oven meal (again a woman who puts me to shame with her cooking and working and three kids). I'm glad I have surrounded myself with such inspiring people - now if it would just inspire me to do something! Here they are selling thier glass creations a t the weekly Farmers' Market.

We also were able the Reddigs and the Thimmes family. Although very short visits, we were thankful to have gotten to catch up a little. Again, no pictures though. Some things we did not get to do, but will next time for sure: spend more time with Debbie (I feel like we did not have adequate time), go to Charley's Ice Cream, attend VBS at First Presbyterian (which we were very sad to miss this year) and take more pictures!

Here are Noah and Sophie Zebarth saying goodbye to each other. We really miss all our friends in Logan and so look forward to seeing all of them whenever we can. And even though we wish we could all be together all the time, we were glad to be coming back to Arizona, which is beginning to fell like home finally, and our family and friends here. We hope you can all come visit sometime, and if not, we will see you next year! Can't wait!

And I call myself a scrapbooker

The following weekend after our trip to Las Vegas, my mother and I returned there - this time we flew. We met my cousin Gerri (who lives there) and my aunt Bobbie (who works there) and drove together to Cedar City, Utah where Bobbie and my uncle Keith live. Mom and I have not seen them for over a year. We had a wonderful weekend just eating and watching movies - 7 to be exact! It was so fun to be able to spend a weekend doing such lazy things. I really hope we can make this a regular thing.

The only bad part of the whole thing is that I took one single picture. How pathetic is that? I should have gotten a picture of all of us surrounded by food and growing into the couch. Here is the picture I did get however - Keith and Gerri (and Tulip and Junior). Thanks to them and Bobbie for providing us such a perfect and relaxing few days.