Hawaii Trip

I feel like I just woke up from a dream and I am trying so hard not to forget it. Hawaii was so beautiful and such a blast! I went out there to shoot my step sisters wedding (pictures of that will come later). We arrived Thursday night and left Hawaii last night and arrived in Bellingham this morning at 6:30. Neither Rhett or myself slept on the plane and have been up for over 24 hours. We are so tired but we are excited to share our trip with you all.

The six hour flight was the longest flight I have ever taken, so we made sure we would have plenty stuff to do. We watched the Harry Potter And The Sorcerers Stone. I even learned a new game one my phone called Plants Vs. Zombies (my new addiction). When we got to the airport it was late, but we were all hungry so we ate at a place called Zippies. I wasnt a fan, but thats what you get at a 24 hour restaurant.

The next morning we woke up to this beautiful scene. We stayed at the Lotus Hotel near Diamond Head. We ate breakfast at the Hau Tree Restaurant right next to our hotel (there was even a rainbow awaiting us there!). My eggs benedict was the best I ever had! So delicious! I had realized I hadnt packed my memory cards for my camera, so I had to run by a rental place and get some for the weekend. The Lord was watching out for me on that one.

We took a beautiful drive along the coast from the South side of Honolulu to the North side of Honolulu. I have pictures of that but its on my other camera so I will post them later.

Saturday was the Wedding and Sunday we snorkeled (or tried before I got freaked out), enjoyed the sun and caught some waves. We even survived the waves at Sandy Beach. If you know anything about Sandy Beach, its that you cant just go there and expect to get out without getting hurt or dying. My mom and I watched the HUGE waves crash over people and we loved hearing the Life Guard make fun of people and yell at people over the intercom. I think my favorite was "Your boyfriend should have never let you come here!"

What I found most odd about Honolulu (Waikiki Beach area) was how it was so much like Vegas. Overcrowded. Lots of high end stores. Expensive. I loved the beautiful water color and all the Polynesian culture. I definitely want to go back in the next couple years.

My mom and step dad gave us leis when we got in. They smelled ah-mazing!

The rainbow on the first day. Tropical rain is crazy!

the art work on the wall looked like a smiley face.

Our view from the front of the hotel

our view from the back of our hotel

another view from the back of our hotel

The only good thing about coming home on a red eye flight is seeing your beautiful city in the morning dew with sun rays shining through the clouds. Absolutely breathtaking!

Speaking out

This may come as a shock to some of you, but parenting is probably my lifes greatest challenge. I dont enjoy it and really struggle to be a good mom. I have two kids who I know were given to me for a reason... to drive me crazy, but also to strengthen me and humble me.
Its easy to dish out advice on how to be a good parent. When I was just married, and even before that, I had in my head the type of parent I was going to be. I thought I was pretty realistic, too... That is, until I had two kids. I see mothers all around me having 3, 4, 5, and even 6 kids. I ask my self "how do they do it and stay sane?!" I think I would drive myself off a cliff! I know I was blessed with many gifts and talents from God, but patients is not one of them.
This may be my "depression" talking, but I find it hard to have joy in your life when your kids are fighting at 6 in the morning, or when you are trying to make a special date and go out for ice cream just for the kids to act up and misbehave, or when you think you are going to have some nice family time and read a book just to have your kids scream at each other on who gets to snuggle with mom or talk over you while you read. Is it just my kids that argue with me nonstop, all day every day, 24/7?! I tell them we are going to drive to the post office and they freak out and start throwing themselves on the floor like they didnt know any better.
I've tried taking "mommy time-outs" in the car, but the kids seem to just follow me. I cant even take a shower without the kids coming in and screaming that Luke hit Kylee or Kylee hit Luke. I hate to say it, but I cant wait for school to start again!
I know some of you may judge me, but I am writing this for those who may be struggling as well. I want to speak out for moms and let them know that they cant vent and that they dont have to be a "perfect" mom all the time.
Moms, its time to speak out!

4th of July 2011

This year was a little hectic and didn't turn out so great at first. There were a lot of tantrums and throwing fits and fighting and crying, so the morning half we didn't do anything fun. However, we had a wonderful BBQ with our fantastic neighbors and then headed out to the driveway to light fireworks. Later, Kylee and I went to sit in the back of Rhetts truck (which we had parked the night before so that we could get a good spot) at Boulevard Park to watch the BIG fireworks. It was super late and getting cold, so we brought blankets and some toys for Kylee to play with while we waited. Kylee is loving music (mostly stuff sung by Glee) and started singing a Lady Gaga song. The car next to us heard Kylee and started playing the song so she could sing with it. Then she started singing another song and they played that one as well. Kylee got the biggest kick out of them playing every song she sang. She said "I think they like my singing!"

I love this dog! This is our neighbors dog and his name is Wyatt. He's smart and funny and curious. One of my favorite things is that he will drop this ball (which is gross and slimy) and then growl and stare at it until you pick it up and throw it to him.

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What The Kids Are Doing This Summer (So Far)

Kylee graduated Kindergarten earlier this month. I used my little crappy camera to tape it, but in the middle of taping it, it told me "the battery is exhausted." So I used my camera on my phone. I put them privately on YouTube, but you can view them here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fScSZY6Np4Yhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7Fg54xAjPYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OPpcjfvVWAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9M29WSikLA
Sorry they aren't the best quality, but I did what I could. She was so sad the leave Kindergarten, she cried for about an hour. She said she was going to miss her teacher and she was sad she wasn't going to be her teacher next year. So far this Summer we have gone to the library, park and played outside. Kylee has been going to Gymnastics Camp this week for 3 hours each day. She absolutely loves it, too. One night I was tucking her in to bed and asked her what her dreams where. She said she wants to be a singer, or work at Petsmart. She sings constantly and she knows she has a good voice. Its just funny when she says it.
Luke is such a big boy. That kid is all over the place. He talks so well and always is following Kylee around and doing and saying what she does and says. He loves playing with the neighbor boys, Trace and Davis. We've gone to two birthday parties so far and have had a blast.
Last week Rhett and I spoke in church and had wonderful responses on that. I had prayed that someone would get something out of our talks because we put so much hard work into them.

Another Movie Review & Other News

Last week I had my first sinus infection. Needless to say I was in HELL all weekend. I never want another sinus infection again, so I bought a Neti Pot, suggested by my sister. Its the strangest feeling ever. I feel like I am drowning in a pool, but at least my nose isn't stuffy anymore.

So while I was sick over the weekend, I sat in bed with my tissues (I went through four boxes!!!) and my phone that has Netflix on it, and watched movies all day while the family went to church. I watched the first X-Men movie, which I thought was good at the time I saw it, but it was actually kind of lame with all the lame effects. I watched part of the first and second episode of Lost, but then my sister told me it was a waste of time because its "too addicting." I watched part of the movie Hunger, but it was a bit too graphic, so I stopped (its about a real life hunger strike that took place in Ireland).But the BEST movie I saw all weekend long was The Last Station.

Oh. My. Goodness. I LOVED this movie! So much I went out and bought it the next day. I actually didn't know what it was about, only that my new obsession James McAvoy was in it (lol). I loved the movie for so many reasons. Helen Mirren was so wonderful and fun to watch in this movie. I found so much of my self in her, which was quite surprising (you will know what I mean when you watch it). I loved how it made you question your stand on things in life and what LOVE means to you. It was funny, sad, insightful and sweet. Everything I look for in a good movie. Very well balanced.

I love, love, love, love, love movies. I love how they make you feel, how they can take you away to another time, the different characters and story lines. I just love movies. They have taken a back seat in my life, and they have been missed. So I am making a movie night for myself once a week when the husband and kids are asleep. And I will blog about it. And you will like it.

On another note, I have realized the older I get the more I know what I like and dislike. Despite having good looking men in a movie, it doesn't mean I will like it. Take Terminator Salvation (with Sam Worthington and Christian Bale).

Two hot guys in a leading role. Most boring movie that I couldn't even finish, which is very unlike me. It was so slow and so confusing. I have seen the other terminator movies, but have come to realize, these types of movies just don't do it for me. Don't get me wrong, I am still open to try new things (I would have never tried watching Harry Potter if I was closed minded). I still may try watching the rest of TS, but we will see. I will keep you all updated.

Movie Reviews

Most people who know me know I am a movie lover. If I am in a bad mood, let me watch a good movie and I will feel better. While I love seeing movies, my husband and I have different tastes in movies, and the ones he likes, I usually dont like. So we dont see movies all too often, but sometimes, just sometimes, there are some great movies that leave me thinking about them for weeks. These two movies are one of them.First: X-men First Class.I'm not a comic book person, but have been watching the X-Men movies since they came out. I wasn't sure what to expect from this, except knowing that the two leading men were good looking and the cast was fairly good. I was never left bored or confused, but it did keep me engaged and on the "edge of my seat." I loved the story, love the actors, loved the adventure. I could watch this movie over and over again (mainly because the leading guys are hot)! I just hope they make another prequel!
Second: Limitless.Wow. I love this movie. I am not sure if I loved it because we had just had a streak of watching bad movies right before this one, but this movie really blew me away. The cinematography was fantastic, just like the plot, script and acting. I loved the creativity of this story and the excitement. The end was definitely exciting! What are you waiting for? GO SEE IT!