What's a mother to do?

So this is what Dave did for me for mother's day. He knows I love robes, and bought me this one I love from the marriot we were staying at in hawaii. He had room service brought to me on the balcony as I was reading my scriptures that fine sunday morning where I had a beautiful view of the ocean. It was sooooo yummy. Whole wheat pancakes with macadamian nuts and bananas, eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, juice and a muffin. It was heaven. The question is.... How am I going to top that tomorrow for fathers day? I have a few little tricks up my sleeve. I'll share on tomorrow night's post.

Wanted to add a few things that I am happy about today. Of course a sunny sky and beautiful weather, and fun family time in the pool (dad was the shark). I am very happy and thankful that my dear friend Amie haroldsen and family are ok after being in a car accident on Friday night. What a scare. Also, I am so grateful to have been able to go to the temple with Christy Snow who was going for the first time today. She was just glowing to be there and surrounded by her ward family. We love you miss Christy!! Speaking of my ward family. I really love them. How wonderful to know that we really are all brothers and sisters and children of a loving Heavenly Father.

BABY CRUE IS FINALLY HERE!

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Today at the library

One of my favorite summer memories when I was little was going to the library. I grew up in Southern California and it got pretty hot in the summer and we didn't have air conditioning. It was the best feeling in the world to walk into the freezing cold library. As I saw Rachel today browsing all the books it totally took me back. My mom would go off and look for books and I was left to browse on my own. I loved to stand over the air conditioning vent (they were on the floor). Then I would take all my books to a table and read them. Just like Leah down below. It was so relaxing to be in a place where it was quiet, cool, and calm. My life at home wasn't always that. To this day I love to go to the library, especially during the summer! I hope that I have instilled that love in my children too. Who can resisit a room full of books. Not me. I have library fines to prove it. In fact we had to search all of our cards for the one with the smallest amount of fines. I know Dad you are cringing at that one. Too many memories of having to pay mom's fines before you could check out a book. ha ha

i love how Lizzie's face is all red from the heat. We were out playing tennis at the park before we got there. She thought this was pretty cool.

of course Rachel can't be content with the normal use for things, and I turn around and she has Lizzie trying it out a new way. SO HER!!!!!

the oh so fabulous result.

REBECCA -the middle child

As per request, a picture of the middle child. My Rebecca Mary. Here she is sporting her new swimsuit. I finally went in the BX (base exchange) for the first time, and I have lived here two years. What have I been thinking? Great prices, and no tax. That is where I picked up this bathing suit. Wait til you see the others. I have lots of other fun photos of last day of school! Woooo Hoooo. Schools out for the summer!! My mary turns nine this month and lost a tooth today. oh yah, I better check on the tooth fairy and see if she has already come. She is so dang forgetful! smile. One thing that I love about Rebecca is how she loves to help me, and is always asking me if I think she will be a good mom or worker in the relief society. She has a very loving heart! This girl could hug you all day and still need more love. She is proof that there is love in the world!

What Confidence Looks Like

This one has definitely been told all day long every day of her life how wonderful she is. She is the most confident kid. She seems to just sail through life, not causing waves, doing her own thing, not worrying about what others are thinking or doing. She is an easy kid. She isn't super talkative, but when she does say something it is always surprisingly creative, clever, and silly. I love that about her. She is smart, but doesn't flaunt it. She likes to fly below the radar. Probably gets her way more that way. Thinking of it, Dave is like that. ha. I love every minute I spend with her. I love how tonight she came up to me while I was talking to my brother on the phone, lay her head on my lap and fell asleep as I stroked her hair. All without a word said between us. Not a day goes by that I don't thank my Heavenly Father for five kids that fill my heart with joy.

weech photo shoot

Another fun family! Fun to try a new location. Go check out the rest here

Who is the fairest graduate of all?

Why it is miss elizabeth jane ives of course. She did it! She graduated from kindergarten.

here she is with her teacher miss dellinger. Of course rachel and rebecca just had to jump in! and yes r & r are wearing eye make-up. They came straight from dance where they took pictures in their recital costumes.
SO congrats to little miss lizzie. She chose to go to red robin for dinner to celebrate. The kids favorite restaurant. Everyone was so happy. The kids sang all the way there together. Sometimes when there is an hour or two of complete family harmony. I think my family and life is perfect. They may be rare but those are the moments that carry you through.

Hawaii part IV

Every time we go on vacation we rent a car and cruise and see everything. On this trip we did a trip around the island in one day. Here is my favorite viewing position. Feet up, reclined back, Dave driving and me just soaking it up. It was on this day that we went to akaka falls, and the botanical garden. We loved about the big island the quaint, and clean little towns like this one below.
We also went to the volcano park. You could spend days there. I was happy with 30 minutes. I was in a big hurry to get to Outback steakhouse, which has become a tradition as well to find one wherever we travel. We have been to Outback Steakhouse in Japan, Guam, Miami beach, of course ever state we have lived in and the hawaiian islands that have one. It is our one creature comfort.

and of course here is my favorite place to end up. my spot on the beach in front of our hotel. Isnt' it delicious? Just add a good book (i was reading eragon) and an oreo or fruit smoothie.

DJ's baptism

Tonight at 5pm my friend (Christine's) husband DJ was baptized. It was so wonderful. The spirit was really strong. Everyone there was all smiles. A very happy evening. Christine just was baptized last August and is an amazing person. She has been my secretary in Relief Society for a couple of months now, and the more I know her the more I love her. She is an example to me of love and service. She is so excited about the gospel. It has changed her life, she is full of joy, and wants to share it. She has mainly been wanting to share that joy with her sweetheart DJ. Well, her prayers were answered. Are they not the picture of a happy couple. They are so cute together. Today was also their five year anniversary. He is hoping to take her to the temple and marry her for time and all eternity one year from today on their 6th anniversary. This picture was taken right after he was baptized. Do you think their smiles will be bigger one year from today? Check my blog a year from today! They said I get to be the photographer! Love you Christine and DJ.

RAchel's recital

This girl is SO HOT right now! Last night was her recital for her hip hop class with Prestige. All of her other dance classes are at another studio, but we had to keep her with her teacher james for hip hop at prestige. He is this young black guy who is not only amazing at hip hop but a really good teacher. His choreography is so incredible. There are five girls in her class and they are all really good. Rachel and her friend Aida (from Bosnia) are the only ones that aren't in the dance troupe. They were so incredible I can't tell you. I wanted to watch the dance over and over. Rachel's strength is her body rolls. I think they are called that. Of course I was too cheap to buy the dvd, although Dave said we could if we would skip watching the second half of the show. ha ha. It really was long and Dave looked like someone trying to sleep on an airplane (totally uncomfortable). Remember how we could never tell who the real Rachel was when she was little. It was if she was always playing some role. Rarely did we see a genuine smile. Well, here they are. The ones when her school teacher mrs. Garretson is giving her flowers. Her teacher is so awesome and loves Rachel so much. She came to watch her and Aida. Iwas going to move Rachel to a different school next year with Jacob, but just decided to leave all the girls. When I told Mrs. "G" she started crying. Rachel has really blossomed with her as a teacher. She gets Rachel and loves how smart and unique she is. She said Rachel keeps her challenged as a teacher. I know just what she means, she keeps me challenged as a mom. She is a wonderful girl, we are so lucky to be along for the ride with this one. Can't wait to see how she changes the world. Today she is in the school production of Princess and the pea. So pictures from that later.

sorry

ok finally I was able to upload the rest of the pictures from my last photo shoot on my photography blog. Ugh! It was so frustrating for a non computer person like me. So anyway here they are!

Rainforest and Akaka falls-Hawaii part III

this picture makes me laugh every time I look at it. Dave is really funny about rain forests. He LOVESSS them so much. Every time I turned around there he was leaving the trail and disappearing into the jungle. What a nut! I am so never letting him go to the amazon. He would never return home and would probably be eaten by a snake. Did you see those amazing and sick pictures of a python that ate a drunk man that fell asleep in the jungle. THey cut it open and there he was. if you really need to see the pictures I can email them to you. Anywho, I love the rain forest too. Again the variety of plant life, and so green. But I can do without the accompanying humidity.

isnt' this so amazing. It is hard to capture the magnificence and how huge the trees are!
well that is it for part three. By the end of this you are going to be booking a trip to Hawaii. ha

Tropical Splendor-Hawaii part II

Usually I am just a portrait type of photographer. But I could not get over the beauty, variety, and intricacy of the flowers at the botanical garden we visited in Hawaii.

I am so grateful for the beauty of this earth. It brings me joy. (I think that was God's plan). smile. So thankful.

another mother daughter shoot

my friend Jamie (far left) had a girls weekend. Her mom and two sisters flew in. One of the festivities was a photo shoot with me! It was so much fun, and made me really miss my sisters! You know where to go to see more pictures. (the link is on my side bar).

I love going on vacation with Dave. He turns back into a little kid with that excited look of anticipation the whole time. I can't stand going anywhere without him because I am just thinking the whole time how much he would love and enjoy it. This sign is the kind of signs I see when Dave is happiest. This one likes to live on the edge (literally). but I have to say I love it too. Look at what it leads too....

a view like this....

a photo op like this...

my toes sinking into this beautiful black sand on the beach.

getting to feel like anne of Green Gables on prince edward island

although I am looking more like Marilla every day. ha ha. don't worry I am cool with that.smile

seeing Dave get a well deserved break from providing for our family....

and here it is that excited little boy face. Oh How I love to be with him when he is on vacation. But unfortunately we have to climb back up the cliff we just came down.

It's worth it for a few more views of this. Really spectacular!
I think I will just put on a few pics from our trip every day. Too many for one entry.