Det Røde Hus

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Not a lot going on lately so just a quick note to say hi and post a couple pics... Since coming home from Hawaii, we've been in a slight state of depression (at least since Christmas)... It's COLD here and there's almost NO snow.  My kids keep asking what the point of cold weather is if they can't sled or ski.  I have no answer for that.  Luckily, living in the great state of Utah, our resorts are good at producing at least enough to fake it on.  Even more luckily - and better late than never - we did get some decent stuff this last week.
Here are a few shots:

Traditional ice skating and lights at Temple Square night with the kids...

Anushka and Diggity with some of their BFFs at the lights after skating at eating.

Cold but dry night at Temple Square

Ski school with some buddies.  Don't you love Diggity's pose?

We did lessons while we waited for the kiddos

Yay! Snow at Alta...

D-Man and Anushka met up with their cousin unexpectedly... Good times

K-Den...

'Are you kidding me?!'
 I think I've made that statement more times in the last 8 days than in the last 8 months. Hawaii is so beautiful - love it! I guess the winter is when the surf is really up - the waves have been ridiculous - and I had the black eye to prove it. The kids have been loving spending time with cousins, uncles, aunts, and grandparents. As we speak, D-Man is busy doing kung fu with two, scratch that, three of his cousins.
 
We spent Thanksgiving with my 'little sis' Megan on the garden island of Kauai. 
We started the morning with our family's traditional Thanksgiving 5K. 

The only difference was that this year it was about 80 degrees, whereas last year it was a whopping 1 degree at the start of the race. 

Our route was a little different than the typical Turkey Trot as well.

After the 5K, we spent the morning and early afternoon at the beach swimming and boogie boarding. 
Then it was back to the condo to clean up and make our Thanksgiving feast. 

Not your traditional Thanksgiving: teriyaki chicken, grilled pineapple, stir fry veggies, quinoa, tempura shrimp, steamed rice, and bean salad.  Still, it made for a fabulous feast!

This is my other kid sis Megan (and boyfriend Jason) - she now lives on Kauai but spent a good part of her growing up years at my house.  I think she needed minimal therapy to get over that experience and has managed to make something great of her life nevertheless :)  SO. MUCH. FUN. to see her...

After a few more days on the beautiful island of Kauai, it was off to Oahu and Turtle Bay.

This is the view from our room - 'Are you kidding me?!'

We visited the temple in Laie today - very beautiful!

My favorite self portrait so far - we forgot to un-zoom the lens :)

So that's it so far. Tomorrow, we'll head to the Polynesian Cultural Center (or PCC if you're a local) and Pearl Harbor and the flea market on Wednesday. Hopefully a little more beach time in the mix. It has been a trip not to be forgotten (I hope especially for the little people)...
K den.
Aloha!

It's been such a great couple of days watching the kids live it up on the beautiful island of Kaua'i. With my black eye, I've received a lot of sympathetic looks. I'm pretty sure most people think I'm a battered wife - HA! The kids tried snorkeling today - the water was a little murky but it was still fun... The kids have really dug boogie boarding... Funny quote from my niece on a boogie board: "Watch me surf this bad boy!"

First time on boogie boards - the girls went out and used their spending money to buy their own boards.  I guess they liked it.

Good buddies - D-Man and cousin Isaiah

Cool little dude.

He couldn't see a thing in that murky water but loved the snorkeling nonetheless.

The beach scenery here doesn't suck either.

Good times with Uncle Blair

Nice shiner eh?

What We Left Behind

D-Man's first ever airplane ride.

Anushka was already a seasoned traveler.

Delayed in LAX.  These newfangled kids have it so much easier! The girls were killing time by watching Harry Potter.

Finally arrived at Lihue Airport.  Kids were a little wired after the long travel day...

The weather was a bit different where we arrived.

Anushka and her bestie - cousin Anna

These waves look nice right?

Not so much.  One of those nice waves smashed me down onto the ocean floor.  I seriously thought I might have broken my cheek bone and was grateful I didn't snap my neck.

Funniest moment so far: my nephew caught a fish in his pants - literally. Something was wiggling around in his swimsuit when we were in the ocean and it turned out to be a live fish!

I think this might be a sign that we visit San Jose a lot:The hotel where we normally stay has a breakfast in the mornings and they have some fantastic, kind people working there. My favorite is Sal - he's an older Hispanic guy who is SO sweet to my kids even when they are a bit rambunctious. He saw me in the lobby the first day we were there and greeted me like an old friend. He said it was good to see me again and asked where were my husband and kids. Yeah - I think we spend a bit o' time at the Pruneyard Hotel in Campbell, CA. With the kids off track, we like to tag along with BB on his business trips. It was a bit rainy this week but a good time was had by all. Here are a few hi-lights:

On our way in, we detoured through Carson City, Nevada and then up around Lake Tahoe. Helloooo,,,, I had no idea how ridiculously blue and beautiful that lake is! WELL worth the extra drive time (which wasn't that much).

Rain or shine (and we had a little of both this day), the beach is a must!

BB had a co-worker from England who wanted to check out some Redwood trees so we took him to Big Basin State Park

The good news: the San Francisco Exploratorium was free that day.  The bad news: I think all the kids in San Francisco went.
Outside the Exploratorium:


On our way out we detoured again - this time to Yosemite National Park.  We'd like to spend a bit more time there but were not disappointed with what we saw.  This is in front of Bridal Veil Falls.  You can see them in the distance to the right of Anushka's head.
In front of Half Dome

We saw our first snow of the season on the way through the park.

Just crazy beautiful scenery driving through this park

So, we've been in nothern California this week while BB is working and, for some reason, my mind has been in kind of a crazy place.  I blame Dawn.  Watching her (do fabulously - did you see her kill it in the challenge last night?!) on Survivor and fulfill this dream has caused me to reflect a bit.  So, when I was a teen-ager, I had every intention of going to law school, and eventually joining the FBI.  I also wanted to write a book.  Then, I had a church leader that I really really looked up to who told me those goals (the law school/FBI ones, not the book) were huge mistakes and that I would ruin my life.  I (sadly or not) listened.  I have often wondered where life would have taken me if I hadn't heeded that counsel as a teenager.  Here's what I realize about myself now:  I'm kind of a hippie at heart.  I've started many different books - all in various stages of completion.  I wonder if I have the drive to go the distance (I've seen Shannon Hale's roll of rejection letters after all)... I am not a type A personality.   I like chillin', hanging', kickin' back... I really like to get out and play with my kids - they know they can coax me into the hotel swimming pool even in fifty-degree weather.  Here's the strategy used tonight by D-man: "Mom, come in the pool!  Please!  Right now Dad is in the lead but you can pass him if you swim with us!"  Yes, he's six.  In the lead for WHAT? 
But, it would probably be a good thing if I was more motivated to plan what's for dinner most nights and if I could sew a stitch beyond a button.  Anyone who's seen how much I like to sit back with a Mountain Dew can imagine what I'd be without the WoW. 
Is there a point to all this?  Maybe.  Here it is: I look around my life and am inspired by so many incredible people.  I moved into a neighborhood of people that blow me away with their drive, their kindness, the millions of extra miles they go.  I married into a family of incredible, smart, talented people who have integrity coming out of their... well you get my drift.  I met people on my mission that have forever changed my life.  I grew up with some folks that absolutely astound me with the hand they were dealt and what they did with it.  I am NOT exaggerating about that. 
I was placed on planet Earth with a couple of fabulous parents and another couple of great sibs (far better than me).  If it wasn't for my family and faith, I'd probably be sporting dread locks on a beach somewhere doing my best to not work an honest day.  OK - maybe not quite that extreme - BUT - If it wasn't for my family and faith, the people who have made the biggest impact in my life would not even be in my life.  I'm not sorry at this point that I'm a mom and not Scully.  I've been ridiculously blessed.  Back to that point (if it actually is a point).  Sometimes I feel a little burdened by what is required of me by said family and faith; but when I really stop and think, those two elements in my life have brought everything worth anything to my life.  I'm sorry if I've ever griped about having to prepare a Sunday School lesson or attend a family dinner.  Not to say I'll never gripe again.  But just at this moment I'm realizing where I would or wouldn't be without them.