OK...What we have been up too...

We have been busy!!!  I am not sure with what exactly, but I know we have been busy!  So here are a few weeks of recap.

My sweet brother-in-law Steven got married to his sweetheart, Miranda.  It was a lovely wedding...we are so happy she is ours now. 

Then this cute little girl...got a BIG GIRL bed.  She adores it.  She saw and said..."I lub it!!".  She stayed in her bed all night.  She loves it, but she brings EVERY toy she owns into the bed with her every night.  She tucks in all of her dolls and then sleeps on the other end of the bed.  Crazy girl.

It was 4:00pm when she saw her bed...she played in it all night.

This is what her bed looks like...EVERY NIGHT!

Then came my annual "Girls Trip". This year, we headed to Newport Beach to have a fun filled long weekend by the beach. They came in from New Mexico, Utah, Arizona and Texas.  We rented a beach house and loved every minute of it.  I love these girls.  They are the type of girls that you cry when you see them because you just don't know how you live your day to day life without seeing them. Then you cry when they leave because you just don't know how to be yourself again without them.  They are my soul-sistas.  I love them so very much.  We ate everything in site, shopped till we dropped, laughed our buns off and cried a little too.  Oh I miss them.  

Left to Right: Me, Mendie, Jessica, Staci, Nikki, and Janette

Eating lunch in Balboa Island.

Then came Jaxon's Open House at school. Adorable.  Here are a couple of his Cute things...

The only Mormon kid in class and he wants to drink coffee every morning...he cracks me up.

He was so proud to show us around!

Ella got this dress from a friend of ours ( thank you Jamie!) and her life hasn't been the same since.  She wears it ALL the time.



She calls herself  "tink-a-bell pincess".

We had a little mommie/daughter double date with our friends Shannon and her daughter Kaylee. We took the girls to see the Children's Theater version of The Little Mermaid.  The girls were in HEAVEN. They sat perfectly still through the entire performance.  We got to meet Ariel afterward...but Prince Erik was all Ella was after.  ( I am in major trouble with this little one!). 

Ella and Kaylee...these girls are gonna be trouble.

She wanted Prince Erik to hold her...not Ariel.

Jaxon got glasses....oh my gosh.  He looks so cute.  Like Clark Kent.

Adorbs.

Jax had to dress up at George Washington for school last week.  He is FINALLY done with 2nd grade. Year round school is tough during the summer. He gets a week off...then he starts 3rd grade!!  

George Washington...So. Darn. Cute.

As the summer goes on, Ella turns into more of a little ham as the days go on.  Oh how I love my kiddos.  

She wears these everywhere we go.

She started doing her "monkey face" again.  :)

Calico Ghost Town

We headed back in time on Memorial Day!  We spent the day in Calico Ghost Town which is about an hour away. The kids had a great time!  We rode the train- panned for gold- roped pretend cows- tour a mine-and walked through a magic house. It was hotter then heck...but we still managed to have fun!


Riding the train

Jail



In the Silver mine.

Melting...on the train.

Loved being in a "hole". 

ALOHA!!!!!

We just got back from Oahu, Hawaii on Tuesday and let me tell you...We have been to paradise!!  It was our first time to Hawaii and I was a little bit nervous that I had built it up too much in my head. But let me tell you!!!!  It did not disappoint!!  We were in heaven! The kids did great on the 5.5 hour plane ride, and we were all SOOO sad to come home.  We had so much fun!!

We stayed in Ko Olina which on the west side of the island.  We stayed in a beautiful resort with our own private beach!! It was amazing.  We went to the Dole Pineapple plantation, Pearl Harbor, The Polynesian Cultural Center, The North Shore (where we ate yummy shaved ice), shopping in Waikiki, snorkeling with SEA TURTLES!!!!!!! and so much more. 

Ella learned the Hula (adorable) and she says "A-LO-HAAAA" and does the Shaka sign.  (the hang-ten sign).  Jax turned into a little fish from swimming all day and he dominated the slide at the resorts pool.  

Grandma Lavella went with us and it was so much fun seeing her have such a good time.  I am so glad she came along.  It was so great for the kids to get to spend so much time with her.  And for us too! 

But,now we are home...and back to reality. I have caught myself daydreaming of GREEN palm trees and blue oceans today.  I can't wait to go back! Here are a few pics...I took a zillion pics so I will just share a couple!  :)

Visiting Pearl Harbor

Jax with "the biggest missile EVER!"

Check out the tree's roots!!

Jax got the camera!

On our way out to the USS Arizona Memorial

Cutie pie

Everyone say "pineapple!!"

Crazy kids!

Yummy shaved ice at Matsumoto's!

The North Shore

The North Shore

Look what was hanging around our beach!!  I could have died!!!! I was so excited!

Jax on the Catamaran.  On our way to snorkeling.

Our hotel balcony

Polynesian Cultural Center.

Ella doing the HULA!!

Luau time!

The LiaeTemple.  So pretty at sunset.

My Dad's Big Race

Last year, for Christmas, my mom gave my dad a chance to live his dream.  She bought him an opporunity to drive an Indy Car.  My father has watched Indy Car racing his WHOLE life and because of that...we all have too. On Easter, he was able to drive his race car.  Alone.  In a race car.  Crazy AWESOME!!!!  The WHOLE Family came in to see him do it...I cried twice.  It was so amazing to watch him do it.  So happy for you daddy!!!

After his instruction

More instruction

Getting his radio hooked up.

Helmets On. 

Getting seated.

The was going about 140 mph here!!

I LOVE that he gave a thumbs up as he pulled in the pits.

Such a pro!

Easter

Here are my little Chick-a-dees on Easter.  It was like herding cats to get them to smile and pay attention.  We had a CRAZY Easter...15 people at the house, My Dad's Big Race, and a new calling for church, Easter egg hunts, a very rushed Easter Dinner...all in all...it was perfect. 

Piano man

Jaxon played in his first piano recital tonight. He was so nervous in the car...he HATES being the center of attention. We were sooo proud of him! He did so great! He played a duet with his teacher and played his first solo. He is quite the little piano man!