January: Tigers and Blankies

Dear Jill,

Don't forget the days when stuffed animals, blankies, and especially tigers meant so much to your kids they couldn't live without them.

January: Laundry Baskets

Dear Jill,

Don't forget the days your kids climbed in laundry baskets and transformed them into spaceships.

January: Blue & Gold Banquet

What would we do without cub scouts reminding us what high energy is about?

At the blue & gold dinner they hooked balloons to every boy's leg and had them run around trying to pop each other's balloons.


It was mass chaos in the gym and I think Andrew ran 5 miles.


I think every boy slept well that night.

January: Maui

In 13 years of marriage we have never left our kids for more than an overnighter in town. This has primarily been because of Brian's protective nature in making sure his kids are always all right. This all changed when Brian decided to go to a medical conference and take me with him. And he didn't take baby steps to get us away from kids. No, it wasn't 50 miles, 100 miles, or 500 miles, it was Maui, Hawaii and yes, I was giddy.

We stayed at the Hyatt in Kaanapali and if you ever have an opportunity to stay there, it's worth it! Costco runs deals to this resort.


The resort has pools that are interconnected and everywhere.


It has beautiful landscaping indoors and beautiful Japanese gardens outdoors with lots of wildlife.



It was hard to choose a spot to relax at every day.


Kids area including a long waterslide.



There was even a bar in the underground pool area.


We spent a lot of time in the hot tub.


It was a rough conference. Brian was in class till noon every day and yes, he went to all the sessions.


Ninety percent of the time I either sat reading, chatted with my good friend Lisa, drank pina coladas or people watched.



Ten percent of the time I jogged or walked on this path. It was a 3 mile round trip path with a shopping center at the end of it.



We went on a drive one day and it was fun to watch the surfers.



We also did some fun shopping on Front Street in Lahaina.




We committed to this trip the year prior with our friends the Burt's but then backed out. This year we didn't back out and convinced them to come and it made the trip so fun to visit with friends.

Our friends the Shields were also there but with their kids too. They had packed days while in Maui whale watching, snorkling, luau's and playing on the beach. We did nothing but drink pina colada's, Fortunately, Charie got me off my butt and helped me learn to snorkel and I was blown away by the florescent fish I watched. It was so much fun.

Brian and Steve.





There was great entertainment and a luau we could watch outside our hotel balcony every night if we pleased.


But most of the time I just looked at this!

January: Happy Birthday Brian

Brian turned 37 this year. For his birthday my brother-in-law made this amazing cake. It was worthy of any cable TV cake show. We call it "Epidural Lady."


Andrew wanted his dad to allow him to put the candle in the butt crack...no surprise comment from the 9 year old full of giggles. Brian's comment was, "The lady is too thin. I usually am harpooning whales!"

January: Kitchen Remodel (Part I)

We finally did it. We are remodeling our kitchen. I wish I took pictures prior to drywall. We had the walls painted this khaki green color.


The started to bring in the boxes.



We also had a patch job on some of our flooring.

This is our granite. The pics don't do it justice. They allowed me to place the templates on the granite for what part I wanted.

January: Ethan Graduates from Nursery

The first Sunday in January Ethan graduated from the nursery. I no longer have a "baby." He was not too thrilled with all the fan fare. I look forward to seeing my newly minted Sunbeam.