Hawaiian Adventure

Kurtis & Kristen took us and her parents on a Hawaiian Cruise ~ such an amazing adventure!  We left a couple days early to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center and see the temple.  We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott next door on the Northside of the island and it was glorious!  Those couple days were definitely favorites, and we won't go to Hawaii without going to the Cultural Center and doing all the fun activities at that hotel if possible.

Blessed to get on both flights even though they were overbooked ~ wearing The Chosen shirt helped:)

Such a beautiful temple and visitor's center.  There are rooster's everywhere.

We learned how to play the ukulele and do some hula dancing at the Marriott Courtyard ~ so fun!

The Polynesian Cultural Center is amazing!  Anytime we go to Hawaii, we're going there.

Doing a tour is the way to go here, they know all the best shows and activities see.

2 different places to get temporary tattoos ~ we did warrior and family ones

Learning about all the different islands is incredible.

The most delicious luau and show after ~ The Breath of Life

Such a nice hot tub, pool, and relaxing deck to chill on.

Another fun hotel activity teaching us to make leis and bracelets

Met up with Kurtis & Kristen and Darrin & Jennifer.  Went to a yummy Tiki Restaurant and walked to a donut shop.

Pearl Harbor was a somber experience and so educational. 

USS Missouri Battleship

Submarine 

Curvy and beautiful drive up the mountain with 3 short awesome hikes.

Our first snuba diving experience ~ we loved it!

Incredible views throughout the Volcanoes National Park

The youngest couple on the cruise ship;)

Kurtis & Kristen did an amazing job of planning this vacation.  We loved all our time with them.  I even got to do a gym workout with them both💙

Kona is amazing

Tandem Parasailing is delightful, along with a dip in the ocean.

Thought it would be fun to see the temple after parasailing, but didn't know it was under construction.  We walked up a good hill to find it and thank goodness a church building was next door to it and they were having a blood drive so we could take a bathroom and water break.

Tubing through 5 caves, lots of spinning and fun!

Kooper's flight to Ohio and fun while we were in Hawaii

Splendid September

 Planking with Koop

and strolling too ~ so fun being with Kooper!

Jeff work party and Koop wore his airplane shirt✈️

Tabernacle Choir came to GA and sang with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs ~ it was incredible! Take a listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDvKSh6jGKA

So fun having Liz come watch it with us.

geese on golf-cart ride, new Chosen shirt, ATL temple

Koop enjoying Brandon's first blocks

Koop's first stair climbing attempt ~ he rocked it!

Back to School Pics from our cute USU kids💙

B & S awesome shots

Bradford Pear Trees gone and lots more room to play

LaNae Downs funeral and Koop standing on our bench after

Triathlon ~ Sprint PTC

After 7+ years....we're back! Jeff & I did our first triathlon in 2006 (the same one that we did today). For 12 years we did a bunch of tris, ranging from super-sprints to 2 half-ironman races. Our cute boys did the youth triathlons as well ~ so many fun memories. 

Well, our dear friend Liz Bunker (whose done many local triathlons with us) invited us to do this one at the beginning of the summer. I thought that would be a fun thing to do again (not sure why I stopped, just got distracted with other stuff). Why not have a body connection goal for the summer💪🏼 Jeff was in too, so we did it! 

Kim Bramblett is the best race director ever! We would have never started our triathlon journey without Kim making these races so fun and extremely organized. Forever thankful for her kindness and dedication to this sport💙 Sure appreciate all the people Tri-PTC Sprint Triathlon who help make this an amazing race! Loved seeing Amy Watkiss too. 

So fun to see friends Londyn LeCheminant, Robert Kinghorn, Dana Plauche Johnson Amber & Jordan Jones, and more. 

Even our awesome mayor Kim Learnard was there and kindly did a selfie with me. 

I got home and Liz called to tell me I got 2nd place in my age group ~ funny how things work out. 

Well, I have a new triathlon baseline (in my 50s) and something to improve and work on every summer. I'm in for doing this tri every year for at least the next 40+ years🎉 

Here's to trying a tri ~ or anything you enjoy doing!

 

Planning for next year's tri and decades more to come!

Awesome August

 Nick & Justin went to an awesome weekend event and ran into cousins Josh & Trevor.  Russ met Tanner & Erin Corbridge - the new mission president in his area.  Cute missionaries share this visual of the beautiful LOVE plan of salvation.

Going to lunch with the K's and Koop in a high chair at the restaurant.  He can sit up by himself now and is just about crawling.

Golf cart ride with Pop, Mema & Nutmeg.  Saw his dad's favorite sign so took a picture😂

Stopped at the playground for Koop's first time in an outdoor swing ~ he loved it!

Temple and Tupua's movie The Firing Squad ~ love spending the day together!

Jill is moving ~ how I love and adore her and am sooo grateful for our friendship!  Koop's got some teeth, Humming birds, Koop is planking, First attempt at homemade mac n cheese for the interfaith luncheon

The Forge Movie is amazing, the K family getting ready for bed, Denison grand-baby (Bennett) at church, entertaining political sign

Came back from a brick and jumped in pool, other random pools pics, and figuring out which swimsuit Nutty, Jeff & I like best~

Jeff & Logan Crew Campout Adventures

Brandon, Sarah, Justin, Jess, Nick, Galen, Josh, Mike T, and Jeff Camping Fun!

B&S dogs having fun too

Exploring with Nick💙

Jeff & parents going to the movie

So fun to spend time with family~

Joyous July

Atlanta trip - such a tender mercy that I messed up on the schedule and we were able to do sealings instead and meet the cutest couple that was getting married 2 days later, and were there simply to listen closely to the covenants they were making ~ what a blessing to be there!

Jeff flying with Connie, a cute DIL I was coaching was wearing this shirt from her MIL, Jen & Ali together for her first time in Relief Society, a funny saying in a yummy meat restaurant in Tyrone

Playing with our sweet Koop

River Rafting Adventure with Marilee & Curtis - so fun!

Finish up with brisket at Buc-ees

Ward Jello & Meat contest, Kristen & Koop joined us, and I won the jello contest - ha!

Nick & Justin got to see some family

Spent a fun day with Koop ~ he played with toys, ate applesauce, took two naps, walked Nutmeg with mema in his carrier, and rode on the golf cart ~ how we love and adore this cute little boy!

Nick & Justin came to play and Koop's special blessing day

 Pool time and racing

Inside Out 2 ~ all the feels

Church with our cute boys

Kato hung out all day in the backyard while Jeff took boys to play in Helen, GA

Jeff's phone got wet and was ruined so bummer no pics

Kristen's dad blessed Kooper at her family home in TN.  Koop was wearing the same outfit and socks that Kurtis was blessed in.  The yellow and white afghan's were made by Koop's great grandma's for Kurtis.

Fun to be with all of Kristen's family for Koop's beautiful blessing

Game playing and a delicious first time stop at Buc-ees

Mini-golfing with these cute kids

So fun to have Nick & Justin home for a couple weeks.  They are amazing young men and each such a blessing to our family~