Turning Five

Happy Birthday Madeleine!

Jen

I'm pretty lucky to have a good friend like Jen. She's pretty much what you wish every friend to be. She's funny, she's smart, she's thoughtful, she's interesting, she's an amazing mom, she's talented, she's an incredible multi-tasker, she's fun, she's good, she's supportive, she's easy-going, she's clever and she's just all around fabulous! While we don't get to see each other nearly as much as I'd like, we at least get together for an annual girls retreat. Friends are most definitely the sunshine of life.






Jen





Hotel Del Coronado




Jen





Sunset dinner table





Yum!





Old Town San Diego . . .

Football

AKA Soccer in the US (we're trying to get used to our new "language" a little ahead of time). Madeleine is on a little soccer team this spring. She has a good time. Mostly they run around in a big swarm, and occasionally the ball gets kicked in the right direction. I think her favorite part is the treats.




Defense!

April Showers Bring May Monsters

This photo is classic Madeleine. It perfectly illustrates her wonderfully colorful personality. She's got plenty of sugar and spice and everything nice, but this comes with a large dollop of spunk.

Pinewood is Hard

This is a fact we know well. Being those with neither the skill of woodworking nor the tools to assist, our family's first pinewood derby began with a full weekend of primitive designing and hand-sawing. Our car was not destined to make the podium, but it did provide an evening full of fun for one eight year-old boy. Presenting Dallin and his Pokemobile.

Who•why•ie

Dallin's phonetic respresentation of Madeleine's pronunciation of Hawaii. Personally, it doesn't matter how you say it, it is a blessed place. We get it. We finally get why everyone who's been sighs in a moment of fond reflection when the word Hawaii is uttered. We returned filled with the Aloha spirit, and a yearning to explore more of Polynesia.


The view from the top of Diamond Head


She may be sweet as this flower, but this little girl hiked Diamond head all by herself


Happiness is a fruity beverage


Hot dogs are a food group


Tasted as good as it looks


Coconut cracking good!


Scott's mom and step-dad







The hands of youth learn from the hands of experience


Sand is also a food group


A date which will live in infamy . . .


Such irony















Day one at the Polynesian Cultural Center . . .










Happy 25th Anniversary!































































Scott and Shannon enjoyed a wonderful day away by themselves. We kayaked out to this dreamy uninhabited island and hiked around to the back. After we enjoyed a beautiful sunset stroll down Waikiki and a beachside dinner . . .

(These shots are courtesy of the on-camera timer.)






















Day two at the Polynesian Cultural Center . . .




















This was almost too good to be true, and just screamed "take my picture!"

Mahalo Hawaii!