Oahu

Call it recharging or boosting up...whatever one calls it, it was very NEEDED and I think very much deserved. We like to call this the "Census 2010 is over...I need a break from the kids...can't remember the last time I've been on an airplane...our last hurrah before #4 comes...vacation." I don't know if anyone can appreciate how happy I was when Jeff finished up his Census 2010 assignment...mainly because his schedule was so packed with work and out of town work that I wanted a normal schedule again and maybe have my husband home for a month without him being out of town. He's done with that but took a promotion that now means more responsibility and unpredictable travel...again! Anyway, enough about that because I am now sounding a bit ungrateful for Jeff's hard work and the opportunities we were able to have because of it and I am so not. It was just hard to have him gone so much. This trip was hard to plan...lots of factors to consider but really it only came down to one thing - Who would willingly take our 3 kids and watch them for however long we decided was possible. I'll spare all 2 readers the long drawn out story but we got everything figured out and marked our calendars for our long awaited vacation. Sidenote: All of us were sick at one point for 3-4 weeks leading up to the day we left...I was still in the recovery phase of my cold/flu.

I want to throw out the biggest thank you to my brother and sister-in-law for making this possible and taking on the Enos 3 for 7 days. I left knowing that they were in capable hands and that was such a huge thing in my ability to relax on the trip. I think the kids needed a break from me too...they seem happy to see me and talk to me...which was so nice to come home to.



Day 1 - Arrived in the early afternoon and headed straight for Ono's. I wasn't feeling too great, still a bit weak from being sick the previous 2 weeks and had an infection that was making my face hurt. Anyway, we had some grub at Ono's and then decided to take it easy and do some shopping at Wal-mart for stuff we didn't bring, like sunscreen and snacks and water.

Day 2 - Walked Waikiki for our early morning walk and then we grabbed some breakfast.
Had to get some malasadas from Leonard's.

Headed to the North Shore. I think this is right after Waimaea. Spent a few hours on the beach and the sun was HOT! I suggested to Jeff that we get in the shade but by then the damage was done to Jeff. Luckily it wasn't that bad of a burn for him.


Beach time makes us hungry. Went to a shrimp shack, got the spicy and the garlic shrimp.


Had to finish it with some shave ice from Matsumoto's.




Day 3 - Our plans were to hit the Aloha Stadium for some shopping but their website led us way astray and we ended up in Ko Olina. We were going to head over to this side of the island anyway so it ended up being okay. We spent the day at this beach, very calm and did some snorkeling when the sun was out from under those clouds. It poured as we were leaving, but it wasn't unpleasant.

Day 4 - Had a vacation presentation, to score cheap tickets to a luau, which took most of our morning. We got hit from 3 different people trying to sell us this time share type of thing but we held our ground and they finally released us. It's funny because at the beginning of these things they always say they aren't going to push us and try to sell us anything but when they're all done they try and make the sale and it's pushy. Anyway, we ventured over to the windward side of the island towards Kailua.
View from the Pali lookout.

Kailua Beach. Very nice, green and relaxing.

We got back and did laundry...what a drag!


Day 5 - No morning walk today but we did have a hike planned so we could find a waterfall but it was kind of a pain finding one not too strenuous...given my current condition. Came up with Maunawili Falls. Very green, lush and jungly and a neat hike...minus the muddy terrain most of the way up. It was worth all the "mishaps" encountered during and after the hike.

First we headed to Safeway for some lomi lomi salmon and some drinks for the cooler because after the hike we were headed back over to the North Shore.

Finally getting there!

Jeff getting ready to jump.

After the hike, we drove from the windward side of Oahu all the way to Sunset Beach. Jeff's favorite beach here. Loved the views on the drive. Grabbed a pizza to eat for lunch and stayed in Sunset Beach for the rest of the afternoon. Then back to Matsumoto's for a shave ice treat.

Day 6 - Our last full day here. Since we never went shopping on Wednesday we decided to do some shopping today. Just a way to walk around Waikiki and spend some money.

We went a presentation a few days back, sort of like a time share thing, so we could get some cheap tickets to this luau. It was in Ko Olina, Paradise Cove. We have been to the PCC so just wanted to try something new. PCC had a way better show but I think Paradise Cove was more intimate and some of the food was really really good. Next time I will probably go back to the PCC though. Still nice to try something new and have some fun.

Things to look forward to

I thought I'd post some things that I'm looking forward to in this new year (in no particular order, just as they pop into my head).
-2 kids in school
-a new car (hopefully sometime soon)
-9 year wedding anniversary
-going to the beach
-trip to Hawaii (finally!)
-not driving the kids to and from school(for the summer at least)
-bringing #4 home
-David finally wiping on his own
-running again
-4 new niece(s)/nephews

As of 7:30p.m. this is the state of the Enos house...

When Jeff's out of town I like to enforce an early bedtime. It's almost like a peace comes over me knowing that the kids are all safe and sleeping and it's quiet. I am very productive when I can actually have a couple of hours of quiet. Sometimes I just do meaningless things just to avoid the noise and chaos but this peaceful feeling helps me appreciate my life/kids/husband so much. Thank you for early bedtimes...it doesn't always happen but I am so grateful when it does.

A pre-schooler!

When did this happen? David started pre-school last Wednesday and only cried because I had the audacity to pick him up from school. Seriously, am I that scary that my kids can't wait to go to school and hate it when it's over? Since David didn't make the age cut-off for a LAUSD free pre-school I thought it would be a good idea for him to test the waters for a semester before he actually has to start next fall. It's also nice to only have Vanessa to drag around with my errands. Vanessa loves having all the attention and it's kind of nice to have the peace of having a quiet baby(for now at least).

Everyone look at the camera!

This was our attempt at a family shot...one of Jeff's little things that he insists on. Kids look great, except for Vanessa's mad face.

David's Drama

A converstation I had with David when he noticed that the Christmas decorations were all gone.

David: Mommy, the tree! Where's it?
Me: We put it away because it's not Christmas anymore.
David: But I don't wanna Christmas to be done. (starts to cry)
Me: Do you want some raisins?
David: Mommy, you hurt my feelings.
Everytime I say something that David doesn't like, he cries and declares that I hurt his feelings.


I've been letting David's hair grow out...and Jeff finally had enough of the bushy hair and cut it while I was taking a nap.


This picture was taken about a month ago.




This morning.

Day 1 of our drive we ended in St. George and spent some time with Jeff's sister, Mindy, and her family. They were generous enough to let us spend the night in their home and let Jeff play video games all night long.
Day 2 we left St. George and drove up to Salt Lake City. We stayed there that night so we could go to Temple Square and enjoy some Christmas lights. Then we went back to the hotel and went to the pool and had tons of snacks from the hotel concierge lounge.


Shot of the Salt Lake City Temple.


This tree was glowing. Looks like fire!


Cousins...
Top row, left to right: Hannah(6), Veronica(6), Hailey(4) and David(3).
Bottom row: Matthew(2) and Vanessa(1).
Day 3 we headed towards our final destination...Idaho Falls. Road conditions were amazing and not scary at all. Our vacation finally began once we were in Idaho.


Veronica thought it would be a good idea to cut Vanessa's bangs.


Getting ready to go flying over Idaho Falls. Thanks Tom! (Jeff's brother-in-law)


Merry Christmas!


Day 1 of our drive up to Idaho Falls. It took us 3 days to finally get there...we broke it up so it wouldn't be so long in the car. Those DVD players were amazing! It kept the kids quiet and entertained while we drove....who cares if they turned into zombies.

For lack of anything interesting to post...

...I'll just post pictures...with no real story behind them.


Vanessa loves shoes...don't ask where that came from.



The kids think this is the best seat in the house...it makes me nervous all the time!

Thought I'd throw in a picture of Veronica...who is doing amazing in 1st grade.

His father's son...

Such cuties.

They even furrow their brows the same.

Ivy Field Day.

She is so pretty when she smiles!


Veronica was very determined to get the frisbee in the hole...we have to work on her form.


Veronica with Amanda.


This is Leo. I think Veronica likes him a lot. I think Leo likes her a lot too. (I caught them holding hands earlier.) They are 6...should I be worried?

Halloween dress up

On our way to our ward Halloween party.

I spent $9 on the costumes this year. The bulk of the money went for those gloves that Veronica is wearing. Everything else I had on hand and altered or made it from lots of scraps that I have from other projects. David's was easy because he was Mario last year (the kid isn't really into dressing up) and so I just made it so it worked for his getting a little taller. I added the dark pink fabric to an old dress that Veronica had and made the little jewel for the front out of an old plastic pen topper. The kids were very easy to please this year, which makes it more enjoyable for me.


Princess Peach and Super Mario.


It was funny to see these kids dressed up in costumes in my back seat.

She looks very kitty-ish.

At the school parade. This is by far the quickest Halloween parade I've ever been to. It was 15 minutes!

How does it feel to be six?

"I feel...umm...a little different...wait...I feel older now." That's what Veronica said to me when I asked her how she felt to be 6 now. I still am trying to compose myself from the realization that my first born is in fact 6 years into her own life. Anyway, Veronica wanted a Princess and the Frog Costume Party and I did my best. My favortie part of putting this whole thing together was this picture that I took of Veronica. She was so happy and felt so loved...it totally made it all worth it.


(Disregard my dying flowers)
This shot was taken while the girls at her party were singing Happy Birthday to her. She loves the attention.




We played "Kiss Naveen". My amazing, artistic, talented, awesome friend Sheena drew Naveen and helped with the puffy paper flowers.


I thought it would be fun to have the girls do some paper crowns. Then they got a little crazy with the glitter. I'm still finding glitter EVERYWHERE! It was fun...I think.



The birthday girl requested brownies and ice cream(thanks for not making me make a Princess and the Frog cake).

Some kids watching part of P&F to calm down their excitement before their parents came.

I made up a little scavenger hunt for the girls. I didn't think that it would go as well as it did. Well, there were some fights about who got to grab the clue and who could read it. But the end was worth it. I hid the goodie bags in a treasure box. By that time, which was close to when the parents were to come get their kids, I WAS EXHAUSTED!!! It was fun though.

My parents and my brother and his wife came over later for even more celebrations! Here is abuelo with his oldest grandchild.


My dad is so good at being an abuelo. It's no wonder these kids love to have him around. Veronica loves to draw and received lots of construction paper to draw on. Here she is not wasting any time getting to work on those reams of paper.


So cute!