The first resort we stayed at

When we attempted to fly into Kauai our plane was delayed in Oahu and do we stayed the night in a hotel close to the airport. We then got up the next morning (on my birthday :) and flew to Kauai. We actually we weren't sure if we wanted to fly to Kauai at first because the rain was so bad and the damage and of course the roads were awful, but we decided to try it anyway. We are very glad we did! We weren't able to get to our original intended destination because the roads were washed out, so I bid on Priceline and we got half off this beautiful Hyatt resort in Poi'ū. The kids absolutely loved it. We actually tried to stay there the whole time but they were booked out. I am so glad they were now because up North is even prettier. We are heading back to the Hyatt tomorrow ( another great bid) but our time in the North had been wonderful!

The end of the north road

These pictures are on the same road as the picture of the kids on the road that had all of that water. It's a road that ends at Kē'ē beach. It's called Kuhio hwy. but is he smallest highway ever, with one lane bridges that you cross. You wait for 5-7 cars to go and then the other side can go. That's when it's busy, anyway. Usually there is no wait or just one or two cars.

Little bit of water on the road, lol!

One of the roads we crossed that was about a mile up the road from our condo.

Lucy picture

This is a picture that Lucy took from our window when Brady and I went on a walk and left beanie to look after Lucy. It was pretty cute to see her watching us out of the window. She called us on the walk and said that she was worried that the waves were going to come too far up to our place :)

Tide pools

Great tide pools right outside our room :)

Handsome boy!

Looking northwest up the beach at a super handsome boy :) This resort is on the northern most tip of the whole island, meaning the very wettest, especially during this storm! These shots that I got are of our first day staying here so the sky is actually blue and the air pretty warm besides the wind.

Little River

This is the chocolate river running through the middle of our resort. It is normally clear, but with all the rain it is brown! Crazy! Definitely never seen any of he islands' water look like this!

Second day in Kauai

It is a stormy morning on our second day in Kauai! We are up past Hanalei and we are witnessing the worst weather they have had in 40 years!!

Last day of school for Christmas

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> I am just catching up on pictures :)
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Vells at her first dance recital :) This is Amber's little girl. She did fantastic!

Amber and Sean. Amber was giving Beanie his first bottle while Brady and I went out for our anniversary. She was ecstatic!

Amber (11), Amy (8) and Sean (3) Amber always had Seany on her hip. She absolutely adored him so much that mom had to lock Sean's door when he was napping so that she wouldn't go in and wake him up. She always wanted to carry him everywhere :)

More Ambie

Ambie at 12

In L.A. Ambie is 14 in this picture

Ambie is 15 and Amy is 12

Ambie 14 in L.A.

Ambie bodyboarding at 15

My Ambie

My Beautiful Ambie.

I haven't posted on my blog for the past 2.5 years because I was dreading writing this entry. I knew I couldn't post anything before I had posted about her death, but the task of talking about her death was too daunting. Now, I am as ready as I will ever be. My Ambie is one of the most beautiful people in the world and as her bipolar increased her sadness of hurting her family increased.

I had always thought that suicide was an act of selfishness. That a person would chose to take their life was because they didn't care enough about the people that they were hurting; that they cared more about themselves. I can't say why everyone dies by suicide but I do know in Amber's case it was of pure love. She always said she would do anything to protect her family, that she would die for them. Well, a few weeks before she died she said that it was like a monster had taken over her body (when she was manic) and that she had no control over herself. She said she refused to stand by and be helpless to the monster she was becoming. She saw how hard it was on everyone and couldn't stand to see herself be the cause of it. Amber did not take her own life; the monster that took over her free agency and that inhabited her body, that monster murdered her. He convinced her that if she truly loved her family she would not make them suffer.

Well, suffer we are, hurting forever, but not because of the way she died, but of how much we miss her. She is an original and one of my best friends forever. I feel her presence quite often and can hear her talking to me and giving me her classic advice, but it's not enough. I want her here with me. Right now and forever.

Torrey, Utah

This was our wonderful trip to Torrey, Utah and Capitol Reef National Park at the end of June!  We had a fabulous time!  It was a wonderfully relaxing and extremely enjoyable vacation!  We absolutely loved every minute!  We had this huge pool and hot tub completely to ourselves most of the time and the hikes were beautiful especially the last one, which was all in the water (it was quite warm outside).  In the pictures of Brady holding both kiddos, it's because Mommy thought she was going to pass out from heat exhaustion!!!  It was very hot in the front of the mountain in the middle of the day, so Brady, ever my knight in shining armor, came and rescued me!!! Thanks honey!  

Beanie's Last Day of School!

This is Beanie's Last Day of school and he had a fabulous time!  First, they got to have a fun movie time, and then they had a water day where they played on the slip and slides and then they had water fights and all kinds of water games.  Last, but not least, they had a fantastic bubble time to end it all!  It was a super fun day, but the best part for Beanie was coming home and knowing that he had three whole months off!  The best part for Mommy was knowing that I get to sleep in for those three months!!!!  Yes!!!  No alarm clocks, except on Sunday!!!  

Beanie and Lucy Sleeping

I absolutely love this picture because this was Beanie's last day of school and because it just shows how much he adores his sister.  He is so in love with her and always wanting to hold her and kiss her.  They both love each other so much.

Beanie's Great Brain Report

This is going back in time, but I had to get this in!  At the end of school, Beanie's class is required to do a "Great Brain Report".  Beanie did his on "Bearded Dragons" since he just received his a few weeks before that.  He did an awesome job!!!  We were so proud of him. He presented his report so well and he glued all the pictures on the poster and wrote everything himself!  He is doing great at school.  His grades were great and his reading and spelling have dramatically improved.  He excels at both subjects now!

Torrey, Utah

Freddie!

This is Freddie!  He is a Bearded Dragon and he is so cute and fun!  He is a wonderful little lizard and sooooooo fun. He is really mellow and so chill.  He amazingly smart.  We got him a couple of months ago after we saw "Nim's Island", a super fun, family movie!

Introducing Hero Baby!!

This is our Hero Baby!  We got him after Maka passed away and we are in love with him!  He is so cute and sweet and grown to be so big!!!  His temperament and personality is a lot like Chewy's (our first dog) and that is the greatest compliment we could ever pay a doggie!  We are absolutely in love.