Packing Up

Jimmy is leaving in a few days.

Packing up the last of his things was tonight.

Madeline was interested and helped him get

it all sorted and ready to go.

She also got a little distracted by the door.

This girl loves her daddy.

It seems like we have been preparing for this for

a long time and it almost doesn't seem like

it is happening. Things like this

tend to make me feel that way and then suddenly it will hit me.

I wish someone who has gone through this before and

kept a journal would publish it....so I could read it...and

know what to expect or have some idea of what

it might be like. I'm expecting it to be hard but

I am also expecting to make it the best I can

and make it into a good experience that

will bring our family closer together.

I'm thankful for my sweet husband and for

everything he does and is. I couldn't have dreamed up a

better more wonderful man....for me, he is perfect.

We'll keep you posted. Let me know if you want Jimmy's address

and I will send it your way.

Maui Wowie

We decided to take off and spend the weekend in Maui.

Hey why not?

Maui is beautiful.

I thought that I liked Kauai best of all the islands that

we have been to so far, but after seeing Maui I think I just

really like them all for different reasons.

When we got to Maui we got our car and took off.

We ended up on this little itty bitty road.

Seriously, if a car came in the other direction we had to back

up and find a spot to pull over just enough so they could pass.

Notice how close it is to the cliff?

No wonder it was prohibited in the rental car contract...

whoopsie.

It was incredibly beautiful along this road. It almost

felt like we were the only ones on the island.

It was so country and green and just beautiful.

The home of Julie's banana bread, the best

on the planet Earth. Or so their sign says.

We spent most of our first day driving around and

relaxing. We checked into our hotel and Jimmy

and Madeline went and played on the beach

while the sick prego laid on a beach chair

and slept. Oh, the life.

The next morning we woke up early to do the

Hana drive. We stopped on our way to get some gas

and after we filled the car, it wouldn't start.

What? So we waited at the gas station for a new one.

The battery was burnt up and green. Good thing

that didn't happen on the prohibited road. eek!

Here's Jimmy waiting patiently.

Our camera died. Whoops. All of our Hana drive pictures are

on the camcorder...they will come later.

All I can say is it was beautiful. This road wraps through the mountain

and has 600 curves and 54 bridges. You could

see waterfalls from the car. It was pretty

amazing and well worth the time.

We drove to the end of it and did a hike that led us to another

waterfall. It was a lot of fun. Madeline hated being in the

car but loved being outside. Go figure. On our

way down from the hike she was getting a little

restless and so we started imitating animals and

to this day she will hang her arms like a monkey and go "oooh, oooh"

it's so stinkin' cute.

The Hana drive took us all day. It was a good day but that

was when we realized that if you are going to Maui you need

more like 5 days so you can see and do everything you want.

Our last day in Maui we went snorkeling at this bay.

Jimmy will have to fill in the name later.

Madeline loved chasing the kids all over the beach.
She ran all the way across the beach at one point to try and

play with this little girl. She also went and

joined another family so she could stare at

their little boys. It was pretty

entertaining to watch. I think she'll be happy

to have a sibling.

Hunka hunka hubby.

We checked out of our hotel before we went to the beach,

thinking we wouldn't have enough time to go back...

we were wrong and salty.

So we snuck back in and borrowed their shower and some pool

towels to dry off with. hee hee.

Our last stop was Iao Valley.

Madeline got so excited about these stairs, and she

climbed every single one of them.

Madeline and her teddy. She took him everywhere

on this trip, even to the beach.

And that was our trip to Maui in a nutshell.
The only thing we will change next time is give ourselves

more time. We want to go to the volcano and see the sunrise!

The Prom

Jimmy's company threw a party.

The theme was prom. I told Jimmy how awkwardly awful my prom was and he said this probably wouldn't be any different. Just kidding. It was fun, we ate some good food, listened to some good music, and had some good company. We didn't stay long because were were leaving for our trip to Maui in the morning...yahoo!

The Grandy's

Our friends Nikki and Caleb came to visit us

and we're so glad they did!

We had so much fun hanging out with them!

They were the last of our visitors for a while and now

I think I may go through visitor withdrawl.

While they were here they did a ton of things

and we tagged along on a few of them.

Like the Honolulu Aquarium...

Madeline loves fish

Taking home a little souvenier,

we can't resist those eyes!

The beach...

Awe, sweet.

Jimmy took Nikki and Caleb out

surfing at White Plains and let's just say

it was entertaining for me! hee hee

Dave & Busters....


Thanks for visiting us and leaving us some awesome

parting gifts, you're still in trouble!

Come again!!

I HATE THROW UP.

I still have more to catch up on, but that will take me a while and this will only take me a second.

We had our first "real" baby appointment today. Everything looks good. I am 12 weeks and feeling sick, sick, sick. I felt sick with Madeline but it was nothing like this. I'm hoping it doesn't last, but planning that it will.

We got to hear the little one's heart beat and it was at 150. I love hearing the heartbeat, it makes everything seem more real. We're excited and can't wait to find out what we are having in a few weeks.

Waikiki

Mom's last night with us we took her to

see the infamous Waikiki.

It rained. ha ha.

I don't know why I don't have any pictures but afterwards

we went to Wild Buffalo Wings or something like that

and had, well

buffalo wings.

Mom bought a souvenier of hot sauce...

that's no surprise if you know my mother.

We're so glad you came to see us Grandma Terri!

Seriously mom it was so nice to have you here.

We miss you already.

I haven't been feeling great with this pregnancy and

let me tell you that there is nothing better

than having your mom around when you

don't feel good.

Thanks for all of your help mom.

We love you!

Camping at Bellows

Jimmy had a long weekend so we

decided to take advantage of it and

go camping at Bellows.

Within ten minutes of arriving, Madeline

was dirty from head to toe and pretty much

stayed that way all weekend.

We did give her a bath at night, but that

only lasted while she was sleeping.

We could not get the girl to keep her shoes on.

She would kick them off and then take

off running, collecting whatever she could

find to put in her bucket.

Jimmy the firemaster.

Bellows is perfect for wave jumping or diving

or catching. Mom and Nat went boogie boarding

and had lots of fun.

We went wave diving and swallowed lots and lots

of water. We really love Bellows. It's so

beautiful and fun!

Little Miss Queen of the Camp.

Madeline thought Grandma's tent was

the neatest thing in the world.

She loved to climb in and lay down.

We made foil dinners, roasted hot dogs, ate smores

and slept on the rock hard ground.

It was so fun!

Madeline trying her first smore.

Jimmy (in his own words) "completing the

experience," by carving a roasting stick.

Polynesian Cultural Center

We went to the Polynesian Cultural Center while

my mom was visiting. We wanted

to give her a taste of Polynesia, of course.

Just like almost every day while she was here,

it rained.

The grounds there are really pretty.

I didn't know this, but they have missionaries

working there.

We walked around to some of the villages,

ate some good food, saw the IMAX film,

and watched the night show.

It was a fun day. I would say you should

do it at least once, just so you can say

you did.