Sunday

Sunday morning we woke up bright and early.  Around 5:45 actually.  I was still on Idaho time and sleeping in wasn't working.  It was totally frustrating.  We got up, got ready and were ready to drive the 20 minutes to church with ample time…about an hour of time to spare to be truthful.  About 10 minutes into our drive I started looking up quick-cares.  I hadn't been feeling fantastic since we got on the plane and by Sunday morning I knew if I didn't get help I would be in trouble.  We showed up at the quick care 10 minutes before they opened.  $300 later I was out the door with antibiotics.  We have fantastic insurance, just not in Hawaii.   

Church was great.

My antibiotics were great.

Life went on.

Even though I didn't feel wonderful, we continued with our plans to hike the Waihee Ridge Trail.

The views were spectacular and the trail extremely muddy.  It wasn't crowded, but the trail had a constant stream of hikers coming up and down.  I started counting how many people looked as if they had fallen and the number wasn't comforting. 

We chose our steps carefully and made sure we took pictures for the kids so they would know how adventurous we were.

It was ridiculously beautiful.

We didn't hike as long as we would have if I hadn't been feeling crappy.

But we came down safe and mud free…at least from the ankle up.

We drove back into civilization and treated ourselves to some Hawaiian shaved ice.

Please excuse the lame picture with the bud light in the background. It was the only place we could sit.

Our drive back to our hotel was over an hour because of holiday traffic.  The road winds along the coast on the south western side of Maui.  It's a beautiful drive and traffic was stop and go for miles because of people looking at the surfers.  I sadly slept most of the drive.  I couldn't sleep in to save my life, but every time I got in the car I was fast asleep.  My 80 year old woman came out in Hawaii.  Must be a sign I need to retire there. 

We grabbed dinner at Maui Taco and at a BBQ place close to our hotel.  We ate on the balcony of our room and then went down watch the sunset around 7.

The waves were huge and loud and the entire scene was breathtaking. 

I think I could get used to this place.

Confession- it got dark and I went to bed at 8pm.  Seriously…I'm old.

The Spray Tan Story

My husband has really fair skin.  You wouldn't know it because ironically he tans beautifully.  He's the ultimate oxymoron of when it comes to all things epidermis.  His face and arms become perfect Thanksgiving turkey brown in the sun, but his legs (that hardly ever see the light of day) are Snow White creamy.   They are so snow-cap white that my kids think its hysterical to roll around on the floor giggling if he ever wears shorts.  They are ungrateful little snips those kids.   I however, understand the farmer-tan reality of adulthood and am too plagued with two-toned skin.  I don't laugh at Steve in shorts.  (I lightly snicker when he's not looking.)

Not soon after Steve booked our trip, (which is not being called a vacation per Steve…it was just a really long date.)  he came home with a gleam in his eye…which usually leads to trouble.  "I think we should both get spray tans before we leave.  That way I can wear shorts and not look ridiculous  I've called the place and got all the details.  It's going to be great.  (pause pause pause)  You go first."  Real nice.

Trying to be the supportive wife I always am, I reluctantly agreed.  Lets face it, since birth I've been uncomfortable with anything new or that I haven't tried before.  An unfamiliar brand of peanut butter makes me nervous so a first time spray tan was down right frightening.  I sweat through at least one shirt just counting down the hours until I was supposed to be at the spa in town that provides the spray tan.

Around 5:30 pm I walked into the salon (side note:  WHY do salons hire 20 something girls with no body fat, perfect skin and sparkling personalities???  It's makes us common folks feel ugly.  I want to go to a spa where every employee is middle aged, wrinkled and has a healthy layer of padding around the middle and backside…kankels and a wad of split ends wouldn't be bad either.) and the perfect barbie practically teenage girl asked if she could help me.  I told her I would like a spray tan.  She looked me up and down and told me I could use "Medium."  Ok…whatever Barbie girl…just don't make me orange ok??

She takes me into a small room on the other side of the salon and then quickly tells me instructions on how the spray machine works.  I don't really listen because I'm mesmerized by her flawless, and I mean flawless, porcelain complexion.  I ask her a random question about tanning…and she admits she's never had a spray tan.  This did NOT make me feel any better.

So there I was left in a room all by myself with a space aged shower contraption thing warming up getting ready to make me beach beautiful.  I stripped down to my birthday suit and then had to cover my hands, wrists, knees, elbows in a thick lotion that supposedly kept those parts of my body from turning orange (this is a foreshadowing moment if you didn't catch it).  Right there in the room was a very large very full length mirror.  I don't own a full length mirror and I'm wondering now if I ever will.   I won't go into why, but use your imagination.

The next few fascinating points about the spray tan experience would best be served in list form. 

 (who needs catchy transitions right?)

The enclosed spray shower itself was heated up for "my" comfort.  It had to be 100 degrees in that thing when I stepped in and shut the door.  The whole time I was in there I was sweating, which in turn made me nervous because sweat mixed with spray tans equal streaking which of course made me sweat more.   I was also afraid I would pass out from the heat.  So…there I would be naked, on the floor, covered in an orange sweat-streaked tan.  Awesome…and flattering…and not embarrassing at all.

 I had strict instructions to keep my eyes closed, but at the same time keep my feet in certain positions and change them when prompted to.   Uh….how was I supposed to see where to put them with my eyes closed?   I was positive I would be blind by the time I stepped out of the sweat machine.

A sultry women's recorded voice could be heard babbling in the background every so often.  I'm guessing she was telling me to turn around so I wouldn't be all tan on one side with the other still creamy winter white.  The problem was the crazy fan in that futuristic shower sweat shop.  The fan was so blasted loud, the recorded voice could have have been singing "Head Shoulder's Knees and Toes" and I wouldn't have know it.

The warm sticky spray my poor naked body was bombarded with started at my feet and went up spraying over my head.  Add that feeling to being overheated and I REALLY thought I was going to pass out.  So I stood there bending my knees trying to talk myself out of getting light headed.  (We all know how well that worked for me on a bus in Italy.)  I had visions on being rescued by all those skinny young beautiful girls working in the lobby.  They would have been horrified lifting my 30 something squishy naked sticky body off the floor.

After the tan was over…four quarter turns so I was properly basted…an even louder fan kicked on to properly dry my stickiness.  It lasted way too long for someone to stand there naked and waiting.  Then to make matters worse, I couldn't get the door open to get out when the fan FINALLY turned off.  It brought back the same feelings of horror when I couldn't get the things started in the first place.  Touch-less sensor to start my foot.   Really this spray tan shower is just a shower of anxiety and naked terror.

Even though I used the lotion on my hands and feet liberally, and even though I stood in that spray JUST like I was told to, my hands and feet were a lovely burnt orange color for DAYS.  I felt like sitting on my hands everywhere I went so nobody would see my crayola fingers.

As I was walking out of the spa, I had to check in the "pretties" to make sure it wasn't raining.  If it had been I would have had to hung out with them for a while.  Nobody wants a polkadot tan.

My bath towels have been orange since.  (good thing it washes out with every wash.)

My dad told me to be careful in Hawaii.  Apparently he's heard that sharks like their food caramelized.

After Steve saw my results he decided to still go and get tan himself.  He learned from my mistakes and came home with non-colored hands and feet.

I shaved my legs twice…and my tan was gone!

Steve's legs looked fantastic in shorts and on the beach.

Would I do this again???                     …maybe. But, Steve will be the Guinea pig next time, not me.

Saturday

Two weeks ago Steve called from work and surprised me by telling me he thought we should go to Hawaii over Memorial Day.  I would have been crazy to say no.  Crazy Crazy.

He asked his mom to watch our kids and booked the trip.  We left Friday morning, had lunch in Boise and caught our flight mid afternoon.  After a two hour layover in Seattle and a six hour flight to Maui, we landed around 9:30 pm.  

After rental car pickup, grocery store trip, hour drive to the west side of the island and room check in,  we arrived at our room close to midnight.  We were beat.  

But we woke up bright and early Saturday morning to this view out of our hotel room.

The view from to the left.

View to the right.

Not too shabby!

We ate breakfast and decided to explore where we were.

Sorry Steve..had to include this.

These beautiful flowers littered the grounds at the resort.

We walked around the hotel grounds and the beach line surrounding the Napili Bay on the west side of Maui.  This is a self portrait from the east side of the bay.

Portrait from the west side…with view from where we took our picture on the east.

And yes…Steve brought his GoPro camera on a selfie stick.  It came in handy many times so NO mocking.

After exploring the bay we decided to go for a drive in Steve's rental car pick of choice-his bright red convertible Camero.

(Confession:  I have a hard time just saying Camero.  I always in my head evilly think a swear word in front of the word Camero.  It rhymes with itchin'…and starts with a B.  And I wonder why Colby has been know to swear on the slight occasion.)

The Itchin' Camero.  

(For the record-  extremely fun to have on vacation, wouldn't ever own one.  It's at its best with the top down.  Huge car to have to park.  Next time I told Steve we are renting a convertible Beetle instead.  I think he cried a little inside.)

We drove down to Whalers Village and walked around which led to sitting down to an early lunch.

Best fish lettuce wraps ever.  I made Steve eat at the same restaurant I ate at when I was in Hawaii in January.  This was my favorite meal then and it didn't disappoint the second time either.  I think I could eat this every day and never get sick of it. 

After filling ourselves to the sick point, we got back in the "insert swear word here" Camero and did some more topless driving.  (As you can in the pictures…the car is topless…we are not.)

Steve had this all planned out from the start.  He had the perfect idea to have pictures taken while driving with the GoPro.  This man is a planner I tell you!

We spent some time at the beach Saturday afternoon too.

It was right outside our hotel room.

Steve enjoyed the waves.

I enjoyed sitting in the sun.

Sadly, Saturday afternoon Carter had a bad diabetes day.  Two infusion set failures mixed in with some really high numbers and ketones.  My mom came and took Carter to her house (she more versed in diabetes care) while Steve's mom kept the other four.  I think Carter was sad to leave his siblings, but I know he LOVED the special treatment he got from my parents one on one.  My mom graciously tested Carter's blood sugar hourly until late into the evening and made sure he came down to safe levels.  I wrung my hands and cried in the hotel room feeling completely out of control.  Vacations are fun…but really hard with a diabetic child.  I can leave home, but I never mentally leave home.  My brain is always in diabetes mode if Steve and I are gone together.  Plus, I feel so much anxiety putting the responsibility of diabetes on Steve's or my parents.  It's a lot to put on someones plate.  Steve and I are both so grateful for out parents and their willingness to help out and let us get away together once in a blue moon.  We are very fortunate to have such wonderful parents.

Saturday night we drove to a few hole in the wall restaurants and got take out.  We ate in our room and watched Netflix on the IPad and then watched the sunset around 7pm.  I was in bed by 8pm.  A four hour time difference kicked this girls trash.

Last tidbit for Saturday.

One more reason I LOVE Hawaii.  They sell Diet Coke in these HUGE cans.  It's bliss I tell 'ya.

For the record...

Let it be said that I am a total spoiled brat.  Rotten to the core.  Hideously spoiled and rotten is where you would find me in the dictionary.

Why, you might ask?

Because I went to Maui for the second time this year.

Steve and I went over Memorial Day weekend…just us in all its dreaminess.

We spent three days looking at a view like this...

and eating delicious gluten free food like this.

It's almost too much fun to handle…but before I go on, I must record went on before the days of loveliness in Hawaii. 

Because the week before paradise was a bit nuts…crazy even.  I thought my brain might melt before I got everything crossed off my list before Steve and I could catch our flight.

So here is some list crossing that went on before Hawaii.

Colby was awarded his Wolf badge in scouts.

I admittedly happily stayed home crossing off lists while Steve went with Colby to pack meeting.

The official hand shake of accomplishment.

Steve's pretty peachy letting me stay home and helping Colby feel special too.

Let it be recorded in history that my dad let grandkids inside his precious Razor.

I told the kids to feel privileged on this one!  (wink wink)

 I can't remember why we were at my parents house, but I'm almost certain my mom watched my kids for something.  

Thanks Mom and Dad!

I've been meaning to post these screen shots from instagram for a while now.

Andrew and his friends are in that silly teenage stage where everything they find funny is cool and even more so, they have moxy to spare…kind of love it.  It's a crack up.

Andrew…if you let the picture be taken, just know it will be made public.  Learn this lesson now my son.   And for the record, I'm not sure pink is your best color.  

Carter had his 5th grade Craters of the Moon field trip.  I was supposed to go with him, but conflicts arose, so I missed it.  Diabetically, he did awesome and handled himself like a champ.  This was one of the only pictures he sent me from his Ipod.

 Funny boy.

I couldn't make it to Carter's field trip because I needed to be a Saylor's preschool graduation.

Too many fun things on one day I guess.

Saylor did great in front of the crowd and sang like a champ.  She announced that her favorite color was blue (new to me), her favorite thing to do was watch tv, (real nice) and her favorite foods were fruit snacks and cookies (I am the perfect mother I guess. cough cough).

My mom was kind enough to come and support Saylor on her big day.

 I adore these kid-lets.

"Why Jill," you say, "You are looking mighty tan in these pictures."

Yes, yes in fact I do.

In prep for my long weekend in Hawaii, I actually went to my first spray tan appointment.

It was…well…adventurous to say the least and might deserve it's own post.  It's a sarcastic hilarious post.  More on that subject and Hawaii tomorrow.  For now,  I'm exhausted and jet lagged and am going to bed early.

Real Quick

Thought that are jumbling in my head that need to get out in no particular order…


We had an open house for our home Saturday.  It was rainy and windy and gross weather wise.  A few people came, but not a lot.  Blah.  We also dropped the price of our house to $84.6 a square foot.  After realtor fees we won't even break even for what we have into the house…if we get a full price offer (ha ha).  Sometimes I wonder why I'm even going through this torture.  It stinks to sell a house.

I've been working with Carter's new diabetes educator.  I LOVE her.  I've been sending her Carter's food/blood sugar/insulin diary for about four days at a time and then she sends me back any changes.  Carter's number are considerably better and running close to 100-120 all the time.  Happy Day!  (we won't mention the two evenings of lows in the 50s.  Those are scary and really pain in the you know what.)

Steve and I are leaving town this weekend for a few days.  His mom is gracious enough to come and watch the kids at our house while we are gone.  This is the FIRST vacation we have taken together that has absolutely nothing to do with dental stuff or family reunions.  I think Steve is even more excited than I am.  I'm including in my prayers this week that everyone at home (an abroad) will be healthy and happy.

The rental space at our office has rented (leased signed and everything) finally and I can't believe what a relief it is.  Our dental building is big…as is the mortgage…and having half of the building paying for itself will be blissful.  The interior buildout starts this week and the rent checks should start in about five or six months.  I'm thinking Steve might sleep a little better now that this is in the works.

With my calling, I feel I'm subject to know more of the heartache that goes on in our ward.  It's not that I'm privy to extra information, but I'm more aware of needs and it weighs on my mind and is in my prayers more than before.  Somedays I often think that being an adult and knowing about adult problems isn't all its cracked up to be.  Fortunately, with the knowledge of pain and trials come the knowledge of the outpouring of service and love that the members of my ward provide for one another.   My good friend and relief society president has said, "It's hard not to love someone when you see what they do for others."  She is right.  I'm grateful for my opportunity to experience and learn from others' service.  I'm learning really quick that I am an infant when it comes to service and loving others.  I have a lot to learn.

Only two and a half more weeks of school.  What in the world am I going to do with all these crazy kids at home for three months???

Mother's Day Pictures

All I asked for (besides my usual flower baskets in the spring) for Mother's Day was to get a Sunday before church picture of my children.

Wish granted.

Steve luckily caught a few with me in them too.

I am super grateful to be these kids' mother.  Not sure what I did in heaven to deserve them, but I'm super lucky I have them.

My favorite part of Mother's day is the elementary school gifts brought home.

Colby make me a dry erase board that he has written notes on every morning since….pretty stinking adorable.

Carter made me a laminated book of reasons he is grateful and thankful for me.

I love him (and his teacher!)

I had to include a few examples of pictures he drew.  They are super cute and hilarious.

I will treasure them always!

 Kind of love the oven going, two burners AND the toaster all being used.  I must be super mom in this picture.

Best picture by far.

Carter, I remember this day too and it haunts me.  But I love your depiction of it and our simultaneous scream of "AH!"

You didn't scream during the actual scary event, just so you know.  You just looked up at me from under the water with big scared eyes.  Yikes.

Saylor gave me this beautiful drawing.  Love this girl.

In addition to Mother's Day, our week was full with other fun stuff...

like sleeping.

(the cute puppy cuddle just needed a picture)

Andrew competed at district for track.  He ran the 2 mile, the mile and the 800 meters.

I was happy I got to (finally) watch him run this year.  He has an amazing ability to SPRINT the last 200 yards and usually passes 2 or three runners right at the end.  He got new personal best in all three races.

We switched Carter's endocrinologist to Dr. Flynn in Boise and had an appointment on Thursday.  The staff seems to be really good task masters, and as anxious I am to have to try new things, I'm excited to pull Carter's A1C tighter.

We celebrated after his appointment at PF Changs in downtown Boise.  Carter was introduced to fancy grown up food and he loved it.  I like taking him out to eat.  He doesn't complain, is willing to try new things and is grateful for everything.  Plus he gives really good faces in pictures.

We're cleaning out and organizing. (again)

The empty spaces on these shelves are a BIG DEAL and deserved documentation.

The boys had their swim party at the theatre downtown on Saturday.

There was a movie, popcorn, treats and t-shirts.

I thought these were clever.

Legos…the toy that all FIVE of my children can enjoy at once.

(yes I'm fully aware that Grady is too young.)

 Genuine teenage smile…had to be included.

Last but not least.  Colby is turning into a bookworm.  I'm thrilled.