The Best Dad Ever!!!

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HA-WEE-WEE!!!!

HA-WEE-WEE!!!!! Oh yeah baby!!! That's where this family is going!!! My family is ready to kill me because they keep telling me you pronounce it Hawaii. But all I can think of when I think of the word Hawaii is WWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!  I am so excited!!!!

Yes I know. Everyone thinks we are crazy because we are taking all of our 4 kids with us but hey, we don't care. We are so excited to run and play on the beach with them!

Planning this trip has been exhausting and beyond stressful. I am anything but a planner. I like to do things last minute. I don't like waiting to go on fun trips. So this has been pure torture. I have been like a little kid at a candy store! I want it now! The kids have been more patient than I am.  BUT---they are pretty excited themselves. There is only one draw back

But............I am afraid of flying. Someone please tranquilize me because I hate to fly. Star-Trek me there already!!!

Kirt and I went sky diving and the plane ride was more torture that actually taking the jump. I welcomed jumping out of that plane! There are few things I hate less than landings and take offs.....but I'll do it. Oddly, I'm not scared of heights, I love to be up high and see the pretty scenery, I'm not scared once we are flying, But-----if we hit turbulance......WATCH OUT!!! I  am the person screaming in the background, "We're all gonna die! Somebody get me off this plane!!!"

I am told me fear makes no sense since skydiving and zip-lining and everything else like that doesn't scare me. But whatever.......sedate me!

So as we got on the plane, none of the kids are afraid of flying. (except Beckham showed some potential on take off, SO PROUD!) We flew from SLC to Denver and that was OK. But the flight from Denver to Hawaii was not fun. Lexi and Chase drew a picture of the plane crashing and then all of us falling from the sky with parachutes.......I was the only one with no parachute. They thought they were so funny. MEAN.

That did not help my anxiety. I was not taking anything lightly. They were laughing so hard. Mean old kids! Cute though.

We have now landed and are staying at the Marriott Ko Olina. This is a picture of us at the resort. It is absolutely beautiful here!!! There are restaurants int he hotel, a private beach just for the guests, we are staying in a two bedroom suite with a KITCHEN!!!! I feel like I have died and gone to heaven. This is paradise. SO EXPENSIVE THOUGH!!! How does anyone afford this without maxing out their credit cards???? I mean seriously.........Not that that's what we're doing.......

kirt dad

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Raindrops and Dew...

My kids always make me tell them a bedtime story. Every night without fail they will tell me they are afraid of the "monsters" and the "scary stories". I don't know where they heard these scary stories but I swear it is going to be the death of Kirt and I. We try to paint "pretty pictures" in their head and whisper to them till they fall asleep.

Their favorite story, besides "Helga and Igor", is "Raindrops..." It makes them picture happy things before they go to bed, I guess. We tell it very slowly and very softly. It works like a charm. They fall asleep every time! I figured I'd write it down so we can have it forever.

Raindrops

I see the soft raindrops,

 drip dropping.

I see the soft leaves move with them,

 splish splashing.

I look up at the sky,

but no cloud is over head.

I see a sun shine brightly, 

with raindrops glistening.

I see a bright green, beautiful leaf.

It has one gigantic raindrop resting.

Reflecting.

I look into the raindrop and see,

the memories of all the rain.

Happy puddle splashing,

funny drizzle frizzle,

Crazy pouring wetness, 

and soft mist of a cool summer breeze.

Raindrops all around.

Dripping softly to the ground.

Head up,

Tongue out!

Crazy, wild, fun.

The calm of the raindrops

go drip, drip, drop...!

Lexi's Baptism

I have been both dreading and looking forward to this day since I had laid eyes on my beautiful Lexi. For 2 reasons. First reason was because I selfishly never wanted her to grow up. (and I never wanted to admit I was getting old.) Second, I had no idea how I would feel about having my own child accept the gospel as truth. I know this sounds a little strange...let me explain.

It has been a true struggle of mine trying to know what is right and what is wrong to teach you. I was at a cross roads in my own thoughts in how I was feeling about the church. I was so afraid I would ruin your special day for you. My thoughts and teachings to you are always true to the best of my knowledge...sometimes, I feel I know so little. You are so special to me. I want the best, I want the most, I want the everything for you.

It is the most intimidating thing to be a mother. I face this challenge and pray I lead you down a path of truth and that I never fail you. For this reason I worried about how I would feel on your baptism day. I wanted it to be your choice and not mine. And my sweet daughter...it was your choice. You wanted this. You loved your baptism day. After all my experiences on this day, I knew I was teaching you truth Lexi. I knew you were choosing what was right. Your example made me believe again. You are a true gift in my life. This day changed my life.

We had many late night talks about your baptism. We talked about what it meant to be baptized and that you alone could choose to be baptized. Only excitement filled your eyes when talking about it. You could not wait for your "special day".

Your "special day" arrived! The feeling in the home was so different that day. I must admit, I was a little surprised by the feeling I woke up to that morning. It was a feeling of peace and warmth. It was July and the day was sunny and bright. You woke me up and said, "It's my baptism day!" Your smile just melted my heart. You seemed so at peace yet beyond excited for the day's events to start. I smiled right back. You jumped into bed with dad and I and we both cuddled you. Dad and I looked at each other exchanging a look that we both knew. "AWE!"

We finally got up and started the day. Busy, busy, busy. Cooking up a storm for all the family that were to come and fixing Lexi's hair for her special day. You looked amazingly gorgeous.

Your Dad and you practiced a few times on how he would baptize you so you knew what to do. It was so cute to see you two laugh and look into each others eyes. You are Daddy's little girl:)

It was time...

You were the only one with a baptism that day so we had the entire church to ourselves. Aunt Heather, (trevor's wife), gave the opening prayer and Grandpa Michaelis gave a talk. He talked and told you about how your dad was going to baptize you. He had you come up and pretend like you were in the baptismal font and he was baptizing you. He comforted you and made you feel more at ease about how you were going to be baptized.  You loved hearing him talk. Aunt Jenna sang "His Hands".

You asked me to speak. I thought I would die. But for you Lexi, I would do anything. So I spoke.

When I spoke I gave you a very soft and very white blanket. It was to remind you of the Holy Ghost. I wanted you to remember that voice that whispers to you when you are doing something wrong, or when you might be in danger. Remember how soft it is. Remember how gentle it is. Remember that it needs to be kept clean. If you don't listen to it...the whisper will get softer. Be kind to it. Be gentle to it. Make sure you keep yourself soft and kind like this blanket. Make sure you are pure and clean like this blanket. If you do you will be able to always hear the soft whisperings of the holy ghost and have him with you always.

When I was done speaking I had you come up and you took the soft blanket. I told you the blanket was now yours. I told it was now your job to keep it clean. I told you when you sleep, this blanket can be the soft reminder of heavenly father's love for you. This blanket can also be a reminder of the soft whispering of the spirit and the warnings you may need throughout your life. I told you that I loved you. I think you are amazing in every possible way. I am proud of you no matter what you do. I am so grateful to be your mother.

After that, It was time for your father to baptize you. Just you and I went back to the dressing room where we got you in your baptism clothes. I was filled with so much hope, love, adoration, peace, and pure gratefulness that your were my daughter. I mean, WOW LEXI!!! You are just one amazing girl. I just wanted to hold you there and never let you go. I thought my heart would burst with all the love I held inside for you at that very moment. (and every moment) But, I had to let you go:) I had to let go to your father...

Your father outstretched his hand and you yours, he took your hand and he baptized you. I cried. I was so surprised at my emotions. Daddy was a little teary too! Your smile was so bright and beautiful. You came out of the font and squealed, "I'm baptized!!!" I laughed. Yes you were.

Aunt Jenna did your hair and all the family came over to the house to celebrate! So much love for you Lexi! SO MUCH LOVE! This day was so memorable for me. I know it was for you too. I have been asking you to write it down and you have but we moved and lost so many things. I thought it was a good idea we write some special moments in our life down. This is one of my special moments in life. You are a special moment in my life.

I love you so much. You are my favorite daughter!!! Hahahahaha! I love you baby girl. You are smart. You are fun. You are down right gorgeous! I will always be there for you no matter what. Thank you for making every dream of mine come true by just being in my life.               Love,  Mommy

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