White Christmas

My goal for this Christmas is to have a "White" one. I love snow on Christmas day, but that is really the only time. I love looking at the trees all covered in snow. But the "White" Christmas I want is the movie. I love musicals and for some reason I have never seen the movie White Christmas. I think my sister Amy really likes it. I taped it on Sunday and I was able to fit ten minutes of it in last night. So let's hope I fulfill my "White" Christmas this year and finish watching the movie.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!!

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR FAMILY.

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Colby's First Thanksgiving

All my many blessings!!!

I woke up with the best present on my doorstep this morning. All the black Friday Ads. Yes I love black Friday and getting up early and going shopping. I usually go with my mom or sisters, but this year hopefully Scott will go with me and McKenna will babysit. . This year our family didn't travel anywhere for Thanksgiving and I find myself cooking my first turkey all by myself. This is also the first year in a really long time my mom, her parents and all her brothers and sisters will be together for Thanksgiving at my aunts house. Boy I miss those times of being at my grandma's house with all my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and family. Great memories I have as I reflect back and think of all the blessing I have in my life. Family being the first. I am also fortunate to have a wonderful husband, who has a great wife as he is out hunting with a friend right now, two beautiful girls and one busy little boy. Happy Thanksgiving!!! Love you all!!!!!

7 Months

Our baby is 7 months today. In this picture he has his finger in his mouth showing off his first two bottom teeth that came in this past week. He is all boy as he is such a climber. Last night he stood up in his crib twice all by himself. The second time he fell and bumped his head, so he isn't very sturdy yet. He still loves his baths, toys, any paper he can get his hands on, TV controllers, cell phones, food and cheerios broken up. He has never been a good sleeper so on doctors advice, I started putting him in his crib awake and letting him fall asleep himself. He has done quite well and I don't have to go get him in the middle of the night. Once in a while he will stir for a couple of seconds and go back to sleep. Overall he sleeps much better at naps and night time. He also army crawls around every where and we have to keep a closer eye on him as everything goes in his mouth. You can tell his is a "Bald-win" and probably won't have hair for a while. He is 21 lbs now. We look forward to his first Christmas but not sure if the decorations on the tree will hold up to a busy 7 month old.

Day 0 or second 1- Our Trip to Maui

We booked our tickets in February to Maui and couldn't believe the day had finally arrive for us to leave on our trip. On Halloween morning, at 5am, we started our trip with Grandpa and Grandma Cutler, Scott, Cari (Me), McKenna, Shantae and Baby Colby to Maui. We first travelled by car two hours to Pasco, WA for McKenna last soccer came of the season. They lost and then we went to Costco for lunch. Then we travelled three hours in the car to Portland and checked into the Hampton Inn hotel. I took the girls swimming, while Scott and His mom went to IKEA. Then we went to the Panda Express for dinner. Then checked out the Sports Authority store and went back to the hotel and played UNO. We didn't take the girls trick or treating because the night before they had a trunk or treat at our church. Then we went to bed anticipating out flight in the morning to Maui. Posted are a few flowers from Hawaii.




















Favorite Scenery picture.

Hawaiian State flower the Yellow Hibiscus

Bird of Paradise Flower

Day 1

Today was daylight savings and we woke up in Portland at 6 am, went to breakfast and headed to the airport for our 5 hours and 38 minutes ride to Kahului, Maui. The flight went surprisingly fast for me as I don't like to fly. I was introduce to Pog juice while flying and loved it. I drank this a lot while in Maui. We landed and the weather was windy. I remember thinking, this is Maui. It didn't look so pretty by the airport, but as the trip went on I realized just how beautiful it was here, how it smelled so good and now know why people love visiting Hawaii. We then went and picked up the rental van at National, went to Costco and later Wal-mart to pick up some groceries and then drove about 30 minutes to our condo in Kihei, Maui.

Our condo is called Maui Kamaole. The condo is a beautiful two bedroom, spacious open concept kitchen, living room and two bathrooms. Then we we anxious to check out the Kamaole Beach and put our toes in the Pacific Ocean. It was a short walk all downhill, across the two lane highway where we were finally standing on the beach looking out over the ocean.

We noticed during our trip that there weren't a lot of people around because it was an off season. The weather was windy in parts, but over all it was perfect weather for all the activities we did, except it rained a little at the Luau and cloudy in some spots, but still warm enough to swim. We took a lot of pictures in Maui and that is why I have posted so many. We learned a lot about the Hawaiian culture. Mahalo means thank-you. Also, a single girl wears her flower on the right side of her head and a married woman on the left. This was an awesome trip with so many wonderful memories. I hope you enjoy all our pictures as we share our experiences with you. Mahalo!

Day 2

I spent some time at the Kaumole Beach by myself and it was so nice and peaceful. Then the kids, Scott and his mom joined me. We played in the waves, went on a cheap body board and snorkeled some.

Later, we went to Lahaina to check out the sites and purchase tickets for the Luau, submarine and Maui Ocean Center. We found a shaved ice place that my Uncle Darrell recommend we get, and eat it with ice cream and Maui milk .They were so big and soooo good that we went back for more on another day. Now I want to go back to Maui just for the shaved ice (okay and a few other things). We did get a variety of flavors. Tae liked the bubble gum, McKenna the volcano(root beer and Cherry) Scott and I the tigers blood( strawberry and coconut).

Day 3

We got up early and drove to Ka'anapali Beach Resort for breakfast, then enjoyed the waves at the beach there.

The waves were large and brought in with them bits and pieces of coral and small rocks that hit our feet and legs. Every time a wave hit, everyone burst into laughter.

World famous Banyan tree at Lahaina that coves an entire city block.

McKenna couldn't resist climbing in the Banyan tree until we noticed several signs that said "No climbing".

Vines hang down from this tree and when they touch the ground, they root and begin to grow and become a part of the tree. One tree becomes a forest of it's own.

We boarded a shuttle boat that took us out into the ocean to where the submarine was waiting. You had to be at least three feet tall so Scott's dad offered to stay with Colby at the Banyan Tree and we would meet up with him later. Scott's dad likes sitting on park benches watching the world go by so it was perfect for him. The submarine was a nice experience. We were 100 feet below the surface. The girls with kukui nuts turned into Leis.

The Luau -- Held outside in the evening. It gets dark in Hawaii around 6:00 pm. While we were waiting for the dinner, an invitation went out to the audience to come up on stage for some hula lessons. The girls went up with their grandma? It was a short lesson but lots of fun. The food was served in buffet fashion and was so tasty. Lots of pineapple. They roasted a pig in a pit in the ground and it was tender and delicious. During dinner it started to lightly rain and the waiters handed out clear plastic ponchos with hoods to keep us dry. We looked so funny sitting at our tables hunched oven our plates trying to finish our dinner dressed in plastic. After dinner, we settled in for the show. The dancers were fascinating to watch and as a whole, it was a very enjoyable evening.

Girls with one of the dancers.

Day 4

Scott, the girls and his mom went to look at the tide pools to see what they could find. They found tiny fish, crabs, sea urchins, sea shells, coral, etc.

Later we went to the Aquarium at the Maui Ocean Center. McKenna really loved this place.

They were able to feed the sea turtle.

Then we went to Safeway to shop for some food and pick up a pizza.

After dinner we went swimming and hot tubing.