Splish Splash

Who could resist these cheeks?

Or these cheeks?

Time with Daddy

So it has been a long (long in a good way) weekend. Tyler didn't have any appointments this week for work so after 2:00 on Thursday, he has been ours. It is a rare occasion when Tyler gets to spend a lot of time with us. I don't blame him as he is going to school full time, doing two independent study courses, working part-time and fulfilling his hefty church calling. There are days when he leaves before Lucy wakes up and gets home after she is in bed so he doesn't even get to kiss those lovable cheeks of hers.

We have taken advantage of his extra time and we have been to the park twice, out to eat with the Battles' and watched a few too many episodes of the final season of the West Wing (our fav. TV show despite the republicans being the bad guys). He even ran 10 miles today-unaccompanied by his wife of course.

Lucy, being a daddy's girl, has enjoyed the extra time with her daddy for sure. It amazes me how I can be with her all day long and the moment daddy walks into the room she goes crazy. It makes me smile that's for sure!

The hat is obviously daddy's influence!!!

Swinging is her new favorite activity. She laughs non-stop while in motion on the swings!

I'm thinking the slide is not on her top-ten list of things she enjoys. What do you think?

Good Friends

This is a short thought, but I have been emailing my friend Kassie back and forth all day (we also went out to lunch with some of our other girlfriends). Our discussions got me thinking about the value of good girlfriends. I have been contemplating a lot about what makes a good friend, the qualities that I feel you can't go without.
I have been blessed in my life to have so many good girlfriends, and I wish I kept in better contact with most of them. (Some of you will be reading my blog and know who you are, I really do miss you!). I don't have a lot to say about it just now because Lucy is awake in her crib wondering where I am. I did however want to get out there that good friends are priceless. One of my best friends in high school gave me a scrapbook when we graduated. In it is a poem I love. It meant a lot as we were going our separate ways for college, but means something different now that I have experienced separation from good friends.

"True friends are never forgotten, they live within our hearts and souls...forever, and always, dancing on our stage of memories."

Can any of us forget our true friends, the ones that loved us no matter what we did? Whether I talk to them every week, every month, or even every year, I could never forget any of my girlfriends because of the memories we've made together. It's like I have so many different sets of friends, those from preschool though graduating high school, my first two years of college and my second two years after I switched schools. Then when college friends started moving away, and I got married, it's like I got a whole new set of friends. All are priceless in my mind. I wouldn't be who I am today without any of you, so thank you for everything!

Hawaii

So I know it has been a week, but I started looking through my pictures of Hawaii and realized I didn't take hardly any at all. Tyler's parents were also on the work incentive trip, seeing as how his dad runs the company, and he took a TON of pictures. So I will post more when I get a CD of those.

The first day we went to Pearl Harbor. What a sobering experience! There was such a prideful feeling I had for not only the soldiers at Pearl Harbor, but for all our Troops, no matter when or where, that have given their service for our country. The most memorable part of this trip was the circle outside to remember all those (minus those on the Arizona) who lost their lives that day. There were quite a few civilians in Hawaii who died, one was 7 months old, the age of our little Lucy. I was glad I had sun glasses on because it topped off my emotions for the day! We spent the rest of our afternoon touring around the island and then walked the board walk in Waikiki.

Monday we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center. I LOVED it!

Below Tyler and I are playing with some sticks in the New Zealand portion of the Center. It is some traditional thing they do, like the hula in hawaii, where you hit sticks together and throw them from person to person in different ways. I will have you know that during our little class, Tyler and I didn't drop our sticks once:)

After we went to several shows from the different islands within Polynesia, watched a water parade and played some fun games, Tyler and I snuck out to go see the LDS Temple. And boy was it breathtaking. The Picture doesn't do the scene justice. The sun was setting and there were beautiful clouds in the sky. Nobody was on the temple grounds which added to the peace we felt there. It was one of my highlights for the whole week!

After seeing the Temple grounds and the BYU-Hawaii grounds, we went back for the final show . It was amazing and I had to include a picture to show you all how good our seats were. Row 4 in the exact middle of the arena.

I can't remember the order of the rest of the days but we went to a Ranch to go 4 wheeling and take an off-road jeep ride. We did this at the Ranch where a bazillion movies/TV shows have been filmed such as Lost, Jurassic park, 50 First Dates, Godzilla, etc. Needless to say it was BEAUTIFUL!

One day we went Para sailing

We also went jet skiing. I will have you know that while I was driving the waverunner I threw my big-strong husband off the back. He thought I was going to be wimpy but I suppose I showed him. Oh, and you don't have to tell me how dorky I look in those goggles, but the water was so salty that they were worth the fashion faux paux.

We did a ton of other things like eat great food, shop, Tyler went surfing a few times too. But one thing I wish we did more of was just relax. I only sat out by the pool twice and once the sun wasn't out yet because it was so early. The four hour time change had us up pretty early. I suppose it was okay we didn't see too much sun by the beach or pool because if you hadn't noticed, we are pretty fair skinned.

Lastly for this post are a couple of pictures of our little Lu Lu in one of the outfits we got for her. As you can tell by the second one, she loved the skirt. I am pretty sure there are little green pieces all over our house.

The trip was great but I missed Lu entirely too much. It is hard to leave your little girl for a whole week. But as Tyler and I said to each other half way through the trip, it was a great thing that we actually looked forward to going home. She is too perfect to be away from that long!

Wait for it...

So I am sorry to say that it is late and I am feeling a little under the weather, but I realized it has been weeks since I have even been on the Internet, much less updating or looking at blogs. So I thought I would let you all know that I didn't forget I had a blog and will update you on our trips to Hawaii and Portland soon. I don't know what soon means but I did the bathrooms and the laundry today so really the only big one left before I can have a few minutes for me is the grocery shopping. I have never seen such an empty fridge before so I am thinking this is going to be a chore not to be accomplished at one store. It will be a whole day event when you throw Lucy in the mix, but in the end it will be worth it!

Great Grandma

I thought this picture was too good not to share with my grandma Quanstrom, Lucy's great grandma.

Grandma, you are so beautiful! I am so lucky that you lived just a couple miles away all growing up. I can't wait to move back to Oregon someday so we can just stop in and play a game or two of dominoes. Then Lucy can get to know and appreciate you and grandpa the way I do. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have such wonderful loving grandparents. Thank you for always being there for me. I will see you in a week and half! :)

Girls Weekend

So I just got home this evening from spending the weekend with some of my college roommates. I missed my family but had a blast! It is amazing how you can be away from good friends and when you get back together, nothing has changed (besides marriages and kids). I felt like no time had passed at all. We still had fun hanging out, staying up late talking about anything and everything, shopping, eating out and laughing a ton. I didn't realize how much I missed them!

This is not a great picture at all, I think Beth took some better ones so I will post one when I get it. Doesn't Carla look Beautiful!!! We met her new husband Kyle for the first time the day before the wedding, but from how happy Carla was, there was no doubt in my mind that he is right for her! I have known her for some time now and no boy has ever had such a wonderful influence on the way she carries herself. I am so happy for her and wish them the best of luck in their life together.

lonely mommy

I knew it was coming but I didn't know it was going to be so hard on me! Wednesday I took my two loves to the airport and watched them fly away.
In December one of my best friends got engaged and us girls decided to make a girls weekend out of it. I was way excited, I would only be away from Lucy for one whole day and two half days. Tyler was the babysitter while mommy got a weekend away. Well...Tyler made a business trip to Portland not knowing it was on the same weekend. The trip got canceled but Tyler still decided to go and take my baby with him. I spent all of Tuesday night BEGGING him not to go. We are talking can't breath hysterical to even think about being away from my baby. I love my husband too, but I have never been away from Lucy overnight before.
I have been okay but I do not like sleeping in an empty house. It is amazing how Lucy has changed my view on life. I don't know what I would do without my family and have been reflecting on the fact that I am so happy they are mine FOREVER and ever!

Spastic Child!

My mom pointed out that if Lucy's arms were made of feathers she would fly away with all the flapping she does. This video shows a little that was caught on camera.

Our Weekend

This past weekend was amazing! My mom came into town on Wednesday to spoil Lucy with love and kisses.
My dad followed on Friday in order to attend General Conference. Dad, being the new Stake President, got us all tickets to Saturday morning's solemn assembly. While Tyler got babysitting duty, we were able to sit next to my Grandpa Hansen and his new wife Becky, my uncle Paul and cousin Emme and my cousin Kyle who just got his mission call to the Southern part of Argentina. During the session I reflected on the fact that we are so blessed we are to have a prophet on earth to lead and guide us to live more like Jesus Christ. It was an amazing experience to be there and feel the spirit so strong!
After the first session we went to PF Chang's for a yummy Chinese feast. Then with no time to spare, we made it back to my parents hotel just in time for the opening song of the second session. I think everyone fell asleep but Tyler who took copious notes the whole time. Tyler and Dad went to the priesthood session together while us girls went shopping at the Gateway.

My mom left yesterday, Monday, and I was so sad to see her go! Fortunately we are going to Portland for a few days in less than a month to drop our little Lu Lu off at the best babysitters in the world, her Grandma Hansen's house. We will spend a few days there at my house, but lets not forget about the reason for the trip- a week long getaway to Hawaii for Tyler and I. Oh how beautiful!