ALOHA!

HAWAII

It's a wonderful thing to visit your parents - especially when they happen to be living in Oahu, Hawaii.

First stop: the Pali Lookout. BEAUTIFUL (and obviously very windy...nice bangs, eh?)

The point.

I'm SOOO happy to be there!

We started our vacation off right.

The gorgeous Laie Temple - it was sweet to be there.

Check out the turtle. Wade even decided to get in the water and snorkel with them for a while. They were all over the place!

Daddy Boy

Sunday dinner with mom and dad. We loved their cute little apartment.

Hanama Bay behind us

Snorkeling was so much fun. The fish were plentiful and beautiful.

Puka Dog...Wade decided to call it PUKE a dog...he wasn't a big fan. I loved it though...and we both agree - we would go back just for the fresh squeezed lemonade! :)

Manoa Falls. It was incredible!! I felt like I might as well be Jenny of the Jungle. Talk about your tropical paradise!

Waimea Falls. Simply stunning.

We stopped along the North Shore a couple of times to watch the surfers and the big, beautiful waves. This picture doesn't really capture it...but pictures never do.

The Dole Plantation

Iolani's Palace

We decided to stay a night in Waikiki. We found the cheapest hotel we could (which was still expensive)...but it was serious quality...as you can see.

Perhaps the highlight of my trip: Pearl Harbor

It was incredible and fascinating.

Aboard the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial

We also got to tour The Mighty Mo (the U.S.S. Missouri) This is the ship where the U.S. signed the peace treaty with Japan. It was massive.

On the ship

In the ship

Coming out of the ship

The PCC (Polynesian Cultural Center)

I'm not gonna lie...I kinda wish I was polynesian.

Us with the Fijians.

Attempting to climb a coconut tree...WAY harder than the Samoan guy made it look.

Mom and Dad in their PCC gear. Don't they look adorable??

Wade. Need I say more?

If you ever find yourself in Oahu you must eat here...and get the cowboy burger. It's delish.

(and also go to Ted's Bakery, don't forget to try a malasada, and get some shaved ice from Aokis or Motsumotos (still can't decide which one was better)).

I about have tears in my eyes just thinking about all the good times...going through serious withdrawls. Thanks so much mom and dad for going on a mission! This trip never would not have been possible without you! We love you so much!

And a BIG thanks to the other grandparents for watching Janie and Addi...and also to my dear sister Amy for once again watching Ellia.

And Kate: You are the best little baby ever! You were such a good girl for the entire duration of the trip (even on the plane). Thanks for being so good natured. I would take you again anyday!

And to Wade: Best Christmas EVER! Thanks for taking me on a trip of my dreams! You are THE BEST!

Christmas 2011

The annual Candy Trains family night!

This year we had the Jensen family join us. Love you guys! Wooo wooo!

The night before the night before Christmas. I love this picture of Wade and all his little girls. He is so lucky - and so are they!

Christmas Eve Day: Ice skating with Dad and Grandpa.

Where was mom? Sick in bed.

Matching Christmas Eve Jammies. My very talented friend Natalie whipped these up for me. The girls LOVED them.

Even the baby got to match her sisters!

I hesitate posting this picture...but I must. HIDEOUS - yes. COMFORTABLE - yes. As usual comfort wins...Wade knew I would secretly love these...and I did!

I'm always so busy trying to record home movies that I forget to take pictures...

Here are a few. We will all suffer in the future watching Caillou over and over, but she was SO excited. It's worth it.

Janie and Addi asked Santa for American Girl Dolls for Christmas. He didn't bring them. We thought for sure there would be tears Chrismas morning, but to our surprise, the girls were very happy and grateful for what he did bring. These dolls were the last two presents under the tree (from Wade and I). The girls couldn't believe their eyes! (We wouldn't want Santa to get all the credit now would we?) :) I don't know if there will ever be a Christmas to top this one. All the girls are at such a fun age. I love being a parent on Christmas morning!

We were so happy Grandpa and Grandma were able to join us for the festivities.

I think we wore them out!

Family Time

When you live in a small town, you have to pack a lot into one weekend in order to get everything done that you want to do.

Our weekend started with:

The Lights! Oh how I love, love, love the lights on Temple Square. Simply Beautiful. Every Time.

Saturday:

A day filled with Christmas shopping, grocery shopping, and shopping for ugly Christmas sweater prizes!

Saturday night: The Anderson Family Christmas Party.

We love to be with our cousins!

Our sweaters.

Sunday: The Hardy Family Christmas Eve Celebration

We made the Christmas Eve dinner (yum), played games, did the grandkid nativity, and even sang a few songs around the piano. We missed Mom and Dad terribly.

As usual - I was the ass.

Next came our little sheep and the shepherds.

Followed by the lovely angels.

And the three wise men

The grandkids who were there.

It was a great weekend.

We love our families.

The end.

Back Up!

I forgot to mention that in September...

Wade ran the RedRock Relay with some friends he works with,

And we spent Labor Day with the Andersons.

It was wonderful being together. We did a lot of hiking (I suppose I should say THEY did a lot of hiking. I stayed in the cabin with 3 week old Kate).

Sulfur Creek (For the second time this year)

It's my girls' favorite hike!

On the way back home we stopped at Calf Creek for lunch.

Good times. We LOVE our cousins.

(9 of the 11 Anderson grand girls)

In the car the other day we were stuck in bad traffic on our way to Sandy.

"Why are we stopped?" Addi asked.

"There are a lot of cars on the road in the city" we replied. Wade went on to say he didn't ever want to have to commute in traffic. I reminded him there were some good things about living in a city. We asked Janie, "Where do you want to live? In the city or the country?" Her reply was, "Wherever my cousins live." We thought it was a cute response. We know family is important and I'm grateful my children have these experiences with their cousins and that they are close to them. I hope they will be the kind of strength to each other that I have witnessed with my oldest nieces and nephews on the Hardy side. What great examples they are!

Quite Possibly Our Best Costumes Ever!

Oh Yeah!

Despicable us:

(It's really just too bad you can't see Wade's skin tight black pants and pointed shoes)

Agnes, Edith, and Margo

Our little minion.

The 2nd annual Hardy Halloween Party was a great success.

6 of the 10 Hardy children (and their families) were there. In all 31 people.

We even had mom and dad join us for a bit all the way from Hawaii (thanks to Skype).

We missed the Idaho, Arizona, and Florida families!

Jack(Todd) and Jill:

Fire Fighter Benny, Pregnant Nun Erika, and the most adorable Utah cheerleader I've ever seen!

Unfortunately We didn't get pictures of the other families!

Thanks for the good times.

Can't wait until next year.

A Baby Story

The Story of Kate's Birth

(for the record)

The Tuesday before Kate was born I went to the doctor for my 38 week visit. The next morning I woke up with contractions about 8 minutes apart. I told Wade I was having contractions, but as soon as I got out of bed they went away. I guess this sometimes happens after an internal exam...

So when I woke up the following Sunday morning with contractions, I thought they would just go away if I got up. It was about 5 AM. I decided I would start getting ready for church. It was also Janie's birthday and I wanted to get up early anyway to hang up the happy birthday banner and make her breakfast. I started to do my hair, but the contractions did not go away...I found myself sitting down trying to breath through the pain every few minutes. At this point I decided to wake up Wade. It was about 5:15 and my contractions were about 3 minutes apart. We talked for a little while and I told him I thought I was in labor. "Let's give it another 15 minutes and make sure." Wade said. Finally I couldn't take it anymore. "We are going. NOW." I said. Wade called our doctor and told him my contractions were 2 minutes apart and we were headed for the hospital. He told Wade he would meet us there. Wade called his mom right after and told her we were leaving for the hospital and to come to the house. We left before she got there. We got to the hospital a little before 6. I was dying at this point. By the time I was in a bed, hooked up to the monitors, and with an IV it was about 5 after 6. The nurse checked me. I was dilated to an 8. It was too late for an epidural. My contractions were right on top of each other and I felt like I couldn't get a break from the pain. I kept telling Wade to call the doctor and tell him to get here. It felt like forever before my doctor came. He arrived at 6:10 and broke my water and got ready for delivery. He told me to push at my next contraction. I told Wade I didn't think I could do it - the pain was too intense. I was assured I could do it and started to push. I felt a whole new kind of pain. Her head was out in 2 pushes. And with a final push little Kate was born. Official time of birth 6:20. I didn't realize until I was pushing out her shoulders that I was screaming (rather loudly I think). Once her shoulders came out I experienced a relief that I can't even describe. I only pushed through 1 contraction, and just like Ellia, her face was bruised from coming down the birth canal so fast. My doctor just laughed and cracked jokes about how fast and easy I have babies (EASY MY EYE!), and how I should have a dozen. As for me, I am glad I can say I did it naturally, and I'm still a little undecided, but I think given the choice I would have the epidural. However they come - it's all worth it to have these sweet babies.

Kate (about 1 month old)

Life goes on.

I think 4 has been an easier adjustment than 3, but life is busy with a newborn.

Here is a typical scene of our house these days...

a few things to notice

1. The obvious piles of laundry surrounding me.

2. My nursing cover draped over the couch.

3. Mug of water (always close by).

4. Nursing pad on the couch.

5. Super cheesy love story in hand.

6. I wear sweats on a daily basis.

7. and of course the adorable baby on my chest...my favorite.

Pathetic? Maybe a little...

But life goes on, and it is a good life.