Our Belated Halloween

I'm telling you- I am the most lazy blogger ever! It is almost the middle of November and I'm finally posting about Halloween.

We don't make a big deal of this holiday- much to my kids' dismay! They want us to decorate all scary and spooky, but the problem is, we live in a neighborhood of older people and NO kids come trick or treating around here. So we veto that request pretty quickly!

The kids got to have a Halloween party/parade at school on Wed. because they had no school on Thursday or Friday. This year they wanted nothing to do with themes, but more to do with "real Halloween". Thus- here is Cameron... I don't think an explanation is needed here...

I must say he did make a rather good Frankenstein!

Madeline started out wanting to be a black cat, but then she switched to a tiger- very cute!

Then Collin wanted to be a vampire this year- although my outlook on vampires has changed quite a bit since Twilight came out! :0)

Creed was not okay with a costume so I didn't get a picture, but he was a dragon- cute and cranky!!!

And now, the rest of the story... (trip)

Wednesday Oct. 7
We mostly just played on Wednesday at the beach and drove around to see more sites. But the fun part was Wed. night, we went to the Smith's Family Tropical Luau- I know "Smiths" doesn't sound real Hawaiian, but that's what you get when a man from England marries a hawaiian woman! But they put on a great luau, that's for sure!


They took our picture with some native hotties right when we entered. Then we got to tour the gardens before the luau actually began. It was beautiful!

Of course, there was an abundance of chickens, roosters and peacocks!


The Easter Island statue- otherwise known by my kids as "Dumbdumb" from Night at the Museum... it looks like he sneezed us out!


Another "local" hottie!






Some more of their garden area...




We couldn't pass up the photo opportunities in this gorgeous place!


The luau was a blast and the food was awesome! The shows were cool, and we had a great time!

Thursday Oct. 8
We decide to try to find this cool place Jenn had heard of called Ki'Pu Falls. It was only a short drive from our hotel and we were told a five minute hike off the road to the falls... so we took off early morning after breakfast. Well they were right about the drive- about 15 minutes... and the hike was right off the road, it was probaby a five minute hike too- but what they left out was it was a five minute hike with sugarcane slapping you in the face and towering above our heads the hold time! Talk about claustrophobic! I was just about to call it quits when we came to this clearing and saw the most beautiful sight so far!!! And the best part is- we were the only ones there for about 30 minutes! Then the crowds started showing up.

It was like walking in to a move scene! There was lava rock all over the place, with a stream cascading down into these huge falls that flowed in to a gorgeous pool!

Two different views of the falls, the first was what we saw when we got there, the second is from the view by the rope swing, after crossing the stream (jumping from rock to rock, trying to not fall off the falls!)

I swear it was like the scene from Swiss Family Robinson! The trees were huge and felt so smooth we thought they were fake! And then, much to our delight, there was a rope swing about 30 feet above the pool that we could swing out and land in the pool! Mitch and Buzz of course didn't hesitate, and we just happened to be wearing out swim suits! :0)

Mitch trying the rope first- surprise, surprise!


Buzz was short to follow- they are so much fun!


I was a little more leery- I am such a chicken! Twenty years ago- maybe even ten, I used to jump off cliffs higher than that at Lake Powell, but something has happened to me to make me a scaredy-cat! but, I eventually jumped- I won't post that video of me! It wasn't the most graceful moment of my life, but I did it and I'm glad! The water was cold, but refreshing and not salty for a change!

Here we all are, posing in the stream before taking off- it was getting crowded and our camera's were both out of batteries- dang it!


We had so much fun! We didn't want to leave, but we had other things to do and we wanted to get some shopping done that day too.

While out shopping, we decided to go see the Spouting Horn- Kauai's blow hole. It was cool, but not as cool as Old Faithful in Yellowstone!


It was cool to see how strong the waves would hit and create a big spout or a small one.

Friday Oct. 9

We had to check out of our hotel by 11:00 a.m., but our flights home weren't until late that night... plus, it was pouring rain! We just drove around and splashed through puddles, then we saw a sign for Waimea Falls- so we went to take a look... it was foggy, but still pretty! I can't imagine how these would look on a sunny day.

Then, much to Mitch's delight, the weather finally cleared at around 3:00 and we hit the beach one last time- well he swam, I didn't want to test my luck with sharks- we were told they like to swim closer to shore when it has been raining because the water is murky. Mitch said "bring on the sharks, baby!" Tough guy!

Here is a far picture of Mitch in the waves, trying to act like a teenager and body surfing, where he about broke a rib and knocked himself out! I don't think he needed to worry about sharks, just himself acting like a goofball!

We had to say goodbye Friday night and get on our planes for the long flight home! That's the great thing about Tylenol PM... we slept the whole night and next thing we know, we are in Seattle and on our way home to our -very homesick for mommy and daddy- kids! They were so excited to see us, but more so to see what we got them! We were excited to see them, but both Mitch and I said later that we definitely could have stayed another week and been just fine!

Good to be home, can't wait for the next trip! Hee hee, I think we're hooked!

Hawaii 2009 (part one)

ALLOOOOOHA!!!

Finally! I am sitting down to post about Mitch and I's fabulous trip to Kauai, HI. We were so blessed to be able to go with our wonderful brother and sister (in law) Buzz and Jenn. We had an absolute blast the whole time! I am probably going to break this down into parts of our trip so I don't overload anyone with pictures... so without further ado...


We arrived late Saturday night and it was pouring rain- warm rain! So we just drove to our hotel and went to sleep since it was really 2:00 a.m. our time- it was 10:00 Hawaii time. Here is the villas that we stayed in called the Princeville Westin- gorgeous! I didn't' get a picture of their pool area, and that was absolutely beautiful! We swam and played in that area on Sunday.



You can't see it in this picture, but the ocean is in the background- we were on the coast! And the weather is beautiful here- my camera was on the fritz!

One thing Kauai has in abundance (and we thought it was a joke that the airline people were telling us) in chickens and roosters! I swear! They had to have more roosters running around than Hawaiians!!! Oh, and let's not forget the frogs! They liked to come out at night, but those suckers were big!


Sunday we played in the rain for half the day at Hanalei Bay, but I forgot my camera- dangit! the waves were HUGE!!!! Mitch really wanted to play in those waves, but I think he underestimated the powerfullness of them! Plus, we didn't have our suits on as we were just touring at that time.


Monday was one of our best days there... it was forecasted to rain all week, but we saw nothing but clear blue skies! We took a 6 hour catamaran tour of the Na'Pali Coast, and MAN was it worth it!

Here we are on the front of the catamaran- best seats there and no one else dared! We totally scored!




The valley of the Na'Pali Coast- what is so cool about this coast, is that it is not inhabited, and never has been! Just lush and green and so amazingly gorgeous! My camera seriiously didn't do it justice at all! (If you look closely, you can see a waterfall in the middle of the valley)


A tunnel in the middle of the rock - oh, by the way, this is where a lot of films were made - South Pacific- we were right by the beach where she "washed that man right out of her hair"! Also, the start of Jurasic Park was filmed here, and a lot of others that I can't remember. A very popluar, beautiful place!








This cave was so awesome! I have a picture of Mitch and I by this, but no one is allowed to see it because I look like a whale! So just enjoy the awesomness of this picture- the falls are coming from the mountain- and you can't see it, so it looks even cooler!




The highlight of the catamaran tour was the dolphins! I was the lucky one who spotted them in the distance- I saw fins and thought they were sharks- the guide had a lot of fun with that one!! But we were able to get video of the coolest thing ever! They came right up to us and were literally swimming at our feet- we could have touched them if we dared, and they were so amazing!!!


After the tour, we came back to the hotel, cleaned ourselves up and went to a nice dinner with a gorgeous atmosphere at a place called Keoki's.



Tuesday we went to a place called Waimea Canyon. They call it the "Grand Canyon of Kauai" and it did not disappoint! My camera did, but hopefully you get the picture... no pun intended! :0)



This little farm house was clear down in the bottom of this valley- it was tiny! We had no idea how it even got there, or how they get out because there was not a thing around!



The "Grand Canyon of Kauai"



Looking down in the valley on the other side of the Na'Pali Coast


That's all for today, stay tuned for more this week! (I have to post all my Hawaii trip so I can post about Halloween and the kids before it gets too late!)

Look Who's Walking Now!!!

(Insert Alleluia Chorus!!!)

Creed did it! He finally started walking! It only took him 15 freaking months, not to mention all his "friends"-(mostly girls) are walking...but he did it!

I know I haven't posted anything on him in a while, and I really dropped the ball when it came to his birthday... but I had a good excuse, I think. He was one sick little boy on his birthday- turns out he had Hand, Foot & Mouth disease! Poor little guy had sores all over his mouth and couldn't eat. So I was going to celebrate his birthday with my family in IF, when we went over for the 4th of July, but then we lost Mia, and poor little Creed got put on the back burner, and I just never got around to it. Sorry sweetheart! Believe me, I will more than make up for it when you turn two!

Some things about our little man:

- He is so dang serious! If you get him to laugh or smile at you, it's a miracle! This is his newest look... enough said!

- He likes to yell- a lot! But not necessarily in anger; when he's happy or excited, and when he's letting us know something important!

- At 12 months, he weighed 22.75 lbs. (50%)

- He was 30.25 in. long (67%)

- He loves to go up and down the stairs following us- Has recently learned to climb up on the furniture by himself!

- Loves to pound on the piano

- Creed LOVES to eat! He's our best eater by far! And speaking of eating... I promised I would post this- a video of Creed and our neighbor "Red"- he loves Creed, and Creed loves Red's beard!... We like to call this "Cotton Candy"

We love our little Creedo!!!

Y-Not Tri...

Sure why not? Mitch thought as he was asked by a buddy to do this mini triathalon. "How hard could it be?" So he began his training and working out, eating healthier, and of course losing weight (without trying- grrr!)

The race date was scheduled for Aug. 6, it was 1/4 mile swim, 6 mile bike ride, and 2 mile run... sound fun? Not to me, but Mitch had fun training for it and race time came and we were there to support him and cheer him on-- in the rain!

Mitch in his sexy swim outfit! Hee hee!

There were hundreds of men in the water (it was the mens division) and let me just say... yuck! That pond water was so nasty smelling! He told me he wanted to puke a couple of times during the race from getting water in his mouth Gross! I lost him right as the race started, but it was so funny to see all these guys trying to swim and beat everyone around them when there was hardly any room! Good job babe! (Mitch is the one in the middle, not the one standing up!!!)

Next was the biking portion. He would have done a lot better had he not decided to get totally dressed to get on his bike! Other guys were biking in their speedos and Mitch not only gets completely dressed, but he also gets dressed slowly! He made it through the bike portion in good time, but he was tired and slowing down... he said he was so tired by the time the running part was over, that he wanted to collapse- but he made it! He did so good- much better than I could do!

When people ask him how he did, he replies with a smile on his face, "well, I didn't come in first... but I didn't come in last either, and I didn't die!" So there you have it folks! Mitch did his first TriAthalon. I asked him if he would do it again and he said he would definitely do this one, but not one any bigger! Hey, someones gotta do the small ones- we'll leave the Iron Man's for all you diehards out there!

Good job babe! We are so proud of you!

The kids "chillin" in the rain during the race- they were (soaked)troopers!

Our family... happy that the race is done and we could all go home and take warm baths and showers!

Kids will be kids

So we have been trying to make some normalcy of our lives, and the best way to not constantly be grieving is to keep busy. Being outdoor really helps me, so I thought I'd start taking my kids to the park just down the road from our house. You know, get some fresh air and enjoy the summer weather, kids get free lunches, and their favorite part of the whole thing... catching frogs in the mosqito infested swamp/pond.

Here is there final work... I personally think it's disgusting, but even the girls seemed to love it! EEEEWWWW!

The many, many frogs all the kids caught... we only took 4 home, which somehow escaped (thanks Mitch)

Cameron, Collin, Madeline, Emily, Maggie, and Lilli

Creed not quite sure what to think about it all.

Aren't kids disgusting?! But if it makes them happy, then it's all good!

Mia Catherine McClellan

This is probably the hardest post I have ever had to do...

It is with great sadness and extremely heavy hearts that we announce that Mia Catherine McClellan was stillborn to us this morning. Words can not express the feelings that we are going through right now. She is a beautiful little girl with thick dark hair. We got to spend a few hours with her this morning. It was a very special time that we will cherish forever.

We want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support that we have received.

Love,
Mitch & Carlie