Kona, Kona, Kona...

Well, it took 43 years, 4 children, and 23 years of marriage, but we finally did it! We bit the Hawaii bullet and took a vacation to the Big Island last week.

This was really not something we had planned on doing but rather a spur of the moment decision made in June when our friends, John and Stefanie, told us about their time share in Hawaii. They needed to use their time share points by August and wondered if they should book a 2 bedroom or a 1 bedroom.

Um, 2 bedroom, please!

I was a little apprehensive after we said YES because I remembered I had 3 children at home... Three children who would need an adult to stay with them. But then I also remembered I had a mother-in-law who would LOVE to make a trip to Boise and cater to their every whim! Problem solved!

Bill bought the plane tickets, we researched tourist-y things to do, our neighbor gave us her Big Island handbook, I went shopping for swimsuits, flip flops, shorts, dresses, and sunglasses, and we were ready.

We left last Sunday right after I took the kids to church. My kids - they are awesome - I was not planning on going since our flight left at 2, but Lindsay convinced me we needed to go for at least an hour! So, after attending one meeting, we came home, the Hruby's picked us up and we were off for the adventure of a lifetime!

FLIGHT: Boise to San Francisco - easy enough, 1 1/2 hours long, 1 time change, 1 diet Coke, 1 trashy magazine read, almonds eaten, arrive at SF.

San Francisco to Kona - easy enough,

WHEN YOU GET UPGRADED TO FIRST CLASS!!!

Yep. Our names were called when we were in line to board. Bill went to the desk and he was given 2 new boarding passes: 4A and 5B. Aw, man, we're not even sitting next to each other! We're talking a 5 hour flight over the Pacific Ocean. That's scary unless you're sitting next to your man! We get on the plane, thinking we'll get to be more toward the front, and walah...our seats are in the cushy section! First Class, Baby! Thanks to a very kind man who was traveling alone, Bill and I were able to sit next to each other in row 4. We were treated to warm nuts, all the soft drinks you could drink, sea bass or macadamia nut chicken for our meal, delicious, melting, warm oatmeal cookies for dessert, and warm towels to wipe the crumbs from your face.

Yeah, it was posh.

Yeah, I was giggling for the first hour of the flight.

Yeah, there was lots of leg room.

Yeah, I went to the bathroom about 3 times during the 5 hours. (Unlimited diet Coke I tell ya!)

We felt totally relaxed and pampered. What a way to start our Hawaii vacation!

Laziness and respectability...

"Summer is when laziness finds respectability."

That's my motto this summer. Or at least I wish it was. I thought it would be. But this summer, with June almost over, seems to be the busiest e.v.e.r.

*That Relief Society calling - whew. Are they sure they got the RIGHT girl?? hmmm

*That trip to Palm Springs with four fellow teachers and the principal - yeah, it was educational AND recreational!!

*The new job I got at another school - can you say Uhaul my entire school life and teacher possessions to my new classroom??

*The many camps the kids are going to - U of U, Gonzaga, BYU, EFY, Scout Camp, Trek, - hope I can keep the dates firmly in my head..

*That one vacation to that one island with that one guy I've been married to for 23 years that the locals (and map makers) call Kona - yeah, that's coming right up in 5 days whether I'm tanner, skinnier, or readier for it get here..

*The family vacation (or is it a "trip"...heard that when the kids come along it's a trip. Just Mom and Dad, it's a vacation..) to Southern California to see Shamu, Mickey, the beach, and a whole lot of miles of desert to get there..

*The weeklong class that I "get" to take during the last week of my summer vacation - nothing like sitting in a math class for 8 hours for 5 days during the gorgeous weather of summer..

Yeah, I'm pretty sure laziness should reign supreme during summer, but at our house, it's not THIS summer.

Surprise! Surprise!

Time: 12:30 AM early Saturday morning.

Place: Master bathroom/Master bedroom

Who: Me, (in the bathroom taking off make up), Bill, (in the bed waiting patiently for me to turn off all the glaring lights so he can get some shut eye), Kourtni, (in the bed on my side of it waiting to get kicked out for the night).

Hear: Someone knocking on our outside bedroom door.

Me: Freaking out a bit.

Kourtni: Was that your bedroom door?

Bill: I'm not getting out of bed - I'm in my underwear.

Me: Freaking out a bit.

Bill: Who is it?

Me: Still freaking out a bit and hiding in the bathroom.

Knocker: Let me in! It's your daughter!

All: Yay! It's Alyssa! What a surprise! I thought you weren't able to come! How did you hide this? Did your dad know? Did Kourtni know?

We always love it when everyone is together under one roof and this weekend was no exception! Even though there were no grandiose plans made or spectacular events attended, we had a great time:

working out at the gym,

grocery shopping at WinCo,

looking at, talking about, and perusing our favorite cooking blogs,

planning Sunday's meal and what we're going to cook,

driving out to Kuna for dinner just to drive back to good old Boise for Mexican at Andrade's,

a Blue Cow run,

church,

dinner with the aunts, uncles, and cousins,

falling asleep to a movie,

working out some more at Gold's,

more grocery shopping at WinCo for Lyss,

then off to Utah again for that "little thang called college".

Thanks for the surprise, Lyss! You pulled one over on us and we really enjoyed it!

Now, drive safe!

The following pictures, though not taken this weekend, are fun times with the oldest daughter and bring back memories for when she's not here:

An update, perhaps?

Christmas? My last post was about Christmas?

Whoa.

I need to do some serious updating to this ole blog. I mean we've had New Year's complete with the first photo of 2011:

Say it with me, "Awwwww..."

Two friends who dress drastically different... ahem, Gayla, do we need to go shopping soon? (And sorry about the hand placement. Oops. Good thing we're friends!)

The winners of the ugly sweater contest; and no, they normally do not dress like this.

Thank. Goodness.

The rebel rousers of the families. Only 6 kids! Wow, our numbers are drastically dropping as the years go by!

Traditional picture taking at 12:01 New Year's Day.

Still can't get over those pink pants, Gayla. Sheesh, girl!

We then went on to attend multiple basketball games played by number 10.

Kourtni definitely was not wearing her game face at this game.

Daddy no likey...

Such a happy little girl!

And thirsty, too!

Now that's better. Did she make it? Can't remember, but I'm sure she did.

And to celebrate the anniversary of our second daughter's birth 16 years ago, we decided to make a date out of it with Fred and lots of meat and salad at Tocano's. Total yumminess and fun with the two 16 year olds.

Oh, so cute! And so mature! Using good manners on a date with the parentals.

Uh, oh. Starting to get a little silly - Kourtni style.

Um, did I say they were mature and had good manners? Disregard the earlier comment.

Our tummies were full and we were happy - not only for good food but for a great daughter!

Christmaaaaaaaahhhhhs 2010

Well, a little time has passed and I'm feeling a bit better- but still missing Alyssa and wishing she was here with us for a much needed cry and a huge bear hug.

*sigh*

However, I'm putting on my big girl undies, trying to get our family's blogging and journaling caught up, and re-capping the break that we called Christmas. Where did it go? From what I remember, it was glorious and relaxing, and so wonderful to have all of my children under one roof again, if only for 2 weeks. We spent days doing nothing but staying around the house, we spent days (four in a row!) of shopping at the mall, we spent days baking, candy making, and delivering the goods, and we spent days enjoying each other's company before we had to go back to the normal routines of school and work.

The following are some memories we snapped during our 2 week hiatus:

We spent the first night of the break "choiring".

The Ball girls "reunioning".

Stay in your church clothes picture "taking".

Ahhh, when did those 4 grow up, I'm "wondering".

Can't get enough of the "sibling-ing"...

Cat picture "posing". (This one's for you Alyssa!)

Freddie and Kourtni gift "giving". (And Mom is so "embarrassing"!)

Making a 14 year old dog "sparkling".

Dog wash apron "modeling".

Mom and Payton self picture "taking".

Lindsay first time by herself fudge "making".

Christmas Eve traditional pizza dough "making".

Vegetarian pesto and pepperoni "pizza-ing".

Christmas lights in Boise "oohing and "aaahhing".

So that's what Mom looks like from the back seat I'm "thinking".

Patey without his custom Reebok Zigtechs Christmas morning - patiently "waiting".

Lindsay with her bird artwork for "hanging".

Kourtni and her pillow to go with her new queen bed for "snuggling".

Alyssa in Kourtni's new bed "texting".

New scarf, new shirt, new hat, new pj pants "modeling".

An array of all our trash needing "dumping".

Christmas day "raking".

Red "Robining".

The entire first season of Modern Family in one day "watching".

A final evening of "Alyssa-ing".

Farewell 2010 - here's hoping 2011 will treat us just as well!

Wind is out of my sails...

Today I am sad.

Sad for a variety of reasons, but the biggest reason had to go back to Utah today.


As excited as I was for her to arrive two weeks ago, that is how let down I am today.

I don't know if I will ever get used to sending a child to live and go to school far away from my maternal embrace.

It has to happen, right? I mean, they can't live with you forever, right? Where did the years go?

Sometimes I think I'm in a time warp, and I don't know how to get out.

I know I should be posting happy things about how great the holidays were with everyone under one roof - and they were, don't get me wrong! And I'll post all about them, tomorrow, maybe. But today I think I'll just be sad until I can get back into the groove of life with the youngest 3 children (whom I dearly love and adore as much as the oldest - PLEASE don't ever leave me, OK?) and my sweet husband.

Oh, well, at least she left a bunch of stuff behind for us to look at... (Thanks, Lyss! Love you!)

(I'll send these things when I am not so verklempt...)

**sigh**

Go Number 10!

This is what we have been doing for the past couple of Saturdays and about once during the weekday.

Yep.

Basketball, basketball, basketball.

We live it, eat it, drink it, and sometimes we even sleep basketball... Well, maybe just Kourtni does all that, but we accompany her to each and every game and cheer her on as she plays on the Junior Varsity and Varsity teams.

Go Wolves!

(Those long arms are a pain when trying on long sleeved shirts, but they sure help out in the rebounding and tip offs! heh heh...)

Dad of the Year Goes to...Billy Ball!

I'm am thankful for so many things in my life. I have a lot to be grateful for. As I sit here typing this I am especially grateful for the man I married 22 years ago. He is unselfish, smart, caring, loving, unselfish, helpful, kind, and, did I mention that he's unselfish? Right now, at 8:50 in the PM, he is in the Salt Lake Airport waiting for a 7 AM flight back to Boise. Why is he in the Salt Lake Airport without any personal necessities besides his coat, wallet, phone, and winter gloves you might ask. Well, let me tell you. It's because he's such a great dad.

We haven't seen such yucky weather conditions around here at Thanksgiving in a loooong time. And we definitely haven't had a college student who has to drive home for Thanksgiving in the yucky muck either. Well, when you put nasty Old Man Winter, and mix him with 2 college young ladies driving right in the middle of his masterpiece of a blizzard, you get two nervous parents who don't want their daughter to drive back to college with any flakes falling from the sky.

Here's where Bill gets nominated for father of the year in my eyes: He called me on the phone Friday morning and told me to book a one way flight for him on Sunday evening. He was going to drive those girls back to school himself and fly home Sunday night. The plan fell into place. The car was readied with new windshield wipers, washer fluid, a niiiiice new scraper, a shovel, an emergency kit, and a tank full of gas. All ready for the treacherous trip to Happy Valley. Well, that cranky Old Man Winter took his wrath out on the stretch of I-84 from Tremonton to Burley and the road gods decided to close the road. Add on another hour and a half, mix it with icy conditions, stupid cold weather drivers, an accident, and more snow falling, and you get a dad who misses his flight back to his warm house, the rest of his family, Sunday dinner, a football game playing on the big screen tv, and, best of all, his nice warm bed complete with all of his pillows.

Yep, as I write this, the Father of the Year is trying to make himself cozy on an airport chair with his coat as a pillow, and some yucky fast food for dinner. Hopefully there is a nice Southwest employee who will loan him a travel pillow so he can rest his head until he gets the boarding call tomorrow morning at 7.

Your trophy will be waiting for you when you get home.

Love, your other half who is not nearly as unselfish as you are.