Here We Go

Yesterday I had the song Here I Go Again stuck in my head.

Why because Miah started up school again. I am not upset by it really, it will be nice to have a schedule and Bells and I can start preschool. 

Plus, the sooner we start, the sooner we are done!

But before he started his day at school...

of course he has to play legos with Bells. 

He made her a super cool car and she loved it. She carried it around all day. She wouldn't really let me fix it if it broke because Daddy makes the best cars. 

This handsome guy is ready to start D2.

I am really a lucky lady!

He got his own shot so she wanted one too. 

Apparently the new trend is wearing panties inside out. 

Please don't judge!

Have you seen Miley Cyrus? 

I think I am good to go with just inside out panties!

Late last night I went for a walk through a huge monsoon storm to check the mail. 

Look what was in there....

He PASSED his National Boards!

I knew he would. He was nervous but had no reason to be. 

It is good to have it behind us now!

The letter came to us last night because we needed to put a smile on our faces. 

I got a call that anybody would dread. A death in the family. A cousin of mine passed away yesterday morning. He was only a year and a half older than me. I hear the sobs of my mom on the other side and my heart instantly dropped. The news, the tears and the frustration. 

I slipped out of the house to go for a walk alone to check the mail. As I step outside, the storm rushed through me. The wind wrapped my hair around my face and stuck to my tears, the thunder and lightening lit up the sky and the darkness engulfed me. 

It is how I felt on the inside. I know I will see him again someday, I'm not afraid of that. I was frustrated because he was so young. He was starting to head in the right path. Because my family and I are spread across the States, unable to hug and hold each other. We tucked Bells into bed and after prayers, she whispers in my ear, I wish cousin would come back from Heavenly Father and be awake again for you. 

My heart smiled, she understands slightly. 

Life is short and too many people get caught up in crazy things. I am at fault sometimes. I try to get so many things done and WORRY WORRY WORRY. That I forget to enjoy just being alive. 

A lesson learned going into this school year. 

Enjoy life and live it each day. Be thankful that I am alive and loved. 

R.I.P Shane

Aloha 'Oe, Aloha 'Oe

Until We Meet Again

I Love You

Candy Shop Tour

After visiting The Chocolate Connection making pizzas, we were told about their factory further into town. Well we loved the shop so we decided to visit the factory and take the tour. 

My personal favorite, chocolate covered pretzels with sprinkles. 

How I crave these on the holidays and hide them under my pillow when I get a batch. 

Not really, but I always want to keep them ALL to MYSELF!

I'm not a sweet person, as in candy sweet, of course I am a sweet person, but make sure you ask Bells if you want confirmation. Do not ask Miah, my sisters or that dark haired boy who sat across from me in 3rd grade. Just ask Bells. 

As I was saying, I do not have a sweet tooth but I LOVE these. 

The saliva in my mouth was working over time when we went by this station. 

Look at the huge bowl of sprinkles waiting to be tossed on fresh, smooth and yummy white chocolate!

We got LOTS of samples. Good thing we went after lunch.

Bells picked at one station a white chocolate covered marshmallow with sprinkles. 

Gross if you ask me but she liked it. 

Daddy and Bells waiting for the next stop in the delicious tour!

Say CHOCOLATE COVERED PRETZELS and SMILE!!

A large bunny made out of popcorn, I believe it was caramel or kettle corn. 

Either way, who cares, they are both scrumptious! 

Of course you would see a huge cactus made out of chocolate in Arizona!

The size of this chocolate bar....

Wait, I can't take it home?

That is fine! I will just take a bite out of it right here. 

Look at #11 and #6 teeth. They are going to slice right through that bar.

Bells was picked to remove a bunch of white chocolate peppermint candies from the mold. She had a blast. We were able to sample those too. Seriously, they melted in my mouth instantly. Amazing, just amazing. 

As of right now, it is still way to hot to go outside pretty much all day.

In fact the chocolate samples we were given in a bag, completely melted on the way home. We had to put them in the fridge. They were still good though!

Until it cools off to 100 degrees we will continue to visit museums, take tours and swim. 

Arizona Natural History Museum

We checked out a Culture Pass at the Library that allowed us to go to the museum for free. 

I had found out it had lots of dinosaurs and I knew Bells would love it. 

With this being the last weekend before Miah heads off to school, we headed towards Jurassic Park. 

Bells invited some friends of ours, Auntie Dee and Uncle Ron.

I honestly do not remember the dinosaurs names. I would say oh look a triceratops, nope, I would be completely off. I am sorry for the lack of education in this post but just be patient and understanding. 

She was very surprised that dinosaurs were so small when they hatched. 

Can you imagine if these were still alive flying around today? 

I don't think I would be doing a lot of intentional running, maybe forced.

Although the majority of the museum was dinosaurs they had some really interesting rooms full of old things. Her first words to me were, "Look, that is where Superman goes to change." She was very surprised that in fact it was a phone. 

But where are the buttons? Loving the round spinner dial thingy for sure!

Maybe I will see Superman if we stay here for awhile. 

The concept of a phone booth doesn't sink in. 

It is just made for Superman.

There was a sort of green screen thing. It would put the person on an old western movie and show it on a big screen. Bells and Uncle Ron had a blast playing around. 

An old Jail cell was a pretty fun place to lock daddy in!

Bells and Daddy

It is just like Jurassic Park Mommy!

We were even able to pan for gold outside in a stream. I believe Miah had more fun than Bells. One little boy was so excited and kept exclaiming he was going to be RICH! 

This girl and her bag of gold she found. 

She is so silly!

Still an Island Girl at Heart!

I honestly wish I could say this was a triceratops for sure but I don't think it was. 

It almost looks like a big dog. 

A REALLY BIG DOG!

Then you come to this cute one. But I'm sure it was a little monster. 

The dinosaur not Bells. 

Or both really...

Her favorite dinosaur of all.

Ladies and Gents...

Tyrannosaurus Rex!

The scary thing is, this was a juvenile. 

Little Foot!!

Just another Dino and me.

Small but fierce! 

The scariest dino of all...

Velociraptor.  

The 3 of Us

The area outside had many statues and I really liked the humpty dumpty one. 

It turned out to be a fantastic trip! Bells absolutely loved it. 

Born With It

Bells played Tball this year and she loved it. She loves to compete. I am not sure where she got this from because Miah and I are very low key and not the least bit competitive. 

She loves to play right along side the boys with her pink glove. 

I think I was more excited to get to watch her play. I'm a softie when it comes to her doing things. When we lived in Hawaii and my mom took us to the Sea Life Park and Bells was now old enough to really enjoy the dolphin show, I cried. It is something I have been looking forward to, those type of milestones. Watching the light spark up in her eye. 

Well she is a natural. 

Here are a few pictures of our little All Star. 

Ellah #6

This little sequence I am glad we caught on camera. 

She was all about chasing after the ball where ever it went. 

This time it went past second base and she was all about that. 

Notice her hat is on.

Her hat had just fallen off and she didn't mind just yet....

She got to the ball but then had to get her hat back on before she could throw the ball back in. 

Priorities right?

I was laughing pretty hard about now and gave her a big high five!

She loves to bat. The look of concentration on her face makes me smile. 

Her eyes still on the ball. 

All her power is going into this hit.

Here we go!

Atta Girl #6

The encouragement from the coaches and parents was a blast!

I love this girl. Her personality shines no matter what she is doing. 

She loves to run just like her mommy. She is fast too! 

She never slows down!

Look at her dig into the baseline. 

Pony tails flying behind in the wind. 

Ready position!

I might have to give her the golden glove award!

Fighting for the ball with the boys. 

Nothing will stop her. 

All the way till the ground. 

I tried to get her to call her shot when she walked up to the plate. 

She wouldn't do it, maybe next year!

Miah would talk to her before she went up to bat.

She would always say, I got this Daddy, just like the Sandlot. 

Here we go....

Even the best miss the ball sometimes. 

But luckily in Tball you get to keep hitting!

Running to first base. She loves wearing her hat backwards. Just another way to show you her personality. I am scared, she is turning into a mini-me.

Her two best buds after the last game. 

Ellah, Jacob and Noah. 

I am so proud of this girl. I am proud of her everyday. I am proud because I stopped crying after the 3 game! How did my parents do it? 

She can't wait for next season. She also wants to play soccer and join the swim team. 

Hmmmm,  yep exactly just like her mommy!