Welcome Home, Elder Granum!

After a long 2 years, Brett is finally home from the Houston south, Texas Spanish Speaking mission. Geoff's mom, Kay, started crying as soon as she got in the car to go get him. We were at the airport an hour early, just to be safe, so as you can imagine, all the kids were getting restless by the time he arrived. Then we spotted him at the top of the escalaor coming down. Kay was so excited she couldn't even wait for him to get off the escalator. She ran up the stairs and started hugging him over the escalator bar. It was really cute. She spent the next 15 minutes or so just holding and crying (he is the baby of her family)! It was so sweet to watch and made me think of the day when I would have to send my boys off on their missions and the pure joy I will have upon their safe return. Well done, Brett! We are so proud of you and SO glad to have you home!

We're Home!

WOW! It is so hard to come back to reality after being in paradise. It FREEZING! We had a great beginning of our trip with the Taylors and Gleeds. The kids were in heaven with friends there. Then we had a horrible week with all 3 kids SO sick we couldn't even leave the house! Then the end of the trip was fun again cause Bryan and Kelli joined us - even though the weather wasn't the greatest. Our favorite activities this trip - skim boarding, surfing, asphalt razor scooters, Vespas - but most of all, just being together as a family and having a fun, stress-free daddy. Everyone asks if it is weird to spend Christmas in Hawaii without the snow, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It is the only place where we ALL unwind, relax, and truly enjoy just being together and having fun! Aloha!

Surfing

One of the highlights of the trip was surfing. ALL the boys did it and did it well - Bob, Geoff, Bryan, Chase, and Caden. Granted the waves were only like 1 foot rollers but it was still a blast. Chase would have stayed out all day if we let him. His instructor was so fun - he taught Chase how to do a 180 jump on his board and how to surf backwards. Caden was SO cute - his little arms couldn't even touch the water to paddle out so Geoff or Bob would pull him out and then he would surf in by himself. He actually had some of the longest rides of anyone. Of course everyone on the beach watching thought he was just darling! We will definitely do this every time we go!

Sick Christmas

We had the saddest Christmas. All 3 of my kids got super sick with the stomach flu and high fevers. Crew was over it for Christmas but both other boys were still throwing up and still had high fevers. Chase definitely had it the worst - NOTHING to eat or drink for 4 days! I thought we were going to have to hospitalize him but we didn't. So my kids look REALLY out of it in these pictures but I had to post them anyway. My poor babies! They still had fun and started to appreciate all their presents a few days after Christmas. Still NO Christmas candy has been eaten. Shocking if you know my children.

Mele Kalikimaka!

For all of you who may not receive this years Christmas Card (Kara, Jane Taylor,......) here it is. I realized that some of my friends have moved but just didn't have enough time today to track down addresses, so this will have to do! We are off to Hawaii in just a few hours so we hope you all have a very, Merry Christmas and we will see you next year! If I can get my new Mac to work in Hawaii I'll try to post some pictures there. Aloha!

Genius!

Every once in a while we are graced by the presence of genius. In my case, this blessing comes to me in the form of my wonderful, talented, smart sister-in-law, Kierstin, who fixed my problem with blogging my pictures. Thanks, Honey!

A Sweet Trade!

Tonight we passed out gifts to some friends in our neighborhood for Christmas. Caden did all the delivering and was SO excited when we went to the Rhodes and they gave him a present back. He came back to the car with a huge duffle bag and said "Mom, I made a sweet trade with Dusty. I gave him something small and he gave me something BIG!" Needless to say, He made a really good trade! Jane had MADE all the boys their own, fun, super-soft blanket with their name on it. As I have sown MANY blankets, I was so impressed and appreciative. They boys all love the special fabrics she picked out for them. Caden and Chase are snuggled in their beds for the night with their new gifts! Thanks so much Jane - you ROCK!

(OK-now I am really mad! I Have the cutest picture of them with their blankets and I still can't get my pics to post. I did everything the Mac guy told me. I did all my software updates and restarted my computer and its still jacked up!)