Luau!

Friday night we realized that the luau was only Mon-Wed-Fri.  So we quickly made reservations and 30 minutes later a van pulled up and took us to the restaurant/show.  We really enjoyed the pre-show.  Dinner was great.  And then the show was basically nap time for our whole family.  We sat in the back and snoozed, all but Mark.  He did video the whole hour, so I guess we will get to see it eventually.  Oh well, the parts we were awake for were my favorites anyways.  We had gotten up early and then there is a 2 two hour time difference, so by the time the show started our bodies thought it was 12am.  I was awake for part of the show but was very tired and I know this because I feel asleep pretty deeply for the last half.  We must have looked like a train wreck, but oh well, a train wreck that paid right?

 This is the unwrapping of our dinner, that was cooking when we got there.  Once they had the pre-show they took it all out in front of us.  

Show time (or nap time).

Bucket List - Easter Island

From the moment we began our research about Chile nearly 3 years ago, Easter Island was on the list of things to do.  It especially appealed to Mason.  After conversations with others who had gone we weren't sure it was going to happen.  Many said it was just too expensive for this small island out in the middle of the Pacific ocean.  But once we knew the return to the US was eminent I began realizing I really wanted to go and I really wanted to take Mason.  So after doing a little travel research  and talking to some people who highly recommended making the trip, we took the plunge and bought the plane tickets.  And so began our trip of a lifetime.

Here is the start of our vacation.  Our first day (Friday) was for exploring.

After we got settled into our beautiful cottages we did a little exploring.  And just a 2 minute walk down the coast from our cottage was this moai platform.  The setting was gorgeous.

 Lunch with an ocean view!

 We saw sea turtles in this little bay.

 A little play at the park after a long plane ride is always a great idea!

 Look at all those bananas!  When I say we ate fresh fruit, I mean fresh within minutes of them being taken off the tress!

14 Baby!

Mason is 14!  We celebrated with cinnamon rolls in the morning and presents and cake in the evening.

 Friday night was a party with pizza, play, a movie, and of course more cake!

Mason at 14:

1.  Proud to be almost as tall as his mom.  With hands and feet bigger than mine as well.

2.  Intelligent with a great memory.

3.  Has great rhythm, which is evident by his piano and trumpet playing.

4.  Loves to spend time with his family.

5.  School work is not his favorite thing, he and I struggle with this part of the parent/child relationship. But sometimes he really surprises me.

6.  Lives his standards.

7.  Speaks Spanish fairly darn well.

8.  Helps a lot around the house (of course you have to ask a few times, but he sure does a good job when he starts).

9.  I love his quick wit and humor.

10.  He and I have common interests of books and TV programs.

11.  Mark and he talk basketball…March madness is big.  And they both can't wait to be back in the US to watch all the games together. 

12.  He and his brothers do fight, but Mason is also very protective of his siblings.  

13.  Mason is an excellent writer.

14.  He is still my baby!  My first born and when I look at him I am amazed at what a great young man he is.  

Down on the Farm

A year ago in February my two wonderful friends Karen and Julie took Easton and a car full of little kiddies to an educational farm.  Easton has been asking me at least 1-2 times per month since then when we could go again.  There were several weeks after the big kids began school and the beginning of preschool and I thought it would make the perfect time to go.  So finally on the last day of February of this year we went.  We loaded up my 8 passenger car with car seats, picnic, and great friends and headed to the farm.

 Attack!!!

 Look close, Easton is freaking out and crying he is so nervous about the many birds that came running when we started throwing the grain.

 Giant pig!  This was Easton's favorite animal.  He just couldn't get enough of the huge pigs.

So cute!

We had a fab time while visiting the farm.  And we have a story to remember on our way home.  We were nearly home, when we heard Easton and Luke scream from the third row, "MOM!  Noah just threw up on the I-pad!"  All of us mom's turned around to see Noah with no noise at all, just spewing vomit like a faucet.  And the funny thing was Easton had it all over him since he was right by him and yet the only thing Easton and Luke were concerned about was the I-pad. It was one of those things that will go down in history.  And the clean up was not my favorite thing - think hours of clorox wipes, buckets of soapy water, and a can of Lysol!  Here's to great adventures with amazing friends.  The good and the not so good!