Our Zip line Adventures

We finally got around to going on a zip line, something we've been trying to do since our anniversary in July. 
The last time I went was when I was a teenager at Youth Conference and always wanted to try it again.
It wasn't as scary as I thought it was going to be.  They started us off easy and then we worked up to the last zip line which was the longest. 

The following are three videos from our zip line adventures.

This is Richards last zip.  There is a bell at the end of the line that everyone tries to ring. Richard almost made it but was just a little short of hitting it.
Zip line Rich

This was my last zip. Richard took the video from the top.
Zip line Rachael

This was my fourth zip and one that I was trying out my turning skills on. Pretty impressive huh?
Zip line Rach

Pillows, Flowers, and Spray Painting, Oh my!

I have been in the creating mood lately and can't stop.  The Internet sucks me in by showing me cute decor and tutorials that I just can't pass up.  I'm in ♥ with the pillows.  I started making the ruffle pillow then happened to find the floral fabric while in the fabric store.  I just had to get it.  Just because I have a house full of boys doesn't mean I can't have some "girly stuff".  I don't know why it took me this long to figure that out. 

This mirror was my first spray painting project.  I didn't take a before picture but it was a brown metal.  It was pretty easy process, except for the area next to the mirror but somehow it turned out great. I sanded it lightly after I painted it and all done!

I saw a similar pillow to this on a website that said it was purchased from Target.  I was so ready to buy it from Target but come to find out the yellow was not really the color I wanted. So what else could I do---google rosette tutorial and this  flower was the first I found. She just posted it and it happened to be the exact flower that was on the target pillow. I was so meant to make this pillow. Her tutorial was for a hair pin but I just made a bunch and sewed them together for another pillow I ♥. 

This yellow frame used to be dark red. Amazing what spray paint can do.  I never look at home decor the same now.

Another dark red item that I spray painted a rose color.

Now if they only had more spray paint colors. 

I'm still in project mood. but I may have to slow down so I get some much needed house work done.

I Create

No Cooking

No cooking for me on my birthday. Richard took me out to lunch and then as a family we went to eat at Matteos. It was so nice to come home and not have to take care of any dishes. My kind of birthday.

It's a Samoan Thing

Instead of doing a youth conference this year, the youth in our ward had a cultural fair. Each ward got a different culture. We got Samoan. We started practicing way back in January. I have nothing to do with youth but was asked to perform because some of the youth leaders did not want to dance. It was so much work, I feel like one performance was not enough. I'm sure Jordan feels otherwise. He did great though and I am glad we got to do this together. My sis in law Suzy recorded most of the dance so everyone could enjoy. Thanks suz!

Finishing what I started

It only took me a year but I finally finished the quilts I started last year. I wanted to completely quilt them myself by stippling (machine quilting by moving my quilt in a random pattern) them so I put it off until I got brave enough, and time enough, to learn to do it. After practicing for a little bit on a 12x12 scrap, I just decided to go for it. By the end of the first quilt I was getting the hang of it. I don't have it perfected but it think it is well enough to pass.

My emergency room experience

After waiting in a freezing cold waiting room for 4 hours trying not to notice the shooting pain coming from my toe, I finally got admitted. They were very nice and got me a warmed blanket that I immediately used. After some x-rays, the doctors assistant explained to me what they suggested would help me get better sooner. I really tried to avoid the crutches but they told me I had to take them or the contraption they put on my foot would break. I feel ridiculous using crutches for a toe injury but I am following doctors orders.
Richard tried to get a "in pain" shot but I kept laughing (it was my way of coping with the pain).

So the reason I went to the emergency room---I dropped a razor scooter on my foot. You wouldn't think it would cause such an injury but since it was hooked to a hose it snapped on my foot like a rubber band. My poor toe, it may never be the same.

*update on my big toe--
I went to the foot doctor today (6.9) and was told if the ER doctors would have removed the fluid behind my toe it could have prevented me from losing my nail. Yay Maui doctors. So I did have my whole nail removed and then had to have stitches because the toe bed was damaged. I found out it takes 8+ months to regrow a nail and no beach or pool for 2 weeks. Sorry kids.

Mother's Day

No meetings, no cooking, a beautiful lei = how to get spoiled on Mother's Day.

Girls Week(s)

What was supposed to be a girls week turned into a couple girls weeks. First Jamie came to visit and it was just like old times. We even went shopping right after she got off the plane. We went to the beach, took a day trip to Lanai (we saw dolphins!), took the scenic drive to Kaanapali. and walked around Paia. Richard was so nice to stay home a lot so he could watch Jake for me.



So the night Jamie headed back to Utah was the same night Jody and Krista were coming to visit. It worked out to be the same time so I dropped off Jamie and drove a few yards to pick up the other two. It was funny how that happened.

While they were here they were able to go on a scuba trip and snorkel at many great spots. Most of the time I sat on the beach and relaxed getting the darkest I have probably ever been. We tried to see the dolphins at Makena but they were feeling shy that day. It is always worth taking a drive to Makena though.

I'm ready for another week. Who's next?

Words of Wisdom

Never leave your child in the car so you can run into McDonald's because the drive through line is too long and your in a hurry to make a baseball game. Don't lock the door thinking your protecting your child from someone who might want to take them because your child will open the door and cause the alarm to go off. When you stand in line and hear an alarm, you think it may be your car but when you try to turn it off nothing happens so you think it can't be your car -but you would be wrong. When you get to the car your child may have cried and yelled out your name and you will feel really bad. This will not be a fun experience especially since your child will talk about it for days.

Out and about with Jake

This morning I was getting gas at the gas station while playing pick-a-boo with Jacob in the rear view car mirror. I finished, and went to grab my keys that I always put in my pocket when I get gas. I couldn't find them so I looked inside the car and found them in the ignition with the car still on. Yeah, I had an idiot moment. I'm very glad no damage was done.

After taking pictures for a school yearbook, Jake and I hung out in our backyard while I took pictures of him and his awesome shoes I got on clearance for 9.99. (I love being at a store at the right time.) He found a basketball, a soccer ball, and golf balls. Ever since he learned how to catch, he loves anything he can throw. He kept going for the basketball even though it was so big for him that he would tumble over it most of the time as he was trying to pick it up. Such a boy.

Lanai

Richard wanted to have a little getaway before tax season starting. He found great rates at a hotel we have been wanting to go to and he called and told me "I booked us a room for two days and we can't get a refund so we are going." I can't complain it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to and it is only a ferry ride away.

Once we got there, a shuttle took us up to the mountains where it was cooler until we found our way to the lodge where we were staying. It looked so pretty and colonial but also Hawaiian at the same time. I loved walking in and seeing the fireplaces and all the cozy nooks and crannies. It is nice to be able to use a fireplace every once in awhile when you live in Hawaii.

They had so many activities at the resort and most of them were free. We did pay for horseback riding-too bad they made us wear those silly helmets for a walking tour.

Some of our activities:

Lawn bowling

18 hole put put golf

Bike ride to Lanai City - a really strenuous ride through very heavy city traffic. jk the city is pretty close to the hotel and the ride around the city will maybe take all of 3 minutes if that. We did stop at a few little shops, one where I bought a sun hat, and one that was called Richard's Market-we had to stop there. It was such a nice bike ride and yes, you have to wear helmets for that too.

Croquet

Walking around the beautiful grounds. There was so much to see.

Inside the Lodge we played pool and played dominoes in the library. I even did a little jumping on the bed. I haven't done that since I was a kid.

Loved every minute of it. Thanks Honey for making me go!

Striped Wonderland Quilt

Finished this quilt a few months ago but just now got around to posting it. I did grid quilting- you can see it when you enlarge the back of the quilt. Brendan was so nice to hold it up for me. I still have more quilts waiting to be quilting but they will have to wait until after Christmas.

Week in Review

How old am I???

I am so old my candles make a fire you could roast hot dogs on. Out in one breath though, that's got to count for something right?
I had a great birthday! I went out to lunch with all the women in-laws. Stacie made me a yummy cake for after lunch. Richard bought me lots of flowers and took me out to eat at Ferraro's. We had a beautiful view of the ocean and watched the sun set. Came home so stuffed I couldn't eat the cake Rich bought me or my other cake my friend dropped off that night.

Oct. 1 was the Maui Fair Parade. Brendan walked with the cub scouts. It isn't the greatest parade on earth but it's the biggest event on Maui so I've got to embrace it. Conference weekend. Time to listen to our church leaders, and hymns, fill us with inspiration and guidance. Brendan was singing one the hymns while Jacob just listens and watched without moving. A rare thing for Jake.

Retro Zig Zag

My first quilt from start to finish! Let me just say that it took a lot longer than I thought to do the zig zag quilting that you see on the last picture. It was so rewarding seeing it all come together though and I love how it turned out. I even love how the back is all pieced together.

16 years but who's counting

Don't we look happy. We were just a little bit spoiled on our anniversary. Through a wonderful friend we were able to stay in an ocean view room at the Grand Wailea and to top it off we both got 2hr. spa treatments. We ended our night with a beautiful sunset dinner and a stroll on the beach.

The next morning our kids joined us, along with their aunties and uncles who watched them for us, to enjoy the pools and slides at one of the nicest resorts on Maui. :)

I was obsessed

I really wanted to make an apron so I tried my best to copy one of my sister-in-laws. I think it turned out pretty cute and so I decided to make one for a bridal shower gift as well. My sister bought me some fabric I had wanted for a back of a quilt and decided to just get started with one. I researched what I wanted to do and found several I wanted to make. This first one looked so cute and easy I had to make it.

But this is the one I decided to make with my favorite fabric for the backing.

In the process of researching quilts I found at least two three others I want to make right now. I also want to attempt to machine quilt them myself but that will take much time and practice. So for now my quilt tops will sit folded waiting until I can catch up with everything else to finish them.

A first

For our Relief Society Birthday Celebration we wanted to celebrate women from around the world. We had three sisters teach some dances for anyone who wanted to learn and perform them the night of the celebration. We had Country, Hula, and Tahitian dances offered. Practices started about 2 months prior to the event. (I got in a little late as Jacob was just born as they were starting practices.) I didn't do Tahitian but I did Hula and Country. Teri Wiberg made all of our Hula skirts. Thanks to Suzie I was able to catch up with learning the dances. It was my first time learning hula and it was so much fun.

Mommy time

Lots of kisses and hugs.
Enjoying mommy time.

Baby Quilt

I love it! It turned out so cute, I just wish it was bigger so I could snuggle with it. You can't see the quilt pattern but it is of a cow jumping over the moon. After taking an online course of how to make pinwheels, the quilt was super easy and fun. I had to get online instructions for the binding as well because on my the last quilt my friend Tonia did it for me. Gotta love the Internet!

Slacking-in the picture department

2 months, 2 truckloads to salvation army, and many garbage bags later - I finally got my house decluttered. What a chore it has been but so nice to have so many things cleaned out. As I would notice the black garbage bags all around my house, holding stuff to give away, I kept thinking when I'm done I need to take a picture of all this. As I was cleaning out the garage and the kids were loading all the bags in the truck to take to the salvation army, I was thinking I need to take a picture of this. But of course I didn't. Maybe I can blame it on my brain or the fact that I am so determined to get stuff done I can't even stop for a second to take a picture.

I have been determined to get stuff done. I finished my baby quilt, which I will post later after it is machine quilted. I made a couple more diaper wipe cases and am trying my hand at bibs.

Richard has taken over where I have slacked (at least in taking pictures underwater). Since Richard started scuba diving he has loved taking pictures underwater. Here is a few pictures from his last dives.



Richard loves taking pictures of the sharks. Although they are only reef sharks, I still would have been nervous.