Overloaded June

To say June was just another busy month would be drastically understating what our month was like. Had we been told just one month before how much would happen in the month of June, we would have never believed it.  In fact, we had been planning for months that June would be one of our most relaxing, fun-filled months of the year due to the fact that eBay gives their employees a month paid sabbatical after working for them for 5 years and we scheduled for Devin to take his during this month.  We planned a vacation to Hawaii, a trip to Utah, and had great plans to accomplish and see many things around here.  Just prior to his sabbatical beginning, our life as we knew it was flipped and the outcome was an over the top, crazy month.  Devin was approached by a director in the Utah office and asked if he would consider re-joining their team.  After discussing this option with his current boss she offered to let him work out of Utah if he remained on her team.  Just prior to this opportunity presenting itself, Devin and I had been in major discussion about where we felt we wanted to raise our family and the kinds of things we wanted for them that we felt like we were lacking here in California (i.e. sense of community, a home to grow in, a neighborhood we felt safe in).  So when the opportunity to return to Utah came up we were forced into some very serious and difficult discussions about whether this was right for our family.  We couldn't be more grateful for the guidance of our Heavenly Father during times like these...when the decisions you make will effect your whole family for the rest of their lives... I would feel extremely unconfident in my decisions with my limited capacity to see the full picture.  Knowing that He knows all and can lovingly guide us on the path that is best for our family is a blessing I would not want to live without.  After coming to the decision that this opportunity was too great to pass up, we accepted the offer and began to look for a home.  Within days we found a house that met almost all of our requirements and with full trust in our agent/cousin we placed an offer on it.  Because of multiple offers we were forced to give our highest and best offer and wait for the outcome.  During this time, there was a hiccup on the job front.  Once HR got involved we were told that it would be impossible to transfer the same salary to Utah and that it would have to decrease slightly.  Had we known this previously we would have never put an offer on this house.  We debated on whether we should pull the offer or not.  After Devin crunched some numbers and had some discussions with the loan officer, we realized that we would still be able to buy this home.  We decided to keep the offer in just to see what happened.  Neither one of us (nor our agent) actually thought that our offer would be accepted.  We couldn't believe it when the news came that they chose our offer!  Mind you... we still hadn't actually seen the house!  At this point, I quickly jumped on a plane to check out the home we were prepared to buy.  I loved it... and could definitely picture our family growing in it.  Devin had to blindly jump in with nothing but faith in my decision.  Once everything was official, I began to slowly pack up our things knowing that 2 months would come and go very quickly.  Especially since we had already planned 2 vacations during those 2 months.  Now on to the fun parts....

Preschool Graduation

Quincy finished preschool and I couldn't be more proud of her!  Although there were many frustrating moments and times that one or both of us wanted to give up, I am so grateful for the chance I had to teach her over this last year.  I was able to watch her progression unfold right in front of me.  She is fully prepared for Kindergarten and is so excited that she is able to read on her own.  After a small graduation ceremony we headed to The Tech Museum to celebrate.  

 (I had to laugh at this picture because just before getting in the car to head home Quincy said, "Mom, I'm going to drink a little more of this and then I'm probably going to fall asleep." At least she knows herself!)

Tessly at 11 Months

At 11 months Tess has become a handful!  She is constantly on the go and into everything. 

We often find her in the most random places... behind tables and stuck under chairs.

She loves to talk and holds real (at least to her) conversations.  We especially love to hear her say "Uh-Oh" and "What's that."

She loves food and wants to eat anything and everything that she sees other people eating. 

She is such a loving baby.  She gives the absolute best hugs and she loves passing out kisses too.

She started to walk when you hold her hands or when she has a walker. 

She will stop whatever she is doing and quickly get to you if you are playing a One Direction song.

She is the best mimic around.  She copies most of what we do and she is quite good at it. 

Recitals

It is always so fun watching the girls do something that they enjoy.  We have let them dabble in quite a few things over the past couple years and I have loved watching them try and learn new and different things.  These past few months Quincy was involved in ballet and she really enjoyed it. 

Addie continued with her voice lessons and really enjoyed those as well.  

Addie's Last Field Trip and Last Day of School

Nimitz Elementary has a park day for the last field trip of the year and its fun to watch all the kids run around together.  

The last day of school!!  I am usually pretty excited about the last day of school, but this time around I was also sad.  Knowing that Addie wouldn't be returning to the only elementary she has really known made me tear up a bit.  She has loved being in the same class with her best friend, Sofia, and they are quite inseparable.  I have loved every minute of this friendship... 

It was necessary to stop for ice cream to celebrate the end of school!

Hawaii

Just as school ended we left for Oahu, Hawaii for a long family vacation.

Day 1:  

The girls did such a great job during all the waiting and traveling.  I even caught them giving each other tastes of their suckers.  

After a 5 hour flight, waiting for our car rental, a trip to Costco, and an hour drive to the house we were staying in Hauula, we all couldn't wait to get our toes in the warm ocean that was just down the street from us. 

Day 2:

Since the friendly neighborhood chickens woke all of us up at 5am the next morning we decided to catch a Hawaiian sunrise.

We were then fully in the water by 8:30 am.

As we floated out in the ocean Addie said, "Ahh... I could stay here forever!"  I fully agree.

Later that day we were able to walk around The Laie Temple.  It was absolutely gorgeous with views straight out to the ocean.  

 Then walked out to Laie Point...

Day 3: This was a 'catch your breath' kind of a day.  After all the traveling we decided to let the kids relax with Grandma while Devin and I went to do a session in the temple.  It was pretty much perfect.  Afterwards we stopped for lunch at the Hukilau Marketplace. 

Day 4: Pearl Harbor on Flag Day.  This was an amazing experience to stand in such a historical place that we had only learned about up to this point.  What a great memorial to those who lost their lives on that infamous day. 

When we first arrived at 9:30 am we were told that we couldn't get tickets to see the USS Arizona Memorial until 3pm.  The man at the ticket counter then laughed in our faces as we asked about standby saying, "Do you know where you are?"  After walking around for awhile and looking through the museums Devin said, "Let's just go check out this theatre that they have over here and then we can go."  There was a huge line so I asked if we needed tickets and we were told to wait on one side for a minute and we should get in.  Sure enough we did.  After about 10 minutes into the video I realized that we were on the tour for the USS Arizona and as the video ended they herded us out to the boat where they take you out to the memorial.  We waited in standby for less than 5 minutes... we were certainly lucky that day! 

Then we went shopping for souvenirs at the famous Aloha Stadium Swap Meet.

Day 5: First stop of the day was Laniakea (or Turtle) Beach where we were able to see several sea turtles up close.  It was a pretty awesome experience and the girls just loved it.  

The next stop was Waimea Falls where we hiked through beautiful botanical gardens up to a waterfall.  We could jump right in and it was incredible.  Quincy did not want to get out and even convinced Devin to get back in with her.  

Our last stop of the day was The Dole Plantation where we rode the Pineapple Express, saw pink pineapples, and enjoyed the amazing Dole Whip.

Day 6:  The cute lady whose home we rented during this vacation, offered to give us surf lessons.  I couldn't wait to take her up on it, and Devin was sweet to take it on with me.  It was a blast and Devin and I were both able to catch a wave and ride it.  I would definitely do this again!

Afterwards we all headed to The Polynesian Cultural Center.  What a fun experience to see all the different Polynesian cultures.  We then stayed for the Luau and their night show.  It was a long day but definitely worth it.  

Day 7: We took a jeep tour through the jungle of Kualoa Ranch.  It was crazy beautiful and we even got to see some movie sites such as Jurassic World, 50 First Dates, and You, Me and Dupree.  

This cutie wasn't aloud on the jeep so she hung out at the house with Grandma and Grandpa. 

Then we all went to Matsumoto's for the best shaved ice we have ever had!

Day 8:  Grandpa, Devin, and I left the kids with Grandma (who we appreciate more than we can say) and hiked Diamond Head Crater. 

We then went straight to Huanama Bay for some snorkeling.

Day 9:  Pupkea Beach or Shark's Cove was an awesome place to let the girls try snorkeling for the first time.  They loved it and thought it was so great to be able to see all the fish that they were swimming with.

Tess just loved having a shallow, waveless place to sit and splash with Grandma. 

Day 10: What better way to celebrate Father's Day than on a golf course in Hawaii?  These wonderful fathers certainly deserve it! 

When you find palm trees like this... you climb them!

Day 11: We saved the best for last.  Lanikai Beach was the most beautiful beach with crystal clear water and sand that felt like clouds.  The girls were able to snorkel again and we could have stayed there forever. We were even able to catch a lizard.  

Day 12: And just like that our vacation was over.  We are so grateful that we were able to experience this beautiful place.  It was a dream.  Goodbye warm Hawaiian Ocean!

It was so much fun having Grandma and Grandpa Payne with us on this vacation.  It definitely created many opportunities of bonding time between them and the girls.  And we couldn't be more grateful for this lady who watched the girls whenever she could so that Devin and I had a chance to do some things on our own!  Such a fun Grandma!

On the way home we felt like a bit of 3 ring Circus.  Everyone around us watched every move that Tess made and persistently tried to get her to come to them.  While I appreciated their kindness, there were times we could have done without... like when I was trying to put her to sleep, or when she was finally sitting quietly in our laps.  Still, overall it was a great flight home. 

The Rickers Visit

Our good friends, Jay and Heather Ricker, were able to come visit us for the last weekend of June.  We absolutely love this couple and we were thrilled when we found out that they were coming.  We took San Francisco by storm which included Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, and then walking the steep streets to then walk down Lombard Street.  

Look close... at the top of this picture is Lombard Street... we walked this entire street from the top of Lombard with 2 kids on shoulders and a baby in a stroller! And this was just the way down!

Our kids loved these guys just as much as we do!  I didn't think they would ever let them leave! Thanks for coming Rickers! We loved having you! 

And thus ended our June.  It was a lot of fun and a lot of stress all wrapped up into one exciting month.  One month left before our move takes place!