~Take The Stage~

The girls had their winter dance recital "Take The Stage" this past weekend.  They both did such an amazing job in their dances.  I was a super proud mom.

Lexi did a lyrical dance to the song "Kingdom Fall" .  It was beautiful!

It was fun to be able to see her cute friends from the neighborhood dance too.  Lauren, Melyn and Preslee (we didn't get a picture with her, darn it)

We were so glad to have both grandmas there to support these cuties.

Mckell danced a lyrical dance to the song Clown.  It too was beautiful!

We even got Hunter to come with us to this recital.  It was a MIRACLE, lol.  The girls were so excited that he came.  I love watching my girls dance.  They really have a talent for it.

~Bowling Fieldtrip With Lexi~

Lexi and her cute bowling group at her class fieldtrip to the bowling alley.

Lexi and her bestest little friend Jackie.

Such a fun fieldtrip.

~Lexi's Big Day~

Lexi decided that with her Christmas gift money she wanted to get her ears pierced.  She was so excited to finally be able to go get it done.

Before her holy ears.

Lexi was starting to get nervous.  She was starting to doubt her decision.

Lexi with her new earrings.  She picked out her birthstones and couldn't be happier with her new look.

~Hawaii Vacation~ Day 4~

Today was our last day in Hawaii :(  It was a really quick trip, but we did a lot.  Today we went swimming with the dolphins and whale watching.  It was amazing!!!  Our tour bus picked us up at 5:20 am.  Yes 5:20 am.  It was still pitch black outside.  But was cool because we were able to watch the sun rise out on a boat in the ocean.

Yes we are in wet suits.  It was so cool this morning I opted to splurge and get us all wet suits.  When the sun came out we really didn't need them, but I guess they were still nice to have for the morning boat ride.

We saw all kinds of sea animals on this excursion.  We saw seals, turtles, dolphins, spinner dolphins, and whales.  Definitely a perfect way to end our trip.

When we found a pod of dolphins, we stopped the boat and all jumped in.  It was amazing!  The dolphins were swimming all around us, right next to us.  It totally creeped Lexi and Garrett out though.  They didn't like it one bit.  In fact, the minute that they saw that the dolphin were feet from us, they both cried and wanted back in the boat, lol.  Garrett swore he saw a shark. :)

Our tour group.

After our Dolphin Excursion, we headed back to Waikiki Beach one last time before heading home.

We were so sad to have to leave.

We were sad to leave, but we missed Dave, Hunter, and Buddy.  After landing home in Salt Lake (the red eye flight, which is horrible), I found out that we had just missed a Ballistic Missile Alert that went to everyone in Hawaii that told them that a missile was heading their way and to get somewhere safe.  Then in caps it said THIS IS NOT A DRILL.  I guess people were running around crying, calling their loved ones back at home telling them goodbye and that they loved them, throwing their kids in man holes, and running for the tunnels.  I am SO GLAD I missed that.  I wouldn't have even had any clue what to do.  I was freaking out on where I was supposed to take the rental car, I can't even imagine what I would have done.  I am so grateful I missed it.  Luckily, it was just a mistake.  It came out that someone accidentally pushed a button, but it took the government 30 minutes to let everyone know it was a false alarm.

~Hawaii Vacation~ Day 3~

One thing Mckell wanted to do while we were in Hawaii was to take surf lessons, so we got up bright and early to head to the beach for her lesson.  I figured the kids could play on the beach while she learned to surf.  But while at the surf shop, they talked Lexi into taking lessons too.  She was extremely nervous, and really didn't want to do it but was so glad she did in the end.

The girls getting a quick course on what to do.

All ready to head to the beach to surf :)

Lexi's instructor was Big Wave Dave himself, the owner of the surf shop.

Lexi started off with her instructor on the board with her, but she was doing so well he told her she could do it on her own.  She did amazing!

Mckell made it look so easy, although she said it wasn't.  And she said it is nothing like surfing behind the boat.

Both of these girls had a blast surfing, and were so proud of themselves for being able to get up.  Way to go girls!!!

It was such a nice day, we decided to stay and play at the beach for a few hours.

Lexi and Garrett doing exercises on the beach (don't know where they got this from, lol)

After playing at the beach for a few hours we headed up to the Polynesian Cultural Center for a luau and show.

There must have been something in the pineapple smoothie because Garrett started acting like a "scary bird" for most of the pictures. lol!!! Boys!!!

The kids were excited to get fake tattoos in the island of Figi.

We talked Lexi into going up on stage to do the hula.  She was a little embarrassed.  Before the main show at the Polynesian Cultural Center we had an hour to kill, so we decided to go and see the Hawaiian temple.  Mckell really wanted to go and do baptisms there, but they were closed for a few weeks for cleaning.  We will just have to come back another time ;)

 Don't mind Garrett.  He was all pictured out.

It was another fun filled day.  We were exhausted by the end.