6th Folder, 6th picture...

I got this idea from Katy's blog. You take the 6th picture out of your 6th folder of pictures and blog about it. And this exciting picture is the winner! It was taken in June of 06.

I drew a big WE MISS YOU AUNT ASH on a piece of paper and let the boys color all over it, then we were going to email her a picture of them holding up the sign. But as I think about it, I don't think we ever did! Oh well, now she can see it on my blog. We do still miss you, Ash!

Gosh, the boys look so little don't they?! I like this idea of blogging a random picture...we should do it more often ladies!

Naptime Nonsense

Sadly, my Coopie is fazing out of our naptime ritual. He puts up a good fight every afternoon, but usually stays in his room until he falls asleep. For the last couple of weeks, though, I've heard him kicking his wall and found him lying on the floor, etc. All kinds of ridiculous naptime nonsense is going on in there. Today topped the cake.

He didn't really cry when I put him down this afternoon, but he was pretty hyped up. He sang and talked to himself for a LONG time. But about 45 minutes later, I didn't hear him anymore. Yes, I thought to myself. He finally fell asleep. So I went in to take a peek at my handsome sleeping prince. And this is what I found:

"Taaaa Daaaa" he says, smiling very cute and innocent...

I took this video to show Dave, but I wanted to share it with you guys too. You might have to turn it way up. I took off my music so you could hear it better. When I ask him what he's doing, he says "cheesing". Then towards the end he tries to change the subject by telling me he likes pizza "all the time" and just saunters out of the room...CRAZY CHILD!

I couldn't be mad at him...that is the biggest tower he has ever built - and he did it in the dark without making a peep! My baby is growing up way too fast.

Ah.......Hawaii

One year ago today, we arrived in Honolulu for 10 glorious days of blissful, kid-free paradise. I want to go back. I want to go back very badly. Like tomorrow would be nice.

I know you've all probably noticed my Hawaii slideshow over there to the right, but I've never really shared what exactly is in those pictures, so in honor of the one-year anniversary of our first (but definitely not last) trip to Hawaii, I'll give you all some details.

The day we got there I had the stomach flu. I'd battled it at home the whole day before, and I still wasn't quite over it once we got there. The humidity didn't help at all. So we only left our room once for Dave to get something to eat. I felt really bad, but Dave kept telling me it was okay and I'd be better in the morning. And sure enough, I woke up perfectly fine at 4:00 AM and was raring to go! (Time change people :)

Day 2: Pearl Harbor and a trip to the Aloha Bowl flea market

These are the names of people who lost their lives when the USS Arizona went down.

Day 3: We hiked to Diamond Head...and then we hiked to the TOP of Diamond Head!

Okay. We waited for the bus to take us to Diamond Head, but the bus was full. So an old man next to us says, "I know how to get there, do you just want to walk?" And my hubby says, "Sure!" Little did we know it was going to be a five mile uphill hike to the base of Diamond Head, then we had to hike to the top! And I was NOT happy. In fact, I remember throwing a fit or two. I also had to stop and eat some of the old man's trail mix because I thought I was going to hurl.

Once we got to the top and took in the gorgeous view, my mood changed a little...

Day 4: Polynesian Cultural Center

The bus picked us up around 10:30 AM and we spent the entire day there. It was very fun and included a luau and a cool show. We rolled back into our hotel at about midnight. It was a long, HOT day, but definitely one of the most enjoyable experiences of the trip.

Days 5, 6, 7: Lying on the beach, driving straight through the middle of the island and thinking we were driving around it - ha! , and connecting with an old friend (who took pity on us and drove us around the island the right way)!

Days 8, 9, 10: Submarine, dinner cruise, and lots of other stuff!

Yeah, that's a sea turtle!

We spent most of our time out on the deck taking in the stunning view of the Waikiki Beach skyline

There was a sign that said not to jump, but Dave normally doesn't follow the rules.

These guys are up on the sand just chillin' and sun-bathing.

Okay, sorry for the extremely long post, but it's been fun remembering our amazing time together in Hawaii. I hope it's not TOO long before we go back. It truly was a wonderful 10th anniversary present...thanks, honey!

Ali Loves Dave

How did I get so lucky? Tomorrow I get to go out of town to a friend's cabin to scrapbook with a group of girls. Hooray! But those who know me know it is extremely hard for me to leave my boys (including Dave). So I just got finished packing up the car and getting everything ready here at home so everyone has everything they need, and I'm thinking - God gave me such a great guy! Dave encourages me to go on these weekend trips to relax and clear my head and get away from the everyday life of "mom".

He had something he would have liked to do this weekend, but instead he put off those plans so I could do what I wanted to do. He's actually done that a lot throughout our marriage. And I just want him to know how much I appreciate it. I feel blessed that we can do things like this for each other, and I love and respect him more each and every day. I know he will do something fun with the boys while I'm gone, and they'll all have a great time. Hopefully that something might include buying me a new dishwasher? Ha!

Ali + Dave = FOREVER

Pickin' Pumpkins

Yesterday afternoon Mom called and asked if me and the boys wanted to take a little trip to the fruit stand to pick out some pumpkins. I'd just thrown Coop down for his nap, but do you think he was sleeping? NO. So I said we could go. It wasn't raining...yet!

We picked a few big ones and some smaller ones, but they didn't have any shocks (dried corn stalks tied in a bundle for decoration), so Dad called Nana and asked if we could come over to her field and cut some down.

Coop & Hunter trooped back and forth from Papa to the truck, carrying the stalks. After we got home, though, we were all ITCHY! I dug out my outside decorations and we were all set!

Looks cute, huh?

Hunter takes better pictures than me!

And then it started pouring - and I don't think it's even stopped since!

Who Doesn't Love the Fair?

We promised the boys we'd take them to the fair, so we went this Saturday...and what beautiful weather we had! We got there first thing in the morning, so it wasn't crowded at all. Here are some pictures of the day!

They were both afraid of a cute little piglet!

Coop kept calling all the rabbits "little guy"...it was hilarious!

Not afraid of a HUGE python, but afraid of a little piglet?

This dude clearly wanted out of his case

Hunter thought this was a tad bit boring, but he rode with Coop anyway.

Daddy & Coop on the airplanes! Hunter chose the pretty pink one in front of them...he got made fun of for that :)

I rode with Hunter on the Wacky Worm...

...and Coop rode with Dave! Coop had his hands in the air the ENTIRE time! It was too funny!

Be sure to scroll down and take a look at what we did on Sunday...another really fun day!

Football at Grandma & Papa's

Sunday we went out to Dave's mom's house after church to help her celebrate a big birthday. I cannot say how old she was, I don't want her to get mad at me :) We all had a lot of fun. We wore our Seahawks jerseys (even though they didn't have a game), which inspired a touch football game in the yard. Dave's team won. He picked all the kids to be on his team; our nephews Taylor and Rykker, and Hunter. Coop couldn't decide whose team he wanted to be on, so he was occassionally on his daddy's team but mostly on Uncle James' team. I love how he's lining up in the above picture - he looks like he's a real linebacker! The ladies went out and cheered them on, and laughed our heads off. Dave and his brothers are extremely competitive (go figure)! They have been known to play football in the sunny, rainy, windy and even snowy weather. I'm sure they'll be out there on Christmas wearing their coats, boots and stocking hats!