The Baby Straightjacket

Another really good use for Aaron's straight leg brace.

Kauai

Can you believe this is what we woke up to every morning? My Mom got us condos right on the beach. How amazing is that? It was so gorgeous and the weather was perfect the whole time we were there. This was our room.This is the baby beach at Lydgate park. They surrounded a small area of beach with rocks (in the background) so that the waves aren't too powerful. It is a great place for kids. This is where Aaron accidentally swam with the keys to our rental car. Whoops!Eleanor wasn't too sure about the waves, even these little ones at the baby beach. I ended up holding her the whole time we were there.

It was so great to have Gramma with us to help with the kids. They love Gramma. Our condo complex had a fish pond and the girls loved feeding the fish. Aaron and I had a surfing lesson in Hanalei bay. Check out the 12 foot long board. Looks funny, but it was nice to have such a stable board to learn on. Aaron was really good at surfing and I did ok too. We would love to do more surfing, hopefully we can go back sometime soon and try again.Check out the mountains in the distance. This picture does not even capture half of the beauty of that place.So, you know how I mentioned that Aaron swam with the car keys? Well, on the morning of our ATV ride the key fob decided to start working again, but only the alarm function. So the car alarm kept going off over and over and over again. While Aaron was out trying to get it to turn off, a big berry dropped on his head. I just about died laughing. He finally came into the ATV place and prised the key fob open with a screwdriver and took out the battery. Good times. Well hello handsome! I don't know if you can tell, but there is a cave in the back to the left that looks like Homer Simpson. :) This was the highlight of our ATV trip. All of the land surrounding this beach is privately owned, so this is the only way too see this area. Gorgeous! (6 days, 7 nights and Hook were both filmed here.) Aaron and I, looking fantastic (LOL) in the helicopter. You can only see 10% of Kauai by car, so naturally we just had to do the helicopter ride. We had a perfectly clear day, which never happens on Kauai. Kauai has the wettest place on earth which receives 460 inches of rain a year. This is the wettest spot on Earth. Mount Wai’ale’ale. It is a huge volcanic crater which usually has hundreds of waterfalls cascading down it, but not on a sunny day like we had. We actually flew right up inside the crater and we were so close to the walls I thought I could touch them.The gorgeous Na Pali coast.We went to the Smith Family farm for a luau. They have a big garden area and we told Penelope to strike a pose and this is what she gave us. Where does she learn these things? The luau was fun and we loved the show. Penelope keeps talking about the dancing girls and the guy with the fire sword. So glad we took them with us for the luau.On Friday, Aaron and I did a whole day of adventures. We kayaked up the Hule'ia river about 2 miles and then hiked in to this rope swing. I did the rope swing too, but Aaron missed me flying through the air. All you could see in my picture was my head just above the water as I went in. After another hike we came to a tractor that pulled us on a cart up to the first of 2 ziplines. The second zipline was 1800' long and we got to go at the same time. The guides said our laughs echoed to the other side of the valley as Aaron ran in to a tree branch at the end of the zip. It was so funny it makes me giggle even now.

After another hike we can to the Blue Pool, a little stream fed pool that is 20 feet deep and perfect for jumping off of the 18' platform or doing the water zip. My favorite was the water zip. You just held on, went down the zip line and dropped into the water. So fun. We had such a great time. I can't believe we actually did it. The girls were angels on the flights and they had a blast with Gramma. But who wouldn't have fun with a lady who lets Penelope brush and floss her teeth. . . in a restaurant. Thanks Mom for a great vacation. You are the best.

Penelope's Play House

Fun. Fun. Fun.

We built this play house from the left over supplies from the shed project. Penelope loves it.

The bay windows cost $30.00 for the Plexiglas and the roof we added another $60.00 for the flashing extras. Some friends in the branch donated the back window and a friend from Aaron's work donated the front door and the 2X6 skids. Gwen painted the outside and Aaron added a toy chest in the bay window.

The trim is in the process of being painted but Aaron wanted to show his coworkers and couldn't wait.

Glacier

Morgan and his wife, Katie, came to visit us last weekend. They were only here for a few days, but we had a great time. We finally made it over to Glacier National Park. Janet and John and their three boys came with us. Our first stop was St. Mary's Lake for a picnic. It was beautiful. I couldn't believe how clear and cold the water was. When we first got there it was raining, but it turned out to be a beautiful day.

Penelope had such a great time throwing rocks in the water like the boys. I had so much fun playing with Katie's new camera. Newlyweds are so cute.

Eleanor wanted to get in the water too. :)

I love this picture of my family. Too bad I'm in it. I was not thinking about taking pictures that day. I was thinking hiking; I don't need to do my hair. It also doesn't help that I have Morgan's monstrous fleece on either. Oh well. . . everyone else is adorable.

Eleanor just makes me smile.

We went on a couple of small hikes while we were there. Morgan got to carry Penelope for me because of Aaron's knee, and I carried Eleanor. I could hardly see over Eleanor's head. It was a little strange to hike without being able to see your feet. Next time I will definitely need the backpack for her. (I wasn't planning on packing Penelope around but she wasn't feeling well, so we carried her too.)The whole crew.I had to put this picture in because Penelope squealed like the little girl that she is when the water sprayed on her and Janet just laughed and laughed at that. Janet has 3 boys. And lastly, here is a gorgeous picture of wild goose island. We would be more than happy to visit Glacier again with any of you who decide to come visit. :) Thanks Morgan and Katie for a great time.

Motorcycle

I think I should have had Aaron sign a contract when he first purchased his motorcycle. . . I, Aaron Heaton, will be extra super-duper careful whenever I decide to ride the death machine and if I ever get hurt I will immediately put said death machine up for sale and will never ask for one again. . .

Aaron tore his ACL, medial meniscus and has a small impaction fracture of his left knee. Surgery # 4, here we come. What joy is mine.