Hawaii-Tuesday-Day 2

Because of the time difference of 4 hours, we woke up at 3:30am! 

We just hung out until it was light out. Then we hit the beach for a morning walk.

We were starving by the time at walked over to Hukilau Cafe, where we ended up eating breakfast every morning. The food was amazing. 

(photo taken from my grandpa's website: zaneclark.net .Take a look at it if you are wondering what to do on Oahu)

After breakfast we had time before the Polynesian Cultural Center opened, so we hit up Pipeline to check out the surfers.

 My dream is to come back in the winter to see the big wave surfing. 

I have always wanted to do this and it will happen...one day.

 The famous Volcom house where the surfers stay during competitions.

On our way back to Laie, we stopped at Ted's Bakery for this incredible Chocolate Haupia Pie. 

We bought a whole pie and ate a few pieces every day. 

The PCC was fun as always. 

The only downer was their buffet dinner that comes with your ticket was nasty.

I would have rather ate at McDonald's across the street.

 This guy from the Samoan Village never gets old. He has the same jokes from when I was there seven years ago and I was still laughing at all of them.

 Doug dancing in the Tahitian Village

Hawaii-Monday-Day 1

It was so exciting finally being in Hawaii. We got in in the afternoon and once we got to Laie we just kinda wandered around the town and walked on the beach. 

 Big Kahunas, a place you have to eat at. Kalua pork and garlic cheese balls. 

I'll go there just for the cheese balls.

 View from our place on Hukilau Beach

 First walk down the beach(notice my bangs curling up, dumb humidity)

 My favorite LDS temple!

 Hello frizzy humid hair

 Laie point

Watching surfers at Turtle Bay

California

Before we left for Hawaii we had to get to California to drop Matix off with my parents.

We left on a Thursday night and drove to Vegas to stay with my grandparents.

Matix didn't want to fall asleep on the way there. He was awake as could be. I would put his blanket on him and he just wanted to hide under it and laugh. 

Friday morning we hung out with my grandparents, aunt, and cousins for a bit before we left for California. Matix had a blast playing with Jared and Colton. He loved all the attention they gave him.

Saturday we got to hang out with some family, Brandon and Lindsey. We went to their pool and enjoyed the warm weather. 

Alexa...look at that chunk. I wish we lived closer. 

 Easton loved spraying our  camera

 Matix loved being in the water

 

 Again...I want to just nibble on those arms and legs

Cute cousins.

That evening we went back to my parents house where Matix played outside. He was having a blast and I knew everything was going to be okay. Matix was going to be fine with out us for a week.

Bitter Sweet

Yesterday was one of those bitter sweet days. 

The day started off with the sweet, my amazing sister in law, Bre, gave birth to two BEAUTIFUL boys.

Jacob and Anderson were welcomed into the world and are big and healthy. 

Such a blessing when having twins.

Meet: Anderson...

and Jacob...

 I can't wait to snuggle them tonight!!!

Then everything bad started happening. 

-Bombing at the Boston Marathon

-A cousin of one of my sister-in-laws passed away during a routine surgery

-And a young girl went missing in Provo on her way to school.

My heart hurts.

My thoughts and prayers have been consumed with all of the above.
I pray for all those that were in Boston yesterday and their families.
I pray for my sister in law and her family, that they will be comforted in this time of trial.

I pray that this little girl in Provo will be found safely. This is a parents worst nightmare.
UPDATE: she has been found!

I'm so grateful for my knowledge of the gospel. I know we have a loving Heavenly Father who is always there with open arms to comfort us. I've felt his comforting power in my own life and I know he will comfort all those who are going through trials. 

Advice

I'm needing any advice or tips for driving to California with Matix. Keep in mind he is still rear facing, he isn't two yet.

 Thanks!!

It's Almost Time

In just over a week I'll be waking up to this beautiful sight...

Our Hawaii trip is just right around the corner now. 

I have a ton of mixed feelings about it. 

1st- I'm so excited for to go to Oahu, Hawaii(I mean who wouldn't be?). I can't wait to just relax on the beach and soak in the sun. Doug has never been to Hawaii, so I'm excited to show him everything I love about the island.  I can't wait to get my tan back. Living in Utah in the winter makes you white(even for this half Mexican).

2nd- I'm having a really hard time with the fact we are leaving Matix. He is going to be staying with my parents and I know he will be in good hands and is going to get spoiled to the  max! However, I'm going to miss him like crazy. One of my sisters went to Hawaii when her oldest was 8 months old and she left her with my parents(when I was living at home). It was so hard on my sister. She said she would cry sometimes because she missed her so much. I hope that doesn't happen to me. My dad is going to take him to the park multiple times a day and and my mom will give him all the attention he wants and more. 

(so maybe writing this was a little therapeutic for me, I'm feeling a little better already)

The Madness is Over!

So I didn't grow up watching a lot of sports. 

If we did it was surf contests and surf and skate movies with my dad. 

So when I got married it was a HUGE adjustment to watch ESPN all the time. 

Our first March Madness together (we were engaged) was a hard one. I was shocked at how much basketball we were watching.

I talked to a close friend about it and she said, "well you do know you marrying a Bell right?"

I've just dealt with it over the almost three years we've been married. This year was my first year filling out a bracket. I only did it for a ward activity. I'm surprised at how much I got into it. I didn't always watch all the games but I did check ESPN frequently. Me...actually going to the ESPN website by choice. I surprised myself. 

Now this is my time to brag/be proud of myself. Look who came in 5th in our ward group. ME. 

Now look at the very bottom , see number 19...that would be Doug. Can you believe I did better than Doug? I sure can't. I picked all my teams in a matter of a few minutes too. 

Doug now wants to make brackets for every sport playoffs for me to fill out, 

that way I'll get be excited about sports. 

FaceTime

Simone and Matix are only 6 months apart. I know they are going to be best of friends when they get older. Matix loves face timing with his cousins in Texas and California. We miss you guys!!

We have a climber

So Matix has learned that if he throws all the shoes off he can climb on it. 

He likes to then get on the chair and sit there or stand on it and look out the window. 

Every time he climbs on the shoe shelf, we point our finger at him and say "no no no". 

Well he thinks it's a joke and copies us, or as soon as he stands up on there he shakes his finger at us.

We have a little comedian.

I couldn't get the video to upload on here,
so go take a look at it  http://youtu.be/1MU0L17PdQo