Finally, something new

It always amazes me how much time has gone by since the last time I updated the blog. Now looking back I realize just how really far behind I am. The last post before Hawaii was talking about our summer and I did that one in September.



Since so much has happened and I don't remember a lot of it I will just hit on a few of the big things going on in our lives:



-Our Christmas was spent at home this year. We were going to go to Christmas get togethers for both sides of the family on Christmas Eve but, being the great Mom that I am, I scheduled Ryker's 18 month check up on that day and a strep test they did on him came back positive. So much for our partying this year. Grammy & Poppy and Grandma & Grandpa Orton and Grandma Roothoff came out to visit. That made our day!!




-Jacob's Grandpa Mathews passed away in January. We were so grateful we had taken time to go up to Idaho and visit him just a few weeks before. It takes Ryker a few minutes to get settled in and then it's all go. He was having a great time running through the house and into Grandpa's arms. He was also spoiled by Grandpa. We had had a party the night before and there were delicious homemade sugar cookies left over. Ryker wanted one and knew we would all say no so he asked Grandpa who, of course, gave him one (or two, or maybe even three) for breakfast. Grandpa told us Ryker can do and eat whatever he wants and he won't tell him "no". The time we spend with family is always precious, but when something like this happens it makes that time together so much more memorable.

-We found out in February that Ryker is going to be a big brother!!! Our due date is Oct. 20th and we are so excited. When we found out I asked Ryker if he was going to be a big brother and he said "uh-huh" and started flailing his arms and turning around in a circle. I need to learn to have a camera ready when I ask questions like that.

-We are finishing some of our basement and Ryker has been a HUGE helper. He takes his plastic hammer and screw driver down and will hammer on the boards and help hold up the walls until they get set into place. Poppy gave him an old tape measure and he went around measuring whatever he could find and would yell out his findings. He watched as everyone was writing measurements on the boards so he found a pencil and started going around writing something on every board (and some drywall) he could find. What would we do without him.!?

-Ryker is growing up so fast. He started talking just a few months ago and it's been amazing to see how quick he's progressing. He's to the point where he is putting sentences together and will repeat any word you ask him to. He knows all of the main colors and can count to 12 and sometimes 16. He loves to read books and is always ready to watch Cars.

-Jacob is staying busy with Ryker and I, work, school, projects around the house, and being the 1st counselor in the Elders Quorum presidency. Even though it takes up a lot of his time, he loves serving in the Elders Quorum and especially with the wonderful men he gets to serve with.
He is so great to be so willing to work so hard so I can stay home with Ryker and raise him the way we want him raised. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband who I love so much!!


-I am just trying to keep up with Ryker as the due date gets closer and I get bigger. I didn't want to find out what we are having, but Jacob did so he found out and has told our families and I've been waiting for someone to slip. It looks like Trisha is the winner!! In talking about the baby last night she slipped and said "he" and then tried to cover it up. When I told Jacob about it he would neither confirm nor deny if she really had slipped. I'm not picky either way, as long as the baby is healthy I'm great.
I'm also the secretary in the Young Women's program and love it. We have the most amazing young women in our ward and I am so blessed to know them and be able to learn from them and feel of their incredible love for their Savior and the gospel.



-Since this is a pretty long post already I will stop here and hopefully get back on soon to add some pictures and more updates.

Hawaii....day 6

We have come to the end of our trip. :( It has been SOOOO great being with Andrew and Brandi!!

We had a busy day and just our luck it was very rainy. I had made reservations to go through the Laie, Hawaii temple open house this morning and didn't know where I was going, how I was going or how long it would take. With the sky being so overcast the trusty navigation system I've been using was not working. I had no idea what to do and couldn't get anywhere without it. Miraculously it started working and we were on our way.

The drive was beautiful even though I was white knuckling it due to the rain. There were times when the ocean was only a few feet from the edge of the road. It was amazing yet scary at the same time.

I thought I brought a polo shirt for Ryker, but found out this morning that I hadn't so I was going to stop at a store on my way to the temple, but didn't pass any. He looked a little funny wearing khaki pants over a romper with a truck and the saying "I make mud look good" on it. Oh well, I tried. ;)

The drive didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would so we were there over an hour early. I was in a rush because I still needed to buy souvenirs and spend time with Andrew and Brandi before leaving tonight. I explained my situation and asked if we could go with the next tour since it seemed a little empty anyway. They were more than happy to have us go through early.

There ended up being about 15 people in our tour and for the size of the temple it was almost too many. It is a very small yet very beautiful temple.

Unfortunately I was in such a hurry that I didn't even think to take pictures of the temple or Ryker and I in front of it.

We took the longer way to Honolulu by way of the North Shore because I hadn't been there yet. There were some AMAZING views. The next time I go to Hawaii I'm definitely going to spend some time up there!!

We tried going shopping, but couldn't find the plaza so I pulled onto base and called Andrew to find out where to go. He was trying to figure out where I was and when we finally connected the dots and landmarks we realized we were only about 2 blocks away from each other. We stopped and were able to visit with him during his lunch break.

Our next stop was the big mall that didn't have much of anything that I was looking for. It did have a waterfall that Ryker just loved. I tried getting a good picture of it, but this is all I could come up with...

Ryker really wanted to play in the water and was pretty upset when I made him leave the cool pool and waterfall.

We did a little more shopping at the international market. The last time I was in Hawaii I found so much good stuff there, but this time it was the same thing at every booth and not at all what I was looking for. I did get suckered into buying a bracelet for $2.

We finally made it back to the house in time for dinner and to sit and visit for a few hours before we headed out. Ryker was finally comfortable enough to show off some dance moves and just let loose.

It was so hard saying goodbye to Andrew and Brandi. They were so much fun and so wonderful to give me a break and let me kick back and relax.

The flight home was great because Ryker slept most of the way, but I kept waking up thinking he was falling off my lap or to make sure he was doing ok.

It's great to get away, but it's great coming home!

(Sorry for such a long post with hardly any pictures. I had to jot down what I remember so I don't forget it all)

Hawaii....day 5

Happy Halloween

Today was our day for sight seeing and boy was it beautiful!! We started out at a crater thing where we had to hike/walk a paved path to the top. The only thing that would have made it better, other than having Jacob there, was if Brandi and I had thought to bring shoes other than the sandals and flip flops we had on. Our feet were a little sore by the end, but it was worth it.

A view from the start of the hike

About half way there we stop for a little rest and a great photo

I could stare out over the ocean all day

We finally made it to the top and this is looking straight down. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks was so soothing

Ryker didn't want to be facing away from the view. He did not want to leave and put up a bit of a fight. I can't say I blame him

Our next stop was a blow hole. Its a hole in a rock that jets out from the shore and when the waves come in and crash underneath it the water sprays up through it and goes pretty high. It wasn't very active while we were there because the wind was blowing the wrong way.

We drove around the island and up to the Pali Highway Overlook. This looks out over Andrew and Brandi's side of Oahu. If you look really close you might be able to see their house

Another view from the overlook

One of the tunnels you have to drive through to get from one side of the island to the other. It's a little scary, but really cool all at the same time

After our outing we decided to go home and carve some pumpkins seeing as it is Halloween and all. When we carved pumpkins with Will, Debbie and girls and Theron and Callie (which I just realized I haven't made a post for) Ryker would not go near the guts of the pumpkins. He would reach his hand in, but quickly pull it out before it touched anything yucky. He was completely different this time and we couldn't keep his hands out of the pumpkins. He's helping Andrew gut his....

and trying to help Brandi with her design

Showing off the final products

(sorry Andrew and Ryker, not very good pics of you guys)

I bet you can't guess which one is Ryker's

It was only around 5 and it was Ryker's bedtime since he never adjusted to Hawaii time. We got him all dressed and tried to find things to do to pass the time so we weren't going out too early.

What studs!!!

Ryker wouldn't keep his do-rag and sunglasses on, but loved being on the bike with Andrew

Brandi, Ryker, Andrew and Daisy all ready to go trick-or-treating

Our first stop is the neighbor's house

Ryker showing off his loot as he runs to the next house

Sharing with Brandi

Headed for the next house

They weren't ready for us so the disappointed duo move on

Only one other house had candy and was open for the night. We tried to keep Ryker up and happy so we could go back out in a little bit, but that didn't work. He was asleep soon after walking in the door.

We have had such a great time being with Andrew and Brandi in this amazingly beautiful place