Noah's Mini Vacation

Over Father's Day weekend, Noah was invited to visit some dear friends from AZ who were vacationing on Maui!  I was his first solo flight ever....luckily for him, it was super short!  Mom was still nervous.  The funny thing is that I received a picture of him and his friend at the Maui airport before I was even home from dropping him off!  Talk about a short flight!
Still, the second he entered the plane and I could no longer see him, no matter how brave I am, and how much I trust my son, there was still a nervous/scared/anxious/sinking feeling about it.  Thankfully, the family he was visiting is amazing.  They have always cared for Noah as one of their own and Noah feels like he is part of their family!  Thanks to the Emigs for helping to make Noah's summer extra special!

Here he is waiting at the gate to board the plane.

 He was way too excited to be leaving me!

 He is so old!

 He made it to Maui!  BFFs reunited.

 Sunday, the did the road to Hana....this was their quaint little lunch spot.  Noah said he saw tons of waterfalls and even swam in a cave!  I'm pretty sure he had a blast!

 His mama for the weekend!

Here he is at black sand beach....pretty cool.

Once again many mahalos to our friends from AZ!  Perhaps next year we will all crash your family vacation! :)

Almost forgot to mention....when I picked him up from the airport, I was first told the wrong gate....there were a couple of panicked minutes there of Caleb and I frantically running around the Hawaiian terminal searching for Noah! AAHHHH!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

For my 30th birthday, my favorite girls and I headed to Las Vegas for a weekend celebration. So many women in all different stages of life, marriage, dating, motherhood, and beyond. But when you put us all together, it was pure bliss. So much fun in so little time. Good dinners, good gambling, some shopping, fun cocktails, and lots of dancing. And with all the craziness that is and always will be Vegas, my favorite parts still remained about the girls. First the getting ready to go out. Trying on 12 different outfits each. Borrowing each others make-up and accessories. Music in the background. Debating on comfort or style. I love it! Second, is the bathroom talks. When your out and about, things are happening, and the quietest place in the town is the bathroom. So that's where girls talk. Strangers become your best friends. I love it! Third, is the morning after. Headaches and saggy eyes. Blisters and swollen feet. Piling into one or two beds....and then the stories begin. Retelling, reminiscing about the previous night. So funny, so fun. I love it!

No one can compare to the 8 women I shared my birthday celebrations with. They are beautiful, strong, smart, fun, and crazy women. And they all teach me a little different style of a hugely fun game of life. I've never been big on a large group of girlfriends. You know, girls to gather with on the reg and share secrets and good times with every weekend. It was only my teammates in HS and college, and that was only in season. I always thought it was because there was probably something wrong with me.....too bitchy, unfriendly, non girly, or just too lazy to put forth the effort. Which by the way are all probably true. But now (in my old age ;)), I know it is because my family is enough--an amazingly strong group of supportive women who will always stick together. No matter what. And the few non-blood close friends that I do have are better than 20 fake friends and/or acquaintances.

Thanks to my girls for celebrating with me and spoiling me with kind words and birthday surprises. You are the best!


(And yes Aunt Cha-Cha, I mean you too. Even if you were only there in spirit.)

Being a decathlete is like having ten girlfriends. You have to love them all, and you can't afford losing one. -Daley Thompson