Welcome Home Sister Kalilimoku

I need to catch up on everything that has happened recently... I can't find the cord to download all the pictures on my camera but until then, this will have to suffice!!

Riena came home from her mission! You can just look at the pictures but I wanted to write it all down so that I could remember everything. 

Tuesday after work (11 pm), I came home and took a quick nap. At 2 am, Mira and I loaded up the car and started the long drive that waited before us. It wasn't that bad at first... I had a book on tape to listen to and a few Rockstars (shh) to keep me up. I was pretty wired! Despite a hundred and one bathroom stops and Mira throwing up from something bad that she had eaten earlier that day (it got all over the outside, side of the car... eww, gross), we made it to the Portland Airport in record time. 

Riena's plane was almost an hour late but it was so worth it. My parents and Glenn waited at the entrance for her to come out. She came out and there was a lot of crying and hugging.  (Funny story: Riena said that she was crying because when she saw our family, she realized that her mission was really over and that's why she cried. My mom cried because she was so happy to see Riena but we like to joke that she was crying because Riena got so big! haha!! Nah, she didn't get THAT big but lets just say that we can finally share clothes and she can't say that I'll stretch them anymore!) When they finished up, they started walking out to get her bags. Mira and I were hiding behind a column further back. As soon as they started coming towards us, I sent Peyton to go say hi. I heard Riena say, "Oh my gosh, is that Peyton?!" Peyton ran straight up to her and gave her a huge hug! Either Peyton remembered her from when she was 2 months old or there was just an awesome Spirit around her but she let Riena pick her up and carry her around everywhere. 

We grabbed her bags and after taking hundreds of pictures, we decided to go out to eat. Riena wouldn't stop talking and didn't give anyone a chance to cut in or talk. She made lots of comments about the people around us. There was a guy who walked past us with a few extra earrings in places I wouldn't like, long hair pulled back in a pony tail, and a certain smell that is only all too familiar in Portland. Riena looked at us and said matter-of-factly, "He needs the gospel." It was pretty funny. Just what I expect from a returned missionary! After that, we went to the stake center and Riena got set apart. I'm so proud of my sister and hope that her example and mission touched many lives in Ventura, California. 

Saying hi to Auntie Riena. If you look closely, you can see the tears... 

Proud Parents

Family Picture

Standing in front our house with the signs we made and one of the signs my dad made!

Peyton made her own sign too that was super cute. It said, "I 'Bug' You!" and then she put these sticker bugs all over the poster. The "bug" was inside a heart... But we somehow lost the sign at the airport so we had to make a quick, make shift sign on the way from the stake center to our house. haha :)

Hiking

One of Ben's favorite places is the outdoor store, Out-N-Back. He went there and found that they were trying to hire someone to build them a counter. Ben got the sale for super cheap (at least a few hundred cheaper than the other bidders). Instead of getting paid, they offered $800 worth of in-store credit. Unfortunately, Ben didn't get hardly any of that money.... He only got $50 which was/is kinda frustrating since he made the sale and did 95% of all the work (cutting the wood, gluing it, designing the counter, and installing it. His boss only added the finishing). Oh well! We're grateful for anything! 

We used the money to buy a few things... Ben got a new tent and a few other knick knacks for his upcoming hike. I got a little backpack for small hikes and things and also a baby carrier for longer hikes for Peyton. We definitely wanted to try out our new gear as soon as possible! We went on a hike up a canyon in Mapleton. It was fun and nice to get away with Ben and Peyton.  We put Peyton in her little hiking shirt... I just want to put it on record that this is the ONLY occasion I would ever let a child of mine wear camoflauge. :) haha

Peyton loved playing in the water and seeing all the bugs and things! Plus, she loves the carrier and so do we!

On the trail

At our first stop for lunch!

Playing in the water

Happy Birthday Beto!

I really like the place that I work at right now because I am friends with everyone there. We hang out all the time and have a really good time together. Toshi and Beto (B) met at work. Toshi had a HUGE crush on B and was so ecstatic when he FINALLY asked her out. They hit it off and got engaged soon after. They are the perfect couple for each other and I love them both!

Toshi wanted to put together a surprise birthday party for B and asked me to help. We had lots of fun planning it together. B had no idea what was coming! It was awesome :) We did the party at a park right by their apartment. He thought they were just going to have a romantic dinner together but when the blindfold came off, we were all there! It was so fun. 

Decorations

Emmett

Right after we yelled "SURPRISE!!"

The shy, happy birthday boy

Peyton loved the pinata... 

I'm sure she would have loved it more if she knew there was candy inside!

The cute couple!

Best Email Ever

My brother, Glenn, sent me an email today. Here's what it said:

Yo check out this picture i found of Peyton LOLYLOLYLOLYLOLY 

- Glenn

Oh Peyton...

This little girl is a climber. She has been so active and constantly is getting into things she shouldn't. 

We were cleaning the floor (I know, it doesn't look like it in this picture but we were...). Peyton raced to climb up on the table and up the chair to touch the ceiling. 

 Peyton loves to open up the dryer. See those little bits by her diaper? Yup, she'll go in the dryer and eat her cereal... Who teaches her these things?!

 You know those times when you don't hear your kid... and you get up to go find her with your camera because you know she is doing something she shouldn't be doing and you want to document it and so you find your kid standing straight up inside the toilet with socks and shoes on?? Yeah, those times.

She climbs up into these crate things we keep some of our kitchen food stuff in... and she'll throw things like Quelf into the shelves, climb up, and read the cards. 

Just hanging out in the bucket we keep the rice in... with a poopy diaper of course. Because that's the only way to hang out in a bucket of rice.

Climbing up to the counters to get her bottle...

The only way to watch TV at our house...

And this is the one that takes the cake... 

She climbed up on top of the tv and tried to do a handstand up the window.

I'm surprised this girl doesn't have any broken bones yet... 

*knock*knock*

(on wood)

Grandma Tweedie

Grandma Tweedie passed away. This past week we were able to go to her funeral. It was great to see family again. Peyton remembers Grandma Wheeler but Grandpa Wheeler needed a little getting used to. At the family viewing, we all walked into the room and were trying to be quiet. After a few minutes, April said, "Well, we don't have to be quiet about this! Look at her nails. Aren't they beautiful?" We all laughed and the mood definitely brightened. That's one thing that I LOVE about my mother-in-law... she has the best attitude about life and everything in it.

I was able to play the organ at the funeral. There were definitely times that I choked up while playing but I made it through! Well, almost. During the postlude music, when they wheeled the casket out of the chapel, I broke down. Good thing the Bishop and the funeral director were standing in front of the organ so no one could see!

We decided to stay at a hotel with Russ and Ashley's family. We shared a room with Cam right next door to them. Best decision ever! We had a pool to cool off in, cousins to play with (or bug, haha), and free breakfast. Peyton woke up one morning and the first thing she asked for was to see those boys. She LOVES them! And I'm so glad that they put up with her...

Chase The Mayor

This was the first race that Ben ever ran in that was timed. And of course, he had to do amazing! I've been running for a month or so pretty consistantly. Ben ran maybe twice before this race. I did the race in 35 minutes. And Ben? He got 27th place out of 500+ people and did the race in 20 minutes. Unfair! :) haha 

We had a lot of fun but I'll be honest. Running with a jogging stroller isn't very fun! I think my time would have been a lot shorter if I didn't have the stroller. Oh well! Peyton had fun :)

All of us at the finish line!

Me, Ben, and Peyton

Peyton needed a few oranges after running so hard :)

This kid... 

ugh! Somehow, he was ALWAYS in my way! 

I'd pass him, then he'd pass me AND STOP AND JUST WALK 

right in front of me. Then I'd pass him and he'd... 

you get the picture!

It's tiring after running so hard!

These are the pics that I took off the professional photo site... Shh...

* Peyton isn't in any of these pictures because when Ben finished the race,

he came back and took the jogging stroller so that Kamry and I could run without it for the last stretch!