Hawaii-Day 1

HAWAII (Day 1) Honolulu-Waikiki

Mike's brother decided to get married on December 31st...Yes, NEW YEARS EVE! We had originally only planned to only have Mike go. Then, Mike's mom said she'd help get me there, so it was just going to be Mike and I going. Then, Mike's dad called and told us that they had decided to pay for all the grandkids to go. So, it was like a Stephenson Family Reunion. The kids were elated when they told them they were going. There were 16 of us departing the Las Vegas Airport (December 27, 2010). I thought it'd be nothing but absolute chaos, but it actually went well. Everyone was organized, and it made it so much easier. The thought of taking "Corbin" on a plane for 7 hours, was so frightening to me. But thanks to the Benedryl (the Dr. said I could give him), we had a lovely flight. He was so excited to be going on a PLANE! He stayed awake for about an hour, and then slept for 3, and watched Toy Story till we landed. Once we landed, we went to our hotel and dropped off our luggage, and then walked to DUKES for dinner. Once dinner was over, we moseyed our way back to our hotel, in the pouring rain, stopping for ICE CREAM at Cold Stone. When we finally arrived back to our hotel, we just fell into our beds and passed out. It was a busy day, but so worth it!

Mike and Corbin w/ Parrots

As we were walking back to our

hotel these guys on the street

were performing with these
parrots and the kids loved them
and were able to hold them and

get their pictures taken with them!

ShayleyLexie

Papa ChloeeChloee

Corbin

Zonked out on the plane!

Corbin

Checking out the clouds

Lexie, Heidi, Corbin, Chloee & Shayley

First ones on the Plane!

Mike and Lexie

On the plane! Corbin
With Woody's Hat in his mouth
at the Las Vegas Airport Shayley, Chloee and Lexie at the Las Vegas
Airport...Lexie was bound and determined
she wasn't going to have a good time!

Christmas 2010

~MERRY CHRISTMAS~

Christmas came so fast this year. It always does, but this year it seemed much faster. We had Christmas Eve dinner at Jack and Carrie's house. We tried prime rib this year. It was okay, but it wasn't my absolute fave! We also had potatoes, two salads, homemade rolls, Blueberry cheesecake and pican pie. It was so yummy and so much fun to be with my whole family. On Christmas day, we opened presents at everyone's house Christmas morning, then everyone came to our house for Christmas breakfast. I made PUMPKIN PANCAKES! They were delish. After that we let the kids play with their toys and take a nap, then we all met up and Grandpa and Grandma Hawkes' house. We ate lunch/dinner and then opened up our gifts to each other. We had an enjoyable day. I absolutely love this time of year and so miss it when it's over!!!
Here's to another year!!!

Shayley, Chloee, Rykker, Corbin, Danzi, and Lexie
Grandma and Grandpa Hawkes
w/ their sprayer!!!

Shayley

Corbin

Mike

Heidi w/ the runner

Grandma made...

John w/ the runner

Grandma made...

Jack w/ the runner

Grandma made...

Lexie

Lexie

Chloee

Shayley and Grandpa Hawkes

Chloee

Corbin

Shayley

Corbin

Chloee

Lexie

Grandma Done

GRANDMA DONE'S

We went to See Grandma Done (Mike's Grandma) the first weekend in December. This is always so much fun, and we all look so forward to it. She made a nice roast dinner and a delicious cake. Grandma Done has always been the best cook...and we all absolutely love her CAKE!!! It was so good to see her. She's going to be 91 this month, and she's still going strong. What a wonderful person she is. We are so blessed to have her in our lives.

WE LOVE YOU GRANDMA DONE!!!

Chloee and Corbin taking a walk!

Corbin...can't hardly wait

to take a bite of that cake!
Grandma Done telling Corbin one of
her "great" stories!!!

Corbin found one of his Dad's
Army hats...it's a bit BIG!!!

Corbin, Grandma Done, Chloee, Lexie
Shayley, Heidi and Mike
(Our Annual Group Picture)

Trixy

"TRIXY"

(Our Golden Retriever)

YES, I gave in...It was against my better judgment, but I decided that it would be good for Lexie to have this puppy! We picked her up the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The kids had no idea. They were soooo excited when they saw her. She was already BIG (8 weeks old and 14 pounds). They could hardly wait to get her home. She cried the whole way home, and as soon as we got her home, she POOPED on the floor. We immediately had to figure out some way to keep her somewhat gated in. The only place that we could keep her that doesn't have carpet was in the dinning room/kitchen area. So, Mike made a wall out of wood and we used a baby gate in the entryway for the last 3 months. Since it's finally getting warmer outside, she's spending more and more time outside. We took out the baricade in our kitchen yesterday, and it feels like we have a huge amount of space in there now! Lexie has been faithful to take her for a walk daily, which I think has been really good for both of them. She's a loveable dog, and fits right in. Well at least with all of us...but Sadie, that's a different story. She wishes Trixy didn't exist. I don't know that she'll ever change her mind on that one :O)

Family Pics. 2010

FAMILY PICTURES

Oh yes it's that time of year again. This year we decided to try something new.

We've never had our pictures taken outside...so that's what we did. I think they

turned out pretty dang good...(all but me--I never like me in the picture). But it

wouldn't be a "family" picture without me now, would it!!! ha ha

Anywho...If ya like what ya see, you might wanna have Abbey Kyhl do your

pictures too :)