Eldon in Maui

So while I have been home with the kids, Eldon has been travelling to California and then onto Maui. He made it sound like he was going to be slaving away the entire time he was gone. Now I know that these trips are very busy. He tours locations all day, walking all over hotels, golf courses, spas and restaurants. He rarely gets to sit and has to listen to sales people all day try to sell him on their property.

Now I know that this sounds a little easier to take thinking that he really is working while he is gone. On Friday he was flying from LA to Maui with his flight leaving at 5:45 pacific time. The flight to Maui from LA is 5 1/2 hours. He called me from the airport before our ward Halloween party. He called me again right before bed and his flight was still delayed. He then called me when I woke up and he had just arrived in Maui and had been up all night. It was 2 am Maui time which is 6 hours earlier than here. He was also quite sick. I felt bad for him then. He called me a little later once he got to his hotel (The Ritz Carlton, Kapalua). He told me his ten hours in the airport and the 5 hours on the flight were worth every second because of how beautiful this hotel was. We had stayed there a few years ago and it was amazing. Apparently they have done an $80 million dollar renovation so it's ten times more amazing.

I did feel bad that he was sick and had to tour all day, UNTIL I heard about his afternoon. Apparently, these hotels don't think his tour is complete until he has had the most expensive spa treatment. So at the Ritz he started with a sugar scrub, outdoor swedish shower, and then a one hour massage. HMMMMM. Now if that was all, I would still be ok. But apparently he saw three hotels in Maui and all of them gave him spa treatments. The second one he decided for a pedicure because he didn't think it was healthy to have three massages in 36 hours. HMMMMM. The last hotel he was able to soak in the five mineral baths of joy (named by me) showered about 10 times in every shower known to man and then yes, another one hour massage.

So I try to be excited for him when he gets to go to these wonderful places, but it is hard when it's that good away from home. While he was gone, the boys and I had a great time. So I am not complaining, but just thought I should call a spade a spade.

It Finally Happened

I was finally released as RS President yesterday. I have been ready for a few months trying to hang on and not be burned out. It was really rewarding to spend the last few days thinking about everything that has happened and all that I have learned. It was also so sweet what people had to say yesterday. I do feel a huge burden removed, but I still think about people and wonder how they are doing etc. The thing I love about these callings in the church is that they are temporary. You are in the middle of it for a period of time and then just like that, you are done and doing something totally different. I remember this feeling from my mission where it was much more difficult to be released, but it was very much the same.

When Max heard I was going to be in Primary, he was SO excited. That is was what sealed it for me. They have sacrificed time with their mom over these past three years. He was so excited that I would be in Primary with him and not teaching the ladies as he put it. During dinner, Jackson said the prayer and in the middle he stopped and said, "mom do you have a meeting?" When I said no, he just grinned. The fact that a two year old even knows what a meeting is means it's time.

This has been a very challenging time for me over the past three years. When I was called, I was pregnant with Jackson, working, but from home and I thought it wouldn't get any busier. I then had some time at home and I actually felt like a real RS President. Then I had to go back to work and keep going. I think that was the lowest part for me. I now wouldn't have time for the Sisters and I was losing time with my kids. But it is amazing how it all works out over time.

Now I am looking forward at baby number three, Eldon has actually received the promotion we were hoping for three years ago and I am really going to quit. The Lord has blessed me with the abillity to prioritize, delegate, and to pray for help for those who I cannot physically be there for. I have seen amazing things happen through this time and look forward to the challenges and blessings of the future.

If I thought this was my last go at the RS President job, I would be seriously naive. But if it is, then I feel good about what I was able to accomplish, with of course a few regrets. I didn't have a newsletter, or a visiting teaching conference once in three years. But if anyone really feels deprived about it, I will pass that on to Emilia who I am sure will do a fabulous job.

Max

So for a very long time I thought that Max was exactly like his dad. It wasn't until yesterday that I realized that he does have an even share of us. He is still performing shows in the Shower and that can only be attributed to Eldon. But yesterday I was going to go get a birthday present for Ammon Washburn. For those of you who are not from around here, he is a boy who lives where they are babysat everyday. He is turning 9. Max explained to me that I needed to go to Costco and get the new Star wars video game for the play station 2. It was in the orange box, not the red one. I realized right away what he was doing. Every morning, Max and Jack are the only kids at home because all of Kristine's kids are in school. Max has free reign over the play station while they are gone. They have an older Star Wars game that he plays all the time, but he was very interested in the new one where Darth Vader has a new apprentice. He has been dreaming of becoming that role since he was 3. So the long story short, Max wanted to give a gift that would truly benefit himself. That all comes from his Mom.

Cute

Dad: Max, what do you want for Christmas?
Max: A Wii

Dad: Jack what do you want for Christmas?
Jack: A You

The water slide and my cool camera

This is using the "sport" feature on the camera where you hold the button down and it catches the scene in slow motion.

Left over summer pics

This was Max's first time ever going off the diving board. After this, he went about 1000 more times.


This is a very supportive, and hot little brother. You can see he is playing with my keys. He could care less about being in the water.

Feeling Yucky

I guess it is fate. I understand that most pregnant women feel yucky during the first tri-mester, but that has never been me. I always was a bit tired, but other than that, just fine. NOT ANYMORE!! Whew! This is insane! I am so much more tired, and I feel like I have had the flu for the last 3 weeks. Yesterday and today have been better, but OH MY GOODNESS!! So to all those who I may have not been as empathetic to in the past, my heart is with you! Let us pray that this is only a 1st trimester thing and that the 2nd is like the others!