Whales, Sand, Sun and Hula dancing

Aloha! Well in February we escaped the cold (well, Fresno never really gets too cold) to go to lovely HAWAII. It was a family/business trip. That means Dave his parents and Ben worked hard selling chicken and shaking hands with all the bosses at the new Maui Whole Foods while Mitch, Monte and I ate very yummy pineapple in the prepared foods area. It was a very nice trip.

It was nice to all be together.

Nana tried to protect herself from the other travelers germs but, Monte was not seeing the point of the mask, except for playing peek-a-boo.

This slide is where 80% of our time was spent. It went like this; eat, sleep, slide, cry when we take them from the slide.

I wanted to see a waterfall and Dave, the boys and BJ braved the rainforest's weather to go with me. It wasn't quite what I was looking for but, it was still beautiful.




The food was good as you can tell from Monte.

The hotel we were at had free Hula lessons, so I thought "Why not?" I learned that child bearing hips are not the same as Hula hips. If you look close you can see the littlest Hula dancer. Monte can sure shake it.

We went on a whale watching adventure. We really got our monies worth. It was amazing! A pod of whales put on a great show for us. Mitch talked about the whales waving their fins at us for months.

This was one of the first times on a Pitman trip where the girls almost equaled the boys (this picture is missing Nana, she was sick). The hotel also offered lay making. The flowers smelt wonderful.

The trip was great also because Mitch and Monte got some good time with their cousin on the Pitman side. Little Alianna seemed excited and a little frightened every time she was with the boys. They are three adorable kids aren't they?

Let me not forget the unforgettable Tsunami that occurred while we were in Maui. This was the actual Tsunami in progress. We were lucky that they had the helicopters getting everyone off the beach and to their rooms. We may not have survived (can you catch my sarcasm). But really we were grateful it wasn't more then a few little waves.

It was hard to come home but, a least we came home a little less blinding white.

5,4,3,2,1 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

So we counted down the New Year at 9:00pm toasted with apple cider and went a little crazy with silly string. Oh but what a wonderful time we had.

So, I hope these pics of snow cool you down in this hot summer weather. I am determined to catch up all each important event (and so of the less importnat but memorable).

We rang out 2009 and rang in 2010 up at David's Gandpa Pitman's Cabin. It is up just south Yosemite and it is one of the shortest trips we can take to unwind the Pitman Clan (mostly David, his Dad and Brothers but, we all enjoy it). Some know the cabin is also special because it was there that David suprised me and himself and asked me to marry him.

We had so much fun playing in the snow with the boys in the snow. We unfortunantly only had one snow suite that fit the boys so they took turns.

Mitch cleary loved it. Monte on the other hand we were not sure, he didn't cry or laugh. I think that means he liked it.

If you can not tell, Dave and Monte are standing on the frozen little lake.

Papa Rick loves showing Mitch how to do things like cooking waffles. Mitch loves it too. He came home and started telling mom she was doing it wrong.



Playing cards (Hand and Foot) is a favorite past time up at the Cabin. Mitch and Monte got in on the game this time.

My little Romeos

I know I an biased but, I think I have too extremely cute little guys. Their Grandma Mimi got them these suites just before Valentines day and so we had to wear them for church that day. Mitch must have gotten a lot of complements in Primary because he has wanted to wear the suite every Sunday since.
My boys, especially Mitch, are never far when a girl is around. They are all boy, with there trucks, trains, wrestling, and mud but they both can flirt better then I ever could (just ask my husband). I hate to say they will be heart breakers when they grow up because I don't want them to break any girls heart but, I do think they will be pretty handsome.
The pictures below my brother took for our Christmas cards.

Christmas fun

We had a great Christmas. It was the first Christmas in our new home (I'll tell more about our new home later). The boys really got into Christmas this year. We saw lots of lights and had fun decorating the tree and giving out yummy goodies. We tried to continue a few traditions. We acted out the Christmas story on Christmas Eve. I don't know how much the boys listened but, they made very cute Shepherds. Mitch decided to be the star as well. Monte was a very loving Shepherd. We also carried on a tradition from My family and the boys got new pajamas on Christmas Eve. They seemed to like that tradition too.

Christmas morning does not start too early for us yet. I can imagine in a few years we will have to get up at the crack of dawn to open gifts. Monte loved opening his first gift but, after one gift he did not care much about the others. Mitch on the other hand has started to get the idea of Christmas morning. When his Dad told his Grandma Mimi that she got too much, Mitch quickly protest "NO Daddy, it's fine, it's not too much!" Dave and I then talked about making sure we downsized Christmas as to not lose it's meaning. But, that said we did feel the Christmas spirit this year.

We did have a fun time with both sides of the family. The kids loved spending time with most of their Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. We missed seeing Grandpa Birrell and Tootsie and our family in Washington and Scotland.

True Greatness

My grandpa was a man of few words but, he was one who taught sermons with his actions. I never heard of him wanting much or asking for anything but, he gave and gave of himself his whole life. He taught his sons, grandsons and son and grandson in laws how to be real men. He taught what was important in life. He showed us a perfect example of how a husband should love and cherish his wife and marriage. I always found comfort in my grandparents love for one another. He taught the importance of family. For him family was always the most important. He hardly spoke many words of "I love you", but, he didn't need to because we all knew it. He taught of humility and gentleness. He taught of hardwork and honesty. He taught of faith. He knew the gospel was true and he was firm in it.

The comfort I think I felt in his passing was that he and my grandma did not have to be apart long. We all teased that she was on the other side saying"Father, please hurry up". They never spent a holiday or anniversary apart and this past December, I believe they would have celebrated their 65 wedding anniversary.

It is still difficult except he is gone from this life but, I know I will see my grandpa and my grandma again. When I see them again I will tell them that David and I tried to follow their example in loving each other and our family above all other things.





I never realized how precious these pictures would be. They were taken the last time I got to see my grandpa. He passed away November 4, 2009.

My Grandfather earned a purple heart in World War II in the South Pacific.