the coolest treasure ever!

one of the activities that the kids could join this morning was a treasure hunt.
they were SUPER excited to do it -
so we met up with other kids at the beach

and
set off on our hunt.

not more than 5 minutes later the hunt was postponed
because we were all distracted by a large floating/moving shell
VERY close to shore.



it didn't take long for everyone to realize that it was a sea turtle



and that it was SERIOUSLY cool!

at first we thought it was in trouble.
but then a few surfers came out of the water
to tell us that there were actually 3 turtles
and to back away.

there were 2 mating
and another there to protect the 2 while they did their business.

what we were seeing was
the female was coming to the shore
out of exhaustion
and she wouldn't if we were too close.

we watched for a while -
took some pictures -
and then decided to let the turtle be so that the kids could finish the original hunt they set out on.

-----------

i didn't know i'd be getting a lesson on turtle mating riturals today -
but was SO glad our treasure hunt led us where it did.

i am also quite glad that the real 'fun' happened out in the water
and that we didn't have to talk about any funny turtle behavior ;)
we later found out people had been watching 'one turtle ride on another turtle's back'
for almost 2 hours straight ;)

WOW!
i'd be exhausted too.

wouldn't it be nice ...

if falling asleep on the lanai ...



to the sound of the crashing waves ...

was ALWAYS an option ?!

workin' the pool

he's happy.



he's funny.



he's charming.

he's alex.



and i'm amazed at how many people around here know that.

he's spent the past 3 days playing in the same part of the pool.
floating around in the same pink inner tube.

floating up to people ...

telling them his name is alex.
that he's 3 years old
and then asking their name.

he's already made a few girlfriends
and really ...
he's got great technique.

just nervous that he's already this smooth ...
and he's only 3 ;)

day in review

we had another exciting day today ;)

once again the boys spent all day with their new friends
tyler and matthew



together they entered a bocce ball tournament
and made it to the finals
where they took 2nd place to these girls.
they won a pizza
AND
$30 from a bet with their friends' grandpa

we swam a lot

just chilled out ...

and then ended the day with a night out
well ... kind of ...
3 VERY tired boys don't make very good late night dates ;)

so we had dinner at cheeseburger in paradise

and then decided to call it a night

another FABULOUS day!

our day - condensed

aside from the fact that stacey started out the day finding out he has:
a sinus infection
an ear infection
bronchitis
one ear that the ear drum was resting on the bone
and
one ear that had ear drum damage

we had a very laid back
and
uneventful day.

we played on the beach



and played on the beach

warmed up

cooled down

and then played by the beach some more.
this time with friends that the boys met.
2 boys
their ages
from chicago
who are here the exact same time we are
AND
happened to be on our flight last night.

they met at the pool this morning
and ended up spending the entire afternoon together.

stacey got drugs
and
i got some color.

successful day if you ask me.

the birthday adventure

SO ...
not that flying to hawaii in and of itself isn't MORE than cool ...
BUT ...
i knew that we were going to be spending most of drew's birthday in an airport or airplane
AND ...
sometimes it's the little things that matter and are most memorable.
SO ...
i decided to just mention that it was his birthday to the people at the gates where we were.

in minneapolis,
there were 2 guys working,
when i told them - they got VERY excited
and for a while actually had me nervous that they were going to embarass me too!
thankfully i was spared.
as we waited the one came on the PA and asked for
'a mr. andrew barnett to please come up to the desk.'
once standing there,
the agent announced that he had a special 9 year old birthday boy
that would be flying today.
at that point everyone in the gate area cheered and clapped for drew.
the agent then told him that he would like to grant him special early boarding.
he told drew to walk through a 'special' door and let he and i board early.



THEN ...
on our second stop came the REAL fun.
as we boarded our 2nd plane the pilot pulled drew aside.
he asked him to step into the cockpit and take a seat.



he let me take a few pictures

and then told me to return to my seat and that he would send drew back.
once i was gone he told drew about the different controls.
he told him it is basically a big video game :)
oh i feel SO much safer
he let him push buttons to trick the flight attendants
by cutting power to their heating equipment (coffee, etc)
he let drew print out the weather reports
and he showed him the radar.
he ALSO let him be the one to turn on the fasten seat belt sign.
i am pretty sure that in drew's eyes
this was pretty close to what heaven will look like.



once finished ...
the pilot sent drew back to his seat
and
announced to the full plane that it was drew's 9th birthday
and that he would be walking down the aisle.
drew got high 5's and happy birthdays all the way back to his seat
which is a lot of people considering we were in row 24 ;)

to top things off ...
on the way off the plane ...
the pilot gave ben and alex the option to climb in and get a picture as well.
(alex was NOT at ALL interested)

i was SO happy with the way these crews treated drew.
obviously they didn't have to do anything.
but, they went above and beyond to make one 9 yr old feel very special.
and they MORE than succeeded.
he tells every person he talks to that he felt like a celebrity all day.
it didn't take much-
just a little recognition, a few high 5's, and a whole lot of facts about 757 controls.

happy birthday again, drew.
i'm glad that you had a fun day.
you deserved it.

happy 9th birthday!!

drew ...

you have grown up SO much.
i mean ... you're NINE!
you're ONE year away from DOUBLE DIGITS!!!
is that possible?!?!
not sure how that works when i'm only 25 ;)

it's been fun watching you change over the past year.
you are a sponge.
you LOVE to learn.
you take in facts from everywhere you can get them.
you love nonfiction.
you love the guiness book of world records
and
ripley's believe it or not.
you love to have deep discussions
about the magnetic force, electrons, probability ... EVERYTHING!
(1/2 the time i don't even have any idea what you're talking about)
your mind amazes me.
you are responsible.
you are respectful.
and
you are a role model for ben and alex.
you love baseball.
you love football.
you love riding bikes and scooters.
basically ... you just love being outside.
you are SUPER social.
you love being around other people.
and
you LOVE to talk.

i am SO excited that we can have REAL conversations now.
i love hearing about your day.
and
i love being able to tell you about mine.
i love your hugs
and
i love that you like to lay and talk at night.

you are SO special to me, drew.
you're the best oldest son and oldest brother around!!
just thought you might like to know ;)

happy 9th birthday!!

a little early celebrating

because we're gone tomorrow ...

and tomorrow is when drew OFFICALLY turns 9 ...

i took him chipotle for lunch today.



and i can now honestly tell you ...

when it happens to be taco day ...

and you walk in with chipotle ...

nothing makes a table of 3rd graders QUITE as happy
as when you offer to share your chipotle chips.

mmmmmm.

hope you had a fun 'almost birthday lunch' drew!

funny little men

sometime last night
someone at our house was very busy

now i can't be certain ...
but my guess is that we got hit by leprechauns.



we woke up to
green milk in the fridge,
green toilet water,
lucky charms EVERYWHERE,
and our chairs ON TOP OF THE TABLE!!
they left a note on the mirror ...
and they must have been in a hurry -
because they dropped a bunch of their gold on the way out the door!

now ...
drew and ben
think it was stacey and i
and are already planning to set traps next year.

alex isn't too sure.
he's just afraid they're still here.

and ... me ...
what do i think??

well ... i'm finding something a little suspicious
about the guy with the newly painted beach scene on his toes.

but ...
maybe just getting a pedicure for the first time will do that to you.

don't know.
just sayin.

rollin and rockin

on friday drew turns 9
WOW!

because we will be in hawaii next weekend ...

WE set aside this afternoon ...



along with some GREAT FRIENDS ...



to celebrate drew
and wish him a happy birthday.

we went to the roller skating rink -
what fun!

and ...
what memories it brought back!
i remember MANY birthday parties at 'high roller'.
i can say i am glad that none of them were interested in the couples skate ;)
and that their main focus was requesting their favorite songs ;)
that and video games -
typical.

HAPPY early BIRTHDAY DREW!



I HOPE YOU HAD A FUN DAY TODAY!