First day in Hawaii, we went to the polynesian cultural center which was fantastic!! I recommend it to anyone who's going to Oahu. After staying the night in one of the dumpiest hotels (the price was cheap and it was right next door to the pcc) we stopped at the temple on our way to the North shore.






We stopped at the Dole Plantation, it was really neat!! Loved the train ride...





our view from the condo... gorgeous!!!!






A couple of waterfalls on Kauai'i.






We took a dinner cruise up the Na Pali coast.. it was amazing!!! It's on the west side of the island where apparently you can only get to by boat, or an 8 hour hike. We decided to take the boat. We got to see dolphins, sea turtles, and some naked hippies!!!! good times.





We spent our last day in Hawaii back on Oahu, where we went to Pearl Harbour and Waikiki Beach. I have to say that Pearl Harbour was probably one of my favorite things we did in Hawaii... they say it is a sacred spot, and I have to agree.. it touches your soul. They need to put an enlisting station outside of it cuz you feel extremely patriotic when you leave.. even for Canadians!!!



The anchor from the USS Arizona.

The USS Missouri, where the treaty signalling the end of WWII was signed...

Jackson's first day of his second year of preschool (there were still some tears, though)


Another fantastic photo shoot by Melissa

Procrastinating

We leave for Hawaii in the morning... at SIX in the morning. which means i have to be up by 4. But I'm waiting for laundry to be done so i can finish packing... which gives me time to blog, right? i don't know why but i'm feeling a little melancholy right now... i think it's because this will be the longest we've ever left the boys. jack's done a couple of days but Tate's only done an overnighter. And we'll be gone for nine days. nine. add on to that the fact that i'm pretty sure tate is cutting some molars cuz he's been running a fever and very clingy all day... (which is why i'm doing the laundry at 11:45) i know that they're in the best hands... Brent's parents are watching them, and they'll be in their own house with their own stuff, it will definitely be harder on me than on them. i told Brent that the first 2 days will be great... but then missing the boys will kick in. oh well, at least i'll be missing them in paradise, right?
so on a brighter note... Jack had his first soccer game of the season last night. He did pretty well... he had a minor meltdown in the middle of the game and sat out for a while, crying that he hated soccer and only loved baseball (i think that brought a tear to Brent's eye) then, with some coercion, he went back in and scored his first goal!!!! after that, he figured it wasn't so bad.

Gordon Family Camp, 2008

This year we were only able to have a weekend for the annual family camp, so we decided to go up to Bear Lake. I hadn't been there in 6 years, and it is beautiful!!
(sorry my camera was being funny and the pictures look filmy)



on the ride up to Bear Lake, Jackson had gone up the day before with my dad, Ashleigh & Nick.





playing at the lake... Tate was more interested with the 4-wheeler, but he did do pretty well going in the water





Tate was pretty insisent on riding the dirt bikes, and he was well-trained: safety first!!



It was another successful family camp, even though my dad left Saturday afternoon to go to Ogden for a DATE!!!! Then came back Sunday morning, we couldn't help giving him a hard time.... see everyone in HAWAII on Friday!!!!

number 78

Last night some friends and I took off on an adventure to obtain a copy of the just barely released novel, Breaking Dawn. And we were successful. After only having to wait in line an hour for the store to open at midnight, (shout out to the West Jordan Deseret Book, where not too many people knew was opening at midnight to sell the book, so instead of being #1000 at the Barnes and Noble across the street, I was lucky number 78 woop, woop!!!) we were in and out of the store within 20 minutes with our precious loot in our hands!!! I have to say, it went surprisingly smooth considering all the girls in prom dresses out at midnight!!!!




And for anyone who is wondering, I have finished the book already, and it is a fantastic read. Well worth the hour and twenty minutes, and $13.99 plus tax, minus employee discount it took to get it!!!

Projects Complete

While we were busy doing this over the holiday:




Brent's brother and his wife were busy doing this:



Allie Jean Zumwalt was born July 24, 2008 weighing in at 7lbs, 13oz. FINALLY.





Congratulations Mike & Jeanette!!! We love you and are so excited for you!!!
ps. isn't it great when your to-do list is complete??

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, INTRODUCING THE NEXT MICHAEL PHELPS.....

A couple of weeks ago we were watching the swimming competitions on tv, and Jackson decided he needed to have his own competition. So he went and got his beanie (swimming cap), his swimming goggles, and his stool to use as his diving block. And then proceeded to break all swimming records....