Kids Say the Darnedest Things

The other night Drake was helping me fold laundry when we came across Dan's speedo, he wears them under his real swim trunks just so there is never a crack showing. Anyway Drake picked them up and asked me 'Mommy what this?', I told him ask Daddy. He turned to Dan and said 'Daddy what this? Daddy swim diaper?' I almost died laughing! It was hilarious!!

Minivan

Ok, so I know that many people frown upon minivans, but I find them highly functional and logical. After months and months of shopping and test driving; this week we joined the ranks of proud minivan owners. We purchased a 2004 charcoal gray Nissan Quest. It has all the features and more that we wanted. It is leather, with DVD, automatic sliding doors and automatic rear gate. This means I come out of the grocery store push a button on my keys and the back opens up. It also has running boards, luggage rack, moon roof, and sky roof( four sun roofs for the passengers in the back). It is beautiful! I really am so excited. Every time I get in it I have to smile and I get all giddy discovering what all the buttons do. Thank you Dan for allowing me to get it!

Back from Basic

I've been meaning to post about Dans return for awhile now so here are the pictures of it. I was so excited to get him back, Drake seemed to be excited also, and Logan was his normal happy self. Drake was super excited to get to see the airplanes. We decided to have Dan fly into St George since the boys and I were there, and because we thought it would be more fun for Drake to be able to watch the plane land and see Dan get off it. Dan was dreaming of Drake running up to him and giving him a big hug. Drake watched Dan's plane land and watched for him to step off. My Dad held Drake by the door and when Dan walked in Drake ran towards him, then at he stopped looked at him and ran towards me. We finally got him to give Dan a hug and then he was attached to his Daddy.
My dad and Drake waiting
Drake watching the plane land
Waiting for Dan to exit
There he is getting off
Drake giving Daddy a hug



Since Dan's birthday was the day before his return we had a birthday party for him. We made a cake and opened presents. For the next two weeks we stayed at Angies house and enjoyed being together as a family once again. Dan brought back a uniform for Drake and Drake loved it. Drake would put it on every morning to go outside to play. They looked so good in their matching uniforms. One day Drake had been outside playing and came back in the house wanting his bottle. He happened to have two bottles each half full one with milk and one with juice. He fell asleep on the floor under the bar with two empty bottles wearing the uniform. I think with he had a bit too much to drink. One day we headed up to Snow Canyon and took some great pictures. It was a little sad that it was raining so no hiking, but it was really beautiful. I had forgotten the beauty of the red rocks backed by the gray sky. Sadly we had to return to SLC and leave behind the warm and sunshine. Good thing I have such cute boys to get me through the following three weeks of Dan being gone again. We can't wait for him to be back for good!!
Drake 'lighting' the cake
Testing out the gifts
Matching uniforms
Passed out like so many before him
Snow Canyon

My guys
Two of the cutest boys around

Here is the post about our wonderful trip to Hawaii. Enjoy the pictures, I know I will!!

This is the beach the day we got to Hawaii. I'd tell ya the name but I can't remember it is a beach that is near Angie's house. Angie and Heidi are enjoying the paddle ball game going on in the water. Eric's dream is to play a wiffle ball game on the beach...too bad the wind is always blowing on the beach. Oh yeah, Eric and Heidi were there for the first week of our vacation. It was good to see them and spend that time in Hawaii.

Drake is still a not feeling well and wasn't so sure about the water. Eventually he warmed up to it.

You would think that Logan had had enough sleep since he slept the whole time on the plane.

Here we are on the beach at Bellows Air Force base. One good thing about Dan in the military I got to use my military ID to get us on the base. It was the most beautiful beach I have ever seen.

Angie lives on the rainy side of the island. Every morning there was a rain and mist. Finally on the morning we were leaving I got to see waterfalls coming down the mountain. This is the view from Angie's back porch. Isn't it amazing?!

Angie, Eric, all the kids, and myself went to the PCC. Heidi was feeling sick and she had been there before so she stayed back. It was so fun to see the different areas of Polynesia. We got to play with the sticks at New Zealand, witness the tree climb and coconut opening in Samoa, the drums and spear throwing in Tonga, and much more. The big show that night was awesome. We had great seats thanks to a friend of Angie and Nate's.

Drake had a great time fishing. You get a stick, line, hook and bait. If you can get it past the little fish you might get a nibble from a big fish. Eric, Brock, and Austin were trying really hard to get the big one.

We were trying to learn the Hula. I was standing next to Eric but Drake decide he wanted out of the stroller and fell out on his head. But this picture of Eric is priceless.

Well since I couldn't hula I decided to try some poi. It was kinda bland but not disgusting

Here we are having quick family Kodak moment, and I mean quick Drake was trying to get away.

Every now and then at Angie's we could hear a gong. This Japanese temple is basically in their backyard. It is an exact replica of a famous temple in Japan. The grounds were beautiful with big fish, turtles, wild peacocks, swans and a really big Buddha.

Drake ringing the gong.

You can buy bird/fish food and if you hold really still the birds will land in your hand and eat. Unfortunately Drake could not hold still long enough to get a bird on his hand but he could hold still and feed the birds that were gathered on the ground.

Drake feeding the birds

While we were visiting, Brock was Drake's favorite name to call. Whether it was really Brock or Austin, Drake called them both Brock and was happy to play with either. This is Austin playing catch and Brock and Drake enjoying the game.

Angie had to run to Honolulu one day to get her Hawaii ID. Drake, Logan, Alyssa, and myself were sent to roam around until she finished. Here is on of the huge Mangrove trees. They were so cool.

Since we missed a day of snorkeling when I was sick we decided to go to Hanauma Bay. We got there early and there weren't too many people there. The beach was nice and the kids were building sand castles. I didn't make out to snorkel but along the shore we got to see three or four types of fish and there were some big ole black crabs. Angie offered the boys $25 to catch one but they didn't try very hard.

After Hanauma Bay we went Bellows again. I was texting and took this picture with my phone first and sent it to him. He thought it was a painting, so I took a picture with the camera and it is a beautiful picture and beach.

On our second week in Hawaii Nate's brothers family came to visit also. Poor Staheli kids were unable to sleep in their own beds for two weeks. I hope at least they enjoyed our company. So here are most the kids getting ready to hunt Easter eggs. Not only was this conference/Easter Sunday but it was also Drakes second birthday. That's right, Drake got to celebrate his second birthday in Hawaii. Too bad he won't really remember.

We decided an appropriate place to visit on such a Sunday would be Pearl Harbor. It was kind of a rainy day which to me fit the occasion. We took a boat ride over to the Arizona Memorial; saw the oil still leaking from the ship and read the names of those who were buried with the ship on that fateful day. It was a very somber place and a reminder of how quickly life can change.

As I mentioned earlier Drake was attached to Brock and Austin to he didn't want to sit with me on the boat he wanted to sit with the boys.

Here is Drake and his Mommy on his birthday on the boat ride back to shore. After walking around Pearl Harbor and reading about many of events from the war Angie, Nate, Alyssa, Drake, Logan and I once again used my Military ID and went over onto Ford Island and visited the USS Utah Memorial. It was pretty interesting also, 58 men lost there lives when that ship sank.

When we got back to Angie's we were unloading kids and this was what my cute Logan looked like so we decided we needed a picture of it. He is such a good baby!

That evening we had a party for Drake. I made cupcakes and we stuck a couple of candles in one. I'll tell you what we were having a hard time keeping them lite. Drake was blowing them out before I could finish lighting one. It was funny and cute. He got a lot of books and things to help keep him entertained on the plane ride home, and a Cars backpack to put them in. Now there was a item of contention for he and Alyssa. I couldn't believe how they fought over that bag. It was always a race to see who could get to it first.

Drake didn't eat much of the cupcake but he loved the frosting. Happy Birthday Good Looking!

The day before we were leaving we headed to Laie. On our way we pulled over at some beach and there were three sea turtles in water right off shore. It was pretty cool. Too bad they wouldn't come up on beach.

Here we are at the Temple. It really is a awesome temple with beautiful grounds. I wish it had been open so I could have done a session, oh well.

After the Temple Angie took me to get some lunch at Kau Aina's for some world famous burgers. The avocado burger was huge and very delicious. Angie to the pineapple burger and it was good too.

And of course what trip to Oahu would complete with out a visit to Matsumotos for some shaved ice. I don't remember the flavors but it was gooood with a little ice cream on the bottom. This was are finally full day in Hawaii. The next day we packed up and headed to Honolulu early so I could see Waikiki and the Punchbowl. At Waikiki there is a statue of Duke with a camera pointed at it. I called my mom and she pulled it up on the Internet to we waved. The ladies at her work thought that was pretty cool. When we got to the airport we asked the airline if we could get a special pass for Angie to help me get through security with my two car seats, double stroller, two small children, four carry ons, and one unsure Mommy. Once Angie left I started to panic. Especailly when Drake started crying, Logan was hungry and we neede to figure out how to get all our stuff to our seats. Some concerned passengers made sure there was a flight attendant to assit me to my seat. There was and all the flight attendants were great. The attendant that was on my side of the plane offered to hold Logan for me if I needed to use the bathroom or get Drake out of his car seat for any reason. Thank You Angie and Hawaiian Airlines for being so understanding and helpful.

We arrived in Las Vegas at 12:15am Utah time. We were by far the last ones off the plane and with help got the stroller and things settled. My wonderful parents were there to pick us up. We made it back to Santa Clara and went to bed. It was a wonderful trip! Thanks to the Stahelis

Quick update

Well as many of you know Drake, Logan and I went to Hawaii to visit my sister's family that is living on Kaneohe, Oahu. We spent a wonderful two weeks that started off a little shakey with Drake throwing up literally as we were walking out the door for the airport. Let's just say it was a long flight and thank heavens the guy sitting next to us was a very nice that didn't mind a little throw-up on his pants. Logan slept the entire way on Angie's lap, what a good boy. We finally made it to Hawaii and loved the landscape, the beach, and the company. It was wonderful!!

We got back late tuesday the 6th, by the way if you ever decide to travel with two kids under the age of two by yourself talk to me first. It was a rough but thanks to some wonderful fellow passengers and the flight attendants it worked. Dan FINALLY came home on Saturday the 10th. Since he got home we have been hanging out in Santa Clara at Angie's other house, Thanks!

Pictures will be posted of Hawaii and Dan's arrival once we make it back to real life:(

Poor Haley

Dear Haley,

I am so sorry for invaiding your house. I'm sorry you get stepped on. I'm sorry you get your hair pulled. I'm sorry you get chased with bats, rackets and arms. I'm sorry you get hit with golf, tennis, wiffle, soft, basket and foot balls. I'm sorry cars are driven all over and around you. I'm sorry you get sat on while you are sleeping. I'm sorry there are attempts to ride you when you are awake. I'm sorry you get feed things that make you throw up. But thank you for always returning these with kisses. You show the true meaning of 'turn the other cheek'.

Just thinking

I was just sitting here thinking, for the past 8 weeks I have been staying with my parents. It has really been quite nice. We try to keep our mess in the basement and they keep theirs upstairs. Drake loves his Grandpa Drake and follows him around like a puppy dog, unless Grandpa is leaving in the car without Mommy. Rain or shine Drake is outside playing and he now needs an audience to watch him play. Most days I don't mind sitting in a chair watching his mind, hands and feet work. Drake is definitely almost 2. He has some of the best tantrums and usually when we are going into Walmart or the grocery store. Everyone likes to stare as Drake is screaming at the top of his lungs and trying to climb out of the cart. This is why I try to only shop at stores that have carts because you can imagine going to a clothing store and having a screaming child that lays on the floor and crawls away. Which wouldn't be so difficult if I wasn't caring a car seat. Ah, the joys of motherhood. Drake has been wonderful with Logan and he is very protective of his 'baby'. I love to watch him run over and give Logan a hug when he cries, and get in his face and say 'hello' over and over trying to get him to smile.

Logan is growing so fast. He recently had his 2 month appointment and now weights in at 12 lbs and is 23 3/4 long. I can't believe how much his has changed in just 9 short weeks. Dan won't recognize him when he gets back. Logan has also reached one of my favorite milestones, smiling. He has a wonderful smile that as of yet I have not captured on camera. In fact, until a couple of weeks ago I didn't know he has a dimple in his right cheek. Everyday my goal is to make him smile just to see that adorable dimple. Watch out girls; tall, dark and handsome is coming.

Dan is still loving his Army adventure. Although, he says now he is starting to miss us. Only 4 1/2 more weeks!!!! I can't wait. It has definitely been a challenge to only be able to talk to him on the phone or skype, but at least we get that. The worst is when Drake or Logan is crying and Dan can't hear me so we just have to sit and wait for the kids to chill and usually by that time there is something that needs to be done and we have to say goodnight. It hasn't been easy but it could be worse, so every night I thank God for my many blessings; two beautiful children, a great husband who is willing to take care of his family and serve his country, wonderful parents, and a great supporting cast of friends and family. Thank you!