Opportunities

I got a call the other day.  "Dianna, would you like to work for us?"  just 18 hours a week.  a perfect way to balance home and life.  I can be a mom and work too.   And because I am working my investments licences won't expire in January.  So many good things. So I think about it..... and quickly decide that I am a mom and I don't need to work.  Decision is made and I continue going about my day.  And while I am folding my son's pants I think "it would be nice to be part of the community again."  but no I am a mom and I need to be home.  Decision is made and I go about my day.  And while I am picking up blocks I think, "I would be really good at it.  and they need me right now."  WHY is this still attacking my thoughts.  Haven't I made my decision?  I have told you brain that being a mom is all I want why do you keep on thinking about work?

Feeling a little flustered I find my scriptures and I start to read.  The first few lines are like white noise to my mind contemplating the possibility of me having a reason to do my hair in the morning.  Still I kept reading and finally the words started to stick and I was thinking about trails, and blessings.  Then it came to me the feeling I was looking for.  I am a mom that has the ability to be AMAZING in the work force.  I win awards and receive recgonition from my boss, peers and customers.  I worked hard for my licences and I have nice shoes that beg to be worn.  and I now know what I am going to do.  My decision is made.

I pick up the phone.  Sadly it goes to voice mail and I say.  "Thank you for the opportunity but I will have to respectively decline.  My place is with my son right now.  I hope you the best in finding a suttible candidate for the position."

Yes it is the same decision that I had made more than 25 times but this time was different I knew that just because I choose to be home doesn't negate the fact that I am amazing.  I choose to pick up food off the floor, give as many baths as is required and spend all my time with a one year old.

Alaskan Ashton Almost Done

Water fun.

Brian and Noah had tons of fun in the swimming pool and the beach.  This is the first time Noah has been in water with greater volumes then the tub and the toilet combined.  He really liked it when Brian was moving him around in the water.  When we got to Hanauma Bay  http://hanauma-bay-hawaii.com/  and put him in the ocean he didn’t know what to do with the sand.  After a while we could tell that he wanted to leave.  Brian took care of him while I did some snorkeling.  We must have been there at low tide because I couldn’t find a path around all the rocks.  We had so many other things to do that day and so I couldn’t walk the beach and find other avenues in.  I was happy with all the fish that I saw was ready to leave. 

WARNING Diaper issue- don’t read if you are grossed out easily or don’t want to know.  Just remember I warned you

Well I knew before we left to Hawaii that we would only go into the water a few times and so it was not worth buying a whole packet of swimming diapers.  So Noah was swimming with just his trunks on.  We were getting ready to go and I was on my way to put a diaper on when I heard the fateful noise.  I looked in his trunks and there it was a big, mushy mess.  We were at a public beach with very little facilities.  Inside the bathroom I am holding him over the toilet and sliding his trunks off once I pass his knees I feel I am in the clear – until his foot gets caught on the lining.  So here I am holding a poopy bottom boy in one arm and in the other trying to unstick his foot.  I pull really hard and am successful in two things removing his trunks from his foot and splattering poop on the wall that has now slid down to the ground.  

Diamond Head

This was a fun hike.  Steep, switchbacks and tons of people.  We went as early as we could and still it was crowded.  There was a tunnel near the top and when we got there a woman was standing at the entrance and not able to get in.  She was claustrophobic.  We said we would walk with her.  I asked her a ton of questions.  Halfway through she said “I know what you are doing.  And thank you.”  After the tunnel and with switchbacks there were stairs, lots of them.  It was worth the view. No wonder it was used by the military and a viewing post. We could see for miles.    

At the bottom we had some shaved ice and waited for our ride.

Luau

When you go to Hawaii you have to go to as many luaus as you can.  It is interesting how each one said that they were traditional but all three of them were very different. This one was on top of the Hawaiian Hilton.  The best part was the fire dancers.

On our trip Noah had to find many different ways to sleep.  Here is what he came up with.

Home from the PCC

Plane to Anchorage

In the Van 

At the hotel

In the stroller shopping

In the Van from Swimming

Look, he really is a mini me

In the Hotel

 I might get in trouble for this but I thought it was really cute how both of them sleep the same.

Fishing

In one of the ponds there was this guy tossing bread into the water.  The bird was watching and waiting.  I thought he would go after the bread but the bread would sink and the guy would toss in more.  Once the fish came and ate the bread the bird dove in and got his just feed dinner.

Zoo

Where ever Brian and I go we like to visit the local zoo.  The Hawaii zoo was beautiful.  There were many animals, birds and plants.  I got a lot of really good pictures but the only one I am showing you is the peacock that made me scream.  He was standing on the hill just a few feet away from us.  I started to take pictures and walk closer.  He didn’t move so I took more and moved closer.  I was about two feet away from him when he looked at me and squawked really loud.  And I screamed louder.  Everyone looked at me and we all had a good laugh.  

And to end here are some other really nice pictures.

Alaskan Ashton in Hawaii. Temple and more

Brian being silly

Brian posing 

 We don’t live close to a Temple so whenever we travel we visit the nearest one.  I have learned long ago to make the Temple the first activity.  Lucky for us we had a friend living there and she offered to watch Noah so we could go.  She lives in a part of the town that rains every day. It is very beautiful and as you would assume very green.  We passed him off very easily- Noah will go to almost anyone.  He doesn’t cry when I leave just as long as there is someone there to play with him. As we were driving the 40 min to the Temple we passed a few venders.  Thinking it would be best not to be hungry and thinking about my stomach during the session I asked to stop and eat before we went.  Once we got to the temple they informed us that the session just started and the next one would be in an hour.  How ironic that my actions to make the session better caused me to miss it.  Brian and I chose to do sealing instead.  I am so happy that we did.  We had never done sealings together before.  What a wonderful feeling to know that you are helping families see each other again.

After the Temple we picked up Noah and went to the Dole Plantation with my friend and her family. (side note:  I LOVE pineapple.  When I lived in Caracas Venezuela I would eat pineapple till my tongue went raw. so this was lots of fun for me) We walked around looking at all the pineapple in there many different stages of life, style and size.   It is very interesting.  It is all cultivated by hand and each plant produced a limited about of fruit.  Over about a three year period then the plant is replaced. I had posted about 12 pictures of different pineapples but thought that was a little zealous, not to mention crazy and so I cut it down for you.    You can thank me later.

The Plantation has a Koi Pond. We had fun so much fun feeding them.  But there is a trick.  You place the food on the side of the pond.  Not the water.  The fish will climb on top of each other to get it.  It is really crazy to watch.  After we walked around and I took TONS of pictures we ate pineapple ice cream and browsed the shop.  The Plantation has a maze and a train but we were pressed for time- shopping was now on the list – and we only rented the car for one day.  A girl has to have her priorities.

Alaskan Ashton in Hawaii. Getting There

It is not easy traveling with a nine month old who is teething.  I had two full packs busting with all the necessities.  (no need to tell you them all but I was prepared )I knew it would be an adventure.  We flew from Juneau to Anchorage, an hour and a half flight.  Noah was entertaining everyone around us.  He was laughing, smiling and playing peek-a-boo. He loved all the attention but his teeth were getting the better of him.  We were lucky that he went to sleep quickly after the plane took off.  We then had a four hour layover in Anchorage.  We found a little corner in the airport and tried to keep him busy and safe.  Safe is the hardest thing.  He seems to have no fear and is very curious.  Brian had to hold on to his pants to keep him from falling off the bench.  This was a happy compromise.  We played with toys, walked around the small airport and ate some food. 

Our flight from Anchorage to Honolulu was a little harder.  Six hours long and not as friendly of people.  The lady next to us kept glaring in our direction and complaining to the flight attendant that she had an awful headache.  Noah was not as happy on this flight.  I think it had to do with the decrease of attention and increase of time in the airplane.  We tried the best we could to keep him happy.  He does not like confined spaces.  He likes to explore.  We were all happy when we were about to land.  I was ready to escape to paradise before the wheels hit the tarmac.   

I love the feeling of leaving the air-conditioned plane and entering a hot humid climate.  SMACK!! Welcome to Hawaii!!!

  

We got our bags and headed to the Taxi. It was a 15 min drive to our hotel.  When we got to our room Noah wanted to go exploring.  Brian and I were unpacking and getting everything organized when I noticed that Noah was a little too quiet.  I found him in the bathroom playing with the toilet paper --- inside the toilet.  I started to laugh.  As I pull out the toilet paper I realize that this will be the first of many things I get to go fishing for.