Camping and Hot Pots

Spencer and I took our annual camping trip up to the Brighton Lakes in September. It was awhile ago but I wanted to blog about it because we loved it. The plan was for PArker to walk and Ben to be carried in the backpack but Parker insisted on being in the backpack and since Spencer already had ALL our gear in his backpack and we didn't have enough time to switch things around, I ended up carrying BOTH kids, the tent, water and a couple pads. I seriously think it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. We moved things around on the way back and it was MUCH better. I got a good workout, that's for sure.

We love it up at Lake Katherine. It's so beautiful.

Parker loves camping.

The morning was rainy so we hung out in the tent for a long time. It's was kind of fun to cozy.

Ben was sad. Such a cute little sad face.

In September we also hiked up to the Diamond Fork hotpots with Greg, Grandpa and Grandma. It was a great time.

Fall Celebrations

We have a lot to celebrate in the Fall with Parker and my birthday in September and Ben's birthday and Spencer and my anniversary in October. So yes, I'm still catching up.

Spencer and I took a trip to St. George for our anniversary. We spent the time rock climbing in Snow canyon and loved it (though the climbs were a little tough for me). It was so nice to be with Spencer. Our 5 year (married- but like 13 since we first kissed). How lucky I am that it worked out, he is my dream come true. There was a time in my life I let go of "us" and thought I had to move on with my life. I'm so glad God brought us back together. Anyone who ever knew me (including other guys I dated :)) knew he was my one true love. :)

Ben celebrated his one year birthday. He didn't eat much cake- only played in it- and was sort of put off by all the attention, but he LOVED his new toys. :) Ben is the best cuddler, has the cutest smile and is a stranger stopper- everyone always has to stop and comment on how cute he is. Can't believe he's one!

We had a party for Parker at Chuck E. Cheese. He loved it, especially all the presents and going on the rides over and over again. Spencer probably put 30 coins in that merry go round until he discovered all of Parker's friends were doing other things and he was giving random kids free rides. :) It was a great 3 year old birthday.

Parker is a chatter. He talks all the time and wears me with his never ending conversations, but I absolutly love it. He says the greatest things and nothing gets passed him. He's incredibly smart and has an amazing memory. He is full of energy and passions and life and I would not be the same without him.

Weddings

After our summer in Hawaii we had a couple weddings I never blogged about that I wanted to. We came home from Hawaii on a Saturday and that Wednesday my brother Kc was married (see below). Then that weekend Spencer's sister Minette got re-married. Both weddings were awesome. Minette remarried an awesome guy and added four cute kids to her family- totalling 7! It was a beautiful wedding- really touching- for two people who definitely deserve the best.

This is Ben and his cute cousin Mason, who was here visiting. They are about 6 weeks apart- can you tell- as they are both doing the exact same thing- putting the balls in their mouths. :)

KC and Sadie were married in the Manti temple in August. It was a beautiful wedding, a super fun ceremony and I love my new sis in law! All my siblings (minus 2) were there to witness the sealing and KC recieving his endowment. It was a beautiful experience and really made me cry. It's a day I've hoped for for a long time. And sooner than later all of us will be together in the temple. I love the temple and all it represents of the Savior and being together forever as a family.

I love this pic of Sadie. So her. She is of course gorgeous and KC looked awesome.

The bros

Ajay and Angie stopped in Utah on the way home from Hawaii for the wedding. Always love them being here.

Ben and daddy at the reception- dancing the night away! :)

Happy Halloween from the Ghost Family

Check out Parker's scary ghost face. So him these days. He LOVES to be anything that growls, howls or scares.

Hiking Maunawilie's- a tribute to my mother

I wanted to write about an experience I had in Hawaii hiking Maunawillie's-Maunawillie's was muddy and Parker was super slow and struggling. I've realized that hikes beyond about a mile and a half are too much for this little guy. Spencer and I were frustrated, the mud was bad and my shoes weren't working well so I took them off. Parker then decided he wanted to go barefoot too. When we told him he couldn't, he threw a fit and we were at a standstill. It was a frustrating moment. I was frustrated that we were so slow, that Angie and Ajay were so far ahead of us, and that we were taking so freaking long. I had really wanted to hike Maunawillie's, it was one of the things I really had wanted to do and I was just frustrated that it wasn't working out. Finally we decided to have Spencer (who had never been there) take Ben ahead and finish the hike while Parker and I played in the stream below. It was a hard but growing thing for me, giving up something I wanted to do for my child. That still doesn't come as naturally to me as I always hope.

And I thought about my mom. I have thought about my mom a lot on this trip, recognizing her sacrifices and thinking about who she is, what she has given. After a few groups of people passed me and smiled sympathetically, I realized what I looked like. I was covered with mud from carrying Parker- from his muddy bum on my shoulders, my hair was a mess from lifting him over my head over and over again, my clothes were frumpy and I had on these old nasty, dirty reef booties. I looked the sight. I was also going about 1 mile an hour. And I thought about my mom. We always tease her for being such a slow hiker. We laugh at the story of her coming off the Na Pali coast looking like a homeless person, carrying her belongings in a garbage bag because her backpack rolled off the edge, covered in mud and wearing old tattered pajamas. And now here I was, THAT mom. I realized though in those moments, a few things I never completely understood before. I used to wonder why my mom was such a slow hiker, why her clothes didn't quite fit the fashion, and why she didn't seem to have much to show for herself. But now I know. Now I understand. As I become THAT mom, the muddy, slow one you smile at as you hike by, I realize she hikes slow because she got used to helping little feet climb over the rocks, learning patience to wait for little legs to come at their own pace. As I realize more and more how void of fashion I am, how I'm so "old school" (and not in a good way), I realize my mom doesn't know the trends because she was too busy clothing her children and getting dinner on the table. As I have less and less to "show" for myself, no glamours trips or big promotions, I realize my mom isn't always going places and doing huge amazing things because she has given all of that to her children. She has given her life. But I also see that in that giving, she has become something incredible in return. I watched my mom at the luau, when she got up to say a few things. I thought she looked so beautiful. Tan. Simple. Her moomoo on. Her sweet testimony penetrated my heart and her eyes sparkled. She has become something much more beautiful than anything I used to think was beautiful, because she has given. As I hung back with Parker, the frustration melted away and I realized letting go of “getting there” was really beautiful. Parker and I were able to find a passion fruit in the middle of the trail that all the other hikers trying to get to their destination missed. We put our feet in the river and the fish nibbled our toes. We found bamboo and walking sticks and learned how to cross streams on the big rocks. And I loved it. I didn't even miss going to Maunawillie's. Andy maybe just maybe I am starting to be a little bit like my mother, I hope so.

So I haven't posted in a long time and since we took a month long trip to Hawaii this summer, be prepared for LOTS of pictures. My mom grew up for part of her life in Hawaii - my grandfather taught at BYU-Hawaii, or what was then CCH, so every five years we have a huge reunion over there. This summer there were about 60 of us over there. We all rent houses and hang out for anywhere from a week to 2 months. And lest you think that this is extravagant, keep in mind that we also live on pbj's and powdered milk, well okay we didn't do powdered milk this year, but we have plenty of other times! It's awesome though. We look forward to it for those 5 years in between. This was Spencer's first "Esplin Hawaii trip", my first time being a mom there and of course Parker and Ben's first time in Hawaii, so lots of firsts! The boys and I were there for a month and Spencer came for 2 weeks.

The whole fam- everyone but Mindy and Cailin

The boys- my dad, Spencer, Bros KC, Greg, Bryant and Ajay

The girls-my mom, Angie, me, Haylee and Sadie- kc's fiance at this point (they were married a week after we got home)

I loved being with my family. We all stayed in one big houseand I seriously loved being with all of them. There were crazy times, but that's what makes it interesting!

Kc and Sadie

The parents who made it all possible. How I love them both. Aren't they beautiful?

Angie and Ajay

The kids and spouses

Bryant, Angie and Greg

Sandy Beach. I loved being in Hawaii with Spencer. Five years ago when I was there he was just coming home from his mission. In fact, I came home a little early so that I could be there when he got home. I was so freaking nervous. So being in Hawaii with him reminded me of that and made me glad he was with me this time!

Turtle Bay. I love this girl- she is the surf queen and totally got us going. We went out a few times before she got there but when Angie came it was every day. It was awesome. I LOVE dawn patrol with her- talking until a set comes in and then picking up right where we left off once we're both out in the lineup again.

KC helping Parker attempt to touch the turtles at Turtle Bay. He was so cute with Parker and is seriously such a caring brother and uncle. I loved seeing him with Sadie. They are perfect for each other.

Sadie picked up (and fell in love with) surfing like no other. And Ajay was awesome.

Bry, Sadie and Ang checking out the surf.

Sunset- Bry, mom, and Hay.
We went and found the "Others" bunkers from LOST. We loved it.

Then we went and skated Sunset Beach skatepark. Parker loved it. Here's the fam all on skateboards. :)

Ang doing her thing-loving it.

Parker's not bad eh?

We spent a couple of days in "town" towards the end of our trip. I've been kind of a north shore snob but those few days in town were super fun. Angie and Ajay watched the boys while Spencer and I surfed Waikiki. It was great.

Pearl Harbor

HIKES: I love hiking in Hawaii- so many cool places to go. Parker was a great little hiker and Ben LOVES his front pack. I tallied Parker's hikes for the summer and he had TEN- 6 of them in Hawaii. We did have to carry him on our shoulders sometimes-which was hard when Spencer wasn't there and I was carrying BOTH kids but really he did great. Here we are at the rope swing after hiking Kahana Valley

Diamond Head

Maunawillies

Jack Ass Ginger Pools

Spencer on the natural slide. He was awesome on it.

Ted's bakery. Parker loved it obviously.

Waimea Bay

Angie and Ben. So cute

Stairway to Heaven. This is a crazy hike on a ladder up the side of a huge huge mountain. I did it when I was at BYUH and rememberred too late that I had decided to not ever do it again. :) Because it's technically "closed" you have to do it in the early morning hours to avoid the guards, though I hear they really don't care if you do it. So we got up at 4am to hike it and at one point htought we were being chased by the guards. So funny..anyway, I was scared for my life for half of it- the heights thing really came to a head on that ladder. Some people aren't that sccared- for instance Spencer and Angie were fine but Ajay and I were terrified. It was awesome though, an incredibly hike for sure.

Matsumoto's Shaved Ice

Lighthouse hike and tidepools

We have lots of hot dog roasts with extended family at Kakela. We have devotionals and FHE lessons. My aunts do the dances they learned as children and we "talk story." In so many ways these moments are what taught me about Christ and life and the gospel when I was younger. I am so grateful for my aunts and uncles and cousins who have been such great examples to me. And I am so glad I get to pass this on to my boys- like their matching rash guards?

Angie, Jana and I. Once long ago we were roomates. Seems like yesterday. I loved being in Hawaii with Jana, as we have so many years throughout our lives.

The Pali lookout- always really windy but super pretty.

Asher (Tasha's boy) and Parker. These two LOVE each other and I love it because i LOVE tasha! When they see each other they get these mischenious smiles and just go nuts. It can be a little intense but it's awesome.

Pupekea (aka Shark's Cove). A great place to snorkle or scub dive. Spencer and I had a fun scuba dive with my uncle Don there.

Ask Parker who his favorite uncle is and he says "Greg" (and then gets a treat from Greg on the side). But seriously he is an awesome uncle, and brother and friend.

True to form Ben was super smiley and so cute. He loved the sand - ate it all the time.

Parker was my big boy- learning to play in the waves, build sandcastles, pull in the nets from the Hukilau, dance the hula, bury people in the sand and do all kinds of things. It was so fun.

My beautiful mother

My Aunt Jill and Ben

Greg. How I love this boy. He was my "husband" when Spencer was still in Utah. He was so helpful and I seriously just love his company. I am so amazed by him- he'll make some lucky girl very happy someday.

The Hukilau- we helped pull the nets in and Parker got to see the fish the nets caught. When my grandfather was at BYUH, this is how the students made money to go to school- doing a Hukilau for tourists. Eventually it turned into what we know as the PCC, but once in awhile they'll do a real Hukilau and in celebration of Laie Days they did one while we were there.

We always get Esplin Hawaii shirts to remember our year there. Here we are in our shirts.

The aunts dancing

All 70 or whatever of us.

The cousins (all grandchildren of Ross and Olive Esplin) -oldest to youngest, with a bunch missing.

Parker was a little tired. :)

Ben and Brinley Stringam

Jana and Kellen

Waimea Falls

Luau. Some good friends of my aunts and mom put on a legit luau for us and taught us all how to make Hawaiin hats.

Grandpa and Ben. My dad didn't get to come for long but he made sure that the family had a wonderful time even though he was home working. He's so giving.

Ajay and I in our hats.

We had a cousins dinner at Cholo's. It was fun to be with everyone.

We had weekly Sunday "devotionals" with all the extended family. This is during our devotional about temples and family.

The lovebirds surfing.

Paddling out with KC

Las Vegas and the 4th

We spent the 4th in Eden with Spencer's family. They have a fun little parade. Parker was terrified last year by all the loud noises. But this year he got the hang of grabbing the candy that gets thrown and he LOVED it! :)

After the parade we went to the little carnival they have there with Uncle Perry and cousin Breyden

Parker got to bounce on the bouncy slides and won his first pet- a little frog!

That night we lit off our own fireworks outside on the street. Parker loved it half of the time and hid in the van for the other half of the time. :)

Afterwards our own fireworks we watched the Wolf Creek fireworks from the balcony. It was a great fourth of July!

Grandpa, grandma and Aunt Camille enjoying the show.

We also went to Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago for our good friends Allan and Rachel's wedding. It was really nice. We also stayed with my cousin's Jana and Joe and their cute family. I loved spending time with them. Playing in the hot Vegas sun.

Love the Vegas fountains

Parker and his 2nd cousin- Livy Went

Ben and his second cousin- Kellen Went

The kids: Parker and Ben. Zoey, Livy and Kellen Went. It was so fun to be there with them. Parker terrorized the girls and the two little boys had fun interacting. The adults went out and had good conversations. Jana's father, my uncle, passed away the week before we got there. It was good to talk to Jana about him and life in general. With his passing I realize all the more what is most important in life. He was a simple, genuine man and left a beautiful legacy.

Allan and Rachel Enlow.

Parker did pretty good considering we had just driven for hours and hours in the car and he was supposed to sit quietly at a restaurant but finally we had to get out the laptop and let him watch CARS. Afterwhich we hardly heard from him. :)

Allan, Rachel and their little girl, Gracie. The happy married family.