"Two Tickets To Paradise"...more like 5 and...

I have promised that I would try to keep up with at least occasional blogging while we are in Hawaii. So I'll write about the good, the bad, and the ugly about moving my whole family for a temporary travel position, about what it's like to live in "paradise", and about places we visit while we're here.

How it started: Back in September or October, I got an email from a company I used to work for about jobs in Hawaii. I asked a friend who still works for the company. Shortly after someone called me about it. I was somewhat interested but when the recruiter didn't call me back, I just blew it off.

During Christmas break someone from the company called me several times. I finally returned their call the second week of January. I listened to what they had to say, Brian and I talked about it, and we decided we couldn't do it for the price they were going to pay me. They called back the next morning and asked how much we would go for. After lots of calculating and thinking and praying, we gave them a price and thought we were done with it. They called me back the next morning and accepted my offer. They asked if I could fly out at the end of the following week. There was no way I could have possibly made that work but we decided to leave about two weeks later.

As most of you know, that two weeks was crazy. We tried to sell some things. We subleased our house. Our parents were with us most of that time helping pack, move, and clean. I was busting my butt trying to make sure my sweet babies at Capital Area Speech were in the best hands. I was trying to make sure the therapists covering them were prepared.

In all that chaos, some of our closest friends stepped up to help out so much. The Todd's housed us for a few days. Denise even cooked the most awesome Texas meal...full spread meal. My mouth waters thinking about that deliciousness. Caren watched kids for us while we moved. Ashley and Zac watched kids for us while we cleaned. Jason, Jeff, Scott, and Kelsi helped us move almost ALL day. Kristen and Jeff had us over for a yummy meal and fun friend time. Kim and Joe had us over from more yummy food and friend time. Jamie has been very supportive even though it wasn't the easiest situation for the office. Countless people have prayed for us, lent an ear, and asked how they can help. I can't even express how grateful we are for all of you. We really do have the best family and friends there are.

So here we are in "paradise", right?

Trick or Treat

We had fun with our friends Ashley and Zac on Halloween. Thanks for letting us join you.

 

Here is my big banana and the cutest little monkey ever.

 

Typical McNeil family picture  

That hair!

 

My little astro guy 

 

And the one who threw a huge fit before trick or treating because he changed his mind about his costume. He still looks really cute even if he did refuse to wear the helmet and boots. 

 

And the cutest little ballerina with monster/alligator boots 

 

Homemade costume=doesn't last long 

 

Who is that lady with the gorgeous blonde hair creeping on the kids? 

 

Something was creepy 

 

It took a few seconds to brave this house...it was much darker in real life 

This house was awesome. And the lady was "SUPER nice". 

Pumpkin carving

 

Every time I would ask Madeline to come look at the "goo" she would run stand by that cabinet.

Visit from Uncle Lee

I am going to try to start blogging again. I hate that I missed out most of last year. I use my blog as a scrapbook/photo journal. So here goes...

 

Uncle Lee came to see us last weekend. He was only here a couple of days but we squeezed in some fun. We enjoyed his visit and wish we could see him more often.

 

 

These are the best two of a ton of family pictures. 

Santa's Village

I know I am WAY behind on posts but I have to do this one before I forget what Luc said. First, I will start off by saying MiMi and Granddaddy took us to Santa's Village. We got to see real reindeer, elves, Frosty the Snowman, and most importantly Santa. The boys were really excited/nervous to talk to the big guy. He asked each one what he wanted for Christmas. It was really sweet.

When I was telling Luc good night that night he asked me if that was "the real Santa". I told him I wasn't sure but that I thought he looked real. He said "Well, I don't think it was. He didn't look very magical to me." haha This boy cracks me up.

 

Evan telling Satna what he wants 

 

Luc telling Santa what he wants

 

Santa with his little elf 

While Brian was gone

Brian was gone for the month of July. I am so lucky to have such an awesome family to travel all the way out here to help out. As much as I hate being so far away, I am so thankful that we get to see our family as much as we do.

It was so helpful to have free babysitters while Brian was gone. Brian's mom came in the first week. We spent as much time as we could at the pool. The boys had a lot of fun playing with MiMi. She was so helpful keeping my kitchen clean too. I may have gotten a little spoiled.

 Heather came in the second week. I think we spent every day at the pool while she was here. She had a fun water camera that the boys loved. Those pictures are on Facebook.We spent her last day here at the Round Rock waterpark.

My parents and brother, David came the third week. Luc loved having Uncle David here. He followed him around the whole week. David has made Luc quite the stunt man at the creek and in the pool. David doesn't get to spend too much time with us so it was really fun for him to be here. GiGi worked with Evan teaching him to swim and dive for rings. Evan became quite a Papa John's boy too.

We had a quiet relaxing fourth week alone before Brian came back. By the end of three weeks of visitors, the boys were pretty off schedule for eating and sleeping. We're all getting back on track now...just in time to have the chaos of a new baby!

Update for Daddy

Brian is out of town right now. This is a quick update for him of what the boys have been up to. I will update more about our Alabama trip as soon as I get a chance.

Brian we miss you a ton. We can't wait for you to be home. Be safe! We love you! Call us when you can.

Evan loved his "Deep and Momocycle" cake. All of us, Baboo, Bec, Agee, Shannon and her family, Allison and John, and Granny came. He got lots of presents. He was kind of grumpy though.

Heather made a slip and slide for them. They loved it. 

Luc tried really hard to catch a fish. He wanted to catch one himself so bad. The dogs were making it pretty impossible for us though. Finally, GiGi "caught" one. As she was bass fishing, she hooked a bream in his fin as he was swimming by. The boys were very amazed. Evan kept wanting to touch it. Luc really wanted to cook him but he was just a little bigger than my hand. I taught Luc how to cast. He's pretty good at it. 

Can you find the blueberry thief? Evan ate TONS of blueberries last week. Seriously.

Luc loved swimming in the Gulf so much. He literally spend 3-4 hours in the water while we were out of the beach. He swam with his life jacket on. He and David would start up on the beach, run down the hill, and jump in the water. He thought it was a lot of fun. 

Evan loved playing in the sand. He didn't like the water at first. Once I got him used to it, we couldn't keep him out. He would float on his back with his life jacket on. You'll have to wait to see Heather's pictures for that. It was hilarious. When he got tired, he asked me to make him a bed and he went right to sleep. They were both so good on the beach. 

We miss you!

Bull Creek

After church Sunday, we decided to go to Bull Creek....so did almost everyone else in Austin. We were suppose to meet some friends but we ended up at opposites ends of the creek. The water was perfect for the boys to run. There were lots of people jumping off the waterfall. Brian was careful not to fall in this time too.

 A couple of years ago, we found the perfect spot for skipping rocks. The boys have so much fun "skipping" their huge rocks.