Paddle boards, Pineapples and Paradise

Aloha!  Alright, a few hours ago we got the real internet installed, which means there may or may not be a flood of blog updates.  Sorry about the inconsistency, but HOORAY for having the internet!

First things first: Hawaii.  It was awesome. 

 The Dole Plantation: Where pineapple tastes like candy, even moreso than usual.

 Dallin Dole

 Why can I not get enough of these wood cutouts?  I love the tropical plants though. 

 Mckay showing us his sweet hula moves (reverently) at the temple.

 The Polynesian Cultural Center!  I loved it!  It made me want to be reincarnated as a Polynesian dancer.

 Quinn boys planking

 The guys recovering from jet lag.  Paul and Mac came from Europe and Dallin from Israel.  

 All the affection that Ira has been bottling up since Ant left for China, was showered upon Mckay.  

 My mission pal: Kualii Lum!  We were able to meet up a few times which was really fun.  He teaches a free hula class right across from the resort we were staying at, and Mckay and I benefited from his expertise.

 One day when everyone was sleeping, I snuck away to bob around in the water.  So nice.  I figured out why my family was never a beach family.  We swam at beaches with cold water, scary waves and biting horseflies.  The water was perfect here.  sigh...

 My big splurge:  A helicopter ride in Kauai.  Yeah, I was excited.

 It was worth every penny even though I got pretty sick as reinacted here.  I was still in visual heaven.  

 This is how I usually feel about beaches. 

 Grandma and Grandpa hung with ninja Ira, while the rest of us tried a little paddle board and surfing.  It was pretty sweet.

 My other splurge:  A Ukulele!  I'm slightly obsessed with playing it, but so is Ira.  Grandma got him this distracter ukulele to keep him busy while I play.  I usually still have to wait till he's asleep though.  Grandma, he's still plays with it everyday, and surprisingly hasn't broken it!

 Beautiful Birds of Paradise at church.

 Pearl Harbor Memorial.

 Diamond Head. It's a giant hike-able crater, we were disappointed to find out was not a volcano.  We were able to make the hike trading Ira off.  Thanks Mckay and Paul!

O.k.  I'm off to the park with Ira.  Expect more updates on China, Utah and Michigan!  Peace out!

Nauvoo, Spam, and more Cake!

Nauvoo the Beautiful.  

I love it.  I've had the opportunity to make a "pilgrimage" there every 9-ish years, so it seemed fitting to take my 3rd visit before I turn 28.    

 Last time I was here, it was for the Nauvoo temple open house which was a real testimony building experience for me.  The visit before, I remember walking around the foundations of the original temple.  It makes me so happy it's been rebuilt and is just as beautiful as I remember.  Anthony and I took turns with Ira, so we could do some work inside.

 Ira now has a version of the word "horse," but to see one up close kind of freaked him out. Petting one was the last thing he wanted to do.

 We took a fun little ox ride and I realized I didn't know anything about the animals.  I had no idea they were just trained steers.  

 O.k.  This looks really stupid unless you are an Ellsworth girl.  It's tradition for my sisters and I to pose behind this statue, and also to pose randomly with almost every other statue in this garden.  But I'll spare you. 

 Howdy!  Yes, we dressed him up.  No, we didn't pose him like that.

 The game tent rocked!

Anthony really wants me to watch Herby with him someday.  I've been resisting, but maybe this was a sign. 

 Staying up past bedtime to watch the pageant.

 Ira was incredibly grumpy for the first chunk of the play, but after a diaper change he calmed right down and we were able to enjoy the rest of the play.  It was fabulous.  I have to admit, I think I enjoyed the "Songs by the Mississippi" or whatever it's called, even more.  The cast was so talented I started crying during the America medley!

 Carthage Jail.

 Ira looks appropriately serious, but this is just before he left to frolick in the shady grass.  Which now that I mention it, is what he really wanted to do during the entire trip.  Take about 2 months worth of toddler non-cooperation and squeeze it into the 2 days in Nauvoo, and that gives you a little idea of his pleasantness level.  

 The graves.

 The Mississippi 

 The Mansion House

Nauvoo Intermission:  This is my first fondant cake I made a couple weeks ago.  I made it for John's birthday in honor of his mega biking trip.  What was it called?  The Painjunking Pilgrimage or something?  The boys assisted in the assembling and last minute touches.

O.k., these are so out of order.  We stopped by the Spam museum on the way down to Nauvoo.  It was awesome!  The thought of eating spam kind of makes me sick, but Anthony has fond sentiments for it.

Yes, that is a spam shirt he's wearing.  

Alright, love you guys!  Have a good week!

Ice cream Cake, Giant Cherries, and Swinging sculptures.

Hi Everyone!

   It's been an awesome week full of family.  Mom and Dad came to visit us Minnesotans, so Carolyn and I took turns hosting and met up each day to hang out.  It was rainy almost every day so we spent time playing games, making and eating food, swimming (in doors when it was raining), and visiting a few art exhibits. 

 This is the Summer Vacation Travels cake I made in Mom and Dad's honor.  They are taking a crazy long road trip looping around the country after they fly back to PA.  It was my first ice cream cake.  Mmmm.  I'll do it again when I know that about 15 people can come help eat it.

 Giant glass fish at the Sculpture Garden in Minneapolis.  That's tiny Ira to the right.

 This was an awesome swinging sculpture, that would have been even more awesome if it swung a bit higher. 

The famous cherry scupture!  Actually I'm not sure how famous it really is, but the sculpture garden's website says it is.   

 Mom and Dad on the poetry bridge.

 The majority of the Durant clan. 

 My sculpture nephews. 

I'm glad you could come Mom and Dad!  I already miss you.  

      In other news:  We have a place to live in Michigan!  Woohoo!  I feel pretty good about our choice thanks to an awesome cousin (1st cousin once removed) in the area that was willing to go check out a couple places for us.  I'm excited to be close to family again.

  We are gearing up for the move, which looks like it may be a little more complicated than we hoped.  erg.  Update on that later.   

   We took a great trip to Nauvoo last weekend.  Actually, I'll do an entry about that right.......now.