THE TRAVELING GARDNERS

Thanks to the Army we will be going on an all paid for marriage retreat to this beautiful hotel!!! We are so excited! Ben is going to a babysitter for the weekend, and we are escaping! Dan and I really never got a "real" honeymoon so we are pretty excited to be going to this! We will be turning off our cell phones this weekend. So that's the reasons our phones will be off this weekend. Happy summer! And here's to getting spoiled! Found on the website what the inside of our rooms will look like! Yes Please! And this is our list of what we want to try and still do before we leave the island! It's a hard life but someone has to do it......... * Waikiki Aquarium (we think Ben will LOVE this!) * Chuns reef (you can walk right up to 300 pd seas turtles!) * Buddhist temple on the north shore * Hike to a waterfall (either Waimea falls or Manoa falls ) These are a few places that we have not been to yet. Any other suggestions for where we can play tourist at? And...

Aloha to you all - Our blog will temporarily be closing down for a summer break. :) You can still visit our site and view older posts, and comment to us. We just won't be posting any new posts unless there is HUGE news. So enjoy these pictures of our last days in Hawaii. Daddy and Ben dancing on the changing table. Ben looking spiffy in the outfit that Grandma Sue sent him! Spinach, shrimp, and pasta dinner makes Ben say YUMMM! Celebrating our last dinner at our own kitchen table with turkey hotdogs and root beer! Not sure what he was looking at, but he sure loved his black bean burritos! Nothing says summer time like this yummy meal with specially chilled diet root beer on the side. Cleaning out the old junk and getting ready for our big moving sale. LALALLALALAALAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! *The movers came yesterday and took mostly all of our stuff! So we are now focusing on getting us moved off the island, and back to the mainland. Moving day doesn't stop little man's diaper ...

This is Dan posting right now - The question has been posed as what it means to support our troops. This was originally asked by one of Leah's friends, Megan. I took it upon myself to write a few of my thoughts on the topic. Quick thought before I explain that came to my mind, is that there is a misconception that in order to support our troops, we must support the war. I feel that this is not necessary. As a Soldier we are trained to fight and win the nations wars. The Soldiers are not the individuals that start or decide about wars. What does it mean to support our troops? To me, it means that we do not blame the Soldiers for the tragedies, we give thanks to those that serve to protect our freedoms and assist those that have not been blessed with the same freedoms that we have. It also means that we do not protest against the Soldiers, but that does not limit anyone from protesting the war (Soldiers are just the tool that we use to fight wars). It also means respecting the ...

When my dear friend Megan put up her blog posting on her feelings towards the fourth of July, it stirred many feelings inside of me. Instead of replying back to her, I decided to write my own post. Megan - you start such wonderful discussions. I can't wait to move to Utah and drink hot cocoa while having moving hot topic discussions like this. I love you Meg. Even though we might differ in our political and or world views, I think we create the perfect balance if I do say so myself. Dan is in the Army - I'm a military wife. I live on a military base. I shop for my groceries at a military store. Every time I drive on to base where I live I show my military ID. My son was born at a military hospital. Flags, soldiers, and everything that comes with patriotism is a part of my every day life. I also come from a military family. I don't know if it's a combination of being a military spouse and/or relative(granddaughter/niece/cousin/step daughter/step sister) of a former milit...

Am I the only one that feels like our lives are starting to sound like something straight out of a movie???? Heard about this yesterday as I was reading the Fox news website. Has anyone else heard about this???? More info at the following link - http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288540,00.html

Our heat wave has been nothing compared to Arizona's 119' or a Las Vegas 113'. It hasn't even been 102' like California or Utah.......however, it has been really hot according to Hawaii standards - a sweltering 98'! The added humidity makes it really gross and sticky. So here are some tips to follow from our family to yours. ;) The Gardner's present - How to beat the heat 101 Have a nice frozen treat like shaved ice!!! Have a Popsicle...or two..... I agree with Ben - Popsicles are the best way to cool down....... Enjoy the Popsicle and just bite into it........ No matter how you choose to eat it ....the best way to eat a Popsicle according to Ben...... But don't let the Popsicle get the best of you....... Brain freeze! Play outside when it's nice and breezy from trade winds! Swing away the day....with sunscreen on of course.... Have a cold frozen blueberry smoothie for breakfast and wear it! (Is it me or does he look french?) And play in it...

Tonight Benjamin went to a babysitters, and Dan and I went to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3 at our favorite military theatre. Tickets are half the price of a regular movie theatre ticket. And for $8 bucks you can get 2 all you can drink refillable sodas and a large popcorn. The movie was Fantastic! Dan and I both LOVED IT!!!!! I recommend it! Here are some silly pictures back at home that we took to record this fun night. Seriously - I think I look like Jack Sparrow's sister....what do you think????? Dan my hero! I dressed up like a pirate and wore my pirate earings! I got them from the Disneyland ride Pirates of the Carribean before the first movie was even made!

Camera phone pictures taken at 4th of July block party! Mommy riding train with Ben! The exciting train ride.......... Mommy and Ben watching fireworks - that's why it's dark................