Happenings...

I thought I'd end 2010 with some updates. I haven't been the best at this blogging thing, it's kinda hard. Anyway, this is how our Fall 2010 went:

I'll start with some good news (and our best news). After lots of prayers and weighing our options between different firms, Matt accepted an offer with...

KPMG in Los Angeles!! We are excited for this new chapter in our lives!

Another exciting "happening," Matt got an internship with the ROC Fund (a real estate investment fund) in SLC as an audit intern and will start in January. This is a perfect match for Matt since he completed his real estate license earlier this year and is very interested in the RE industry. Yay for Matt!

As an early Christmas gift Matt took me to the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular! I was so excited and had been hinting that I wanted to go. Thanks Matt! We had a fun time and it was a great show.

Matt also finished his last semester at BYU (halleluja!) Unfortunately...

The same day Matt finished his last final he had a doctor's appointment and was diagnosed with testicular cancer. We were not expecting this, and it's been a tough couple of weeks, but we are optimistic.

Matt and I want to thank all of our family and friends for the prayers for Matt. Matt had surgery on Tuesday and is doing well. I think this is one of the toughest things we have experienced, especially with all the potential complications this could cause. We are not completely out of the woodwork, but we have faith things will all be ok.

It was good to have both of our families in town for Christmas break. They were a great source of comfort for us. I was thankful to have my parents, brother and sister home for the holidays.

One of Santa's elves (Kono got into the stocking bin)

Christmas Eve at the Oldroyd's

Kono grew this winter squash with mom and we ate is as part of Christmas dinner.

We rolled out of bed to get a picture before everyone hit the road to head home :(

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Happy Birthday

...to my wonderful, beautiful, amazing mom! She is the best!

Boys only...

I thought this was so cute and funny. My sister texted me this picture after she told me Nahoa and his friend Scott wouldn't let Miya play with them. Miya left the room feeling sad, but a few minutes later returned all dressed up in Hoa's Spiderman costume. Who needs boys, right? Miya is a little tom-boy and girly-girl at the same time. It's so cute.

I guess it's about time for an update. I made a last minute trip to Omaha to visit my sister. This was my 3rd trip within a year out to Omaha! It was so much fun. We were so busy the entire time! Here are just some of the things we did:
Painted a bedroom
Sewed a costume for Miya
Shopped
Ate yummy food
Visitied Kansas, Missouri and Iowa!
We were going, going, going and by the time I got back to Utah I was tired! (a good tired though)

I love my sister's townhome. She has such great taste. Seriously, who keeps their linen closet this nice all the time?

I just had to point that out. Anyway, here are some highlights of my trip:

Valas Pumpkin Patch

This place was HUGE! I loved it...and since we were in Nebraska they had a giant corn maze too!
Vala's also had a lot of little kiddie shows. I love how hard Miya is tip-toeing to see over the fence.

Hmm...I think Nahoa should be the one behind the sign, not John.

They also had pig races with different types of pigs. It was the cutest thing!

At the end we went on a hay ride and the kids got to pick their own pumpkin out of the pumpkin patch.

One of the main reasons I went to NE was to cheer my sister on in her first Half Marathon. She ran in the Kansas City Marathon and there were THOUSANDS of runners.

She did a GREAT job coming in under 2 hours!

These kids love their mommy!

It was also Nahoa's birthday and I gave him a Batman beenie. Can you tell he likes Batman?

Miya was happy with the box I wrapped it in.

Everytime I go to visit my sister we always have all these projects planned, one of them was making a costume for Miya. We started it together and Pebbles finished it after I left.

Isn't Miya the cutest little witch?

Next stop...Denver!

One day after Matt and I returned from Hawaii we hopped in the car and made the 8 hour drive to Denver, CO! Are we crazy? Yes. We thought our vacation in Hawaii was cut short so we needed another week. ;) My sister and her family were in Denver for a few days on their way back to Omaha so we decided to meet them. I'm so glad we did!
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We hiked...

Garden of the Gods

Thanks for the boost John!

Nahoa's Spiderman pose

John, Miya, Kate (John's sister)

Miya's no longer a baby! She's a little girl. I can't believe how big she's gotten.
.
We toured the Candy Factory...



They gave out cute paper hats.

I think the kids were in heaven.
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We ate Good BBQ...


We went to JABOS, John's aunt & uncle's restaurant.

These pulled pork sandwiches were delicious & HUGE! I couldn't finish mine. Look how it almost fills the plate. The scones, onion rings, fries and coleslaw were also tasty.
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We went to a Rockies Baseball Game...

Rockies vs. Brewers (I think)

Nahoa was hungry.

Cute Miya lasted the whole game!

Matt & John wheeled & dealed for our tickets ;)

Matt & Miya. Isn't she getting big?!

We had SO much fun seeing Pebbles & John. Matt was able to book our room at the same hotel as them so we were just down the hall. Thanks for letting us join you on your trip!

Matt tricked me into driving 7 of the 8 hours home. This picture was taken just out of Greenriver.

No question about it...

Matt is Bob's son...Can you guess who's who?

,

A while ago I saw this picture of his dad (Bob 20 years ago) and today I found this picture of Matt while I was cleaning my computer. I instantly thought of the middle picture. I know it's only a profile shot of both of them, but it's still funny. I showed Matt my comparison and he even laughed.

I wish everyday was vacation

Matt and I are finally home after a few weeks of vacation. It was lovely! This is going to be a longer post, but I guess it's ok since I haven't really posted anything in a while.


First stop: San Diego/LA


We arrived in San Diego to meet up with Matt's family for a little family time. The last time we took this trip was 3 years ago, and Matt and I weren't even engaged yet!

The fun thing about this trip is we all stayed at the same place so we didn't need to drive too much, we just had to walk to each other's rooms. I love the pools here, too.

It was kind of cloudy the majority of the trip, but when it wasn't we were at the pool.

Matt & Kate, she was showing us her mean swimming skills.

Matt and Hoopes, his mission buddy. We had an okonomiyaki night which they planned, but somehow I ended up showing them how to make the okonomiyaki.

Matt had an office visit in LA with an accounting firm. Look at him all mature and career-oriented.

My cousin lives in LA so I went along with Matt on his trip to visit him. Here are his cute new shih tzu puppies and mommy Minji. Aren't they adorable?

I had SO much fun with Keao. We went to the fabric district and I was in heaven! Thanks again Keao!

We celebrated Matt's 25th birthday while we were with his family at Bruno's. The pizza was yummy and HUGE.

Since we've been running a lot I gave Matt some insoles for his running shoes, and a pre-Hawaii gift, tanning goggles. It was a joke, but he actually used it.

Next stop: Hawaii

Pirates of the Caribbean 4 was being filmed in Hawaii so we got to take pictures of the Pirate ship. Too bad we didn't meet Johnny Depp.

The third day of our trip was Matt's 25th birthday.

He started his birthday by golfing with Uncle Darrell at Ko'olau Golf Course...

...Then breakfast at Liliha Bakery. They have THEEE best french toast made with Hawaiian sweet bread...

...then Matt rented his very first car! (After 25 you don't have the pay the extra fee!)

...Then we checked into our hotel in Waikiki. Before we took this trip I told Matt I wanted to stay in a hotel at least one night since I've never stayed in a hotel in Hawaii. It was sooo nice. I love air conditioning. This is the pool view from our room.

We stayed in an ocean view room thanks to our friend Ewa. Doesn't the background look painted?

Here's the Birthday Boy enjoying the view.

I loved the pools at the Sheraton. There was even a little waterslide. You can barely see my head and my feet.

Matt took a turn. It was a pretty small slide so he didn't get much speed but we both thought it was fun.

For birthday dinner we ate at Coco's Curry House, a chain out of Japan. Matt was SO excited to eat here.
Mmmm...Katsu Curry

Happy Birthday Matt!

Amy, Brett and Summer visited us in Waikiki.

We stayed in the cutest plantation-style hotel. I loved it, thanks again Ewa for getting us oceanviews! Isn't this place cute?

Pretending we don't know our picture is being taken

One of the main reasons we went to Hawaii was for Brett and Summer's wedding! Little did we know we were going to help with preparation! This might look like a sweatshop, but we all gathered at Uncle Dean and Auntie Carol's house to sew chair covers. Keao, Summer, Auntie and I were on the sewing machines; Matt and Justin were cutting loose thread; and Brett was ironing. Busy, busy, but fun!

Of course, we hit the BEACH!

Matt only wanted to boogie board, so I just watched. We would alternate calm beaches and rough beaches. I prefer calm.

I stuck to sandsliding. The only downside to this is you know the wave is going to crash down right on top of you.

KCCN Birthday Bash with the cousins.

Keao took us to Crepes No Ka Oi in Kailua. Super good!

Dukes. Yum. Seasoned waffle fries. Yum double um.

Finally, we ate okonomiyaki and I didn't have to make it!

Remember how I mentioned wedding preparation? Here we are preparing coconut shrimp for the reception, all 1,400 of them until 2:30 am! Keao and I made a good team. I can still hear the rhythmic pound Keao made to batter each shrimp.

Summer and Auntie Colleen asked me to make the bouquets. Here's the bride's. (Thanks for the photo Mika!)

Matt and I were stationed at the "sign in" table, but this one was way more techy.

This was a special wedding for us, not only because Brett is my cousin, but because Matt and Brett were mission companions! Congrats Brett & Summer!

Reception clean-up. Matt, Keao, Brett.

We love Amy!

At my wedding Brett helped my mom assemble my wedding cake, which inspired him to make his own! Isn't he nuts? But he did a great job. This picture is for you Shima! (Sorry, it's been disassembled a little).

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Matt and I had a North Shore day and rode scooters. So fun, but a little stressful on a narrow road.

I'll never be too cool to wear a helmet. I just wish the helmets were white. It would have been so much cuter.

Waimea Bay

We stopped for shave ice at Matsumotos

Then we ate lunch and shared another one.

More sightseeing stops...

Laie Temple and Matt trying to tan (i.e., no shirt). I made him wear a helmet after I told him all the pros to wearing a helmet. What a good husband. I tend to be extra cautious.

We were introduced to Settlers of Catan, a board game. I think that will be the next board game we purchase.

We had to hit up Liliha's one last time for sweet bread french toast before we flew out. It was the perfect end to a fun trip! We can't wait to go back!