Prettyschool

Otherwise know as preschool!  Eric started a 2 half day a week program on Tuesday. He was so excited and I was too (mostly).  His teachers said he did fantastic.  He had no accidents and didn't even cry!!  I was so proud!  What a different kid this is from just a few weeks ago.  In Kansas he wouldn't leave my side, couldn't even go to the nursery at church, and cried when staying at a neighbors house.  Now, he asks to go to the nursery during church and I didn't have to pry him off me either.  He walks into both the nursery and pretty school with me even holding his hand!  Oh I can hardly stand my baby growing up so fast!!!!

We had biscuits for breakfast and he just had to take one with him to school!!  

Another great weekend!

Saturday we hiked up to Manoa Falls. It was a fun hike and Eric hiked almost the whole way up. He rode in the backpack on the way down. It was muddy and slippery but that also made it super fun. Saturday evening we had a block party in the back alley with the neighbors. We meet lots of new people and had a great time. One of my new neighbors stopped counting kids after she got to 32!!

Sunday we went to church and hung out around the house for lunch and nap time. Then headed to Waiamea Bay for some time at the beach and a picnic dinner. What a great way to end the day and start new week!

Before the hike

Eric started out in the backpack but quickly decided he wanted to walk.

Can you spot all 4 of them?

I had the kids wear dark clothes so the red mud wouldn't be noticeable on their clothes.

The water fall is 100 ft!

Climbing over the rocks to get closer look.

Street party.  This is the alley behind our house.

He ran all over the beach pulling the boogie board.  Didn't get in though!

Justin and Caroline doing a little exploring.

Caroline as the sun is setting.

Covered in sand!

Dinner time!

A little of this and a little of that

So last Saturday we went to at lagoon on the other side of the island (due south of us).  The dry desert side.  The on;y green landscaping was near the resorts.  It was perfect for the kids to try and snorkel and for Eric to play in the water since there weren't any waves!

Beautiful!!

My snorkeling crew.  Will is on Justin and Caroline is to the left with the yellow snorkel.

Will bought a magnifying glass to do this experiment.  It worked and he caught the dry leaf on fire!

Sunday night we went to Kualoa Ranch for dinner and a show about Hawaii legends.

The view for dinner.  Wonderful buffet.

Justin got picked from the audience to go on stage!

The kids learning a hula dance on stage!

Practicing with some early Hawaiian instruments.

I took these next few pictures while we were riding down the road so the quality isn't the best.  BUt you can get an idea.

Sunset on the way home!

Moonrise behind us!

The kid gets eaten in our back yard!  There are just as many on the back side of his legs!

Yesterday afternoon when Justin got home from work we put on our bathing suits and jumped in the car to go to the beach.  We went up to the north shore and stopped at a beach (don't know the name) on the side of the road.  Justin and the big kids had a blast snorkeling for almost an hour ( nonstop!) and Eric and I enjoyed sitting in the surf digging in the sand just listening to the waves.  Absolutely wonderful way to end the day.  Then the kids boogie boarded with some local kids and Eric put on his life vest and went swimming too.  Then we headed into Hale'iwa for some burgers and fries.  The kids were ready for bed!!

Sunset last night on our way to dinner.

That's been our week!  I found out that our household goods were sitting on the dock in Long Beach, CA as of 7/24!!  They are supposed to arrive on island the 28th.  Then it will take about 3 days for the moving company to get them and then about 4 more days for them to get delivered to us!  That means about the 4th of August they should be here is everything goes accordingly.  Oh, school starts Aug. 5th!!

Oak Island

We had a great week at Oak Island!  I love that place and am so glad I get to share it with my kids.  The temperatures were great all week, the water was rough, and it did rain at some point everyday.  But still lots of fun.

Our house

So we signed for our house on Monday, got our loaner furniture that afternoon, and then got the unaccompanied baggage Tuesday. Justin has done all his in processing and I have the kids registered for school and with the CYS ( child and youth services). Which means I can sign them up for sports and Eric for hourly care. 

Yesterday we all went to a newcomers brief and learned about what's offered on post and a little about the Hawaiian language and culture. A few points about the language that we learned: the vowels are pronounced like Spanish vowels (and you say all of them in a word), a word has to end in a vowel, vowels have to separate the consonants. Will learned that the commissary saves you money and Caroline learned some Pidgin!  

Here's a picture of the outside of our house. I'll get some of our lively loaner furniture today. 

Hawaii State Farm fair

Saturday we went to the farm fair. It's a very small scale NC state fair. The cost was just about perfect since the kids were free and so was Justin since he used his KU student id and I was $5!  There was a 4-H tent with lots of animals to look at and touch, a native HI plant tent with beautiful flowers for sale, bounce houses, tons of food trucks, and a main stage tent. We stayed for a few hours the kids did a few rides ( Will even got handed more ride tickets!) then headed back to the hotel. The kids had a blast and we enjoyed being outside. The only issue was I forgot the sunscreen and sun shirts!  The good news was I was the only one that got burned. Go figure!  My blonde, blue-eyed kids didn't even get pink cheeks. 

Oh, the views were amazing!  Mountains to one side, crystal clear water on the other.