Same story , different day

Saturday afternoon we took our friends, the Grays, on the Dillingham airfield hike.  The kids had a blast having a buddy to hike with and on the way down went ahead of the adults and set up booby traps.  They put big rocks, limbs, and branches in the path.  They had a blast!  Then we went across the street to the beach for a picnic dinner.  Then back into Haleiwa for ice cream.  A great Saturday!

Jackson, Will, and Miles were great hiking buddies.

They had enough energy to run at the bottom!

 Then Sunday after nap time we headed to Waimea Bay to meet with 4 other families for some fun and dinner again!  There were 9 little girls and 4 little boys.  We had another great afternoon with friends at one of our favorite places.

Ready for the beach!

Eddie throwing Will.

Throwing him into a back flip.

Playing in the sand.

Our spot on the beach.

Eric, Caroline, Will, and Jackson running into the water.

 Then the sun dropped down below the clouds and we were treated to a most gorgeous sunset!!

I need to frame this one!

Happy 4th!!

Earlier this week Caroline asked if we could have a cookout party.  Justin and I agreed it would be fun.  So we invited a few neighbors and people that had just moved here this week.  It turned out to be a great afternoon/evening.  We rented a bounce house and it was a huge success!  I would guess we had 50 or more people.  I made chicken kabobs, sugar cookies, and had lots and lots of fruit.  Others brought food as well and there was plenty of beer too.  I didn't get many pictures of the all the people or decorations (Caroline insisted we decorate!) but it was FUN!

Fun hairdo!  Those braids were wet from a sweaty head when I took them out.

Helping to decorate

 few of the kids waiting for the bounce house to blow up.

Some of the adults

This is about half the kids!  Some kids were too big to get in, were done bouncing, or they had left to walk over to the big field to see the fireworks.

 We were able to see the fireworks from our house.  Justin got out some chem lights (military glow sticks) once it started getting dark and the kids were glowing in the bounce house.  It was great to not have to worry about the huge crowds of people or where my kids were.
Happy 4th everyone!

One way

Will lost a tooth tonight a few minutes before the fireworks started.  This is how it happened.  3rd try was the one that did it!  The tooth was tied to the bullet with dental floss!

Memorable way to lose a tooth!

Several dads looking for the tooth.

The tooth was never found, as expected.  The tooth fairy still came and Will wasn't upset about not having the tooth.

Easy to spot

This scene is not uncommon around here.  Especially if we are not on post.

Can you spot Eric?

His hair is still super blonde.  Justin and I get comments all the time about his hair!  "Wow, he is SO blonde!" is a very common one.  It's not getting any darker living in HI that's for sure.  So who knows how long his hair will be super blonde, but for now, I love it!!

Even his eyebrows are still blonde!  His eyelashes have darkened some though.

My birthday

Saturday was a great day to turn 36!  Justin and the kids did a fantastic job making me feel special.  We started the day off with Will's baseball game, had lunch out, then back home so the kids could go to the neighbors' birthday party.  The highlight of the day was Justin making my birthday cake.  

Beautiful birthday flowers

The kids watching me open presents.

 So not only did Justin make me a cake.  He made me a from scratch chocolate cake for the first time ever!!  I gave him the recipe and left to go to the party outside.  He did the rest!

 SO. MANY. CANDLES!!

Caroline was taking the pictures!

The cake was delicious!  I'm pretty impressed at Justin's baking skills.  Thanks for all the birthday calls and messages.  I had a great day!

Swim lessons

Eric is half way through his first set of swim lessons.  Not even half-way through his first class the instructor said he needed to be moved up a level!  He wants to be on the swim team with his brother and sister and he is well on his way.  The videos are from day 2.  His instructor is great and besides the water being super cold (surprising I know) I'm a proud of this little guy!

Swim buddy, swim!!

Fun with friends

Last Saturday after Eric woke up from we got in the already packed car and headed to Waimea Bay.  It's one of our favorite spots and it's back on the rotation since the winter waves are gone.  The best part was that 2 other families were meeting us there for a picnic on the beach and swimming fun.  The guys and the big kids (Caroline, Will, and Matthew) all jumped off the big rock a couple of times.  Justin and Will went out on the paddle board and Justin also took the board out and let the kids jump off it.  Another family brought their 2 kayaks and we had fun with those too.

The clouds and few drops of rain may have made lots leave the beach, but not us!!  The water was perfectly calm and it's hard to believe a few months ago there were 40 foot waves here.

Justin and Will paddling

Somebody had a slip-n-slide set up and the kids had fun sliding.  That's Will getting some air!

Sweet Grace thought she was something else climbing in the chair by herself.

Dinner time!  

The clouds cleared and we got to enjoy the sunsetting.

4 or 5 kids on the paddle board

Playing until the sun set

The Cotovsky girls.  Claire (3), Grace (15 months), and Caroline (5).  I don't hold it against their mom that she graduated from UNC and then went to U. of Il to law school.  She's a great friend!

The beach, friends, sunset, swimming, and rock jumping all added up to a great evening!