Just an awesome Saturday

Saturday morning after breakfast we packed up and headed to Makapu'u Lighthouse.  We wanted to see some whales and enjoy what we hoped would be a beautiful day.

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 Friends joined us on our hike.  The older boys were on the same flag football team and the little boys are best buddies.  Having friends made the hike so much fun.  We even saw a whale splashing around!

 Justin and the bigs going on a little side adventure.

To the far left is Hanauma Bay, in the foreground is Koko Head, and off in the distance on the right is Diamond Head!

They were pretending to be monkeys.

Beautiful lighthouse 

Just look at that water!!  The white strip of beach you see off in the distance is Bellows.  We went there after hiking.

The lighthouse is above the girl's head kneeling in the foreground.

Bellows is just what you think of when you think of a Hawaiian beach.  Flour like sand, turquoise water, mountains, palm trees!  We ended up meeting another family there that has 3 girls (so Caroline had a friend) and we enjoyed a wonderful afternoon.  The President was down the beach a ways and we saw a poor SS guy out on a jet ski all afternoon.  But didn't see the guy himself.
We enjoyed boogie boarding, playing in the sand, and visiting with friends.  Then we packed up and went to eat at the Kona Brewing Company restaurant.
It was such a great day!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas day was just wonderful!  Justin and I we up before the kids.  We were excited!  After seeing what Santa had brought we took turns opening presents.  Then it was time for breakfast and then playing with the new toys.  

Looking at his NFL rule book.  It was what he wanted most of all!  Besides a bag of marshmallows.

Lining up his train, plane, cars.

Reading the additional Harry Potter books.

WOW!

The bigs loved Eric's train table too!

We then went over to the post chapel to help serve breakfast to the single soldiers.  It was nice to be able to give on a day when we received so much.  Two other families from our street were there too.  Then we went to lunch at the DFAC.  We got home and I took a nap and Justin and the kids watched A Christmas Story.  Then we had Justin's Command Sargent Major and his wife over for dinner.  Their kids are older and weren't on the island for the holidays.  They had a great evening watching the kids and fell in love with Miles.  So much so that they asked to watch him if we ever needed it!  Turns out we did need it when we go to Kauai in a few weekends and they were thrilled.  Perfect!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas!

A few videos as well

Here are several videos from the past week.  Enjoy Eric's class singing.  He's easy to pick out!

And this is just me playing with the new time-lapse function on my phone.

Caroline discussing the finer points of the mermaid she drew in the sand.

Yikes!

I can't believe it's been over a week since I last blogged!!  Life has been busy to say the least.  Here are the highlights.

Justin's dad framed this collage of Justin's marlin adventure.  It arrived with the glass shattered so I took it to the frame shop on post to get it fixed.

 It was spirit week at school last week.  Crazy hair, crazy socks, mismatch, and inside out day were some of them.  Eric even got in the spirit of things on crazy sock day!

 There have been some pretty impressive rainbows lately.  This was a huge bright full one after swim practice.

 Channeling his inner Uncle Paul and wearing socks with his crocs!

 Story time at the library this week included a visit with Santa!  I had no idea this was happening.

 I also received a fun "thank you" from Will's class for helping out each week.

 Will's last flag football practice included a scrimmage against siblings, parents and coaches.  Eric wanted to do it again!  All 3 kids are on the field in the picture.

 Eric also got to make a gingerbread house at pretty school.  His tongue was working just as hard as he was!

 We also went over to a friends house to decorate cookies.  I made chocolate sugar cookies to take.  The kids didn't eat much dinner that night!

 Friday was busier than usual.  Caroline's class had a breakfast party, then Eric had a Christmas performance, then back to Will's class for a smores party.  In between Eric and Will's party I chased down my mailman because I needed a package out of his truck.  He couldn't get to it (way too many packages in there) but said he would try to swing by and drop it off before 2.  It had teacher gifts in it that I needed before school got out at 2:10!!  So I went to Will's party then left and went home (the package was there!) got the gifts, and headed back to school.  I was able to deliver the gifts as the bell was ringing!!  Cut it close.

Sunday we went to Waimea to watch the waves and have dinner as the sun set.  It was a great end to a busy week.

3 parties and waves

Wednesday morning my friend Gina came by and picked Eric and me up and we went to Waimea Bay to watch the 20 foot waves.  It was a beautiful morning and we enjoyed watching the waves and surfers.  Eric, Lincoln, and baby Harper enjoyed playing in the sand.  Afterwards we went and had lunch in Hale'iwa then got home in time to pick up the bigs from school.  The afternoon turned cloudy and rainy so it was so nice to have been in the sun at the beach for the morning.

 The waves would curl over then parts would pop up so high.

 The surfers were pretty far out there and you could tell when they caught a waves by looking for the streaks of white coming down the face of the wave.

6 are catching this wave

 We were sitting pretty far back and we could feel and see the spray from the waves!

The black rock on the left is the one we have jumped off.  The waves were crashing on the front of that rock!

Thursday night I had a party to attend.  It was nice and the best part was this sweet kitty that sat in my lap!  His name is Pumpkin.

 Then Friday, Justin and I went to a "Cousin Eddie's" (from Christmas Vacation) party.  I made an tacky sweater for Justin to wear.  I made quite a mess trying to create his sweater!  Vacuuming was required after.

 It turned out pretty good.  The santa iron-on added a nice tacky touch.  As did the full size stocking I put on the back.

 While I had the glue gun out I decided I would make a wreath.  Grandpa had cut the cedar and the circle for me already.  So I got all the circles glued on and then added a bow and some greenery.  I think it turned out quite nice!!  Thanks for the supplies Grandpa and mailing it Grandma!!

 Then Saturday the whole family had a party at Justin's boss's house.  It was a tacky sweater party as well.  Justin didn't win ( I was helping to judge) but we had a good time.

Justin and his Command Sargent Major.

 This was just too cute not to post!  Eric wore this to church this morning.

This week is the kids last week before a 3 week break!

Lots going on (duh!)

It seems like it has been busier than usual lately.  Last week Justin was super busy at work and wasn't making it home before I was in bed asleep!  We had a birthday party Monday, football Monday and Wednesday, swim Tuesday-Friday, gymnastics Monday and Friday, and I had a party Thursday night. Then last weekend Will had a football game and Caroline had a swim meet, both on Saturday and then Caroline had try-outs for team gymnastics on Sunday.
So before a new, and yet again, busy week got started we went to the beach to just sit and enjoy the sunset.  We went to Ko'Olina and it did not disappoint!

Dinner time!

Caroline and Will went out for a brief snorkel.

It was a great peaceful way to start our week!