Justin's home! And a recap of our week

Justin was in the field this week.  We all missed him and the kids were so happy to have him home.  They each had some one-on-one time with hime today and loved it!  They also helped him set up his so it could dry out.

I bought some sidewalk chalk and the kids have loved it!  24 pieces are about gone and it's only taken  4 days.  Eric has been busy drawing rainbows and his name.

 This week was also Caroline's science fair.  She didn't win for her class but I am so proud of her.  She did the entire thing herself!

 We have had some issues with our smoke alarms this week.  Alarms that are connected that when one goes off they all go off are tons of fun at 3:50 in the morning.  The kids wake up crying and then can't get back to sleep since they went off 3 times (about 20 minutes apart)!!!  Monday and Thursday just the alarm in my room went off and on Monday they replaced my alarm.  Friday I called housing and told them it didn't work and they came right out and replaced every smoke alarm in the entire house.  I'm hoping that fixes the issue and there won't be any more early morning wake up calls.  But while the repair man was changing out the alarms and testing them.  Miles went and got in the tub!  I don't think he liked all the beeping.

 The kids hanging out in Dad's tent.

Welcome home Justin!  And here's to another busy week and looking forward to visitors that arrive this week too!

Another adventure Friday

Last Friday 3 friends and I went and hiked Koko Head.  There are 1,048 steps (railroad ties) straight up!  It took us 34 minutes to make it to the top.  We were huffing and puffing and thought we were in better shape!  We had lots of fun and enjoyed sitting at the top and watching whales splash.

At the bottom looking up the trail.

Me, Michele, Gina, and Angie

Hanauma Bay is in the top left, 

Resting while looking down into the crater of Koko Head.

The rain out over the ocean never got us!

Baseball season

Baseball season has started already in HI!  Well for the 4 and 5 year olds it has.  Mini sports happen before the big kids season and the parents have to help their kid.  Eric's best buddy did flag football with him and is doing baseball too.  Makes it fun for me too since Gina and I do lots together anyway.  So I have a buddy too.

Will staged this picture!

 The kids are divided up onto 5 teams of 10 or 11.  They go to 5 stations working on different skills.  I only have pictures from 1 station.  I didn't participate in the parachute running so I was able to take pictures.  The kids thought it was fun to run.

Eric and Lincoln

We will have practice every Thursday evening for the next 2 months.  Then it will be Will's turn for baseball.

3 beaches and some snow

While Uncle Paul and Aunt Patt were here we tried to show them as much of the island as we could.  So we hit Sunset Beach for a sunset (duh!).

Watching the surfers

 Pililau for some paddle boarding and playing in the sand.

 A snow day at Eric's pretty school.  It was just a big area of shave ice!

His class waiting for their turn.  Eric is in the Vikings hat.

I could only find one glove!

He really wanted to make a snow angel.

 Uncle Paul made a friend in the short time we were there.  Jacob didn't say anything but just hung out with him!

 And for the 3rd beach we went to Bellows Air Force Station.  We walked on the beach, Eric caught some waves, and Aunt Patt and Eric played in the sand.  After leaving Bellows it was back home and time for Uncle Paul and Aunt Patt to finish packing.  They have more adventures to come.

Thanks for a wonderful visit!  We really enjoyed having you guys.

Kolekole Pass

This morning Justin, Miles, and I went for a walk up to Kolekole Pass.  It was almost 2 miles to the top and then we explored around for a little bit.  We saw 5 wild pigs, 2 pheasants, a mongoose, and listened to lots of birds while we walked uphill.  

Great view from the top.

 The road is closed both at the bottom and at the top.  We might have crossed both gates!

No worries, no round flew over our heads today.  But there was shooting happening at the skeet range that we heard.

Kauai (part 2, Day date)

Saturday morning We all got up early.  Justin and I headed to the airport to get a helicopter tour, while Mimi and granddaddy took the kids for a walk to see the sunrise.  

Justin and I had a day to ourselves (thanks Mimi and Granddaddy!!) and really enjoyed checking out the island.

Taking off

Our first stop was a helicopter tour around the island.  I had never flown in a helicopter before and it was cool.  

Waimea Canyon (same waterfall in the previous post)

The canyon that we hiked the edge of is on the left of the picture below.

 Napali coast.  Just amazing!

 Then we went to the Kilauea Lighthouse.  We saw lots of nesting birds on the side of the cliff and even some whales playing around too.

Since we didn't have any kids we enjoyed the waves hitting the cliff and splashing way out into the water.  The sounds the waves make when they hit the rock is really neat.

Then it was on to Secret Beach.  Just a short hike down to the beach and you are treated to a beautiful mostly empty (of people) beach.

 Justin and I enjoyed sitting and watching the waves and walking around exploring the area.

Justin taking a picture of me.

 And we got a picture of the same wave!

 We walked across the rocks (really neat how the trees would grow out of the side of the cliff).

 And when you peaked around the corner you saw a beautiful beach!

 Next we kept driving north to Hanalei.  We enjoyed walking around town and had some ice cream too.

Then it was back towards the resort to have dinner at a fabulous restaurant and watch the sunset.  

Even Santa needs a break after the holidays!

We were treated to another amazing sunset.

This is the view from the porch where we were staying.  The ocean is in-between the buildings.

We had a great day, and so did the kids and grandparents!  Kauai is an amazing island and you should go visit.  We can't wait to go again.