Another one!

Great weekend that is!  Saturday morning Caroline and I went and took a surfing class at Hickam Air Force Base.  It was really fun and we had a blast.  It was everything I had thought it would be and I love it!  I'm ready to go again and teach Justin.  The waves were small so it wasn't overwhelming or scary.  The first wave the nose of my board went under and I slid off.  The second wave I was able to stand and take a nice long ride!  So awesome!  I learned after having to paddle all the way back out that I didn't want to ride that long again and the instructor told me to just walk backwards on the board to "put on the brakes." So I was able to stop myself after that and not have to paddle so far.  I fell plenty and got several sinus rinses (lots of water up the nose!).  I even got to catch a few waves without the instructor giving me a push to get started.  Caroline could kneel on her board but never stood on her own.  The instructor put her on his board and then she was able to stand up and ride waves in.  She enjoyed it as well!  After surfing we had lunch over looking the bay where we had been surfing.  Then came home.

Caroline's picture she drew at lunch.  She wrote "thank you for teaching me how to surf" on it and gave it to our instructor.

Our view from our table.

Those were the baby waves we were surfing out by those buoys.

Eric has a cold and isn't feeling well.  Lots of couching and a junky nose.  He spent a long time Saturday afternoon looking at books.

Then he brought me book after book to read to him.

Today (Sunday) we went to church and then hung out at home watching football and taking naps.  After nap we drove to the north shore near Dillingham air field to go for a hike at Kealia Trail.

Blurry picture but this was the beginning.

Even though it was cloudy, the view was spectacular.

It was a steep hike with lots of switchbacks.  Not sure what Will was doing here but he hadn't fallen and wasn't hurt.

Over looking the air field.

Caroline is in this picture too!  Justin is stopped in the turn and Caroline is a little above him.

Love!

Miles really enjoyed the hike as well!  Will was looking forward to Miles sleeping well in bed with him tonight.

That's what we climbed!  3.2 miles, 1:45 minutes, 1,233 ft gained

There was minimal complaining from the kids and they did great on the steepest hike they have done.

Sunset was gorgeous! 

After our hike I made fish tacos for dinner!

Veteran's Day

This morning Caroline's Junior Girl Scout troop, and the rest of our family, went to a flag retirement ceremony.  I had never been to one and thought this would be more meaningful than walking in a parade.  (ok, and a little selfish of me as well, since I had no desire to march in a parade!)  The ceremony was nice and it was great that all the kids present got to participate.

So the kids filed by a table with folded flags, saluted the soldier, received a flag, then carried it to another table...

where another soldier saluted them,

they handed over the flag, then saluted again.

Then they helped hold the flag as the stars were cut off.

A soldier carried either the stars or the stripes (not both at the same time) to another soldier who then placed it in the fire.

The group of kids and the firemen, soldiers, and police.

Sneaky Sneaky

This video is from Eric's birthday.  Justin was sitting between the 2 boys and while he was coaching Will on the finer points of having table manners (using his napkin), Eric decided it was time to eat more icing!  I saw him do it and grabbed my phone to record it.  So hard not to laugh and blow his cover.  As soon as Justin noticed he stopped Eric and I died laughing and told him I had been videoing the whole thing!  Silly Eric!!

This video was on the car ride home.  He was pretend sleeping and if you can listen closely you can hear him fake snoring at the end!

A birthday boy!

Eric turned 3 on Tuesday.  He had a fun filled day that was made even more special by having Granddaddy and Uncle Paul here!  

He got a Vikings jersey which he was wanting so bad!

Bonus was getting the helmet as well.  He LOVES it and likes to have the helmet sleep beside him in bed.

 Then we to Ford Island to the Pacific Aviation Museum.  We got there about an hour and a half before they closed so we pretty much had the place to our selves!  Perfect for my active kids to run around and explore some planes.

I love the mountains in the background.  The silly boy jumping into my picture is pretty great too!

 After the museum we headed into Waikiki to the hotel and had dinner.  I brought the cake, icing, lighter, and candles with me so we could have special birthday cake.

Notice Caroline modeling the correct mouth placement for blowing out candles!

He enjoyed his cake!

Pretending to sleep in the car on the way home.

Ron - E - Moe

Monday afternoon after nap time we drove out to the end of the road on the North Shore.  Ka'ena Point State Park was a great place for the kids to run and play.  It was a beautiful afternoon (like they all are!) and we enjoyed the walk and scenery quite a bit.

Just getting started

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Check out the landscape.  Barren, rocky, scrub brushes and dirt.  Will had a blast!

At the top of a hill.

You could walk by the ocean or up on that ledge.  The mist in the background of several of these pictures isn't from the dust but from the waves.

Uncle Paul looking over the edge with the bigs.

Beautiful

We stopped and spent some time throwing rocks over the edge trying to hit an office chair.  See Justin's rock in the air?!  Every time Eric threw a rock he would yell ron- e -moe.  He eventually got it right but must have said it more than 100 times.  Throwing rocks is fun stuff! 

He hit the chair and Eric was helping to celebrate.

For more about Dad and Uncle Paul's visit ( and lots more pictures)  check Uncle Paul's blog at www.paulandpatt.blogspot.com

Just a Saturday

This morning Will had a flag football game.  It was at 9 am and he had to be there at 8:30.  Not a big deal since we have some early risers around here!  Not only are dad and Uncle Paul still adjusting to being 6 hours behind but my kids are not known for sleeping in!  After the football game (Will's team won) we came home and packed the car for the beach.  I packed snacks, sandwiches, and fruit for dinner and we headed out around 10:45am.  We went to Teddy's Bigger Burgers in Kailua for a big lunch of burgers and fries.  Then on to a most beautiful beach.  Bellows is just amazing and the water color, waves, and view just don't disappoint!

Watching the people in the water.  

Boogie boarding!

Caroline and I both got stung by man o' war jellyfish.  Did you know they are blue?!  It hurts too!.  Justin took her to the lifeguard stand and got some numbing stuff to make it stop stinging.  She got back in the water about 30 minutes later!

Eric and Uncle Paul out in the waves having fun!

A big wave got them!

But they stayed out there!

About 5 pm we took showers, changed clothes, and loaded up the car to head home.  We took the long way around the island to see some more sights before the sun set.  We enjoyed our picnic dinner in the car.  What a GREAT day!

Visitors

My Dad and Uncle Paul arrived Wednesday a little after 5pm.  We met them at the airport with some very excited kiddos!  I didn't get any pictures of the running and hugging but it happened!  The next morning we decided to just take it easy and go to this low key beach and just do a little snorkeling and hanging out.  Home for lunch and naps, pumpkin carving, pizza, and trick-or-treating rounded out the first day.

That blue shirt standing in the water is Justin.

Watching the big waves and hoping to get splashed.

She enjoyed standing in the little pools

Watching all the excitment

Uncle Paul got Caroline to join him a little closer to the edge.  I was hoping to get a picture of a wave splashing them.

It didn't take long!!  I love how they both put their hands up like it's going to somehow stop the wave!

Will found this little fella

Climbing a fun tree.

We are loving having company and have many more fun days planned!