Friday, July 04, 2008

We made it!

We made it California and very easily too! We knew that there were 3 flights going to Travis AFB yesterday so we were going tto try to make it on one of those. The first one was at 4:55am so we got up at 3:30, finished packing and were getting ready to go.

I decided to call the info line one more time just to make sure the flight was still scheduled and surprise, there was a flight going to March Air Force Base which is about 45 minutes from my parents. There were 90 seats available and we got on!

The flight was great. I really love flying MAC flights. They are so relaxed and everyone is so friendly. The pilot even invited each family up one at a time to come up to the cockpit and look out the front and see all the controls-it was awesome.

After we met up with my parents we stopped at Carl's Jr-yummy! Once home, we took baths, played and then had a good night sleep!

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Time for a MAC attack

My brother Jeff is getting married on July 12. He is getting married in Iowa, so we are first going to Cali and then we will all(plus my brother Sam) fly to Iowa. So as you can figure that is mucho dinero in plane tickets. So in order to try to save some money the boys are going to try to catch a MAC flight.

The last time we flew a MAC flight was when we went to Japan. The bonus is that it is free but there is no guarentee that you will get on. On Thursday there are 3 flights going to Travis Air Force Base, so we are going to try to get on one of those.

So we are busy packing, getting haircuts and getting ready to go!

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Baby's 1st luau

We were invited to our first "Baby's 1st Luau". Ever since we have moved here we have heard about them but we had never been to one.

DC1 Kapua, who works for Darrick, invited us and a bunch of other people on the ship to his son Shandon's 1st luau. They are a very big tradition here where friends and family all gather to celebrate the first year of life of the child.

It actually reminded me of a wedding reception but with a kid theme. They had a huge outdoor tent with lots of tables, all decorated with centerpieces and balloons. To start off we all had pupu's-which are appetizers in Hawaiian. They even had special ones for kids like goldfish, pretzels and crackers.

While we waited for all the guests to arrive there was a lot to do to keep us entertained. They had 2 huge bounce houses, games, popcorn, cotton candy and shave ice. Then we had a huge luau feast complete with Kahlua pork, rice, and mac salad. But the one thing we could not bring ourselves to try was squid laulau.

Then they had a magician, a live band, a slide show of Shandon's first year and an area set up where we could get our family picture taken and then receive a free 5x7. It was all quite impressive and the boys were completely exhausted when we left.

Today after church we went to watch Ki and Geni while Oscar went to the hospital and brought Beth and Zek home. We bought them pizza for lunch and then left so they could all take a nap.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Pajama Day

Today the boys and I hung out and had a pajama day. Which basically means we stay in our pajamas all day.

We watched 3 movies also. We watched "Indiana Jones and the temple of doom", "Indiana Jones and the last crusade" and "Ella Enchanted".

We are on this big kick of Indiana Jones because of our Lego Indiana Jones game for the PS2.

I have to admit that Star Wars was our first jump into big boy movies. I was OK with it because it was all light sabers and the force. Then it was Narnia-swords and bows and arrows, a little more violent but still so so. But now it is Indiana Jones which is all guns and OK one whip. I definitely have limits but I realize too that they are boys and not girls and they like to play stuff like that.

Darrcik has read some books by John Eldridge that talk about how as a society we try to feminize men and we need to just let them be men and how God created them. I have always been surrounded by men. I have all brothers, Darrick has all brothers. I have a very high tolerance for wrestling and horse play, I think, and I even enjoy joining in sometimes.

But I am curious about your thoughts on playing and violence? I would especially appreciate hearing some MENS thoughts on it but women let me know what you think to.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

GLO Super Star


At the end of the school year Micah was awarded with the honor of being a Super GLO star. This means that he was a GLO star every quarter of the school year. We were disappointed, along with the other parents and kids who received this award, that the box containing the 1st grade trophies was delayed. It finally came in last week and we were able to stop by the office and pick it up! Congratulations Micah, we are so proud of you!

Shark's Cove

Finally it is summer and we can go to Shark's Cove again! During the rest of the year the ocean is too rough, so we have to wait til summer to enjoy it. On Saturday we invited the Gonzalez family since they have never been. It was a beautiful day and the weather was pretty warm.


Turtle /Ki holding sea cucumber /Micah swimming




We found as sea turtle that got trapped while the tide was low. The boys found a bunch of sea cucumbers. And we all played, swam and looked for treasures and fish all day!


50th State Fair

This past Friday we went to the 50th State Fair with the Gonzalez family.



It is really small compared to the fairs we are use to, like the LA county fair. It basically just has food, games and rides. We had so much fun with each other and our kids. The kids were all a lot braver then we thought they would be.


The first ride we went on as a family was Pharaoh's Fury. It is like the dragon swing at Knotts. The boys had no idea what they were in for and were all smiles before the ride started.




As soon as it started going their faces changes quickly. As we really started swinging and getting vertical, Micah kept saying "I don't like it, I don't like it!" and Jacob almost started crying, But we told them we were safe and just to scream and by the end they were saying how awesome it was and let's do it again!




Here are a few more random shots of the night. We went into the petting zoo, and one of the dogs was getting way too friendly with me! The boys loved the bumper cars and Jacob surprisingly loved the whirl-a-twirl. In fact the second time Micah, Jacob and Ki went alone and all us nervous parents waited on the side. We were relieved when they passed us and they were all smiling.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Glass Bottom Boat

This summer, as part of the children's ministry, they are having weekly outings. Mondays are called Moving Mondays and are for 2nd-4th graders, which is now Micah since he will be going into second grade. Jacob is too young so I have been switching kids with another mom named Kristen. I take her older boys with me and Micah while Jacob plays with her younger girls.
Last week we went bowling, which was fun. But today we went on a Glass Bottom Boat. There are glass window holes on the bottom of the boat. As you get to the reef you can see coral and all kinds of fish. Then they give you bread to up to the top of the boat and feed the fish. We also spotted some sea turtles. It was a beautiful day!

Green Sea Turtle

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Jacob or King Peter?







We're majorly into Narnia

Ever since we saw Prince Caspian the boys have been playing Naria. Today we bought them some swords and Jacob the cutest King Peter costume. It was all fun til Jacob said "Try and get me in the face!" so Micah did and Jacob says"I meant my forehead"...huh?

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Indiana Jones Lego

The boys had been waiting for awhile for Lego Indiana Jones to come out for their PS2. The morning we got the call Micah could hardly stand it and rushed right home after school. Jacob was excited too but not as excited as he was for the marshmallows we bought at the grocery store.

Who said kids don't exercise while playing video games?

Monday, June 02, 2008

Sock Heads


This is what happens when you take a bunch of guys shopping for shoes! Everytime the salesman went in the back, the boys (including Uncle Oscar) would stretch the nylon socks on their heads. They are there for you to use while trying on shoes but the boys found another use for them!

Ki, Jacob and Micah
picture taken by Oscar on his camera phone

Future Jedi

Oscar worked hard making this short video of Micah. The boys love it and hope you do too!

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Our Weekend

Friday: Jacob's last official day of preschool! Even though he graduated on the 23rd, his last day was the 30th. We are starting a new tradition that on the last day of school we go out for a scoop of ice cream to kick off their summer vacation. So Jake and I went to Baskin Robbins and enjoyed a yummy treat. I asked him what he wanted to do this summer and he said: "Go swimming at the Hale Koa, go to Nana and Papa's house and play with play dough!"


Saturday: Darrick finally had a day off so we had a family day from sunrise to sunset. We got up and watched cartoons while we ate waffles with peanut butter and chocolate chips! After breakfast we went to renew our lease for another year. Then we headed to Bishop Museum to check out their new whale exhibit, it was cool. We had a few errands to run and then we went to see "Prince Caspian". We all loved it! I have been reading the book to Micah so he got so excited when he knew what was going to happen. The boys were cheering out loud at certain parts-it was really fun. Then we ended the day at Dirty Lickin's.


Sunday: Today Darrick had duty. The boys and I went to church in the morning. In the afternoon we went to Micah's last Hoops 4 Christ. It was fun. They ran relay races and had a craft. He got a shirt and workout towel too. But the highlight was the big blow up water slide. They also had pizza, chips and punch. After our busy weekend the boys were in bed and asleep by 7:00!


Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Happy Memorial Day!


Happy Memorial Day Everyone! We are so happy because they Lake Erie pulled in a few days early so we were able to pick Darrick up Sunday afternoon, but he had duty today so he could not spend the day with us.

This morning we headed out to Iroquois Point Beach for the Cub Scout Crossover Ceremony. It is the day the boys advance to the next level of cub scouts. Before the ceremony started we were all treated to watching an Air Craft Carrier pull through the channel. There are no air craft carriers stationed at Pearl Harbor so it is always a treat when we get to see one.

This year Micah was at the beginning level of cub scouts, which comes before boy scouts. He started as a Tiger. The boys all line up one one side of a bridge and then their leader takes off their tiger neckerchief, calls their name and they walk over the bridge. They are greeted on the other side by their new leader and receive their wolf book and new yellow wolf neckerchief.

After the ceremony we went to the ship to have lunch with Darrick. It was a nice day and since Darrick had duty on a holiday the capt. is giving all those guys the day off tomorrow!

Micah becomes a Wolf