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.

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

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?

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?

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!

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!

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

Announcing Lainey Elizabeth Homesley

Tassel Troubles

Jacob's graduation performancce

Jacob's Graduation

Jacob getting his diploma

Candy Lei

In honor of Jacob's preschool graduation tomorrow I thought I would try my hand at making candy lei. This is the first time I have ever done it so I gathered my supplies and set out to work. You cut the netting (3 1/2 yards). Put the candy in and tie on each side of candy with ribbon. Curl the ribbon and tie ends of lei together. I think they turned out great!

Micah at Mayfest

Thanks to the comment Gina left on my blog-thanks for the great advice-I found out that the whole school was having a dress rehearsal today! So I went and was able to see Micah perform and tomorrow we will all attend Jacob's graduation!

Pray for Steven Curtis Chapman and Family

This morning as I was driving Jacob to preschool I heard some terrible news on the radio. Please read the link below. Be sure to click on the link on the right hand side of their page that say "Meet Maria and express condolances".

http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/


A few years ago, when we lived in Cali, my dear freind Nicole Leonard and I went to a Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin and Steven Curtis Chapman concert. It was so incredible but I remember that night Steven talking about how adoption has touched and changed his family. God stirred the desire in my heart to adopt that night and it is something I will never forget.

What's a Mom to do?

Jacob is graduating from Preschool this Friday morning.

Micah is having his end of the year concert this Friday morning.

Darrick is gone.

I can't be two places at once.

Any ideas?

Pastor Mike's Compassion Dance

Hard Lesson for Micah

"I don't want to go to school today!" were the first words out of Micah's mouth this morning. I didn't think it was unusual because he has said that before and he usually is fine once he is downstairs and has some breakfast.

But during breakfast he told me that he thought he was getting Jacob's cough and fever. He was coughing a little so I took his temperature and it was normal.

After breakfast he started begging me to stay home. I said no and sent him upstairs to brush his teeth and I finished packing lunches.

Before I knew it, there he was again in the kitchen and he said he needed to tell me something. I said OK and sat down to listen. He burst into tears and said he didn't want to go to school today because he has detention. I asked him why and he said at Friday recess he saw a kindergartner throwing sticks and Micah threw a stick at the boy.

I talked to him about consequences for our actions and he had to serve his punishment, which is picking up flowers and leaves at lunch recess. I told him I loved him and that we all mistakes and then we have to learn our lesson.

I decided to walk him to school so I could talk to his teacher. She did not know about it yet because they get the list with their morning bulletin. She was surprised and I told her that he was upset but I wanted him to serve it.

I thought about him all day while he was at school, hoping he was okay and not too upset. Finally at 2:00 he came home smiling and said he was glad he only had detention one day. I asked him if he learned his lesson and he said yes.

Renewed

I am so thankful that Jacob is feeling better so we could through with our weekend plans!

This weekend my church was having a one day woman's get away. It was called "Renewed: Sunrise to Sunset". A few weeks ago I asked Beth and Oscar if they could watch the boys so I could go. When Beth talked to Oscar about he said why don't you go with her and I'll watch the 4 kids! So we paid for our reservations and anxiously awaited the day.

We actually had to be there before Sunrise, 5:30 am so we decided it would be best if I dropped the boys off at their house Friday night and took Beth with me so we could get up early and go.

We left my house at 4:30 am and drove to Camp Homelani. We arrived in the dark and registered. Our first activity was to go down to the ocean, watch the sunrise. Then we were each given a rock to throw, in the ocean, symbolizing a burden we wanted to give to God.

After and ice breaker activity, worship and morning message we had breakfast. Then more worship, our next speaker and some quiet time to pray and journal. Then we went to have lunch. After lunch we had a guest speaker, Dawn O'Brien, from 95.5 The Fish.

In the afternoon it was activity time and Beth and I signed up for a Make-up class and a card making class. Those were fun.

Then it was dinner, and by the way, the food was great all day! In the evening we had worship, Dawn spoke again and we had some life-changing activities. It was a transforming day and we definitly left, at 8:30 pm feeling renewed.

We drove back to Beth and Oscar's to find Oscar and all 4 kids intact! Oscar, I just want to thank you again for being such a great uncle. The boys adore you and had a great time!

Feeling better

I am so happy to report that Jacob stopped running a fever late yesterday afternoon and did not have one all through the night! Was it the soup...

Homemade Chicken Soup

Last night Jacob ran his highest fever yet, it got up to 103.8! I was scared because last year he had a seizure from a fever. I wished Darrick was home. But it finally did come down. During the day he runs a mild fever and feels pretty good.


Today Beth brought over some homemade chicken soup for Jacob. It is Oscar's mom's recipe and it always make their family feel better. They mix Spanish rice into their soup, which I tried and is delicious.

Jacob had a bowl for lunch and a bowl for dinner. We need Jake to feel better by tomorrow because Beth and I have big plans for this Saturday!

Thank you so much Beth-you are a good friend!

Curriculum Fair

Today I went to check out the curriculum fair at Micah's school. This is when all the classes display some special projects they have been working on. It was really nice and there were so many nice things.

For Micah's class he had an art work for the book "Peach and Blue". He also worked on a book that has all kinds of his writings. (Just put the cursor over the photo and the slide show will stop so you can read what he wrote)

Then his GT class also did some projects. One was about Fairy Tales.

Then I just took some random shots of other cool projects. Enjoy!

Iroquois Point Curriculum Fair

My own space

I love scrapbooking! I have always wanted my own space, besides the kitchen table, where I could have all my gear set up. Well it is finally done! The townhouse we live in now has a big laundry room and I envisioned the extra space could be my scrapbook area. Back when my parents were here in February they helped me pick up the table that I bought on Craig's List for $50.00. Now I just need to find the time!

Also, Jake woke up at 5 am on Monday with a temp of 102. He has been coughing and still had a temp today so I got an appt. for him. The doctor said it is a viral infection which basically means there is nothing to be done except let it run its course. Jake and I have not been sleeping good since he is coughing and restless. Hopefully he will feel better tomorrow.

Hoops 4 Christ

Two weeks ago Micah started playing basketball at the First Chinese Christian Church of Christ in their "Hoops 4 Christ" program. Our friend from church, Mike Ching, is one of the coaches and invited us to join. Micah is in the 6-8 year old class. There are a lot of kids, boys and girls. Right now for 6 weeks they are having clinics where the kids go to different stations and learn and practice all the basics of basketball. It is our first experience with Basketball and Micah really wanted to try it.

He really loves it and is having fun. Uncle Oscar helped us one night get some nice basketball shoes since he was slipping all over the court with his school shoes. After the 6 weeks of clinics they will put the kids into teams and they will play games against each other.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! I hope all the moms out there had a nice day. Since Darrick is gone, the boys took good care of me. At church this morning all the moms received a flower and they had a professional photographer there to take our pictures for free. They also interviewed some moms during the service and had a special hula.



For lunch we were invited over to Pat's house for a Mother's day BBQ (Pat's husband is on the Lake Erie too). Beth and Oscar joined us and since Oscar was the only guy, we had him man the BBQ with Micah as his supervisor. The kids all played and we had yummy food.

I also put a picture of the gifts the boys made me at school. I love homemade gifts-they are so precious.




To My Mom, It is hard for me to be far away from you but especially on days like today. You are such a great mom and a wonderful Nana to my boys. We all love you so dearly. You support me and love me unconditionally, even though our personalities are so different. I can be so stubborn and passionate some times, I don't know how you put up with me, but you always did and have in your kind and gentle way. At 14 years old when I proclaimed "I love Darrick!" you never once told me that I didn't. When I came home from school in 6th grade announcing that I wanted to learn to shave my legs right now, even through we had a band concert to go to, you had to get four kids fed and ready, you took the time to show me how. And when I went through Depression in my late teens you got up in the middle of the night and crawled in bed with me and held while I cried.



I cannot express how thankful I am that you are a breast cancer survivor! It was so hard for me to be away from you during this time. I really had to learn to put it all in God's hands because all I could do was pray. You took it with courage and strength and never felt sorry for yourself. Even though you had a masectomy you never let it affect how you feel about you appearance or going to the beach in Hawaii in a bathing suit.



And lastly, there are many reasons why we want to adopt but I want you to know that one of them is so that I can have a daughter. I want her and I to have what we do, I want to share things with her that we did and love her the way you have loved me.

I love you Mom, you are such a blessing to me!

My little brother is getting married

Today my brother Jeff, the youngest of us four kids, asked Beth to marry him and she said yes!

I have never met Beth, even though the rest of my family has and Darrick is meeting her tomorrow. Everyone speaks highly of her and says she will be a great addition to our family.

The wedding is set for July so it looks like we will be taking a trip to Iowa this summer!


The happy couple with my parents/the ring/Jeff and Beth in New York City

Congratulations Jeff and Beth!

HNL Night One

Last night was the first session of the HNL ("Ho Nutha Level") Conference. It ran from 6:30-9:00. I went with my friend Pat, since both our husbands are in San Diego with the Lake Erie.

The night started off with worship and then we had our first speaker, our pastor Mike Kai. He spoke to us about "The Next Level Leader".

Then after a 10 minute break we heard John Honold from Hope Chapel Kapolei. He spoke to us about "The Heart of David".

They provided childcare for a small fee which made it possible for both Pat and I to attend. The boys had a blast and can't wait to go back tonight for session 2!