Once there was a Snowman

We have gotten about a foot of snow this week in a period of about 3 days. Today Mati and Benji thought it would be fun to build a snowman. Of course they needed help so I went out and helped them. First we had to pack a big snowball and start rolling.


We rolled and rolled until we got two great big snowballs. Then we packed the snow around the snowballs so they were round and secure.


We placed the head on and continued to pat and shape the snowman until it was just the way we wanted it.


Our snowman needed eyes, a nose, a mouth, and buttons. We added a hat and scarf even a pipe.
Only one thing left to do, give our snowman a name. After many suggestions from all parties involved we decided on Frosty Jack.
WE LOVE FROSTY JACK!!!!!!!

Simple Pleasures

It was an unusually quiet Saturday at our house today. Everyone was home and we had the entire afternoon with nothing to do so we decided to make Christmas cookies. Everyone got involved. It was nice to just hang out and laugh at some of the designs that we came up with to put on our cookies. Everyone was happy, laughing and having a good time. I was sad when all of the cookies were frosted.

Here is the final mess. What you can't see is the layer of sprinkles all over the table.


Everyone got their own plate.


Some of the finished cookies.

Happy Halloween

This year our Halloween festivities started off with a trip to the Off Broadway Theater's production of Forever Dead. We love the Off Broadway theater. Our family has had season passes for the last couple of years, and we love going. Here is a picture of the kids posing with one of the stars, Frankenstein


Our next Halloween adventure was a trip to the pumpkin patch and a hayride. Grandma Stansfield was visiting and got to come with us. We had a great time and the kids got some great pumpkins.

Brendan and Benji concentrating very carefully on their designs. I was very proud of Brendan this year. He did the entire pumpkin by himself, from gutting it to putting the candle inside. He did an awesome job. Benji did most of his by himself. He needed a little help at times, but he too did a great job. You will notice the absence of Taylor in our Halloween day pictures. He was with the scouts on a campout to Goblin Valley. He had a great time. We missed him in all of our pictures.

Mati would not touch the pumpkin, but she was very happy to tell her dad exactly what she wanted.

Mati, our cat

Benji, our dead soccer player.

Brendan our Sea Monster from Land of the Lost.

The finished products.

Mati and Benji checking out the goods after a very successful trick or treating night.

Pearl Harbor

One of my favorite days in Hawaii was the day we went to Pearl Harbor. We had gone there once before when Taylor was about 2 years old and have never been back until this trip. I decided that our kids were old enough to understand and have appreciation for what happened there. Matt and his dad sat down with the kids before we left and told them where we were going and what took place here and answered all of their questions. I think that this helped in their understanding.
They did a remarkable job while there and seemed to enjoy every minute of it.


Our family on the memorial. It was a little windy that day.

We also took a tour of the USS Bowfin submarine there. It was incredible. I really learned alot. We had to wear these crazy head sets so that as we went from room to room we could hear what happened there. Here the kids are posing in front of a torpedo. Yes, those are beds above it. Two people slept here everynight in case they ever needed to fire.

Taylor, Matt's mom and Brendan on the boat going to the memorial.

Matt's dad and Benji on the ride over.

On the memorial, Taylor, Matt and Matt's dad looking at all of the names on the wall.

Our family in front of the wall of names.

Matt's dad being in the military gave us access to Ford Island where we got to the see the Utah Memorial as well.

We had an amazing time at Pearl Harbor and I am so glad that my kids got to experience it. Thank you mom and dad for letting us drag you all over that day. We loved it!!!!!!

Sharks Cove

Snorkeling at Sharks Cove was another great adventure that we had on our vacation. All of the kids were great sports as they tried to learn how to snorkel. I think everyone got the hang of it except for Mati, but she wore goggles and could see the fish underwater if we held her up.


This is Benji, Mati, and myself getting ready to enter the water

My neice Saren, Taylor and Brendan ready to go.

Matt is showing the boys and Saren where there are pools of fish.

This is my brother-in-law Thom and my neice Libby looking at something interesting

We roasted hotdogs over the fire for lunch. They were yummmmmmmy.My father-in-law, Taylor, Saren, and Benji getting ready for lunch.

Here we are just hanging out as we eat before going back into the water to do some snorkeling.

And of course, my husband, and his brothers, Thom, Nate, and Danny

Bitter Sweet

That's right, count them 1,2,3,4 kids all in school. School started last Monday the 24th for all of my boys. They are having a great time. They have great teachers and Taylor got to start the 8th grade in a brand new school that is soooo awesome. Benji gets to go all day this year and he loves it. Brendan has alot of friends in his class and really likes his teacher. Matilyn, who started Kindergarten, had to wait until today.





We spent the morning running errands and volunteering in Benji's class. She was so excited to get home so she could get ready for school. She was so excited she could hardly eat her lunch. The time came and I took her to school. I waited on the playground with her until her teacher came out to line up the class to take them into the building. I waved goodbye and went home.

Two weeks ago I had a 3 page list of things I wanted to do and could do with everyone gone. Today, just 2 hours after dropping Mati off, I find myself sitting, wondering what to do. I have no one here needing me to dress polly pockets or Barbies, no one needing me to help them get something out of the closet, no one wanting to help me make the treat for family home evening, no one asking me hundreds of questions. I can't seem to get anything done with no one here.

The time goes so fast. For those of you reading this and wishing you could have 5 minutes to yourself, enjoy every single second that your kids are underfoot, because they will turn 5 and be off to school and then you will be wishing like me that they were all little again, needing you to help them and wanting you to read to them, and play with them.

As I start this new phase of my life, I hope that I can find balance and enjoy it, because today has been very bitter sweet.

Kahana Bay -- Surfing

Another fun activity that we did at Kahana Bay is surf. We are all beginners, but I think that we all got up at least once. My father-in-law is an avid surfer and he was teaching us all how to do it. It was easier for the kids to get up than the adults. I was very impressed with all the kids.

Taylor

My nephew Stephen

My father-in-law

Brendan

Yes, even I got up

Happy Birthday Benji!!!

Last week was Benji's birthday. He turned 7. I can't believe how big all of my kids are getting. Benji is one of a kind. He has the best sense of humor and fills our home with much laughter. We love having him as part of our family. We are so proud of him. We love you Benji and hope you have many more happy birthdays!!!

Ok ok so my art work is not as good as my husbands. Matt was on a business trip for Benji's birthday so I was on my own with this cake. For those of you who might recognize it as the Baku bowl I think I did an ok job. At least Benji liked it.

Benji wanted to go golfing for his birthday so before Matt left he took him golfing. I wish that I had pictures to show you , but they didn't take the camera. Benji said that the best part about golfing that day was that dad let him drive the cart.

Kahana Bay -- Kayaking

There is a great little beach about 1 mile from Matt's parents house called Kahana Bay. It is a great place to take families. It is a bay so the waves are not that rough, but rough enough to enjoy many activities such as kayaking, surfing, boogie boarding. All of which we did in the two days that we spent there. It stays shallow for quite a while so the kids can play. One of the things that we did is kayak. It is a blast.

This is a picture of Mati and two of my nieces, Allie and Libby. They decided to play it save and kayak on land.


There is a great lazy river that flows into the ocean. We started kayaking there to get the hang of it. It is very smooth and not too deep. This is Mati waiting for Matt to get in so they can sail away.


Matt's dad showing Brendan how to do the paddling all by himself.

Matt and I were finally ready to brave the ocean waves.

Matilyn wanted to brave the waves too.

We had a great time. There was only once that the kayak actually flipped over. Unfortuately it was when Matilyn was in the kayak with Matt, but that didn't stop her from going again. I will post more pictures of the other activities that we did at Kahana Bay in later posts.