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.

Happy Birthday Brendan!!!

Brendan turned ten this week. Nothing like the birthday of one of your children to make you sit and dwell on the years that have past you by. It seems just like yesterday that he was born. Brendan is turning into such a fine young man. We are very proud of the things that he is doing and the choices that he is making. We love you Brendan and hope you have many many many more happy birthdays!!!


Our kids always get to choose what kind of cake they want. We have done everything from Snow White to Harry Potter and everything in between. Brendan let us off the hook this year by choosing a theme for his cake that made his cake the easiest one we have ever done. He wanted the LA Galaxay's soccer field. For those of you who didn't know, Brendan loves the LA Galaxy.


This is a look at the gifts and cards before they were opened. Thank you to all of our family and friends who were thinking of him on this day. He got some amazing gifts. Everything was Brendan to a tee.


This was the gift that he wanted most. The one and only Ripstick G. He has already got the hang of it. It has pretty much replaced his bike as his mode of transportation.

Hawaii -- Waikiki

We just got back from a fabulous family reunion/vacation in Hawaii. Matt's parents have lived in Hawaii now for about 13 years and although we have gone over there as seperate family units several times this is the first time the entire family has been there together, all 27 of us.

We were there for a total of two weeks and it was absolutely wonderful. We had a great time. We did a ton of fun stuff. I will post pictures of the trip in sections so as not to bore you with the 500 pictures that I took.

Let's start with Waikiki. This is a picture of Matt and the boys in downtown Waikiki just outside the International Market.


Matt's brother Danny and Taylor waiting for the surfers to pass by.


Mati testing out the water.

This is Matt and my sister-in-law Lindsay listening to their surf instructor. I wanted to take pictures of them actually on their surf boards, but the instructor took them so far out into the ocean that we could not see them. However, they both said how good the other one did and that it was a blast.

Benji took surf lessons as well. His instructor was awesome. He stayed on the board with him the entire time. I will post pictures later of Benji standing on the surfboard.

Brendan trying to catch a wave on the Boogie board.

More adventures from our trip to come.