Grandpa's Back!

Like I said, we are a stop on the way home for Grandpa! He came back, unfortunately, only for a day. So we just hung out.

He came bearing gifts as well. The kids loved it! My dad and I drove to Wal-mart to get a few things, picked up some Korean BBQ on the way home. It was good food.


We ended the night with a birthday cake. Tomorrow is Grandpa's birthday, but he gets on a plane tomorrow to go home. With crossing over the dateline, his birthday actually ends the minute his plane takes off. We decided to celebrate while he was here with us.


It is supposed to be a fish if you look carefully. It didn't quite turn out the way we wanted, but it was still delicious! We miss you and can't wait for your next visit! (Bring Grandma next time).

A visit from Pompa!

Some of you may already know that my parents are temporarily living in the Gilbert Islands. Along with overseeing the church facilities in the Gilbert Islands , my dad is also in charge of the Marshall Islands. The flight from the Gilbert Is. to the Marshall Is. is actually about 1 1/2 hrs. Unfortunately, there is no such flight. So, when my dad needs to go the Marshall Islands, he flies from there to Fiji, then to Hawaii, then to the Marshall Islands. Guess who he visits with in Hawaii?! -----Yay me!!


This past weekend, my dad stopped over and stayed with us. It was such a great visit. From the moment he arrived at our house Friday morning, he and I talked, and talked, and talked. We got some work errands done that morning, then I took him out to lunch. Micah joined us because he was home sick that day (poor guy). We went to Leilei's Restaurant at Turtle Bay Resort. The food was great! We got home, and my dad took Micah out, while I took a nap. When I woke up, the kids were home from school. We planned some menu items for dinner, then went back to the store with Pompa (one of my niece's calls him this), to buy the ingredients. Leigh and Grandpa made otai, while I made chicken enchiladas. Dinner was great.

Then a fishing trip was planned. Tyler and Grandpa made some more trips to the store to get bait and other goodies. We were up BEFORE the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning ----- 4:45am to be exact! We drove down to Haleiwa and began our fishing adventure.

In case any of you have never seen this phenomenon, this is what it looks like outside BEFORE the crack of dawn (LOL!). Dark! The guys getting all their baits and poles ready.

Our novice fishermen.

Kara, handling some bait.

Here's what Micah caught (haha!). Nah, that's the bait they used.

Yay! The sun was starting to come up. Randy and the kids casting, waiting for that bite.

Here's what they caught. Any guesses? Leave a comment.


Randy and Micah getting their hooks prepped.

Granpa showing Micah how to cast.

I was trying to be "artsy" with this shot. I need a real camera.

Eventually, the kids decided to play with the bait. There is a barracuda in the cooler that Grandpa caught. Any guesses yet on what Randy and the kids caught?

The boys. Grandpa forgot to turn and smile.

We had such a great time! We went home exhausted and it was only 10:30am (LOL!). That night my dad and I stayed up talking. It was so fun. We went to church the next day. Came home and had a nice dinner. We watched home videos and then it was time for Pompa to go on to the next leg of his trip. We were all sad after he left. The great thing though about being a stop-over on the way over, is that we get to be a stop-over on the way back. Yay me!! Grandpa will fly in next weekend before heading home. We already have plans in the making.

A FHE lesson idea

If you are needing ideas for FHE, I've posted a few that we've done for the past couple of weeks on my other blog "had a moment to spare". You can click on it on the list to the left.

How Does Your Garden Grow?!

The kids have been asking to start a garden. We drove over to Ace, bought some gardening stuff, came home and began. The girls were having a good time planting the seeds.


This is what we found after two days!


Those are cucumbers.

Seeing this has gotten me more excited. Now I want to build a big planter box to put more vegetables.

UPDATE - She's Officially a Red Raider

This past week was tryouts for the Kahuku Intermediate Volleyball team. Leigh decided she was going to try. Friday, I picked up Leigh and she made the announcement that she had made the team! She doesn't know yet what position. I guess she'll find out at her first practice. Congratulations Leigh!

UPDATE - She will be "libero/defense specialist" (to me that's the same) if any of you were curious.

First Day of School!

Today was the first day of school. This day did come much faster than it did last year. I had fun all summer with my kids, but I am ready for them to go back. I think they are ready as well.

Micah is going to 1st grade. I think one of the fun things about a new school year is having a new school teacher. Well, when he found out who his teacher was going to be, he was --- slightly disappointed, then got over it. His teacher from last year moved up from Kindergarten to 1st and he has been assigned to her again. Don't get him wrong. He loved his teacher from last year, but I think he was more disappointed in the fact that it wasn't a new name, more than anything. Like I said, he got over it and is happy about it.

Kara, thankfully got who she wanted, along with her BFF. Whew, dodged that bullet of "why can't Emma and I be in the same class." Kara is getting braver and braver with life, and goes now into the classroom on her own, not without a kiss and hug of course. When Randy and I walked away, she was sitting next to this big boy and had the look of "(Grrrrr.) I'm not comfortable sitting here." LOL!

Tyler is the big man on campus now, well, almost. He's in 5th grade (that came way too fast). I'm especially excited because in this school, 5th graders start to be involved in the AVID program. Basically a program that helps kids be organized with their school work. He came home with a different attitude, it was one I hadn't seen before. It was an attitude of "I need to be organized". (Cue the hallelujah's).

Leigh is now in the 7th grade! All of 6th grade year and summer, she was worried about going into Intermediate School. When questioned why, her reply was that the kids were scarier there. I told her there was nothing to worry about. The day came to pick up her schedule. I think the excitement in the air maybe changed things because after that, she couldn't wait to start! She had her first day, going from class to class, figuring out where everything was, who was in her class, and what the teachers were like. I laughed when I read her schedule because she had 2 teachers that I had when I attended Kahuku HS. Also, (my roommates from college will laugh) she has a good friend of mine from college as her Science teacher (Kaniela Kalama). The first day of school when he called her name, he said out loud in front of the whole class, "I used to work with your mom." She said it was only slightly embarassing (LOL.) She came home happy declaring herself a "Red Raider" now.

We've been back in Hawaii for a year now and I feel that the kids have adjusted. Everyone is happy with life ------ for now (haha).

Happy Birthday Micah!

July 30th is my monkey's birthday. If any of you have seen my son Micah in action, you'll understand why I call him my monkey. He's the youngest of our clan and we all love him (though some of us won't admit it. LOL!). He is definitely always full of energy, he's smart, he loves to just play, he's a great helper and is a funny guy.
He turned six and so we celebrated on Saturday by doing what he wanted to do. When you're six, fun is just hanging out with your friends and family. He invited his two friends and we all went to the beach for the day.

Micah and his "brother from another mother" (That's what they call each other).

Tyler and Randy trying to catch a big one. It was pretty rough that day.

Kara enjoying the day.

Tyler and Randy did catch one! Kara using her "Vanna" skills to show the fish.

Tyler and Seth showing the little fish they caught.

So much fun!!

I had fun watching Randy help each of the kids fish.

Micah showing the "aquarium" they made for their catches.

My preteen soaking up the sun.

My son wanted a "spider-man" cake. So I used my internet surfing skills and copied this idea from someone. It turned out great and Micah LOVED it!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICAH!