June 2024

Bryan's military ball was at the Hawaiian Hilton Village. It was fun to get all dressed up for the event!

Hiking up to the pink pill box with friends.

Kate has been learning how to make a few simple dishes this year: sloppy joes, macaroni and cheese, pigs in a blanket, and chocolate chip cookies.

My new favorite beach: Waimea

So fun to jump off the big rock!

Our first family vacation this year: Sydney, Australia. We had a blast hanging out in the city. We rented a car and were able to do a few excursions just outside of Sydney.

Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge

We did the Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb!

Featherdale Wildlife Park is a smaller zoo outside of Sydney where you are able to pet some of the kangaroos, wallabies, and koalas. It was fun to see some of the strange and beautiful animals native to this area.

Sydney Aquarium: We got to watch the sharks, dugung, and stingrays get fed from the top of this tank.

Luna Amusement Park: A fun place to visit for our girls, who are very unfamiliar with amusement parks and rollercoaster rides. I do not advise going if you are weak in the stomach for spinning rides! Oh, there were so many!

Bryan and I swam laps are the famous Bondi Icebergs Pool. The water was freezing, as it was winter there this time of year (64 degrees). Jane was brave enough to jump in, but quickly regretted her decision.

Chinese Garden of Friendship was fun for all as we looked for the zodiac signs hidden throughout.

Instead of a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, we got tickets to see the Sydney Symphony. It was a perfect activity for a rainy day.

Riding rented bikes in Manly.

Whale watching at Royal National Park.

Hiking in the Blue Mountains.

We had a wonderful trip down under and I am already trying to figure out a way for us to go back a visit a different area of Australia.

May 2024

 Jane's class went on fieldtrip to Hawaii's Plantation Village in Waipahu. 

Kate had a group project on the ecosystem. She was the group leader and very invested in the overall project. She has learned a lot this year about following directions and the difficulties of working with others not so invested in school.

The fun thing about living in Hawaii is the visitors it brings. Kristi and I were able to go out to eat with our cousin Dan and his wife, Jamie. 

Ukulele: I started taking ukulele lessons with the girls. It has been really fun learning some of the popular Hawaiian songs and trying something new. I do get help from my girls, as they have been playing 5 months longer than me and are really good at picking notes.

We had a ukulele concert at the mall over on the windward side of the island. It was fun to have my girls and husband cheer me on while playing "Surf" and "Friends".

Kristi's graduation: Such a fun week full of events with family. My parents and Linsey flew in to celebrate Koko's accomplishment as a DNP graduate from University of Hawaii. 

Commencement Ceremony: Her biggest request was to have a stack of leis (competing against her peers)!

Celebrating the accomplishment at Nancy's Kitchen: A Family Bar.

Kate and Jane enjoyed the extra time with their grandparents. 

Graduation Ceremony: The girls are hoping they will be able to spend a little more time with Koko now that she doesn't have to study! 

Honolulu Museum of Art: Checking off some of the touristy things with my parents and Kristi while the kids are off at school.

Bellows: Again, a must. Unfortunately, it rained for like a week. And this was pretty heavy rainfall. So much that there was a Brown Water advisory, and we weren't able to get in the ocean. We had even booked the cabins for the weekend! Such a bummer... 

Piano Recital: The girls have continued with piano through the entire school year. It was nice that grandma and grandpa were able to attend. 

Kate was so excited for her school field trip to the Ice Palace. 

Because of all the rain, the girls had to perform their Spring Showcase in the cafeteria. This was a bummer because the classes had to be split in half as there wasn't enough room for 5 classes to perform their routine. This also meant the other grades couldn't see each other's performances. The school did an amazing job with being flexible and finding a way because "the show must go on"... 

I am in charge of a hiking group with my church. I try to schedule a hike every 4-6 weeks. The first time I had one person show. The second time two people showed. It has been a struggle because not everyone can go during the day or on the weekend or in the evening. It is also a challenge because some people have stronger hiking skills than others. Hoping the next hike has better compliance among the group! 

Kahana Bay: The best part of this beach, catching chicks and playing in the nearby stream.

Look at my avocado tree!

Last day at Kanoelani Elementary School: May 30, 2024

On to Fourth Grade!

On to Sixth Grade!

April 2024

Easter 2024: Our house is pretty awesome for hiding plastic eggs inside AND outside. 

The obsession begins with Sanrio...

We got the celebrate Easter with Krisit, Kim, Zander, and Norah. We all went to church together and then had a yummy dinner together afterwards. 

Green World Coffee Farm: Checking off those tourist spots!

Month of the military child: Dress in purple

Myna Birds

Track: This is one for the books! It was very rainy that day and because we were in the mountains at Pearl City High School, it was also really cold and windy. Can you even imagine that in Hawaii? Cold? Ha! We are proud of Kate trying out a new sport and trying her best. 

Hapalua Half Marathon: Bryan and I were definitely not prepared to run this race. I was in so much neck pain that my goal was just to finish the race. I think Bryan might have been upset that I signed him up for the race...haha! But we finished!

Bryan's sister Wendy came out to visit her daughter going to BYU Hawaii. She was able to see Bryan and I finish out bike race and then we headed over to Turtle Bay to hang out with some college kids. 

 

March 2024

Jane has really enjoyed soccer this season. Her team, Myna Birds, is really good! It is with the AYSO, so the scored is not kept at games. But we are pretty sure they have never lost a game (maybe a tie?). Look at the beautiful background we get to sit in while we watch her play!

Hanging out with some of my co-workers from MIS Hawaii.

Hanging out at Kahanamoku Beach with Kristi! My girls absolutely love that they have an auntie here.

I LOVE this picture of Kate with all her freckles! Pretty sure she did get in the water with Koko and Jesse. 

Jane and her friend Jordana. We are so lucky she lives just a few houses down from us!

Egg drop: Third grade rite of passage. Jane worked really hard on this project and her egg was successfully dropped without breaking!

Kate with some of her good friends from school posing right next to her.

Checking out Sweetland Farm in Waialua. They had 2-week-old goats! The goat cheese and gelato were super yummy.

Completing the pineapple maze at the Dole Plantation. Trying to check off some of the touristy things so we know what to tell our guests when they visit. 

Bryan left for Washington D.C. to complete Iron Major Week. And what a perfect time to go- cherry blossom seasons! Unfortunately, this was during the girls' spring break, and I was in charge of trying to make it fun and memorable while still working...yikes! 

One day we hiked the Koko Head Botanical Garden with friends. 

Another day we hike the Aiea Loop trail with Howie.

Another day we went to the mall and tried out the Razor park.

During the end of our Spring Break, Kim and her younger kids came to visit. The first day of their arrival, I lost the keys to the Jeep and had a little panic attack. Turns out, they were inside the piano! We finally made it to Kailua beach and forgot all about the crazy morning. 

Electric Beach: So much fun for the adults and kids. We saw monk seals, sea turtles, and dolphins!

Bellows: A necessary stop as Kim and I both grew up boogie boarding on this beach for 6 years!

Another necessary stop.