January 2025

Family party with the Ahlborn's before our trip back home. 

Visiting with Grandpa Ahlborn.

Bryan and I hiked Mount Ka'ala, the highest peak on Oahu. Unfortunately, our views were obstructed at the very top and we didn't find any of the protected snails up there. I guess that just means we need to do it again- even though I said I would never do it again.

Lots of high lunges and ropes.

Kate went on her first camp out with the YW. They went to Malaekahana Beach.

Waipiolani YW and YM

Kate and Jane took hula as an after-school activity at Kanoelani Elementary. They performed at one of their assemblies. 

White Plains: Kate decided to let the little kids bury her in the sand.

Mom and daughter hike up Friendship Garden Trail in Kaneohe.

Howie turns 4 years old!

Jane started taking surf lessons with the city and parks recreation. She had to pass a swim test and recall board terminology before going to Haleiwa Alii Beach.

 

October 2022

We took off for Branson, Missouri the first weekend in October to celebrate Bryan turning 40! I surprised him with 4 tickets to see Garth Brooks. We wanted to go with other adults, but ended up taking our girls instead. It is hard to find someone to trust with your children after only being there for a little over 2 months. The life of a military spouse and family.  

The view was amazing! Garth Brooks put on an awesome show. 

The best part was falling asleep in the parking lot waiting to leave after the show. The venue was really nice, but the parking was atrocious. Only one exit out. 

Found out one of my good friends, Toni, was also stationed at Fort Leavenworth and we pretty much hung out as much as possible. Obviously taking in the beautiful fall foliage off of Weston Bend State Park.

The second weekend, we went camping at Smithville Lake in Missouri. A paved bike path follows around the lake and in the mornings/evenings the lake was calm enough to paddle board.

Oktoberfest in Kansas City was a little disappointing. We attempt to go every year, this one didn't seem to have quite the turn out.

Visiting Kaleidoscope at Crown Center.

The Great Escape 5K

An event run by one of the military police units at Fort Leavenworth was a flop. I was told by many, this event is fun because you are chasing an inmate. That was not what happened at all. The children were all up front ready to start and someone yells an inmate has escaped! BUT they are in the back of the crowd. NO ONE can see this inmate being "taken down". The timing chips were off. Awards were given to the wrong people. It was just a mess. We did get a picture with our neighbors!

Sunday walk with the kids to see the fall colors at Weston Bend State Park.

Bryan coached Jane's soccer team over the course of 8 weeks. Grandma and Grandpa Koplin were able to see her last game against the parents and award ceremony. 

Mom and Dad came to visit us for Halloween this year. It was such gorgeous weather while they visited. We went to Weston Bend State Park to enjoy the fall colors and walked the streets of the historic city of Weston.

I have the best little girls. Both being recognized at school for the behavior and personal character. I must have done something right!

I coached a run club for kids third grade to eighth grade over the course of 8 weeks. The end goal was to be able to complete the Halloween Fun Run 5K hosted by Fort Leavenworth CYS. It was a great experience for me to volunteer, educate, and cheer on these kids. 

Kate was a run club participant and really showed great improvements! She, however, has told me she doesn't want to do that anymore. Ha!

Fort Leavenworth hosted a Fall Festival with games, hayride, petting animals, and food. 

It was a pleasure to have Mom and Dad around to watch the girls do all the fall activities- pumpkin carving, dressing up, decorations, and corn maze. Our family LOVES this time of year!

When in Kansas, dress up like the Wizard of Oz!

Princess Neighbors - Taco Bell, Glenda, and Peach

Our Neighbors

All the candy collected!

 

July 2021 Part 2- Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks

After Colorado Springs and Teton National Park, we drove the hour north to Yellowstone.  The girls immediately smelled the sulfur and learned all about the different kinds of hot springs and geysers.  The area is such a contrast from the Tetons with all the different colored waters and landscape.  We were lucky enough to have part of the Izu and Hadfield families join us for this part of the adventure. 

West Thumb

Jane found a frog at our campground at Bridge Bay.  We also woke up to an elk eating our neighbors chair in the morning!

The girls are playing in the black sand off of Yellowstone Lake. 

Jane got to celebrate her 6th birthday waking up in a tent! Her one request: Old Faithful

We decided to put up tents while in Yellowstone because we were jumping from campsite to campsite each night.  The pop-up trailer is a little more time consuming than our trusty tent. 

This is Grand Geyser.

Old Faithful

Birthday ice cream for all the littles.

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. 

Funny story.  I wanted to paddleboard in Yellowstone, but the only river you can is between Lewis Lake and Shoshone Lake (roughly 10 miles).  I told Bryan we would never be able to do that with all the little kids.  Boy did that cause him to really, really make it happen.  So we did it and here is the proof!

Fire River with a rainbow. 

By day 3, the girls were pretty sick of seeing geysers and hot springs.  So we left the kids in the car and caught this beautiful rainbow amongst the thermal features. 

Mammoth Hot Springs

It took us about 6 hours from the northern most part of Yellowstone to drive to our next campsite near Glacier National Park. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to get camping reservations in the park.  I looked 6 months in advanced! 

I think we should have done a little more research on Glacier National Park.  I thought one of our activities would be to drive the "Going to the Sun" road.  This is actually the only road in the park and it will lead you from the west side to the east side.  It takes more than 2 hours to drive the whole road and the parking is very limited and the roads are so thin. 

But the views were magnificent!

Once we found a parking spot, we hiked to Hidden Lake.

We saw mountain goats and touched glaciers.

We hiked St. Mary's trail

and some of us jumped into the freezing water!

Our family took a whitewater rafting trip Flathead River. We had so much fun! 

Of course, the kids enjoyed the campground filled with games and water and free breakfasts in the morning!

It was so much fun to hang out with family on vacation.  Beautiful scenery, lots of laughing and playing, and enough food for all thanks to Rachel and Becky's pantry and preparation!