November 2024

Primary Girls see "Once Upon One Time" at Leeward Community College

Jane's Fall AYSO Soccer Team 'Girl Power' with Coach Chris

Kate's wearing contacts!

Kate's Fall AYSO Soccer Team 'Striker's' with Coach Dave

Pu'uloa Beach Park

New playground equipment at Kanoelani Elementary School.

Hiking with my crew at 'Ehukai Trail on North Shore. We got a little muddy with this one!

Kate's 6th grade class at an assembly.

We went night fishing with some friends (Teresa and Shem) at Haleiwa Harbor. We caught so many fish, even an eel! It was a lot of fun for everyone.

I went shark diving with some friends. Surprisingly, I wasn't as terrified as I imagined.

Ka'ena Point

Waialua Turkey Trot 5K

Impressed with the girls, especially without any training/warning.

Thanksgiving 2024

Bellows Beach Park

This was probably the best idea ever. Clean up was super easy and everyone had so much fun. I think the plan is to do it again!

Kate and Jane worked on some projects with Kristi and Jesse.

 

November 2023

November must have flown by! I hardly have any pictures. 

The girls have been taking Ukulele lessons since the beginning of September. They had an Ukulele Festival at the mall where they both played a couple songs. It was really fun to see everyone attend this event and how many children and adults are taking lessons.

After the performance, we hiked the Lanikai pillbox. This is a really nice hike too. It is very short, but does gain elevation fairly fast. We all love exploring the bunkers and the designs spray painted inside. At this particular location, you have beautiful views of the Moku Nui Islands. 

I'm pretty sure this weekend we went to Wet N Wild with Koko, but we don't have any pictures. I only say this because the next set of pictures I have are us hiking Waimano Falls Trail. We try to have a beach day/pool day one day of the weekend and then a hiking/adventure day the other day of the weekend. This particular hike was a little difficult only because it was muddy. The waterfall wasn't very spectacular because it has been so dry, so the three pools were stagnate water and no one wanted to touch. Initially, the hiking path was nice. But it was quick to get slippery and dirty.

I wanted a pictures of our legs to remind us of how dirty we got!

Jane is participating in a gardening club after school once a week. I think they are digging for or collecting worms in their teacher castings.

Kate's class has some type of arts and crafts about once a week, which is one of her favorite things to do. 

Some people from church invited us to do a Turkey Trot 5K. It was actually more like a 50 yard dash! The girls all got an award in their age group. I did as well. It was a great way to spend the morning before all the cooking commenced.  

We had one of Bryan's co-workers family over for Thanksgiving, along with Kristi and her friend Jesse. Everyone brought something and it turned out really nice and easy. The weather was perfect as well. It has finally cooled off some where we aren't running our air conditioning during the night.

Kristi and I decided to do family pictures at Bellows Beach Park at sunrise. They turned out awesome!

We brought Howie and he was so difficult to get any good pictures with!

This one is for our mom!

Someone asked if they could take a picture of the five of us. Ha! I'm not sure what they thought the family dynamic was here. 

For Activity Days, we showed the class how to cut snowflakes out of paper. Kate demonstrated for the class how to cut the snowflakes just right because hers turned out so well! It definitely made her feel special and needed. 

 

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!