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.

 

January 2024

So many fireworks for the New Year!

Our first hike of the new year with our surf group- Wahiawa Hills Trail. I am so impressed with Jane and her endurance with this hike. There were lots of ups and downs and river crossings.

Bryan's sister Becky and family came to visit. We met them at Hanauma Bay for some snorkeling.

Kristi and I took the girls to the aquarium over the winter break. Nothing too impressive there, unfortunately. 

A monk seal on Ka'ena Point Trail.

Jane was nominated Rainbow of the 2nd quarter! 

I was able to accompany Jane and her class on a field trip to Wildlife Refuge Honouluili in Pearl Harbor. 

Bryan completed a Master Repel Course.

Bryan also graduated from Jungle School. 

He is the most dedicated solider in his field. 

He is always willing to try new things.

I love him.

Roller skating date with Kate.

We celebrated Howie's 3rd birthday with a stuffed duck. 

Hawaii

Bryan and I dropped the girls off with my oldest sister Kim (for 10 days!) and headed for Hawaii. Kristi picked us up at the airport. She lives there as of last August. She is so cute and bought some Leis!

We dropped our bags off at her pent house and started hiking! 

First Hike: Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail

Clouds at the top. We never got to see the other side of the island!

 

After, we saw the sunset Tantulus lookout.

The next morning Bryan and I headed out to go scuba diving. It was questionable whether or not it would happen due to the surf, but we wanted to have a little "refresher course" beforehand. Unfortunately, it was cancelled. We tried to reschedule, but had quite a full itinerary, it didn't work out. 

Next Hike: Koko Head

The best part of the hike was getting picked up by a local who gave us a tour of the entire southeast side of the island.

Next Hike: Olomana Trail (3 Peaks)

Impressive hike. Lots of bouldering. We even had a storm hit us at the turn around point. 

Then we headed to Bellows. This was my family's favorite spot growing up. Kristi and I even made Bryan boogie board the waves!

All of us at the downtown mall of Honolulu. The trees were amazing!

Tesla at the mall. Pretty sure we will be getting one soon.

Bryan signed us up to sky dive at North Shore. First experience for Kristi. Terrible experience for me. I got super motion sickness. It was a good thing I had some promethazine!

After jumping, we headed to the airport to go to Kauai. We had a race the next morning!

Kristi hadn't been to this island yet and luckily a half marathon was scheduled for the time we were there. Getting to our AirBNB was a weird bus ride through town and a hitch hike to the race site was another fun story for our adventure books. But we made it through the SUPER hilly race! 

Once we made it back to the AirBNB, Bryan and I took naps. Kristi, unfortunately had some homework. When we finally woke up, we hiked to visit the Queen's Bath. 

Next Hike: Napoli Coast

We only did half the hike. If we wanted to do the entire trail, we would have had to spend the night to camp. We didn't have the equipment for that, so we stopped at the halfway point and swam in the waterfall. The last 3 miles of the hike we were out of water. I might have a little PTSD with water now when it comes to hiking! Such a beautiful hike- 13 plus miles. 

Our feet were tired. A half marathon the day before a 13 mile hike. What were we thinking?!? We also did a lot of walking to and from the bus stop because our AirBNB was deep in the city of Princeville. Next time, we will be better at coordinating housing with bus stops OR researching if car rentals are a better option with these more remote islands. 

The next day we were flying back to Oahu. But before we left, I wanted to paddle board the Wailua River. Bryan smoked us up the river, and Kristi was slow as molasses. She also happened to be taking a phone call for a job interview. Ha!

When getting back to Oahu, Bryan and I had an appointment to drive a Tesla around Honolulu.

Our last full day included a trip to the Polynesian Cultural Center, snorkeling at Sharks Cove, and dole whip.

Last Hike: Makapuu Lighthouse

We had a wonderful time doing all the adventures! Definitely will want to head there again- maybe even bring the girls!