Our Surfer Dude

Dad and the three oldest kids took surfing lessons at Waikiki back in June. Robby is the one whom will really take up surfing. He'd been talking of it since like MArch 9th, I can say this as I think it was one of the first things out of his mouth when we told him we were moving to Hawaii!

Yesterday Robby rented a board at White Plains Beach at Barber's Point Naval Air Station (closed down Navy base) about 30 minutes away. He has rented out here many times, but this time he really liked this size board. So after tasting and trying out boards, this is the weekend he gets HIS own board!!

Enjoy the pictures....

Robby surfing....


Robby's board surfing, I thought this shot right after/as he fell with the board all alone was fun!


The girls...they have such fun here even though most times I have to drag them here. Kaitlyn has issues with this beach as last month she stepped on coral and sliced her foot open...she wears water shoes now and is probably mentally scarred for life. She had to get stitches...was not a funa dventure.


Tommy reclined abit too far....he didn't fuss and was just hanging out upside down!


The surfer dude!


Tommy wanting to go home, he was so super tired from school!


I have way cool pics from the first lesson, soon I'll post them here! Kimberlyn really did well and I'm shocked she's not wanting to surf more...in time I'll get her back out there.

Manoa Falls

Yesterday we hiked up to see Manoa Falls. Was a pleasant hike and the kids ventured off on every single trail off the beaten path! Enjoy the pictures....


Strange cool tree stump....



hiking in a rain forest....



Kaitlyn posing and looking too old!!



A cute family shot of us on a log...



Kids in a bamboo forest...



Crazy mom swinging on the vine...okay, actually this was a close as I got, I kept letting go...



Kaitlyn swinging on the vine....she was hunting for a vine strong enough to swing on....it just wasn't strong enough for Daddy to climb and he thankfully didn't get seriously injured when it broke and he fell!!


Kids on this huge log, we believe it was actually a branch, look at top of picture...




Thought I was just photographing the event....



Boys walking along huge downed tree...



THEN I HAD to follow along...terrifying!!!



Kids hiking over some massive roots....



Tommy climbing a bamboo tree....



Kaitlyn climbing a bamboo tree...



Robby pretending to get a drink...



The whole family at Manoa Falls, Hawaii



Larry and Tricia at the Falls



Kimberlyn and the mountain apple a guy gave us....


Forgot to add about said mountain apple...the skin and flesh was very similar to a plum, even had just one large pit/seed in the center. Kind of tasty, although I doubt the kids would eat it on a regular basis.

Mountain Apple tree....



Tommy trying the mountain apple....



Tommy had a clue, which was to crawl under the root....


A cute posing Kimberlyn



To finish off the trip, a way cool McD's drive thru for icecream. Your food came through the above "tunnel"..........

Hello again...

Wow it has been some time since I posted here. Where to begin...

A quick back track...the last year was filled!

Kaitlyn had many horseshows, finished off the year as Champion in her division for one show organization and reserve champion in another over in St. Louis.

We lost our beloved Emma Ann (our Bull Mastiff) Sept 2010, she became ill and started having many seizures and within a week we had to put her down. HORRIBLE.


Because I promised the kids a more energetic dog when Emma passed, they were begging with in a week. It was a hard thing to deal with as Emma was a puppy from my mom's breedings.

In October, we welcomed a very special, adorable Spaniel mix pound puppy. Rosie is currently being adored by Larry's mom in Omaha.

I was browsing the Humane Society online and came across "Jaz"....her picture was a face shot and she looked just like our precious Chrissy whom passed away in 2003 at the age of 6 due to cancer. Chrissy was an amazing, child friendly dog....we really missed her. I went to visit Jaz and it was a done deal, she came home with me!! The kids were pleased, and had already decided on a name of Rosie. Jaz was only her name for 2 wks as she was a "run away" and had no history, she also told us she preferred Rosie ;)

We added two cats to the collection too....just in time to learn we were moving to HAwaii!! I'll explain in another post when two of the cats join us soon. They are riding out their quarantine in Omaha.

Our trip to Disney July 2010 was a blast!

The kids finished school in St. Jacob a week early so we could move to Hawaii....after being told two other assignments. For a short time we thought we were headed to Turkey, then Del Rio, TX was a pretty serious deal right up until March 9th, 2011 when we were told we were actually headed to Hickam AFB, Hawaii. The next day we were told we were headed there real quick....we arrived in Honolulu on May 23, 2011 greeted with some gorgeous leis from some amazing Air Force friends. Just a day after some seriously teary-eyed goodbyes to some amazing friends in Illinois.
Can't seem to locate the family picture of us at the airport...this will have to to do.




June 21, 2011 ~ 735 AMS Change of Command ceremony




We did a few touristy things before Larry took command....many more touristy things to come.


August 1, 2011 First Day of school!!

Robby ~ 8th Grade


Girls headed to school....


Kimberlyn and her teacher ~ 3rd grade


Kaitlyn and her teacher ~ 6th grade



And let's not forget Tommy!!! Headed to his first day of KINDERGARTEN!!!! August 4, 2011 ~ 4 1/2 yrs old


He ALWAYS stops to pick up a flower off the ground for me to wear in my hair!!! LOVE HIM SO MUCH!

NOTICE!!! NO TRAINING WHEELS!!! He ditched them last month!

Slightly excited, waiting for the classroom door to open!!




Waving bye-bye!


The bikes...when T saw this HUGE bike parking area he said something like "holy whilickers" and I about wet my pants, he is so funny!!

packing up...

So yesterday was a horse show by day, dinner with my brother Robb and his family by night and now PACKING today. I'll be back with fabulous pictures soon! To get you by....here's Tommy all packed up at 8:30am.
Florida bound! Family, friends, beaches and Disney here we come!

Oh....Kaitlyn did great yesterday. She got reserve champion in two divisions. It was HOT and dusty. Pictures later ;)

Fun video clip

Since I've figured out how to get Facebook video posted here....enjoy this from back in April.

Morning with friends....

Kaitlyn has been wanting to go to our babysitter's house to ride with her and swim and play.....

It gets confusing, our babysitter is Katie, and one of her horses that Kaitlyn rode- is named Katie...lucky for you, I don't refer to Kaitlyn as Katie in writing ;) Usually.....

I brought the whole clan over to her house...we left at 7:40am. It's a whole long five minute drive. :)

Naturally Sweetie wanted to go along too, well her owner wanted to bring her along anyhow. Speaking of, Kimberlyn actually rode her for about two laps around the arena. Kimberlyn loves her pony, but she's just not into riding per se. Sweetie sure isn't a fan of being left behind, I'm certain she enjoyed her morning away.

Enjoy the pictures!

The girls riding....so sweet!

Sweetie showing off that she's still "got it" ~ in another month or so I think Kaitlyn's feet might knock over that 8" high jump ;)

Here's Kaitlyn riding Katie the horse.

Sad but true...only picture of Kaitlyn and Katie riding...and it was while Robby was "shooting" chickens.

Then he moved on to making a baby toad ride Sweetie and photographing the event. Keep in mind Sweetie is itty bitty and this toad was the just size of a quarter.


Playing in the chicken coop....




Is this some new species??




Pool Time!!


Tommy SLIDING!!!





Was all fun and games until he slipped off the ladder and went boom :( He finally went down again...and I got it video taped.