Wow Time Flies!!

Here I am again playing catch up! Lots of stuff to post for the last month - I'll do my best to get all caught up in the next few days!!

Let's start with Hawaii!! We went to Kauai the end of September with Shawn, Shannon, Callie, Blake, and Katie Ambrose, Barb and Scott (Shannon's parents) and Rex and Jackie. It was such a great time! We had awesome weather, great friends and good times! Here's some pics:


This was the pool at our timeshare in Princeville


Callie and Emma enjoying the water


Emma and Callie catching some rays!


Love the flower!


Katie


Barb and Blake just hanging out


Em and me having a snack by the pool


The kiddie pool had this amazing slide. The
girls must have gone down a hundred times
a day!


Emma with no fear


The bay by the Marriott


Em enjoying the sand and water


Pappa - is he going to snorkel? Or play in the sand?
I have a feeling Emma is deciding for him =0)


Beach front at Marriott


It's a little far away - but that's me on a paddle
board. It was fun but really hard!


Chris, Katie, Shawn and Scott got to play some
amazing golf this trip!




Scott had heard about this waterfall from some locals and
Chris, Shawn and Katie went to check it out. This is Katie
at the top of the waterfall


Shawn checking it out


Ready...one, two, three...


bombs away!


Katie's turn....





There was also a rope swing attached to
this amazing (huge) tree. It was hard to get
the rope - but once they managed - look out!





Chris didn't actually jump when he and Katie
and Shawn went the first time. He told Katie
he was afraid of heights and water??? This is
the second trip that we took - Me, Katie and
Chris. Funny - he must have conquered his
fears...he jumped this time!


I am afraid of heights - so it took some coaxing
but I finally jumped. Felt good to do it!




We got to have an adult night out one night so we went to
Kintaro's for some sushi and hibachi. It was really good - fun
night


Saki anyone?


down the hatch!




We were rockin the mini van - and Katie
volunteered to sit in the car seat...


Finishing up our Adult night out...waiting for Scott to pick
us up - trying to hurry and have one last drink.




Shawn and Shannon celebrated their 5th anniversary while
we were there - so we took the kids and let them have some
romantic time =0) The girls at Duke's enjoying their umbrella's




Really?


Seriously?


Emily checked in at the Kalapaki Beach Hut!!


Emma wanted to get these swim trunks for
Austin - sorry dude!


Emma and daddy on the boat to the Fern Grotto


Fern Grotto









Em at spouting horn

Favorite Things - Eclipse!!

Wednesday, June 30th was the premiere of the 3rd installment of the Twilight Series - Eclipse - but they have a "sneak peek" at 12:01 am Wednesday morning (Tuesday night) that of course I got tickets to for Kristina and I. I got in line at 5:30 pm Tuesday afternoon - and Kristina arrived about 6:30 pm - we waited for 6 hours, in line, with hundreds of tweens. We endured extreme hunger, temperature changes and exhaustion - and of course tweens...but in the end it was well worth it! The movie was great and we were among the first to see it! I will be sad when the last two movies are done and out (book 4 is being broken up into 2 movies) - but such is life that all good things must come to an end - HA! Am I corny or what?!?!?!?

In reality - the movie was good - but I'm still exhausted from my 3:00 am outing on a work night and I'm pretty sure we will never go to the midnight showing again - unless it's on a weekend!

Team Edward!!

My Son - SJMS Forever!

Last weekend we drove out to Salina,KS for the 122nd Corps St. Johns Military School Commencement and Graduation. Austin completed 9th grade on the Academic Honor Roll - and with much personal Honor. The weekend was packed full of activities - all were amazing. It was a great mix of school and military traditions - but the best part of the entire last year was looking into my young man's face and seeing how immensely proud of himself he is.

Austin,

Although this journey started off extremely hard for you - you persevered and not only got through it - you are outstanding - as a son, young man and as a cadet. I can tell you that your Dad and I, Tracy and Chris and the rest of your family are so very proud of you and your accomplishments! I know that next year is still up in the air - but weigh all of your options carefully and I know you will make the best decision for you.

Favorite Things Part 5 - The Last Pool Party

The weather is cool now, the leaves are coming down, pumpkins are on the porch and it actually snowed yesterday! I was going through some recent pictures and realized that these were taken about a month ago and it was the last official 'pool party' of the year. We had such a great time with our pool this summer, and even though it is a lot of work, we are so glad that we have it! Is it bad that I can't wait for next summer already?! GRIN!!



Sam taking a break


Emma and Hailey


Em, Rach and Emma & Hailey



Tami, Dominick and Dante

Mike and Vinnie