SUMMERTIME!

School has been over for about a week and we are already enjoying our summer!

I can't believe that Caleb is not a first grader anymore! The school year flew by and (of course) he passed with flying colors. He made the Honor Roll for both semesters and also won a special technology award.

Right before school got out, we added another member to our family. We went to see Shrek 3 and came home with a new puppy. This is Hokie. He is the same kind of mutt as Poppy and they are already friends!

Lara, Jimi, and Logan were here this past week and we all had a blast!

Logan and Caleb--Kailua Beach

Me and Logan having a "local" breakfast at IHOP!

Logan wasn't real happy about "two hats"

Before a Luau on Waikiki Beach

The boys playing on the beach

Some Pics and Updates

We have been busy, as usual, and Caleb is always the center of things!

He just earned his green belt in Karate and we are very proud of him. Baseball season has also started. He has had about 4 games so far and Caleb is improving each game. This is his first time not playing tee-ball so he has had to adjust but is doing fine. And Randall is coaching again--with a cast on his right foot. Caleb and I are both ready for summer. We are excited to have Lara, Jimi, and Logan come visit (no Tanner this time). Caleb and I are also planning a trip home at the end of June. And yes, Paducah and Kingston, we ARE coming (right, Lara?)!! Hopefully we will be able to see Mark, Amanda, Jake, and new baby Eli too.
Our baby (for now), Poppy

A new addition...

and it's not a kitty or puppy!

We just found out that we will be blessed with a new baby toward the end of November!

Diamond Head

We decided to hike the Diamond Head Crater. It was worth it!!

some updates!

Over the past month we have had a lot going on. And I'm sure the next few months will be just as busy!

Caleb turned 7 on February 28th. He is getting so big and we can't believe that he is already that old. It seems like just yesterday when he was born--and where would we be now without our Caleb?!

Ma was able to come and visit for week. It was a short visit but she was able to be here for Caleb's birthday.

Caleb and Ma getting ready to leave for his birthday party

Caleb at his party--Ice Palace

Doing some sightseeing at the beach

Caleb also reached another milestone the day after his birthday...

Caleb lost his first tooth. It is on the bottom and hard to see because his permanent teeth have already come in!

We are looking forward to having a full house over the next month and again this summer. Randall's family will be here next week. My best friend, Sarah, will be here the following week. We also just found out that Lara and Jimi and Logan will be coming in June!

And anyone else who wants to come is more than welcome!

DON'T MESS

WITH CALEB!

Caleb just earned his Purple belt!

Christmas Vacation...

...and yes, at times, it was as crazy as the Griswold's!

Disney Pics...

Entering the Magic Kingdom

typical Disney tourist

Caleb and Mickey at lunch

We also enjoyed being at home and seeing family!

Two of my favorite kids!

Tanner--no stopping him now!

Jake loves pizza!

We are now back on Oahu and trying to get back into the habits of school and work. It has been hard! We are looking forward to our family coming to visit soon, though. Don't know when we will be in Virginia again, but we will be back!

A fun Veteran's Day weekend!

We cheered on the UH Warrior football team...

Visited the beach...

Slid down some sand...

Caught some choice waves...

And had a lot of fun!

Fun Times

This past weekend, we planned on traveling to the North Shore to spend a lazy day in playing at the beach. Apparently, Mother Nature had other things in mind. We drove for a while in the pouring rain and decided to head back home.

On the way home we stopped at a little shop on the side of the road. Come to find out, this place also does tours of the land they own (fruit trees, tropical flower gardens, etc.). It was cheap so we decided to go on it. This was by far the best tour we have ever been on and can't wait for people to come visit so we can go again. We were led by Native Hawaiians and told all about the history and culture that has taken place on Oahu. We saw the most beautiful plants and flowers and learned how the Native Hawaiians survived on them many years ago. Out tour guide even picked the flowers for us to take home. We also we able to sample fresh star fruit and coconut--straight off the tree. Next, they took us out in a canoe on a lake that is said to have built by the Menehune 400 years ago as a place for King Kamehameha to train his warriors. We also got to see where many TV shows and movies have been filmed.

Watch Lost? This should look familiar.

Where "Da plane, da plane" landed.

"Juuust sit right back and you'll hear a tale..."

Look closely and you can see that the mountains form a turtle (honu). We live on the tail of the turtle. Caleb was really excited when he found this out because he loves honus!

Just another day in paradise!

Mr. Hawaii himself!

WOW! The past few months have been C R A Z Y!!! So busy.

Well, we are all moved in to our new house and are loving it. We have a great view of the Ko'olau Mountains in our front yard and the beach in the back. Our neighborhood sits on Kailua Bay--my most favorite place in the world.

Caleb is very busy with school and karate and football and church activities. If you need to talk to him, you might be put on hold by his secretary! He just got his report card today and is meeting all standards with a few exceeding! He is also an orange belt in karate working toward his purple belt. His first football game is this Saturday. He hopes to playing quarterback. At church, he is involved in RAs and MusicMakers. He leads a very busy life but loves all of it and cannot wait to go to all of his activities!

My school is as crazy as ever, with us trying not be taken over by the government and all. The kids are good this year but make my job VERY tough. I have also taken it upon myself to start a cheerleading squad at school. I have 16 girls that know nothing about cheerleading--we have a lot of fun, though. Randall is fine, too--not too much news in that department!

We'll be home for Christmas...Love you all!

Before and After

This is our view from our old house:

This is from our new house:

We are almost done moving in--not too many boxes left! We are liking it very much. This place is so much nicer than our other house. I'll take some pictures when the inside is finished.

We still have room for visitors!!!

Making Like Tourists

We we able to get in a little sight-seeing this weekend. We went up to the Pali Lookout. It is a cliff on the side the Ko'olau Mountains that over looks the entire east coast of Oahu. It is also VERY windy!

Looking over Kaneohe Town and Kaneohe Bay (our new home!)

Taken by a Japanese tourist that used hand gestures as his sole form of communication

Day Off = Update!

Caleb and I have a day off from school so I thought I would post a new blog! Although, there is not too much going on here.

Caleb is, as usual, doing fantastic in school. I just hope he keeps it up! He goes to a great school and I know he is learning so much. He is still very into karate and football season will be starting soon.

My school is a little rough. We are under very strict sanctions from the govenment because of our poor test scores. This year is our last chance--if our students do not do well, the government will completely take over. My students this year are so wonderful, though. Most of them are so sweet and so polite and so cute! I can't remember being that small when I was in 7th grade. I think that they are still scared of me, though. I am trying to be mean for a while but it is not working!

As most of you know, we are getting ready to move next weekend. I am excited to have a house that is new! It is only about three years old--meaning NO ROACHES! Really, I asked the man who lives there now. The house is on the other side of the island so the drive to work will be a long one. Caleb will stay at the school he is at now (because we love it so much) as it is on my way to work anyway.

So, about a week after we move in, Randall will be going to Korea for about 10 days. Thankfully not longer! I don't know what he will be doing there. I'm sure he has explained it to me but I don't get it. Still no word on recruiting orders yet. Hopefully soon, though, so we can start begging to go back to Virginia. Or maybe somewhere near to Memphis to be closer to Mark and Amanda's new baby!

Come visit soon! Love and miss you!