Josh's First day of Preschool

This is Josh's 3rd year of preschool and he is still so excited about it. Of course this year he gets to ride the bus like his big brother Andrew, so that is pretty cool. He is now going to 4 day a week preschool at the same school that Andrew goes too. To say he is excited about it is an understatement. All morning he kept asking when he gets to go to preschool. I would tell him after lunch and he then proceeded to say he wanted to eat lunch now. Time means nothing to him so when I would say well you still have about 90 minutes, he asked "what's 90 minutes?" Alex had to get in on the picture because he wants to go on a bus like his brothers. However, he has been very good the last 2 days with his brothers gone. It is strange to have only 1 at home. My babies are growing up. Andrew is now the protector on the bus ride home. I told him he has a mission and that is to make sure his little brother is safe and not picked on. It worked they both got off the bus happy yesterday, so I hope it lasts.
I am a slaker mom in that I don't have any first day of 3rd grade pictures of Andrew. He is an old hat at this school thing and couldn't be bothered for pictures. Funny story though, they have 2 tracks at his school now early and late. He of course is on the late track. Well the first day of school he came home early. I couldn't figure out who was knocking on my door so early, it was Andrew. I asked him why he was home early and he said, "my teacher asked who came in the morning and I did." So we talked and I thought we had it all figured out. He told me Thursday he was a later gator, so I know he had it down. Then Friday comes and I get a call from the school secretary and then his teacher saying they think Andrew came home early. Sure enough he was walking up from the bus stop. When asked why he was home he told me that I told him he was supposed to be on the same bus as Spencer. Little stinker turned my words around. I think he just wanted to come home early because he was tired and Grammie and Poppa were here. I of course being the good mom told him he had to read until 3:30 because he was still supposed to be in school. I don't think he read very much, he was too busy eating. Silly boy, but we sure do love him!


My little guy getting on the great big bus. I did have to follow the bus to school to make sure he was okay. A good friend who is going to be an aide in his class was there waiting for them. So I know he is in good hands. Thanks Diane!

13 Years Ago...

13 years ago today, Eric and I were married in the San Diego Temple. I can't believe it has been 13 years. We met in May of 1995 and were married in August of that year. It was a whirlwind but we made it and I know that we were meant to be together. We have been through many things and I am grateful for the man he is. I love him very much and am thankful that our 3 boys have such a good example to look up too.
Thanks Eric for making the last 13 years so special and I look forward to many more years. I love you!

Hawaii

We had an awesome time in Hawaii. 8 wonderful days of no work, worries, kids. Only had to worry about ourselves and Eric's only worry was when he was going to eat next. It was so much fun. We met almost all of Eric's brothers and sisters and their spouses there. It was fun ti just be there with the adults and there were a few kids but it was so much fun.
We boarded the plane on Thursday the 31st and could not wait to get there. However, when we got to Maui we had to catch another plane for Kona. I knew we were in for it when we asked the TSA guy where this Pacific Wings is and he was like "Oh you are flying them?" and another said he would pray for us when we asked again. Cheri and I were freaking out. Come to find out it was a little 9 passenger prop jet. It was the longest 50 minutes of my life. I feared for my life and was holding on for dear life. But we made it and I vowed never to get on a plane like that again. We had a bigger plane coming back home.
We spent just about everyday in the water either snorkeling or diving. Eric was in heaven. While diving we got down to 121 feet. I didn't realize we had gotten that deep, I was following our dive guide and he was checking out some wire coral. We saw lots of yellow tang, and just about all the fish from Finding Nemo. We went on a night dive and saw a manta ray. It was huge and you hold up your flashlight and all the plankton gather and the manta ray will swim right over your head. It kept hitting my sister in law Janet in the head. And of course the one thing that I really wanted to see and finally did was a sea turtle. It was cool to be in the water with them as they swam so gracefully.
When we weren't in the water, we were hanging out. We did go to the volcano park, Hilo Hatties, hiked to see some waterfalls and even went to see The Dark Knight. Of course we also had to look for gifts for the boys. Andrew requested a coconut and a tiger shark tooth necklace. Josh also wanted a shark tooth necklace and Alex wanted something green. Overall we had an awesome time and were sad to see our time come to an end.
My parents survived watching the boys for us. Thanks so much for taking care of our boys, I know it wasn't easy. They are on a much deserved quiet vacation now.

So here are some pictures from our trip. Enjoy!




For Eric this is what it was all about.


Eagle Ray


These were everywhere you looked.


I even got to hold an octopus. It was pretty cool




Eric and I doing our Maori impression to get ready for the luau


On the black sand beach.


Akaka Falls. Beautiful


Our last day in Kona.