souveniers

of course we had to bring a ukulele home for the twins,
they call it their guitar. and hawaii wouldn't be complete
without a hula skirt and coconut top.....just not on me!

what happens in vegas....

good stuff! sky had her first real meet of the season--in vegas.
we flew into vegas from hawaii and met her there. she competed
against girls from all over the u.s., japan & brazil.......she came
home with 3 medals! not a bad start to the season..................

hawaii in a nutshell

the view from our room


pearl harbor


homeless beach...this went on for miles and miles

.

while hiking to a waterfall, i was inspired to be like sailor. every

time we take her on a hike she has to find the biggest leaf, the

neatest rock, the best walking stick, etc.

i found the biggest branch just for sailor.

i couldn't resist sneaking off the path and climbing into the

middle of the bamboo

this is the island where gilligan's island was filmed. i spent many

childhood hours watching gillian & the skipper on this island.

after kayaking out to an island, we hiked around the backside

to try and snorkel. ignoring the rule to not walk on wet rocks,

i literally almost got myself swept out to sea after a wave

came over the top of me and crashed against the rock that

i was barely hanging onto.....the rock face is pictured below

there will be no snorkeling here

.

our kayak

we loved these trees

my heaven on earth

loved this sign

beautiful temple grounds

we went here but this is as far as we got. decided against going

in, thanks to uncle jerry

our last day, joe finally got to go out surfing. doesn't he look

official?

problem is, there was a lot of waiting

he finally caught a wave, if that's what you want to call it

new year's day

the kids spent the first day of the year playing in the snow...all.
day. long. we even had to take lunch out to them because they
didn't want to come in to eat. sky was a trooper hauling the
twins up and down the hill! what a great way to start the year!

happy new year....2010!

we spent new years at the anderson's cabin again-lucky lucky us!

we played games...

i love this picture with boston & mia in the background-just
playing a game like the big kids!.........although they have no
clue what they're doing.....................................................

we bundled up...

tradition is to head out about 11pm for major adventures!
we get all bundled up for the fridgid air................................
sky, brighton, mia & boston riding in the back of the ranger.

we raced down the canyon...

one of the most fun things we do all year...........race down the
snow packed street that runs through the cabins. pitch black,
headlamps on.........................................................time to fly!

.

hayden, andrew, alec & nic with sailor in the back.............

.

off into the darkness.............................................................

isn't it the best?

licking the beater is one of the best
things in life. brighton is very good at it!

go jayhawks!

the kids all got ku shirts from pat & jan..............keep your
eye on the hawks, they'll be national champions this year!

a GRAND piano

before Christmas (don't know how this post slipped by) joe's
parent's came to visit......and they cam with a special delivery!
joe's grandma's grand piano! here they are along with our
home teachers bringing it into the house. not an easy task!


hayden and gr. bob putting the pedals on..........................


the kids have enjoyed it even more than i thought they would.
now we have the sound of music throughout our house. not
any particular songs..................we don't know how to play.......
but just the sound of a piano!...............it's good enough for me!

we can't get her to take it off...

brighton wants to wear this night & day-maybe one of these days
we'll enroll her in gymnastics. i don't think we have a choice.