My Baby Girl!

I LOVE this little girl! She is so full of life and spunk! She is now in all day pre-school 5 days a week. She loves it!  She is so easy going...makes me sad that she is growing up so fast. I want her to be the little person that she is forever! I can't help but laugh with her.....she is such a ray of sunshine and a definite blessing to our  family!

Bryce's Prize Possession!

Okay so this is sooo cool! Our next door neighbor happens to be the Angel's third base coach, Dino Ebel! What a treat for us...the biggest Angel fans on the planet! So Dino took a card to of Howie Kendrick to get signed for Bryce. Well Bryce waited for 2 days for that card, not understanding they were traveling. Dino came by and apologized and said he forgot the card in his locker at the stadium...but that Howie wanted him to have this instead! He pulled out the bat and my boy almost fell to the ground! He was so excited he could barely contain himself. We are getting a glass case for it and hanging it up in his baseball room that grandma painted for him! Thank you Coach Dino for making my boy the happiest little guy on earth!

Girlfriend Time...

Me and my wonderful friend Sheri! We were neighbors for 9 years and our boys are best little friends. Now that we have moved I don't see her as much. But when we get to go out, we always have so much fun! We went to the BackAbbey in downtown Claremont. Yummy food and awesome beers. There is an oustide patio with heaters and little white lights all over...it is actually really nice to sit out there during the summer. So this night...an older gentleman came and brought his dog. He was obviously by himself and doing his best to make small talk with us. Well....he asked if we would play with his dog for awile while he walked around and talked with the ladies! Sheri and I were in total shock! Never have I been asked to play with someone's dog at an outside dining facility! Too funny...anyways, poor guy, everyone enjoyed the dog's company more than his!

Moving Day!

Finally! Moving day crept up on us really fast! I did not get a lot of good pictures because I was so busy doing other things! I was so glad to have my mom and dad there to help me! It is really overwhelming for me...and I like to just through everything away and start fresh! But who can afford that! So we did it...and the house is coming along slowly...but I am trying to not get frustrated with all the boxes and mess everywhere! All the blue tape on the walls are little knicks we did...the builders come out for one year to fix and re-paint all the oopsies! So we have to keep them taped so they know what needs to be fixed!

Kenadee's First Day of 5th Grade

Kenadee was such a good sport this morning! She had to go back to school 3 weeks before the rest of us! Since we are still in storage, she did not even have her backpack. I know, mother of the year, I did not even have pencils for her! I kinda feel like it is still summer and not quite time to go back, so it all just snuck up on me. Since she is new to the school, we wanted to get there a little early to find her class and hopefully a friend! We were able to meet her teacher, Mrs. Johnson, who was so nice and ready to hook her up with some nice girls. I swear I am so emotional....I had to keep my glasses on so I wasn't caught crying! I felt so bad for her watching other girls run to each other so happy they were in the same class. But Kenadee just kept shocking me. She walked across the playground to a girl who was wandering around and introduced herself.
Ended up they are in the same class and she plays soccer too! I watched from across the playground, tears rolling down my face. I know I am such a sap! I can't help it...she was so determined to meet someone and I was so happy she did! She then waved to me from across the playground. As I continued to stand and watch her, both girls ran over and Kenadee said, "Mom, you can go now, I have a friend!" I cried all the way back to my car and prayed! I thanked God for allowing Kenadee to meet someone and having the courage to just walk up to a complete stranger and make friends. I LOVE her funny sense of humor and what a responsible and beautiful girl she has turned into! We even joked and laughed about the scary daycare clown! This will be her first time having to attend daycare! Boy are we gonna miss Auntie! Kenadee was a great sport...I know she will have a tremendous year!

Zernickow Gathering

We finally did it! Aunt Mary Jane was able to get many of the Zernickow's together for a BBQ at her home. We had so much fun! Bill had not seen his cousins in almost 20 years. My kiddos were so excited to find out they had cousins similar in age on that side. Shereen, Bill's cousin, has two little munchkins. Cheyenne who is 6 and Tyler who is 4. The kids had a blast swimming and playing with the all the baby puppies. I was able to meet that side of the family and Bill was able to catch up. So nice of Mary Jane to have us all over! A great day....hopefully there will be many more!

Boys Trip to Bass Lake

We were invited to go to Bass Lake for a few days with the Mustains. They were so generous to offer for all of us to meet them up there. I had to stay behind to get Kenadee registered in her new school. So Bill decided to take Bryce for a little boys trip. I was okay with that because Kenadee went to San Diego with a friend and so I was able to spend time with Miss Avery just her and I. It really didn't sound like something I would like....but after seeing the pictures and hearing the stories, I am kinda sad I had to stay at home! They had a great time...fishing, shooting BB guns, inter-tubing, throwing rocks and mud, sliding down waterfalls....and so much more in just 3 days! So thankful I have a hubby that will spend time with the kiddos doing those things....not any of my favorites. SO thank you so much Mustain's for a wonderful boys trip! Maybe next year we will get a cabin next to yours!  

Flying Home

Our flight left from Kahula airport at 6am. We were 45 min. from the airport. We needed to be there an hour early. What this all adds up to is we had to get up at 3am Friday morning! No bueno! We were exhausted...but happy to be going home to our munchkins! We were so blessed to get to do a vacation like this....without the kids. We are so thankful for all the we have and all the Lord has blessed us with. We are planning our next trip for a few years down the road, this time...with the kids!

Cool Cats

Our last night there we went to a restaurant called Cool Cats. It would be equivalent to our BJ's. It is in the main town of Lahina and upstairs. It overlooks the town and is a cute little place. As you can see, Bill had to order the biggest burger they offer. It was called the eliminator...or something to that effect. It was oozing with cheese and had 4 hamburger patties. I thought it was disgusting...but he enjoyed every bite of it. He almost finished it...I had to make him stop eating...he was getting so full it was painful for me to watch! Then he tried to ask the waitress to pack it up for him so that he could take it home and finish it later that night.....no. It really was a sight...way to much beef for one person!

Beautiful!

Not only was the view fantastic, but the grounds surrounding the condo was beautiful. Everything was so green and pretty. With the on and off rain and humid temps. they do not have a hard time growing things. The pool was great as well. Bill and I did not utilize the pool until the last day, we wondered why we had not before. It was so warm and right in front of the ocean. So even though it rained on and off all day, we enjoyed laying out and swimming for quite a few hours.

A Stormy Day

Our last day in Maui was a little stormy. It had actually rained throughout the night and we could hear the waves crashing on the rocks.  But it was still really warm and would rain a little and then the sun would come out and then rain a little more. So it was off and on. But there were big rainbows all day. Bill and I are pretty sure we have never seen a full arched rainbow. So that was pretty cool and seeing it over the water was super cool!

Stevie's Airport

This is the little airport that Stevie flew into. As you can see, it is right up the road from the ocean. The airport is so small, there is not even a parking lot. There is only one little terminal and you can just walk right up to it and then out onto the landing. It only hosts small inter-island propeller planes. I could not believe how small the jet was. There were only 4 people on his flight. But the view from the top of the hill is amazing! Most beautiful airport I have ever been too!

Dakine Shaved Ice

You can't go to Hawaii without getting a shaved ice! It is soooo good there. Maybe because it is soo muggy and hot...or the fact that they drench the flavor on, or that they mix ice cream in with it. Anyway you have it, it is so good! I had root beer and bubblegum in honor of my kiddos and that blue was really blue! A lot of fun though! Stevie looks less than thrilled in this picture....he was pouting because they did not have bud light flavor icee!