Abby's now 4!!!

Happy Birthday Abby!!!

We had a really fun party this year (a few day's before her birthday) and this is the first birthday ever that I think she's been able to celebrate with cousins and grandparents. We started out the day by having this poster work up on the kitchen wall. Grandma helped her sisters make these the day before.

I didn't have any of my cake decorating stuff yet, it's still all on a crate somewhere on the ocean, and so I had to go with a simpler cake. Abby wanted a train and so the girls and I had fun decorating up train cars.

Hailey and Alyssa helped blow up lots of balloons and the kids loved tossing them all around and playing as they ran in continuous circles! Here is Abby playing with her cousin Kaedan.

Macey was the most excited of all for the party and I don't know if she liked the cake or the balloons more, but she was so happy to have a party!!!

Kalaheo Ward Luau

Our annual summer ward party this year was held at Salt Pond Beach on Southern Kauai. Our prior Bishop, Bishop Barino roasted a pig in a pit over night and other members of the ward each brought different foods that are served at Luau's. Each different organization practiced for weeks, learning random hula dances. Above is our elders (with John in the middle in his blue hawaiian shirt and joined by his good friends Brady E. and Dale K.) Below is our Primary teachers. I didn't join in the fun because I was 8 months pregnant and it just didn't seem natural for me to hula at that stage in pregnancy.The primary children were taught two basic hulas and did a wonderful job. Hailey is standing in the middle in her light green Hawaiian dress, and Alyssa is setting on the far left side in her red Hawaiian dress)

Abby loves to show off a little and while she is still in nursery she didn't join the other primary children. But, that didn't stop her and many of us got laughs from her dancing over on the side. I would say it was funner to watch her than the others, but I am a little biased.

Each of our girls had lots of fun, played with friends, had a wonderful dinner, learned a little Hawaiian culture (thanks to Auntie Nani Higa), and did their normal beach exploration.

Abby and Brad Wilcox have always had lots of fun together, she will sure miss him next month when he leaves for his Korean mission.

Alyssa and Kyleigh the two unseperable girls

Labor Day in Hanalei

We spent our beautiful Labor Day in Hanalei with so many family and friends this year. The weather was just perfect and so our girls and us had tons of fun playing their by the boat harbor. Layton Companies (of Hawaii) had there annual summer family party and then we all went to the Cooks house in Princeville for a fabulous dinner. Some families brought their kayaks and Hailey absolutely had a fabulous time riding around in it (thanks Bishop Herr). We were going to take our kayak, but..... due to some bad circumstances we no longer have a working kayak.... and someone's car has to have a few scratches from running over it :)

Abby did get lots of sand time in, but she preferred to float around in the ocean with either John or I at her side at all times. Alyssa loved just floating on the boogie board or thanks to the Clarks, a queen size air matress that lots of kids floated around on. It was amazing how the waves were just right for a fabulous day.

The Hanalei sand tends to make really great sand castles and a good friend of ours is always having fun creating 3-6 foot sand castles, here's an old picture of one.... but while my girls don't create these spectacular sand castles, they love to try!

Sept 6th was the 1st annual Kauai Marathon and it was started in our little town of Poipu right down the street from our house. My sister-in-law Michelle thought it would be fun to run in this marathon and so she came to visit us for about a week. The marathon was definately not an easy one with the continuous hills and canyons you run through, but she did it! Great job Michelle!

We also had some of our friends from our ward running/walking in the half marathon. It was fun to see them come in. Congratu

lations to Ikaika and his mom Ulu Perriera (pictured) and to my visiting teacher Debbie Lindsey! You all did a great job!

Hailey's Birthday

This month is full of birthday's for our family. We started out the month with Aunt Brooke's birthday on April fool's day. Next we had our cousin Brooke born on April 2nd, congratulations Eric and Aimee on the new addition to your family. We move on to cousin Makel, Alyssa, Uncle Pat, Hailey and end the month with my mom.

Hailey had a really good day, at home and at school. They were able to go to a neighboring school to see a drama production in the morning, and I brought cupcakes in to all her classmates in the afternoon. They really seemed to already have enough energy and no need the sugar, but you know 6-7 year old can always use more!

She wants to thanks all of you for sending cards and gifts this year. I can't believe in a year she will be old enough to get baptized. I have taken her to activity days with me before and the age difference seems so big that it's hard to believe she will join them in a year.

The weather here has been so sporadic this week. Monday we were able to go to the beach for a beautiful morning. We thought about going again today at noon but it was awful this morning, now we have blue skies (1:30 pm) ..... anyhow you never know here, it is always changing. John did take the girls to the swimming pool yesterday afternoon for Hailey's birthday. Alyssa is going to start her swimming lessons next week and needs all the practice she can get before beginning them.

Alyssa is 5

No time to post, but I thought I would add some pictures of our sweet little girls big 5th birthday!!!

Alyssa and her friend, Kyleigh, made Easter bunny houses for her birthday!

What could a little girls want more than a new makeup kit! (I didn't buy this)

She was thrilled to race through the house on her new scooter!

Alyssa opted for no cake this year, all she wanted was cupcakes.