A Little Bit of Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to Yours!!!

Someone is not very patient!!!  He was a little upset that we were taking so long to open presents--we were waiting on Binx to wake up!

SHE"S UP!!!!  That means we can open presents!!!! 

That is one heck of a big bone!  It took him two days to eat it!

Magic Slushy---Santa brought this and YES it actually works!  It is the coolest thing ever!  I think we need to order more.  It is so awesome!

One thing she has been asking for was a "Big Girl" Bible.  She said she was old enough to have one now.  We agreed and got it for Christmas this year. 

She got her first American Girl Doll.  I can totally see my mother buying this for her if she was here!!

GREAT E-Mail!!!

I got an awesome email today!!!  Details will soon follow....can't say anymore than that right now but YAY!!!  It is great news!!!

It Still Hurts

I don't talk much about my dad.  Mostly, because I am too hurt by what he has done.  I guess by me not talking about it I am trying to ignore that it all really happened.  I have not spoken to my father in almost 2 years (exept for a few brief and very hurtful conversations we had last year when he has double bypass surgery---I asked that he and his wife come visit me in Hawaii and he told me no.)  I have not seen him in this period of time either.  I used to talk to him all the time.  We talked almost every day and he would spend atleast 2 weeks every summer and a week during the holidays with me and my family.  Now, he wants nothing to do with us.  Why???  Because he has chosen his wife over his family.  I don't think I will ever understand his reason for this but that is something that he has to live with.  The worst part of all of this is that Bianca doesn't have a grandfather.  Mike's dad hasn't bothered to contact us since Mike left for Afghanistan.  Thankfully, she has Papa Bill.  He has become a grandfather to her and I am so thankful for he and Aunt Jeanie.  They have really stepped in and become grandparents to my sweet little girl.  (While they are this way for Alex, he has his father's parents and they are wonderful grandparents so he isn't missing out like Bianca is.)  I have often asked if it was something I did and now was being punished, but it isn't me.  It is the choice that my father and my father in law have made.  Unfortunately, they will never know what an amazing family they are missing out on. 

Manawili Falls

While Bianca was at Vacation Bible School at church Alex and I decided to hike Manawili Falls.  It a a VERY muddy hike to get to the falls but once there it is beautiful!  It is one of the waterfalls you can actually swim in!

Alex took a picture of me on the way up.

The lower part of the falls...unfortunately I had the wrong setting on the camera so you can't see them!!!!

After going to the falls we saw another trail so we started hiking up to see where it would go....turns out it goes to the Pali Lookout!!!  We are doing that hike the next time he is here!

A few of the valley below...it was a cloudy, rainy day!

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

After the day of kayaking we I took the kids to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.  Alex totally loves planes and anything to do with military history and Bianca just loves being with her brother!  The museum is housed in the original hangers from when Pearl Harbor was attacked.  It was awesome!!!

Alex told me the history of each of the planes as we walked through the hanger....I don't recall what it is now.

She can never pass up a chance to strike a pose!

One of the things Alex wanted to do was fly in the flight simulator.  He loved it.  It simulates what it was like to fly during the time of the attack!  You actually have to take off, fight the enemy, and land without crashing!  He did it!!!!

They have tried to keep the integrity of the old hangers....such a cool place to visit!

Kayaking Day

One of the days Alex was here we went Kayaking.  Our friends, the Chapman's, have two kayaks so they let me borrow them.  We loaded them in the truck and headed out to Secret Beach.  Secret Beach is perfect for kayaking because their is a reef a ways out and it breaks the waves so it is pretty smooth. 

Alex and I trying not to run into each other!

I am pretty sure he was laughing at me....it was a major workout!

While Alex and I kayaked, Bianca hung out on the beach with our neighbors!

After Alex and I finished Jenn went out with me...those teeny tiny little black specks were us. We made it out to the reef break and almost turned over because the waves hit us.  Kayaking was SOOOO much fun!  I am ready for Mike to get home so we can buy some kayaks and start going more often!

Family Photos

When Alex is here we always try to do family photos.  Well, this year we were missing Daddy.  So we decided to do photos with the Daddy Doll instead!  It's just our little way of making sure he is included in everything we do.

I LOVE this picture of them!!!

We had to include a goofy one too!

The look on her face says it all........We Miss You Daddy!!!