Miniature Golf!

We went to Jungle River miniature golf -- thank you, LivingSocial!! -- We had a lot of fun.  The girls were WILD and it was a crazy chaotic rolling of golf balls and golf clubs as we all went at the same time -- no taking turns!  

Hole in One!!

Happy 5th birthday, Elysse!

 Elysse, 5 years old

 Singing happy birthday at preschool

5 things I love about Elysse:
1. The funny things she says
2. Her empathy for others
3. Her desire to do what's right
4. Hugs and kisses
5. Her love for her mommy and daddy

Day #5: Last day with Grandma and Grandpa Hicken

On our last day, Mom, Elysse, Soul and I went on a walk down the bike path and stopped at a tire swing on the beach.  Dad stayed home to finish up some much needed projects.  It was so helpful!

 Then we went to Shark's Cove to search for hermit crabs, eels and fish.  It was ccccold and windy, but we had a blast.  Grandpa especially loved seeing the waterlife!

 Can you see all of us there?

 Grandma and Kezia collecting shells

 What seems to be a tradition now:  Getting ice cream at Scoop of Paradise before Grandma and Grandpa leave

Saying goodbye.  I gave Mom the pendant she's wearing for an early Mother's Day gift.  It was made by a friend of mine (Amy Hart) and is a bird's nest in silver and pearl.  To me, it symbolizes a mother's love, and I'm grateful for the mom I have!

Talent Show

The girls put on a small talent show that evening.  Kezia played ukulele -- and actually let me film her!!  Ivy hula hooped, Elysse read Dick and Jane, and Soul slept. 

 Grandma and Grandpa were a great audience, despite the long day!

Ivy's Baptism, Elysse's Birthday - Grandma and Grandpa Hicken's visit Day #4

 

 Birthday Brownies made by Kezia, 

along with a picture with Elysse's favorite things:  a zebra, a dolphin, a flower, and a girl.

 Pancakes with a Berry on top --Birthday Breakfast Request

Elysse generously shared her birthday celebration with Ivy's baptism.  I was feeling stressed about possibly feeding the ward refreshments afterward, realizing we had planned her baptism on a fast Sunday, but happily last minute I realized we could do a pot luck at our house and take the burden off my shoulders.  It was fantastic.  I loved the support of our friends, especially our friends who are not members of the church but came to support Ivy, including the Clarks, Durrazzos, and Lynn, Kaimana, and Promise, And Kelly (Wanda's owner) came to the party afterward, and even brought her violin to show the kids how to play.

 Elysse in her dress up gift from Grandma and Grandpa Hicken

 Ivy in her baptism dress from Grandma Burgoyne

 Soul in his Mud Face after going face first down the slide

Being baptized was definitely a choice Ivy made; it wasn't something forced upon her or something she "had to do" because she was now eight.  Before, she was a bit hesitant, but later decided she wanted to.  After she was baptized, she jumped on her daddy and gave him a big hug.  Then when she came into the dressing room, she said to me, "I'm so happy I am baptized!"

Grandma Burgoyne made Elysse's cake, of course.  Elysse requested a "winter cake", and here's what she came up with.    (oops!  I'll post the photo when I can find it!)

Beach Day - Grandma and Grandpa Visit Day #3

 We decided to go to the beach for a bit in the morning...and stayed til the early afternoon.  It was super fun, and the girls got to show off their skills in the surf for Grandma and Grandpa.  And, family, have you ever seen Dad so relaxed?!?  He often said how much he enjoyed relaxing on the beach that day.  And it really was relaxing.  Good surf,  good body boarding, even good bird catching (or at least, attempts at it!)  Speaking of, can you believe Ivy actually caught a wild pigeon before with her own two hands?!?

Elysse's Birthday Celebration at Sea Life Park - Grandma and Grandpa Visit Day #2

 High FIVE for Elysse turning 5!!!!!

We celebrated by going to Sea Life Park (Thank you, Maka'i Card deal, for your perfect timing)

First we saw the dolphin show with "the world's only Wolphin!"  And no, it is not a mix between a dolphin and a walrus. ;)  We decided to choose our seats quickly -- but obviously using our bottoms and not our brains, seeing how we sat right in front of a pole.  Duh!

 

 Penguin feeding

 

 Sea Lions

 Touching a baby honu

The girls were super excited to get wet during the main show, where the dolphins splash in a big pool that sprays the first few seats.  They remembered from last time we went a few years ago how soaked we all got, unawares.  This time they were prepared with swimsuits.  And Grandpa and Grandma were prepared with warnings given 10 times by each child.  Well, we sat in the same seats, and the girls watched every other row but ours get soaked.   Nate and I told the girls to wait -- our turn will come -- but their impatience couldn't hold out and they ran to the already wet seats -- just as a dolphin made its biggest splash and got Nate and I and the girls' empty seats all wet.

We told them not to worry, that we'll get wet at the next show.  So in the meantime we played Sardines on Elysse's request.  She chose to hide in a small twisted tunnel on the playset.  Somehow, the girls, Grandma and I crammed ourselves in there!

 However, the next show was (*lame*) and there was no water spraying, and suddenly the totally cool birthday celebration turned into "the worst birthday party Ever!!!"  and Elysse sulked back to the parked car.

Ah, but the Party Angels must have been looking down on that Freshly Five year old that day, because as we stopped for a potty break, I spotted a food stand and bought a giant cookie for Elysse.  Her eyes lit up and suddenly it didn't matter if she got wet or not -- at least she got her sugar -- and the birthday again was a hit.


And speaking of food, she requested pancakes for breakfast.  She definitely got what she asked for!

Happy Birthday, Elysse!

Here are 5 things I LOVE about you:

1. Your smile

2.  Your knock knock jokes

3.  How you repeat things other people say -- jokes, stories, etc.  so you can get the same attention they did

4. Your love for your daddy (you are always thinking of ways to serve him or show him love, like buying him candy at the store.

5.  Your love for beauty.

Grandma and Grandpa Visit! Hike to the Albatross

I was looking forward to my mom and dad visiting, but also wondering how it all was going to be, since I had it on my calendar that they were coming out on Thursday evening and leaving Monday morning.  3 days in Hawaii?!?  Well, if it weren't for a rainstorm that delayed their trip and prompted Dad to call me on Wednesday to tell me they'll be there a bit later THAT NIGHT, I wouldn't have been at the airport to pick them up!  And they were leaving Monday night, not morning!  So the whole trip started out even better than I expected -- with 5 days of Grandparents and not 3!

Day One: We hiked to Kaena Point to see the albatross.  I thought it would be a 1 1/2 hour hike, but it was a 5 hour hike -- and well worth it!  Wow, it is sooo beautiful at the point!  And the albatross were neat to see. 

 view of the coastline along the way

 

 Avoiding the mudpuddles

 Love this pic -- Grandpa is growling like a bear to help motivate Elysse to keep going.  Look at the smirk on Elysse's face as she pretends not to hear him. ;)

Grandma's 15th rendition of "Left, left, left my wife and 49 kids....."
Still smiling ;)

At one point, Grandpa went ahead with Soul (as well as our food, phone, and water).  We hiked on til the end, with the girls complaining more and more about being hungry and thirsty, and no sight of Grandpa.  I was beginning to worry about Dad, too.  This was his first day here and I knew he wasn't drinking much.  Hopefully he was okay.  And then I was worried about Soul -- it was time for him to nurse.  When we neared the point, we asked some hikers if they had seen him, but they said they had been all the way to the end and had not.  Where was he?  The kids were in the hot sun with no water, and Kezia laid down on the sand a few times, saying she was tired and just wanted to go to sleep.  I knew it was just because she was so out of fuel and liquids.  So we decided to say a prayer that we could find him and be okay til we did.   A few minutes later he poked his head out of a gunnery at the point.  We were so excited to him and refuel.  And Soul was excited to see Mommy.

Well, after that we had a great time playing in the tide pools searching for creatures and finding plenty hermit crabs.  

Most of all the girls loved playing on the gunnery.  The wind was blowing at about 35mph up there!  The girls had such a fun time playing with the wind and singing as loudly as they could.

The albatross were so cool.  Smaller than I had expected, they were the size of a large duck, but it was really cool to see them nesting right next to the path, dancing with each other, clicking with their bills, and soaring right over our heads.  

 

Due to the big rains last week, there were a lot of mud holes along the path.  Kezia ditched her shoes and convinced Elysse and I to do the same.

 On the way home from an awesome hike...