November Happenings

 Nate ran a marathon!

The night before Veterans' Day, Nate told me, "I'm gonna get up at 4:00am and do a long run in the morning.  8:00am comes around and he's still not home.  He comes back near 8:15 to tell me he's not going to the exercise class we usually go to because he's "still not done running."  Even with my asking, he still wouldn't tell me what was going on!  What was up with this unusual excitement about running, a sport he used to despise?  I passed him on my way to exercise class and he finally told me he was running a marathon -- solo.  He just up and wanted to see if he could do it.  Well, at 10:30, he called me and asked me to pick him up -- he finished, and got first place!!

 Soul has discovered the joy of placing small objects in a container.  Here he is placing pebbles in a roll of twine.

 I don't know what he is doing here, some sort of ostrich move, but he had a great time doing it!

 

I love how the girls love each other!

3.  We went to the Valley of the Temples, a cemetary which hosts a large Buddhist temple.  Beautiful, but after seeing so many in Taiwan, probably not worth a drive over just to see one.  But the girls loved feeding the koi and even the birds fed right out of Ivy's hand!

 

 Voter spirit!

We all got into the patriotism spirit this year.  We were strong Romney fans.  Here are the girls making a sign for Romney

 Elysse and Soul at Preschool

 This made me laugh:  You see how much pancake is left on Elysse's plate?  Well, she brought the plate to me at the end of breakfast and said, "I just can't handle any more".  Really?

 Elysse and friends

At the Triple Crown contest this weekend (a big surf contest at the beach across the street) Elysse met a mermaid with her friends.  She happened to be there when she was being interviewed, so got to be on the webcast of the contest. 

Soul being sung to at Tutu and Me preschool

Happy 1st birthday, Kalani Soul!

We invited the Clark family over for dinner and cake and ice cream.  I attempted a chocolate pie made with avocado, but my avocados weren't ripe yet, so I experimented with sour cream and avocado and eventually created a pie that was actually quite good.  At least Soul ate it!

I had been wanting to get a swing for Soul, and happened upon a swing being given away on facebook.  The owner brought it over just in time for the party, and Soul LOVES it!!

Grandma had also made her famous chocolate cake, and we all had a great time eating and chatting and celebrating Soul.

Soul is such a joy in all of our lives.  He lights up a room when he's in it with his winning smile and mellow mood.  We love you, Soul!

Look who's Walking!

Look who's walking!  Soul has been taking steps for about a month, and now decided walking is the way to go.  I have video, but I'm having trouble loading.  I'll post it when I can!

Taking the plunge

Fun in the Mud

Our family Circus

To most onlookers, it may look like another beautiful, calm day at the beach...

But take another look and you'll find the

 Bodacious Burgoynes 

pulling tricks that will blow your mind!!

 The Amazing Elysse Defies gravity and floats ABOVE water!

Supernatural Soul catches satellite reception -- through his HAIR!!!

 Zooming Kezia ZIPS at 75mph-ish down a plastic tarp straight into the salty water! 

Indomitable Ivy tackles WILD 100lb logs -- and lives to tell the tale!

Happy Unbirthday, Elysse!

The last thing Elysse said before she went to bed last night was, "I wish my birthday was tomorrow." 

I decided to let her dream come true.  She woke up to streamers, a cake made of haupia, strawberries, and blueberries, and stickers and a lollipop as a gift.  It was fun to make the wish every kid wishes for true.

What's going on with Soul

 Two new teeth!  They sprouted around August 11.  What a man!  Luckily, I have not been bitten yet.  Thank you, Soul.  But there has been a whole lot of other stuff going in his mouth!

 

Soul's already taken by the ladies --- he doesn't know what to do with so much female attention!

At last, Kezia has the cat she's always dreamed about!

Kezia's 9th birthday

 We celebrated Kezia's 9th birthday yesterday!!

Kezia planned a simple party this year, and it was LOADS of fun!  All she wanted was a pinata, cake and ice cream, and go to the beach to play.  We added in one relay as kids were arriving.  The weather mostly held up, and with 15 good friends including siblings and friends' siblings, we were all in for a good time.  Kezia reeallly wanted a sea horse pinata.  With only 1 1/2 hours before the party started, we finally had time to go buy one.  We were both so happy when we saw a sea horse pinata hanging on the wall, just as she wanted.  Such a blessing!

Kezia has great friends.  I

 Elysse and Ivy decorated a sign for Kezia's party

 We played a relay as we waited for guests to arrive.

 Pinata time!

 Look at the anxiety of the kids waiting for the pinata to be smashed!  These kids are ready for candy!

 Go get em, tigers!

                                            Kay made a sea life cake, as requested by Kezia!

 Kezia and her wonderful friends

                                       I love the friend support in blowing out the candles!!

When we got the beach, there was hardly anyone out.  See all the kids in the water?  Those are all the partyers.  So fun to have friends who enjoy the water as well!  The kids were surfing, boogie boarding, or just playing in the surf break.  The conditions were perfect for the kids.  Super calm, but a bit of a bump to make things fun.

 

 

A few days later we went on a family (+friend, Kala) to the Fun Factory and to get Frozen Yogurt.  We usually only do a friend or a family party.  As we were driving up to the Fun Factory, I was wondering how Kezia weaseled two parties... oh well, the more fun the better!

 I love Kezia.  She is such a great girl and we are so lucky to have her in our family.  Here are 9 things about Kezia that make her terrific:

1.  She is self-motivated.
2.  She loves her friends and family members.
3.  She is compassionate and quick to help others.
4.  She loves to learn and read.
5.  She enjoys being around adults and joining in adult conversations.
6.  She is very pensive and has great ideas about different subjects.
7.  She has a strong testimony of the Gospel.
8.  She is a great example to her younger siblings and brings peace in the home.
9.  She is very unselfish.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEZIA!!