Joshua's 5th Birthday

Joshua turned 5 this past July! What a big year for him starting school and all- see post below! We went to the splash park in the afternoon with some friends and had cake when dad got home later that day. Joshua was so excited to get his Transformers bike! We love you so much Joshua!!!!

Joshua is a Kindergartner!

I can't believe our little boy has started school!  He was so excited about everything- it is so fun to see his enthusiasm about everything in life! I can't help but smile in gratitude every time I talk with him. He exudes so much innocence and sweetness! He is one of the top students in his class and just loves to learn! He is constantly surprising us with the facts that he can rattle off to his dad and I. He comes home with prizes from the prize box every day for good behavior and has 2 loose teeth! He is growing up so fast.Life is busy now that we have a child in school- but it is so fun to see him learn and grow! He is such a good big brother,and so responsible!! We just love having him in our family and can't wait to see the great things life has in store for him!

Beau's 1st Birthday

The Birthday Boy and Joshua:)

Beau's best friend, Elsa, who is just 5 days younger than him!

A fun surprise from Mimi.

I'm ashamed to admit he had eaten birthday cake quite a few times before his birthday- but he still enjoyed every bite!

Playing with a ball from the fun tents that Elsa's family gave him!

Cute Chase

Chase is 3!!!

A favorite gift- a rescue helicopter (broken the first day and also taken away frequently because it tends to become a weapon:))

Chase LOVES candy- thus a candy cake!

The finished product before we caught him stealing candy and frosting off the cake- multiple times before we actually had his "party!"

Cute boys!

Hey- where's my cake?

Chase!!! We can hardly believe you are 3! The time has gone by so quickly! You were our first "Hawaiian Baby" You have grown so much over the last year. Some of your favorite things are still : CANDY- you frequently wake up asking for candy and there have been several times I have actually caught you eating candy or cookies that you have sneaked before I get downstairs in the morning! You are lightning quick- and will sometimes hide under a table in the living room trying to hurriedly eat your stash before I catch you and take it away:) You are a loving boy- but it has to be on your own terms. If you want hugs or kisses- you will ask for them- you are not so happy with spontaneous loves from your mom and dad, much to our chagrin-but we take what we can get:) You are a very physical boy. Dad tends to think that you will be good at any sport that you try. We have had some trouble the last several months with your temper and hitting- but we are working on it- and I see some maturation on your part when you know that you have done wrong. You LOVE to go outside and drive your "sheep" (jeep) which you are actually great at driving! You continue to love music as well. You idolize your dad and want to copy him doing all his different jobs! You like to help mow the lawn, wash the car, etc. You love your brother, Joshua, and like to mimic him as well. If I ask you what kind of cereal you want in the morning, you ask me, "what is Joshua having?" I have caught you spontaneously hugging your brothers, and Brody- and telling them you love them- it makes my heart so happy! You have eyes that are "to die for" as your Aunt Hayley also seems to think! Another friend of mine joked that it's a good thing you're so cute..... otherwise (when referring to your naughty days:P) You willingly go to nursery, would LOVE to stay at Joshua's preschool every day, are learning to dress yourself, and we are working on potty training- though that is not going so well at the moment! You are independent, and smart- and want to do everything yourself- which can sometimes be frustrating- but is also a great trait to have! We are so glad we are your parents and look forward to the many more years we have to watch you grow into an amazing young man! We LOVE you, Chase!!!! Happy 3rd Birthday Buddy!

Happy Easter 2012!!!!

Another 4 years!

Mike recently re-enlisted in the US Air Force! We've been so blessed these last 5 years and look forward to the new adventures the next 5 years will bring! We have been stationed in Monterey, CA and Honolulu Hawaii= no complaints there! This was a poor attempt to take a picture of us right after Mike's re-enlistment ceremony! Thanks for serving our country, Mike, and working hard for our family! We love you!

New rooms and Big Boy Beds!

I hung on to our guest room as long as I could- but since we moved into a 3 bedroom house- it finally had to go! The boys took the bigger bedroom and a friend down the street gave us these great bunk beds! I had fun redecorating the boys room- and Beau's nursery! We still have a few things to do to finish up- but I did manage to get some pictures when they were clean!!!! And- the nursery comes complete with a cute baby!

New addition!!!!

Some of you may know that I play a little piano- not well- but enough for me to have been called to be the primary pianist a few times (those poor primary children!) Anyhow- I love to play- it is a real stress reliever when I actually am able to sit down and play-but I have not had a piano to play since we've been married. I couldn't believe when I saw this beauty on craigslist for 100.00!!! So, Mike and some great guys from church loaded it up on a truck for me and brought it home. Mike spent a couple of hours polishing it for me, and re-covered the bench (which isn't in the picture)- and it looks great! Unfortunately it is not me playing most of the time (see above picture!) Maybe someday I will get some uninterrupted practice time- but then I know I will miss this as well!

Christmas 2011

Christmas this past year was a lot of fun- our 3rd Christmas here in Hawaii! It's hard to believe! Just one more and we will be back on the mainland- which brings mixed feelings:) We took our annual trip to the Honolulu City Lights where the kids rode the train around, and the little kiddie rides, and just as we were getting ready to leave it started to POUR down rain! The boys got lots of fun gifts from grandparents and Santa! I laugh now looking back at Beau's mullet in these pictures! He has had 2 haircuts since!