Elise is off to Kindergarten and Lu becomes a 3rd grader!

Today was a big day... the girls started school!  And it was especially big for Elise since this is the first day of school EVER!

We started off the day with a power breakfast of fruit loops.  So far, it's been the tradition that the kids get to pick their own cereal at the store for the first day (sugar content and cost are thrown out the window).  But... with tropical storm Flossie supposing to hit here and the base grocery store closed on Mondays (budget cuts), we didn't make it to the store.  They had to make do with the stuff dad bought last week for ward camp (post coming).  I'd say it was pretty kid friendly anyway.

 Stopping to get some pics before we head over

Growing up quick!

Lu was so excited to see her friends again.  But I don't know what I'm going to do without my little helper at home!  We had a great time picking out school supplies and getting everything together.  She even made matching bracelets for the girls to wear on the first day (me included).  Btw, Elise refused to wear her's (because it was purple, too itchy, etc) but promised she would still think about us during the day.  ha!  that girl...

It's lucky I have all these kids to help haul the load of school supplies.

Off to Kindergarten for Elise!

I'm sure going to miss this sweet girl at home!  She's always to one to shove the binky back in Erik's mouth.  But she was so excited to start school and felt so grown up!  She marched right into the class, put her stuff away and started playing.  When she got home, I asked her if she made any friends and she said "yes, but I'll have to learn all of their names tomorrow."

So so lucky to have Mrs. Gundermann for a teacher!

Ms. Gerlig is new this year.  Lu thought she was very nice.

One thing I loved about dropping Lu off was that all those moms I've come to know and love were just standing outside the door laughing and talking.  It's been a great thing to be part of the St. Mark Ohana.

And they are HOME!

I'm always sad when the lazy days of summer days are over (post coming).  This means that it is just me and the boys at home now.  Kinda different, ya?  Austin said, "Well, I guess it's a mommy & son date every day now."  :)

Summer Adventure Club Comes to an End

A few of our last activities...

Washed all the mommies cars... Cole was voted the best helper. :)

Of course this one ended with a water fight.

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 "Elmo Live" show at the Blaisdell Theater

Ruth got our group a great deal on tickets!  Cole was especially fun to watch as he got all excited to see the characters.  The show seemed kinda long though and by the end, the kids seemed sorta done and restless.  However, they shot confetti and streamers off at the last note of the last song and all the kids went crazy jumping for them.  Then everyone said it was the best show and so much fun!  ha!

My favorite memory of the Elmo show happened when we were just getting out of the van.  I was putting my baby sling on and Lucy nudged Elise and said, "Elise!!!  Look at that!!!"  When we got home, both girls wanted me to tie scarves around them so their babies could fit in a sling.  This is not a new thing, but this time it especially melted my heart.  Good to remember that I am training future mothers.

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Today was the final party...swimming at Aunty Ashlee's community pool.  We had a pot luck lunch and trick-or-treated for school supplies.

Austin and Kimo probably jumped in the pool about 30 times together.
They are best of buddies

Erik came along and he was good as gold.

the "trick-or-treat" line

At each stop they'd say, "Be Cool.  It's Back to School."

 "Adventure is out there!"

(and we're so glad we've shared it with great friends)

A Honu Baby!

Outside:

Inside:

We had a good time putting together Erik's birth announcement.  I came up with the honu idea (honu = "sea turtle" in Hawaiian) and ordered the little turtle prop from a lady on etsy.  I was really hoping to get this darling picture of Erik in a little ball shape, but he was having nothing of it.  My only chance was when he was asleep and that doesn't happen on windy Bellows beach.  So, I did the beach posing and Geo did the picture taking.  I think he did a pretty great job, especially for how mad Erik was. The poor kid had a faceful of sand by the time we were done.  Back at home, it took about 200 takes for me to get a good face shot.  If nothing else, I learned how tricky tiny babies are to photo.

Then to the design... I stayed up really late one night trying to put it together.  I was literally falling asleep at the computer and getting nowhere.  What do you do when that happens?  Call your talented sister to save you!  Lacey helped me with the layout and added the stuff that made it look great.  We were sitting at the computer, emailing changes back and forth.  It was actually pretty fun for me and I was happy with what we came up with.  Thanks for coming to the rescue, sis!
Back:

Big Smiles

Visit from Grandma Liz

 We're always happy when Grandma Liz visits! But Austin is NOT happy to have his picture taken.  He split right after the shot.  I was thinking we had eyes closed in the picture, so I brought him back for one more and he was ticked off about it.

Grandma always brings fun presents and fun things for the kids to do.  This was Family Home Evening lesson presenting the First Vision of Joseph Smith.  She helped them cut and color so that each child had a set of figures to tell the story (except for Elise.  She did not want help and did the whole thing by herself.  Miss Independent).  I was pretty impressed at how well they did.

Other fun activities were a trip to the zoo, train ride at the mall (and the girls and I got haircuts and school shopping done), and game after game after game and book after book after book.  Grandma is so patient with all the requests and the kids love the attention.  This time favorite games were "Spot It", "Life" and "Ohana Mana".  I can't find my other camera, so I'll have to insert more pictures when it turns up.  

Liz always offers to tend for us while we go on a date, which we love.  This time we went to "Kaka'ako Kitchen" (recommended by my friend U'i).  I had the fresh catch of the day and Geo had pot roast special.  Both were delicious and so different.  Mine came with rice and Geo's with mashed potatoes, so we made a quick switch to get our favorite sides.  I think we're a good match.  :)

Meanwhile, the 4 kids had a party with grandma with a movie and popcorn.  They were thrilled!

The happy part is that she's coming back (with more of the fam) in August!  See you soon, grandma!

Fab 5: Swords, Spills and Show-offs

~ ONE ~

Lu won the "big cookie" for being the best worker of the day.  She has been a huge help this summer!

~TWO~

For some reason, we had a rough time with drink spills this week.  This is a common problem at our house (mostly because of silliness {Elise} or being off in another world {Austin}), but this week seemed especially bad.  One particular time, Austin was thinking about who-knows-what and then did his excited shakes with his cup in his hand.  He didn't even realize he was dumping his drink over his shoulder and all over the floor.  I sent this pic to Geo the morning after he mopped the whole kitchen floor.  We didn't make it to lunch time without 3 major spills.  This one is hot chocolate (mix was a prize for the weekly reading contest at the library).

~THREE~

About six months ago, we attended a one-year birthday party for my friend's son.  They gave out blow-up swords for one of the prize.  Austin loved the thing and carried it everywhere... until it popped.  I told my friend what a great party favor it was and she generously gave him an extra one she had on hand.  He has worn it in the back of his shirt for a week solid, "just in case someone tries to fight me."

bad guys might even come to Costco

Another common accessory for Austin are cars in the pocket.   He loves shorts with lots of pockets.  I pulled these 5 out before I did the laundry (but I usually miss a couple and they get a good car wash).  He loves his orange hat too and one day I noticed there was a big bump in the middle... a big plastic jack.  Just saving it for later, he said.

~FOUR~

Had to make a trip to Safeway for $6 Friday.  That's right, in Hawaii, we don't have dollar days.  We have six dollar days.  Anyway, they were selling the smaller boxes of Life cereal (one of my favorites) 3 for $6 so I had to get some.  Want to see the price of a regular 18oz box?

~FIVE~

Elise loves to do tricks at the playground.  That girl has some muscles!  And no fear.  She loves doing a front flip over the bar.  Here she is showing her monkey bar skills at Bellows AF beach.

Look what else we saw at Bellows... real close view of a wild pig

Had to add in a couple more pics of crazy girl Elise.  She zips around the yard so quick!  Look at that face...

We get lots of these sad faces too.  When you are a daring girl, you tend to crash a lot.  She is especially dramatic when she sees blood, but sort of gets excited because that means she gets band-aids.  She really likes to be her own nurse (and everyone else's).

Photos of the 4th

Great start to the 4th... Cub Scout pancake breakfast!

entertainment by Bruddah Sam and Lina Girl... wonderful as always!

 

"Father Abraham had 7 sons" with Lina Girl

Erik with Aunty Julia

Thanks for the cute shirts, grammy!

Home for a nap

or building America

or building a flag for lunch

removing the star hair-do

Then it's off to Kailua beach... 

swimming with Aunty Haidee

BBQ time!

and smores!

We knew Kailua Beach would be super crowded because there were only 3 places on the island to watch fireworks this year (budget cuts for military = no fireworks on base).  For a million people, that doesn't seem like very many places to go.  Anyway, we threw my yellow bike in the van along with all of our food and beach stuff.  George dropped us off with all of our junk and biked back over after he found parking.  It turned out to be a pretty good plan.  And the bike I've owned for almost a year finally got used.  Double bonus.  The day was beautiful... not too hot, no wind and lots of good company!

 

There was an airshow around 6pm.  I took the boys back to the shore to see that but didn't bring my camera.  They were mesmerized by it all.  Austin was especially impressed when the pilot cut the engine.

One of the many nice things about celebrating the 4th in HI is that it's dark by 8pm... let the fireworks begin!

Fireworks over the ocean were beautiful!  We had great seats.  The kids traded around different colored glowsticks (prize from the father Abraham dance earlier) and had a marvelous time.  Even though they were a little in front of us, I could still hear Austin call out "Cool!!!" or something similar with almost every firework boom.  Cole was nervous at first and then thrilled with it all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!