Hawaii - Day 5

Watched the sunrise as we swam in the ocean in the morning. Got to get some great shots of the one and only Black Pearl from the Pirates of the Carribean movies (they were wrapping up filming of #4) and then a snorkeling and sunset dinner cruise onboard the Kai Oli Oli 47 foot Catamaran.

Hawaii - Day 4

A morning hike through a very rainy rainforest, through a bamboo jungle and up to Manoa Falls. Then a nighttime Luau at Paradise cove, complete with hula dancers, hawaiian food, fire dancers and other Hawaii native games and traditions.

Hawaii- Day 3

A sunrise hike to the top of Diamond Head Crater (brutal). And a trip to the North Shore with stops at Byodo In Temple, The Point, Sunset Beach, Turtle Bay and the Dole Plantation.

Hawaii - Day 2

A trip to the Sea Life Park where we had a Dolphin encounter, got to play with Sea Lions and Dive a deep Sea dive in a wacky helmet where we fed a sting ray and other vicious fishies out of our hand. Then a trip to Hard Rock Honolulu and a picture of the moon over the ocean from our Lanai.

Hawaii - Day 1

We Arrived! Got Leid at the Airport and then on to Hotel. Swam in the Ocean for the first time and took photo's of the views of Waikiki from the beach and from our Lanai as we watched the Sunset and me sipping on my first Mojito of the trip at Tiki's Bar and Grill.

Flag Football

We started Caleb's first season of flag football last night. He did awesome! The game ended in a tie, but nobody really cared because they had so much fun. We were pleasantly surprised at the way he was listening to coach and doing what he was supposed to. A great step up from our past soccer experience. Maybe we have found his niche? If so, I can live with that. We'll see how the next 7 games go though. Here's some pics from last night's action.

Caleb's Chinese 101

Caleb is really catching onto the Chinese in his classroom. He often answers me now in Chinese which I both love and hate at the same time (since I have no idea what he is saying or if they really are even words). We also got to go meet his teachers this week at his first SEP conferences of the year. They both said that Caleb is a #1 student. He listens, follows directions and is as sweet as can be. We are really proud of our little boy and everything he has accomplished in just a few weeks back to school. Enjoy his video, he has been dying to make one for the blog.

So here's the next Chinese Lesson for you: Counting to 10 (taken from wikihow)

One = 一: yi (Yee (The tone of the word is the same all along)).
Two = 二: er (Are (The tone of the word goes down from a high to low voice)).
Three = 三: san (Sahn (Same as 一 for the tone)).
Four = 四: si (sih(Same as 二 for the tone)).
Five = 五: wu (Woo (The tone comes down, and then up)).
Six = 六: liu (lee-yu(Same as 二 for the tone)) .
Seven = 七: qi (chee (Same as 一 for the tone)).
Eight = 八: ba (baa (Same as 一 for the tone)).
Nine = 九: jiu (jee-yo (Same as 五 for the tone)).
Ten = 十: shi (shir (The tone goes up)).

Wanted: House and P. Mag Back

*Warning, adult content* So, I can't contain myself with this story any longer because it just gets better and better. And hey, everyone needs a good laugh.



Remember just recently when we painted the boys bathroom (link here). Well in the process of painting around the bathroom cabinets I removed the drawers and found buried treasure. For the last 8 years, we have managed to live in harmony with the previous owner's stashed Porn magazines! That's right, there they were. Dated back to about the time the house was built. I interrogated Mike (just to be sure) but he assured me they weren't his. After all, if they were he'd share because that's the kind of guy he is (and I believe that). Luckily, the boys were with Papa that weekend and Mike and I had had a few good chuckles and even shared the story with a few friends. Well because I have a warped sense of humor and because I thought they would someday make an awesome gag gift (with story attached of course) we kept them and we laugh about them often.



Well today I got a knock at the door. I panicked thinking it was a showing that I wasn't aware of and wasn't ready for but it turned out to be the prior owner of this very house. The one we bought it from. The ones that left the porn mags! Her and her grandson. She asked if she could come in and see the house. I thought she was just being a nosey old goat and told her that we were doing showings by appointment only and gave her the agents card. She gave me a big story about how they used to live here and she would give just anything to have it back yada yada. It was truly one of those bizarre conversations that once it's over you question yourself about if it really happened. Mike came home and I told him and watched his face curl into a confused sort of look where it has stayed for a while. He was as baffled as I was.



Turns out that nosey old goat was serious! She has already put a call into our agent and is looking into buying the place back. We aren't sure how it will turn out but I am wondering if they do end up buying it back if I should also return their long lost porn to them, gift wrapped with a bow and a note "You left this here 8 years ago, glad we could return it"? After all they left it for us, shouldn't we return the favor?What would you do?

Driveway Mario

Three day weekends really are wonderful. I don't know the last time we could ever say that we were actually bored on a weekend for some time. We have been so focused on getting this house on the market and work and Caleb's school that we haven't had time for much laid back fun. But that changed today when we officially got bored. I took myself to Joann's for a few scrapbook supplies since my normal stash has been packed away and got 2 layouts designed and Mike took the chalk to the driveway for another of his masterpieces (complete with helpers of course).

And the finished product. Mario graces our driveway. Until at least the next rainstorm anyway.

Swiss Days

Yesterday we got to go enjoy Swiss Days in Midway. Over the past years this has become somewhat of a tradition for us minus last year when we missed it. We got up there early in time for the parade and the kids loved it. Well at least the first 45 minutes of it before they got bored (the parade lasted over an hour and a half total). They got tons of candy and the twins thought it was awesome that everyone was waiving at them and they were waving back as fast as they could. Then it was time for Mom's favorite part, the shopping! There are always well over 100 vendors there with unique (mostly handmade) goods. We shopped and shopped and I scored myself a few things. I always love to get a jump start on Christmas shopping there as well but this year I only bought for me. :) I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for something to do on Labor Day weekend any year. So call me next year when it comes around and we'll all go together !