What'z up with the Nowell's

Kandon scores 16 points in his first Basketball game!

2012-01-13T17:29:00.000-08:00

Well, Kandon got to play in his first basketball game. While in Hawaii they required them to be 9 I think so we were never able to play. We had a good game and they won with a score somewhere around 30 to 8. They don't officially keep score, let them press, or steal the ball, but there was plenty of action to watch and keep it interesting.

Cliff got to help with coaching and it looks like he will stick with it for the 8 remainder games. We just hope the other games go as well. Kandon probably won't be the tallest person against other teams, but hopefully his team will do just as well at passing to each other. There were no ball hogs which was great. He just needs to learn that he cannot just stand under the basket and tell the to pass. It was also funny to see him tell them to pass bc he was running a little ahead of them. Just got to keep him from wanting the ball too much.

Good job Kandon! Keep it up! We love you!

You can see him score 2 baskets in this video. One right at the beginning when they pass ball in, he just jumps and scores. His second is at the end, and mom didn't do such a good job, but that basket is him throwing it in. Watch closely.

HaHa Give Credit Where Due!

2011-12-25T19:41:00.000-08:00

Ok I try not to complain when my husband is a better cook than I, or a better present wrapper, or a better, well anything and everything because he is all the time, but when it comes to giving credit to me today, I couldn't let it slide. (Humorously)

It is Christmas morning and I am up way earlier than I want to be and I am actually standing in the kitchen making homemade donuts, (although they are Pillsbury drop biscuits in oil and shake some confectionary sugar on them donuts- lets call them semi-home-made then). And beside me to my surprise is my hubby who is making himself and Kandon some eggs for breakfast. This is a rare thing since the kids have cereal almost every morning and well, Cliff isn't near the kitchen in the morning but a few times a year. Anyways, I get the first one done and here comes Kilee so hungry, she takes it to the table, bites into it, and says, "MMM.. These donuts are so good, thanks DAD!" This comment leads to the boys basically saying the same thing at various times during breakfast, and Cliff and I having a chuckle and correcting them. Explaining to them that Dad only turned one donut over and that I had made those donuts. "Well I must have had Dad's then," says Kilee. Can you believe that? I can just feel the love.

Then during the joy of opening presents later that morning, I hear, "Thanks Dad" for the gift. Hellooooooo children, mom bought you that, Mom wrapped it. Well, mom is just not a good enough wrapper, so we assume dad wrapped it the children think. Oh well, hahahaha.

Then to add to the humor of the day, at dinner, (a lovely simple dinner of pot roast in the crockpot,) I hear, "MMM thanks dad, this is so good!" Say what, Hahaha, I know I am not a good cook. I know dad set the table and brought the pot to the table, but really, giving dad credit all day for the many things mom does. Cliff and I just had to laugh again. He is a good dad, eventually correcting the kids and not taking the credit when it is moms work, (well most of the time, all in good humor). All he did was flip the roast one time when the children were actually looking and they thought he had slaved over the food, eventhough they saw mom put it in the pot that morning. That's ok, I should be grateful they are kids who remember to say thanks.

Ha Ha, the story of a lot of adventures in our life, but I am glad to have someone to share it with, even if he gets more credit than is due sometimes.

Well the kids were up by 5am and I went to bed after 2am, so I am going to crash and prepare myself for another day. Maybe tomorrow will be my day for some credit. Ohhh Nooooo, that isn't til Mother's Day, Just Kidding.

Let the good times roll, hopefully not til after 7am though (sad to say that is what I call sleeping in these days).

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Christmas Picture Attempts

2011-12-25T18:56:00.000-08:00

Christmas Picture Time!

So these are our attempts at Christmas pictures one week before Christmas, notice Kandon's red nose and the kids facial expressions of "We're cold and we don't like mom's silly picture idea, but we are here and lets get this over with," ( I know it is 99% effort and I need to love it.)

We were going over to a friends house to make Gingerbread houses and I decided to take full opportunity of their backyard and their physical presence to take our picture. To my delight they allowed us to use their nifty fancy camera, but our friend (the husband) takes our pic says its good and starts to leave with everyone falling behind. Oh no I say, that can't possibly look good we need to take like ten more. Fine lets go over by these trees and take another, not to mention the mud whole. So the camera goes click and everyone starts to leave. I'm sure they are fine says Cliff, no no no, when will men learn. The kids don't have coats, it is like 40 degrees, and I give in. Deciding to get the 3 kids pics and Kilee's school pic later that day (since we didn't like either of her school pics).

And this is the second shot. I printed it in Black and White to hide the mud hole and lesson my dislike of my almost double chin like appearance. I also printed the first picture eventhough Kandon was red in the nose and looks cold.

Fast forward a few hrs, kids don't want to participate in posing for pics, therefore no real pic to print, this one being the best.

Then exit the boys and that leaves the 20 plus pictures of Kilee making her moaning, whining, pouting face motion picture book and only salvaging this one picture that will have to do for the 4th grade and Christmas cards to Grandmas.

Oh well, I tried. Wish I had a fancy camera for Christmas, warmer weather, a beach maybe in the background, and all 5 smiling faces that look great, not just decent. LoL

Another good year, another decent picture for the blog and book! Bring On next years life and family pictures!

Here are the boys school pictures. They looked so cute I actually bought school photos for the first time. It kinda helped that we hadn't made family and summer pictures this year, so I wanted some anyways, oh well. And yes Kandon has since cut his hair, and I miss it already, just like I miss Kowen's Hawaii surfer boy look. Oh but it isn't my hair, and with in reason, they can grow or cut it as they please. For now!

2011 Christmas Letter

2011-12-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

What's Up With The Nowell's
2011 Christmas Letter
Another year is coming to a close, months have passed, days have come and gone, adventures have waged war and brought peace, but life goes on and we must recap in order to set new goals and plan for new encounters. This year we have undertaken lots of activities including visiting new lands across many an ocean and vast lands to forge a new home in a new frontier.

This new land we call Ohio, has brought us strange new encounters like trees changing their colors and molting their beautiful leaves. We have yet to understand why such beauty is traded for such empty and barrenness. The strange white flakes that fall from the sky erect squeals from Kilee and Kandon, but poor Kowen is struck with bewilderment as he has never seen how such soft things hit his tongue, yet when compiled together they form such a hard painful ball when hit in the face. “It hurts, It hurts,” “It’s too cold,” “Please can we move back to Hawaii,” they say. “No” says their wise mother, “There are great things here that we have yet to discover. We must forge on with a new found desire for adventure.” Oh how they complain about the strangeness of not being able to wear flip-flops and shorts. What kind of people desire to live in such a strange
land where flip-flops must be put away and where one must wear so much just to
go outside to walk to the bus or walk the dog or even get the mail or let alone
just get in the car. “I don’t want to look fat,” says little 5 year old Kowen as his mother tells him daily that not only must he wear tennis shoes and socks, but he must also wear long pants, thermals, sweaters, inner coats, outer heavy coats, mittens, hats, and his hood. These hassles surely take many a minutes from their playtime, but as it gets colder they see that it is impossible to wage war against their mother’s demands and that the winter winds are fierce and have caused them to retreat inside for the coming months.

They have had time to reflect on their year and what has brought them to where they are. Fresh on their minds is Thanksgiving and how
grateful they were to have their Aiti and Grandpa come visit and take them for
crab legs. They enjoyed spending the nights at their hotel and refreshing their abilities to swim and dive and feel the new again as they swam in the pool many a days. In recollect they talked of how they learned to skate for the first time and Kandon relished in his memory of his knees and legs covered in bruises from falling so much. Yet, they also are grateful that their father’s ankle reconstruction surgery went well and that he is now hobbling around on his bright green cast. However, they pray for the day when he is able to wrestle and run with them. Kilee remembers how mother tried to get her to be the one to touch the raw turkey and smother butter and other herbs all over its slime covered body, but she had refused such a challenge, saying it was “disgusting” and “that there was no way she was ever going to do that!” Her mother quickly explained to her that “of course it was disgusting, why do you think I was trying to get you to do it.” Oh how her mother rejoiced when it was all over and she could exclaim, “Thank goodness this holiday only comes but once a year!” The kids were sad to see their
grandparents go, but were so glad that they themselves did not have to ride in
the car for 13 hours. They had remembered how they too had gone on such a treacherous journey this last summer and Kowen had thrown up in the car, and oh how it smelled, and oh how it took so long. They had not been through such
a trial living on an island that took only 1 ½ hours to get to the other side,
a vast land where we did not take too many a trips. Our frivolous complaints had kept us away from such beauties that lied just on the other side, oh how we miss the palm trees, and beautiful beaches, oh how we long for the day when we can visit, but
knowing it is a dream, probably never to be realized again.

Kowen had much to tell as he remembered that he learned to tie his shoes while waiting to get his flu shot at the hospital. How he is now in school
because mom and dad went to the super-intendant and argued his case that he was
too good enough to start early entrance Kindergarten and that he would be great
and almost always stay on green light, not counting the time he threw food in
the cafeteria and that the principal knows him by name, but that he will and is
in the top reading group of his class and he loves his teacher. This year he has enjoyed playing indoor soccer, thank goodness says his mom because it is way too cold. He does not feel the desire to run and score,
but is more of a defender of the goal and has a little trouble differing
between what is allowed in soccer on the walls and what is allowed in
professional hockey on the walls. Many of times his mother has pleaded for him to run and score, but he says no. Many of times he has been seen ramming poor
girls into the wall as he pins them there to keep them from scoring. And many a
times he has been found smiling as he kicks while in the group of misfits who
know not what to do when piled together other than kick, kick, kick each other’s
shins. But oh how he cheers for joy and grabs and lifts his other 2 players as they continue to score goal upon goal one time up to 20 at least in one game.
He himself has brought joy to his mom with his 2 goals, one a bounce off
his foot, but it counts to her, and she is joyful in her heart, when he is
joyful in his soul. Just as she was joyful when he graduated pre-school in his
Hawaiian shirt, just as when he learned to swim all by himself in the deep end
of the pools of Hawaii and continued to impress the passing swimmers here in
Dayton, and just as he continues to impress his mom with tricks on his scooter
and bike. She loves him even when he is wild and reckless, but is so glad he is here for her to cuddle. She reminds him of how he got stitches twice
so far, once for kicking glass in flip flops and once last February for missing
a car and running his sister’s electric scooter at full speed into a basketball
pole and slicing his eyebrow open. Oh how he cried, but not for the blood, or the pain, or the craziness, but “please dad don’t stick me with the needle again” (Meaning numbing meds), and “please dad don’t take my eye.” Oh how his mom, dad, and the other doctor smiled at his remarks and were proud at how brave he was. “You continue to amaze me” his mother said. “I know, because I’m awesome,” he said.

His sister jumped in to tell of her memories of how she enjoyed riding in a discarded duct tape boat while she still lived in Hawaii. Oh the uses of duct
tape are limitless her mother said. She longs for her lost friends, but loves
her teacher and enjoys being the top reader of her class. The class in on a quest of their own to reach Kilee and her soaring AR level points as she read all Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries and many other series. She is glad to not have to wear uniforms
anymore, but is boggled with the struggles of picking out a different outfit
every day, oh the choices she must endure.
She still enjoys to sing and has rejoiced with her new found Just Dance
3 game. She longs for others to play with her and dance till their limbs are sore.
She has forged ahead and even chosen the family dentist for us, not by a
true choice, but by fault of none her own.
She came home from school, only to exclaim in pain
to her mother that she had taken poor care and bitten into a hard cookie that
had cracked her tooth in half and left in hanging and bleeding. Oh the pain was
too much to wait for it to fall out on its own, her mother must quickly find a
dentist that would ease her pain today.
And he did, through more pain than before she was healed with a comfort
that it was not her fault, but that the tooth was coming out anyways and its
replacement had shattered through the middle of the first and would have happened
anyways. Her mother rejoiced at his kindness and repaid him by signing the rest up for cleanings too. Despite all the teeth trouble, Kilee continues to love sweets and baking. Her favorite food though is Popcorn. She asks for it daily, but sadly is denied most every day but Friday. She is patiently waiting to try tennis and longs for next August when she and her brothers can perform in the Missoula Children’s Theatre again. This year she was Wolfy in the Jungle Book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I was a monkey too,” remembers her brother Kandon. He too enjoyed dancing
crazily on stage and can’t wait for next year.
Kandon proclaims that he also loved learning to dive to the bottom of
the deep pool with Kowen and Dad. But most would be breaking the trampoline
with his friend Alex. It was such a cool thing to be jumping and being all crazy and then all of a sudden we were falling to the ground. Luckily no one was hurt, but boy to I miss our trampoline that had rusted through. Oh well, one day he hopes his parents rekindle his love for jumping soon. He also shares how he enjoyed going to a monster truck show in Cincinnati and loved to see the trucks jump over hills, but better yet, burst into flames. “That was Awesome” he would proclaim often throughout the show. He was so grateful that we were in the shaded side of the arena, but oh how thirsty he still was. He wishes often that he could return and learn to surf or hike the trails to see whales again, but understands that those dreams are for a land far far away.
Kandon loves his teacher here, especially when she gives out candy, and enjoys
continuing to be the top level reader in his class like he was in Hawaii. He has pleaded for a phone and Ipad for Christmas, but sadly his requests have been denied.

His faith in Santa shattered at age 8, but
was joyful to remember how he was baptized in July and was able to visit his
cousins and grandparents for such a wonderful occasion. He also enjoyed singing in his choir performance at school, oh how his face radiated with joy as he proclaimed the
words he knew. He was sure he did better than his sister’s performance, but his
parents proclaimed that they were both delightful in their own ways.

Our many wonderful memories have filled our books of remembrances, too many to share, but if you haven’t looked lately some are printed on www.nowellfamily243.blogspot.com free for your viewing and laughter. We know that each year is an experience given to us to cherish and yet endure at times.
We hope that we are able to use our time wisely making experiences that
will form our souls into who our Father in Heaven would want us to be. We hope that his year brings your families great joy and happiness as you forge new challenges and cross new lands. May you always keep the knowledge of who you are and where you eternally are going within your hearts and minds. May next year bring good news and cheer for
you.
Love, Clifton,
Nakeysha, Kilee (10), Kandon(8), and Kowen(5) Nowell

Oh No Snow!

2011-12-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Yep it snowed before December. Well a day or so is close enought I guess. We knew it would probably snow that night and melt by morning, so we were kinda thrilled that it snowed before the kids went to bed. We called them down and opened the door, and they wanted out before they even got dressed. So on went the socks, jackets, gloves, hats, and boots. What a hassle. Outside to play, inside to whine because Kilee hit Kandon in the face with a snowball and it hurt, outside to play, inside to get dad dressed and out the door, outside to play, inside to get a blanket because I do not own a decent jacket other that my black leather from years ago that I hope still fits, but not used to play in the snow. Cold noses, cold toes, cold fingers, cold faces.

Yes that is a blanket. Yes I was aware of how silly I looked, but I was aware how more cold I was and how much I wanted to watch them for the 20 - 30 minutes we let them stay outside. I know short, but it was cold, they had bed, and were already getting colds. Party pooper mom.

Kowen had fun, but it took him a while to get use to it and although it was exciting, he was rather mellow.

Kilee and Kandon however had at it from the beginning. Snow ball fights right away. Mini piles of snow thrown on the ground, but no snowman yet. Probably if we had let the stay longer, but Kandon and Kilee had already taken several trips down the slides in jeans, so they were wet and cold and mom made them come in. I know take the extra time to put on the snow pants and that wouldn't happen. Uhh next time really, it was so cold. Luckily I have stocked up on hot chocolate. Yum!

Snow from the car is so much easier to make a snow ball with, See mom how I place it down your sweater. Run mom Run!

Christmas cookies already!

2011-12-02T07:48:00.001-08:00

Well we got into the Christmas spirit before Dec. 1st. The base was having a cookie drop off for single and over seas military personel. So we decided to have a Family Home Evening about service. Kandon read some stories and talked about why we need to do service, and then we made several dozen cookies and wrote letters and made snowflake cards. Unfortunately mom, left the cards at home as she rushed about. Oh well we can give them later to another or send them to family for Christmas. It was a good activity and the pumpkin spice cookies turned out pretty good, better with icing. The kids struggled with donating so many sugar cookies, but had plenty to eat. Nobody liked the oatmeal Chocolate chip but mom, but that was only bc it had oatmeal in it, not bc of my cooking, so they say. Well I'm sure there will be lots more baking this holiday season, which means lots more weight and more plans to work out. May this year end with lots of joy and blessings abounding.

Yummy, I think I will have to make more pumkin spice with icing. They look tempting. Certainly easy since they were Betty Crocker mix from the bags.

Tis the season for some Baking!

Aiti + Granpa + Visit = Crab Legs

2011-12-02T07:14:00.000-08:00

Alright, yeah Grandpa and Aiti are here! They came for a quick Thanksgiving visit. We are so glad they came, since we just saw them this summer. While in Hawaii we would only visit once a year, so this is very nice to see them. They came to help watch the kids while Cliff had his Ankle surgery the Wednesday before Thursday Thanksgiving. Lots of fun that was, but having them here was really great. Grandpa wasn't feeling too well, but he made time to horse around with the boys.

Aiti was all smiles as she enjoyed taking in all the exciting things the kids had to share with her. She made sure to play games with them, watch them for long nights and days at their hotel pool. Give them treats and hugs and lots of loving. She took them to see the movie Puss and Boots, bought slushies and popcorn and they got to eat out a lot with Grandpa too.

We enjoyed going to the skating rink with Aiti. For the boys it was their first time, and Kilee's second visit to the rink. They were so excited. Their first few minutes, hour for Kowen was hectic whining as they learned that they were not going to be automatic expert skaters, but Kandon was determined and got the hang of it as well as countless bruises as he hit the floor several times every time he did a lap. Eventually he was able to make it around without falling, but boy did his body hurt that evening and days after, but he is ready to go again.

Kowen was such a sad little boy as he wanted to go home, but mostly he wanted inline skates like the other kids. He was a big boy and didn't want these skates that were too hard to use. He most certainly did not like falling down. Mom walked in shoes around the rink with him. Yes I was the only one with tennis shoes, all the other moms and dads had skates, but I can not remember the last time skating other that a brief ice skate in Hawaii. I was not about to break anything, since Cliff is on crutches, we would be in a mess. His sad face changed as we got his skates tightened twice and he learned how to use the roller pipe brace gate on wheels. I don't know how to explain it. But it was a great skate buddy that helped him learn quicker and gain his confidence. He didn't skate without it, but he zoomed around the rink without mom for more than an hour. He still needs to learn patience and watch his way around without causing others to change their course. In all they did well, broke a sweat, had fun, and were begging for more.

The favorite game of Aiti's visit was the Toy Story rocket game. It is like Kerplunk with a Toy Story theme. We even got Gpa to play a game where poor Aiti lost and scored almost all the little aliens.

The kids enjoyed putting on several shows for Aiti on Sunday since mom wouldn't let them watch tv or play wii on the Sabbath. There were train station pick ups, hula dancing, princesses, and ninjas who saved the day.

If you ask Kilee, the best part was Red Lobster. Grandpa had been promising Kilee some Crab legs for years. It seems we would forget or the restaurant was out when we would visit before. So, the first thing she said when she found out they were coming was, yipee, Crab Legs. She was not so thrilled with the idea that mom made her share her pound of crab with her brother, but it sure was tasty. We made sure we went on Monday before Cliff had surgery, so he could help crack the o so many legs. They had fun. Kowen even cleaned his plate of macaroni, yep, of all the things to order he got macaroni. That is ok, mom and Grandpa got potato soup. I don't like fish. By the way, the potato soup is not so good, unless you like chowder I guess. I prefer plain old potatoes, salt, pepper, milk, and butter, with maybe some Mrs. Dash. Yummy. Which I had had a few days before.

We love visits and can't wait to see them again. We are so thankful for their long safe drives and their love and support they give. It continues to keep the thought "Sweet home Alabama" in mind. Love ya lots!

Soccer, Surgery, and a glowing surprise!

2011-12-02T04:48:00.000-08:00

Ok so it is updating time, especially since I am trying to cram everything into the blog book before I print it at the end of the year. Alot has happened, maybe not as exciting as I had hoped, but definately memorable.

Things like

So Kowen started indoor soccer. He is having a great time. Although mom loves the indoor part, it is a little crazy trying not to yell so much and tell him to get in there and kick the ball constantly. He loves the game, but he loves to be a defender and talk to the goalie, or pretend like he is playing hockey and slam a poor unsuspecting girl with the ball into the wall and hold her there. He also likes to get into the pile on the wall and kick, kick, kick, no matter if the ball is there or a persons shin. Oh well, he just needs to stop picking his lip and watching the ball go by and get in the game more. He does love to watch his two other players score almost 20 goals last week. His favorite part was running up to them and picking them up and squeezing them tight. Well at least he is having fun mom. Aiti and Grandpa E. got to see him play last week and he enjoyed smiling everytime he heart GPA's voice yell at him from the sidelines. He likes to be goalie and had one assist/goal. To explain, he kicked the ball at a defender and it either bounced off or the defender kicked it in on accident, but i'm going to count it as a goal for Kowen, yippee. He said he didn't want to play basketball like Kandon this winter, but is holding out for baseball in the spring. T-ball here we come!

-- I found four Book of Mormons on the shelf at the Thrift Store. It was just an interesting find. I wonder how long they have been there and if anyone has every bought one. Yet, I thought of buying them and giving them out, I did not give in to the thought, since I can get them for free from the missionaries, I will leave them in hopes that someone would find them a treasure on the shelf. Hopefully they won't collect too much dust.

Kilee showed off light up boobs while playing with bouncy balls given to them from G-Grandma Nancy. I did tell her that although they would come in soon in a few years, they don't normally glow in the dark without special paint.

Kowen learned to tie his shoes while waiting for their flu shots at the base hospital. He continues to surprise me at how fast he learns things. We really didn't practice much before and he wasn't getting it. I assume it was the angle or what, but he just started looping his bow/tree the opposite way and voila, the first time he tied and retied and tied a gain. He was so proud to show dad when he got home and call Aiti and Gpa. Way to go Kowen. My baby is growing up so fast. Half a decade old.

--Kilee had a UTI and tried to take a pill that stained her teeth, tongue and the table and floor where she spit it out, yellow for several hours. It was hilarious for mom. She can not take pills, so earlier I had said if you can't swallow it, quickly crunch it and wash it down and swallow it. Well she crunched it and then the nasty taste overcame her brains and out it came all over the table and floor. I had to use magic eraser several times to get it off the table and floor. As for her teeth, well several brushes later it was still there. It was a med she didn't really have to take, it just helped to not hurt when peeing and so she didn't try that again. Yep, still funny weeks later. Well at least to mom that is. I am posting this for documentation in our blog book, not to embarrass her or anything, pure documentation. Love ya Kilee!

I emptied my purse a few weeks ago to find this. It was a most needed things since earlier I had found a bag of McDonalds apples (not so fresh in there), and a two or three day old half a subway sandwich my hubby wanted to bring home. Yummy. It is a large pinkish/purple purse I got for 7 dollars at Target one day. I thought it added color to my wardrobe, but it is adding alot to how much I carry, and just plain housing too much junk. Does this look familiar or do your purses reflect a very organized lifestyle!

--My parents visited for Thanksgiving (Which meant I actually had to touch the nasty raw turkey, should have gotten a picture, but I didn't, but thank goodness I don't have to touch another for a whole year.) But since I have so many pictures to post, I will make that its own post.

--Cliff had ankle surgery and is hobbling around

--The first snowfall of the year came (Oh I am not ready, pics later)

--Then the first colds of the year came for all three kids

--Kilee and Kandon both had school programs where they sang songs and dance. We were so excited to finally have programs again. Their last school didn't do them and I surely missed it. Wish we had plays, but maybe soon. I can always count their Missoula performances. Can't wait to see what it is next summer.

Next on our list are a few things like: Kilee's 10th B-day, 12th Anniversary, Christmas, Cliff's B-day, and buy a car....etc. Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed my post of pictures of the recent past adventures and their outcomes. Enjoy! On to more in the life of the Nowell clan.

Print your Blog Book! Yipee

2011-10-24T10:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, so am I the only one who didn't know this. After posting 4 long bits, I decided that I should probably try to get my background back to a white simple one since I planned to print off all 120 posts to put into a journal since I am so bad at keeping my real journal and well pictures are so much better at telling stories than just words. I am also bad at keeping up with scrapbooking and end up spending a week catching up on a year or two.

Anyways as I was looking on cutestestblogontheblock.blogspot.com for my background, I noticed the book option. Really I can just print it for 25-25 dollars for 20pgs, plus 40cents a page after that, yes for 120 posts that adds up to $57. Sweet. I know what I am putting on my Christmas list. That way I can have from 2008-2011 in one book and say goodbye to scrapbooking for a little bit. No it isn't the same, but at least I won't feel bad for missing a year or two in the scrapbook because I have most or some of the important moments documented here on the blog. YIPEE! If you are like me and want to print it, but don't want to ruin your own printer, Check it out! I'm so excited! Can ya tell?

And yes I have been at the computer most of the day. But I have all three kids in school and I justify it by saying that I take breaks to do things. Things like 2 loads of laundry, vaccum the whole house,, tape countless home videos to dvd, dishes, walk the dog, empty my purse and shake out the loads of cookie crumbs and trash, and actually get dressed with make-up and deoderant (to justify that I do do it daily, but I'm adding it as something to make my list look longer). Since Kowen has started school, I should of had several chapters written in any kind of book, or learned a song on the piano, reviewed sign language or spanish, or well something productive, but not. I spend most of the time cleaning, searching internet for the hope of a wonderful house for sale so we won't have to build one, or coupon and shop. Oh well, one day.

But today I found this blog book idea and am so glad, it will save me so much time and look a lot better than my printed, hole punched, plastic sheet binder idea. I am so glad. Well, I'm off to add to my list of do's so I can justify the long list of not done things. May you find something today that makes you smile too!!!!

Puzzles and TOFW

2011-10-24T08:36:00.000-07:00

So Dad decided to do a 500 piece puzzle, maybe more one night and Kilee was going to help. She got to help with the border and gave up. Cliff stayed up til who knows when and had half done.

Then he got off early from school and worked on it some in the afternoon and was done. I on the other hand wouldn't have undertaken such a hard puzzle with mostly gray or white pieces. He definately has more patience with some things than I do. More power to ya!

I was able to attend my first Time Out for Women even. It was fun. Even though I really knew no one and all the ladies kept calling me the youngin and talking about menopause, it was fun. Was glad it was only an hour away in Cinncinnati, technically south in Kentucky but oh well. Not sure I will travel any far distance like others who came from Michigan and Phoenix, and Florida, but glad to have gone and gotten a break. Not counting the time in the hospital with one while others at home with Grandparents and Cliff, or the two days or so Cliff took them to his folks while I threw up at mine pregnant with Kowen, or the 2 days Cliff and I got away last summer after Kilee's baptism, this was my only retreat in almost 12 yrs of marriage and the few days to myself. Wow, I should get out more. But I missed them and Daddy had a cake waiting for me and I got lots of hugs and kisses when I returned. Gosh, less than 24 hrs gone and they act like it was a long time. Oh well. It's good to know I'm loved.

Kowen 5th Birthday!

2011-10-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

My Baby is 5 years old. Boy does time really fly by. His hair has grown back some and he is just so cute for a 5 year old, don't ya think. I had his birthday all planned. Seeing Jeni's Mario party ideas, I was all set and ready to do the Mario party. But Kowen didn't want a Mario party, he wanted a Lego party. So it was back to the internet for mom, searching for more invitations, games and ideas. He is a stickler for what he wants.

This is what he got. A lego man, with mario and luigi legos. Those are candles in the lego mans hand if you were wondering. I don't know why Cliff put them there, but I guess he was avoiding stabbing him in the head. I frosted this cake as the guests were arriving. Literally. I froze the cake and didn't bother taking it out before going fishing for 4 hrs and then home. So I was able to avoid too many crumbs mixing with the frosting, but was secretly praying it wouldn't be frozen when it came time to eat it an hour later.

This was his actual bday picture morning. His party was a week or so early bc of conference and other things.

We were able to take rainbow cupcakes and goodie bags to his class and donate a Dora chutes and ladders game that they can use for counting and some books they can read in class. It sure was interesting to watch the kids have to put their hands on their heads when they were ready and quiet. Kowen is doing well and in the group that is already reading small books. Go Kowen. And they said you should wait a yr before Kindergarten. You showed those psychiatrists that they didn't know what you could really do if given the chance.

I was so glad that the cucakes turned out well. However it took so long to do the 6 or 7 different layers of colors, I don't think I will do so many again, they will have to settle for a 2 or 3 color tye dye cupcake instead. Happy 5th Kowen!

Beards and Fireworks

2011-10-24T06:38:00.000-07:00

So the housing office threw a kids fishing tournament. We ran out and bought 2 of the cheapest fishing poles that come with all the necessary equipment we could get away with and got up early and set out for a wonderful day of fishing. Too bad it didn't turn out that way. One of the reasons you don't buy cheap poles is bc with kids who don't know how to throw a fishing pole and release it, sure tangle it up alot when it never worked right in the first place, but you couldn't exchange it in time before tournament, but gladly did after all the hassle. Another reason it wasn't so good was bc we didn't catch a single thing, but it wasn't just us, most everyone didn't catch anything. One family caught 2 in the 4hrs of time and they of course won both age groups for largest fish. There were two other fish caught during that time and one tree branch. Yes I said branch. We hear screaming and yelling from the girls and their mom just beyond Kilee and wanted a big fish too. However as they continued to walk backwards and backwards up the hill, instead of realing it in, we all soon laughed as a tree brach of good size emerged. They were lucky enough to win a prize too, just bc there were no other fish caught. And everyone needed that one laugh. Well we ended the morning on a bad note, but then ran off to Kowen's bday party and I frosted the cake as the guests arrived, but I'll post that next.

All pretend smiles, but at least we weren't putting worms on the hooks, just hot dogs and cheese. She had more fun playing with the stray dog that came around and ate her hot dog. She was sad after the owners finally came after about an hour later. Oh well. Momma wasn't keeping it anyways.

Kandon got initiated into scouts and I send dad up with him so I could capture a picture of his beard. Not many times in an Air Force career can you sneek in not shaving for a while. Oh well, of all the people to get on to him, it was the AF Dentist who told him to shave. Oh well, another dream shattered. He claims he was going for the mullet look, ha not likely.

Wanna Kiss mom, I promise not to smear it all over you. No thanks, but I'll snap a pic bc you are so cute.

My hairy boys at a Lonestar Concert at the AF ?(Airplane show). It was fun, not the part where I lost Kowen after he left the bathroom area instead of waiting for mom and mom had to run around and finally ask an AF man if upon his high tower chair could he see a long haired boy in a red shirt. Of course he knew just the right one to look for and told me his partner had just taken him over to the lost and found station. So I chased him down before he was able to put his name and pic all over the big screen and I feel like a worse parent. Oh well, at least he was safe. We enjoyed lots of expensive not so good food and loved the fireworks and hearing dad sing songs along with the band. We danced, despite everyone looking at us as we looked crazy and were among the few dancing. Then walked all the way across the street, and down back home with kids whining their feet hurt, carry me.. but no mom took off running and we ducked behind other homes and around corners and Kilee and I won. Yep we beat the boys home. It kinda helped that they didn't see us coming for most of the run, which means we were far behind to start with, but we squeezed the win in anyways.

And here is another pic of Dad with a beard. One of the few he will ever have. Just when I was getting use to the look. Its like a different man. But I like the smoother feeling man too.

Catching Up!

2011-10-24T06:01:00.000-07:00

Okay so I haven't posted much and I have time, so here it goes. I actually tried posting last week and typed it all up then tried to add pics without saving and it froze. Of course, I should have saved first and remembered to add pics first but I didn't. Anyways.

Catching up! Over the summer we moved to Ohio and the kids enjoyed the pool, alot, but not as much as Hawaii bc of the oceans, diving boards, and slides at the pool.

Dad entertained them with diving lessons and even little Kowen could impress the bigger kids bc he could swim all the way to the bottom and touch the grate, many times. Of course mom was not liking it bc of her crazy notion that his little fingers might get stuck and he would drown, but I had to just let it go. As for mom diving in and touching it, only once, bc her ears hurt really bad afterwards, yes that was my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Moving In day was fun for the boys bc they got to make a fort with the paper that was used to wrap the outside of some items. Yes I said some, this is only one of many piles. Can you say wasteful packing by movers. Oh well, at least almost nothing got ruined in the move. And as far as we know everything made it, but we have alot of junk and half is in storage right now. So how do we know. Anyways the boys enjoyed running and jumping off the couch that was positioned to the left of the above pic and landing in the pile of paper. Thank goodness it was alot. Short lived bc movers took it for room to unload more stuff. That was 14 wood crates. Yep that was a lot of crates, but in our defense, the surfboard counted as one and a long table as another, so technically we only had 12, oh and a motorcycle as one, so 11. But bc most was toys, it seems like a whole lot, and it is. Oh well, I tried to purge, but not so well I guess.They even crawled in some and hid, mom decided to stay outside and watch them just in case the movers forgot they were there. They were very nice men who actually kinda played a little by talking to them and pretending to give them missions and bullets. How kind of them.Fall has set in and the kids were able to see the leaves fall off the trees. For Kandon's good deed for scouts, he raked the neighbors yard that was covered in leaves. Oh fun. Not. But glad he did it cheerfully. He also took this pic for one of his scout photography lessons.

Here is Kandon's I, Freddy book report mobile. It is hard to see, but if you look back at other photos, you will see long hair to his shoulders and over his eyes. We finally gave in and realized we weren't in Hawaii anymore and he needed to get a hair cut. This is the outcome. I like it since it has grown out some lately, but that is just me.

Kowen got a haircut months ago and boy am I glad it grew in. It is a crazy story. Cliff took Kowen for a haircut. I sent a picture, yes a picture so he could show the lady that I didn't want all his long beautiful blonde hair cut off. I love the surfer look on him. Oh it was a sad day for all. I mean Cliff showed the lady the picture and said just trim up his eyes and around the ears, keep it long. He didn't want me mad at him. hahaha So the lady says she can do it and Cliff sits down. He watches her cut his bangs, alright. Everything is going well, then she pulls out the shears and starts using them. Cliff is now thinking ok, she knows what she is doing I guess and watches as alot of hair falls to the floor. And all of a sudden she is shaving it around his ears high and tight. What the heck. He gets up and talks to her about how in the heck is that anything like the picture. Whatever, we can't glue it back on, so just fix the uneven mess of a haircut so we can go. She then proceeds to hack away at his already perfectly cut long bangs and this is the result. Cliff then is so upset with her bc not only is this not anything like the picture, but it isn't even a presentable haircut, and not I'm not talking about this picture above. He says he isn't going to pay for this haircut bc it isn't something you can wear in public. It really wasn't folks. So she says she is done and won't cut anymore to fix it bc she can't please him. Well if you can't do a haircut like a picture. Tell the person you can't and they need to wait for another stylist. duhhhhh. Finally Cliff walked over to a man stylist who was being quiet, showed the picture, asked if that looked anything like the cut he got (of course not, he has no hair left), then asked if that was a haircut anyone should have to go out in public with, (of course not), Then the man kindly said he could make it better, presentable I guess you should say, and this is how it turned out after the man saved the day. Of course I was shocked and horrified, but I held it together bc I could see Cliff was upset, Kowen liked it, and I couldn't glue it back on of course. Oh well. I knew he couldn't come back like the pic anyways bc after he left I realized he was headed to the military barber shop. What 1 haircut do they know how to do? High and tight. Oh well. Hopefully I will remember this when a year passes and we finally give in to another haircut.

Yes, we played, Pretty, Pretty, Princess game and I think Kandon won. And yes I sure do miss their long hair. I don't know what it is. Love me that long hair. I hate it when Cliff cuts it high and tight. Oh well If they are happy, I can endure it til it grows out again..hahha

This is the stray dog we found and kept for one day and then took to the baseball park and gave it away. We sent emails to people in subdivision and looked online. Then despite the begging, pleading, negotiating, crying, and whining. We gave her away to someone who said she would maybe help out at a nursing home. Adios Dog. Although you were more behaved than our own dog.

Celebrated Kandon's 8th bday with a cookie. That is what you do when you don't have another party since you had one in Hawaii and you have no pans to cook one. Oh well. There was so much sugar on that thing, they each had one, but only took a few bites and I threw them away after being in the fridge a few days. It was the thought that counted.

Motherhood so True, so True!

2011-09-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

While surfing the internet, I came across a good site and found this Psalm that just rings so true for every (normal) mother. Enjoy! It is from www.pbandjoy.com

"Mother's Day Psalm"

Blessed art thou woman
For thou shalt be called mother
Yea, and thy chores and thy tasks
Shall follow thee all the days of thy life.

And thou shalt eat the bread of thine own baking
And thou shalt dwell forever in a dirty house
If thou doest not choose to clean it thyself

Thou shalt arise before the cock croweth,
And thou shalt say unto thineself
"Where are the offspring which were given me?"
"Yea, the sun has risen high in the sky,
And the hour is getting late;
Wherefore, I have been long at my labors."

And thou shalt say unto them, "Haste, arise and shine,
For I have many labors for thee to perform,
Wherefore, I have been many hours already preparing for the day."

And thine offspring shall linger in sleep
And shall say unto thee, "Thou didst not watch
The late, late, late show, as I did last night.
And mine eyes are heavy and mine bones acheth."

And thou shalt say unto thy offspring, "Get thee up from the cot
Ere I lay a hand on thee and go ye hither and scrub a sparkling tub
For thou hast left black rings upon its sides."

And thy offspring shall say unto thee, "I will go and do thy bidding --- in a minute."
And thy rage shall know no end, and thou shalt weep and wail
And gnash thy teeth mightily, nevertheless, thou shalt scrub
A sparkling tub thyself. And glory shall be added unto thee
For thou didst not strike the lazy beast.

Thou are blessed about all others, and thy descendants shall
call thee blessed. For thou preparest a table before them.
Thou cookest meat and all manner of tasty vittles,
And they shall sit at thy table with thee and partake with thee.

And they shall add glory to thy crown, for they shall let thee also
Wash the dishes, if thou wilt. And when night falleth, thou shalt be POOPED!
And thy offspring shall say of thee, "She is an old woman, wherefore she
neither goes dancing, nor does she watch the late, late, late show."

Thy back shall acheth with arthritis, thy cane and thy husband shall be thy support.
Thy veins shall be varicose, on thy aching legs.
But thou shalt do thy labors with a smile, neither shalt thou gripe,
For in the day that thou doest, thy name shall be MUD.

Nevertheless, thou art blessed, for thou art crowned with the angels
On the second Sunday of each and every May.

Wherefore thou shalt be blessed about all others, for thou art Mother,
And thou shalt find peace and joy in thy offspring forever and ever,
If thou endureth to the end.
--Edna Everton Maurer

Jungle Book Play

2011-08-17T05:44:00.000-07:00

Well, Kilee and Kandon were able to audition and get into the Missoula Children's Theater One week production The Jungle Book. Their program is where You audition on Monday and the show is Friday night.

Kandon was the long haired monkey who stole little Mowgli away and tried to convince him/(played by a girl) to teach them fire. He did well and really did a good job acting like a crazy monkey.

Kilee was able to get a good part as a Wolfy the wolf pup, who got stolen by Sheer Kan the tiger. She did better than mom expected as she keep a loud voice on stage. We were lucky to be front and center so we were able to hear it all.

Kandon enjoyed it so much he decided not to wash his face as mom asked him to. He somehow managed to shower and wash without washing his face. Wish he was as devoted to his chores. I'm just glad he had fun.

Kilee was worried that her makeup wouldn't look good and she wouldn't want to go on stage, but being first turned out to be ok cause the main professional guy did her makeup and it looked great. Makeup sure made her be able to transform into Wolfy the wolf pup.

Well, from Kandon being in last years Princess and The Pea in Hawaii, to this year's Jungle Book, we can't wait to see what comes next year. Kowen asked, but was denied bc of age 2 years in a row, hopefully next year he will be able to perform. Bring it on!

Dog Heaven

2011-08-02T18:44:00.000-07:00

The simplest way to a dogs heart is peanut butter. Normally we try not to give the dog anything bc she usually doesn't eat her food for days waiting on scraps. But Kilee handed her the empty PB jar that kept her busy for an hour no joke. We finally gave in to this dog who is smart enough to bring the jar over to us several times to help her get the rest out. She would bump our legs and follow us around to get us to help. Finally we gave in and cut the jar so she could enjoy the rest. Dog heaven for even a little bit.

The simple things in life are definately free if you are willing to work for it and wait for it. Even for a dog.

Monster Jam Trucks

2011-08-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

Last week we were able to go to the Monster Jam Truck Show. Yes I am female, but this was on my to do list. It was fun to see the different styles, sizes, and stunts. The best of course were the freestyle, where almost all trucks flipped over and crashed at the end.

We were able to touch the Air Force Monster Truck and get pics with the Driver, who actually won some of the races at the show.

We were able to get decent sideline seats, and were so thrilled when they turned out to be in the shadey side. Woo-Hoo. Thank goodness, bc we were sweating in the shade. The kids got flags, shirts and food. We didn't realize til she had it on and walked away, but Kilee's Grave Digger shirt has a big cross on the back. We don't normally strut crosses, focussing more on Christ's resurrection so although fine, was a little weird for mom. Kowen of course pitched a fit bc he couldn't have the stuffed toy and his shirt was too big. Oh well. Sleeping in it anyways.

It would have been better if the guy behind us didn't take his shirt off and wear short white shorts that looked like underwear and smoked more than 4 cigarettes, polite as he was to say sorry when he blew smoke but still. Kowen surprised us and got bored early. Could have been the same racing events for one hr, but he liked the end when things flipped and caught a little fireworks. In the end I am glad we went, but I expected more excitement for the price.

Thanks for the adventure though.

Sweet Home Alabama

2011-08-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

Well our trip to Alabama went well. Although the humidity was horrible, we were able to attend the beach, water play at mall and visit many times with cousins. While at the water play, Kilee enjoyed making designs and spelling her name with water. Of course it dried up in minutes and she had plenty of canvas space.

Kowen was Kowen, and enjoyed the water however and whereever as long as it cooled him off.

Kandon enjoyed making faces and trying to help us keep their cousins entertained.

We had fun, but are glad to be out of so much humidity. We still laugh at anyone who complains about the heat here as we supposedly go through a heat wave of 95 or so. Yes it is hot, but goodness the humidity is so much less. Thank goodness.

The drive was ok. I got 4 movies and they watched them all, played their D.S.'s and well Kowen threw up, but all was well.

The drive back was not so exciting and seemed much longer, but we actually got there sooner than planned.

Life goes on as we try to get ready for school. We can't believe it starts in a little over a week. We are trying to get Kowen into early entrance Kindergarden bc in this particular part of Ohio they decided to change the Sept. 30 cut off to Aug. 1st. That is why I had him on the 30th oh well. I'm sure he will pass.

Lots of love to family, Guess it will be next year when we meet up again. Unless you like the snow. Love ya.

Aloha

2011-05-24T09:13:00.000-07:00

Ok so it is catch up time, but I have a good excuse this time, well maybe. We are no longer in paradise. We have moved back to the continental U.S. and are still struggling with the time change and weather. It was 50 degress when we got off the plane and for a few days after. No we were not crazy tourists from Hawaii with shorts on, we wore pants for the cold airplane and flip flops (slippers) for the security check points. I didn't however check the weather forcast for Dayton, seeing as it was May. So therefor we had to go buy Kilee and Kowen pants since they didn't own a pair. So now everyone has at least one pair to wear. It got warmer for a few days, but the rain, constant rain. Depressing. Where is my beautiful beach that I so underappreciated for 3 1/2 yrs, it is gone, gone, gone. OH well.

We have been busy looking at houses after houses after houses, and the kids are so done, "Just buy one they say." "But it isn't in the right school system, subdivision, ward we want. But it isn't freshly painted, or have a fence, or a big yard to put you in I say." Yes, we are being way too picky, like have there been animals, cause my dad, brother, great g-ma in-law, and niece are allergic and once in a blue moon might visit and we wouldn't want to alienate them bc we bought a house who had animals and we didn't replace carpets...etc. So it is looking like we are going to buy a house and wait the long 4 1/2 mths for it to be done, hopefully not taking longer. There is already a 6 wk wait included bc our street isn't even there. yada yada. Too many choices. Do we choose the not so big boring neighborhood with the better school and yr long drama club so I can put my drama queen in it or the ok school with a chorus and a once a yr play for her. The school with after hrs intermural sports for the boys or the beautiful overpriced smaller older house but in the awesomest neighborhood ever.

Anyways, enough crying on ith the pics you might be saying, so I am going to try and email pics and then post, so it might be edited in a few days. Be patient.

First is Karate-- Kilee and Kandon earned their blue belts in Kempo Karate before we moved. They are so glad to be done, yet wished they had more time to earn more belts. Mom is glad the checks are done being cashed and no more.

Next, is that my baby (4 yr old) has graduated Pre-school. Our wild child has been tamed (well at least for school). He was so cute in his graduation cap.

Well the dog did fine while Cliff took care of her far away from us so the kids wouldn't excite her. So, again I had the kids mostly on a flight but thankfully the first one we slept, somewhat. We are doing ok and the future is still uncertain, which is hard, but life goes on in a nice are, blessings lie among this less beautiful, rainbowless filled hidden paradise. We just have to unlock and find them. Wish us luck!

Back from Thailand

2011-03-27T02:35:00.000-07:00

Well I'll warn ya again. It is time to catch up on blogging and here we go.

Here are some pictures of what Cliff got to do in Thailand. He was also in the base newspaper for his service there at a school. (Making soup) oh yeah. He learned to count to ten and they were very impressed at his ability to quickly grasp the language. He learned the difference between the thai words of a doctor and a duck. In Thai, doctor sounds like (krun-mua) and duck sounds like (krun-ma). He got lots of laughs at him. He is definately not a duck.

He also got his butt grabbed by the head Thai guy- ohh lala for the Thai guy. Cliff thought the guy was gay, and that sealed it.

Some of the other things he did there was play golf- yep not all work- he got to take his actual golf clubs to Thailand. Yes, he landed there and departed plane straight for the green. Lovely. He actually got a caddy and did pretty well.

His first meal was fried fish. They just took the fish and dropped it in the fryer and out it came head to tail. Yummy dear, If you say so. He said he ate well and lots of it-Good thing he doesn't live there he said.

The first night he stayed there he had an interesting encounter in the elevator. As he was going down he met a guy-no joke- wearing a speedo(banana hammock), t-shirt (barely covering his hammock), black socks, and dress shoes with heel clickers. And he was sporting a pearl necklace. It was all Cliff could do not to laugh. Europeans think they set the fashion statement and they can have it he says.

He also go to see a Thai boxing.

Riding in a little car (tuuk-tuuk) was an adventure I don't want him to do really. I didn't know those little 3 wheeled carts go 70mph and don't have seat belts. The drivers weave in and out of traffic and cut through two cars, driving on the dotted lines. (oh yeah he drives crazy on a motorcycle, same thing except he has a helmet most of the time.)

He also got a two hour massage for 6 bucks! That Sure beats my 2 minute ones I give for free.

And most important He --SHOPPED for Gifts for me!

Poor kids got nothing really, little nick knacks (wiggly snakes, bracelets to share with mom,snacks from plane), while mom got a huge vase with elephants on it, placemats with (you guessed it-elephants on them), and a huge heavy thing that I didn't want to know how much it cost. It turned out to be a head to hang on the wall- (yep an elephant head- you got it). No I won't hang a deer head on my wall, but I'll hang this elephant head (made from wood- don't freak) on my wall. Especially once I found out how much it cost and I can't ship it back. Ha.

No really, it must be the elephant theme, but I like my gifts more this time (I like all my gifts dear, bc they come from you). My mom started giving me elephants while attending the U of Alabama and we seem to be collecting them without really thinking. I suggested maybe we would put the elephant head in the basement of our future unknown home-ha- maybe in his man cave and make it an Alabama themed cave, but no. Cliff seems to want it front and center upstairs as a conversation piece. I think that is great too. Maybe I'll put up picks later if the video of his ride ever loads.

Water boy!

2011-03-27T02:29:00.000-07:00

Well during spring break we went to the zoo again, annual passes and all. The RS was having a photography group go and scavange for animals with tongues out, the most birds in a picture, animal from your native area, and stuff like that. But I'm too tired to post our pics, just this one of Kowen who while eating lunch decided to sing and clean the table with water from his cup made of corn. That is they made a plastic cup from corn. Yep, why didn't I think of that. I just thought it was cute, I don't know why, and I am posting now.

Isn't he cute!

Another use for duck tape.

2011-03-27T02:23:00.000-07:00

Well there was a cardboard boat race at the pool and since, mom didn't let them enter and make a boat for them, they took one that was being thrown away. Who would do such a thing to a wonderful toy, a mom who wanted it out of her yard. Anyways, we got this one to the car, mom saying the whole time "it won't fit", but they were determined to ride without closing the back door all the way to the beach where it lasted 30 min and several turns. Not to mention the cool looks. Mom said carry it all the way to the left and float to the right. Well a man had to swim to catch them bc mom wasn't out there and no one would jump overboard. It was all fun til we couldn't get it off the beach. It was so waterlogged that we had to rip it to shreds in front of everyone and carry it to several different trash cans. But it was fun while it lasted. Another great use for ducktape.

Wet n Wild

2011-03-27T02:15:00.001-07:00

Well for spring break we wanted to hit the water park several times since our annual pass was going out that week. We only made it twice for short hr or two each time. We were overjoyed that Kowen had grown enough to get close to the line and the lifeguards pass him through. Kilee decided to put her pants on thinking she was dry enough, but didn't like it when mom laughed at her for looking like she peed in her pants. So, she took them off. Oh well. She then had to laugh bc Kowen was in the boys bathroom and had pooped too soon and was complaining that he didn't want to clean it up and well Kandon didn't want to help him, so well what do you think Happened. Yep, mom had to trot off shielding her eyes into the boys bathroom-not a place I like to go- and clean up Kowen and his mess. Lovely time.

Passes out of date and Kilee is still complaining that she didn't get to ride enough bc someone had to watch Kowen and Kandon didn't want to ride. Oh well, there will be more parks I say. Where is dad when you need him--playing golf in Thailand. Bummer.

Just what I Get for Gardening

2011-03-27T01:53:00.000-07:00

Day one (Cliff left this morning)

Well this is what I got for doing gardening on the same day that Cliff left for Thailand. We get 2 bags of soil and bird seed (grass seed- my mistake) from the base. We try and try to get some to grow in the ungrowable spots, but it hasn't worked in over a year, but for some reason I still get it monthly and it sits there for too long. Cliff hadn't gotten around to it and since our trampoline broke (with kids on it) we have to try and grow more grass where it has shaded the dirt. So, I put out like 4 or 6 bags of dirt and 4 ziplocs of seed. Kowen was playing with the dump truck. That's ok. I told him to make sure dirt stays off patio- knowing full well it wouldn't and it didn't. I put the dog out bc I had to give her a bath anyways and told her to stay out of dirt- knowing full well she wouldn't. Well, I reaped the rewards. A dirty boy and a dirty dog- turned into 2 baths, a patio to sweep and a floor to mop. So in an effort to avoid carpet cleaning as well, as Kowen went upstairs stomping his feet. I decided to just pop them both in the bath---in the kitchen sink. It was the closest. It is where the dog bathes now, anyways and Kowen said yes. Dog on one side, boy on other. Kowen loved it. Dog not so much. Mom not at all.

Then to add to that day after all was clean. Fast forward 8 or so hrs and I come home to check my email after karate and roadshow practice and find an email for a tsunami watch. Uhh. So I decide to move a few things upstairs just incase and was waiting for the kids popscicles to be finished and was going to put them to bed and slip out with the neighbors help to get gas and call it done. Nope fate had other plans.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP-- stupid tsunami warning comes on tv. I though cable doesn't do local news. Ha fooled me. Kids cry while we wait and wait for gas. I say "no problem." Like last time. "No biggy." They cry "I don't want to drown." I say, "fine we will go to the church and sleep on the hard, hard floor like crazies." WE will take dog-- not mom's idea- ha- and run to target and get a pop up crate since we have none yet--except target is closed at 11pm. Uhh I didn't see that one coming. Thought they would be nice and open late since there was a tsunami coming and all. Nope. So the dog got to roam the car (she did good and slept in my seat-the drivers seat) .

We go to the church and ask the bishop for his best room. I Deny the first room bc of no A.C. Service needs work I joke-- haha. I Put kids to bed even after they whine that they want to stay up like the other kids playing basketball all night in the gym (church open to non-members too). I say it is 1am and they have to sleep. I checked on the dog again and again to make sure she didn't pee or hit the parking brake and crash the car. But all was well and we went home by 7:30am. I tried to take a nap but no luck.

Blessings amidst hard times (hard floors I mean). And then it took all day to empty the car and put back what we took out in one hour of packing. But that is how it always is. And we are ok. That is the good part. Adventures all the time here. Bring your humor though.

Skate Park hair do's

2011-03-27T01:37:00.000-07:00

The kids have been begging to go to the indoor skate park eventhough they can't ride skateboards or rollerblade well, but they can scooter. And too my unbelief they allow scooters there. So off we went for an hour while Cliff bought his stuff for his trip to Thailand. All three kids, three scooters, 12 pads, and 3 helmets, water, snacks (yes snacks for just an hr and right before dinner, I know my kids- not to mention the money in pocket bc I knew they wouldn't want said snacks).

There were lots of big guys, going around, going around fast. And here are my little kids darting between and infront of said guys. And here is me yelling and chasing and telling them they can't cut in line and watch out and well laughing too.

Here is said kids in deep hole, trying to scooter and get back up ramp, which couldn't. Here is said kids who run as they might can't get back out of said hole without mom's help. Hahaha. Best babysitter ever. not. What you can't see is me, mom, lying on side of hole trying to pull out said kids without falling in herself. So much fun.

And here is said kids after one hour of helmets on, sweating, and no need for gel bc their hair just stays back on its own and is well, just hilarious. And what you don't see is the filthy butts bc of all the sliding. Thank goodness for the invention of washing machines. They can't wait til next time.

I'm Not Gifted and Talented enough I guess.

2011-03-27T01:24:00.000-07:00

Well I've said before, the kids are only in 2nd and 3rd grade, but come on I thought I was done with homework. Nope, everyday for 20 more yrs or so, no way. I'm not smart enough to go through it again. I am under the strong belief that pregnancy, 3 to be exact, damaged braincells bc I am just plain dumb sometimes to the simple things of elementary education.

To be specific. Kilee is in the gifted program at school and well here they only do math, at the other school only writing, but anyways, she brought home another one of those block puzzles. I'm sure they are the same ones from last year that I had to do while Cliff was deployed. WEll, I tried this blue one again and again and again after I had listen to Kilee complain for more than an hour. And well, since I couldn't get it and cheating on the internet didn't help, I gladly passed it onto Cliff when he got home, thinking surely he is smarter than I.

Nope. hahahahha. He couldn't do it. He came to a different conclusion. I thought I was just dumb and the internet had not evolved enough to tackle this new harder than normal puzzle. And it was perfectly ok to go back to the teacher and say we couldn't solve it with our feeble minds. And I had dismissed the idea of well the wrong piece bc I new what the teacher would say when Kilee went back to the teacher and said "MY dad says you gave me the wrong piece and he can't figure it out. He looked on the internet and printed it out, and he wants you to solve it so he can see how it works if it doesn't have the wrong piece." Of course the teacher looked at her and brushed her off by saying "it has the right pieces, now go sit down" HAHAHAH

Oh well to blue puzzle, I won't be here next year for said teacher to send it home again. Fairwell and good riddence to puzzle and unneeded brain cells.

Strange Life!

2011-03-27T01:11:00.000-07:00

Well, Kowen's pre-school went to the aquarium and of course 4yr olds are not interested in reading the signs or listening to the recordings about the fish, so it went pretty quickly since it is a small aquarium here. Kowen was excited to see the extremely large tank with the 4 ft shark and other fish that swim locally here. Not good to know or remember when swimming anywhere. Zebra eels were cool to mom, and the octopus. However, the coolest thing to mom was the red frogfish. Yes, they call it a frogfish although it looks nothing like a frog, but it does have 4 feet. It uses the horn on top to attract fish and then eats them when close and can stay still for hrs or days I can't remember. I liked it so much, I made Kowen pose in front of it although he ran past it to the sharks and had to backtrack. I didn't get to listen to the recording, but I wonder if it croaks. Probably not.

Got to love field trips, well on some you learn things, on others nada. Reminds me of Kandon's field trip to Chinatown a few yrs ago here where if I had pointed it out, he could have learned more than just the fact that the homeless man walking down the street was in his underwear. He could have learned about the Hooker on the corner, and the Transvestite walking by the bus. But mom didn't feel like being the educator that day, just the simple chaperone.

Anyways, love aquariums and all non-dangerous sea life, may they live on and not go extint do to me or my childrens lack of care while here.

Pregnant, not really!

2011-03-27T00:53:00.000-07:00

I sent this picture to my dad as a joke to pretend I was pregnant and that was why I hadn't visited, not the price of tickets. But he wasn't too fooled bc there wasn't a belly button sticking out. oh well. But he passed it on to mom and well she had to call and confirm that I was or wasn't bc she thought it was a balloon, but that I was announcing something. Nope not me.

Well, Good old Balloon fun never changes. Long hair, a little rubbing, static, and voila, a new hair doo that everyone has to try. Even mom, but she didn't post her picture on the web. Ha

And nope, they aren't pregnant either, just full of hot air.

This is what started it all. Dad was laughing at Kandon who couldn't blow up a balloon very far. Mom then tried to help him, but didn't want his spit so she got a new balloon and dad thought she was going to pass out so he took both and well, blew them both up at the same time on a dare. Not once but twice. Without passing out, close though. And he had a headache before this too. And from there it turned into a ballon fight and hair do's.

Finally, Crab

2011-03-27T00:43:00.000-07:00

Ok so beware I am weeks behind on my blog and it is catch up time. I'm going to start with the fact that we live here and Kilee has been asking for almost 4 yrs to eat crab. Well darn, crab is expensive, and well more than that, mom hates the smell of fish and doesn't eat it so why will she cook it just to torture herself. I should to please daughter but I don't remember doing that, so we finally took her to eat and they had run out of the specials--ahhhh. So, Cliff had to share his more expensive platter with her and Kandon. To say, Cliff did not get much. Kowen and I of course declined to even taste it. Another thing checked off the list--Crab in Hawaii. (same everywhere so no need to put this on anyone's to do list.)

Thad's torturous cake!

2011-02-26T19:31:00.000-08:00

Oh I was wanting to make Thad's favorite cake for Cliff just for fun. And since Valentine's went before I could make it I made it Wednesday. I wasn't able to make it just the way Thad's mom made it because, one I'm not a good cook and two since I'm not a good cook I didn't take the recipe with me and relied on my bad memory. I got coconut milk only to find out I was suppose to get coconut creme and a small can of coconut.

So, I improvised with less mixture and more cool whip. Well it is Saturday and I just tried and tried to make myself take the cake on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and even today I'm sitting here knowing I should still pick it up and take it to the neighbors. But I can't. It is too good. This is the best mistake I ever made. I honestly can't remember how good Thad's cake was, but I know it only lasted a short time. I guess I'm trying to pace myself, but 8 slices in four days or maybe more slices, is just not enough. I hate cake now. You can't make me eat more than one slice or one cupcake, but this, I just can't stop myself. Let the pounds roll on.

Cliff even told me whatever you did wrong, do it again. He never gets seconds of my cooking and only a few more of his, so this he lost count how many slices (bowls) he has had and won't let me give it away. Unlike the potato balls he willing took to share at the scouts meeting Wednesday- because we weren't going to eat them-ever again.

I have to admit. I have had cake, at least a fork of it, or more, for Breakfast,, Lunch , uh and even dinner everyday. Cliff has a piece before bed. He tries to make it last, but he just can't beat 2 minutes once he takes a bite. Cake cake I love cake-- Only if it is Thad's Favorite (messed up recipe) Coconut Cake. Good luck if you choose to take on the cake yourself. Beware that there is no going back. Your best bet is to make it for a party and try not to taste it til you get there- that way you don't change your mind. Cause you will want to.

(By the way, this is an old picture from the other day. Sad to say there is much less of it now. So I am glad I took the picture earlier when I knew I had to post this. )

What a wonderful day for the beach!

2011-02-26T18:21:00.000-08:00

Well since we weren't able to hit the beach last week because of Kowen's stitches, we finally made it to the military hotel Hale Koa(a hotel we haven't been to at all while here even though we can go to beach and pool for free) to say a farewell Aloha to Cliff's sister Aunt Becky, Uncle Bob, and little Robert.

Nope no pictures of them because I forgot to dig out the camera before they left, but it was fun to see them, chase the birds, swim, and feed Robert lots and lots of Goldfish. We stayed and looked at the interesting canopy trees and went to the pool

Here is where Kandon jumped off of Cliff, and here is where mom said no more, because they weren't out deep enough.

This is where Kowen exaggerated his story of the huge fish this big that he and dad saw out snorkeling. Maybe it was true, cause Cliff said he saw some big ones later, that even scared him when they came out of nowhere.

Here is the pool attempt. They were going to make a hole to put the fish in someone was going to catch and then decided to try and make their own pool. But sadly all the water kept leaving or drying up.

Snorkeling is fun mom. But I don't like to use the snorkel. I also can't swim, so I just ride on dad's back cause it is funner, for me at least.

It really was a nice day for the beach. We are sure gonna miss it in a few weeks. Let's see how many more Saturday trips we can cram into our schedule. Stay tuned.

Happy Valentine's to You Too!

2011-02-26T17:57:00.000-08:00

Oh the joy, the torture, and the nastiness of my Valentine's Day.

Well for Valentines this year, Cliff was off so I asked him to go hiking with me. We went to Mariner's Point and it was fun to just get out and be together, although we were on a tight schedule of drop of Kowen to pre-school, get there, hike, and be back to get Kowen in 2 hrs. We were able to go and get almost to the top. Almost I say not because we were late to leave, but because I quit on him with about 5 minutes to the top. I sat on a rock and said got ahead and leave me here. I was done. Totally out of shape, but glad I made it as far as I did. Yes, it took us 45 min to get that far and we needed to leave to get back for Kowen, but mainly because I just couldn't go any farther. It took us that long because Cliff kept stopping to take pictures and I got this one on the way down. Thought we would try and kiss, but I forgot he was shirtless again and all sweaty, so it was pure torture and just nasty. Oh well.

Cliff slipped on the way down and bruised his hand. It hurt so much and swelled that we stopped off after picking up Kowen and got it x-rayed at his office. Nope, just bruised.

He then gave me a great Valentine's present of two shots. Yes, I had done some recycling with the kids on Saturday and nicked my finger on some glass. So, for my present he took me to immunizations and had them give me a tetanus and hepatitus shot. I really felt the love there. I was joking that I hope it wasn't going to hurt much and Kowen lovingly says, "I hope it hurts alot!" So, cute. It certainly did. So much I didn't feel the second one go in, and my arm hurt for 4 days. Love the tetanus present dear. Let's not do it next year though. Chocolate will do.

It was a nice change of pace and great to get out alone. Troublesome as always, but memorable.

Old Temple trip photos

2011-02-26T17:29:00.000-08:00

This is an update of an old trip in October to the Laie LDS temple rededication open house. We took the long hour drive and went through the temple. It was interesting with kids and mostly non-members to walk through and smile at how Kowen would rub his feet booties together and make loud noise and all the helpers would smile and giggle as we went by. It is very hard to keep a spiritual mood with the music of booties. We were glad to go and spend time together.

We even got a few pics together, although not the best, they are proof that we went together.

This was the picture hanging in the refreshment tent that I tried to get the kids to stand and make a pretty face for, but this was the best I got, so I gave up. Well, more proof we went though. Ha.

Kandon's Art Show

2011-02-25T12:58:00.000-08:00

Well it was Art Show time at school. Kandon was in an art club that met once a week after school. Although sometimes he chose to play other than create art, he did pretty well and sure enjoyed showing his stuff off and getting cookies afterwards. Kandon's fish rubbing with black ink is the rainbow one three up from his head or can say center one second row from top.

So, we saw lots of art from model clay, black and white dots,watercolors, transparency, and quilt style making with paper.

And yes he is pointing to his quilt art of blue and green while the other kids act as background art.

This is his clay making project that is unfinished because he skipped the painting day. Oh well.. I think it is a bear.

And here is the finale shot of all three kids. I thought it was going to be cute, but it was kinda hard for Kilee to stand above Kandon he is growing up. We are so proud of him and the work he did. We are also glad that the curtain didn't fall from the kids being awkward. And a little embarrassed that we had to have someone tell us not to touch the curtain. Well if ya can't put on a play on a stage with a curtain, why have a curtain or a stage. Oh well. Just kidding. May the art projects live on and take center stage.

Makapuu Lighthouse Hike

2011-02-25T12:40:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago we finally got out to go on a hike together. For our first family hike we chose the easy paved Makapuu Lighthouse Trail Hike. We got all dressed in tennis shoes, water, backpack, and snacks, a toy binocular in order to try and see any humpback whales traveling by. We were able to see several far away and the binoculars were not much help. We did see tails, spouts shoot water, and Cliff saw one jump out of water, but I missed it. Well as you can see, once we got there Cliff decided to take the opportunity to get some sun in and the boys were not far behind.

We also didn't get off without the stroller, because Kowen likes to still ride in it whenever he can. I was just glad Cliff decided he'd push it all the way up and down. It was a nice hike together and we were able to walk with friends who just happened to show up at the same time and their dad took his shirt off too, so I didn't feel so weird walking with Cliff being the only guy shirtless, plus the boys.

So, We made it all the way up and got to see the views, take pics, have a treat, and well walk down. You don't get to go to the actual lighthouse without take a special skinny trail. The kids wanted to go on the skinny whinding trails that led to where the people were fishing and swimming next to the mountain if I can call it that, but it was just too unsafe for mom. I mean they complained when mom made them hold her hand as they leaned over the oh so many edges to see what was down there and made jokes as to where would be the safest spot to fall off if they were to fall off. Mom voted for the flatter cactus infected area as opposed to the drop off edge. So, over all it was a nice time and we can't wait to go somewhere else to explore before we move. Let the adventures begin.

Stitches Again!

2011-02-18T11:00:00.001-08:00

Yes, Stitches again. It has been about 10 wks or so since Kowen had stitches in his ankle for kicking glass in flip flops. Just trying to do what the big kids were doing in tennis shoes. Not that anyone was suppose to be kicking glass in the first place.

But then yesterday afternoon Kowen decides to ride sisters electric scooter. Mom and dad didn't get him one bc he was four and well it goes 10 miles an hour. But Kowen is our dare devil and anything the older ones can do I can too is his subconscious motto. Just as he was 18 mths going down hill on a razor scooter, just as he could ride a bike without training wheels by 3, and swing on a swing by himself by 3, flips on the trampoline-look ma no hands- no problem. Well a week after Christmas he was driving the electric scooter by himself doing figure 8's and hitting no cars so, I let him go as always. I mean dad was outside mowing the lawn, thankfully his training was canceled or he would have been 45 min away at the time. Then I hear him calling me from outside and know something is up already. I open the sliding door to find him carrying my 4 yr old who is coated from head to toes in blood. Much more than his poor ankle. All be I wasn't there for that either at a friends house. Anyways. This boy according to two other neighbors who were watching my child at the right moment, said he was going full blast-which could have been 10 miles and hr- and ran smack dab into a basketball pole. Yep, gashed up Kilee's scooter and his right eyebrow. What went through my head was NO, NOT the Face , Not the Face. My cute surfer boy has scared up his face. The gash started above his eyebrow, went through it, and below his eyebrow. Poor kid wasn't even crying cause it hurt, or because he was covered in blood, but he was crying and begging dad not to give him stitches. Yep, He remembered how much the shot and litacane medicine burned.

Not the best pic of him. He was actually better, but when I said take a pic he put on his saddest face. haha

He took it well, no wiggling , just pleading for dad to stop sticking him with the needle. Ohh and the don't cut my eye, please don't stitch my eye (although it was funny bc he thought he was gonna lose his eye or something) it was much harder to distract him with a dvd player when they have all this stuff over him and all. Well I wanted to go to the hospital and have a plastic surgeon make sure my baby wasn't gonna have a crooked eyebrow. Cliff of course just took him to his office and stitched him up bc he knew that the hospital would just be a 3 plus hr wait. I mean what kind of people leave a bleeding child for 3 hrs. But I am glad Cliff persisted bc when we took him to pre-school stitched patched and black eyed, there was another mom there who said she went to the hospital er yesterday and found the room was full no seats and people had been waiting 4 hrs. She of course took her bleeding son 30 min away to the other military clinic and got right in and had 2 staples put in her sons head. Kowen got 3 stitches, I wanted more but they kept assuring me with facial scars you want minimal stitches so it looks cleaner. Of course I was like, but I can still see a whole in his head. Anyways, long story short Kowen did it again and this will not be the last set, probably last set dad is allowed to do quickly for a few yrs. We were thinking though if we had stayed on the other part of the island that we probably would have taken him more times already. It being a double culdesac hill and all, ending in a stone wall, steps and a major street of those steps, who knows. Thank heaven for little boys who are strong, brave, and well even independent sometimes. Just wish it wasn't the face.

And it was interesting to be out there while I took pics and my husband scrubbed the ground and the drops on the way down the sidewalk. Crazy stuff, but all is well. Kowen doing back headers on the bed and just feeling fine. Guess no concusion either. Tough, crazy, reckless, lovable, cutie pie..

Diaper Dog

2011-02-17T10:35:00.000-08:00

This is diaper dog as the kids called her. And yes as you can see the tail is not up but out to the side, bc well I wasn't going to make an extra trip off base for doggy diapers, so well she is in size 3 diapers, which do not fit anymore since we shaved her.
This is the now picture. Shaved, clipped sparatically on legs, and ears shaved. Not so cute.

This is the before with thick matted tangled ears.

So mom says grow hair grow, at least on the ears and top of head so I can put her hair up again. Poor Bella.

Dogs days are not so good lately

2011-02-13T12:45:00.000-08:00

I don't know how yal dog lovers do it. I have to admit I am better at giving our dog Bella attention, but it sure is hard lately. Especially with her in heat and having to wear diapers bc well that's just disgusting. We didn't fix her because at first I thought we would let her have a chance to have a set of puppies and the kids get the experience, but now, uh mom's not so sure and all dad says is " I like puppies." Yeah that is bc he is gone all day and doesn't have to clean up the mess except once. Anyways, besides the heat thing, she got so matted in her hair we had to shave her. Yes our problem for not brushing her daily,, but really. She is not looking cute. Kilee calls her cute, but no way. We shaved and randomly cut the matts on her leg hairs, that when I took her in to the vet, bc she stinks even after a bath and after 5 mths Cliff is finally coming around, even after the groomers say she stinks. Ha. Oh yeah I was talking abt the vet and his assistant that kinda whispered to each other when they saw how matted her ears were. I just had to smile and say, you can shave them if you know how. Well bc she had just been shaved a few days earlier and hadn't been outside much because of the heat thing, she didn't stink so much and the doc just said here are some pills she could be allergic to lots of things outside and here is a special shampoo that she could have a gland issue. Well, I'm not a doctor but if I am doing both these things and you want to see me in a month, how are you going to know which one it is doc. Anyways so this expensive dog is getting more expensive and to top it off, she, just this week Ate threw the electric scooter cord, the printer cord, and the cord on my ab lounge exercise machine. She has plenty of toys to chew on, but oh well. So my desire to not take her when we move is still there, but how can I take her from the kids. We will see. Dog lovers, more power to ya. I know some weeks are better than others. My phone is dead of course bc I always forget to charge it, so later I will post the not so cute picture of her I took earlier. The Shih zhu look is gone when ears shaved and she looks more yorkie or terrier.

scriptures4kids.com

2011-01-24T17:30:00.000-08:00

How have I not found this before? Of all the many times we search for things to do on Sunday, I finally found this link at the ideadoor.com that goes to scriptures4kids.com. It is a lady who has done this for free so we all can have it. Enjoy and check it out.

Oh LIFE

2011-01-24T12:05:00.000-08:00

Life is full of fun, craziness, and joy. You cannot exist without the laughter. The screaming and business of it all would weigh you down. Recently I have made our Ward Relief Society blog in one day while allowing the kids to each invite someone to spend the night, and the next day or so I wrote a draft of our ward Roadshow. The kids were running in and out with who knows how many neighborhood kids over at one time, playing wii, upstairs, trampoline with two water hoses going, bikes, lots and lots of snacks...etc. At the end of the days things were accomplished, but why does it always feel like nothing got done. There is still dishes to do daily, laundry all the time-more when everyone needs towels, and tons of toys everywhere. Mom's 5 minutes at the end of the day just isn't enough. IF mom ain't happy, it is sad to say that noone is happy. Other than the obvious continuation of morning scripture time, and all the personal and family prayers, exercise-more real- not just counting the inside stairs I take to my bedroom; church, piano lessons, hugs and kisses, there has to be more ways to just fit laughter in my day. Joy, Joy, Joy. Life, Life, Life. Sometimes you love it, sometimes you hate it, sometimes you wish there was more of it, but being grateful is always the answer. I am slacking on my journaling of all the cute things the kids say and do and well that part of life is lost somewhere in the vast emptiness of my brain if not written down. So just a plug to WRITE things down and find Joy in the day. Make a plan and work that plan.
With the freaky cold weather in the Northeast I am so not looking forward to being stuck inside and oh freezing everywhere on my body again. But being thankful for a job is helpful, but not too consoling. Knowing I can sleep in a warm bed is great, knowing the ward should be good is awesome, now I just need to find a great house on a culdesac and in a great school system. Didn't think it would be hard, but it is turning out to be so frustrating finding one that is well kept and up to date and well has everything I want. There can't be a problem with that. ha. Something has to give. But it won't be the joy and laughter, cuz that holds things together sometimes. I can't believe I have to find a home that my daughter can grow to 14 in and invite all her teenage friends over. Time sure does fly, especially if you don't take the time to enjoy and write it down. Good luck to all.

Hairy Lychee, Do you really want to eat that?

2011-01-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

Hairy Lychee, just saying the name puts a disgusting taste in my head. Who would eat something with hair on it? Well Kandon did and I kinda tried it. It is a reddish when ripe fruit here. I have seen it many times in the store, but of course am too scared to eat it. Well Kandon asked a teacher at school for one and brought it home. All she had told him was to peel it. At first I had no idea how to do that. I mean where to start. Then with more pressure than I thought needed, it began to peel little by little. It really was like I was peeling off pieces of skin with hair on it. Now the hair isn't as soft as ours,and is pretty thick and plastic feeling, but just saying its name gives me the creeps. It's official name is rambutans, but it goes by hairy lychee more. Well it peeled and looks like a big grape. In reality it is a big seed covered in a little bit of fruit. Kandon says it tasted like a strawberry, but I just barely got my teeth on it and juice and that was enough. Could not say it tasted like anything I knew or liked. And I couldn't believe it when Kandon asked me to buy more. Hopefully he will forget about it because if I buy it. Who has to peel it? Me of couse. Well that is my exotic experience for the month. It is nice to be around so many different plants and stuff here and to see them in the store, but I guess I just am not the adventurous type. Oh well.

Joys of a New Year

2011-01-10T11:50:00.000-08:00

Well, Cliff's b-day was Friday and since we had saved some pop fireworks, we had a war. Yes in flip-flops or shoeless(as in mom's case). We threw them at each others feet. This year to add more fun, mom found some super chinese ones that are like little red stick bombs and much more powerful and louder. You can probably guess that there was much fun and laughter as we ran in the street chasing and running from each other, mixed with a search for someone else's lost bunny that ended without success. Anyways, long story short, those suckers hurt when hit directly on and sting nearby. (I can testify and so can poor Kowen.) We love him. He is the one that keeps us laughing and he didn't let us down. Mom had to laugh so hard when he came hopping toward her after getting hit on the foot with one, screaming, "OHHH it burns, it burns!" Yep, I laugh at my child's pain. But don't judge me, because it was hilarious and you would be laughing too. He wasn't crying, just complaining. We also found out that mom is a lousy shot.

I also wanted to just put in a reminder to all who do the laundry. Check your kids pockets for things. Not to mention gum, sticks, animals, but the mp3 player you let your 4 year old use because his is missing and the ear phones that got left in his Alabama sweatshirt. Oh well, another thing got ruined in the wash and dryer. The joys of parenthood. It was just an old anniversary present anyways.Got a new one for Christmas, so I will live.

Now about New Year's Resolutions. Have ya got any? Are you working on them? Well I decided since we finally kinda have the money to spend. I would take piano lessons since I have had the keyboard for 8 1/2 years and can't keep myself motivated to practice. Well, it is as bad as when I was 12. Not because I am missing playtime to practice, but because it is embarrassing that I am so old and so, so , so , bad. Oh well, so my point was, pick a resolution and go after it. Let me know if you are succeeding. Maybe it will help me to stay motivated. Good Luck! I have to go practice now! Yippee!

Oh the troubles I cause!

2010-12-27T21:40:00.000-08:00

Yes I pulled a Nakeysha. Ha. It hasn't rained like this in a long time. Possibly 3 yrs. The base is flooded. Cliff didn't want to ride his bike home and get soaked so I went to get him. Not realizing that I can't see how deep the road is flooded and am not able to turn around. Maybe you guessed it, but the car stalled out. Whoa is me. Luckily I was right there next to his office and we live on base. Luckily someone finally stopped to help us and I didn't have to push and steer anymore. Silly silly me. That just ruins the fun of driving through puddles. Guess I will just have to trade my van for a truck with soupped up tires. Then I would probably need a ladder to get in to the truck but man I could have some fun. Anyways, long story short, do not drive through puddles or let your husband walk home in rain. Ha Ha.

P.S. Kandon's friend has chicken pox. UHHH I'm praying, praying, praying.

Mele Kalikimaka from Hawaii

2010-12-18T18:26:00.000-08:00

Mele Kalikimaka from Hawaii

Another year, another letter.

Well the new year began on a higher note as we visited Alabama and enjoyed
Fireworks with family. We came home and continued to beat Uncle Daylyn on the
Wii Mario Kart game via the Internet. Cliff was still deployed for his 35th
birthday but he still grew older and a little wiser too.

In February 3year old Kowen continued to kick moms butt in Star Wars Wii, learned his colors and counted to 12. All three kids were in a church short skit about a Princess Kilee who needed two knights to help her. It was suppose to be comical for the words, but ended up comical because Kowen stomped off with a fit several times and refused to continue. Kilee and Kandon kept the show going amongst the laughs. We also endured the Tsunami that wasn’t as much hype as expected, thank goodness, and can add that to the list of hurricanes and other things we have experienced.

March was a highlight when Dad returned from the war zone. The kids were excited
to watch his plane land and hold up their welcome sign and of course get hugs.
You would expect them to all say I love you and I missed you, but silly 3 year
old Kowen said, “Dad I want you to go home and change.” Cliff was wearing his
beige flight suit he had to wear for 7 months and the flight home. He of course
said he really wanted to change too.

April was full of sun and fun. We enjoyed going to the water park several times and Kandon enjoyed playing t-ball. He really improved and even hit 3 home runs in one game. Kilee and Kowen enjoyed being the bat girl and bat boy.

May was like an early Christmas because the neighbors gave us their nice wooden swing set that the kids spent many an afternoon on. It was also the end of another school year.
Kowen came to ask for a snack one day and I said, “Do you want yogurt?” and
his reply was “No, butter.” Yummy. I of course did not give in, but he continues to be so much like his dad who loves rice with his butter. Kandon too.

In June Kandon turned 7 and we had us a once in an eternity opportunity to
baptize Kilee. She waited til Dad returned and we could travel to be with
family for this special event. It was great to be with friends
and four generations of family, if only for a short time.

July was once again a last ditch effort to hit the beach and pools before they
closed, wait, we live in Hawaii. My bad, we hit them because school was going to start, not weather change. Kids whined, mom rejoiced.
Kandon was also in the play, The Princess and The Pea. He tried out and made
the part of a dust bunny. He was so cute, even when he looked so hot and tired.
Kandon also had the unlucky opportunity to have his tonsils taken out. He was
excited at first, but then came the pain. He hasn't been sick since then. The kids
all enjoyed taking swim lessons and improving their skills. Kowen enjoyed sun
bathing more and found the water too cold to enjoy. In reality, he just
didn't want to obey the teacher, just play with the other kids.

August began a new school year. Kilee is in the 3rd grade and Kandon is in 2nd.
They grow up so fast.
Kilee is still in the gifted and talented program. She says she hates it,
but that is only because she has extra homework to do before she can play.
She also scored high on her tests and is now reading at a 5th grade level.
Kandon is also the highest level reader in his class, reading at a 4th grade level.
We are so proud of them and hope they continue to develop a love for reading and learning. Even Kowen began pre-school and is loving being with friends, learning, and
being independent. He was my second son to say, I didn’t have to walk him in
because he was big enough to sign himself in. Not allowed, but a nice thought.
Kowen also learned to ride a bike without training wheels. The boys found a love
for dad’s hot tamale candies. Kandon began karate classes and felt so cool.

September brought Kilee to the realization that since she had to go and hang out
for Kandon’s class, she might as well join. Kowen had to wait til the end of
the month to start on his 4th birthday, but he was able to manage
by sitting outside and copying all the moves.
They have all learned to do their forward rolls and take down the enemy.
Kowen's excitement and funny comments bring much laughter to us and his teachers.
Kandon is enjoying learning ways to escape and protect himself.
Mom is just glad his glasses are still intact.

October brought out Mario, Ben 10, Cleopatra, and rock stars. Kowen wore his Ben 10 outfit every chance he got. They had to dress up at school, two trunk or treats, and the Saturday before Halloween. Yep, mom was a meanie this year and didn't allow them to go out on Sunday. We had enough houses on two blocks to make it worth while. To redeem myself and because I printed off like 150 or more invites to the rededication of the Laie Hawaii Temple,they got to hand out candy if it came with an invite. Plus the neighbor was moving and had a box full of candy leftover to give to them, so all was forgotten.
Kilee was also a part of the STAR Performers and put on a show where she sang and danced. Just another stepping stone on her way to fullfilling her dream of being a rock star.

November brought such a joyous occasion. We were able to visit the Laie LDS
Temple with the kids before it was rededicated. It was a wonderful sight to see.
Our eyes thoroughly enjoyed it, while our ears were blessed with the sound of shoes
rubbing their feet together in plastic booties. It was funny. We tried all we could to get the kids to walk with their feet a little bit more apart, but was useless, and just enjoyed the smiles of workers as we passed. Kids, got to love them as they make life fun.
We also were able to spend Thanksgiving at the beach. It was a beautiful day
and we were able to spend some nice relaxing time enjoying the beauty of the island.
And no one was able to escape mom's need for a picture moment.
Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without one.

December has brought Kilee’s 9th birthday and a visit from Grandma and Grandpa
Nowell. Kowen also became the first child to get stitches as he learned not to
kick glass in flip flops. Of course dad was the one to save and inflict pain
upon him as he stitched him up. He got to be the good guy and the bad guy. However,
the scar does look mighty fine.
They all recently received trophies for their newly learned skills in Karate.
Kilee got one for most improved and the boys each got a trophy
for most enthusiastic, which was a given.Kilee is looking forward to a possible small solo in the church Christmas program and the boys get to sing Jingle Bells again with actual bells.Woo-Hoo.

We have spent another year together and have survived the ups and downs,
laughter, and joys.

Maybe this next year will be just as joyous and beautiful in Dayton, Ohio. Cliff got an Air Force Residency in Family Practice and we are bound for there this summer, assuming he gets into Wright State for a Masters in Public Health and then later the next year start residency.

May all your goals for next year be achievable and memorable.

May your homes be full of the Holiday Spirit this season and joy meet you around every corner.

Love, The Nowell Family

Clifton, Nakeysha,
Kilee 9, Kandon 7, and Kowen 4

I'm bouncing off the walls

2010-11-02T17:22:00.000-07:00

Ok so Kilee had to choose a poem to read in school next week, but she had to have the assignment for tomorrow. Of all the cool poems and intellectual or spiritual things she could have chosen, this is what she decided on:

I'm bouncing off the windows.

I'm bouncing off the walls.

I'm feeling like my feet are made of bouncing rubber balls.

I'm running like I'm crazy.

I'm running like I'm mad.

I might seem like a lunatic

but, boy, I'm feeling glad.

I'm jumping like a kangaroo

or like a jumping bean.

I act this way at least a week

right after Halloween.

-Kenn Nesbitt

Yes it may be totally true, although i'd argue about the week after and say all day everyday, but what a choice. Now I got to get her to read it with feeling and fluency.

So to all moms who are going crazy because of sugar overload, just remember the candy never lasts long, or perhaps you can donate some secretly to the schools treasure box or upcoming carnival. Hang in there, but Christmas stockings are just around the corner. Maybe I could write a poem for that. Maybe not.

2010-10-31T22:07:00.001-07:00

Cute, Cute, Cute- work that surfer look til we aint surfin people no more!

Ok, these pics are just too cute not to post now. Kowen got to bring home George their preschool mascot. He took him to the beach, showed him some karate moves, taught him how to buckle up, how lame soccer practice is, and how cool Ben 10 is.

Early Halloween

2010-10-31T21:40:00.000-07:00

This is our trunk or treat at church on Oct. 9th. Dad is taking the picture, but he is on crutches as mom's real patient because he has torn ligaments in his ankle again. Kilee is Cleopatra, Kandon Mario, and Kowen is Ben 10. Love Kilee's glow in the dark earrings. For early Halloween yesterday she was her Rock Star costume and sprayed the dog colors. Bella wasn't quite a rockstar dog, but she was colorful.

Halloween Invites

2010-10-31T21:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I pulled another Nakeysha. Kids kept eating the Halloween candy, so I hid it. And of course I cannot remember where. Luckily it wasn't all hidden and we have some. Hopefully we will make it through without digging too much into the kids stash. So, we went around the neighborhood last night, about 36 houses at least and the kids got some candy and some dirty looks, but we did it anyways. I gave in and let them sit outside handing out candy instead of setting out a bowl, with the the stipulation that they have to hand out an invitation to the Laie Hawaii open house and rededication. Ha Sometimes in the past I have handed out pass along cards, but this year we have the temple invites. They are just cheezy words on paper, but who knows. I heard today from our Home Teacher that there was a man from the Navy base that rode his bike all the way to the Northshore from here, that is oh more than 45 miles or so, about a hour and 15 or more by car. Anyways, he passed the sign for the temple and thought oh cool, a buddist temple. Yes laugh here. So he went inside and just knew this was the church he was suppose to join. Came to Sacrament in my ward last week and again today and is almost done with the discussions. Wow.. And I knew nothing about it. You hear these stories, but now I hope to see one. Now I know there probably won't be anything from my handouts or the kids who handed some of them out friday to the neighbors, but maybe just maybe I can live with a seed. Wish I know I planted it, but hey. Oh well. I can live with a GO ME!.

So yes we did the ward trunk or treat on Oct. 9th, sent the kids out last night alittle, and there was a smaller trunk or treat down the street once we learned it was official that the base chose Sunday, not Saturday like alot of other bases do. So hopefully the kids got their Halloween fix in and I can declutter, I mean dedecorate. And move on to the next holiday. So here are a few of my pics from this month. Enjoy!

Joy of Music, laughter, and peace

2010-10-25T21:27:00.000-07:00

Music is such a joy at times. It can truly change your mood. Sad to happy, mad to inspired, even joyous to tearful. I love turning up the music channel and letting it clear the mood in the house. Not many enjoy that it is on the christian music channel, but I swear it helps. Even in the car, Kowen will tell me to turn it to dad's songs. I like alternative too, but when staying on my channel I don't have to worry that my 7yr old son will ask what a womanizer is or hear people talking about bumping and grinding and other things. So, I guess I can say that I am not a loyal fan of any one station, but I have my favoirtes. It sure beats Old MacDonald and ABC's. I am glad we are out of that phase, although Kowen totally skipped it, preferring dad's head banging artists. Sometimes it makes things crazy around here and sometimes it just makes heaven on earth.
I also love to hear other peoples problems when we are out, ie. kids fighting and chitchat because it makes me feel so much better, ie i'm not the only one going through this. Such as, in Target parking garage the other day. As I passed a car I heard this cute little voice tell her mom, "You farted! " The mom of course denied it and the simple quarrel continued. I know most people wouldn't post this on a blog, but it was just so cute coming from a 2 yr old girl in a well to do car. It just was a refermation that my life is ok and as normal as others, could be a whole lot quieter and cleaner, but if I listen real hard and take the time to write things down, I see the joy too.
I did my visiting teaching this month, so a plug for everyone to get it done by the end of month. While discussing the temple Ensign special this month, we totally got excited that the open house is going on this week and in a month or so the temple will finally be open again. It ended up taking almost 2yrs to renevate. We finally got our reserved tickets last night to go through the open house. Kilee did a scavenger hunt of things we need to do to be able to go, like a hint of be clean--bathroom. It ended with the computer and dad had to reserve the tickets. We go next week. It's on the same island, but with traffic takes a minumum of an hour.
Well with joy comes worry and sadness, have to have one with the other. Cliff got an email about being deployed again soon for 6mths. We are awaiting the details and clarification if he was the one chosen.
So life goes on. The joys, the saddness, the ups and downs, and I am so glad there are others to share it with, others to laugh at, others to let us know we are ok, and music to affect our spirits whether we want to cry, laugh, dance, or scream. So crank it up loud, and be inspired.

That is just freakin crazy.

2010-10-21T20:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the last post I will have to edit on my old computer later, but now dinner is burning again and I have no idea why my kids are not home on time for dinner, so I have to scoot. Aloha

ok all is well i fixed it. yes I had to use my old trusty old laptop, but hey it worked.

Kilee's Baptism(Sorry so late posting)

2010-10-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

Oh, I give up. They won't post pics after I write today, always go to top. So scroll down for Kilee's Baptism Posting. We were so lucky to have so many come. Thanks to my Brothers and families, Grandparents and Great-Grandparents and friends for coming.

Sorry, when I figure out what is wrong with my posting skills and the computer editing skills I will get this right. For now, my beginning paragraph is at the end and I don't want to retype it, but it won't copy it so you'll have to scroll down. ha For now these are the pictures from Kilee's baptism in Alabama last summer.

Grandpa and Grandma Nowell. We are so glad they could make it on my special day.

Grandpa Emmertson and Aiti. Gotta love them. They let us stay a whole two weeks free, and they actually wanted us to stay longer. Go figure. So happy we could spend time with them and thank them for all they did.

It wouldn't be a family reunion with out the Great-Grand Parents. This is my Granny and Paw-paw on my mom's side and Cliff's grandma on his dad's side. We were there, but didn't get a four generations picture. Bad me. A three, and a skip a few, but not a full one. Got to love everyone for traveling so far just to be with me, whatever, to share in seeing the rest of the family too.

Oh, can't ya just see the love. It's Kilee's day, Kandon has no two front teeth, Cliff's so handsome, and Great Grandma is in the picture, but to me, Kowen steals the show everytime. That is unless he is in a picture with Daylyn's daughter, Addy, she starting to be competition with her cute faces.

Well on our trip this summer to Alabama, one of the things we did, or I should say, the most import thing we did on our trip, was baptize Kilee. We decided to just do it in Alabama so our family could be there. We were lucky to have both sets of Grandparents, and 3 Great Grandparents there, plus all my siblings, and friends. It was so nice to see everyone there and to have so many. We waited because Cliff was in Iraq and since we were already going to Alabama. What was two more months of waiting to have family be there. Now, we did have to wait forever for her scriptures. I ordered them in April and they just came in October. Apparently they were reorganizing them and adding more pictures. I use to be one to say if they house burned, grab the pictures and geneology and not scriptures because we could buy more, apparently not. So I think I need to order Kandon's so they will be here by next summer. My boy is growing up too. Time flies by too fast. Anyways here are a few pictures of her baptism and people who came. Her dress we had to of course order online bc my dress wasn't modern enough I could say nicely, for her. But it turned out ok. Enjoy.

Kilee

2010-10-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

WEll Kilee was in a small performance. I say small,, but there were at least 65 kids. It was only 6 songs long and she did 3 of the them with the groups. It was nice to see her trying to live her dream of being on stage. She has alot, alot of stage presence to work on and overcome her fears, but she has the desire and beauty. Can't miss a blonde blue eyed girl amid alot of darker hairded kids. That's my girl. And if mom could ever find the cd she lost that uplinks her video camcorder to the computer and figure out how to load to youtube you might just see her in action, along with Kandon's performance back in July. Yeah I am behind, in alot, but Hey I Went Surfing today. Didn't stand all the way up, but I could blame it on small short waves, but It was aslo me. And I was so tired of paddling with my arms I just wanted to nap and let the waves carry me in. I need to work out. Even if it just gets me farther out to see to catch me a big Wave. Well life is short and I got to run. To do something, somewhere. As soon as I figure out what, I'll do that. Smile. Paradise is somewhere all the time, if we open our eyes and move our feet to enjoy it. Hey maybe I'll get out again or try hiking. Anyways this was about Kilee. We decided not to do this particular singing group again because they were doing Christmas songs and Kilee wants to be a popstar. Too bad, the hours and price were great. Let her dreams live on, as long as it doesn't cost too much.

Wow Posting Week

2010-10-17T23:40:00.000-07:00

Just for those who haven't checked in a while, I have had a posting week with 7 new listings, so be sure to check them all out if you've got the time. Thanks Plus has anyone had troubles with publishing. With the new computer we got internet explorer and windows 7. I have to save a draft on a new post and go to edit to publish. Then if I want to actually edit a post it will not let me save it or post it, but I can edit all I want without saving. Any ideas, or I can just edit on my old laptop. Thanks a bunch.

Fire Chief Kowen

2010-10-17T23:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, so tonights FHE was Kowen's turn and since he had a field trip to a fire preparedness activity, he did a fire evacuation drill. We tested all 5 smoke alarms to the whine of Kilee and the cry cause Kowen wasn't holding his blankey during the upstairs ones. But we did it and Although Kowen kept yelling "Go" for everyone to get out of bed, instead of "FIRE FIRE", we managed to get out the door, across the street with dad trailing behind with, well you guessed it, the dog. There was a small arguement over who would get the dog, everyone but mom of course was involved, although she knows full well if dad isn't here its her job whether she likes it or not. Kowen was constantly talking about every instance where we would go out a window even if there was only smoke or just for the fun of it. He wore his fire hat and we had rice krispies to show how things melt with heat. hahahah. So we need to get out fast instead of find our toys and dolls and stuff. To make things short. It is good to know that the kids know how to go out windows now, not. Now mom has a new fear of what she might find them doing one day when there isn't a fire, and they are just practicing so they say.

Oh and the kids always like to say good night to the dog before going to bed. Usually this is after family prayer and hugs n kisses, but we combine FHE prayer and they ran for treats with no hugs. So Kandon decides to say goodnight to the dog and let her kiss him all over, if that isn't grossing you out already, I am. Then he goes and tries to kiss me on the lips. I don't think so. I sent him to brush his teeth then come back. What does he do? He brushes, but then kisses me and says hahahah I didn't brush my lips. YUCK. Double Yuck and haha on mom. For all yal dog lovers out there, more power too ya, but I do know where that dogs mouth has been and that is a no for me. Aloha.

Here are the pics Tracy!

2010-10-17T23:19:00.000-07:00

Okay Tracy here are the pics of our new bedroom furniture. I literally have to raise my knee high to climb into bed, and watch it when I slide out. Did not think this one through, but it is nice to have and its growing more on me. And I think it will look better once we move , wherever and get a bigger room. Enjoy. And yes it is messy. Sorry.

It's just one of those months!

2010-10-16T23:37:00.001-07:00

I see I forgot to talk about the big red spot on Kowen's forehead during his pool party pics. And no it isn't a huge mosquito bite. Well, that was the beginning of this months troubles, and I mean starting Oct. 1st. It is always nice to have the neighbor boy knock on your door and say "um Kowen's hurt. He fell down and now his head is bleeding." Kowen was using someone elses scooter that was raised too high for him and of course not borrowing a helmet. So without details, he kissed the ground hard the day before his party. But thankfullly it was just his normal bow bows. He could walk, talk, run, complain, and go right back to playing. No throwing up, no loss of consciencness, no concussion then. Then a week goes by and I get a phone call. It's Cliff calling me from the ER. He has sprained his ankle and torn ligaments. Then today, Kandon comes running up bleeding from the mouth. He apparently learned he can't fly. He tried to jump from the playground and well his chin met his knee and his tongue got squashed btw his teeth. Luckly this time I was able to say, "Hey Doc. You have a patient waiting in the bathroom." Rare, but sure is nice to say. Cliff sacrificed a few min. of the AL game to see he was fine and sent him off to play. I'm sure Kilee has come bleeding, complaining, damaged somehow and me too, but this month just seems to be one of those months. I hope it ends before Halloween, cuz I know we don't own fake blood. Well I hope this explained Kowen's Red dot on his head. Enjoy the pics.

More pics

2010-10-16T19:10:00.001-07:00

Just more pics that for some reason wouldn't load on my last post. Probably bc I had so many, haha.

Kandon working out, Kowen's stand in bc He dislikes dressed up sweet onions, Kowen's Do Not Drink future W of Wisdom lesson, and Kowen's preschool group.

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-16T18:43:00.000-07:00

Well Kowen's preschool went to the pumpkin patch and since the other two were out a week for October break, they got to go too. It was hot but thankfully not humid. Kandon was brave enough to go into the corn, but after he jumped out thinking there was a bee, the other too wouldn't dare go in to that scary place. We came away with 5 large pumpkins and 9 small ones somehow. Kandon walked the long way to the end of the pumpkin rows looking for the all white glow in the dark pumpkins, but wasn't too happy when mom caught up to him and told him there weren't any available just orange ones. But the pictures turned out and here are a few. Kandon tried lifting the big ones, but found he needs to pump more iron. Kowen is still afraid of dressed up people and wouldn't take a picture with the sweet onions in surfing outfit so his friend Caroline stood in for him. He loves going to preschool and misses the days he doesn't. It was nice to feel like being on a farm again, but so glad to leave. You can see that Kowen got a little dirty. I find it funny that the sign says DO NOT DRINK. I guess later we can use it in a Word OF Wisdom lesson, but it was really talking about only washing your hands, and face for Kowen, and not drinkable water.

Kowen is Four

2010-10-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

Well Kowen turned four at the end of last month and because he got shortchanged last year and didn't have a party because we had just moved and went through a batch of the flu, we gave him a pool party and invited like 19 plus kids and siblings. Not all showed up of course, but just to be safe to having a good size crowd we invited alot. I had games planned, but all they wanted to do was swim. So, Cliff entertained the older boys by allowing them to chase and tackle him. We had a quick 20 minute decorated cake, cupcakes, and drinks and opened presents during the lifeguard breaks and it was fun. He would tell everyone he was four for almost all of September, but now its official. My baby is getting old.

The new, the old, and the SNOW?

2010-10-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

All is well, just had to do some tweeking with the computer. Managed to upgrade the printer as well. I'm better than I thought, ha.

Well after almost 11 years of marriage we finally bought a bedroom set. It wasn't my wow I love this set, but we both agreed. It actually fits in our tiny room, after some shifting and tossing. I have to say it is interesting, we forgot how tall it would be with drawers underneath and a box spring, so yes, we actually have to crawl in to bed. It makes the room look even smaller, but its nice to say we have something other than my brothers old teen set, or side of road find, or goodwill bargain. Now the hard part is finding room to keep the old set so we can have it when we move.

The kids enjoyed playing in the 11 boxes, huge submarines, airplanes, and boats, too bad mom only said they could play one day bc trash day was this morning. Oh and not to forget the snow in Hawaii yesterday, nope not real snow of course, but I came downstairs with more boxes to take out and there was white everywhere on ground and flying in the air. Maybe you guessed already, but after I had said no, Kandon led Kowen in a stirofoam digging contest to make snow. They were covered head to toe, the box was full and the yard was a mess. So yesterday was a first for me. We actually vacuumed outside. Yep we vacuumed the patio, inside the box bc the wind was continuing to blow it out, and the ground. Its better, but no taking puppy out back to pee or she will eat it. And by the way the dog goes potty outside but after 8 plus wks she still doesn't get to pee on the pad. oh well. And she still smells and I'm running out of candles to burn.

This was just an update on life. We are here and moving on. Cliff is interviewing for residency programs again so wish us luck. Maybe this year is the year. Finally. Wishing everyone a blessed Halloween. Another perk of living on base is the trick or treating on Saturday, not Sunday. Hallaljuah.

This is just a test

2010-10-11T14:03:00.001-07:00

I'm having troubles viewing my site. Oh the joy of a new computer has ended. That's what i get for buying HP.

Gosh, Why hadn't I done this before!

2010-09-22T13:05:00.001-07:00

Well the inevitable happened. Kowen lost his blankey. It seems we are always searching for that thing at bedtime, but Monday we scoured the house countless times. We even went outside with a flashlight and checked under all the cars. Cliff the loving dad that he is, went back to the beach to see if somehow he might have taken it there, eventhough no one remembers it being there but the 3 year old. Then on to the BX stores to see if someone had turned it in to customer service. Nothing. It was like it just vanished, just like Kandon's bear a year at Christmas. Mom and Kowen made the older two ride bikes to school so we could be the first one's at the beach, well early to beach anyways to look for his long lost blankey in the sunlight. So we get there, and yes its the dog beach, but its not even 8 am and its beautiful, if you past the brown seeweed, coral stuff at the edge. But you can walk way far out because it was low tide, Kowen of course wanted too because he thought the tide came up ashore, stole his blankey, and washed it out there to the mangrove trees. No mom wasn't walking out to the mangrove trees, but we instead looked at the crabs, coral, and seeweed, few fish by the water pipe, and just walked. Other than the fact that it was 8am, a dog beach, and a school day. Why hadn't we done this before? I mean we live 1.5 miles exactly from this place and the real beach isn't much further. The only reason I know exactly how far is bc Cliff had me do the milage as he ran to the dog beach monday and we drove of course. The little puppy would never run that far, not to mention mom. Oh and by the way the poor dog was miserable being dragged in the sand and water, just wanted back in the car. Funny, sad, and pittiful to look at.
So I guess seeing the dog beach, some place we hadn't been to in the 3 yrs here and it being 1.5 miles from our house, just added to the feeling that we really havn't seen many sights on the island other than the main ones. We have probably only a little over 8 mths left here, yes a long time, but with school, afterschool activities, and regualar life, not long left really. So, many wonderful sites and so little time. I think it calls for a list, a calendar, and dedication. Mostly mom motivating or bribing kids somehow to go and spend their saturdays siteseeing. Not sure it is going to happen, but maybe I can set a small goal.

I guess this blog was to just motivate me, and you,whomever might read it to get out and see the sites around you. The nicest thing might be 1.5 miles from your house and you will never know it. Maybe it will motivate me to run in the mornings Kowen is at preschool, or hike, or take up surfing lessons, or hula. Probably not likely, but it was a nice morning after all.

Oh and by the way, we came home after searching the mall again, and told a neighbor to look out for it, and 5 min later they rang our doorbell to say, isn't that it over on the other neighbors fence. Sure enough it was on the temporary housing units fence. Guess they found it on the ground and hung it up. Gosh should of used a better flashlight that night. ha.

WELL hope all is well with everyone and you notice the beauty and sunshine in your own lives.

Getaway

2010-06-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Well Cliff n I finally got a short second honeymoon. Quick and fun. We just hit the Gulf Shores beaches before too much oil sets in ashore. Had fun on the go carts and slides at waterville, had some throwed rolls from Lamberts, and just relaxed. And ya know what, the kids survived. I can't say too much for Aiti and Aunt Jill's sanity. They kept busy with the mall water park, pictures, movie, chucky cheese, pool and lots of crazy stuff. Can't Thank them enough for enduring the chaos. The weird thing is. We took a camera, but I guess without kids, there just wasn't the motivation to take any. So no proof of our little escapade, but we are thankful anyways. We recommend it to anyone, and you don't have to wait ten years to have one. Be spontaneous.

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

2010-06-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

Pictures just catch the cuteness and personality so well. They are definately something I can't live without, pictures, and one of the great inventions of all time to me.

Well its that time again. Picture time with the 8 grandkids. We had lots of fun, many laughs, and spent loads of money, but the memories are worth it. Here are a few of the good ones. It sure is getting harder to find the ones where everyone looks good all at the same time. First is the girls, then the boys, and groups.

Its my Birthday and I'll cry if I want to!

2010-05-14T22:10:00.000-07:00

Well I know I haven't posted many pics lately. With a new phone not connecting well and well just a crappy computer, but thankful to have one at all, I am lucky to type now and then.

WEll today I am another year older, can't at all say wiser, but definately older and can feel it. I don't know if it is all mental but the 1 after the uh, well 30 just is awful. It is both dawnting to write and think about. I'm old. Not on deaths bed, but old. The body knows it too. I was hoping to fit into my wedding dress at moms again. Don't think so. The body is different and refuses to let me think I can be that again. One day for I HAVE A DREAM. I can cry all I want, but I can't stop time, just enjoy the ride downhill is all. Smiling might help, screaming at times too does wonders.

For my Bday, we spent the morning at the hospital for Kowen to have a small minor surgery that went well and he was home swinging and jumping on trampoline immediately. He woke up hungry and wanting to go home and play with uncle bob who was nice enough to watch kilee and kandon since it was FURLOUGH FRIDAY -oh how we love those days off, not.
Later, we lounged and sent kilee off in a limo. A sweet white suburban like one. Can you believe here a mom splurged on an 8 yr olds bday with a limo for 11 plus girls riding around town and then a huge blow up slide tomorrow. Can you believe I let my daughter go off in a limo w strangers I've never met? Oh well I know where they live huh. jk. Gone are the days of simple sleepovers. Yet I am not one to beat the Jones, so sorry Kandon you have a regular sleepover next wk. Poor boy.

Well since Twilight I have read many books which I didn't use to do. So Cliff has noticed and splurged on an Amazon kindle for me. Now I just have to get over my cheapskate idea of rent from library and return and actually buy something to read. I also have to get rid of the idea to actually hold a book I buy and put on shelf. Now it seems money for nothing I can't hold, but I'm sure i'll get over it, especially if I buy twilight huh. not.

I'm acutally into the beverly lewis amish books. Seem fun. Need to spend more time on my baby clothes quilts for the kids or geneology, maybe having to buy books will get me to spread out the time I read.

Or maybe we can finally have that couple time and read a book together like we start and never finish.

So Life is short , fast, and running out. So as birthdays always remind us to catch up on what we miss, fix whats wrong, and set goals for future, bc we will be old, well older in 12 months n counting. They also give us the chance to break diets and eat brownies. I decided against the cake, or cheesecake since I'd eat the whole thing myself, and made brownies. The kids were begging to open the presents and didn't want to wait, but mom wanted her bday song. So I finished the brownines, cooled like 5 min, n I have to have them hot or not at all, so i quickly stuck 31 candles in the brownies, oops telling my age, and lit them. Do you know before I could do that n blow, all candles were melted to the string, falling and wax in brownies. yummie, but got job done w icecream n sauce. delicious .

What can u say about my Life. Lots of good memories from pics of the old days of college n growing up. Some forgotten some want to forget, but mostly fun , oh yeah I forgot that.

I'm trying to put together a scrapbook for kilees baptism, but its just a humongus stack right now and not much time left. I am so thankful to be a part of the technology age and well just have pictures and the ability to remember at anytime. We say we will remember, but without pictures or journals life is definately lost in the chaos.

Well I'm starting to jumble my thoughts and not speak well, so I think I will cut my losses and go to bed early. Hey its my bday and dad can put them to bed huh. Sweet, maybe sneak a brownie treat.

Motherhood must contain laughter to survive.

2010-05-08T20:15:00.000-07:00

Well I am always amazed at the funny things kids say. Despite all the craziness that comes with it, motherhood is filled with laughter. One example is when Kowen just came into the house while I was upstairs. He said, " Mom, I know you are in here, come out, come out, where ever you are." He is so cute.

Kandon has a spiritual example. We were discussing in FHE about trees and people needing stakes when young to help us grow straight, then we don't need so many ones when older and Kandon was explaining how when older and on own can read scriptures, say prayers, go to church, have a good sin. yep it was a hilarious. We all know how much that strengthens us, not.

As Kilee's baptism approaches I am reading her journal and asking for favorite stories about her and the funny ones always stick out, but just trying to remember her when little til now is moving. Although its been years, it seems so short of a time. Do I really have a daughter of baptism age?

Well life happens and I must return, dinner awaits. May all moms smile tomorrow and count their many blessings both as moms and wives and daughters too.

Totally grossed out

2010-04-20T22:28:00.000-07:00

Oh Totally grossed out today. Thought I was going to lose my dinner. Kilee finally got me to give into making Spam musubi after 2yrs of beggin. She really liked it without the spam but I made it w/ spam, or hot dogs, or plain, Also instead of seaweed I tried spring roll paper. Well let me say, I am glad I made it through. You take 4 cups rice, w 1/2 cup rice vinegar, 1/2 cub sugar, 1tsp salt, Seaweed strips, and spam or hotdogs. Fry meat. wrap like sushi. Well i couldn't even close my teeth on my bite I was already gagging. I definate can't go on any tv shows like fear factor or places where you eat weird stuff. So sorry. Even watching the kids bite after bite after bite was getting me. Clifton tried it out of love for me, but he got 4 bites in and I told him, thanks but you really dont have to eat anymore cause I hate it too. I loved sushi this lady brought w/ avacadoes and fake crab, even though I hate crab. Guess was avacado taste that got rid of crab and sea weed taste. So since I cooked all of it. I sent kilee of to mutual with two huge containers of it and said dont come back w/ any even if you have to trash it. Thank goodness they love it here. I do not share their facination with spam here, but i'm glad I dont have to eat it. Definately not a food storage item i'm going to add. Had to have chocolate to settle my stomach, might even need a bowl of popcorn too since I'm out of icecream. WEll i'm glad the kids liked it, but its not going to be a meal mom will ever make again. oh darn. Maybe i'll try lumpia next time.

It's the small things that getcha!

2010-04-14T23:45:00.000-07:00

Well although I gave in to the cravings for chocolate, I must pat myself on the back. I lost 22lbs since last April. Took a year, but I did it before Cliff got back from Iraq. Just wish my wedding dress was here so i could say I could fit into it again. I do fit into my black pants from the dances. Sad to say I have those still in my closet and used them many a time for encouragement to shape up. Its just that darn pooch that slims but wont go away no matter how much I loose. It must be the chocolate. Guess I'll have to live with the pooch. Oh the joys of modern day----Hershey's. Yum. I think there is some hidden in the freezer. Gotta run!

Oh the torture of Chocolate!

2010-04-14T23:37:00.000-07:00

Well another day has closed. Each are small acts of survivial in themselves, but add up to years too quickly. Todays challenge was the Easter candy on sale at the checkout line at the commissary. They are so nice to line it up as u are in a line. Sadly I must say I failed. I bought the chocolate. Hersheys is my weakness. The only one I'll admit at least. So much for the diet, but boy was it delicious. There are always tomorrows challenges, maybe I'll suceed without the chocolate.

I know , I know

2010-04-14T23:35:00.000-07:00

I know , I know its been so long, but this wont be long. Cliff is back. Life is good. All is well. Weather is still good. ha Will actually miss the beach when we move next year. We have extended for one more yr here. Hope yal are good. catcha later.

Christmas Letter

2009-12-10T15:09:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

Well it’s the end of another year. We made it. 2010. Wow. But first, lets recap this year. Well, lets begin with dad. Clifton turned 34 last January, yep that means he’ll hit 35 soon, but anyways. He found the energy to play softball, soccer, and flag football again. He served as a cub master at church and enjoyed campouts and teaching the boys the old ways. He got a racing bicycle, but not before he left. So he still has that dream for 2010. He still considers his motorcycle his baby and loves to wash it whenever he can. Although, in August he got deployed to Iraq. He is learning or refreshing I should say his skills in medicine. He has gotten to see the other side of the world. Many countries and different landscapes from mountains to sand dunes, from extreme heat to cold, and many in betweens. He struts around fully armed and protected, gets fed lobster and steak, and flies to Germany often. He is well and likes his job there more than Hawaii, although he misses us of course. One minor flaw. He has missed out on birthdays and holidays, but we keep in touch with the internet. Gotta love it.

Kilee recently turned eight years old. This year she has increased in her desire to be a singer/dancer. She needs a lot of work, but its her dream and we are here to support her. We are sick of High School Musical, but still sing along too. Since moving onto base here she has been accepted into the gifted and talented class at this school too. It is more challenging, for mom too. They do multiplication, even though second grade isn’t really teaching big addition. She brings home cubes for mom to help her put together. Certainly a time when dad is best, but we eventually get it. Explaining how is another question. She made a toothbrush battery robot and loves to do her GT homework on the internet with grandpa. Its nice to have the added help. She is working to improve her spelling and has made friends well. All four of her top front teeth are gone, so she now can bite freely into an apple, although she still asks me to cut it. Oh well. She is truly a girly girl. She is got her ears pierced and can’t wait to wear makeup. She dreams of dressing like Hannah Montana and others. We have our work cut out for us in pleasing her and seeing her shine. She has had a few accidents from falling on skates and getting a nice shiner, to being dragged by Kowen’s bicycle while clinging to her jump rope. She is handling pain and the dark much better. No more night light. We are so proud of her.

Kandon has had a brave year. In July, he had surgery to put a plug in his ankle to help it not pronate too far and did well. He is still working to rebuild his muscles and adjust to less flexibility in his foot, but he still runs and jumps and does all the things others can do. He didn’t get to learn to play the guitar this year as his New Year’s Resoluton said, but there is always next year. He dreams of being a Rock Star too. One that can dance all over the stage. He is always moving. He is still ahead in his reading. He has found a recent love for the Magic Tree house books and I find him reading alone. Who’d a thought. Now he still finds many hours for Wii and running around crazy like, but he is a good student. He likes that he doesn’t have to take off his shoes at his new school, but hates that he has to wear only tennis shoes. “Why can’t I wear flip flips (slippers) to school, we live in Hawaii?,” he says. “Don’t worry,” I say, “you get away with it at church. “ Anyways, he has earned his candy bar from his Sunday school teacher as he memorized the first four Articles of Faith. We are very proud. He dreams of when he can play soccer, basketball, baseball on teams again. We are debating on having surgery done to his other foot. He is into Star Wars the Clone wars, nerf guns, and all Wii games to name a few. He is still skin and bones, but growing every day.

Kowen is a handful to say the least, yet a cutie pie, a wild man, a sweet boy to have at home with mom. He has found more independence and I mean freedom. He is into the wild and naked self too often. I have found him naked in the backyard on the four-wheeler, standing at the water/sand table while workers were 20 feet away, running and playing outside our old house, and watching television on the couch to name a few. He is not shy and lets himself be known. He is still the whatever older kids can do I can too boy. We have so many crazy stories added to his journal that Grandpa Emmertson says he has plenty to embarrass him with when he is older. He loves to wear costumes to the stores and even invented with brother, a new hero called Super Underwear Pants. Yep he wore underwear over his clothes, one on his head, and one in his hand as a weapon to the grocery store. And just my luck there were two families we knew there. Strangers loved to look and comment and he just loved it. He has increased his love for fruit snacks and become a picky eater. He dreams of being a superhero and famous sports athlete of any kind. It changes often. I recently cut his hair because it was long enough for pig tails and he preferred putting it up sometimes. He was so convincing as a girl, while wearing them to the store and church party, we had to give into a hair cut before he got angrier at someone who would call him a girl. He did make a cute one though,. It was kinda hard to tell. He seeks to go to school and gets frustrated , but loves to stay with mom and watch movies and have snacks. He is growing up so fast. He leaves nursery class and enters primary this January. Could it really be three years since he was born. He has never really been a baby, even though mom wants to keep him one.

I guess that leaves mom. I turned the big 30 this year. Shoosh don’t tell anyone else. It wasn’t as hard as I thought, but still where did the 10 years go. Cliff and I celebrated our tenth anniversary this year, half a world apart. What a way to celebrate! The New Year will ring four months he’s been gone. We are doing well at the home front. Kids are getting fed, homework is getting done, and there are finally kids coming out to play. Mom needs to make more room for playtime, but we are managing. We are even squeezing in a trip to Alabama. Hope it goes well! What was I thinking? Although it is more than half a year away, my mind is on what haven’t we done here, so we can check it off before we move. It’s also on, I just packed the Christmas stuff in the back of the closet, do I really want to decorate for Christmas if we’re leaving. I don’t feel I learned any new skills, but I did lose eight or so pounds and kept it off. Not as much as I need, but less than at the beginning of 2009. We also were blessed with a little foster daughter we called Ani. We loved her for six weeks and were able to hand her off to her family. We have decided to wait for another time in our lives to do foster care again, but haven’t given up the need to serve. Hawaii has been good to us this year. We still have loads of ants, but now have added lizards, centipedes, caterpillars, and hoards of roaches to our new house. Even the car has spiders and lizards, but mom manages to kill them or drive home clenched to the steering wheel as they lounge on her head-rest. Life has thrown us many adventures this year, but we are still standing and moving forward. May we all be blessed with love and laughter this next year. Ring it in well and use your time wisely. The end of 2010 will be here before you know it. We love you all! Lots of Love!
The Nowell’s Clifton, Nakeysha, Kilee, Kandon, and Kowen

Open to anyone

2009-11-22T13:37:00.001-08:00

Well I opened the blog back up to everyone. Too much of a hassle, kept forgetting password and trying to allow certain sites to view. Anyways view all. I'll try and post later, for now, know that we are surviving here and ok. Thanks

Did it again.

2009-10-12T01:12:00.001-07:00

WEll I did it again. I go to put up a few pics and spend a lot of time on many many posts. So many you have to check out other pages. Ten posts or so, all of OCT. WEll I just can't ignore the fun on camera or phone pics. This will definately be it for a while. So I'll leave with a story. WE finally made it to our new ward after a month of well can't say vacation, first mom doesn't get directions bc she can't find the powercord to the comp after the move. Thats wk one. Then Kilee and Kowen have the flu, week two. Then Mom has the flu, wk three. Then conference, wk four. Anyways, new ward, new white sacrament trays. As the boy is bringing it around kandon says, hey mom they're using ketchup cups. I had to laugh right there in sac. They use the white paper cups, not the clear plastic ones at the old ward and he thought they were ketchup cups. do look like them.

Well gotta run finally, tired of blogging. Love ya

Just plain fun for the whole family.

2009-10-12T01:02:00.000-07:00

Well this is kowen after he licked the frosting off his morning birthday cupcake n left the cake of course.

Although we didn't have a party for him, they crashed the neighbors party once they saw the huge water slide. We did take a card with money, since they said ok, can't beat cheap saturday entertainment and a way to meet the neighbors. Thanks Chloe.

There is a small gym on base with open play for money of course so i figured what the heck, one time. they had a ball literally. there was an open circle they climbed in and rolled each other back and forth on the mat. poor kowen kept falling out, but he got right back in after shaking it off. Kilee finally learned to prop herself up right and make it all around a few times. Lots of fun. Kandon even worked on his balance.

New lessons learned

2009-10-12T00:56:00.000-07:00

WEll kilee and kandon have started their new school, where uniforms are tshirts. They like not having to take off their shoes, but hate being limited to just tennis shoes.

Another trip to the zoo, and another reminder to not feed the birds. We saw this family feeding peecocks and pidgeons by hand, got our snow cone and turned around and their table was just covered w them. Oh well. now we know.

Good bye trampoline for now. Mom promised a few days, and now its been a few weeks. someday it will be up again.

Dads bitter sweet goodbye

2009-10-12T00:51:00.000-07:00

WEll goodbyes are usually tearfull, but kandon just played his nint. ds and waited til we had to go. Kowen wanted to watch until the plane was gone, witch took over 30 min to taxi out.

Dad and me, walking in the airport. And Look dad no hands while drinking. can find the fun in anything.

Kite flying with Kowen

2009-10-12T00:48:00.000-07:00

Yeah I know its sideways. just a fun day flying kite with kowen before dad called and said he was leaving a day early, so we reeled it in and checked the kids out of school for a few extra hrs with da.

More fun with dad

2009-10-12T00:36:00.000-07:00

Found some more pics of a few things we did in our 18 days or so we knew he was deploying. Ate pizza, hung around in his office, and went to the childrens discovery center, where dad liked the bubbles best.

Oh WELL!

2009-10-11T21:29:00.000-07:00

One night as I was trying to get the kids to bed, I couldn't find Kowen. I called and called and looked and was getting tired and ready for him to finish getting ready for bed. I finally found him behind the toilet, eating toothpaste, from the tube.

The kids enjoyed the last slip n slide adventure before it broke and we learned that Hickam pool will be closed til feb. Oh well.

Kilee got beat up by a 3yr old. technically. She was jumping rope along side Kowen who was riding his bike. You can already guess at what happened. She caught his training wheel, fell to the ground and he dragged her a little before she let go. He didn't even stop to ask if she was ok or come check on her when she ran inside crying. oh well.

Lots of laughs. Today we finally made it to church after a month of absence and sickness to our new ward. When the water was passed Kandon turned to me and said, " Hey mom they are using ketchup cups." I had to laugh right there. They had the old paper cups that do look like the ketchup cups from mcdonalds. Lots of laughs. Catch ya in a few months when I update again.

Black Spiderman

2009-10-11T21:25:00.000-07:00

Kowen refused to be anything else but the 20 dollar black spiderman. He refuses to think it is a bad spiderman too. Oh well. Kandon will be the white ninja from gi- joe. Storm Shadow. He decided to help with pancakes one night and kandon joined in too.

Kowen's 3

2009-10-11T20:58:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a fast 3 yrs. Kowen never really seemed like a baby. He always was the if big brother can do it so can I, kind of boy. He potty trained the earliest several months ago. He scootered down hill at 18 mths old and has been jumping off anything around. He wanted a spiderman cake for his birthday and mom couldn't find a pan on the island for it so i turned an oval into a spiderman. I stayed up past midnight deciding late that I should have done it earlier. He loved it plus the spider cake and cupcakes. Big boy is growing up.

And He's Off

2009-10-11T19:55:00.000-07:00

Well we got dad off after a few things like one last jump on the trampoline, one last motorcycle wash and ride, some wii games, a disappointing night at chilli's restaurant, and a lot of rushing around. He did get his shoes delivered to him while in line at the airport. So he was all set. We rushed to the terminal and no one cried until we said time to go and kowen had to run back around in line with dad and cry and cry and cry. So naturally mom had to fight it, a few tears. Then we waiting a long time for his plane to finally take taxi out and kowen goes and hides in the bathroom, right there in terminal, because he doesn't want his daddy to leave. Oh well. All is well now.

Last post

2009-07-31T00:17:00.000-07:00

Well for final post here is Ani. We had her 6 wks and she was a joy. Kowen enjoyed Gulf Shores with the cousins and the kids enjoyed dad and ice on the trampoline. Without looking Kowen ended up naked, but they had a lot of fun. Well this will have to satisfy, the movie is almost over. Thanks, Catch up later.

Fun times

2009-07-30T23:59:00.000-07:00

Well Kowen setttled for the the kiddie rides after some kicking n screaming, mom enjoyed driving all kids around, and around and around the track and Kandon and others loved the wall climbing and space attractions at Ripleys Wonderworks.

Dollywood

2009-07-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

Just a few pics of our vacation in Pidgeon Fordge, Dollywood, TN. Swam in a river on the side of a road, paid a man in a suit to take a pick and saw beautiful mountains, deer on the side of the road, and rode lots of rides. Great fun with Grandpa and Aiti.

Ok Pics for Jeni and others

2009-07-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

Well per request from Jeni, I'm trying to multi -task posting here and your RS blog then Watch Marle and me too. So here it goes. Hawaii is fine Jeni, so if ya get the chance try it. Especially if ya love the beach if ya don't then don't i guess. Military flights are the only way to get off economically which is ok in the summer. But beautiful and great weather. Anyways. We are gettting closer to moving on base, a smaller 3 bed though so we decided not to do foster care for a little bit. Kowen's big thing this week is he learned to say "Oh my Gosh." so cute. School started today so Hallelujah or however u spell it. Kandon's bummed because here you can't get on the grass without covered shoes and so his cast, open toes, no playing for him for 2 more weeks. Oh and has the strictest teacher. When I left them it is so funny to watch them at school and like a deer in headlights, don't leave mom. Of course Kowen is doing everything he can to take off his shoes too and go to school. We settled to just use the big boy bathroom by himself. Kilee asked for her tooth to be pulled by the dentist and after more than 18months of loose not loose loose, so close, to oh just pull the darn thing. She will need braces anyways. Well let me get some pics in here. Hope all is well with others.

Just Letting U know we are alive n well

2009-07-25T21:45:00.000-07:00

Well, no pics this time just updating bc i'm here and doing it. Its been a long time. Well made it another year of school with kids. Kilee passed to second and Kandon to first hooray. They start next week another hooray for other reasons. We visited mom and dad in Ala. after landing in Knoxville, Tn and touring Dollywood and other places, seeing the mountains. It was a lovely trip. We are glad to see our family and get another Kids picture made with all their cousins. Took over 150 poses with all families and found only a few we liked. Just one group in paticular where everyone was decent but at least we had that one. Well before we left for the states we passed our first and only Foster child to her aunt and uncle. We called her Ani. She was beautiful. WE decided to postpone any others bc we found it hard to go to all the meetings and ask others to watch kowen who wasn't allowed. So we felt we were burdening others and will try it later.
We put poor Kandon through surgery on his foot. We got a plug/screw put in to hold up his bones so he wouldn't be so flat footed and it cause hip problems. So he has been in a cast for 2 wks and has 4 more. Well techincally this is his second cast bc first one lasted only 4 half days before we soaked it and now he has a waterproof cast that we paid a little for. He got it on tues. , Wed we went to the pool and it already ripped up the side abt 2 inches. oh well. rough on it. maybe they will patch it.
Cliff is in singapore on a short mission, but doing well.
It is hot here but nothing like the south, so i shouldn't complain.
WE are still waiting to see if we move on base in the next month or two. Other than that. We are well and bored. Hope everyone is also well. Glad to see everyones new babies are fine and darling. Wish the best. Love Nowell's

I know a lot of posts huh!

2009-03-23T02:05:00.001-07:00

Well when I finally get around to posting I guess I post a lot. Sorry gotta give the family something to look at since so far away. Got more so May be soon may be a long time. We got licensed to be foster parents so we are just waiting for a baby. Wish us luck. We are in the excited, yet what the heck have we gotten ourselves into stage. WE got a call a few weeks ago and were getting twin 4 day old girls, but a few hrs later they called to say they found family. Oh well. Both boys, Kandon and Cliff, first thing said, was oh no , I guess we'll be outnumbered now. Anyways, Life is going ok here. Kandon finally lost his first tooth today. First thing I heard this morning was it was loose, all day today, "I like my life with a loose tooth." Had to laugh. That lasted til about 5pm or so when he did something and it was bleeding so I told him to go get a towel from dad, and next thing I know, dad yanked it out. That reminds me, I gotta go so the toothfairy can come. Best Wishes for all, Love ya lots!

Kissing Good-bye

2009-03-23T01:56:00.000-07:00

Well we said good-bye from wal-mart after eating at the McDonalds or mackdon awks as kowen says. Kowen Kisses them good-bye and we had to take several pics with Aiti til her eyes stayed open. Then when they walked off from the store Kowen cried, but we made it out and everyone even got something to make them feel better, thanks Aiti and Gpa, hope to see ya again. Mahalo for everything. And Yes I cut my hair, but I didn't like it. It felt like a mullet. Ha, so I cut it again, and well that's what I get for cutting my hair. Sorry no pics of the newer hair cut.

Waikiki beach

2009-03-23T01:46:00.000-07:00

Well Aiti got us to Waikiki beach for the first time. Kowen took her for a walk to the big sand castle down the way. We went to the zoo, the crossed the street to the beach and the kids got in with their clothes on.

Kowen was wanting to go out all the way to the wall like sister and bro because it was shallow and no waves but mom said no since mom didn't have a change of clothes in the car like they did.

Grandpa had fun checking in with work and watching everyone. We then ate out and took them home to bed. Aiti and Gpa that is, the time change got them so bad, naps and early nights for them.

Zoo and stockings

2009-03-23T01:13:00.000-07:00

We took Aiti and Gpa to the Honolulu zoo. Kids love it. Especially when Grandpa buys food there, and icees and whatever else they want. Kids got to finally see the 3 baby tigers there were born, lots of peacocks walking around freely, we finally got to get a good glimpse of the ilusive cheetah, and mom saw a first, tiger throwing up. Interesting heaving and everything, poor tiger.

Aiti washed Grandpa's pants without checking the pockets. Oh well, they dry in the sun with a little help from a hair drier. Kids loved it.

Kowen had to put on Aiti's stockings again and pose like sister was. He did this as a babe when we lived with her and he'd find her stockings around the house. He has been passie free for the last month or so. This is and old pic from Feb. 6th.

Kilee started posing on the blanket, don't know where she gets it from, Kandon wanted in the pic and any cost.

Sea Life Park

2009-03-22T21:57:00.001-07:00

WE got to Kiss and Dance with the Dolphins, one with a sore on its mouth. It was also fun to see in a different pool, A dolphin pee while swimming with a trainer, yuk. but memorable.

Feeding the turtles has to be Kowen's Favorite, since turtle was his first word.

Chuck E Cheese2

2009-03-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

Kandon spent most of his coins pretending on a motorcycle race game. Dad also liked the game when he tried to help Kowen, but Kowen got bored bc dad was playing that he climbed on the other empty motorcycle and pretended.

Chuck E Cheese

2009-03-22T21:34:00.000-07:00

Tradition of taking kids to Chuck E Cheeses when potty trained continued with Kowen even though he isn't yet. But hopes to be soon. He goes when he wants to, when reminded, when desires candy, and his new thing this week is if he gets to pee standing up.

They didn't eat much, burned through the coins fast, but had a lot of fun.

Thanks Aiti and Grandpa. I'll Be a big boy soon!

At The Beach

2009-03-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

We went to Hickam base beach because it is less crowded. Grandpa relaxed on the sand and at a table, they enjoyed not getting in the freezing water, but the kids couldn't stay out. Kandon found a small sand crab while digging a whole. We put it in the bucket and it disappeared, but we either found it or another one later. The boys looked so cute walking down the beach with their buckets I had to take pics.

Following brother's footsteps down the beach. Where he goes I go.

Mom tried to make a nice pic for the wall or Christmas cards in February. Will try it without the date on the camera feature next time.

Polynesian Cultural Center

2009-03-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

We took Aiti and Gpa to Polynesian Cultural Center where the LDS Church has a theme park of different islands around here and their culture games, homes, dances. Kowen didn't like the food, but loved to smear icing on his face and climb back and forth under the table.

He also loved to use the binoculars, even after he broke them to pieces and tried to put them together again to see the Tongan show not 7 small rows ahead. Definitely the funniest show there.

In Tonga area Kilee learned to make a leaf toy, while the boys threw spears, well dull ones anyway.

This is a Tongan show guy who climbed the high tree for coconuts. I didn't believe he could til I saw it. So fast up and so fast down. I thought he was going to fall..

Grandpa and Aiti Visit

2009-03-22T18:28:00.000-07:00

We were so glad to have Aiti and Grandpa visit. We saw many things and taught them some too. The kids enjoyed showing them the Wii. Kilee enjoyed beating Aiti in Bowling. Kandon beat Grandpa in golf. Kowen got to play ball inside the house with grandpa and enjoyed eating Mini-Wheats everyday again. Something they enjoyed when we lived with them.

Kowen got into the Wii and enjoyed screaming "Yeah". It was fun to play.

Chinatown

2009-02-01T19:31:00.000-08:00

I finally got to go on a trip with Kandon for school. They went to Chinatown and were suppose to try different foods, but the only thing I could get them to eat was a shaved ice. They weren't even interested in the farmers market with a head of a pig. They just kept saying, "Is it time to go back to the bus yet." Oh well. I tried not to point out the homeless mand with no pants pushing a cart by, a hooker who said she wanted to be a kindergardener too, and the transvestite on the corner. Love kids field trips. Didn't know they could be so educational.

Playground

2009-02-01T19:25:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed taking our neighbor friends to the bases here on Hawaii. They are the only places to find swings, so they were glad to swing. It is always nice to have extra kids to play with my kids while I watch.

New Year

2009-02-01T19:17:00.000-08:00

New years in Hawaii is always interesting. The amount of fireworks is amazing. For a place where flying fireworks are illegal, it sure is lit up with them. By 8pm the smoke is thick and by midnight there is no chance of seeing any fireworks or your yard for that matter.

We also rang in Cliff's 34th birthday with a few card games with the neighbors and a Wii remote cake. Love ya.

Woo -Hoo they loved lighting their own fireworks and staying up late.