ALOHA COUSINS!

Hawaii 2012

Our Family wrapped up the Summer of 2012 with a trip to Hawaii.  It was the highlight of the boys year, to be sure!  This trip was an incredible gift to us from my Dad and Step-Mom.  Here are a few pictures of our little Party of Five before all of our boy cousins descended upon the shores of Oahu, making it a party of 15...

U.S.S. Arizona Memorial

Diamond Head

Brody's first encounter with the warm waters of Hawaii 

Lots of laughter

Catching crabs with Dad in the tidepools

Exploring a cave

Our Sunset Cruise

The highlight of the catamaran cruise was when I overheard Caleb telling the Captain of the boat, "My Mom decided to follow Christ for the rest of her life when she was on a Catamaran in Hawaii 20 years ago."  Caleb looked up to find me smiling at him and gave me this smile right back.  The Captain changed the subject.

Aloha

The 4th

The kids had so much fun this 4th of July.  We were so excited to have Cousin Alex with us for the fun, and she kept saying, "Aunt Wendy, you have so many fun activities for us this holiday!"  Here's a glimpse of our fun.

Water and Reading

It's all about water and reading for Caleb this summer.  He's so strong and becoming such a sweet helper too.  He's absolutely consuming books this summer.  I must get us in the habit of going to the library!

Below is a picture of our voracious reader the night he camped out on our bed 

and read until 10:30pm.  That was the night he finished 

Call of the Wild and began on Ryan and Rusty.

1st Place!

I'm known to incentivize my children with competitions and prizes.  For example, yesterday at the swimming beach I said to the boys, "Whoever's the first to swim out to the diving dock, way out there, and jump off will get a prize when we get home."  Now, I must add that there is sea weed and algae here at the lake, which can be pretty icky.  But not icky enough to detour my youngest from running head-long into the water and being the first to the dock.

PICTURE OF THE DAY!

Asher also always takes first place by being our best helper around the house.
His joyful, hardworking nature, is so much fun for us.
It doesn't matter if it's sweeping the porch,
washing a car, shoveling gravel,
or vacuuming.

My Toothless Wonder!

We have a very happy six year old up at the lake this Summer.  Not only has he avoided yellow-jackets thus far, but he's been a super reader, had Nana make him his whole name in pancake letters, gone faster and bounced higher with more joy on the inner-tube than any other child I've ever known, and... he's lost his two front teeth.


I'm calling Brody my Toothless Wonder these days!

SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER

JUMPING INTO SUMMER -- 2012!  

We officially have a third grader, a first grader, and a Pre-K'er!