Hawaii 2012

We have just returned from a wonderful eight day trip to the beautiful garden Island of Kauai. Our kind, very generous neighbors provided us with another trip this year back to their beautiful condo on Kauai. Below is us arriving at the airport. We were greeted with shell leis. Don't we look happy! Our first whole day there we did some sight seeing. Behind us is one of Kauai's beautiful water falls.

A closer look.

Above is us with our friends and another couple they had invited. It was fun to meet them and now they are our friends too. We are standing in front of an old cute church near the bird refuge and light house. Below is Kim in front of the light house.

Below is me on the linai of the St. Regis Hotel overlooking the beautiful Hanalei Bay.

Another cute church. Below is Kim and I overlooking a terro field. They make poi from terro.

All of us.

I had never hit a golf ball in my life until this trip. Now I have done that although I don't think I'm very good at it. It was still fun.

Kim on the other hand used to play a lot when he was younger and it all came back to him.

Kim and I on the beautiful Condo grounds.

At the beach. I luv, luv, luv the beach. There was some great snorkeling at this one.Kim and some of our friends also tried the standing paddle boards. Kim was a natural and did so good. He loved it.

Every morning I would get up at first light and go for a walk along the beach. It is so peaceful when no one else is on the beach. There was a little shop across the street that sold cinnamon rolls. It became my morning routine to go for a walk, then get a cinnamon roll and eat it on the beach.

I also love the ocean. This is a hike we took at Mahalapu.

A little frog.

We had a bonfire at the beach at sunset. So fun!

More hiking.

Below is Shipwreck Beach.

One of the many beautiful sunsets.

The wild chickens were everywhere. As well as their little broods.

breakfast at the beach.

Dinner by the beach.

Got this beautiful rainbow on one of my morning walks.

The beach at Kalipaki.

We went canoe surfing and it was so fun!!!

Kim had to do more stand up paddle boarding.

We saw many whales, sea turtles, exotic fish, crabs, frogs, chickens, and one eel. It was hard to come home to real life.

Happy Birthday and Toes and Fingers

January is April's birthday month. We have had some fun celebrating it. On her birthday I took her to lunch at Olive Garden. Yum! Then that night Annie decided to take April along with all her sisters and mom to Bucca's for dinner. Yum again. We had such a fun night together visiting and laughing so thanks Annie for making April's birthday so fun for all of us.

After dinner we came home and had cake and presents. Below is April and her cute little girls.

At Sunday dinner today we celebrated April's birthday with all the family minus a couple of people that couldn't be there due to illness. We had another fun party!

This past week me, Alyse, Annie, and April had fun using our gift certificates that we had gotten for Christmas. I got a pedicure and the girls all got nails. It was fun to do it together.

Basketball!

I have enjoyed going to some of my grandsons basketball games. They have been really fun to watch. Both boys are getting to be good players. Below is Mr. M number 24. Go #24!

Below is Mr. H he is number 5. Go #5!

Have a great season!

Remembering Becky

Becky and I met when we were 15 years old and became such good friends! We were friends all though High School and College. We were bridesmaids at each others weddings. We got married within six months of each other and had our first babies within six months of each other. We have remained friends all these many years taking each other to lunch for our birthdays, seeing each other or at least keeping in touch at Christmas, and chatting on the phone a few times a year. Becky made beautiful flower arrangements and I have counted ten of them that I have decorating my home. Every time I look at them I think of her. My dear friend Becky passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 23, 2011 from a stroke. I am so grateful one of her daughters called me to let me know about her passing. I am a better person for having known her. I will miss her greatly and cherish our friendship always!

Happy Birthday Annie and Happy New Year

Last week Annie celebrated her 19th birthday! My baby only has one last year left as a teenager. Below is our little family gathering to celebrate with her on the evening of her birthday. We had a fun little party. Earlier in the day I took her to lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. YUM!

Annie with her little red velvet bunt cake.

Last Sunday we had a double celebration as we celebrated New Years Day and Annie's birthday with all the family. Fun, Fun! A big thank you to her sister Jenn for making her a chocolate cake that was just Divine!

On New Years Eve lucky Alyse got to have a date all day and into the night to celebrate the coming of the new year.

The little cuties below had fun celebrating the new year.

None of the kids made it to midnight. (Probably a good thing) But they went to bed celebrating.

Happy New Year everyone! I hope the year will bring peace and prosperity to us all!