I Don't Know Where to Start..........

I need two hours at least. Hopefully Sunday.

Life is good. We are all happy!

Ryan got a new job as the Head Cross Country Coach and Distance coach for Kahuku High School. He will now be substitute teaching full time and unfortunately will have to quit Turtle Bay to make this all work. He is truly living a dream though. He is also starting a 5 race running series this weekend to get him ready for the Honolulu Marathon in December.

Staci is loving school and very busy with life. I am working out about 1-1.5 hours 5 days a week and feel amazing. The problem is it makes me hungry sometimes. Anyways, I love being a mom and being involved in the kids schools and activities. I am the Soccer Mom for Alissa's team! I am realizing I really need to study more and did not do so hot on my first biology test. This was also a first, a bad test grade. Oh well, my family is a lot more important to me anyways. I have been fighting a cold recently and can not wait for it to go away so I can stop being so tired. I feel so lucky to be in Hawaii and so blessed to have a wonderful husband and children.

Alissa is a social butterfly. She loves to read books and is a math whiz! She also is enjoying play dates with friends and growing up. Sometimes I really wonder how a five year old can be so spirited! I love her for it though! She is so spunky and exciting! Alissa just started soccer practise and will be taking dance classes in September. I miss having a piano to try to teach her on, because she really misses piano. Alissa also loves to sing, she will walk around the house singing songs. She is kind of going through a Barbie phase also. The best part is that Alissa is already dreaming of her birthday party. She is definitely always up for a party!

Kenzie started preschool and is doing great. I have to admit he is a little off the wall most of the time but is learning to sit still. He has so much energy and is a very happy kid. I was surprised to hear his teacher tell me yesterday that he is very strong willed. I turned to her and said, "Then you would probably be surprised to know that he is my most mellow child." She was shocked and decided I must have my hands full. I definitely have my hands full but they are full of wonderful children who truly know who they are and don't question it. They keep life full and busy with great joy. Anyways, Kenzie is still very inventive and creative. He loves to just sit and build things whenever he can. He loves to be a knight and fight or to learn crazy facts about weird reptiles and animals. Kenzie is also very helpful. He loves to help Taft with getting ready and help0 others.

Taft is now 2 and it is about time. This kid has such a great vocabulary that I have been asked if he was 2 now for several months. He is now potty trained and does such a good job of telling us when he has to go potty. He is very independent and loves to get dressed himself also. He really is growing up and so fun to be with. His favorite phrase right now is, "See, I told you so." He loves being the baby and giving everyone lots of hugs and kisses.

Well, I figured I would give an update on the newest member of our immediately family since I was updating anyways.

Mema is just finishing out things in Utah and will be here a week from today. We are so excited to have her in our family and can not wait for her to be here and see all the fun she has been missing. I have to say the thing the kids miss most is her imagination. They always ask to play all of the fun games she makes up with them and then reply that it is not the same without her. We truly miss having her around and can not wait to see her soon!

Wii Have Been Found!!

On any given afternoon this is what our house looks like. We used to have about nine kids over at a time and now we are up to at least fourteen. All of these kids live in the three houses next to us. They recently discovered our Wii and have been coming over everyday to play. In fact, I came home yesterday to them waiting on our porch. A few of them even have called me mom before. I love it because some of the other neighborhood kids feel welcome now too. I am teaching them that we do not swear or say mean things in this house and that we are always kind to each other. It has been such a great experience to have them all around. Today in fact we spent 2 1/2 hours learning to make pizza and they each got to make their own. All 14 of them. I love that they feel comfortable around us and that we can offer them a bit of a loving safe haven from some of the things they experience in their life. I feel so thankful to Heavenly Father for guiding us to this house!

Sabbath Day

Today was wonderful! Ryan was able to come with us to all of church. Usually he is only able to attend Sacrament Meeting. He was so happy!! At church they sang to Taft in opening exercises of Primary because his birthday is on Friday! He was so excited and dancing in the front of the Primary Room. He got a pencil, picture of Jesus with the Articles of Faith, a fruit roll and a handshake from a member of the Bishopric. I can not believe my baby is turning to this week! After we went out to our house common area and the kids played on the beach while I sat and watched the waves. It was so relaxing. As for tomorrow, school starts for Kenzie and Alissa

so we came home and got their supplies and clothes laid out because I will be at class in the morning while Ryan gets them ready for school. Since he is at work tonight we will be doing Father's Blessings in the morning. I am so thankful for my life and how blessed I am. Although I have crazy moments, my life is soo good!

Babysitting Group

I am surprised that these are all the pictures I had. I am going to try and start posting more pictures because this was like 3 or 4 weeks ago. We started a group here of three families ranging from 3-4 kids each and rotate each week watching all 10 kids so that the other two couples can go out. It is great 1 week watching all three kids and two weeks going out without paying for a babysitter. I have had so much fun with all these kids! They are all so sweet and fun to be with. I have only watched them all once so far but this week is my week again and I can not wait for them to come! The best part was when we played in pudding!