Ethan's First Baseball Game in Hawaii!

Today Ethan had his first baseball game. Deryck got suckered in and is helping coach the Cardinals (suprise). Each kid gets 3 pitches from their coach (Deryck) and then hit off a tee if they don't succeed. Ethan did wonderful! He was at the pitcher position the first inning and one picture will show him throwing to first base. The last picture will be of Ethan's big hit! The last inning, he launched one Deryck pitched...it was amazing! And yes, I was "that" mom this morning...a very proud, loud baseball mom!

Our First Hawaii Camping Trip!

On Tuesday after Christmas, we decided to go camping at Bellows Air Station. It is no longer a strategic air base, just for recreation for the public and military personnel. It has become one of our most favorite beaches because of it's beautiful sand and easy going waves. The kids love it there. We had a wonderful time cooking out cheeseburgers for dinner and smores! The first picture with me (Shan) and the kids is our sunrise the next morning. We have come to the conclusion that we are going to have to do this more often!

Extra Christmas Pics

Santa

Santa arrived, gulped down some homemade cookies (see previous post), poured some warm milk down the drain, and left a couple really neat big kid bikes for the E and Rae. Ethan was outgrowing his bike and Rae was ready to move on from the tricycle. She got a Disney princess bike that you would think was plated in gold she is so proud of it! Thank goodness we live in an amazing place so we can ride bikes year round!

~Traditions~

Ever since I was a little girl I can remember making tons of Christmas cookies for the holidays. Sugar cookies, toffee bars, spritz, almond cresents...you name it, we probably made it. My mom would help Court and I with such patience. I'm glad all those years I paid attention. I'm thinking it was my Mom's careful instruction that prevented me from botching my first cookie making experience with Ethan and Rae. Attached are pictures of us enjoying a wonderful time together. Thanks Mom.

COMPANY!!!! We have COMPANY!!!

We were super excited to pick up Deryck's brother Nate, his wife Leah, and their 3 kids from the airport on Thursday! So far we have hit the beach a couple times and enjoyed a little site seeing up at Pali lookout and around Kailua. I'm pretty sure we are headed to Pearl Harbor tomorrow to see the USS Arizona and some other stuff. Brady and Elayna have really picked up boogie boarding. Paul isn't a huge fan of the beach, but he is a great baby and happy as long as he isn't in the water. We are having a wonderful time (as you will see from our photos!)

~Surfs Up~

I LEARNED TO SURF YESTERDAY!!!! I have made a few friends through Deryck's work and they took me out yesterday to a local Navy beach and taught me! After figuring out how to catch a wave (and after not catching a bunch of them), I got up to my knees on my first one. Then, I caught about 5 more over the course of the afternoon and rode them in standing up! It was VERY fun, but exhausting. My arms and shoulders are a little sore today, but not as bad as my bruised hip bones and rib cage. I can't wait to get out a try it again! The pics are from far away, but that is me!

P.S. For some reason these pics are not very figure flattering. I'm a little appalled that I actually posted them. I promise I haven't gained 20 pounds since arriving in Hawaii. :-)