The Polynesian Cultural Center

Amanda and I have both been here before but Mike and Bobby wanted to come and we thought that the kiddos would enjoy it too, so we decided to forgo yesterday's nap and head to the PCC!

Nora was our tour guide, she inherited her great directional skills from her momma, hehe.

We all tried to make fire the way the Samoans do it. It wasn't as easy as it looked.

I was concentrating very hard....

and putting all my strength i it...

but it just didn't work. i was sad.

we made fish out of palm leaves

the figi dancers were scary. that middle man could *CRUSH* you!

HRB was mesmerized

Good Family Photo!

Daddy, we gotta get outta here! he's gonna get me!

sizing each other up

what you lookin' at?

ooohh... nice stick! where can i get one of those!

Holden *HEARTS* Bobby. the rest of us are chopped liver.

just look at this happy girl

like i said...although he does get the best view from uncle bobby's tall shoulders

The float parade

getting kisses from Daddy

Ice Cream!

FUN DAY!

Wow! Wow...Wow!

...the word of the night from my sweet, tired and in-awe little girl.

on the 4th, Mike and I spent the morning with our children eating breakfast and hanging out as a family--which was awesome. May i just say here how GREAT it is to have my family back together.

While the kids napped, i went to pick up our friends Amanda and Bobby Rackley at the airport. Amanda and I went to Meredith College together and she and Bobby were married this past December--you may remember my post about her wedding. Anyway, i picked them up and we stopped and picked up a yummy kalua pork pizza from Big Kahuna's and went home to drop off their suitcases, eat some lunch and wait for the kiddos to wake up.

Once the kids were awake we all loaded up and went to Schofield Barracks to enjoy the 4th festivities, east some more yummy food and watch fireworks with some great friends. As usual, the kids were great even though it rained on us twice and they were up way past their bedtime. I was a little worried about how Nora would act with the loud fireworks, but she loved them...she was tired and stayed cuddle up next to me while she watched them but she loved them all the same and kept repeating in varying degrees of loudness--WoW!

It was a great day. One of my favorite days of the year.

with the love of my life

gotta be us, ya know?
you guys ready for this?

shave ice

getting his hair painted

the end result

playing on the wagon...give her brother a mean sideways glance

happy.family

amanda and me

the crowd and the cool sky

watching fireworks with our faves

Happy Fourth!

We've been celebrating all weekend, having fun as a family and enjoying lots of summer activities.
The fourth is always special for Mike and I--it's our dating anniversary (13 years this year!), which is silly maybe, but it's still my most favorite anniversary to celebrate--it's a chance to celebrate being an American and our freedom, and it's the epitome of summer--relaxing, parades, beaches, lakes, carnivals, fairs, friends, good food and fireworks. We love it.

A Bellows Kind of Day

After laying in bed debating on the best way to spend our Saturday for entirely WAY TOO LONG...followed by a facebook status poll, we found ourselves over at Bellows AFB to spend some quality time in the sun. But alas, we got all of our things up and out on the beach just in time for the sun to hide away and the rain to come out. My heart sank then my stubborness burst forth as i sat in my beach chair and hid under my towel with just my eyes poking out so i could watch the babies play in the sand, not even noticing the cold and rain. Then...when all seemed lost, the sun came out to stay and it turned out to be a very beautiful day. Sometimes you just gotta weather the bad weather to get to the good weather, ya know?

big girl putting daddy's sunscreen on

happy boy

brother helps tooloves playing with daddy in the oceanhey mom!keeping daddy's chair warmmy boys they only stayed like this for a moment...they aren't really into sharing small spaces. guess 9 months was more than enough for them ;)

one of my most faves..just look at that sass in her walkwith my sweeties

Friday Flick

Smart Boy