High Flying Riley

Check out this high flyer.

All that flying business is tiring.  Riley is so tired he can't even close his eyes all the way.  ;) 

My Mom

Happy Mother's Day!  

I am so grateful for the strong women in my life.  My Mom is on the top of that list.  She is beautiful and amazing.  

 She has often been my advocate especially in regards to my schooling.  She has always stood up for me and worked to help me succeed.  It was a comfort to know that even as I struggled that my Mom was behind me to help me along.  

I know I would not have completed my schooling if it wasn't for her pushing me forward.  

 She is very generous and thoughtful.  She often goes out of her way to try and fulfill a need that she sees.  Where I always wonder what to do to the point nothing gets done she always know just what to do.  She is always doing things for her Grandchildren, all of us, and others that she see the need for.  

She is creative and detail oriented.  I wish I had gotten her detailed thinking.  When I was younger she would sew us matching outfits.  Sewing, crafts, and so much more.  She is so creative and really thinks of everything.  From the lessons she teaches, to the food she cooks, to the centerpiece and crafts she makes.  She will have a dinner prepared, a centerpiece to match the occasion and even individual goodies or activities depending on the circumstance.  I admire how every detail is thought of and executed beautifully.  

There are so many wonderful qualities my Mom possesses and I am unable to adequately describe all that I feel for my Mom.  Bottom line.......my Mom is amazing!  

I am so grateful for the years of care, love and example she has set.  I am grateful for her continuing strength that she lends me.  I love you Mom.  Happy Mother's Day!

PHS Arts Festival 2012

Friday night was the Pacific Horizons Arts Festival.  It is an evening where all the classes get to perform and show off their talents.  Typically each class represents a different culture.  This year we saw dances and a skit or two.  Here are the boys before their performances.  

Love this pictures of Skyler with two of his classmates.  

 Skyler's class danced a Samoan Siva.  In Samoa the dancers are showered with money and it was hilarious to watch Skyler.

Brady's class sang a song in different languages. 

Alec's class performed a Filipino dance.  He was so funny because he "had to dance with a girl!"  Good thing he is good friends with all the girls so it wasn't too awkward.
Now if he would have just smiled!  ;)

Micah's class studied China earlier in this year so their dance was a Dragon dance.  They did very well.    

Chicken Fight

 I just came across this picture from a swim day in January and had to share it.  .   How's this for a chicken fight?  This is what happens when you have all boys.  Oh, yeah and don't kid yourself... Jason tried to get Skyler up on top too!  Crazy days.  

Tiare's Day

This past Friday I was able to help celebrate my cousin Tiare's 14th Birthday.  Her Mom threw her an awesome birthday party.  It was a beautiful set up. 

I helped with the party games.  We did some Survivor themed games complete with team buffs.  The first game was to determine team captains.  The four there at the beginning had to find as many worms (gummy worms) as they could in mud (chocolate pudding and oreo crumbs) using only their mouths.  It was hilarious watching this.

  

Once we had the team captains and teams picked they received their first clue to the Hidden Prize Idol.  The first clue was: 

A hidden idol you must find

Only if you use your mind

Where you hear the water flow

White flowered tree where Monarchs grow.

All the clues were like this and the girls ran around trying to find the answer and the next clue.  Between clues we played other games that included an obstacle course and a puzzle relay.  The games were fun and each team won one of those games which made it necessary to have a tie breaker.  To break the tie we had 2 people from each team search for worms and the winner takes all.   In the end boths teams won something.  

"Team Better than You" found the Hidden Prize Idol 

and "Team Win" won the most points to win the games.  

The food was delicious too!  There were hot wings and little pizzas, and then the good stuff, a chocolate fountain, fruit to dip, cookies and cupcakes.  Everything looked so nice and tasted even better. 

 Check out these chocolate dipped marshmallows that Auntie Cathie made!

 Mmmm mmmmm..... good!

Tiare has a great group of friends and they were so fun.  Such characters.  The girls got some swimming time after all the games and food.

 "Happy Birthday dear Tiare!  Happy Birthday to you!"

It was a great day for a great party with great friends provided by a wonderful Mom.  Everyone including the birthday girl looked like they were having fun.

Happy Birthday Tiare!

Ever been on a real Coast Guard Boat?

Yesterday was our Flag Day.  We were going to start our day clearing the land in Tafeta.  We were ready to go and listening to the radio when we heard that as part of the Flag Day celebration the US Coast Guard Cutter was in port and they were open to the public from 9am-3pm.  How fun?  We decided to go and we had a great time.

 We had a very nice gentleman (Ian) give us a tour and it was just our family.  He showed us all around and telling us some of the things they do.

 He took us up to the bridge and we spend a lot of time looking out of the binoculars and other equipment there.  I wish I had gotten a picture of one of the boys in the Captain's chair but  thought I might be taking too many liberties with that.  It was cool though.

 The boys are trying to see what was floating in the harbor and Skyler was just trying to see out the window.  ;)

 Riley got to use his sea legs too a bit.  Not as much as he wanted to though.

 He then took us to the flight deck.  Okay I may have these names all wrong so sorry.  While we were there they were working on the helicopter.  We were there watching them work when one of them came and asked if we wanted to sit inside the helicopter.  The boys were so thrilled.  I got a picture of each on of them in the chair.

 

I know, I was too close and you can't tell they are in a helicopter!  The guys said, "Just don't push any of the red buttons".  Oh boy,  that is like saying..."Push it!  Push it!"  I was trying to take pictures fast  so we could get out of their way and there wasn't any place to back up.  Cool memory even though the pictures don't show it all.  So fun.  

 We saw where Ian worked and some of the firefighting gear they had on board.  Then Ian took us to the galley so the boys could have a drink.  I offered the boys help to wash dishes but we weren't taken up on that offer.

Everyone had a good time and thought the whole tour was so awesome.  Skyler even woke up this morning saying, "That boat was awesome!" 

 Thank you so much to the US Coast Guard for making that experience available to us and thank you to Ian (and the helicopter guys) for their time in showing us so many neat things.