Valentine's Day Candy Making

In February of this year Kyle was in Korea on a mini deployment.  This meant that it was just me and the kids on Valentine's Day.  I thought it would be the perfect time for us to finally make the candy that Kyle had gotten them the Valentine's Day a year earlier.  It's about time right?  So we cleared the counter and set out the candy molds, making sure to divvy it all up evenly between the two of them.

The kids really enjoyed decorating their candy molds with different colored chocolate.  I think that more chocolate would have been better but thats just me :)  They were both being little hams for the camera that day.

Little Diva

His candies were much more detailed than Hailey's...he's a perfectionist

The kids and I had a great time making the chocolates.  The only thing missing was Kyle.

Pro Bowl Madness Take Two

Although we had a great time at Pro Bowl last year, we didn't intend on getting tickets for this year's game.  One of Kyle's coworkers entered a contest to win tickets and passes to a pre game party.  She decided not to go and offered the tickets to Kyle.  We figured out a babysitter and headed to Aloha Stadium the morning of the Pro Bowl.  The pre game party was sponsored by Bud Light Lime and featured live music, free drinks and food, and a meet and greet with some of the cheerleaders and football players.

The inside of the VIP tent

Kyle and the Eagles and Buccaneers Cheerleaders

Me and the Eagles Cheerleader

Kyle and one of the Pro Football Players

During the Pre Game Party they had groups of Hawaiian dancers come out to perform.  After they did their own dance they came into the crowd and collected partners to dance with and Kyle quickly volunteered me to dance with a man that was a doppleganger for The Rock.  I got up and danced with everyone but afterwards I was thoroughly embarrassed since I am not a fan of getting in front of people.  Embarrassed or not I am glad I did it.

Me and the Rock look alike

Once it got closer to kickoff we headed back across the street to Aloha Stadium.  We caught up with some friends of ours and managed to all sit together to watch the game.  The game was actually pretty exciting since it went back and forth quite a bit.  We were pulling for the NFC and our friends were pulling for the AFC.  It made the competition that much more exciting.  The halftime show consisted of members of every branch of the military taking the field in formations.  It was quite a display.

In the end, the AFC beat the NFC 59-41.  It is just an exhibition game after all.  It was a fun unexpected time at our second and probably last Pro Bowl.

Hailey's 5th birthday

This January our baby girl turned five years old.  This was a big birthday for her.  She had been waiting to turn five so she could start school.  If it were up to her she would have started kindergarten that very day but alas that is not how it works.  She thought it was a great injustice that she would have to wait another 7 months to begin going to kindergarten.  We decided to take Hailey and Alec to Chuck E Cheese for lunch.  It has become sort of a tradition to take them to Chuck E Cheese for their birthdays.

She got her own special birthday hat

Alec was more interested in playing the games but Hailey liked to ride on all of the rides.  After we were done at Chuck E Cheese we went to head home so that I could get her gifts ready.  I had her convinced that the trip was her present and she wasn't getting anything else for her birthday.   Later that evening we had dinner and then had cake.  I decided to be a little untraditional and get a cookie cake instead of a regular cake.  Hailey was a big fan.

While she was eating her cake I snuck her gifts into the living room.  She was extremely surprised that she had presents to open!

New Barbie clothes

Dancing because she got the movie Tangled

Surprised by her new scooter

The day was a huge success.  She enjoyed all of her cards and gifts and had a fantastic 5th birthday.  Our little girl is growing up so fast!

New Years Eve 2011

We had a fairly quiet New Years Eve this year.  We got together with a few close friends and rang in the new year about 4-5 hours behind the rest of the family.  It's always an adjustment to receive "Happy New Years!" texts when you still have 4 hours until the ball drops on our televisions.  The kids watched movies until it got close to the ball dropping.  This is only the second year that they have made it all the way to midnight.  We rang in the new year listening to music and playing darts.  It was a relaxing way to celebrate.

My little sweetheart trying to hang on for the ball to drop 

My little man

Kyle, Me, and Gumpy

Us in our silly New Years hats

I can't believe its already 2012.  It seems like the years slip by at the speed of light.  This year our little girl turns 5 and will start kindergarten in August.  Here's hoping that 2012 will be a great one!

Holiday Happiness

This year the holidays came and gone incredibly fast.  One minute I was helping plan our Thanksgiving meal, and the next I was taking down the Christmas tree.  All the days in between flew by in a blur of tinsel, wrapping paper, and twinkle lights.  A few days before Christmas, we went to the office Christmas party.  This year the party even got a visit from Santa.  The kids were in shock that Santa took time from his busy schedule to deliver and early Christmas gift to each of them.

All the children patiently waiting their turn 

Alec got a transformer

Hailey getting her present from Santa

Hailey got a Mulan doll

As quick as old Saint Nick had arrived, he was gone again in a flash.  One of the little boys even tried to hitch a ride on his sleigh!  After the kids got their presents it was time for the adult gift exchange.  After many rounds of passing the gifts back and forth for more favorable ones, I got the movie the Change Up.  It is a hilarious movie and I would have fought someone if they tried to trade me...okay not really but I really wanted that movie!  All in all it was a good time to be had and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Less then a week later, Santa traveled around the world and delivered his presents to our house.  I have started a tradition these last few years of letting the kids open one specific present on Christmas Eve.  Every year it is the same thing, pajamas, but the kids act as surprised at the were the first time.

Hailey couldn't hide her excitement 

All ready to sleep in their new pajamas

Once the kids opened their pajamas and I read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" they were ready to get some rest.  They both went to sleep surprisingly easy.  Then Santa and his elves were able to deliver all the gifts.

I guess the kids were really good this year!

Once they got up we all got down to business and started opening all of these gifts.  The kids loved all of their gifts and had a great time ripping through the wrapping paper.

A new barbie to add to the collection

More Transformers 

Guarding his gift

After everything was unwrapped it was time to take everything out of the boxes.  It took 2 hours for me to open and put batteries in all of the toys.  It was worth it to see how happy they were.  I would say that this was another successful Hawaiian Christmas.

XTerra Trail Run World Championship

In July Kyle and I signed up to do separate trail runs at Kualoa Ranch on December 4th.  I was going to run my first 5k and Kyle was going to tackle a 21k.  He had heard about the run from some guys he worked with that had done the run the year before.  Finally earlier this month the day had come.  Kyle and I headed toward the ranch for our races.  I was nervous because it was the first time I would complete at 5k.  I've never been much of a runner but if Kyle could complete at 21k then I should be able to do a 5k.  Traffic about a mile from the ranch was terrible.  It took us forever to finally get to the ranch.  I decided to take some pictures while we were waiting in the car. 

The road we were on was right next to the bay.  Sometimes it was a little unnerving how close it was to the road.  Once we got to the ranch I realized how beautiful the scenery for the run was going to be.  It was absolutely breathtaking.  Kyle's race started about 5-10 minutes before mine.  I stood there fretting about the unknown until the race started.  Once it got going I began to relax a bit.  The first half was very difficult!  Most of it was uphill and my calves were screaming!  Once we got through the first half though it got much easier.  I managed to finish the race in 52 minutes.  My biggest accomplishment was that I did not finish last!  After I finished my race I settled in to wait for Kyle to complete his.

About half an hour after I finished, the first person completed the 21k.  He finished in 1 hour 21 minutes.  That is a mind blowing amount of time. 

This is the first man to cross the finish line

He completed the run in 1 hour 21 minutes and 36 seconds

About fifteen minutes before Kyle made it in, a group of guys named Team E.X.T.R.E.M.E. ran the entire 13 miles wearing gas masks.  They ran in honor of fellow Marine Cpl. Todd Love who lost both of his legs and part of his arm in Afghanistan last year.  They all parachuted into the valley before the race, including Cpl Love.  It was pretty inspiring. 

Team X.T.R.E.M.E

Shortly thereafter Kyle made it across the finish line.  He looked exhausted but he had completed a grueling 13.6 miles in 2 hours 56 minutes.  I wasn't able to get a really good picture of him since I was cheering for him. 

 Kyle was one of first of his group to complete the race.  They all met up afterwards for a victory photo.

Kyle and I were both proud of ourselves and very glad to have the races over with.  The next several days I was incredibly sore.  It was definitely glad I did it but it was a once in a lifetime experience.