To hike or mud wrestle..... THAT is the question

New Years Day we decided to go on a hike with the Rasmussen's. We decided the description of Maunawili Falls sounded nice and do-able, (with 6 kids under the age of 10 you have to consider these things). The review of it said that it was a nice, leisurely hike about 1 1/2 miles. Perfect.
Several minutes into the hike we realized it was a little muddier than we planned on but still didn't seem too bad and so far it was a nice and easy trail. After hiking for about a mile we ran into some hikers on their way down. Katie asked them how the rest of the hike was. They went into a huge thing about how horrible and muddy it was and how there were really tough spots where the trail was steep and they had to cross the river about six times and ...... blah, blah, blah........ The guy said, "I'm an "experienced hiker" and even I thought it was horrible." After watching him cross the river I came to the conclusion that "experienced hiker" was a loose term.
We all voted to keep going and see for ourselves how bad it really was. About a half mile later we came to a sign that told us we had 1 1/2 miles to go to the falls, (wasn't that how long it was to begin with?). We were already muddy up to our calves and the girls were having a blast so we decided to keep going. In my opinion, once you start something you have to finish it. The mud got deeper and gooier and we DID have to cross the stream several more times before we reached the top, but I hardly noticed any of that. I was watching Addie. She was holding my hand and walking all on her own and was strutting and singing and if I'd slip a little in the mud she'd ask, "otay, Mom?" I kept waiting for her to ask me to pick her up but she didn't. She kept going and going and going. At one point Justin was holding her hand, and as they reached the top of a hill she said, "I DID IT!!!" It was so cute. She was such a great example that day of attitude and how our lives are affected by the attitudes we choose. I kept thinking of the couple we met that was saying how terrible the hike was and then looking at Addie and watching this little two year old conquer what they barely could. We made it up and down- a total of about 5-6 miles, and she walked all but maybe 1/4 of a mile of it, and that was because we were trying to go faster and not because she asked to be held.
By the time we were done I told Katie if we mud wrestled we still wouldn't look any dirtier. We were covered in mud. Haley and Rachel took their shoes off and walked the last part of it because they were sinking in so much. Our pants were wet because of crossing the river so much and we were tired but all in all we had a great time. Haley said it was one of the funnest days of her life. I'm glad we didn't listen to the negative perspective of someone else and instead chose to make a positive experience of our own.
HAO'OLI MAKAHIKI HOU- HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Holidays

Christmas seemed to be a really busy season this year. We were thinking that we would have a quiet month with less parties to attend and no family to visit. Man, were we wrong! Between the work and ward parties there were achievement activities for the girls, wrapping and shipping gifts (I had no idea what a process that can be), home school, ward callings (I got a new one as a counselor in the primary), trying to do some service to remember the real reason for the season, and getting out a Christmas card for the first time in our lives, (I hope you enjoyed yours Mindy). There just didn't seem to be enough time for it all. In the end it all turned out nicely though- as it always seems to, and we had a fantastic Christmas.
Justin decided to go all out and gave me a video camera AND and ipod touch- both of which I LOVE!!! I tried to find a wii for him but everyone on the island was out of stock, and believe me..... I checked EVERYWHERE!!! I ended up getting him Guitar Hero- the complete band, because I knew we could find a wii just a few days after Christmas. We got one the Saturday after and we have had a blast rockin' out, punchin' each other, and tryin' out our best backhands.


For New Years Eve we went to the beach and had a bonfire, roasted marshmallows and made s'mores with our friends, the Rasmussen's. We knew that it was illegal to have fires on the beach in most places but we didn't know it was everywhere until an officer showed up and told us we couldn't be there. He was really good about it though and said that once we were done we needed to make sure to soak the fire and scatter the remains. It probably helped that we were all haoli's and "didn't know better". The beach was so beautiful, the sunset perfect, and we even had a sea turtle and a seal checking things out nearby. We finished just as it started getting dark so we packed up and went back to our house for fireworks and more of the wii. The Estes family joined us and we played until midnight when we were more than amazed and overwhelmed by the amount of fireworks going off in the area.

Okay, let me tell you about Hawaii and New Years. I went to Costco right before New Years and almost everyone had one of those huge boxes full of fireworks in their cart. You know, those ones that cost $200 plus? I was thinking, "man, they sure are serious about their fireworks here". For several days before New Years Eve there were fireworks going off now and again. The morning of, there were fireworks going off and I think they pretty much went all day long. Our neighbors were doing fireworks from the time we got home around seven, until past midnight. Now we're not talking screaming bees and ground flowers, even though there are those too, but we're talking more of the big illegal kind that are Stadium of Fire worthy. The air was so thick with smoke that you couldn't see more than twenty feet up in the air, it was a huge fog covering our house and from what I hear, the whole island.
The missionaries came over and told us about a guy they talked to who was a police officer. He would confiscate illegal fireworks and bring them home for his kids to light. That right there describes Hawaii perfectly. Needless to say if you want a good New Year's celebration, Oahu is the place to come.

Busted!

It was Lilly's birthday and my friend Katie (a fantastic photographer)was trying to get Addie to sing Happy Birthday on camera. She had been singing it all morning and then as soon as the camera was on her, and everyone was watching, she clamed up. Thats okay though because she gave us a different kind of footage!

The Happy Birthday Grandma video was taken with her morning look- hence the crazy hairdo. I think Addie is a little confused about all the birthdays coming and going, can you tell? Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!

Update

Shelley said I need to update my blog- I know, I couldn't believe it either! LOL
We didn't end up having to eat poi on our Thanksgiving turkey (thank goodness), but Justin and I were worried that the turkey would even turn out. We've only ever cooked one other one and it wasn't the best, (done on the outside, not in the middle). We got a few turkey tips from different sources and decided to use an online recipe, and a tip from our friend Megan to put cut up oranges in the cavity for mois'er meat. It turned out SO good, one of the best turkeys we've ever had, and the meat was incredibly mois'!
We ended up inviting a few families in the ward and some of Justin's co-workers for a total of 23! It was a total blast and we loved every minute of it, but we'd still trade it for being together with our extended families which we miss so much this time of year.
Speaking of family, we decided to use you all for our Christmas tree decorations this year. I was thinking how it would be a fun idea for the girls to have family pictures as ornaments and a few days later Haley said she had an idea to do the same thing. We bought our tree, (fake and prelit- what have we become?) the weekend after Thanksgiving and put only ribbon, popcorn strands, and family pictures on it. It looks amazing and the kids, especially Addie, love to go over to the tree and look at all the pictures of the people they love.
Lilly's birthday was last week and I gave her the option of spending the afternoon with mom or having a regular cake/presents party. She chose to spend the day with me, and we both enjoyed the one on one time. I took her to Build-A-Bear, which is called Hanai Bear out here and let her pick whatever she wanted. She picked a small white (groan) bear and three outfits for it. I'm lucky they only had a few outfits for the small bears or we could have spent way too much on a wardrobe for her new friend. She grinned the whole time and couldn't believe she finally had a Build-A-Bear friend like she's "wanted her whole life!" After that we went to find her a new dress (definitely a need) and then to lunch at Farrels. I told her she could have whatever she wanted on the menu so naturally she picked fries and a shake- wouldn't you? Because it was her birthday, they gave her a free scoop of the ice cream of her choice with any topping she wanted. When they brought it out she had to stand up while they made a bunch of noise and announced to the whole restaurant, "This is Lilly- today is her birthday, she's turning seven years old!" Then they sang Happy Birthday to her. When it was all over she sat down and said, "that was a little bit embarrassing"
When we were finished with lunch we went to Sports Authority to use the gift card from G-ma. Lilly got a new snorkel set and her own boogie board. She told me it was the "best birthday ever!"

The Church building we meet in was burned a couple years ago and is finally about done being rebuilt. Today there's a truck bringing a load of new furniture to be assembled. All the ward members are asked to come help unload the truck and put together the furniture. It seems a little "Extreme Home Makeover" to me. Kinda fun.
Our ward party is Friday and my friend from the ward was saying she and I should show off our Turbo Jam moves there. She is way into exercise and borrowed my DVDs. I'm not sure that would be appropriate since the theme is "the land of Jeruselem" and we're supposed to come dressed up in clothes from the time period of Christ's birth. I'll let you know if the shepherds can "houz it".

Lilly was sitting on my lap the other day and we were talking about how Santa only delivers to the kids that have been good this year. I asked her if she'd been good and she said "hmmmm..... not so much." I was shocked! What kid ever says that? I decided to ask my other kids the same question. Isabelle said, "wellllll..... a little bit good." Haley and Rachel both said no they hadn't! What is the deal? I mean there's honest and then there's insanely honest. I asked them what they could have done better and they all answered with the exact things they needed to work on. It was incredible! I'd never seen kids do that before! I think Santa will give honesty points this year for sure!