Patrick turns 1!

Patrick turned 1 year old on November 15th. I can't believe how fast that went by. He started walking when he was 11 months. This handsome little guy loves the water and playing at the beach, He holds my hand and drags me into the water so he can play. He loves to play with balls, torment his big brothers, scream as loud as he can when he is happy or sad, or mad, and he makes the cutest little pouting face and uses it often since he has figured out that we can't resist it. He has a new obsession with shoes and gets everyones out of thier closets multiple times a day and puts them on...there are shoes everywhere all the time. He also knows how to climb everything now so thats tons of fun as well.

Thanksgiving Hawaiian Style

Kenny's mom and dad came for Thanksgiving and they brought my little sister Lavada with them. Lavada is staying until Christmas!

We toured The Big Island and saw some amazing sights.

Waipio Valley

We had fun beach days.

Went to the crater on the volcano Kilauea. This volcano blows sulphuric gas all the time and when the sun sets you can see it glow red.

This is where Kilauea's lava flow went over the road and into the sea.

It was really fun to walk through some dark lava tubes

The Sea Turtle was just laying there sun bathing when Kenny almost stepped on him.

Patrick turned 1 on November 15th so we had a party for him with Grandma, Grandpa and Lavada.

Happy Halloween

Here are the boys in front of our condo right before we went to our Bishop's Farm to trunk or treat. Ransom is Jengo Fett, Reaves is Obi Wan Kenobi with a painted face of course. Patrick is a skeleton pirate. He was so cute and sat so very still while I painted his face.

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau or "Place of Refuge"

Can you pronounce the Hawaiian name? I did it and the Park Ranger gave me a prize. Reaves and Ransom also became Junior Rangers while we were there. This National Historical Park is the most complete restoration of an ancient Hawaiian religious sanctuary in Hawaii. It was a really cool place and there is some good snorkeling but the kids were to worn out to do it that day.

Kahalu'u Beach

I took these pictures one evening when we were trying to spot Sea Turtles. We got a Flat Stanley from our cousins in Oklahoma so we wanted to send a Sea Turtle Picture. We usually see Sea Turtles at this beach but we didn't have any luck.

Labor Day

Ok so I need to get blogging since I have a ton of pictures to add. I have to go way back to Labor Day for this one. We went to a Rodeo on Labor Day in Waimea. Waimea is a town about 45 minutes north of Kona. There is a big ranch up there called The Parker Ranch. There are real live cowboys just like back home! The country there is beautiful with green hills and wide open areas, also there are cows all over so I loved it. The rodeo was fun too, it was much like any rodeo I've ever been to. Parker Ranch is a working ranch but it also has a bunch of touristy stuff you can do too. They take people out for trail rides and that kind of thing. There is also a Parker Ranch store in town.

Happenings

Patrick is 10 months old now. He is very active and loves to follow everyone around. He is not walking but likes to walk along the furniture. This boy is so easy going and chilled out most of the time, but when it comes to some things he is very difficult. He will not take a bottle at all. He hates baby formula and spits it out. I finally have gotten him to take a sippy cup with water or juice and we are working on milk. He is finally eating pretty good. He loves oatmeal, applesauce, yogurt, smoothies, peaches, and of course popsicles. He tolerates some other things and absolutely will not eat a few foods like carrots and canned pears.

Ransom started Kindergarten here in Hawaii. he loves going to school and having friends. He thinks packing a lunch is pretty awesome and does his whole homework packet for the week on the first night. Ransom is really good at writing and loves to write over and over on the little chalkboard he has at home.

Reaves is in 2nd grade. He loves doing Math and wants to be challenged more with it, asking to learn multiplication. He does not like homework and that has been a challenge, although he does math homework without a fuss. Reaves started Judo as well and has really been dedicated to it and loves going.

Kukio Beach

We were invited to Kukio Beach by a friend at church. It was during the middle of the day so Kenny wasn't there but since then I have taken him there. The water was so beautiful and calm there. Reaves didn't like that there weren't any waves but Ransom loved it. The water is very shallow and there are lots of places to look for shells and other interesting things. This is also where I learned to snorkel, since it is so shallow and calm I was more comfortable with it. While we were there one of the "rangers" (I don't know if that's what they are called) told us that there was a Tiger Shark spotted in the next bay over so he advised us not to go out past the lava rocks.

First day at Hapuna Beach in Kona

Here we are at Hapuna Beach. This beach is so fun for the kids to play in the waves. I have been told that it has been voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Reaves loves to catch a wave and go under water to ride it all the way up to the shore. We really need to buy the kids body boards like everyone else there. Ransom likes to race the waves up to the shore and play in the sand with Patrick and I. Kenny loves the water and would stay out there all the time if I let him. These pictures are of the first day we spent at the beach.

Summer picture overload

This cute girl is one of our cousins and she loved holding and helping me with Patrick. She even went to the dentist with me to help babysit my little guy.

All the cousins sliding down the hill in Snowflake at the Willis's house.

Grandpa Dean got married in January so we got to meet our new Grandma Shirley. She was very sweet and the kids liked her right away.

Here we are in Gallup, NM. Ross is pretending to be one of our kids.

At the Ranch in Navajo with Grandma and Grandpa. Right before we the kids went for a dip in the cattle drinker.

Ransom with some of his cousins helping Aunt Lea push the calves.

Ransom didn't like how the tank was squishy on the bottom.

Kylee had very strong feelings for Patrick from the start. It was either kissing or biting so I know they formed a life long bond this summer.