Pictures are all mixed matched to the timeline of what we did this week.
The boys waiting for the fireworks to start. Their hair has gotten so light and Eli's is so long.
Kezia insisted on having Cotton Candy. We've had numerous opportunities to have some, but we waited until we were at an actual fair for her to have some. Love the crossed eyes! YUMMY!
Kai's winnings at the Kids' ages 6-11 group Free Throw Shooting Contest.
Eli got a chance to hit some baseballs in the batting cage. He was pitched several and hit 3 of them. He looked so cute in the overly sized helmet.
We finally got a coconut drink at the swap meet. NOT my kind of tasting...very blah. Jason got the rest to himself, including the meat of the coconut.
Hanging Loose at the Miniature Golf Course at Bellows.
A Wet N' Wild snap shot enjoying sour watermelon gummies.
The very last hole Kai hit the volcano and it bounced off finding Kezia's head. Here she is letting the headache settle.
They didn't have another generator to blow up the pool portion of the slide. So Jason was in charge of catching the slippery kids at the end of the slide. His arms were sore that night!
The face expression Kai had when he opened the real 'Speed Racer' Video Game. Relief.
Fore-- I mean the Four of them all hitting balls at the same time at the driving range.
Look out a Big Pregnant Whale trying to Boogie Board!
The Ko Olina Lagoon 3.
Will I be able to remember it all. Thanks to a camera it helps remind me what we've done this week.
Monday- lounged around the house in our pj's most of the day until daddy came home from work. We then ate leftovers and then headed to the pool for an evening swim. It was very relaxing!
Tuesday- the kids and I headed to the Lagoons around 1 p.m. We didn't get home till 5:30 p.m. We had tons of fun playing in the sand and water. The boys had a hay day with their monster trucks in the sand. Creating all kinds of obstacle courses and jumps. The little girl had fun with Barbie and made her a hot tub with one of the sand buckets. We were loaned a crab for a while. A little boy dug it up and the family was leaving so they let us have it for a while, until we let him sideways crawl away. Jason didn't get home till after 7. He went surfing after work in Waikiki. He found it a bit more on the rough side (a big scratch on his arm). He then made his way to the store to get Kai some B-day gifts.
Wednesday- Half day for Jason at work. We left to Bellow AFS Beach for the night. We had reservations to stay in a 2 bedroom duplex cabin. We picked up a pizza in Waimalo ($4 for a Little Caesars--whoa!) The cabin was quaint and very hot. Not the most exciting, but it was fun for the time. The cabin was in a great location...close to the playground, Jason's work party the next day, close to the beach, close to the amenities, and close to the miniature golf course.
We got settled in and ate an early dinner. We let Kai open a few birthday presents early so he could use them at the beach. A beach football and some snorkel gear. We then head to the playground, followed by the beach. It's the most amazing beach. The sand is like powder. Jason and Kai did the boogie boards for awhile, while the 2 younger ones played in the sand. Jason then took them out one at a time...that's it! I had to try it myself. I always hesitate because of the pregnancy and last time I killed my toe..but I knew this beach was different (no rocks). I went out with Kai for a bit and then with Jason. I had tons of fun. Probably only caught one wave...the waves slowed down and I am not coordinated enough to run and hop on with a belly in the way. While rinsing our feet at the cabin, I got eaten alive by red ants! They were awful. Kezia got bit 2 times earlier. As I started to hose down our feet I accidentally had it aimed right at an ant hill...they didn't like being drowned and starting biting me all over the feet. Not fun!
Afterwards we headed to do miniature golf. We were 20 minutes too late and could only hit a bucket of balls at the driving range. It kept the kids content and a bit disappointed, but we promised them to do it the next day after the work party. After hitting balls we went to the Shopette and got a yummy Strawberry Icee and Kai- a Pepsi/Strawberry mix. We headed home and watched half a movie.
Thursday- HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAI (he's 7)! After a horrible nights sleep for me because lack of pillows to elevate the head to refrain from coughing (I ended up using towels to support my head)....we sung Happy Birthday to Kai and had him open presents. He got an adorable apron from Grandma Egbert (all the kids have one--reminder take a picture). He got a monster truck from Aunt Tori and Uncle Robert. Some money from Aunties and Grandparents. He got some Monster Jam PJ's, a Tiki man shirt, a red dirt homemade shirt by dad, and some diving sticks for the pool. Jason was mean and tricked him into thinking he was getting the Speed Racer video game...Kai unwrapped it thinking it was it and it was a dirt bike dvd. It wasn't till after breakfast that Jason had him open the actual video game. Kai's earlier face expression was teary eyed and disappointment to then huge excitement when he opened the video game he really wanted.
We went to the Aloha Breakfast (only offered on Thursdays). It was a nice breakfast. Door prizes are given out after breakfast. Jason wanted to head out because the kids were getting restless and we needed to pack up, but I insisted that we stay in case we win something. Kai won a
keychain for answering the state fish (ha funny, the kids are watching
HSM2 and we are exactly at the singing medley of the song as I type this) Humuhumunukunukuapua' Then Jason won an adult dinner and magic show ticket to the Hale
Koa. We wanted to do this, but too expensive...so now we hope to go to it just as a date and use the money we'd save to get a babysitter (somehow, we haven't figured that part out yet).
After breakfast Jason's work party began. It was a treat. Lots of yummy food, a dunking booth, and wet slide for the kids, volleyball, and the amazing beach just over the hill. Jason was commented on a lot for his energy and fun spirited attitude. He was a great help with all the games. His boss commented to me that Jason has a lot of energy...a great strong point!!! When the work party slowed down, we headed to the beach. I didn't swim this time (I had tummy problems...followed by throwing up 2 times in the bushes). The
man-0-wars were out. We saw about 2 kids get stung...and I got to see one in some kid's shovel. I didn't even know they existed...I only knew about the jelly fish.
After the beach we finally went
miniature golfing. Yeah for the kids!!! I finally was some competition to Jason...I tried to actually play for points. I lost by 1! Another yummy
icee for the road. The kids were out rather quickly on the ride home...yeah for the
H3 (the most beautiful highway ever).
Unfortunately that night, headed the other direction, a crash shut down the tunnel. We got home safely and the kids were out for the night (while in the car).
Friday- we headed out to Wet N' Wild. What a joke with the lines. They supposedly were unexpectedly busy (hello, it's visitor time and the holiday---expect it to be busy). The line to get in was a joke. Only one line taking non cash transactions. We finally got in and had some fun. We went back out to get lunch in the car to then stand in line again to get our picture taken for the summer pass (another joke--only one guy working the booth). It was worth to pay a little more to be able to come again and again till we leave. Hopefully we'll be able to go again this coming Friday for their movie night. Their wave pool is crazy! Not wavy, but curling white waves at the end...makes it hard for the little ones in the shallow end. Kai and Jason enjoyed the big rides, while I took the little ones and the pregnant whale (me) around to the kiddie rides and the lovely LAZY RIVER! Afterwards a trip to the store and yummy Panda Express (we would have rather had authentic, but we needed fast and convenience) to go!
Saturday- we had hoped to go to Wet N'Wild again, but being the holiday they didn't allow annual and summer pass holders. So we cleaned the house and headed to the swap meet (I got a new and unusual diaper bag) followed by the Naval Base 4th of July festivities at Pearl Harbor. It was a lot of fun. The party was full of exciting things! They had free little games for the little ones (Eli asleep however). A car show, a free train ride, a free petting zoo, free pony rides (not standing in that line), wrestling (hilarious watching Kai, he got nervous and didn't know if it really was pretend), a video game trailer, etc.... They had a free throw shooting contest in their gymnasium. I insisted that we give Kai a chance...as well as Jason and I to try. Kai won!!! The age group was for 6-11 year olds. He got 36 out of 50 shots made! He won 2 tickets to the movies and 2 Waikiki all day pass trolley tickets. We traded in the trolley tickets for 3 more movie tickets. (like mother like son--right dad? :) After the competition we headed back outside. The kids each got $3 to pick out an activity or two. Eli and Zia did a bounce house and a Ferris wheel, while Kai did the rock climbing wall. Dinner was great! $9 plate that fed us all! Oh and we had to buy drinks (slush puppies with ice cream, yum). It was so great to get out of there spending less than $40 having done all we did!
The entertainment was great! A Hawaiian band that was amazing...I loved when they did Israel's 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' song...while looking out at the sunset, palm trees, and naval ships and water. The kids entertained themselves well with the glow sticks they each got...usually we don't make those purchases, but it was worth the entertainment for them and us watching them. The fireworks display was great! What a wonderful memory! (--No missiles were launched at us.)
Sunday-church was good. We're missing our ward. The kids are doing great at making friends and participating in primary. Kai got a CTR ring for his birthday. I was getting a major headache and having sinus pressure in Relief Society...in need of sleep. I crashed at home and woke up to more pain. We headed out the door around 5 p.m. hoping to find an available Urgent Care Clinic. WHAT A JOKE! I checked the web for any open clinics...they say yes, many of them should be open on Sundays. So I call, "please leave us a message because we're busy with other patients". So I assume, well they must be open so I might as well just be a walk-in cause they're not going to call me back any more quickly then just driving there. No- they are not open. So I call the Airport clinic...same answering message. Nope they are not even open on Sundays, but the sign says "We are not open on Sundays, and we're not open on the 4th and 5th for the holiday (the 5th is a Sunday)--they are messed up in their answering services, etc. Thank goodness their Physicians Exchange number had someone to talk too...they referred me to Waikiki to a 24 hour clinic. I called the clinic and they said, "yes, we take your insurance." I get there, sign in, wait an hour, to finally have the lady (oooohh she makes me mad) ask me to fill out the insurance paperwork. "Is this a PPO or HMO plan?" I don't remember and don't have any of the paperwork I put together for the trip over here...I said I think it's PPO. "You'll be responsible if they don't cover it." WHAT! I called earlier and you said you take my insurance. "You called this morning (trying to not blame herself for answering the phone)? No, I called 3o minutes prior to me coming in. So I try and call my insurance, they are closed for the weekend...I don't know what to do. The Medical Corner has another office in Waikiki that might have been open till 8 that I know takes my insurance, but I decided to do the 24 hour clinic just to know for sure I'd get in...and here she is asking me after an hour of waiting to find this out. I was steaming and crying. I could have been trying the Medical Corner an hour previously, now only having 30 minutes to see if they are even open till the closing hours of 8p.m. Anyways, thank goodness...a man walked in to have his daughter treated. The other lady at the counter immediately asks him for his insurance information. I quickly asked him...your card looks like mine, do you have my same insurance? He did and he knew they took it too. The lady that helped me initially had left her desk and so I was left hanging again. I finally told the other lady how frustrated I was and she gave me the paperwork and I got right in. The doctor questioned the medicine I requested...I wasn't about to have to come back in or call again to have something stronger given to me....but he says the kind I wanted probably wasn't the strongest...I didn't care, it worked last time and I don't have the car, time, and availability to get other medicine. Just give me what I WaNT! Afterwards, I had to ask to pay my co-pay. While doing so, I let the lady that had given me grief know how frustrated I was with her. She totally didn't even accept my frustration...and says, "I was gone, I wasn't here when you were needing to find out insurance". I told her, "Are you even listening to me?" Didn't care, she repeated herself again. I said, "I have been waiting for an hour and you finally ask me for insurance stuff, when I could have been making other plans if you didn't take my insurance." GRRRRR!
So I left. Walked across the street to see the kids and Jason being entertained my a street spray paint artist. Unbelievable work and entertainment. The kids had fun watching him and even participating in shaking the cans of paint. Tears of Joy---an crying eyeball (the iris being the earth) pouring into the ocean. Afterwards we finally found the Walgreens in Waikiki--crazy city! While I was getting the prescription, Jason called to tell me Eli just threw up all over himself in his carseat. Oh Joy! We got home finally! Jason didn't get to bed till 11 p.m. I love him! He's an amazing husband, with lots of needed energy to get the job done! On the way home, we had some good discussion on our goals for the next 30 years and concerns with some of our siblings. What a wonderful and crazy week we had. I feel very fortunate to be here on this journey. Sunday night, especially, was a crazy evening, but I did have a prayer answered. The Gospel is true, the power of prayer works, and we should always try and include Him in our daily journeys and choices. We're praying for you...our brothers and sisters....and even our parents that have to help deal with their adult children.
---
McDonald's Happy Meal Toys...they are life sized; another shot of the kids at McDonald's;
