December Fun and Picking our Christmas Tree

Here it is May and I am finally getting around to adding some commentary to these pictures from December-- Life has a way of continuing to move forward even when it feels like everything is still the same!

FLAG FOOTBALL- All of the boys were on a flag football team for the season and had a really good time with it. Brecon and Connor were on the same team and even though their group of kids had fun, they really struggled to have any success on the field. At least got to practice with other kids and started to figure out the sport. This was Cael's first time playing on a team for flag football it was pretty funny to watch the coach's frustration and then elation with the players on the team, but for some reason we could always hear when the coach would yell "CAEL!"  The little kids weren't that interested in watching Cael's team, so thankfully there was a splash pad for them to play around in. I wasn't always prepared with packing swimming suits or towels, but that didn't stop my boys/kids from having a good time.   

We were also on the end of potty training Cannon, so there were a few times when we just had to find the nearest tree for him to go to... I think that little bum is pretty cute.



WHITMORE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM
Not far from our house is a great little tree nursery to pick up a fun "Hawaiian Christmas Tree"- the Norfolk Pine has distinctive branches and a pretty fun shape- and since we are here- we better get one, right? This little outing usually is a muddy adventure, but we really lucked out with the weather. It has also been so fun having my mom and dad here- the kids are getting their full share of Grandma and Grandpa time.

FAMILY PICTURE with Grandma & Grandpa Hoopes

THE HAPPY PLATT FAMILY- some how it is nearly impossible for all of us to look at the camera and smile

We walked all around the land trying to find the perfect shape and height. The kids were fighting and chasing each other- I'm sure it made the other tree shoppers enjoy their experience in the "forest" even more. So after awhile, there were a couple of trees that looked like they would make the cut, but we just weren't ready to make the decision final and chop it down. As we were starting to make our final round along the outside edge, Ben reached over and picked up a good sized tree that was off to the side of the road where some other limbs and broken branches were piled. It actually looked like the right height and the fullness was very nice. Our tree guide told us that was the tree junk pile and we could have that one for free! What a deal! So when we carried the gorgeous "garbage" tree over to our car, it was somehow agreed that we could take that tree for $25--- which is still a very good price, just not the FREE-dollars we thought we were going to pay.

I wanted to take a picture of all of the kids having fun and playing in the forest, but Brielle was off on her own or with Grandma somewhere. Brecon and Connor thought it was fun to use the branches as swords, until one of them got whacked in the face-- the fighting and yelling I had mentioned earlier-- at least they are happy and smiling for this picture.

MY CAFE'
I took my parents to this small cafe for a breakfast treat. These pancakes are pretty tasty- Lilikoi, Red Velvet Taro, and Biscoff Cookie crunch. It is fun having my mom and dad to go out shopping and eating with!

Trip to Maui w/ the Durtschi's 1

Snorkeling at the Molokini Crater and Hiking up --- Ridge

Trip to Maui w/ the Durtschi's 2

November OVERVIEW- Rain, football, fried turkey and fun

There are the pictures that I added for the month of November. While each month has different events and fun activities, it is hard to pick just a few pictures that capture what our family has been doing. I will try my best to explain each photo-

CAEL's AWARD ASSEMBLY- For having good grades and not having any disciplinary notes- a simple announcement, certificate, and ribbon is given to each students with As and Bs. They line up on stage in rows, and finally through a few rotations your child is in the front ready for a blurry and poorly lit photo. Actually, it is always more fun going to this event when Ben can come too. We joke with Cael and try our best to really let him know how much we love him, much to his embarrassment (or not). He is a good sport for having such silly parents!

BRECON AND CONNOR FLAT FOOTBALL- I know this isn't a picture of Brecon or Connor actually playing the game. There were some good plays and they had fun, but what was more memorable was the torrential downpour of rain that they had during that game! In our effort to stay dry- and we had 2 big umbrellas- We couldn't help but get sopping wet. Brielle and Cannon took turns drinking the water that collected from the umbrella, moving from Ben's lap to mine. We were just laughing and smiling so much- it was the best!


EATING LUNCH WITH BRIELLE- Whenever I don't have too much homework, I try to make a special trip to the school in the middle of the day to enjoy lunch with my kiddos and their friends. They love the extra special attention and I always think it is nice to see them in their school environment. Brielle and Macy are just cute friends from our little Joy School that we did last year. They are such sweet little ladies!

BRECON AND CONNOR FLAG FOOTBALL- Even though this handsome group of boys didn't win very many games, or score very many touchdowns- they went out and played the game the best that they could. Their coaches were good guys- made them run most of their practices to build endurance. It was fun that my boys got to be on the same team, even if Connor was the smallest guy out there, he is a fast runner! (below) The boys being goofy after one of their games!

FRYING A TURKEY- I told Ben this year that I didn't want to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving- I actually didn't want to cook the dinner at all. Somehow we got wrangled into making the whole meal anyway- but to make this year more interesting- Ben purchased himself a turkey fryer. The meat is delicious after it has soaked in peanut oil for an hour, it tastes pretty delicious! I guess we will be having a fried turkey from now on!


TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY- There is a fun event in a big field on General's loop for the annual Tree lighting ceremony. There is music, food, and if you want to wait in a really long line- pictures with the "Big Guy" Santa himself. We were late arriving from the boys football practice, but was saw the count down and the tree light up. Somehow we even found Cael who had gone early and was in a very long line for free hot chocolate and cookies. We didn't stay too long, with all the big crowds and darkness, it would be too easy to lose one (or all) of my kids- and yes we are speaking from experience the previous year!

CUB SCOUTS for Connor- This guy has been very excited to join cub scouts officially after his birthday. For a few month prior, the leaders allowed Connor to make a derby car (that was the fastest and beat everyone), a boat for the rain-gutter regatta, and play at the activities during the week. Now he can earn the belt loop badges for real! He does his best to live the scout oath and law. We sure love this guy!