COME VISIT!!

So Ezra and I were talking last night and we decided that not enough people come visit us. We live in Hawaii for craps sake and we still can't get people to come see us. You can have a free place to stay, and transportation and even a tour guide (or not)! There is clearly so much to do here that you couldn't even do it all in one trip if you tried, and you could even come and just sit on the beach if that is all you wanted to do. It would be so much fun and we would love to have you here!! We just miss our family and friends and want to see them more often. We know how hard it is to fly these days and the expense is ridiculous, I will have flown 5 times this year by December, and I know how tough it is especially when some of you guys have 4-6 in your family's. We just don't want anyone to think that they aren't invited to come visit! Come take advantage of us in Hawaii, it's okay!! We love you either way, but we would love to see more of our family and friends!

Frog Hunting and Water Pumps

One thing I mentioned that we did in Missouri on this trip was FROG HUNTING!! Ezra's family has 3 ponds on their property, they are full of fish, snapping turtles, and FROGS!! Many of you know my issue with frogs, slimy, jumping, living frogs. Well I finally got revenge on all the years of torture. I know that this wont end their tortures ways but I at least got rid of a few in this world that wont be able to haunt me! Okay that sounds crazy. Ezra actually did most of the frog hunting since I had a hard time just looking at them, and then to have to stare at them through the scope until I could get steady enough to shoot was way to much for me! I did get a few though. Here's some pictures.
Also I added a SISTERS CLUB picture, the members will understand!!

Missouri Trip

Ezra hasn't been home for almost 4 years, and we weren't sure when we would get back out there since we never know when he is going to be home. So we decided to go for 2 weeks to visit his family in Missouri. We had such a good time, it was really nice for us just to spend some time together playing and hanging out since he hasn't been home for at least 9 months in the past year. We got to do so much in just two weeks it made the time fly by. We went to a Cardinals game and hung out in St. Louis with his brother and his girlfriend, fiance we might as well say!! Then we had a few family BBQ's so we could see everyone, which was a lot of fun. They are all so close to each other both sides of the family, it made me miss my family so much, I wish we all lived that close together and could do family BBQ's. Then his parents took us to the Mark Twain caves, if any of you have read the Tom Swayer Books you know what I am talking about. It was cool to see where he actually came up with all the cave storys for his book. Then we went to Nauvoo, and we went frong hunting, and they took me to a Red Neck Wedding, for real!! We I also experienced my first Tornado Warning. It was scary to say the least. I have never seen a storm like I did that night. They had flooding the next day and so we visited on of the dams that almost gave out because there was to much water.
One of the coolest things about Missouri though are the Fireflys, they were so amazing to see at night. Every night there were just thousands of these flashing lights, it was so pretty, I wish my Mom could of seen them. We also got to meet our new niece and also spend the week with Braden. Braden is our 6 yr old Nephew that we haven't seen since he was just a year old. It was so much fun to spend time with him, we had so much fun with him.
We had such a good time just hanging out on their farm and seeing everyone.

Hidden Beach

There is one corner of the island that you can't drive on because there are no roads. It is where Waiana meets Wailua. The only way to get around this point of the island is to either hike or four wheel out there and even then you can only four wheel so far. So the other weekend we decided we would four wheel out there and hike back in because we had heard of this beach called "Hidden Beach", got its name for obvious reasons. So we don't know if we actually ever found it but we did find this beach and hung out there for the day, it was so pretty and just me, Ezra and Smokey which was neat. Snorkeling is supposed to be amazing when the waves are down, and even though they didn't look very big in these pictures it was pretty rough. For those who are familiar with the islands there is a picture of Ezra on a rock and behind him you can see the island come out to a point, that would be the point you drive around to our house past Haleiwa and Waimea. We are definitely spoiled and blessed that we get to live in Hawaii.

Lazy Puppy

So Smokey has started to do this cute deal while we are eating. He gets tired of looking at us and begging so he rests his head now on the table or on our knees and just watches us until we either give in and feed him or he figures out that we aren't going to give him our food. He loves to sleep on the coffee table because it is much cooler on there, but the other day we had placed his food on the table so we could vacum or something, and next thing we knew he was lying on the table eating his food (He always lays down when he eats no matter what). It was just really cute with his head all the way in the bowl and laying with his little legs kicked out to the side.

4th of July Week

We had visitors for the week of the 4th of July. My Aunt, Cousine and their friends came and stayed with us for about 10 days! We got to go kayaking at Lanikai, and bonfiring at Bellows, and got to do this little tour deal which I highly recommend! On the 4th of July we went to Bayfest. Bayfest is a deal they put on for the military at the Kaneohe Marine Core Base where Ezra works. We got to see Little Big Town who sings one of my favorite country songs "Bring it on home", and Rodney Atkins who was awesome! Then a huge fireworks show was shot right over your heads on the ocean. It was awesome! We always have so much fun when people come visit us, wish more people could come visit us!

Seal

We take Smokey walking on the beach across from our house everyday. Yesterday when we were taking our walk we noticed a little further away from us what looked like a big log. We get sticks and stuff on the beach but not usually a log the size that we were seeing. As we got closer it moved and we realized it wasn't a log, it was a seal. We have had turtles and seals on the beach across from our house before but I never have my camera with me, so I ran back home and Ezra got a good video and picture of of it. Smokey got all excited when we walked past the seal, and the seal snorted really loud at Smokey, it freaked him out!!

07-08 LADY SEASIDERS!!

I thought I would post some pictures of my girls from this last season, since Crys finally sent me a few! I pretty much spend 24-7 with them for 8 months, so when ever people are wondering what I am doing this is usually who I am with. My team this last year was such a blast, they were such a good group of girls. I don't miss them, don't get me wrong, J/K! There are however a few incrminating photos in this slideshow. When we were on our mainland trip we stayed in this really nice hotel, and I had to share my room with two of my girls. They had their own room in our room, and I had mine, but man did we have fun. One night, the first night there, we decided to play a prank on the team, and long story short we dressed up from head to toe because it was so stinken cold, not thinking we would look like 3 boys who were trying to break into the hotel rooms, (thanks Les's room!!). After finishing the entire prank, hours of work, and on our way to our room we were caught and threatened to be arrestted, Jackson (the head coach) thought our prank was anything but funny. Man it was a good prank though and it will go down in the books! No matter how much I complain this is one thing I love about coaching. Getting to see these girls grow into independent women! I am going to miss Crys, Les and Meg, love you guys!

Mistys Wedding

Since being back on the islands I have been back in touch with some friends from college. Misty just got married at Waimea Valley. It was such a beautiful location and she was so gorgeous as always. Juanita was there as well, I played softball in college with Nita, and now she is married and a momma. It has been so nice to have these girls back in my life.

Sights and Scenery

As some of you know, Ezra was back for a little over a month before he was redeployed. Unbelievable I know but that is the military for you. I am just now getting these pictures up from his last deployment and he has left for another one. These are just a few pictures of some of the things he got to see at some of their ports no their last 6 month deployment. They stopped at place as Singapore, Malaysia, Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, Guadila Canal, Philippines, Guam, and I know there were some other places. He took monkey tours, and got to see all kinds of buddihst temples, and even the Tongan LDS Temple. They were also able to do some community service work for many of the islands. He really made the most of his time when they ported to go out and see things he will probably never get to see again.

Ezras Homecomoing Ceremony Pictures!

Guadal Canal Scuba Dive

So we are finally getting these up for family to see. These are Ezras scuba diving pictures from when they stopped at Guadal Canal. They went about a mile off shore and were able to dive down about 130 ft. to a old ship wreck from the Battle of Guadal Canal. These are some of his pictures.

So Ezra has been back for 2 weeks now. It has been so nice, we missed him so much. Ezra had to start going back to work shortly after he got home and Smokey was not having it. The first day he left it was so sad, I think he thought Ezra left again for good. This is what he looks like when Ezra leaves for work.


PATHETIC!!!!!!!



When Ezra is home, Smokey has to do everything Ezra does. When Ezra sleeps Smokey sleeps, when he's awake Smokey is awake, when Ezra wants to play Smokey wants to play when. It is really pretty ridiculous these two. Here they are napping, and yes that is Smokey on our coffee table!

Smokeys Wild Adventures!!

So I have been busy busy busy lately with softball and getting ready for Ezra to get home. I don't have any pictures to add and I feel like because I don't have any pictures that I shouldn't post anything. But I guess I am getting over that! Anyhow Ezra is coming home in less then a month now. He will have been gone for a total of 6 months. These deployments never seem to get easier to be honest. I just always miss him no matter how long we have been married. Smokey has had some crazy adventures lately and I am just hoping I can keep this dog safe until Ezra gets back. Most of you know that he loves to run away. Well he escaped from our softball field the other day and ended up hanging out with the schools vice president as well as The Chinese Vice Minister of Ministry of Education, Ms. Wu Qidi. Basically the head of Higher Education of all of China, someone up there in the ranks. The guy I coach with saw Smokey go into the room where they were meeting. I guess everyone was shocked at first because here is this important visitor from China who is really important to the school and our reputation in China and then there is this fluffy fur ball dog who knowing my dog is probably humping her leg with his tounge hanging out of his mouth sideways!! (I should have a picture of that somewhere). Well I guess she loved Smokey though and they ended up taking a picture of Smokey with her, I am still trying to track that picture down and trust me I will post it!! This dog will be the end of me I sware. I love him to much is the problem!!