30 Days of Thanks: Day Thirty!!

For day 30, I'm thankful for grandparents - the only people in the world that love our children as much (if not more) than we do. 

We are so blessed that our boys have 2 loving sets of grandparents. 

We so enjoyed our time with Grammie and Papa over the last two weeks. Keaton cried real tears for a solid hour after we left them at the airport yesterday.

We are so excited that Brumbra and Papa will be coming in just 2 weeks to celebrate Christmas with us!

I can't believe this is my final day in my 30 days of thanks! It has gone by so fast! It has been good practice for me and helped me realize how much have to be thankful for on a daily basis. I hope that even though the blog series is ending, I can continue in a spirit of thankfulness all year long.

30 Days of Thanks: Day Twenty-nine

Today I'm thankful for a good report at the dentist office. I have not had the best track record of the dentist the past couple of years, so I'm always a little gun shy when I go. 

Yay for NO CAVITIES!

Here's Keaton being a good little boy and brushing those teeth before bed. 

Mark watches every move his big brother makes...

30 Days of Thanks: Day Twenty-eight

Today I'm thankful for my husband's job. It was only two years ago that we were facing month three of Scott being unemployed with nothing promising in the works. It was a really difficult time for us. We did not have much hope that Scott would find another job in his field. This was extremely frustrating since we had really felt God's hand in leading when Scott decided to complete his Masters in History several years ago. We continue to be amazed at how God has provided for us in bringing us to Hawaii and giving Scott such a cool job at JPAC where he can utilize his degree and really ENJOY what he does. He returned a few weeks ago from his second investigative trip to Europe where he was able to travel all over France, Belgium, Germany, and The Netherlands. Yes, he was technically WORKING, but he also got a chance to do some touring in his off time.

Beautiful Seine River in Northern France

Scott's first trip to the American cemetery in Normandy. Quite a cool experience for a WW2 historian! 

30 Days of Thanks: Day Twenty-seven

Kauai Sunrise

Today, I'm thankful to be home sweet home. We were was sad to leave beautiful Kauai -  you know it was an awesome trip when you are already trying to figure how to could go BACK again! Praising God for safety and a truly amazing vacation! Even after a wonderful trip, it's always a great feeling to be home again. I also love how after being gone for only 6 days, they boys act like they've never seen their toys before. I don't think we saw them for an hour once we got home!

30 days of Thanks: Day Twenty-six

Today I'm thankful to have spent the morning with my husband on an amazing kayak/hiking adventure to Secret Falls. Thanks so much to Grammie and Papa for watching the boys so we could have this incredible experience! 

We hiked along the Wailua River. It was beautiful! 

King and Queen's Bath

I felt like a total Hawaiian hiking in my "slippahs." I didn't exactly come prepared with the proper footwear.
I only lost my shoe once in the river, and my brave husband jumped in a saved it for me. :-)

Secret Falls

The water took my breath away - it was COLD!
So worth it to say I swam in the waterfall, though! 

Destination Thanksgiving Day

We had a very laid back Thanksgiving Day. 

We started out with watching the sun rise over the ocean.

I wish we could say we got up extra early for this, 

but unfortunately its quite normal for my boys to rise before the sun.

Both Mary and I swallowed some pride this year by ordering our turkey and sides already prepared from the grocery store. We did add in our own pumpkin pies and sweet potatoes, but everything else just heat and serve. Not exactly the way my mama taught me, but when your'e on vacation, you gotta improvise. 

We were pleasantly surprised with the quality of our meal! 

Standard Keaton. He ate a few bites of turkey and about a pound of cranberry sauce.

After our lunch, we took a drive to see some waterfalls.

Opaeka'a Falls (look closely)

Wailua Falls

Afterwards, we drove to Lydgate Park, which had a super fun playground for the boys. 

We finished off our Turkey Day with some beach time 

 and a beautiful sunset.

oh, and of course -  leftovers! 

30 days of Thanks: Day Twenty-five

Today, I'm thankful that Christmas is only 1 month away. I've already been sneaking in a few Christmas tunes here and there (much to Scott's chagrin). This will be the first time in our 8 years of marriage that we will wake up in our own beds on Christmas morning. I'm so excited to decorate our little home and wish Mele Kalikimaka to everyone! 

Here's another unrelated Kauai photo from today. Tunnels Beach is SO BEAUTIFUL! 

Get ready for one monster blog when this vacation is over. 450 photos and counting...

30 Days of Thanks: Day Twenty-four

Is it cliche to be thankful for Thanksgiving? I'm going to risk it. 

I'm thankful that there's a holiday to relax, spend time with family, and be thankful. 

I'm thankful for family and those that are ALMOST like family both near and far. 

I'm thankful for my boys, my husband, and this awesome
vacation made possible by my amazingly generous in-laws. 

Feeling very blessed right now. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

30 Days of Thanks: Day Twenty-three

I'm thankful for God's power.

We spent our afternoon on the North Shore of Kauai. 

Waves steadily mounted up and met the sand with pounding regularity, 

and it was hard not to ponder how powerful our God is. 

OUR God created this ocean and set into motion its every wave. 

And that's only one little bitty itsy bitsy tiny slice of what He's God over. Wow.

Jeremiah 39:35 "... he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar-- the LORD Almighty is his name." 

Dental Hygiene

"Scott? You have Mark, right?" 

"No!"

"Well, where is he?"

He's brushing his teeth, of course!

30 Days of Thanks: Day Twenty-two

Today, I'm thankful for this guy.

Let's just say God knew what he was doing when Lindsay and Elisha set us up on that blind date back in 2001. 

Smart.

Funny.

Kind.

Humble.

Just a teansy bit neurotic.

Very easy to love.

A wonderful husband. 

My soulmate.

Plus, if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have these guys, so...

I guess I'll keep him. :-)

30 days of Thanks: Day Twenty-one

Today I'm thankful to be on beautiful Kauai for the WHOLE WEEK of Thanksgiving. 

Also, I'm thankful that a dog escaped from its crate in the cargo hold on the flight over and pooped on my stroller, so that I get to pick out a brand new stroller when I get home reimbursed by Hawaiian Airlines. 

How's that for random? 

Oh yeah, in the meantime, we get a loaner stroller from the airline that just happens to be "Lightning McQueen" themed. Could that have worked out any better? Thank you, Lord.

30 days of Thanks: Day Twenty

Today I'm thankful that the Creator of the world calls me his child, and Satan's power has no hold on me. 

30 Days of Thanks: Day Nineteen

Today I'm thankful for God's daily protection over my children. 

Especially this one... who finds new ways to put his life in peril every day. 

Like this morning, he looks like he's going to squeeze through the railing here. 

Good thing Daddy and Papa were watching...

Don't worry, there's only jagged rocks and crashing waves below...

Please Lord, get Marky (and his Mama) through these toddler years! 

30 Days of Thanks: Day Eighteen

I'm thankful for this boy. 

I'm thankful that I made the list of the 3 things he's thankful for. 

Right after his toys... right before giraffes.

30 Days of Thanks: Day Seventeen

Today I'm thankful for the field trip I took to Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. Believe it or not, after living here for almost 2 years, I've never had the opportunity to visit this historic place, simply because its not really a place to bring kids, and I'm ALWAYS with the kids. Mary was gracious enough to babysit this afternoon, so that Ray and I could go. 

If you get the chance to come to Hawaii, please don't miss out on this experience. It's one of the coolest things I've seen since living here. It was a humbling and sobering experience to remember the events of the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, marking our entrance into WW2. 

After the visiting the memorial and walking through the new visitors center, we also took a tour of the U.S.S. Missouri, the battleship on which the Japanese formally surrendered to the Allied Forces, ending WW2 in 1945. 

It was such a beautiful afternoon, and such an amazing experience !

30 Days of Thanks: Day Sixteen

I'm thankful today that this is my breakfast, lunch, and dinnertime view.

and thanks to Mary for taking this awesome photograph! 

30 days of Thanks: Day Fifteen

Today, I'm thankful for my parents-in-law, who just arrived on the island tonight! I'm very blessed to have married into a family that has always made me feel welcome and loved. We are so happy to have Grammie and Papa here to celebrate Thanksgiving with us this year. 

30 days of Thanks: Day Fourteen

Today, I'm very thankful for parents that love the Lord, love each other, and love my siblings and me. In that order.

30 Days of Thanks: Day Thirteen

Today, I'm thankful for the long weekend. It was great to have an extra day to spend with Daddy, especially after having been gone so long. On Friday morning, we took a favorite hike with some friends up to the Makapu'u lighthouse. The color of blue in the ocean from up there is completely unreal.

Keaton could barely pull his eyes away to pose for a picture with his buddy.

Not much of a family pic, but we tried!

30 Days of Thanks: Day Twelve

Today, I'm thankful for a pedicure and the 2 hours and 26 minutes I had alone this afternoon to relax and have some "me" time. I love these crazy boys, but sometimes, I seriously need a break!