Grahams Turns 13!

Graham is thirteen!  We had a lot of fun celebrating our favorite seventh grader.  

He had a group of friends over for pizza, games, and a movie.  

Here they are playing The Candybar Game.  It was a hit!  

Drew Forch, Jack Hill, Turner Baggett, Dylan, and Brayden.  

One of his good buddies, Turner Baggett, shares the same birthday, so we sang to them both.  

We love you, Graham!  

Thirteen I want to remember about my Grambo at 13:

1.  Graham started playing the saxophone this past summer.  He doesn't love it, but he's picked it up quickly.  

2.  Graham has a fantastic sense of humor.  He's pretty darn sarcastic, but he always has a funny one-liner to throw in and it's almost always hilarious.  

3.  Graham doesn't love mornings and has mastered the skill of sleeping in.  

4.  Graham is Lois' favorite.  He loves her, too and is so sweet with her.  He plays with her and she sleeps in his room at night.  She starts to whine as soon as she hears him coming in the house because she wants him to pet her.    

5.  Graham loves candy and is always looking for something sweet to eat.  He has found many of our hiding places.  

6.  He has started loving basketball and is going out for the school team this month.  He's quick and has got a good shot!

7.  Graham is taller than all the kids in his grade.  He had a huge growth spurt last summer and no one recognized him.  His voice changed before everyone else's, too.  Luckily, he's super handsome and dreamy, so puberty hasn't made him awkward.  

8.  Graham loves playing video games.  It's fun to hear him play against cousins in Utah or friends from school.  

9.  He will still play with Legos with his brothers.  I love Sunday afternoons when I hear the three of them playing together.  

10.  Graham is a debater.  He wants to be understood....and right ALL THE TIME.  He will argue his case FOREVER unless you tell him to stop.  

11.  He has always been my least picky eater.  He'll try nearly anything and keeps an open mind.  Except when we're having "chicken? again?".  

12.  Graham does not love hiking or the beach.  Although, once we get him to the beach, he almost always has a good time.  

13.  Graham is so very, very loved.  

Hickmans Come to Town

Abby for the Summer

Lucy's Sweet Sixteen

Can't quite believe it.  My girl turned sixteen.  Look at that face!  

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Uncle Blaine and Aunt Lindsay were in town with their boys on Lucy's big day.  They made it extra special with an amazing cake and awesome decorations.

I'm not even close to being okay with this girl growing up, but she keeps doing it anyways.  

It's been a tough couple of months for this sassy and sweet girl.  Her best friend, Tristen, left on his mission and she's not quite sure how to move forward.  I'm so proud of her and her willingness to keep moving, even when she really, really doesn't want to.  

Sixteen things about Lucy:

1.  She loves to sing.  She always, always has.  She sings ALL THE TIME.  Lucky for us, she has a beautiful voice.

2.  She has a great sense of humor.  She's super goofy and ridiculous, but it's hilarious all the same.

3.  She loves chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream....even though milk makes her stomach hurt.

4.  Lucy survives on cereal.  Mostly Rice Krispies and Cornflakes with waaaaay too much sugar.  This also makes her stomach hurt....go figure.

5.  Lucy loves The Office and Parks and Rec.

6.  Lucy is incredible at applying make-up.  She has a talent for it and always looks fabulous.  Ironically, she looks beautiful without any makeup on at all, too.  Not fair.

7.  She has always had a fun, different, rockin' sense of style and can pull off outfits that most shouldn't even attempt.

8.  Lucy is loyal and a good friend.  She has always been good at talking to other people and making them feel at ease.  Her heart is soft, though, and she doesn't understand when others don't show the same courtesy.

9.  Lucy has a love for her family...both immediate and extended.  She wants to be with them and feel a close relationship to them.

10.  She loves to talk.  I am sooo grateful for this.  I love talking with her about serious things, but also about stupid things.

11.  Lucy is a great debater.  She won't give in and keeps arguing until she gets her point across.  She is determined to be right, to be heard, and to be understood.

12.  Lucy is anxious, but also optimistic.  I love this combination in her.  She worries about the future and gets stressed out quickly, but her underlying characteristic is optimism and hope.

13.  Lucy is terrible at basketball.  But I love that she'll come out and play in our family games.

14.  Lucy likes a lot of different kinds of music.  Musicals, classic rock, easy listening, pop rock.  She keeps us guessing.  I'm always wondering what song is going to come on next when she's in charge of the music in the car.

15.  Lucy loves Coke and steals one from the outside fridge anytime she can.

16.  Lucy is loved.  So very, very much.

Sullivan in Kindergarten

Oh, this sweet boy.  I'm not ready for him to be gone all day to school.  The time has come, though, and he's ready.  

His new teacher is Mrs. Peltier-Low.  That first day, he was excited to see his desk and find out who would be sitting by him.  

We had to get a picture with one of Sully's best buds, Miles Bernhardt.  They aren't in the same class, but they play at recess.  

More McGrew friends!

Konale Gomes is in his class this year!  Glad to have a familiar face.  

Back to School 2019

The summer's here on Oahu are too short!  I wasn't ready for our relaxed days to end.  But, August 5 came and it was time to send these crazies back to school.  

Lucy took a few classes this summer and is skipping junior year!  So, technically, she's a 15 year old senior until her birthday on the 14th.

Graham started his first year at Aiea Intermediate School.  We're all a little nervous to be dealing with junior high again, but I know he'll be great!

Benny is back to Alvah Scott Elementary School as a fourth grader.  He was loving his new haircut.  

My sweet Sully side-kick starts FULL DAY kindergarten.  Cue the tears from Mom.  He is more than ready and is gonna rock this school gig.