Saturday, November 30, 2019

Thanksgiving 2019

Thanksgiving this year was festive and fun!  It seems to sneak up on us every year and this year was no different.  We still made time to make our annual Gratitude Turkey, though!  


Some of us participated in the neighborhood Turkey Trot this year.  Sully and Benny joined us and rocked the run! 



The Whittles were nice enough to host us for Thanksgiving dinner.  Caitlin made it so special!  


I wish I had gotten a better picture of the crew, but here we are.  The Whittles, the Rays, the Bernhardt family, and the Bernhardt's visiting family.  Ali is such a trooper.  Her husband, Jeff, was deployed, so it was just her and her boys, Miles and Worthy. Her step mother-in-law stayed with her for 2 weeks while recovering from hip surgery.  

A great day celebrating with family and friends! 


Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Life Update

Welp, it's October 3rd already and I can hardly believe it!  There's been a few changes around the house and a lot of things are still the same, but I thought it would be helpful to give an update on the Rays.

Lucy started a new job at Panda Express.  She works 15-20 hours a week and is handling it well!  She doesn't love all of her coworkers, but she seems to be managing that part okay.  She's also auditioned for a play with PACK (Performing Arts Center of Kapolei) and got a part, so she's attending a lot of rehearsals for that.  It's Frozen...she's the mother and has a few more parts in the ensemble.  She's also in concert choir at Radford and that keeps her busy.  They are prepping for a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City at the end of the school year.

Lucy is still on track to graduate this year a full year early.  She worked hard this past summer to get it all set up.  We're not sure if she'll head to Utah State next year as a 17 year old freshman or stay and go to Leeward Community College for a year.  She thinks she's ready to go, we're not as convinced.

Oh, how she misses Tristen.  He left for his mission to South Korea two months ago and it's been a huge transition for her.....and for us.  He used to drive her everywhere!  I'm ready for her to have her license.  She takes the driving test the end of this month.

Graham is doing well as a seventh grader at Aiea Intermediate School.  He's had a hard time remembering to turn in assignments, but other than that, he's excelling.  He's playing the saxophone in the school band and already asks if he can quit.  The answer is no, so he keeps trucking along.  He and Benny are still taking piano lessons.  He's trying out for the school basketball team in a few weeks.  He has gotten pretty good!  We enjoy going out in the evenings to play 2v2.  Jason and Ben against me and Graham.  His shot is getting better and better.

Jason is still Young Men's president and is doing his best.  He gets a little frustrated with his lack of help and his lack of counselors, but he keeps working.  He plays the piano a lot during Sacrament Meeting.  I love when he plays piano. 

His job with PACOM up on Camp Smith is stressful, but good.  He likes the people he works with, but his hours are long.  He's been able to travel to Singapore, Papa New Guinea and Japan this past year. 

I'm still the primary president.  I'm enjoying the calling and the challenges that are teaching me.  We are prepping for the primary program at the end of the month.  I'm grateful for the music in primary.  I am the one teaching and leading the songs and they strengthen my testimony so very much.  We only have about 15 kids, so I feel like I really know each of them. 

We are trying to be faithful with our Come Follow Me lessons at home.  I have LOVED having 2 hour church and being able to discuss more at home with our kids.  They don't love it, but that's okay.  I'm excited to be studying the Book of Mormon next year. 

Saturday, November 2, 2019

October Shenanigans

October Happs!
Loving the Halloween package from Grandma and Grandpa!  



Field trip to the fire station with Sullivan and his kindergarten class.  


Graham got lots of awards at the Court of Honor at the end of the month. He does NOT like scouting, but participated anyways to be obedient to us.  Glad it's over!

The Pickup Family visited the island and we had them over for pizza.  It was so fun catching up!


We forced the kids into a day at the beach.  They weren't happy about it, but we had a great morning. We brought the Baggett boys along to make it more fun. 

Kaneohe Beach on base for the win!