Soccer for three

Sadie is happy that she is finally old enough to play on a soccer team. She had her first game and she was cute. Once, as she was chasing the huddle around the ball, she stopped suddenly to look at the ground. She then bent down to pick something up and ran straight over to me on the sidelines. "Look what I found, Mom!" she said as she handed me a tiny yellow flower.

Unfortunately, I missed Aidan's first game of the season because I was at Cole's game where I am trying to be the assistant coach. I know, me coaching soccer.....it's a stretch, but they were desperate. Anyway, it's been fun and I think I am starting to learn a little bit about soccer.

Cole plays for the Warriors, Aidan for the DC Bumblebees, and Sadie for the Geckos!

Getting ready for kick off

Sadie is #9

Sadie, Sierra, and Cassidy

Buzzzzzzzzzz

After a little prodding from Mom and Dad, Cole finally decided to lose the mop. Jason wasted no time plugging those clippers in once the decision had been made. "THE MOP"
Jason in action
That's a lot of hair!
Cole isn't too happy about this

Fun on the Wailua River

We all (except Jason, who worked) spent Saturday on the Wailua River with our friends, the Hoffs. Sadie loved playing and swimming with Ethan and catching tadpoles. Cole and Aidan both got pulled behind the boat on knee boards and boogie boards. I waterskiied up the river and back until my legs were shaking like Jello (it's been a few years). We all got to try paddle boarding for our first time. Jumping from the cliffs and the rope swing was the highlight. There's a short movie to watch. Thanks Owen and Gina for great food and a fabulous day! Aidan, Sadie, and Ethan

Cole on the paddle board

Brooke giving Sadie and Ethan a ride

Jumping!

Coconuts

Jason cut down some coconuts just as the missionaries came for a visit. Elder Stout served in our area well over a year ago and is here again for a second time...that rarely happens. He is going home on Tuesday, right after Sister Kimura's baptism on Monday night.

Pre-school Begins

Sadie had her first week of Pre-school and loved it! There are 10 boys in her class and only 3 other girls. So far she seems to fit in better with the boys...no surprise there. The first day I went to pick her up I found her digging in the dirt collecting rollie polie bugs. Mrs. Barcelona, her teacher, told me she had to move her at nap time because she was talking too much....to Ethan, of course. She is really excited about finally being able to go to school, which makes it a tiny bit easier to let her go.

I started school too, as a kindergarten tutor. I am working about three hours a day at Kalaheo School. Nothing I planned to do, but they were in need and I think it will make this transition of having all the kids at school a little easier. The best part about it is that I get to see the boys everyday at school. I see Aidan at recess and Cole as he goes to lunch. They always run up and give me a big hug when they see me. It makes me SO happy! I am getting pretty attached to those cute kindergarten kids as well. Jason is already talking about me quitting... and it's only been a week. When or if I do, it will be hard to leave those adorable kids. Ethan and Sadie

Sadie and the boys

Rolling out the Dough

Cole was craving rolls last Sunday. We had to borrow some yeast because our kitchen is still not stocked. Cole helped me make the dough and then I let the kids do the rest. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they did on their own. They are quite the little roll makers. We gave a few to our friends who shared their yeast and then ate all the rest in less than an hour!

We Love You Great Grandpa!

One of the last times we were able to see Grandpa-

enjoying Laura's homemade ice cream

Great Grandpa Karren passed away on Saturday. We have been thinking about him a lot in the last 24 hours. The kids have talked about his funny comments and sometimes crazy behavior. They loved to visit him at the Legacy House and to give him back rubs...an easy way to get him to smile.

I have so much more to remember about him then they do, before the dementia set in. I remember a wonderful and loving Grandpa. A special memory for me is the time I went along for the ride with him on a trip to Bear Lake...just the two of us. All along the way he told me about his childhood in Drummond, Montana. The day I was baptized Grandpa treated the whole family to dinner at any restaurant of my choice...I chose the Bluebird. Grandpa encouraged me to learn the articles of faith and even paid me one dollar for each one that I memorized. When I was sixteen, the car I was driving leaked oil on Grandpa's driveway. Grandpa called me as soon as he discovered it and asked me to come over and clean it up. I'll never forget how bad I felt about disappointing him. A few years later he gave me my patriarchal blessing. A few years after that he met my future husband. Geneology was a big part of Grandpa's life. You can imagine his surprise when he learned that Jason didn't know his Grandpa and Grandma Murray's first names. (He does know them now) While we were in Logan last year Jason's uncle, Floyd, told of the wonderful influence Grandpa had on the lives of the people in the Logan East Stake as he shared stories of his experiences while serving with Grandpa.

Visits to the cemetaries, cowboy boots, the blue Aggie cowboy hat, toothpicks, eating out on Monday nights with cousins, the El Camino, a clean carport, square dancing and the brown sofa in Grandpa's den are some other things that come to mind when I think of Grandpa. I feel blessed to be Ted Karren's granddaughter and appreciate the positive influence he had on my life. I have missed him and will continue to.

Back to School Again!

The first day back....Bittersweet. It's exciting for the kids, but Mom always has a hard time. I cried at home, but was able to pull myself together and take them to school without a tear... until I waved goodbye.

Aidan with all his school supplies including his own antibacterial squirt bottle. Germs, Stay Away!

One last look at Aidan, before I leave

Cole with his new classmate, Shane

I get one more week with Sadie. The two of us enjoyed a mango, passion fruit, coconut shave ice at Brennecke's

The Fort

Our first morning back on Kauai, Cole got right to work giving a little "TLC" to his fort made of leaves and branches. The front door is made of fan palm leaves and the inside is covered with soft leaves made into chairs. Unfortunately, it's a mosquito haven...so bug spray is neccessary for anyone who wants to visit.
Cole, Noah, and Aidan

Hindu Temple

Rachel and the kids went on the tour, highly recommended by Uncle Mike, to see the Hindu Temple being built in Wailua for the last 40 plus years. The grounds, which include hundreds of acres of beautiful tropical plants, along the Wailua River were well worth seeing and the intricately hand carved white granite temple was amazing! We went on tour with a family visiting from Utah as well as the new apostle, Elder Christofferson, and his wife who were visiting Kauai for a few days. We were also surprised to see the Stennett Family, another LDS family from Lihue while on the tour. And we took a group photo when the tour concluded. The kids were pretty impressed with what they saw and even got to try cutting stone themselves at the end of the tour. As we watched some of the workers, I was amazed at how much work is being put into this temple and it gave me a deeper appreciation for the temple in Salt Lake, which I think, is made out of the same kind of stone. The kids had a lot of questions following the tour, like "Why do they think that elephant statue is a God?" So we had a lot to discuss and clarify. It was a great learning experience for all. Thanks Uncle Mike!