So much to smile about!

Little boys are treasures
Who are worth their weight in gold
And charm everyone around them
From the time they're hours old.

They're Mommy's little darling,
They're a special pal to Dad,
And they bring the very happiest days
A family's ever had!

I sent the kids on a treasure hunt to find out if they were getting a new brother or sister. They were very excited at the end to find a big blue bag full of chocolates and other candy wrapped in blue. "We must be having a boy!" Cole said. "Yeah!" whooped Aidan. Then I watched Sadie as her big smile and excitement changed. She got really quiet and sad and then started to cry. Seeing Jason's disappointment was hard, but seeing Sadie's was even worse.

It's been a couple of days...Sadie got excited about some baby boy clothes I scored at Habitat for Humanity and Jason seems fine. Today he is taking one of his boys mountain biking.

We took the kids on another hikethrough the highest swamp in the world! A wooden boardwalk covered with wire (for traction) makes it possible to walk through the swamp. The terrain through the native fern forest and swamp is like nothing I've experienced anywhere else. The incredible views of Kalaulau Valley and the north shore at the end of the hike (basically the edge of a cliff) are spectacular and well worth the 7 mile hike! We were fortunate not to have the clouds obstruct our view.
Aidan had a few mishaps along the way, but once again the kids proved to be great little hikers! (The pictures aren't in order.)

Aidan was in front most of the way and had no warning about this terrible trap...now nicknamed the pig trap. He stepped on a board to cross the swamp between two sections of boardwalk and sunk into mud up to his waist. Even his shirt got soaked which is why he is shirtless. He cried for a bit until we talked him into continuing the hike. I felt terrible for him, because it was pretty cold and he had to hike in wet clothes.

We were treated to a gorgeous sunset as we drove home after the hike.

Aidan and Cole loved riding in the back of the truck down the long bumpy, muddy road back to the lodge.

Mishap #2- The kids ran a lot of the way. Aidan tripped and cut his finger really good on the pokey wire....ouch!

See Aidan in front? Not long after this photo was taken Aidan got far ahead of everyone....then a while later he came running back to us with a very worried look on his face. He had run into a big wild boar with huge tusks along the trail. He didn't leave the group again after that.

Sadie can now catch chameleons with almost as much skill has her brothers. This girl fits right in with a family of boys.

Cole made me proud the night of his pinewood derby. I have to admit I didn't pay much attention to the race, but every time I looked over at Cole he had big grin on his face and he was eagerly cheering his fellow cubs on as they raced their cars.

As we were driving home after a night of fun Cole said, "Mom, I got very last place." I hadn't even realized during the night that his car had finished last.

I replied, "Well, someone had to get last place and aren't you glad it was you instead of one of the other boys?"

"Yeah," he answered.

I was so pleased with his good sportsmanship I'm sure I had a big smile on my face the rest of the way home. Cole had a good looking car and it won best in show, but it was a slow car and finished dead last out of about 16 other cars. A few days later Cole's friend gave us a book called, "How to Win the Pinewood Derby." He will be racing his car again in April at a big scouting event. We may be making a few alterations to his car before then.

Jason and I enjoyed tagging along with the Pre-school on their visit to the Kaneshiro Farm.

The other day I was tired...so I took a nap after the kids got home from school. I woke up to hear singing outside my window. As I listened closer I realized it was my sweet Sadiegirl singing one of her made up songs. I walked downstairs and outside and saw Sadie way down the street in our cul de sac riding her bike and happily singing loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear. Then I decided to get my camera out. It's never as candid or as cute when the camera is out...but it was one of those precious moments you wish you could hang on to forever. I posted a short clip to enjoy.

Hanakapi'ai Falls...Misson Accomplished

A word of warning. This is a LONG post, lots of pictures and descriptions, but it was an awesome way to spend our Valentine's Day. For those of you coming to visit...this hike is highly recommended by the murray ohana.

The other night as we were lying in bed, Jason and I started talking about some of the things we STILL haven't done here on Kauai. You would think that after several years of being here that we would have done everything. Some things haven't been as easy with little kids. We've gone up the beautiful Kalalau trail several times, but never made the trek up to the Hanakapi'ai Falls we've heard so much about. So after a few months of feeling a little out of commission I decided I was ready for a little adventure. Yesterday we woke to wind and a little rain...not the perfect beach day...but a great day for a hike. After a slow morning of eating heart shaped pancakes, a couple stops at the store and waiting in traffic in Kapaa we finally got a late start at the Kalalau trail head. It was almost 1pm when we started and the sun sets about 6:30pm. We knew we would be pushing it to make it back before dark.


Here we are at the trail head...A BEFORE photo

Here we are at the trail head six hours later after finishing the hike... muddy sweaty, sore, tired and in the dark.

Some things aren't maintained too well here on Kauai, this trail sign is a good example. For the best known hiking trail in Hawaii...you'd think they could do a little better.

Aidan found this trekking pole at the beginning of the hike and we ALL used it at times.
View of Ke'e beach from the trail

Those tree roots ARE the trail

Right here at this one point in the trail the wind was blowing us so hard that you felt a little like you were going to get blown right off the trail. Aidan was hanging on to a rock for dear life. As soon as we got past this one spot the wind wasn't as strong.

Aidan in the stream with Hanakapi'ai beach in the background

Helping Sadie cross the stream.

First glimpse of the falls.

Cole sliding down the stream

There was a tiny bit of climbing involved.

Aidan picking wild raspberries...we also found the most delicious strawberry guavas along the trail.

Although Jason had to carry Sadie from the beach up to the falls we ALL made it!

Jason was the only one to take a dip in the pool under the falls....the rest of us were too cold...it rained A LOT.

The kids taking a break in the bamboo on the way back.

The bamboo was pretty cool.

Did I mention mud?

The sun is setting.

We were also treated to a rainbow on the way back. It's getting darker.
Just one movie...of the boys sliding down the stream.

ALL PAU!

Happy Birthday to our horsey loving puppy, Sadie!

Sadie wanted a birthday party with ALL of her friends... 14 kids from preschool, 12 from primary, plus more and she started verbally inviting them before we had anything planned. I have always done birthday parties for my kids because they enjoy them so much and because birthdays only come once a year. But this year, being in the pregnant state I am, I just didn't feel I had the energy or a strong enough stomach to get excited about entertaining that many kids at once. Sadie also wanted to go on a horseride....so I decided to give her a choice...birthday party or horseback ride....then I held my breath. I was very grateful and let out a sigh of relief when she decided to go on a horseback ride rather than having a big blowout birthday party.

I REALLY enjoyed Sadie's birthday and I took LOTS of pictures. I've posted just a few (I know there's a lot) of the MANY. I can't believe my baby is 5...it makes me very grateful that I'm having another.

We took some cupcakes and goodie bags to celebrate with Sadie's pre-school friends.

Aidan always gets creative and makes his own birthday presents. Last year he made Sadie a dress that fit her perfectly out of paper and masking tape as well as slippers made out of cardboard and tape and adorned with feathers. This year he used recycled soup cans, paper, hot glue, popsicle sticks, and markers to make a handy "holder." He also got her a dog bowl with his saved up school money. We never know anything about these hand-made gifts and saved up surprises until he pulls them out, usually from under his bed, on the special day. What a thoughtful brother!

Sadie with her new dog bowl.

Sadie is probably one of the few doggies that needs ice in her water bowl.

Enjoying the birthday cake.

Sadie and Hernando. Sadie loved Hernando so much she kept asking if she could bring him home.

We also took Sadie to the rodeo...probably the least exciting rodeo I've ever been too, but we got to sit in some nice reclining lounge chairs and had a fabulous view of...yes, the ocean. Not a bad way to end a birthday...especially for our animal loving little girl. We drove by this beautiful field of flowers on our way to the rodeo and couldn't resist getting a photo.