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.