Cook family in training

We are officially in training. Mike came up with this crazy plan to go on a 4 day, 30ish mile backpacking trip in New Mexico. He easily convinced Rusty to go along and between the two of them, with a little work, they convinced Holly and I. On August 2nd we are departing on our backpacking trip. Rusty is going to carry gear for all four of us (it's a good thing I'm married to superman), and I am going to carry Katelyn. Kyleigh is hiking packless on her own. We bought a new kidpack for Katelyn because the one we had was ridiculously heavy and uncomfortable. The new one is a sherpani rumba superlight. LOVE IT! Two weekends ago we went on a 6 mile hike and this weekend we stretched it out to a really intense 8.3 mile loop hike. I carried Katelyn all but about a mile at the beginning, which she hiked herself. Kyleigh is an amazing 5 year old. She hung in the whole way. She has learned to tell us as soon as her feet hurt so we can tape them and prevent any blistering. She lets us know when she needs a rest and is quick to jump back up and get going when it is time. Rusty and I woke up the next morning really really sore. We asked Kyleigh how she was feeling. She wasn't sure what we meant. We asked her if her legs were sore. She looked kind of confused and said, "No, why would they be?"

We are really looking forward to our trip. Are we crazy? Yea, probably. I'll let you know how it goes.

Fathers Day

We had a great Father's Day this year. We went to Kalaheo on Friday night, intending to go to our ward campout at Salt Pond Beach Park. However, it was a rainy night and 2/2 of our tents soak through. We had a tent lined up to borrow, but knowing that we were going back to Princeville the next day we didn't see how we could get it properly cleaned and dried by the time we left. We went to the potluck dinner then went home and "camped" in the living room. The next day Rusty and Mike went on an early morning mtn. bike ride. When they got home we went back to Salt Pond for the ward Father's Day BBQ. In the evening we went to Poipu beach for a farewell BBQ for Rick and Kashy Hubbell. They are leaving here to work on a job in Pinedale, WY. That evening we drove back to Princeville and Mike and Holly also came up. Rusty's Uncle Dan and his wife Norma are here this week. We spent Sunday afternoon with them. Dan was in the Navy and stationed on Oahu 40 years ago. He was so excited to talk story and go snorkeling with the boys. We took him up to Ke'e beach where they found all sorts of ocean life, except a shark. Uncle Dan really wanted to see a shark. We came back and had filet mignon, green salad, baked potatos, jello, rolls, strawberry lemonade and cheesecake for dinner. We gave Rusty play guitar deluxe version 2.0 and some new pictures for his Father's Day frame. Last year we gave him a picture frame with pictures of the girls holding up letters to spell DAD. My intent was to update the photos each year with the same letters. The pictures this year turned out really cute. I took one picture with all of the letters to post. A week or so before Father's Day I made a little menu and left it on Rusty's desk with options and a changes line so he could make changes to the menu if he wanted. Under the changes he wrote, " big kisses from my girls." So we made rice krispy treats the shaped them like Hershey's kisses, wrapped them in aluminum foil and put a little note coming out the top. We put them at the dinner places of all the dads (Rusty, Mike, and Uncle Dan). All of the fun Father's Day activities are great, but I am most thankful for the really, really great daddy my girls have. All the time and effort he puts into being a great Dad pay off. He has the absolute adoration of two beautiful daughters. I owe it to my own Dad that I knew how to pick a good one. If he hadn't been just as great of a Dad how would I have known a great future Dad when I saw one. Also, how would Rusty have known how to be the great Dad he is without an example to follow, so thanks to you too Merrill. Happy Father's Day!

New Niece!!!

Welcome to the world Alma Julius Graves-Funke! Alma (pronounced like... you are giving alms to the poor (alm) a. Not like Alma in the Book of Mormon). Alma was born on June 15th, at around 5:30 in the morning. She is the first baby of my sister Darci. She and Dan are super excited to finally get to have their sweet little honey here with them. Those chubby little cheeks are due to the 7 lbs. 13 oz. and only 19 inches of lenth. Don't you just want to squeeze them. Who wouldn't?

We can't wait to meet her in person!

Bike Riding

We are finally living in a place that makes bike riding fun and easy. The golf course path behind our house is great, as well as the path that runs along the main Princeville Road. We pulled out the bike trailor we used for Kyleigh when she was little and we lived on the greenbelt in Boise. I load both of the girls in that for a trip to the library, park, and/or store. We also bought a tag a long for Kyleigh. In the evening Kyleigh and Rusty ride with the tag a long and Katelyn rides in the bike trailor. Last night we discovered a great golf course loop that runs along a closed down road that is like a tree tunnel, up to the clubhouse and back through the golf course. We thought Kyleigh might be scared of the tag a long but it didn't take her 20 minutes before she was yelling for Rusty to go faster. They go up and down all kinds of crazy hills with Kyleigh yelling to go faster all the way. She asks us every night if she can go mountain biking with Dad. It's easy to say yes to that.

P.S. These pictures were taken after a ride. She usually has a helmet on.

New Hair

We got a little crazy one morning and tried something new. Let me know what you think.

Princeville House

As previously posted, we have moved to Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii (north shore) for four months. We still have our house with most of our stuff in Kalaheo, Kauai, Hawaii (south shore). RCM rented us a partially furnished house, so we brought what we needed. The house is very nice, 2 bedrooms (but they are seriously huge bedrooms), 3 bathrooms, 2 car garage. The best part is that the house is right on the sixth hole of the Princeville golf course.

Living room, shot of front door and formal dining table.

Kitchen and breakfast nook table towards front of picture.

Master bedroom with deck overlooking golf coarse and ocean.

View of living room from the front door.

DAD, you know this picture is for you. View of the sixth hole/ocean off the back patio. Yes, we have already found golf balls in the yard.

The best part about this house is the master shower. That shower head is HUGE. Weirdest part about this house, the bidet and urinal in the master bath. Yes, you read that right. I cannot give a full report as I am not yet brave enough to try the bidet. However, Rusty reported that he doesn't believe the cleanliness is adequate and will never trust the bidet alone. As for the urinal, I parked the laundry basket squarely in front of it and we have not had any issues.

We really like Princeville, beside feeling isolated by an 1 1/2 hour drive from all the people we know. Princeville is kind of a funny town, if you can even call it that. It is one three mile street off the main highway that dead ends at the St. Regis Princeville hotel (which is where Rusty is remodeling their fine dining restaurant). There are streets off to the right and left of this 3 mile road but they don't go very far. When you come in off the main highway there are fancy waterfalls including a 20 foot fountain and lush manicured vegatation. It makes you wonder, is this Stepford and will I see all the women wearing skirts with perfect hair and nails? All along the 3 mile road there is a walking/biking path. Immediately on the left there is a playground for the kids and the Princeville library and further to the left is a shopping center with a grocery store. We are on the first road to the right. We have to have a gate opener to get through the gate that blocks the street our house is on. The gate is kind of a joke, though, because it is only closed at night, and after it closes you can get through a little opening on foot and if you really wanted to, you could walk inside, trip the exit gate and drive in that way. Maybe it makes people feel important or something. I am pleased to report that I have not yet met anyone in a stepford uniform and we are really enjoying the change.

Kyleigh's dance recital

Kyleigh's dance recital was on May 9th. Kauai Dance Theatres 29th annual recital was a "dance through the ages" theme. Kyleigh performed twice during the recital. Once as the flowers at the dawn of time and again as the flower children of the sixties. In her first performance the girls danced around "rocks" which were the dancers from an older class. Kyleigh was so excited when she found out that her friend and babysitter Heidi Herr, who is 13, was going to be a rock. I think that was the highlight of the recital. During the rehearsals and even during the recital I had a hard time keeping Kyliegh behind the curtain. She kept wanting to watch the older girls and mimic everything. The name of the class she takes is creative movements. The teacher, Miss Janie, is a ballet purist and the kids don't take "ballet" until they are six, but they still learn the positions of ballet and the correct ballet language. It is funny to hear Kyleigh telling me she is practicing her grand batmas and sote's (I know those probably aren't spelled right). Because it is creative movements one of their dances was free reign. They choreographed their own performances. Those are always the best. Kyky looked so cute in her costume and of course her favorite part was the makeup. These pictures were taken outside the studio a week before the actual recital.

Good job KyKy! We are always so proud of you.