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My birthday has come and gone. Rusty worked so hard to make it a special birthday. We had french toast with lillikoi syrup for breakfast. For dinner we went to Polihale and had a bbq. Really I can't think of a better place to spend a birthday. Not only the place, but the company. My Mom and Dad AND Merrill and Nancy were here. That was a first and I'm not sure it will ever happen again. It was great. Rusty fretted and stewed over my birthday present for months. He always asks me what I want. I always think of things and mention them in passing, but when it comes right down to a reason for a gift I forget all of those things and can't think of what to tell him. He wanted to buy me a new kitchen-aid. Mine was turning on at medium power so every time you used it flour and everything else was flying all over the kitchen. I tried out Heidi's bosch and Shaun's new model of kitchen-aid. I really just wanted mine to work again. I feel like it is an old friend and I would be untrue to our friendship if I just sold it away. Like it hasn't been working hard for me for ten years. So after I tried out new mixers and Rusty did tons of research and was ready to order my new kitchen-aid birthday present, I asked him to try and fix mine one more time. He fixed it, and I was so happy. He was so upset that he didn't have a birthday present to get. We did some more research. This time on food processors. We settled on one and they even had it on island. I wasn't sure if I would love having one, but it is my new best friend (not over my old best friend, the kitchen-aid). He also took the girls to Kmart and they picked out some things for me. They are observant little things. Kyleigh chose a new watch that I love and wear every day. Katelyn chose an insulated water bottle. Also something I love and use every day. I got so many other nice things. Really, I am so spoiled. Thanks everyone! To top off all the amazingness my Mom made me a birthday cake. My Mom's birthday cake is the best and only birthday cake that should be made on planet earth. It is a made from scratch white cake with green seven minute frosting and coconut sprinkled on top. I had to share it with everyone and I was very sad about that. So she made me another one. I gained an undisclosable number of pounds when she was here. Who cares, you just can't beat a mom. Happy Birthday to me.

Halloween Treats

We got a package from the grandparents for Halloween. GG and Gpa sent a kit to make rice krispy treat pumpkins and bats. We got it just in time for Family Home Evening. Nama and Papa sent a box full of goodies. The kids were on the edge of their seats waiting to open the packages. We are thankful for AMAZING grandparents!

Camping

Camping...in the living room. The kids were so excited. Rusty and I were also so excited when Ridge slept all night and late into the morning. That never happens.

Cousin Movie Night

We traded babysitting with Mike and Holly a few weekends ago. Here are the super cute kids watching a movie.

Early Morning Story

The kids getting a story and smoothie before Daddy leaves for work.

Bedtime lego tower

A few nights ago I was cleaning up the kitchen while Rusty was getting the kids ready for bed. It was so quiet for so long I wondered what was going on. When I went to look I found this lego tower. All four of them were so proud of themselves!

Kyleigh's FHE lesson

Kyleigh came up with our family home evening lesson all on her own. It was a combination lesson on missionaries and modesty. She drew the boy and girl on the board with what she considered immodest clothes then erased and redrew the figures with modest clothes. Then she talked about boys and girls going on missions. She did a great job. She will be a fabulous teacher. She was so cute focusing on Katelyn, talking on her level, and keeping her involved in the lesson. If you are wondering what the words are, think phonetic spelling.

Horseback Ride

On our trip to Yellowstone this past summer we planned to take Kyleigh horseback riding, but there was a mix up with the age requirements and she was a month short. So for her birthday we promised her we would take her on a horseback ride. My Mom really wanted to go with us so we waited until she was here, and we got to go with my Mom and Dad. We went with CJM stable in Poipu. It was a beautiful ride, with mountains and ocean views and a stream crossing. The trail went along the same place we have gone rock climbing in the past. Kyleigh was so excited to be on a horse. She told us later that her favorite part was when the horse started trotting a little to keep up with the horse in front of him. She got to wear her pink cowgirl boots that a friend gave her a long time ago. No jeans, though, it was just way to hot for that. Our guide was psycho. I mean that in the nicest way. I thought I would hear about wanting a horse after this, but they are stuck on wanting a dog so we are safe for awhile. Kyleigh did say she was ready to go again as soon as we were done.

Skydiving

About 9 years ago I graduated college. For my graduation present I told Russ I wanted to go skydiving. He would have taken me then but I was pregnant with Kyleigh. Then life happened. Then Katelyn happened. Life again. On our tenth anniversary trip to the big Island we wanted to go and found out it wasn't available over there. Not long after that trip, Ridge happened. After all that, we finally went skydiving. We scheduled it for the 14th of September when my parents were here, so they could watch the kids. It was SO MUCH FUN. It was a tandem skydive, so we had instructors strapped to our backs. The plane ride up was the scariest part. They had a super old looking plane. We both figured we were safer than the pilot with a parachute strapped to our backs. The space in the plane was tight and the equipment we had on was even tighter. It took about 20 minutes to get up to 10,000 feet. By the time we were ready to jump I was really looking forward to relief from the harness around my waist. I only had one tiny second thought when I watched Rusty jump out. I didn't really have much time to think about it, though, because I jumped just a few seconds after him. They had us put our feet on the platform, cross our arms, and the instructor launched us out of the plane. Your legs fly up and back and your arms go out. They told us not to fight the wind, but let your arms be pushed by it. The freefall lasted for about 20-30 seconds. They said we were going about 110-120 mph. The video shows more skin flapping than I knew we had. Once they pulled the parachute we got to steer it. We were over the ocean for most of the descent and we landed in the same field we left from. So, would I ever do it again? YES, I started thinking about it as soon as I landed. A friend told me you could get a good Kamaaina rate on Oahu. I will look into it the next time we go to Oahu.