Hawaiian Vacation: Part 1: Ho'Okena Beach Camping

In the beginning of August our little family headed out on a big adventure to visit my dad and Clorie in Hawaii where they had been living for a travel nurse assignment (turned vacation). We had a wonderful time and maximized every minute of our trip. We had so much fun and took so many pictures I'm going to post our adventure in parts.

Part 1: Ho'Okena Beach Camping

My Dad and Clorie picked us up from the airport late in the evening and took us straight to the campsite where we were met with a fully ready tent with snacks, comfy beds and water bottles.  We spent the next two days relaxing on the beach. We snorkeled, sea kayaked, paddle boarded, boogie boarded, played music, built castles, swam with wild dolphins and soaked up the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just so I don't forget...

Trek has recently told me his new favorite colors (formerly orange) are panther and Bengal tiger.

After feeling sick and throwing up I asked Trek to bring me the wipes.  He quickly ran to get them and offered to clean up my vomit.

Canyon has gotten a 100% on every spelling test so far in first grade.

Canyon has his first loose tooth and talks about the tooth fairy every day, multiple times.  But won't let Gary and I near his mouth for fear we'll pull the tooth out and he'll bleed to death.

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I came home from work and the house was silent. I went looking for my boys to wake them for school and found that Trek had crawled up to Canyon's top bunk sometime during the night. They looked so sweet wrapped in each others arms. I just sat and watched for a little while. It's moments like these, when I can see how much my boys love each other, that I feel like a proud mama.

 



 

Kirkman Reunion

Waaayy back in July the Kirkman's gathered at Camp Silver Creek outside Taylor, AZ.  Some traveled far and some were near, but we all gathered with common ground. We are all Kirkmans'. Gary's parents were in charge of the reunion this year (It's been going down the line of Big Gary's siblings). With the help of the girls we all had a wonderful time. The kids caught and cook crawfish and played in the muddy silver creek; there was a horse shoe tournament; volley ball games; campfire marshmallows and music; visiting; good eating; and one of the biggest monsoons I've seen to round out the reunion. I am beyond grateful to be a Kirkman and to be raising little Kirkmans'. I enjoyed rekindling with distant families members who felt so familiar.

 

There's over 70 people who came.  Every single one of Big Gary's siblings were there. It was AWESOME!

 

Baby

We checked Canyon out of school early and our little family of four headed to an ultrasound appointment to check in on our growing baby who will make us a family of five.  We've all felt so excited about the baby.  We talk often about the baby; when will it come? does it live in your stomach? how does it get out? what does it look like? can it hear me? We have decided to answer all questions with thought and accuracy.  Gary and I were both so excited to show our boys how the baby looked and how it was growing. 

Gary, Canyon, and Trek piled into an oversized chair and I hopped up onto the table to see the sweet little spirit growing inside me. And of course to see if that little being was a boy or a girl.  The technician made sure we wanted to know the gender and professionally continued on with her assessment. She started by measuring the ventricles in the brain, the chambers in the heart, the kidney's and down onto the femur (everything was healthy and strong). And like my other boys this little BOY wasn't shy either.  He gave us all a view of his gender and immediately brought a smile to my face and peace to my heart. Another boy. ANOTHER BOY! BOY, OH BOY!

What a blessing; how grateful we are to have such a healthy little guy coming into our family. Trek was initially surprised that it was a boy, but then exclaimed "super yay!" Canyon has been talking to his brother ever since. After seeing him and finding out we're going to have another son and brother we are all a little more attached and excited. We quickly shared the news with our family and friends.  Here are a few of my favorite responses:

"What could be better than another Kirkman boy."
"You are going to be the queen of you castle."
"Gary is going to have a lot of boys to take into the bathroom."
"We need more good boys in the world."
"Welcome to the all boys club."
"Now the hard part, you have to come up with a name as cool as his brothers."

I am in love... We are in love... I can not wait to hold him in my arms. His brothers can not wait to play with him. His daddy can not wait to teach him. We can not wait to meet this little man.