Walking Among Giants

This Sunday, Mark, George, Henry and I attended our stake/regional conference. We had the opportunity to hear talks from Elder Robert D. Hales and his wife, and President Monson and his wife. We were reminded to continue to read the Book of Mormon and be faithful. Elder Monson's talk was more relaxed than his usual demeanor seen in his General Conference talks. Our family enjoyed conference and the Spirit that was present. Over the last week or so, I had been struggling with some personal trails. I really felt that I had some prayers answered in the council that was given in conference. As conference ended, the congregation stood and sung, "Aloha Oe". We wanted to go and say hello to the General Authorities, however, there were too many people around so we left.
We went home, ate lunch and took a nap. I woke up from my nap and decided that today would be a great day to take pictures at the temple. We grabbed the camera and rushed over to the temple. I hurried quickly to the front of the temple grounds because the sun was going down. As I stood and took pictures I noticed a few people talking excitedly. I looked over and realized that President Monson was visiting the temple. We were able to speak with him, and hear him tell stories about when he was a mission president. He told George that he would be a future missionary and he gave Mark and Henry a High-Five!!!

What a great experience.

SOMETHING THAT CAME TO MY ATTENTION

While my mom was visiting the last week, we were able to take lots of pictures. I noticed while taking one of the pictures that my Mom had some B.O!!! (body odor) Now I realize that we live in Hawaii and you sweat more here, so I did not think anything of it, but after my Mom left hawaii, I noticed that the BO smell was still lingering around. In fact, I noticed it about the same time I had to change my clothes in the afternoon to go to my aerobics class. I was struck by the oddity of the situation considering, I had not yet worked out and I don't seem to have a BO problem. In fact, I haven't bought deoderint since 2003! You see, I just don't stink a lot. I sweat, but it doesn't stink. I like to think that I smell fragrant. Well it came to my attention as I sat in class today, after all the stinky football players left, that the room still smelled like B.O.!!! Confused, I lifted my arm and realized that the smell was wafting out of my own armpit! Can you believe that?!? I have B.O. I was confused and I didn't know what to do. REally!!! I have never had B.O. in my life! I only ever wore deoderint because I like the flower smell, but not because I was hiding a stinky smell. What do people with B.O. do? Dazed, by the smell, confused, and shocked, I called Mark at home. He wisely noted that it was time for me to start using deoderint. Note: I wrote this blog because I feel that a chapter in my life has just ended and I am embarking on a whole new journey...of stink. Please share any advise that you can muster. And for the record, I don't think it was my mom that had the B.O. I think it was actually me.

My School

When my parents were out here in Hawaii, they stopped by the high school that I teach at and took a picture of my school. I enjoy teaching here in Hawaii, but I miss air conditioning and roach-free, gecko-free and bug poop free class rooms. Here I am in the front of my classroom. Because the windows are closed, the temperature is probably close to upper 80s.

YARD SALE TREASURES!!!

I, Erin, go yardsaling almost every Saturday. With the Halloween holiday coming up soon, I have been looking for Halloween Costumes. I was excited when I found two Disney costumes from Monster's Inc. Unfortunately, Henry's costume is a Boo's outfit in the movie...she is a girl. But doesn't he look so cute?

Sand Babies

Here is Henry enjoying the sand and the surf. Henry still does not enjoy the water like his brother George, but he loves playing in the sand.

Mark Riding the Waves

Here is Mark getting into the waves. He has found a new hobby.

Lessons from Uncle Kamaka

While enjoying dad's birthday party at Pounders, the boys had a lesson in boogie boarding from Cousin (uncle) Kamaka.

Playing at Pounder's Beach

Here we are enjoying the day at Pounders Beach. My dad is out visiting this week so we were able to celebrate his 56th birthday. For his birthday we had two celebrations. We had a bbq at pounders and we were able to go boogie boarding. Then today (Sunday) we had a nice family dinner. Boogie boarding was a blast. Kamaka (my cousin) showed Henry and George the ways of boogie boarding.

Heading to UTAH

We recently found airline tickets on ATA for a good price. We will be coming to Utah on a few days before Christmas and we will be leaving a few days after new years. We are excited to see our family and our friends back home. Please call, we would love to get together with you when we are out there. Mark and I still have our same cell-phone numbers. Can't wait to see you!!!
I would like to dedicate this Blog to my dad Sterling, who has made it possible for our family to travel from the Las Vegas Airport to P.G.

Hello Pleasant Grove Wives Club

Here I sit on a Saturday Night,
the weather is hot and my clothes are tight.
But not because I am gaining weight,
but because it's Hawaii and I'm not on a date...
no, I am sitting in my house with my cousin Aley
He is married and his baby is Audrey.
Although I don't have friends here in Hawaii,
I am not lonely because I have my family.

I realize that I miss my friends
that live in Utah and don't wear depends.
Because they are young...at heart
hahaha and they never F@#T!!!

Now I am laughing a lot harder,
because my friend is Cecilia Carter
and her name rhymes with farter,
but she prefers Cecilia the Darter (away from danger)

Then I miss my dear sweet Ella
Who's husband is a 1/2 naked fella.
Tammy's a married to a Merryweather
who should be named fairy Heather (he is a little girlie)

I'm sure Christine is sitting there,
with her sister peggy who has a lot of hair.
They eat a lot of fish and sometimes scrap
They put the PG wives club on the Map!!!

Hey you guys, I miss you a lot!

Love Erin

Home Sweet Home

Please forgive the fuzzy pictures. I was holding the camera at a wierd angle so I could get as much as the room as possible, but it did make it a little bit blurry. Here are a few pictures of our apartment. Pictured on top is a view of our bedroom as you walk through the door. And pictured below is a picture of our main living room area as you come up the stairs. Please remember that our home is your home and we would like any visitors!!!

Sunday BBQ

Here we are at Jackie and Chris Kontoes' house. They are friends of my sister Rachel and Jason. They are having a relaxing Sunday afternoon BBQ at their home. George and Henry enjoyed meeting other kids their age and playing on their toys. We were able to meet a few new people. Because Laie is a college town, there are a lot of new people moving in all the time. We are trying hard to make friends and meet new people.

Poliahu's Party

My cousin, Anela Auna Wells, lives at Turtle Bay. Her daughter, Poliahu turned one this past week and we were able to go to a pool party at their town home. George was really excited to go to the pool party because that ment no PORTUGUESE Manowar to sting his little body. The party lasted through the afternoon. We swam and ate. It was a great time to get together with family that we haven't seen in a while because we were living in Utah. You can see me pictured with Anela (middle) and she is holding poliahu, and Sarah Auna (Aley's wife) and she is holding her baby Audrey.

Recycling for money

There is a recycling center in Kahuku that gives you 5 cents for every bottle and can. We have made it our family practice to stop at the trash can as we are leaving the beach to search for bottles and cans. We have been able to earn between 10 and 25 dollars a week. Pictured here are George and Henry excited to go to the recycle center.
Every time we go to the center, George and Henry are given part of that money to save and do with what they please...kind of. The recycling has been great except for george yelling everytime we are in public, "Look mom, there's a can."

The Beach MONSTER

On Monday, our family went to the little beach down the hill from where we live. The clouds drifted away and the sun shined down on our little cove. Unfortunately, that peace was dashed away with the torrid screams from my 4 year old son. He had just entered the water when his body went rigid and he began screaching at the top of his lungs. Panicked, Mark and I quickly wisked him out of the water to find the remnants of a Chinese Manowar clinging to his upper right arm. The long tail of the Manowar had wrapped itself around his arm. We cleaned him off and considered peeing on him, but opted for other over-the-counter medicinal measures. He is doing fine now but we wanted to show the picture of his arm. You can see where the tail of the manowar stung his arm.

A manowar is a relative of the Jelly Fish. It resembles a piece of grape bubblegum that has been blown into a bubble and has a long thread thin tail of the same color. Mostly manowar float harmlessly near the shore of the ocean, but if you come in contact with them, it can feel like *%#@!!!

Remember Smokey? She was a beauty. 

The Summerill Surf

Mark and I have finally finished un-packing our bags and we are now living the Laie laid back life style (the true L&L). We live up on the Laie point and enjoy a beautiful view of Temple Beach. I recently found a small beach access to Pounders Beach. I decided Pounders Beach is my favorite; there are hardly any tourists and the beach has a beautiful view of the Ko'olau Mountians. (I will post pictures of this pretty soon)

I have been hired by Kuhuku High School to teach 10th grade advanced English and one senior English class. The school year starts on August 25th, but teachers have to report back on August 18th. I visited my classroom the other day and was amazed to find a room with locks on every openable compartment. Suprisingly there was a lack of novels, textbooks and school supplies. The room has no air conditioning and no fans. When I opened the door I felt like I was walking into the Gold's gym sauna. I am sure the kids will get a great kick out of my "sweat pits" this year (I have an extreme sweat disorder).
Along with finding a job at Kahuku High School, I also was hired by Brigham Young University-Hawaii to teach aerobics. I will be on the Fall Schedule teaching boot camp, body pump, step and interval classes.

Mark did not recieve the job that he interviewed for, but interestingly enough his path has definately been guided. Mark, not having found a job, picked up some part-time work for a Sister in our ward. She had heard that he had just remodeled a home and she was interested in doing the same. For the last few weeks, Mark has been doing odds and ends for her. Mark has a plan for another job prospect, but we will inform you of this in the near future.

George and Henry are adapting to island life. George has become fearless in the water. I have to watch him when we are at the beach because he will venture out into the water. But Henry, he is another story. Henry does not like the water at all. So while we are at the beach, Henry will sit in the sand and make castles and George will splash in the waves.

The pictures we included are of our family on temple beach. The first pictures are of us in the morning right after we arrived on the island. The second set of pictures are of us this past week while we were visiting the Bennetts.

First Hawaiian Early Morning Beach Walk

We woke up our first morning and walked out on the Laie beach. Henry enjoyed running in the sand and finding crabs.

George and Henry enjoyed visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center. They are pictured here fishing near the Tahitian village. George was they only one to catch a fish. George's fish was about 5 inches long. He was shocked to find that the tugging end of his line beheld a "fishy." This picture shows Henry, George and their cousin Ikaika fishing into the Polynesian Cultural Center manmade river.

Here we are enjoying the Laie beach. These pictures were taken near my sister's house

Our Little Local Boys