Sunday, September 10

Honestly, it has been a bit of a blur since we got home from our vacation.  Really, it has all been about getting back to into life.  School starting, volleyball, football, Sierra's senior year, Gage and his pickles, you know.... the usual.  There has been a LOT of smoke in the valley from all the forest fires in the near by and extended region.  Still have some 3rd cutting hay we are trying to get up.  Other than that, we are busy chasing kids around.  Still SOOO nice to be home.  We love and miss our Calif friends, and we know we will be  back someday, but not yet .....

Big shout out to my parents.  They celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary.  They are wonderful parents who love life.

This is Bree, a good friend of Sierra.  They both received a 2nd transplant.  Sadly, Bree passed away from complications this last week.  Very sad.  She was a fun loving, caring and very funny kid to hang around.  We shared dinner with us many times in the Sabrato Room.  Miss you Bree.

 Due to the smoke, this is the first time we have seen the mountains in weeks.  

Gage BEGGED us to make homemade pickles.  Finally the day came.  "I am SO happy right now", says Gage.

 Hunter's first football game, Big #36.

 Hoffer Lake.

 The falls at Hoffer Lake.  Late in the summer, the falls are more like a trickle.

 Stacy's brother Bradey and his family came up for a visit from Utah.

Megan's monster hit on the far side.

The Family vacation and biopsy

It has been a wild 3 weeks.  3 weeks of fun vacation, travels, volleyball, and even a biopsy.
Since this is our personal journal, I didn't want to forget what we have done.  Below is a list of events by date with a brief (very brief) explanation of what we did.

August,
08, Tuesday, work in the morning, drove to Portland that evening, stay at Niccums

09, Wednesday, Fly to Oahu, drive to Laie, See ReNae and Randy, tour campus, beach in Laie,

10, Thursday, hike Diamond Head, tour USS Arizona and Pearl Harbor, Snorkeling Haunama Bay

11, Friday, Dole Pineapple plantation, PCC,

12, Saturday, Snorkeling at 3 Tables, Stacy and girls to market, playing in surf at Sunset beach, more snorkeling, Sun Burns!!

13, Sunday, Church in Laie, Linger longer with hot dogs, Megan's dr visit to ER / cute doctor, drive to Buddist temple.

14, Monday, leave at 3:30am, catch plane at 5:40 am to fly to Big Island, drive to Laupahoehoe, Lookouts and malasadas (donuts), cliff jumping (Stacy jumped)

15, Tuesday, Narnia Falls, Rainbow Falls, FUN rock jumping, crazy huge trees, watch movie (Quigley Down Under) Stacy, Holly and Kelly clean house and shopping.

16, Wednesday, Walmart, Walgreens, Richardson's beach, Sea Turtles

17, Thursday, South Point cliff jumping, Green Sand Beach, 2 flat tires, volcano (supper fun day!!)

18, Friday, beach day Hapuna Beach, Snorkeling, dinner at Hawaiian Style Cafe in Hilo. Renae and Randy here for farewell.

19, Saturday, Kona Temple, Costco lunch, 2nd beach day Hapuna Beach, Holly hit car, Jason's speeding ticket, kids walk home.

20, Sunday, Stetson's mission farewell, visit with VanTassels,  meal afterwards, drive to Mauna Kea (mountain visitors center @ 9200 ft)

21, Monday, family drive to north Pololu Valley Lookout, snorkel at Mahukona Beach, pack for home, Hilo for Stetson's setting apart, drive to Mauna Kea to show Stacy and Megan, drive to Kona airport, Fly out at 8:55 pm.

21, Tuesday, Arrive (red eye) in LA at 5:10 am, Fly to SF, Gage and Jason CalTrain to Stanford, rest fly to Portland, Drive home.  Megan starts volleyball practice.  Gage and Jason to Nixon school to visit friends.

22, Wednesday, Gage biopsy and clinic, Megan's drivers test and license, Sierra apply for jobs, Hunter had 8 teeth pulled.

23, Thursday, Gage to hospital school, ZERO rejection results with perfect heart pressures, Gage and Jason flys Angel Flight from Palo Alto to Baker City.

24, Friday, Megan's volleyball at Country Christian in Mollala. Stacy and I leave kids home while we drive to Mollala to watch Megan's games.


25, Saturday, Stacy and I watch Megan's volleyball, Sierra and other kids can 62 bottle of peaches, home late,

26, Sunday, ALL HOME, Jason spoke in church, chill at home, hopefully start normal life.