Our Holiday in the South

We've been in Alabama and Mississippi for the Holidays this year. We've really had a wonderful time seeing our friends and family. It snowed in Birmingham on Christmas day for the first time in recorded history, and we are glad we didn't miss it.

Ella and St. John at school

The kids are becoming more and more comfortable at their new school. I wanted to take a picture of them with their teachers and classmates.
I didn't get a chance to get a picture of SJ with his friends, but some of his best friends are Santiago, Zaccheaus, and Uriah.
Here is SJ with his teacher, Ms. Miulan. She wears muumuu's everyday. SJ really likes her.


Ella is friends with everyone in her class. Her teacher, Mrs. Cabral, is a real character. Mrs. Cabral collects pig statues and was born and raised on the Big Island.
Last week Ella came home and said she wanted to dye her hair black. I asked her why and she said because all of her friends have black hair and she thinks it's pretty.

Leaving the Islands

We are flying to Birmingham for the Holidays and won't be back on the Big Island until Jan. 7th. David is going to be staying at our house, taking care of our dogs and chickens. I've learned that it's FREEZING in Bham and I'm not really sure how my body is going to react. I'm planning on overpacking, which is good because I usually underpack. Now I just have to find all of my warm clothes that haven't been worn since we moved.
We are really looking forward to seeing everyone!

Might as well post a couple of silly pics, too.

Christmas Wreaths

Ella and I went to a friend's house yesterday and made Christmas wreaths! All of the materials we used to make the wreaths were picked in the neighborhood. You like see?

Random fun pics

We aren't doing much Christmas decorating considering we aren't going to be here for Christmas, but we couldn't help putting up some colorful lights on some of our ohia trees. Putting up Christmas decor in shorts can't be beat.


Lucy in her 80's workout attire.



The kids went to a birthday party yesterday and Lucy would not get off of the swing. Mark is now searching for a perfect place in our yard for a swing.