Sunday 30 August 2009

Johnny K's visit part 2




So in true Josh and Jessi fashion, as soon as we were done with our vacation, we had a friend come to visit. Just so that we don't feel like we can relax...you know. But we had a great visit. We went Ocean Kayaking, swam in the pool, saw a movie and went to a concert...here are some highlight pics!

Saturday 29 August 2009

Johnny K's visit

Ocean Kayaking, days by the pool, Downtown dinners, and the music festival Street Scene...but I'll tell you about it later!

Wednesday 26 August 2009

Utah Trip


So here you have the first extension of the Bates' Family, as it sits in 2009. With Jessi and I and my two brothers, their wives and kids, my sister, and my Mom. We only get to do these pictures once every couple of years. Our chosen paths have taken us all in different directions and it has become very difficult to get us all in one place at any given time. However, every time that we pull it off I think to myself...this is what it is all about...this is what we need to be striving towards. It is such a pleasure to be with everyone, as hectic as it gets (and it does get hectic) it is always immensely pleasing just to see everyone!Unfortunately I wasn't able to update frequently on this trip so you won't get a day by day but I will hit up the highlights.
First the Kids. I know what you are thinking...four kids, that can't possibly be that loud. But trust me it can be! This was the first time that we had met Lola, the youngest girl. Her and her older Sister Bailey, and Jaxson and Max absolutely made me want to have kids...in a few years. The amount of energy that is expended by these four is astounding. I tried to keep up for the
first day or two, and when the kids got on the trampoline I did my best to climb on there and jump with them, but by the middle of the second day my back was spasming, and I thought I had pulled one of my stomach muscles. Now, academically, I know that a baby is not born with the ability to make you run all over the place to play, and that you grow together and play together, but this trip made me wonder if I would ever be able to keep up!
And now the Siblings! I forgot how smooth and comfortable it is to be around all of my siblings. There is nothing in this world that makes me feel more at home than to be around the group of people that I grew up with. We have all taken different paths and have our own viewpoints...not all of which line up exactly...but when we cometogether and just sit down and talk it is like
all of the time that has past melts away and I am back to being a part of a bigger whole. It really is a magical experience. Maybe it is made all the sweeter by knowing that it will be a while before I get to experience that again. But I try to relish in every moment that we get to spend back together as a cohesive unit!

Followed by the Spouses! I don't have a picture of just them so here is one of the girls all together! What a collection of amazing women! This is a group that has the strength to pull these three brothers in the right direction. Which is, in itself a monumental task. But they also have the ability to bend and flex that allows them to melt so perfectly into the strange and wonderful pot that is the Family Bates'. Each one different than the other but somehow all of them perfect for their match. The men of this family would not be half of what they are without their respective partners.
And finally Mom! Mom is where the members of this family get a lot of what makes them who they are. She is the reason that we can come home after a day of work and get to work. She has raised four wonderful children who only occassionally make monumental mistakes. It is her strength and compassion, and a few good spankings that led us to be who we all are...and each of us is pretty great!

Tuesday 11 August 2009

Paddle boarding and Sunset dinners on the beach

So yesterday we rented one of those stand up paddle boards and took it to the beach to give it a go. It was soooo much fun. It is a lot like Kayaking except harder to balance and easier to get back on when you fall off. Jessi, Cindy, Rachel and I all had a turn. The sensation once you get your balance is like walking on water. It was a little gloomy yesterday but when the sun came out and you looked into the water you could make out the rocks and things below you. At first that was a little intimdating until you realize the water is just really clear and you are looking down 15-20 ft. There was a moment when everything lined up with my balance and I was able to look around and just enjoy the harbor. It felt a lot like being on a boat, except the water would slowly cascade over your feet with the waves. I think that I am going to try to find some on the cheap for when we are back in California. I think it is something that I could totally get into! We followed that up with dinner in a restaurant right on the beach with the most beautiful sunset. Pretty incredible for a couple of Howlie's (derogatory Hawaiian term for mainlanders)

Monday 10 August 2009

North Shore and Karaoke

Yesterday was the day for the hike and the trip to Waimaea Falls. So naturally none of that happened, but we did make it to the beach and for a beautiful drive, and finished it out with some Karaoke! Everyone sang except for Dave. There were a lot of duets and Jessi rocked us out with one of her favorite songs from Paramore. Henry belted out some rock and roll and Cindy did some Jewel. I stuck with my standard Frank Sinatra and Just a Jigolo. Here are some pics!That is me standing next to a turtle...Awesome! And Jessi showing her excitement for the beach. And us in the water! It was incredible. Followed up with some Karaoke!

Sunday 9 August 2009

Waterfall swimming

Today we are going to climb diamond head and go swimming in the falls. There is supposed to be a hurricane but the only sign so far has been a little extra cloud cover. We are going to try to take advantage of the time just in case this storm hits and we have to spend the rest of the trip inside! I will post pics when I get the chance!

Saturday 8 August 2009

Hawaiian nights!

Last night we met up with an old friend in Waikiki. We had dinner and a drink. It was at a place called Bucca di Bepo. It is a chain Italian restaurant that is famous for it's big portions and raunchy pictures on the wall. The food was ok and the service not that great but Henry pointed out something that we hadn't thought about. The restaurants in Waikiki are all for tourists so they are not necessarily concerned about repeat business, so the service doesn't have to be that great. It was really good to see Dave. unfortunately I was a little jet lagged so the talking didn't come so easy for me.

This morning was water balloon-aplooza! It was so much fun. When I figure out how to put a video on here you will all see how it goes.

Tonight we are off to Chucky Cheeses to celebrate Dane's Birthday. Gonna be a lot of fun!

Friday 7 August 2009

Hawaii!

So on the first morning of our second trip to Hawaii we are off to the beach first thing! Can't wait to feel the sand between my toes!

Tuesday 4 August 2009

Vacation!

Today starts 3 weeks of vacation! Can't wait!

Sunday 2 August 2009

The Weekend 2

So the weekend that we spent together was wonderful. We both got a lot done this weekend. I finally got the bathroom up and working again. I even took a shower in it. It is not the best shower head but the pressure is really good! It got done just in time cause the toilet crapped out in the other one. So we are down to just one working toilet, one sink, and two showers. I will try to fix the toilet in the other bathroom but probably not until we are done with this vacation that we are going on.
I also got a chance to finish the flooring by the door to the garage. It was a bit of a challenge because it has been a while since I did the rest of the floor and it took me a minute to get back into the swing of things. But it is finally done and looks pretty good.
Jessi pulled some of the extraneous hooks out of the wall and filled the holes and painted. It looks so much better! I never notice that stuff until it is fixed. But once it is done it makes all the difference in the world. She also finished the pictures on the wall and put some of those vinyl lettering up on the wall. It is pretty cool. I will take some pictures and put it up here a little bit later. The little camera has bit the big one so it is a little bigger of a deal to take the pictures and I am exhausted after the weekend!
This morning we got up and went for a walk with Joe and Anita. They got a new dog, a Basset hound, and it is super cute on the walk. It has a gimp back leg but it certainly doesn't slow him down. Him and Joe ran ahead of us and we all tried to keep up! We also went down to visit some friends who just had a baby. There was some sort of complication and she had to stay in the hospital an extra week. She is fine now and most likely coming home tomorrow. Then we spent the rest of the day cleaning up...
Wow, when I put it like that we had a really busy weekend, no wonder I am so tired. Well, I will let you know how the vacation went on the way through it!