More pics from Hawaii....

We were able to visit many amazing places during our week stay on the island, including the Hawaii temple's visitor center.

Aloha!

Our family was able to visit the beautiful island of Ohau this past week. We met Dwayne and Sandy there. We were able to visit with the Dahls and do a lot of fun activities during our stay. David and Jacob were ordained in the Dahl's ward on Sunday. We visited the Polynesian Cultural Center on Monday; toured the Arizona Memorial, watched part of a surfing tournament and visited Waikiki on Tuesday; hiked to a beautiful waterfall and celebrated Elder Dahl's birthday on Wednesday and traveled home on Thursday.

Navy Ball

Saturday evening the Davids, Bunchs, and Copelands hit the dance floor at the Navy Ball. The ladies got together ahead of time at Michelle's to do their hair and makeup, while the men labored over their dress uniforms. We separated and dressed at our own houses, then rode together in style! (The David's minivan!) We had a fabulous time. I will add pictures as we share photos - these two will have to suffice for now (the 2nd picture is James & Michelle with me and Jeff).

David & Jacob's 12th Birthday Party!

The boys are officially 12!
My friends Marilee & Michelle came over and helped decorate for a Halloween theme party for the boys - a sister from the ward donated a lot of super fun decorations. We served: witches hats (bugles on ritz crackers held on by cheeze whiz), mini corn dogs, bagel bites, eyeball witches' brew (gummy eyeballs floating in lemonade in a cauldron), bags of popcorn (kettle or regular), and caramel apples (the kids chose what other toppings the wanted - heath bar, milk chocolate, nuts, or sprinkles). We watched the old Disney thriller, "Watcher in the Woods" - which scared the bigebeeze out of us all and then had to watch, "Hood Winked" - to help cut down on the night mares (we only have a queen size bed :). The girls then went home and we were left with a house full of rowdy boys that stayed up way too late. In the morning we had breakfast and left for the church house for a service project. A fun time was had by all!

More Bali Pictures

I received a few more pics of Bali.....I am still expecting a few more of the dives I went on - I will update when I can.

The picture of me and my friend riding the elephant with our hands above our heads is dedicated to my Grandma Jackie, who always dreamed of riding an elephant - this ones for you Grandma!

Our First Dive

Our family went on our first scuba dive together last Saturday. We were at Gab Gab beach. We went on two dives and enjoyed a BBQ in between. We ended the day with a date night with our friends Michelle and James at a new restaurant - California Pizza Kitchen. It was a fabulous day!

Two of my closest friends here in Guam and I were able to go and visit Bali for a little over a week. It was a trip never to be forgotten. The sites, sounds, smells, and people we came in contact with were amazing! We saw and experienced so much in a relatively short period of time. We went white water rafting, attended a cooking school, shopped, visited a monkey forest, visited several beautiful temples, mountain biked down a mountain winding through little villages, went to spas, attended traditional dances, rode an elephant, and bartered our way through the beautiful little country.

I was even able to go on three boat dives off the coast of a little island near Bali mainland.

All the while, our husbands back home took great care of our children. (Though I am sure my David helped take care of Jeff and Jacob as well :)

Adventures in Bali

The Copelands are certified and dangerous!

Hey all..... Jeff and I took the plunge (literally) and finally got scuba certified this past weekend. I was a bit anxious (understatement of the year) but with Jeff plodding on beside me I did it! Now I am already looking into future dive opportunities. We love it!!

We don't have any pics yet, but plan on investing in an underwater camera in the near future.

Now all 4 of us can dive together!

Let the Music Begin....

The boys decided to follow in their dad's footsteps (and many other proud family members - on both sides of the family) and join the band.
Jacob's first day he made the comment that he thought his saxophone was "broken" - my first impulse was to reply, "I think you may be right", but instead I assured him he just needed more practice! He can now play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" with only a few off notes!

David is enjoying the trumpet.
Mom and Dad are sure they need earplugs or in the very least a BIGGER house with a little less tile and concrete! For those hunters in the family - make a recording in our house during practice time and you are sure to call in all sorts of game :-)

First day of Middle School

The boys were up and at 'em and ready for school. It was their first official day of Middle School - my how the years fly by!

Last Day of Summer

The boys had one big summer ending sleep over bash two nights before school started. I left the next morning to go and pick up their class schedules and found this scene as I left..... when I got back they were all up playing Halo on their new X-Box 360. I made french toast and they played and hung out most of the day. We met Jeff for dinner, went and watched a beautiful Guam sunset at a local harbor - where Jacob proceeded to fall in!
Then it was back home for father's blessings and off to bed....

Jacob's stitches

Early in August, while LaNita was at a command orientation, the boys spent the day with their friend Thomas. Jacob ended up paying Jeff a visit at the medical clinic. When the boys were swimming at Agat beach, Jacob's knee came in contact with sharp coral or rock - and it won! I got a call to meet them at the clinic. I held Jacob's hand while he got his numbing shots and Jeff put 3 internal stitches in and then coached his corpsmen in finishing the 3 top stitches.

Several bandages and 10 days later, mom got in on the action and took out the stitches and applied the steri-strips.

Isn't growing up fun?? (and apparently a little dangerous at times!)

Growing Pains

Liberation Day continued - a seaside natural pool

Liberation Day Activities

Our 15th wedding anniversary

Tony and Kellie & Jeff's promotion celebration

Jeff's promotion - cake with blue icing, anyone?

David and Jacob's scuba days

Visiting Adam and Clara in New York