Cake Boss is the Boss!

So, I told you guys that Sabrina was sweet enough to bake me a birthday cake this year. I didn't show you a picture before...yes, that's a chunk out of the side that stuck to the pan. I love that dear girl, and she really tried.

Then, on 4th of July, The Learning Channel was having a "Cake Boss" marathon...it's amazing what this Jersey bakery pulls off. We recorded it, and watched it later that week, and after about 4 hours of watching these yummy cakes being made and eaten...I wanted cake.

So, I asked her to go in and make one for us. She baked it, then I showed her how to make real frosting, not from a can. I took out my decorating tips and let her have at it. She had picked up so much!

The result was a decadent chocolate treat. A great accomplishment for a 14 year old. I'm going to have to put her to work in the kitchen more often! Yummy!!

Hawaiian Summer 2010...a drive-by...

Ok, so I'm bad...very bad blogger...

I have so many great pictures and fun stuff we did this summer...and the kids have been in school already, 3 weeks! I should have told you about it by now. But, I've been easing back into routine, albeit a NEW routine for Sabrina's new hybrid charter school, but I'll save that for another post.

So, when we left off, it was actually right before my 40th birthday. I've spent the first part of the year watching friends from school turning 40 one by one...it's a big year...it's a milestone...what wild and exciting way could we celebrate? I thought about doing some fun Hawaiian touristy thing, but really, I've been trying so many amazing, out-of-the-box things for me, that I really couldn't think of something that I was interested in doing. I did go with a friend to a day spa for massages....nice! Turns out, all you need for hot stone massage is some rocks from the yard and one of those BX crockpots we all had in the Kaiserslautern Ward! But, it felt so gooooooooood.

I did have a great friend and her visiting sister-in-law take me to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, YUM!! SUPER YUM!

Then, dinner that night with the family, which is always fun to see how excited the kids get over giving me gifts. I'm so blessed! And after 16 years of marriage, I finally had a homemade cake (that wasn't by my mom!). Sabrina made one all by herself... (Post later about our Cake Boss Marathon). It was super yummy, but after a day of way too much food, I couldn't eat very much. And, I found "over the hill" balloons on my door.

Then, over the weekend, it was Father's Day, so we went to our first Luau at Paradise Cove...I think Dennis had a good time...what do you think?

We continued with our summer outings...getting out and about on the island. One trip up to the north shore to the Laie Temple and Shaved Ice was a fun day. The temple has been closed for renovations the entire year we've been here, but will be opening up in November. I'm looking forward to taking the kids and Dennis through for the Open House before the dedication.

Another week, we went to the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens. It was a lush, green landscape with bright spots of tropical flowers and a short hike ending at a lake full of the most ravenous goldfish...we all brought bread, and even some tortillas, to feed them. I warned McKenna not to turn her back on the frenzy...kinda creepy.

Then, we had an opportunity to watch an aircraft carrier come into Pearl Harbor, the USS Ronald Reagan. Hundreds of people lined the shore on Hickam to watch it come in...pretty cool with all of the aircraft, and the sailors lined up on deck in their whites.

I have also used my "mad skills" and made several batches of freezer jam...thanks to fruit that is overripe when it gets to the island...so only lasts a day or two before needing to cook with it or throw it out.

To wrap up this post, we celebrated 4th of July at Pearl Harbor naval base, next door to ours. Since it was on Sunday, I wanted to stay close and not spend money because of the sabbath. Our church teaches us to uphold our country and be celebratory of our freedoms, so I wanted to try to celebrate in a semi-reverent, family way. We had a good time and enjoyed our down time waiting for dark for the fireworks. I know it's late, but Happy Birthday America! More to come...

Playing catch up, once again...

Ok, so last you heard from the Terry family, we were getting ready to celebrate Hayden's 11th birthday. I asked him where he wanted to go for dinner, and all he really wanted was gnocchi. Thus began my search for an authentic italian restaurant on the island. We ended up at a quaint little restaurant downtown Honolulu with red check table cloths, decent pizza and pasta, but soggy gnocchi. Oh, well, we had fun and tried something new. I guess it's a little overreaching to think we can find authentic italian food as yummy as what we've been lucky enough to enjoy. But, here are the happy results:

During May, my friend, Stacey, took me kayaking. It was a nice smooth day, and we spent about an hour stalking some sea turtles that we saw moving under water, but wouldn't poke their heads up.

She's also got a hiking group going. We have taken 3 hikes, each different in the views and difficulty. She's been so great for getting my to try all these new outdoor things and enjoy the beautiful island we live on.

Also, Hayden has found his first pet. He caught his own gecko, which he promptly named Zack. (I think he has a preoccupation with Zack Efron). He lost him after about a week..."I don't know why he wouldn't stay on your scooter, Hayden..." But, then again found another a couple of days later (which he owned for two hours, which he named Zach II) and the next day found another one (that he still has) named Zach III. I know, he's pretty creative, that one...

Last month, I signed Hayden up for an after school sailing program. Twice a week he went out and learned the basics of sailing, getting certified to take us out on a sailboat as the responsible sailor. I tell you, it was the best $65 I ever spent. He was reluctant to try it, but ended up loving it. He was such a natural, and being Captain of his boat is very much in line with his personality.

In May, we also took Dennis to the beach for the first time, snorkeling in Hanauma Bay. I was able to try out my friend's waterproof camera, and can't believe how much fun it was! 12" fish about 2 feet from our faces!

On Memorial Day we went to the Sea Life park. It was a fun morning, but definitely not what we are used to for a sea park. Thankfully we got discount tickets for Military appreciation month, so the shows were worth it.

During all of this, we were busy wrapping up school. Unfortunately, neither of the kids' schools did anything really special for their prospective "graduations". To celebrate the end of kindergarten, McKennas class participated in a water fun day with slip and slides and sprinklers. For the middle school, they had a closed 8th grade dance during school, with no celebrations for family. Two photo opportunities I'm disappointed to not have. But, we are glad to be done and enjoying summer...the 8 weeks we have anyway...the kids will start school again on August 2nd.

So, while they are out, they've gone kite flying, spent time at the pool and beach, and I took them kayaking. This day was much rougher waters, but they had a fun taste of it.

Then last week, a friend from Germany, 14 years ago came to Hawaii for a business trip and brought her 2 daughters. We had fun showing them around and being tourists, ourselves. They went kayaking with us, and spent a day at the north shore, snorkeling with schools of fish at Shark's Cove, getting shaved ice, and stopping by the Dole plantation for yummy pineapple whip ice cream! After an hour in the Pineapple Maze I had hit my frustration limit, though.

On top of all that, McKenna started soccer last week, complete with all pink gear, and said goodbye to her BFF, Ellie that leaves for Texas this week. You wouldn't think two 1st graders could stay up til 1am, but they did, and swore they still weren't tired!

Lastly, I've started a successful summer outings group like we had in Germany. Next week we are visiting the Ho'omaluhia Gardens. Whew! No wonder I'm so tired! Having it all in one place really makes me realize how much we've been doing. This is a lot to absorb in a 6 week period. I'm going to need a vacation from my summer vacation!