Sydney Hula and Zachery Intro at school xmas song

Can't see Syndey hiding behind Olivia, but she is there. Zachery had no problem stepping up to the microphone.

Santa 09

Kids annual visit with Santa. Zachery wants a "mokum-control helicopter. Sydney wants a DS video game. They have been pretty good this year. Hope Santa noticed. Sydney had her Hula christmas performance and they actually get better each year. We bought a lazy boy for the living room, but the kids have enjoyed the box is came in much more. It has been over a month, and the kids continue to enjoy eating some of their meals in it. Christy had surgery on her ankle monday. The pain was initially more than expected, and upset stomach was challenging. Dad was suppose to be home all week to help out, but the Federal Inspection team showed up at the nursing home and stayed all week. Lucky we have great support from wonderful neighbors and family. Big thanks to all the people who helped us get through this week. Love to all, and god bless you and your family. Aloha Borton's

Halloween 09

Halloween had great weather, and of course it was spent at the Lemonds house of horrors. Took the neighborhood a week or so to construct the haunted house. The kids and adults had a blast. Thanks to the Lemonds for always raising the bar. We got a new lazy boy chair, but the kids much preferred the box it came in. The kids still enjoy eating most of their meals in the box. We did a fun hike Koolau waterfall near the golf course. Kids got muddy, and had a blast. Love to all and may god bless you and your family.

Chicago Trip

Christy and I had a great time in Chicago. I had to go for work, and thanks to Mimi and Baba watching the kids, Christy was able to accompany me. It was our first trip away from the kids. We missed the kids but had a great trip. The photo is us outside Soilder field before we went in to watch a NFL Bears vs Lions game. Awesome stadium. The kids got to pick their pumpkins again from the pumpkin patch, annual tradition. The kids got to learn about protesting at the state capital. Notice Sydney's new shorter hair cut. She loves it. Love to all.

Camping and ZAKs birthday

Zachery's birthday was celebrated this weekend while we went camping. It was a awesome time with Palawiki St friends and newly made friends. Lots of SMORES; fishing; surfing; drinking; games; walkie talkies; hammock swinging; drinking; awesome food; did I mention drinking! We didn't want to leave. Thanks to Roy and Lauren for organizing it.

Lava is endless entertainment

The kids have so much fun and enjoyment playing, teaching, and of course loving LAVA. He is so worth all the time and effort. I love watching the kids play with him, and LAVA anxiously waiting for Sydney to wake up in the morning to play. Although the kids had to talk me into it, it was one of the best family decisions we ever made. Can't wait for you all to meet LAVA boy.

Water Park Hudson's Birthday

We had a blast at Hudson's Birthday party at the water park. The kids are really starting to enjoy the slides, although Zachery said Anne's lazy river was "More Better and Faster".

ZAK's first day of Kindergarten

Zachery's first day of Kindergarten was a very sad day for mom and dad. Zachery was worried he would have to know how to read to everyone. Once he found out he didn't have to read out loud he was much more relaxed. Zachery loves his teacher and his class. He was the line leader the first day, and he was very proud of himself. Zachery is helping out around the house now doing his chores of taking out the garbage. Sydney is still very much in love with Lava out new dog. She takes him for rides in her barbie jeep. The kids are getting back into the swing of things with school starting up again. We are going to puppy training school for the next several weeks so Lava can train us. Should be a fun family outing every Monday night. Love to all. We miss y'all.

Lava - Cocker Spaniel

Meet the newest member of our family. Lava is 12 weeks old. The kids are in love.

Summer Vacation 09

Many thanks to all our family and friends who made our summer vacation so memorable. First stop was Texas and had an action packed week of adventures on the lake, jet skis, boats, goats, pigs, horses etc... Second stop was North Carolina to Relax in the Cabin on the lake with fishing, boats, tube rides, visit with all the extended family.... Third stop was South Carolina for some water parks, rock climbing, and of course the kids museum..... Last stop was Florida to see Mickey Mouse and family to relax on the beach and visit. The kids hated to leave the mainland, but were glad to get back home to Hawaii. It was great to see how much all the cousins have has grown up. Thanks again for all the MEMORIES. Aloha Bortons

Block Party Success

The block party had a great turnout this year. Great to meet some of the new folks. Thanks to all who helped. Lilly's Hula performance was a nice added treat, and hopefully continue next year. Mom bought some new laundry bins, but she had no idea that they also double as great fun toys to play in, roll around in, hop up and down in, and of course watch TV in. Kids are awesome. See you all soon. God bless.

Surf update 5-31-09 small but clean and glassy

Zachery Graduation & Sydney Ballet Recital

We did a hike today. Olomana mountain in Kailua. We made it up half way. The kids wanted to make it to the top to feel the clouds that were on the mountain top, but it was a hard hike and we got pooped. Perhaps next year. They gave it a good try. Can't believe Zak is graduated from Preschool now. It was a very nice ceremony. They asked the kids what they wanted to be when they grow up. Zachery wanted to be a police officer. Last week is was a astronaut. What ever fills his heart he should do. Sydney was a beautiful Italian Ballet dancer. The show was the dances of the world. Her class was from Italy. The whole Palawiki St. gang went to support Sydney. She felt very special. Looking forward to our trip. See you all soon.

Mother's day weekend

It was a fun in the sun weekend. Surfing for the Palawiki St dad's in the early am, then for the kids in the afternoon. Then of course Mother's day Chirsty got spoiled as she deserves. Breakfast pancakes, jog without kids, church, beach day of standup paddling with Ginger. We have had some great weather lately, and definitely took advantage of it. Sydney's swimming confidence has really improved this year, and Zachery likes to surf as long as his eyes don't get wet. We will see if swim teacher Pat can work on that one. Aloha for now. Bortons

May Day; Hula; Brian's Memory

A wonderful tradition in Hawaii is May Day Celebrations with beautiful Leis. Lilly Mayrose one of our baby sitters was the royal Queen. Sydney danced and sang beautifully. Sydney also had a hula celebration later that night with her hula friends. This weeked is also very sad as we remembered Brian Felix. It really is amazing how short life can be, and how we really should celebrate every day we are alive. Brian impacted all our lives and we will remember him forever. Aloha Bortons

Easter 09

I was blessed a few weeks ago to experience a humpback whale mother and her baby calf upclose and personal on my canoe. My friend Sean and I were paddeling about 2 miles off Diamond Head when we came across what looked to be a whale in distress. Sean is a long time Honolulu Lifeguard and Firefighter. We both paddled closer to see if the whale was caught up in a net or something and require assistance. When we got very close we realized the mother was nudging her baby calf up to the surface to breath and she was helping it along. The whales were not frightned by our presence, and we were in awe at the sight of it all. We were actually on top of the whales side fin at one point. We drifted for about a minute and then they slowly submerged. It was a very neat experience.
Got to take the kids to a UH baseball game. It was a blast. Of course trying to catch the foul balls and the food were the highlights.
We went to Maui this year for Easter. We rented a rustic cabin along the Hana coast of Maui. It was very rural. The kids had a blast. We hiked, fished, made smores, and just enjoyed mother nature and each others company. The Easter Bunny actually found us out there. We of course colored eggs and had a very memorable trip. Hope to see all the family soon. Love to everyone Bortons