Meanwhile... zero parental supervision

Back in Utah, the kids went to school for the week and then headed to St. George for their own mini spring break.

Linner at Chilis

The Crevice, aka Getty's Monkeytown

 St. George temple grounds

pic: tripadvisor.com

Hot Pots on the way home

Pre-vacation, we offered Mia an all-or-nothing cash bonus incentive to do an "excellent job." However... upon our arrival home she blurted, "And, by the way, I'm not expecting any bonus money."

Spare me the details... (is what I wanted to say)

The car was trashed, Cy spilled Top Ramen all over our new master bedroom mattress and bedding, I mentioned the unregulated brawling.... 

College Grad

Phi Kappa Phi. "Milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate—

it was meant to be! Thanks for the support sistas, much love."

You got your four-year degree in three and graduated Summa Cum Laude. 

Who knew you'd be so ambitious in hang-loose Hawaii?

Best friend Sarah (and roommie for the last two years)

At age 4 you dubbed yourself Kunkihauna—a half kooky, half Hawaiian-sounding name. It's been your name in my phone for years. Maybe back then something told you you'd be an Islander one day (and a kook).

Kayla (teammate)

Chris

Parker

Brando and Abe (and a friend of theirs)

(There's a graduate under there...)

"Cousin"

As you were announced at the graduation ceremony, you "raised the roof," because that's what you do wherever you go.

I finally got to see where you've been living for the past two years (top floor, right) on Kamehameha Hwy. 

"So Kenz, how many people live here?" 

"Nineteen."

You lived with 5 other girls in one of the upper floor furnished apartments at $425/mo. The main floor apartment housed 5 more girls at $450/mo. In addition, the house included two studio apartments, one on the top floor and one on the main, which housed 4 residents each at $400/mo. 

So, Dad did the math. Monthly rental income = $8,000. Times that by 12 months (because you paid through the summer even when you came back home to the mainland). Total yearly rental income from one property = $96,000.

Here's a better look at your couch...

The bedroom you shared with Sarah

Soccer mates: Bailey, Smem (Emily), and Katallie (Katie)

I've overheard you a few times describe leaving college life in Hawaii as bittersweet. Later, I asked you what you meant: 

"At a certain point, you can't really progress anymore, and I had kinda hit that point,... but I loved it so much."

So proud of you, Kunk.

25th Anniversary

The first four hours was a road trip to St. George that ended badly. Rob and I have had no time to hammer out difficult parenting issues, so guess how we spent the ride? It's a good thing we ended up at Clint and Cassie's, so they could put us back together. Cassie and I may or may not have talked til five o'clock in the morning....

Later that morning, Rob and I climbed into our car to head to the Vegas airport. He leaned over, "I don't know what else to say, except I love you." (He always knows just what to say.)

We dropped the subject and listened to "How to Measure Your Life," by Clayton Christensen, a professor at Harvard Business school who happens to be LDS. He talks about how business theories can apply to our personal and family lives to predict personal fulfillment and successful long-term relationships. Good stuff. He's smart.

Awkward solo tourist pic at the Luau

 After some 25th anniversary days, we met up with MK.

Rob to MK: "What's something you've been wanting to do on the island but haven't done yet? —because that's what we're doing." 

MK: "Oh, got it! Paddle-boarding at sunset on the Haleiwa river with the mating sea turtles."

pic: northshorehawaii.wordpress

 pic: rainbowwatersports.com

pic: jamieandkarenstravels.wordpress.com

Here we are almost back to shore

The next day MK and I sunbathed while she talked on the phone to Luis for an hour-and-a-half about whether or not he should buy expensive Nikes. Rob fell asleep in the "shade"....

(Visiting MK's house after her graduation [another post]. Like her couch?)

Check him out :)

We probably spent four hours walking around Aloha Stadium at the swap meet and bought exactly 13 pair of Hawaiian sandals and 15 t-shirts and just stuff. At the North Shore shops, we found the Stance socks in Junior sizes Cy's been dying for (they've been sold out or unavailable back home). So fun to shop for the kids and bring home presents! 

Mia and Riley watched the boys while we were gone. The boys' biggest complaint was that Mia failed to ref and just let them "fight it out." More later....

Mia's Mojo

Basketball Banquet: 

Frank picked up the girls then brought them to their dates.

Mia and Talmage

Cheer Banquet

Senior Varsity

Awarded Best Skill/Fitness

Mia was all set to try out for UVU cheer the week Rob and I would be gone to Hawaii. She had never stunted with a guy, or even been a flier much, so Rob got her a couple of sessions with a former BYU male cheerleader. She picked it right up, got her resume and application together, and then Rob and I left on vacation. We called her after the first day of tryouts. 

Mia: "Oh ya, I didn't try out."

This girl has nerves of steel, so I asked why she didn't even go to the tryout? 

Mia: "I didn't want to learn the stuff."

And, "I prayed about it and read the scriptures, and it said we shouldn't hide our talents, but then I just didn't feel good about it."

Have I mentioned we're not the boss of her? just checking....

Rob took his LP volleyball team (and the family) to watch BYU lose :( 

Mia was sure to get a pic with the cutest player. 

He's big enough to swallow her whole.

She got asked to prom

Her answer:

Fit Con with Bennett

Mia found these male models right away. 

(See a pattern here?) Never met a male she wasn't attracted to for one reason or another. His buck teeth are just so cute!! etc. Of course, she wasn't hard-pressed to find something attractive about these two. I guess. I wouldn't really know. I love ROB!!