Our Sports Day

One of our activities was to rent a bike (which I did) and Bob's was to run. I was his companion and water girl. We went on the Kapaa coastal bike path that stretches along the water for 4.1 miles each way. So, I rented the bike and Bob ran the whole 8.2 miles. That was a fun day (for me anyways).

Along the way, I saw this guy that had no shirt on - WOW!!!
What a HOTTIE!!! I know what you're thinking!! That's right - he's in such great shape!!
Well, what do you expect - running like that?

He'll be all ready for the 1/2 marathon in April!!
I just biked alongside him with my backpack - it had water in it for him - (I was the water girl)

It was such a beautiful day!

Those Funny Hawaiian's

So, if you know Bob, you know that he has many great qualities - poem writing, speaking in public, being friendly to people & dogs, (just to name a few). But, I can honestly say that being a speller is not his strong suit.

So, we are staying at the Marriott Kauai Beach Club and they are doing a lot of work in the front of their building - right as you come in - the valet area is all torn up.

Well, anyways, he did catch this faux pas - that I'm sure Marriott wasn't too pleased with!

He just had to take a picture of the sign because he knew that it wouldn't be up there too long. And sure enough - he was right - two days later we were walking past the same sign and we noticed it was changed.....

I think someone might have gotten into some trouble -

KAUAI

We're taking a little vacation right now - a little "R & R" on the beautiful island of Kauai.

It's one of our favorite places to travel to.
We've been here several times and hiked many trails.
We've hiked the famous Kalalau Trail along the Napali Coast, we've hiked the Nounou trail also known as "Sleeping Giant", we've come across many different waterfalls on these trails that have been beautiful. But on this trip we took a different hike and stumbled across a different type of waterfall altogether!
The hike was called: the Kilauea waterfall hike.

We also decided to go somewhere that we've never gone before - the Kilauea Lighthouse.
One thing is for sure - it is windy at the lighthouse!

All along the side of the cliffs, there are birds. Kilauea is not only a lighthouse but it is also a National wildlife refuge.

Joe at the MTC

Joe is now at the MTC (Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah. He reported on February 10th. It was a sad day for us, but a happy day for him.

He wrote his first email on Saturday. This is what some of it said:
*******
Hey whats going~ just so you know I am alive and I got your package. But ya mtc is pretty cool. long days, today is not going to be my real p-day but next week we start our real schedule. um so i already wrote you a letter its in the mail right now.
when i left you guys i went through a bunch of different processing things and got my lunch card and dropped my bags off at the room and stuff. I then went to my class room where I met up with my district and my comp.
They're eight of us in the district and they are all pretty cool for the most part my companion lives in norcal and he and I have the same birthday and same year. Weird, i know. But there were 29 new missionaries going French speaking, some to Africa, some to Montreal, some to Tahiti and us to Paris.
So check this out... i walk up to my room and we live right by the ironing board and low and behold is Cort Trejo ironing his t-shirt. he lives just a few doors down from me so thats funny. also i saw Steven Smith and i talked to him for a minute and i saw Sister Connors who works in the mtc and i talked to her for a moment too.
So i got a couple letters already which definitely boost spirtits.
I haven't learned too much French yet. It all begins on Monday, and actually everyone in my district already has taken at least 2 years French, one kid was in French emersion for 7 years. So i'm a lil bit behind the rest of the group. hahaha.
So ya we are in the classrooms alot of the times and we watch all these different videos on people who tell about their life. It is on you tube called "6 billion others" I feel like a therapist or something.
Well i don't really have any other cool stories yet.
I guess the week before we came in President Oochdorf was there greeting all the new missionaries and unfortunately we got stuck with a greeting by the relief society president. haha just kidding but we did meet her.
They limit my time for email to 30 mins which is plenty of time but today I had to register and make an account so my time was cut way short so i'm about done here.
Love ya, Elder Ford!

Ward Ugly Sweater Party

We had a really fun party in the ward on Friday night. It was called: the "Souper Ugly Sweater Party."

We had a Soup "Cook-Off" and a Ugly Sweater Contest. I went to Goodwill and bought a sweater that I got for $2.50. After I put it on Friday night - it wasn't all that bad! We got Bob's outfit at Salvation Army Thursday night when they were having their 1/2 off night. So, we got his outfit on sale (i'm such a bargain shopper)!

As you can see it was a crowded cultural hall - I think we had over 150 people there.
We even put a smile on Joe's face - now that's success!

"GOING TO THE NORTH POLE"

THE POLAR EXPRESS

LAST NIGHT we Braved the HARSH COLD conditions here in Heber Utah and took a train ride all the way to the NORTH POLE so we could meet MR. & MRS. SANTA CLAUS. Almost all of us were there - Ryan & Joe went... Melissa, Mark, and Ashton also made the trek.....

Teri & James were there and Bob and I went along -- we couldn't miss out on visiting the North pole - or seeing the excitement as Mr. Ashton laid eyes on Santa for the very first time -

He was a bit shy for sure! But he didn't cry - Santa handed him the first gift of christmas -

During the train ride, we heard the story of "The Polar Express." Ashton really liked hearing the story read to him.

They also fed us cookies (made by Mrs. Claus) and hot cocoa. It wasn't mama mooses' but it sure did hit the spot!

Mrs. Claus was a big hit! Everyone Loved her including the boys!!

When the TRAIN RIDE was over, we were going to our cars and I don't know what happened exactly - but all of a sudden - things were out of control - (I think Ryan started it) snowballs were flying everywhere - innocent people were getting bombed - I was saying sorry to people I didn't even know (apologizing for my adult children) they were having an all-out-war in the parking lot!! EMBARASSING!!! I JUST WENT TO THE CAR!! Of course, Bob was right there in the middle of the war with the rest of them, taking the pictures to document this - and i'm sure egging them on!

Joe took this picture of Ashton - it's probably the cutest picture ever!!

What is Ryan telling Mark? "Hey Mark Look...There's.......

I love this picture of Joe and me - so, since this is my blog......

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

CHRISTMAS TIME

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. ~Dr. Seuss

...and here are some pictures I found in the Ford Archives..... from 2004....

Aaaaahhhhh......the good times.....Family.......