Power Outage in Oahu

So as many of you might know already last Friday Oahu lost power over the entire island. You also may know that the Obama family was vacationing here at the time so I would just like to show you this article written about the outage. WASHINGTON (Washington) -- Emergency crews were working to restore electrical service to Honolulu and across most of the Hawaiian island of Oahu following a storm packing heavy rain and lightning Friday night, reports said. Some 800,000 residents and thousands of tourists, including President-elect Barack Obama, were affected by the outage. The storm triggered failures in a pair of power generators operated by Hawaiian Electric , a spokesman for the utility told the Associated Press. The utility's reportedly aiming to restore power by morning. Authorities dispatched an emergency generator to serve the compound where Obama's vacationing with his family, according to Gov. Linda Lingle. So they took generators to a resort where the Obama's were staying and the enitre island lost power, how awesome is that. Danika loved it, she got to play with the flashlight and see what happens when you push the button. Lowell and I were not so happy about it. We went to bed and it was freaking hot without a fan at least and no a/c either. We got power back on at 6am on Saturday morning and then we had to wake up and we didn't get much sleep. Well if this makes your day let me know.

Fun Pics of Danika

Here are some pictures of Danika being Danika, enjoy!!

Things Danika Says

So here are a few things that my 2 1/2 year old says, and most others can understand what is being said without translation from mom or dad: tower, water, shoes, socks, Wall- E, Eva, Mo, pants, poop, butt, deer, Manny, Tootles, castle, yes please, light pole, playground, head/hair, bed, seat, car ride, draw, open, MINE, cloud, sky, sun, moon/Luna, tree, rock, window, clock, bear, Einstein without the s, Turner, onkey(monkey), bunny, bald eagle, she can also count to 12 and then back down to zero. I am not sure if she really knows what she is saying is actually being understood by that tiny brain of hers, but it is fun to listen to. She also says away, paper, doodle, as in doodle pro, church, popcorn, cheese, piano. We watch baby Einsteins and they do the signing with the pictures and she will try to do some of the signs like book, flower, tree, and window. Who knows she may do a whole lot more when I am not looking, but I like to just watch sometimes because it is so fascinating to me how fast she is learning and growing. So next time you don't think you have anything to do, go and watch your kids and see what they are doing and learning when you are not around, who knows they could amaze you!!!

Just the cutest thing

Today we were at a play group and Danika loves going to this house because it has everything you can imagine. It has been through 11 kids and now lets others play with the toys that have been acquired over the 20+ years of growing up. Anyway today Danika just couldn't wait to go and she had found one of her hair ties. She likes to put them on her wrist and use them as bracelets. I asked her nicely to take it off and give it to me. You will never guess that she was going to give it to me, but she did, I then asked her if she wanted me to put her hair up for her and she went to her seat, sat down and said hair please. Which obviously means okay mom you can put my hair up. After I finished putting her hair up with out asking for a thank you she said, "Thank You Mommy!" How cute is that when your kid is polite without being asked to, and shows that she is learning the manners that you are trying to teach her.

Well we hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving and ate til you could no longer breathe, if that is what you are into, Lowell did, but I only ate what would fit without feeling like I needed to barf all over. Have fun today and tell someone a silly joke to make them laugh.

Lowell's Helo Dunking Experience

For those of you who don't know what that means or entails I will explain a little, there will be a video of it at the end. The guys get dressed in full uniform, flak and kevlar too and sit in a simulated helicopter, buckled in and all, over a pool of water. They are then dunked into the water and then it gets flipped upside down and they have to get out as quickly and safely as possible. They also have to hold their breath for one go through and the other 2 they get breathing apparatises with limited air supply. They had to do this about 3 or 4 times and they also did it blind folded once or twice. Lowell sayed he was scared out of his mind until he did it and then it wasn't so bad. This whole thing took 3 days to do. The 1st day he learned how to do everything and the other 2 days he had to actually do it with 6 or so other marines there as well. Here are some pictures of him and the equipment. Also a video of others that have done it. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a video of what it looks like in action go to the website and watch it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ikn3_xsbSc.

Bug play

The other day in our back yard we were playing and Danika put her hand on a bug but didn't kill it. It ran real fast to get away, and she didn't even know she had touched it. later in the playing at a different part of the yard she found the bug again. She then proceeded to put her hand on it and squirsh it until it was no longer moving. Here are some pics for you to see the happening. Bugs beware of the DANIKA!!!!

Outside in our backyard

Danika finally has a back yard to play in that I don't have to follow her to make sure she doesn't go into a street or steal some other persons toys out of thier yard etc. We have a cute little back yard and she loves to play in it. She is such a tom boy just like her mom. I at least had some help becoming a tom-boy with 3 older brothers to show me how to do it, I don't know why she is one. Anyway some times we take our Dora table and chairs out with us so we can play on them and maybe have snack time as well. we love to play with the rock area and the plastic cars, airplanes, and tractor to move the rocks around. Here are some pics, enjoy!!!

Bedtime on our borrowed furniture

It is definately hard to move to a new place, but when you get furniture that looks like my grandmas linai furniture it just makes you laugh. We got a double bed with plastic on it that we could not take off or else. Even with sheets and a cieling fan we could not stop sweating. We were given a tip to stop the sweating, but I didn't have enough towels to support the thoery. We got a table for four, which was great and Danika loved sitting like a big kid at the table. We also got three chairs and a couch made of bamboo and whatever else it was. So our bedtime routine was on the bamboo couch watching our little portable dvd player every night. Thank goodness we have our stuff now.

Halloween Fun

We did a trunk or treat this year at the church and it was a lot of fun for Danika and us too. We decorated our car and dressed Danika up too. She was a little red devil with a bow tie, tail, horns, and pitch fork too. She only kept on the bow tie and tail. The horns were too big and the pitch fork was too dangerous for her in the dark. She wouldn't stand still for a picture so you get what you get. No one came to our house for Halloween because we don't have across the street neighbors to go the other way with. We had a great Halloween and we hope all of you did as well.

In Hawaii

Hey everyone we finally made it to Hawaii on the 25th at about 1515 a 1/2 hour later than planned. We had a bit of turbulence, but it was fine. Danika was a real trooper through the 8 hour plane ride. She didn't sleep a wink, but Lowell and I took turns sleeping and playing with Danika, we needed the sleep more than the play. Saturday we went to the beach for about 2 hours and Danika loved it even though we lost our shovel that goes with our pail. We'll have to go get a new one. We are on the list for housing and it is a 2-6 month wait at least, plus I have to do my own house hunting out in town or else. Lowell has already started work because we took the entire month of September off he started work as soon as we arrived. Not that I am complaining because someone has to do it and I like not answering to some all high and mighty person who probably doesn't even want to be there either. We still have our phones just remember when you call that it could be up to an 8 hour difference in time when you are calling me at 10 in the morning. We love and miss everyone and wish you were here with us having fun. Pictures to come shortly I promise!!!

NO MORE NOSE PROBLEMS!!!!!!!

So as most of you know I got my nose fixed last month on the 20th and have been breathing better ever since. They did the surgery at 10 am and were done by 11:30 am. They didn't do all that they thought they would do, but what ever they did made it so that I could breath like I am supposed to. My septum was broken (deviated really), and they went in and cut the cartilage all the way up to my sinuses and took out the middle junk that was making it impossible to breath the right way. They thought they could straighten my nose, but after my accident as a baby they fixed it just so and if the doctors today would have straightened my nose I would have been right back where I started and I would have looked retarded because my face would be crooked.

For a day I had tubes in both nostrils that were as long as a pencil before it is sharpened and just as wide too. After they took those out I still had some dripping from my nose, puss and blood if I was lucky. I thought it would gross me out like when I got my finger slammed in the door at 7 and I had to see the stitches all of the time, but it wasn't like that. A week after the surgery they took out some more things. I had wedges holding my nostrils out to where they should be for better breathing. When the doctors took out these wedges they didn't tell me that the wedges were still stitched into my nose. So he tugged a little turned it and then yanked it out as if pulling my brain out. It was almost as uncomfortable as giving birth. He did the same thing to the other nostril. As they did it I had tears coming down my face, but I didn't make any crying sounds only a couple of groans and moans.

Just this past Friday I had to go back one more time for what I thought was just a check up to say you are healing nicely good luck with the rest of your life. Nope. I apparently have some cartilage still up there in my nose that was taken out and there is even more up there. He didn't say how much more just that there was more. At least it wasn't as painful as the last appointment. I have to wait for Lowell to find the picture of me with a swolen nose to show the difference. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of me with the tubes in my nose or I would be able to show the real fun. Well until next time keep smiling and keep the spirit with you always.

misc pics

Lowell Got His License

Hey everybody, Lowell finally did it. He got his license last month and has been driving to work ever since. Thanks for all of the support you have given us and keeping the crazy coments about him not having one to a minimum. He was really nervous and the first time the instructor guy was a big butthead. He is still a little nervous on the road but it saves on gas and mileage for the car. Today on his way to work he had to swerve to miss a stray dog in the middle of the road and was a little shaken up about it. He will be fine and be able to drive home from the hospital on Thursday no problem. Yes that is right the hospital. I am getting my nose surgery finally. My appointment is on the 20th and I won't be back home until the 21st some time. We are driving to Chapel Hill 3 hours away because they are the best in the business and the Military already approved it so it will cost us nothing. We are even getting re-embursed for travel expenses of every kind because I am a genious and don't feel like paying for that trip 4 times now. So when you see me next I will look a little bit different but I won't hold it against you if you don't say anything or even notice. Have a great Labor Day and be safe, We love you all the NC Bentleys

New Callings

Well it's finally summer here in Jacksonville and you can feel it. Even at 5:00 am it is already humid and sticky. Not fun at all. But good news is that Lowell got his permit again a couple of weeks ago. He told me the other day that he is going to take a week or two off in July to get his lisence, Hurray!!!!! He is a good driver, but I still get car sick when other people are driving sometimes. It is harder when I have to tell him how to get where we are going because I can't just relax and have a conversation because he is concentrating so hard on driving. The best part is the starting and stopping. Holy Cow!!! If anyone wants to take my place please come on down and help. Two weeks ago I was released as the Teaching Coordinator and sent to the primary as a floater in-case person. Lowell was also released as the Executive Secretary and called as a primary worker (Valiant 10-11) and the 11 year old scout leader assistant. He loves being there in primary and he also loves to help the scouts out. He is almost like the scout leader because the real one is gone all of the time for work. He is always in the field doing some kind of training. So now all we are doing is waiting for orders to go somewhere else and work our butts off there. At least we won't have to worry about getting deployed for the next 3 years. Hiippyyy!!!!! Well keep smiling and we will talk again when Danika goes in for her check up next month. Pictures are on there way I am just waiting for a CD from MaryBeth who took the pictures.

A lot has happened in the past month

Well if you didn't hear about it we had to move out of our old house and had a month to find a place and do it all. So we did it all by the 7th of April and we didn't miss a minute of Conference!!! So we actually moved across the street from our old home to 137 and we are liking it except for the water pressure in the shower stinks so we will have to fix that. Danika is finally use to sleeping in a different bedroom, but still tries to go and play in the back yard of our old house. The storage space is a little bit smaller and the attic doesn't have a shelf to put stuff on like across the street. So right now I have a living room full of boxes and other things, but we are all moved in for the most part.

The other new thing that has happened even more recently than that is Lowell got promoted to SGT on Friday and me being the silly one that I am forgot to bring the camera so there are no pictures of that event in our lives. This week he is the acting Platoon SGT because all of the other sergeants have things to do so he gets to try his hand in it. He was so excited to hear that he was getting promoted that the day he got the call he pretty much stopped working and called a whole bunch of people while I had to keep busting my chops to get the other house ready for inspection, which we past with flying colors.

Finally, if you didn't know Lowell re-enlisted before he went to Iraq and signed up for when he got back to get the option to live where ever he wanted to without deployment. So last week he put in his papers for either Hawaii, which he really wants to go there, or Okinawa again because we loved it so much. I have no idea when we will hear back about the moving situation, but it will probably be between 4-6 months before we get orders. That's the news in our neck of the woods and now here's the weather!!

Lowell's new calling

Well Lowell was home all of one week and then he was asked to be the ward executive secretary. I thought it was interesting considering he is always asking me who people are and I don't always know myself. Even though he is being a little challenged he is loving his new calling. As for Danika she is growing like a weed. She is 34 inches tall and wieghs 25 pounds. We are also getting ready to move to another home here in Jacksonville because my landlord is a big dummy. We think we are just going to move across the street for a little more rent, but an easy move is the best move. I am still working with the Cub Scout program and right now am getting ready for the Blue and Gold Banquet next Thursday. This year we are celebrating the Chinese New Year because it fell on Feb. 7th. Well here are some cute pictures of Danika and the family.

Danika's first Day in Nursery

O-Kay so it wasn't exactly her first day in Nursery, but it was for our ward. She stayed in the entire time and had a blast. Her dress was so messy on top where she drools and eats so that's how I knew she had a great time. I still didn't go to Sunday School, but I do plan on going when I am not getting the Missionaries fed. Well I am so glad to be able to have the option of going to class I totally want to go because I miss the intellectual conversation.

Christmas Time in Texas

Hey everyone, It was a great time this holiday season in Texas with Lowell's family. We went on the 19th of December and got back on the 3rd of January. Danika had a great time with her auntie Hope and her cousin Kaiden. She of course had a wonderful time with Grandma and Grandpa Bentley as well. Yelly wasn't there as much as we hoped but she loved playing with Danika too. Liz and Brandon had a blast watching everyone interact together and having fun with the babies. Lowell wasn't able to make it though he really wanted to. For presents Danika got some new clothes from her Great Aunt Beth. She got some stuffed animals from grandparents and Santa. She got books and a Bee Smart toy to learn about the letters in the alphabet. She got some toy train connectors from her Auntie Yelly. She got some clothes from Aunt Liz and Uncle Brandon too. Auntie Hope gave her some books that she thought she would love and she did. I got some clothes too because I have lost some weight and need new clothes. I got a nice comfortable robe and a blanket with the same material. They are so soft and fuzzy it is so nice. Lowell will be home by the end of the month and he is already starting to send stuff back this way from Iraq. He is really excited and is counting down the days until he gets here. I can't do that because it is too nerve racking. So stop sending things to him because it will take twice as long to get to him, it will get to Iraq and then be rerouted to NC. Here is a movie of Danika at Grandma Bentley's house.