8th Military Police Brigade Ball

Last Friday night Michael and I attended the 8th Military Police Brigade Ball. The ball was downtown at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. We made a reservation to spend the night down at the Hale Koa, the military resort next to the Hilton. We picked up the kids early from school and made our way downtown to the hotel so would could check in and start getting ready for our big night. Earlier in the week we checked Uncle Rick, Aunt Deb, Jason, Becca and Lucas into to the hotel. They were on the 8th floor in ocean view rooms. Michael was joking about our ocean view room with the front desk lady when we checked in. Our reservation wasn't actually for an ocean view room, but she upgraded us for free anyways! The boys headed up to the room while Abigail and I went to park the car. Michael sent this picture to me once they got up to the room. What a handsome boy and a nice view of the ocean, from the 12th floor.

Austin - 12th floor view from our balcony

Of course Abigail had to get her picture taken too. They were so amazed at the view.

We got ready for our night out and the kids changed into their swimming suits. While we were at the ball the kids went to the pool with Uncle Rick, Aunt Deb, Jason, Becca and Lucas. They were able to show off their swimming skills and watch fireworks from the pool.

Military balls are interesting events. This was our third time attending a ball, and I recycled my dress from our very first ball in Alaska. The formal portion of the night started later than planned and took quite a while to finish up. The dinner was pretty good, Michael and I both had the prime rib. It's nice to get dressed up once in a while. I like to say that it's my one day a year where I have to wear make up and heels. I forced Michael to get our picture taken, and of course he gave his best smile!

8th MP Brigade Ball - Hilton Hawaiian Village

He really likes it when I take selfie's of us too!

He really likes to smile!

We called it a night after the formal portion of the evening ended. We grabbed the kids and headed back to our room. We planned to go back over to our friends room for a little after party fun, but Austin fell asleep and we realized that we were ready for bed too. You know you're getting old when you would rather go to bed instead of continuing the party. We were up early at 6:30 the next morning just like we are every other day of the week. We enjoyed the view before we got our showers for the day.

After our showers we met up with the family and headed out to breakfast. We had to find a restaurant where the Michigan game was on. Once we move, we won't have to watch sporting events while we eat breakfast anymore. After the game, and a Michigan win, we headed back home to enjoy the rest of our weekend. It was so nice to stay down there after the ball and act like a tourist instead of coming home. We're so thankful that family was in town and willing to watch the kids while Michael and I attended the ball.

School updates

First Day of School - 2016 - Hawaii

Let's back track for a minute. 

The summer flew by and the kids started school at the beginning of August. This year brought about a few changes. It seems like this is the year for change! Abigail started fourth grade, and Austin transitioned to middle school for the start of seventh grade. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL! 

I can't quite wrap my brain around that one. The transition to middle school has been a little bumpy, but he's learning to navigate changing classes during the day and the increased responsibilities that middle school brings. I'm hoping that he will adjust by the time we move to Kentucky. Most schools on the mainland transition to middle school in sixth grade, so his classmates will have an advantage over him and the whole middle school experience. I don't want him to get lost in the shuffle. His school has a very odd schedule, they only attend certain periods on certain days of the week. He recently started attending the after school program three days a week. During the first hour he does homework during the "tutorial" period, and then he transitions to robotics for the last two hours. The extracurricular activities are a motivator when it comes to getting his homework completed and because he is still in school, in a learning environment, his mind doesn't wander like it does at home. Overall, I think he's enjoying middle school and my heart is starting to accept that he is growing up.

Abigail has adjusted seamlessly to attending school without her big brother there. She's fiercely independent and excelling just as she has the entire time she's been in school. She has been doing some testing for the enrichment program at her school for the past week. She has an interview today and she'll know if she get's into the program on September 30th. Her acceptance into the testing process, and possibly the program, was based on her grades from last school year and recommendation from her teacher. She is very confident in herself and will be anxious to hear if she gets into the program or not. If she is accepted, she will break out from her regular class during the school day and attend the enrichment class. In addition to work due in the enrichment class, she'll also be responsible to complete all of the work her regular class completes while she is out of the classroom. She was also selected to be her class's student counsel representative with another one of her friends. She had to prepare and give a speech to her class on why she would be a good representative. She was then nominated with the top number of votes. She's looking forward to moving, adjusting to her new school and running for student government.

Michael and I are also working hard to continue our education. Michael is just finishing up his last class for his bachelor's degree. He'll graduate at the end of the year. He's hoping to work on a master's degree once we're in Kentucky. I have one final math class to finish this semester before we move, and as I posted in my last entry, I'll be starting nursing school in January. We're getting smarter over here in the Ringman household!

Two short months, and it all changes again

It's that time again. Time for another move. Two months from now a moving company will enter our home and start packing up our belongings. Our fifth move with the military will take us back to the continental United States and closer to those we love the most, our family. After living so far away for the past five years, we're really looking forward to seeing our family more than once or twice every couple of years. A six hour difference will allow for quick long weekend trips and the ability to meet up half way to exchange our children with their grandparents. Something I think the grandparents are really looking forward to.

There are so many different things that are changing along with this move. A school change for both of the kids, job responsibilities for Michael and the beginning of nursing school for myself. Our kids are very resilient and I have no doubt that they will adjust just fine with all of the upcoming changes. I am always amazed that how resilient they are. The number of schools that Austin has attended always astonishes me. He's in seventh grade and has attended six different schools. Abigail has only attended three different schools, but that doesn't mean that she's any less resilient than Austin. I'm sure the ability to spend more time with their grandparents will help with the transition also.

Nursing school. It's the goal that I've been working towards for the past two years. All of my hard work has paid off and I'll finally get to fulfill a dream. I already know that it's going to take some juggling. My time will be limited on extra curricular activities and will mainly focus on handling my family, housework, laundry and studying. Studying, studying and more studying. As I've prepared to apply to the nursing program here in Hawaii, it has set me up well for school in Kentucky. I have already taken a handful of classes that would otherwise be required to take during nursing school there. For that, I am grateful. I can focus on my current schedule and clinical rotations without having to worry too much about other outside classes. I'm welcome to the challenge, and I'm so glad my family will be close enough to help celebrate once I cross the finish line.

But for now, we'll continue to soak up the sunshine while our time is limited in paradise. Three months left until we leave for good, and we're hoping to make the most of it. Maybe I might even blog about it...

2016

It's almost 2016! I haven't blogged in a few years, oops! Facebook makes it so much easier to post pictures. And since my blog was mainly pictures, well...it fell to the wayside.

Blah, blah, blah.

So here's to the New Year, and blogging again. I know, I know, I've said that before. But guess what, Abigail has a blog now too. So if she's blogging, then I can too.

Check her out, www.theamazingabigail.blogspot.com. All pictures and blog posts are by her.

Christmas 2015 - Hawaii

Crazy kids!

They are growing way too fast!

Looking back

I've looked at my blog a few times in the last couple of weeks and realized that I miss blogging. With Facebook we're able to post things more frequently and in real time and it got to be convenient. So, I'm going to try to be a better blogger. It's nice to be able to look back at pictures of the kids and see how much they've grown.

Would you like more updates from the Ringman family?

This blog's been snooze worthy lately, but I'm hoping to change it up a little!

2012 Iditarod

We ventured into downtown this morning for the ceremonial start of the 2012 Iditarod. We started away from the start line, further down the trail. It was great for the kids to get up close and see all the mushers and their dogs.















4 time Iditarod winner, Lance Mackey

The kids each got a dog bootie thrown at them while we were watching. Austin got his from team #19 and Abigail got hers from team #20. What a cool thing for them, and something they'll only get in Alaska!

This team was ready to go! It's no wonder that their musher was 4 time winner Martin Buser!





This link should take you to all of the pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/64235961@N04/sets/72157629141038964/

More snow pictures!

The spot where Austin lost his boot in the snow!

Austin wanted me to take a picture of him on the snow pile next to the dumpster to show how high the snow was!



Ninja Austin

Lots of snow!

We've been getting a lot of snow again lately! We're predicted to get another 6-18 inches tonight! We better get the snow shovels ready!

Christmas 2011

While I'm busy making dinner, here's the link to our Christmas photos so far! Enjoy! (I'll do a real post later!)

Christmas 2011

Pajama pants

I made some new pajama pants for the kids yesterday. Austin got a new pair of Charlie Brown Christmas pajamas and Abigail (and her baby) got matching argyle ones!

Santa 2011

They've come a long way since this picture,

to this picture!

Santa 2011

Where did my babies go?

Our Elf on the Shelf

We adopted an elf this year! If you haven't heard about The Elf on the Shelf before click here for the story.

On Thanksgiving we read the book that came with our elf. At the end of the book we had to pick a name for our elf and decide if it was going to be a boy or a girl. We named our elf "Ernie" after the great Ernie Harwell! The morning after Thanksgiving, the kids woke up to a letter from Santa and the elf sitting on the potpourri in the living room.

Day 1

On day 2 Ernie was sitting on the window sill. After he flies to the North Pole every night to give Santa his report on Austin and Abigail he comes back and positions himself in a different spot.

Day 3, Ernie found his way onto the Christmas tree after returning from the North Pole.

And a bonus picture of the whole Christmas tree and stockings!

One of these days I'll get around to posting pictures of the whole house!