2nd grade has begun!

Just to keep you in the know...
-The Reyes family will be moving to Panama Beach, FL at the end of the month.
-The Harrington's moved out of their house as of Sunday and are staying at the Hale Koa for a week before they move to Lemore, CA
-Scott and Pam will be transferring to Andrews in Sept. Link to their site here!
-Kevin is doing some pre-negotiating for orders. Of our choices, he has said our top 3 are Florida, New Orleans and Texas.
-Macy! You left your yearbook and as expected, some clothes.
-Happy birthday tomorrow to Pete and Tammy!
-Big Guy's room has been painted blue. Now it has to be put together again.
-Kevin has finally been put on blood pressure meds. After years of tricks prior to his doctors visits, he had to accept the fact that he has high blood pressure. It is just on the upper end of the normal range but it is still considered high. Maybe that daily run will be more appealing now and I should put away the salt shaker!

Today is the first day of school. Tara was ready but I think the summer went way too fast! She must have been very excited. She had gotten into the habit of sleeping till 9 or 10. This morning she bounced down the stairs at 6 with her clothes in one hand and a brush in the other. Her breakfast of choice for the first day of school? Waffles with bacon (turkey bacon, of course!). Her lunch? Ham sandwich with cucumbers, celery, and green peppers (thanks Macy!) with Ranch for dipping and sliced oranges for dessert. We loaded her favorite backpack, plus two shopping bags, with supplies. Big Guy, Trey and I walked with her to help carry the load and meet the teacher. Mrs. Holliday will be her 2nd grade teacher and she was Mary's old one. Tara is thrilled because she is so pretty and nice! I ran into Robin (who works there) by the front office and she informed me that while she is a very nice teacher, she's also a good one. That's encouraging considering Hawaii's school system isn't the best. Kindergarten doesn't start till next week so we will have another first then.

I've got the whole bed to myself! Sort of....

Another Saturday has come and gone. Soccer was this morning. The kids were great. Kevin was here so that made it more special for both Tara and Big Guy. I finished up the last of the school supply shopping. I don't mind buying the usual supplies. Paper, notebooks, pencils, erasers, glue, etc. is all the stuff you expect. But...when I have to buy dry erase markers and other supplies for the teachers there seems to be a problem. Tara needs 6 rolls of paper towels. Every child has to bring in 6 rolls of paper towels. What in the name of Pete are they going to do with all those paper towels? Why are the students bringing in dry erase markers for the teachers and paper towels to last into the next decade? Whatever **sigh**. In assessing the kids wardrobes I discovered that Tyler didn't own a pair of tennis shoe. I can't remember the last time I bought him a pair. So, in addition to the school supplies, paper towels, hand soap, boxes of tissue, dry erase markers and drinking cups I found Tyler some really cool tennis shoes. By some stroke of pure luck, they fit too. The bright spot I have in the yearly ritual is Tara. She is overly attached to anything from the year before. She does not want a new backpack. She is using the one she had in Kindergarten and even refuses to let me wash it. She is very protective of her "stuff" from last year. I'm not arguing.
I am sure my DH thought I had lost my mind today. We had one of those family cleaning days upstairs. (And no! Company is not coming!!) I rearranged Tara's room. I took the bookshelf off her desk so there would be room for homework. I then put the desk under her loft bed and moved all of her toys from the playroom into her room. That enabled me to move all of Tyler's stuff into the playroom and now the playroom is no more. It is officially Tyler's room. He is absolutely thrilled. A room of his own. I am ecstatic. My bed will only have to sleep me, Kevin, Samantha, Gizmo and the baby after his 4am wake up. Yeah!! So, after all of this rearranging I am exhausted and going to bed. G'night.....

The bird

Tara and Cassidy are our resident tree huggers. They want to save and keep everything. When we go to the beach we come home with buckets of fish or sand crabs. They stay on the lanai till the fish go belly up or the crabs disappear. Tara took a bucket to her room once. I found the bucket, empty, and my child playing in front of her big, multi-story, Barbie house.
"Tara, where is the crab?"
"It wanted to play in my Barbie house."
"Tara, where is the crab now?"
"I don't know. (looking sad, almost in tears) I moved the steps and heard a big crunch. I think I smooshed it."
Buckets of creatures are no longer allowed in the house.
Yesterday they found a bird that couldn't fly.
"Can we keep it?"
"Absolutely not!! And do not touch it!" I've had a bird. Been there done that. And wild birds are nasty and carry nasty germs and stuff.
They disappeared outside.
Today Kevin came home for lunch. He walked in laughing and told me to come outside and look. There we found a perfectly made, very realistic looking bird's nest. In it was the bird. Dead.
"Tara, did you make this bird's nest?"
"Nope. I found it in the bush where we find all the bird's nests. We tried to get the bird in it all night. This morning we found it and wanted it to be comfortable and be in it's real house. We didn't touch it though. We moved it with rocks."
Can't argue with that logic. They didn't touch it either. I just wonder if the whole moving it with rocks thing is what actually killed it. I'm curious what they will bring home next. I guess it is only fair. I know I brought home my fair share of critters.

Potter Finale

I'm done! I finished it. The end has come and gone for me and Harry Potter. The end was so final. No more of Potter and friends and their escapades at Hogwarts. All of my patients rooms had a copy of The Deathly Hallows on their bedside tables. I was their sleepy nurse who had given up her nightly slumber to diligently read the final chapters. I couldn't begin with the new book. Nope. Had to go back and read #6 so the story lines were fresh. I am usually not one to reread(?) books. This time I may make an exception. But not yet. Tara is becoming fascinated with the movies. I long for the time when I can sit with the kids and read to them this enthralling tale of magic and muggels and mythical creatures. I hope it is as magical a story to them as it has been to the rest of us. Thanks J. K. Rowling for the incredible stories of courage, strength, friendship, love and imagination!!

Bye Macy!

Macy is gone. The house doesn't feel much different- but it will. Big Guy and Tara both slept in her bed last night. Macy broke-up with Tyler. She called him her boyfriend and made sure to kiss him several times a day. He didn't like it and was glad she broke it off before she left. Tara said she was glad she was leaving. Macy was so mean because she made her clean her room and pick up the house. She was the first to say she missed her at dinner last night. The neighborhood kids were here asking about her. They thought Macy was the coolest cause she was so pretty, almost 14 and the queen of IMing, texting and an IPOD!!! I am glad the kids were able to hang out with a cousin and form a relationship. It's hard when we live so far. I won't be buying any cake/cookie/brownie mixes for a long time. Macy baked a lot while here. Out of boredom? Probably. Did we eat it? Definitely. I probably gained 6 pounds during her stay. We got her to the airport and Tammy said she arrived home just fine. Hungry, but chattering non-stop. I'm sure she is very glad to be back with her friends. She still has a month of summer to hang out before school starts. I hope she enjoyed her time with us and came to love Hawaii as much as the rest of us. Thanks Macy! Send me a text some time!!

National Monument?

Have you heard? There is a proposal in legislation for a new national monument. The subject? The military spouse. Can you believe that? After years of being told "If the military wanted you to have a family, it would have come in your seabag" someone has finally realized that spouses deserve something other than just being called "a dependent". National monument? Not quite sure how I feel about that. I am in shock. The stautue has been sketched to show The Two Faces of Courage. One of a woman and her children anxiously waiting for the return of their loved one and the other side shows the same woman clutching a folded flag with her children after her husband has given the ultimate sacrifice. I will be keeping a close eye on this one. It reminds me of a story that has circled the internet and Melissa has a framed copy in her house. I love it.


When God Created the Military Wife

When the Lord was creating a military wife He ran into His sixth day of overtime. An angel appeared and said, "You're having a lot of trouble with this one. What's wrong with the standard model?"
The Lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order? It has to be completely independent but must always be sponsored to get on a military installation. It must have the qualities of both mother and father during deployments, be a perfect host to 4 or 40, handle emergencies without an instruction manual, cope with flu and moves all around the world, have a kiss that cures anything from a child's bruised knee to a husband's weary days, have the patience of a saint when waiting for its mate to come home and, have six pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands? No way." The Lord answered, "Don't worry; we will make other military wives to help. Besides, it's not the hands that are causing the problem, it's the heart. It must swell with pride, sustain the ache of numerous separations while remaining true, beat soundly even when it feels too tired to do so, be large enough to say 'I understand' when it doesn't, and say 'I love you', regardless.
"Lord," said the angel, gently touching His sleeve. "Go to bed. You can finish it tomorrow." "I can't," said the Lord. "I'm so close to creating something quite unique. Already it can heal itself when sick, on a moment's notice it will willingly embrace and feed total strangers who have been stranded during a PCS move and it can wave goodbye to its husband understanding why he had to leave."
The angel circled the model of the military wife very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.
"But tough," the Lord said excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this being can do or endure."
"Can it think?" asked the angel. "Can it think?! It can convert 1400 to 2 p.m.," replied the Lord.
Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "There's a leak," she said. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model." It's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a tear." "What's it for?" asked the angel. "It's for joy, sadness, pain, loneliness and pride." "You're a genius," said the angel.
Looking at her somberly, the Lord replied, "I didn't put it there."

"Wastin' Away in Margaritaville"

The only thing that would make sitting on the beach with a cooler of Coronas any better would be listening to Jimmy Buffet. While I am not an official Parrothead I am one at heart and have been for years. (Anyone remember the hat I had with the huge red parrot on top?) Maybe it has to do with my love of the ocean, or the sound of the steel drums or maybe it is his laid back "no worries" type lyrics but I love Buffett. My DH arrived home yesterday. Due to jet lag he was awake at 4am and browsing any and every internet site he came across. There was a blurb about Buffett coming to the Waikiki Shell and he immediately logged into ticket master and got us tickets. YEEEAAAAHHHH!!!!! I am so excited! I am like a little kid that just got the bestest gift ever!! Buffett tickets! ***taking deep,calming breaths*** Ok, ok I am pathetic, but sheeesh ,Kevin bought Buffett tickets. He hasn't done anything that wise since the day we got married! ;)
I was so excited I skipped over the part where I am supposed to say "Daddy's home Daddy's home!" Kevin arrived home Sunday morning in Honolulu. Tyler went with me and Tara stayed home so Macy could do her hair and make it pretty for Daddy's arrival. I, being the horrible, stressed-out, puked on, pooped on wife of the last week said "Tag! You're it!" as soon as he walked in the door. He took the kids and Macy to the Hale Koa and I began reading the new Harry Potter book in a house that was strangely, wonderfully quiet. It was heavenly. Speaking of heaven, my DH is fixing breakfast. Aloha!

My website, blogger.com, is trying something different. They are experimenting with video uploads, so I am trying it too. I don't really know what we'll see but, TA DAA! Here it is!!

3rd Week of Soccer & New Discoveries!

Third week of soccer and .....WOW!! Tara played goalie and did a great job! I was very proud of her. She tackled the ball, caught it, had several saves and got walked on by cleated feet several times. She never shed a tear but she did make one request. She wanted to go to the doctor immediately after the game cause she swore someone broke her bone when they stepped on her arm. :) Big Guy scored a goal and had an awesome block that he did with his chest. He was also put in as goalie and did a heck of a good job. It was so cute having everyone yell "Go Big Guy go!". He wanted to sit out at one point and coach told him to go back in cause they needed him. He swelled with pride and ran even harder. Yes, I know, I'm bragging.
Yesterday was cloudy so we (us and the Reyes family) piled into the van in search of places we had never been. We stopped at Laie Pt. It was beautiful and even more so with the extra punch from the angry swells of the ocean thanks to a hurricane near the Big Island. There are 5 outcroppings of rock scattered in the ocean like little islands. There is a legend about a giant lizard that was destroyed and thrown into the ocean and the "islands" symbolize what is left. Next on our list was Pu'u O'Mahuku which is sacred land that once was the location where ancient Hawaiians performed human sacrifices. The stone walls remain and it soars over Waimea up in the hills so if you walk to the edge the views are fantastic. (I don't mean to offend anyone if I butcher the legends or misspell a place name!) Our last stop was to see the sunset from the north side of Kaena Pt which is the western most tip of the island. We were hoping to get there a little earlier so we could do a 1.25 mile hike to hidden beach but we were a little late and the road was a little flooded. All 3 spots were beautiful. Have I mentioned lately that I love it here?

Picture Perfect Day

Everyone has a place that they go to unwind, relax and be at peace. If you read this site, you know for me it's the beach. I had only one purpose yesterday and that was get to the ocean, sit in the sand and dive into the crystal blue waters that restore my inner balance. Aaaahhhhh. We brought nine kids. Pam brought seven. Did I care? Nope. They played football, had chicken fights, rode the waves, did some skim boarding, explored the jetty, gathered "sand turtles",played a little bb, walked to the park and played in the sand. Pam had a blast playing with all the kids. She was in need of a little fun in the sun too! Melissa, Celeste and I kicked back, had a Corona and watched the day unfold from our chairs by the waters edge. Back at the house I finished up a novel I was reading. The book is called Molokai and chronicles the life of a girl sent to the island's Leper Settlement in the late 1800's. It's a historical novel about Hawaii and it's a great read. Dinner was a done deal as we stopped at Fat Ron's on the way home. Not my idea, but it was an easy way to appease the angry mob of hungry children. I ate my left overs from my thawed out freezer. It was a great day and a great way to erase the last few days. Now, if only I could find the energy to clean my house. There are more pictures posted.
I forgot to add a funny here. After her bath last night, Tara came down the steps in the beginning stages of a full blown crying fit. She was balling and sniffling and she fell into my arms and said "Mom, I am too young to die, I don't want to die! Look at my toe! Are they going to cut it off or am I going to die?" She sobbed and cried. When I could finally understand what she was saying, I looked at her toe. Apparently while playing on the rocks she stubbed it pretty badly. The toe is bruised and the nail is too. The nail will probably come off but I kept that to myself. She was sitting on the couch a little later and looked down and said "Mom, that looks horrendous. It's it going to be better by the time I go back to school?" LOL :)

My Dear Friend Murphy

I consider myself to be pretty independent. I can change a tire, jump a car, do minor home repairs, etc., etc. When your DH is gone as frequently as mine you learn not to depend on anyone but yourself. If they are around, it's the exception and not the rule. And, as required by Murphy's Law, if anything is going to go wrong- it will, but especially while the husbands are away. The last week has been a prime example of me and ole Murphy battling it out.
-Macy and Tara getting sick, and barfing all over everything in their path
-The laundry that the above created
-The baby got sick while I was at work the next day
-When I came home the freezer door had been left open (or so I thought)
-I got sick the following am and had to go in to work any way
-The weather has been crappy from the typhoon that was pounding Japan. Cloudy skies and rain mean I am not getting to the beach. The beach is my therapeutic release.
-The freezer died thru the night. I went to buy a new one but when I jumped into the van...
-The lights had been left on overnight and it wouldn't start. The battery was so drained it wouldn't jump.
-Every man I know was gone- deployed, on det, out-of-town, or at work.
-When I went to buy a new freezer the card I was using had my DH's name. I was told I wouldn't be able to use it unless I had a power-of-attorney. I knew I had one and knew exactly where in the van it was and told the lady I would be right back. I ran outside only to realize I had borrowed a vehicle because mine wouldn't start. Uhh! Murphy got me again!!

Fortunately for me Dillon is in town. He answered my cry for help. Together we hauled out the old freezer and he had a charger for the battery. I can't pick up the new freezer till Thursday and I enlisted his services to help me then also. I thanked him and gave him a half thawed hunk of Salmon, bag of broccoli with cheese and a loaf of crusty french bread. I don't think he realizes that he rescued my injured soul. I was on the verge of waving white flags at my dear friend Murphy. Instead, he listened to me rant and rave, reassured me that I had jumped the vehicles correctly, and hung out just to chat for a few moments. Exactly what I need to once again feel like a strong, independent, military wife capable of handling all of Murphy's sh#t! Thanks Pete!!

Hallmark? HA!

I don't have the greatest of memories. Especially for birthdays/anniversaries. My family would fit in a Honda and I still get the dates of my grandfather's birthday and their anniversary confused because the dates are back-to-back. I've known them for 38 years. Imagine my complete ineptness when marrying into Kevin's family. His mom, dad, brothers and sisters wouldn't fit in a Honda. That's not even mentioning the nieces, nephews and grandparents. If you add in the anniversaries and first communions I am a complete failure. I apologize. It's horrible- I know. When you are in the military and move from place to place, strangers suddenly become family. You find yourself celebrating special occasions with friends that have become like brothers/sisters even while forgetting those same holidays of your real family. It doesn't help that my DH doesn't even know which month some of his family's special occasions occur. I don't know if any of you ever scroll down to the bottom of the page. I have added a calendar. Please scroll down, take a look, and see what I have missed. The calendar actually e-mails me a message to remind me of the posted event. I think this is wonderful. I had to use a 2004 Meiners-Hodes-Aumuller Family Roster for the dates. If I have left anyone out or need to add in something, please leave a "comment" in the drop down box below this posting. You could also email me. I don't know if it would work, but you could try just adding the event to the calender. I am not promising cards, gifts or flowers. I can't even promise phone calls because sometimes by the time I get around to checking mail and such, it is bedtime where friends and family live. I am promising to be thinking of each and everyone on their special day and to try real hard to at least send an email acknowledging their special day. So far I have sent an email to Pam for Michael's birthday and also to Kathy and Grandma Rose. I hope you all know we were thinking of you on your special day and we hope you had great birthdays!!! Please accept my sincerest apologies for any and all past (and future LOL) missed holidays- but note that I am trying!!! :)

What a day!!

I should never have gotten out of bed today. I should have grabbed the covers, pulled them up high and hidden in the depths of warm blankets and pleasant dreams. But no. That's not what happened. I heard Macy's feeble voice coming from the bathroom, between puking sessions, calling my name. After I got her cleaned up and the sheets were pulled from her bed I was cleaning and spraying the upstairs and it just still smelled bad. I went into Tara's room and found her asleep next to the mess she had created when she had gotten sick through the night. The washer is going, the dishwasher is running and hoooraaahhhhhh! It's my day off. We were all (the neighbors and I) going to gather the kids and go to the zoo and then cool off at the Hale Koa. Now I am listening to my two girls taking turns to wretch into the buckets I have set next to them. My poor girls.
At the top of my site I have a disclaimer that allows me to complain about the little things. So, here goes. I have often ranted about poor pitiful me because I have no brothers and sisters. There are times when I am very thankful for being an only child. My family experienced a death not long ago. Three adults were left grieving over the loss of a parent. One has done very well in life. She has a successful husband, a large home, and 4 beautiful kids. Another is married and happy, living in a home in another state. The third and youngest (he is older than I am) was living in the house with the now deceased parent. He is now living with other family while he gets finances and life straight before branching off on his own. The estate was not overly large- a modest home, an eight year old car, some cash in the bank and maybe an insurance policy. The problem is the executor of the estate was child #1. She has decided to charge an executor's fee. If the estate was large or if she was a lawyer or someone outside the will that was not an heir, the fee would be perfectly justified. The other problem I am having with the situation is the fee is only being paid by child #3, who has no place to live and is making a valiant effort at getting his affairs in order. I have searched on the internet and everything I find says the fee is generally waived if the executor is a recipient of the will or a family member. An executor should be business smart, trustworthy and fair. By that simple definition she has failed. I hope her children will not be subject to the same greed and injustice when they lose their parents. Sometimes being an only child has it's perks.

07/07/07

Macy took this great shot of Tyler- #6 for the Electric Eels!!

Today was the first Saturday of games for soccer. Tara had a game at 9 and Big Guy played at 10. At the beginning of the season we have to sign a Parent Promise. The form basically reminds parents that the children are there for fun. A commom sense, good sportsmanship reminder that obnoxious screaming and foul behavior will not be tolerated from the sidelines. If anyone was witness to my facial expressions during Tara's game, I was radiating complete astonishment at the behavior of two of our parents. These kids are 7 and 8 years old and these parents were yelling at this poor little girl like there were college recruiters sitting in the crowd. To yell and scream and threaten a child for not running fast enough or kicking the ball hard enough is completely inappropriate. The poor girl is a great player but I guess that's not enough. From what we all heard coming from the screaming idiots, the poor child will be running laps and grounded for the weekend because at some point during the game she dared to look in the wrong direction. I don't have a lot of patience for that. I know in addition to a highlighted copy of the Parent's Promise being left on their windshield, I will not be able to bite my tongue each and every Saturday. We are still trying to convince Tara that she actually needs to make contact with the ball instead of just running along beside it. She loves to play and and she may not be the star of the show, but I am happy that she stays interested and involved. It's not about winning, it's about having fun!!! Big Guy was super aggressive and had a great game. He was all over the ball and ran hard and fast. He was so very happy that it was finally game day and he got to wear his complete uniform!

Kayla Bazzle also had a birthday today. She wanted to go to Hawaiian Waters for the day, so off we went. The kids had a blast! It was the perfect way to cool off and there was something there for everyone! Pictures have been posted!

Oops!

I just uploaded some pictures and when I did I realized I hadn't written about Tara's birthday. She once again wanted a pool party. We decorated with multicolor pool /luau decorations. Since we rented the pool after hours we had the place to ourselves. The kids were able to slide, dive and swim as much as they wanted. I had a craft table set up and all 15 or so kids made popsicle stick picture frames. I snapped pics of each child with Tara and they were able to take their framed photos home as a thank you. We had a limbo game set up on the side. (How low can you go?) The kids played several rounds of "push the duck across the pool with your nose". Their dives got very creative and their laughter and giggles could be easily heard as they repeatedly went down the slide. Everyone had lots of fun and kept busy. At the end of the evening when we were packing up to go, I had to chase Macy away from the craft table. She thought the frames were great and I bet she made about 10 to take home. Tara received lots of great presents but I think her favorite has got to be the desk top cd/radio/alarm clock she got from Aunt Tammy, Payden, Macy and Darby. Everyday she is upstairs dancing and singing. Thanks everybody for a great party! Lots of pictures have been uploaded....

Happy 4th!

Hope everyone had a happy 4th of July!! We met up with the Dillon's yesterday morning and headed out to the sandbar. We grilled and played frisbee and the kids splashed in the water. When the tide began stealing the sand we headed back to the boat and snorkeled and tossed around a football. All was well until a killer crab the size of a quarter latched onto Macy's foot and wouldn't let go. I wanted to take a picture of the little crab's claw clinging to the underside of her foot right next to her toes. The piercing screams one decibel under a dog whistle made the picture taking impossible because we just wanted to remove the crab so the screaming would stop. Even Tara and Tyler were laughing at her but unfortunately baby Trey has gotten pretty good at mimicking the scream. One small crab in all of the ocean and it found it's way to Macy. She was the entertainment segment of our day! There were several fireworks displays on the other side of the island but the only one on this side was Kailua's. Since there is only one road in and one road out of town, the ride home could have taken hours so we headed to Ft. Hasse beach here on base where we had a great view without the traffic and hassle. Everyone was exhausted. Trey and Big Guy were already asleep and Kev more than happily volunteered to stay with them. Tara and the Reyes kids were sitting on the beach and I could hear comments like "Why are we here?" "We've seen fireworks all weekend!" "Can we go home now?" We all went back to the house and feasted on Kalua pork, cabbage, rice and pasta salad. Melissa asked if anyone wanted a beer and we all laughed- then everyone went home and went to bed. Thank heavens the holiday festivities are over!!!

Summer Daze and Bay Fest Haze

Macy has been here for a couple of weeks now. It is wonderful to have her here. Kevin and I are about to put our house in Virginia on the market and with an extra mortgage to pay having her here to hang out with the kids while I work is fabulous. I have decided that those people that have to work everyday 9-5 are sucking. Maybe it is just because I am in Hawaii. (I didn't hate it so much when I was in Virginia, but then again I worked nights.) I only worked 3 days one week and 2 the next- but it's horrible. I was at work all day. That is a day at the beach completely wasted. An entire day of being without the kids and missing all the crazy, goofy things that they find to keep them occupied through the day. I think I entered a state of semi depression. I should probably avoid that whole work thing for a while (LOLOLOL). Okay! Just the day part in the work factor is what I will try to avoid.
Anyway, trying to keep Macy occupied should be considered work. Just kidding! We have been going to the Hale Koa, hanging out at the beach, going to the movies, Bogey boarding at Bellows and doing some hiking. This past weekend was the Bay Fest extravaganza. I took Macy to her first concert- 3 Days Grace. I admit I have been a little out of touch with the music scene for the past few years, but who knew they would have a mosh pit at Bay Fest? Macy was mesmerized by the pure chaos of the "dancing". Ray went with us and he threatened the life of any and all Marines that happened to stare at Macy for too long. It was a blast! Macy had a great time at the concert and Ray even let her dance a little at the after party (of course he was standing next to her glaring at the poor soul who dared dance with her). Kevin was on duty and had to work the event on Saturday so he passed on that concert. I was supposed to work the next night when Gretchin Wilson was the main act so we both skipped that day. Sunday, a bunch of us took the kids and let them ride rides all day. Kevin and I went back that night and saw Alan Jackson's show. He was great and I think everyone in the crowd knew every word to every song. We all sang and swayed and even shed a few tears together when he played "Where were you when the world stopped turning?" It really was a great show.
My dear parents have been working hard on getting my house back into pre-renter condition. We are re-painting the inside for that clean, fresh feeling but the yard was in complete disrepair because they completely let it go. I have seen before and after pics and they, and Adam, have worked their butts off getting everything done. I can't say thank you enough!! We should be having an open house this coming weekend so everyone keep their fingers crossed and think "Sell! Sell!" I don't want to work this hard indefinitely!! :)
Well, I am currently teaching Macy about the luxury of owning a gas grill and the ease of a rice cooker. She lives on chicken and rice! Anyway, I am going to go supervise so...aloha!!!

Turtles, Shrimp and Waterfalls

The Beatty's are still here and we have been busy, busy, busy! Saturday everyone went to Tara's volleyball game then they all went to the swap meet. As the sun was going down, we were headed to Hanauma Bay. Twice a month they do night snorkeling so we weren't going to miss the opportunity. It was very cool. We were able to rent underwater flashlights and to look at the dark water with the lights moving just beneath the surface was very inviting. In all actuality, it creeped us out. You could hear stuff in the water but you couldn't see anything unless it was directly in the beam of you flashlight. You never knew what was lurking just ahead. By unanimous vote it was decided this adventure, although sounding very cool, was creepy....very creepy. Sunday we went to Bellows AFF so the kids could do some boogy boarding. They also got an added bonus that day- there was a turtle feeding around the jetty so they kept an eye on that. We headed to the West side of the island for Germaine's Luau that evening. It was great fun and served up some fabulous mai ti's. Yesterday we hit the North Shore and our guests sampled the wonderful shrimp scampi from Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. While waiting for our eats we all passed the time by adding our names to the countless others found on every inch of the truck. They were fascinated by the many turtles at Lanikea or Turtle Beach. Snorkeling in waters where turtles nearly run you over is intoxicating. Next on our list was Waimea falls and other than an overzealous life guard, the icy swim is fabulous. Today we are going to head out to the sand bar for some volleyball and good times. Have I mentioned lately how much I love it here?? As soon as I find Darby's camera I'll update with some pictures...

Tara's Last Day of School & the Beatty's First Day on Island

School's out for summer!! Yoohoo!! Tara's last day of school was yesterday. We said good-bye to first and it's on to 2nd grade. Wow! Our little girl has become an exceptional reader and for that I am very thankful. I don't know what second grade will bring but I love to watch her learn. She is like a sponge that is awed by her journey of learning and discovery.
The Beatty's are here! We all walked Tara to school and after I dropped them off at the beach. Tara only had a half day and that was just for a party and to play. Her birthday is always after the school year so I made her a ginormous chocolate chip cookie and Macy decorated it to share with the class for a mini birthday celebration. We met up with our latest guests when school was out and Trey had napped. They were snorkeling, boogie boarding, walking the beach, exploring the tide pools and having tons of fun in the sun. When I left several hours later they were making plans to head to yet another of our beaches. Needless to say, today they are crispy critters, especially Darby and our very own Flamin' Payden. Today they have strategically planned to stay out of the sun and are headed into Waikiki. They are going out on the Atlantis submarine and then hanging out to explore and watch sunset. I am actually going to work tonight (nobody faint!!). Macy bought a skim board so I am sure they'll be hitting the beach while I am sleeping tomorrow. Twice a month they do night snorkeling at Haunauma Bay and this Saturday we are going to try it. I am excited because Kev and I have talked about it but haven't done it yet. Not quite sure what we'll do with the little kids but I'm sure we'll figure it out. I love when people come to visit and we get to be tour guides!!

8 years, 3 kids, 3 states and 4 houses

Tuesday was a crazy day. My list of errands had me running all over base and into town too. The good thing was that for the first time in about 2 months, I did errands by myself. (Hey Pam! They did not sell Kev's uniforms!) Tara had volleyball pictures and then it was off to her first soccer practice. Her soccer coach is one of the coaches from cheering and I was quite impressed with her organization. She had already prepared a snack list, due dates for trophy/monogramming money, pictures have been scheduled and the date for the end of season party has been penciled in too! She was wearing her new cleats and there were lots of kids on the team that she knew so she was a happy camper. Tyler will have practices at the same time, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-6. It will be another season of running between both, each child wanting me at practice and me wanting to be at both also. Do I sound as if I will be doing this alone? Maybe I am just pre-planning because my dear husband, who has been home for less than 48hrs, has already mentioned the possibility that he might be leaving for Italy in July. We shall see. Tyler had to get his first pairs of shin guards yesterday. He wore them to Tara's practice and brought his new soccer ball so that he could play too. He is so cute and he has so much enthusiasm for the sport, any sport actually.
Kevin and I celebrated our 20th, no 8th, wedding anniversary.****Hehehe**** We were able to work dinner into our schedule. Dinner alone and together. That, in and of itself, is amazing. Dinners out have almost becomce extinct in our lives and will remain that way till Trey is much older. The only way we usually eat out is if there is a play area or chips on the table immediately. Our dear neighbors kept the kids and we dined undisturbed. There were margaritas involved and it was a wonderful evening.
Tammy, Payden, Macy and Darby will arrive tonight. Tomorrow is Tara's last day of school. The madness will then begin. But, oh the fun we'll have!!

Kayaking

I've been here for two years. For two years I have looked at the kayaks slicing through the waters of the bays and I have longed to do the same. Saturday we went to a gathering at one of the beaches on base and on the way there I decided I was just going to go the marina (a mile away) and rent one. You can't beat it, for $4 an hour or $30/day you can rent a 2 man kayak with tie down straps, life jackets, back supports and paddles. They will even put it on top of your vehicle and fill your cooler with ice. Can I just say that the jeep looks really good with a kayak loaded on top! Kevin was still gone and of course we had gone with the Reyes'. Melissa isn't big on the water so throughout the day I went out with Ray or Estella. Of course, I absolutely loved every minute of it. We paddled out to and around turtle rock and saw a very small beach where you could get the kayak on land and explore. We saw the eroding shore on the ocean side of the island that is tunneled from the pounding waves. The waters are so clear that the world beneath is completely exposed and you can't help but to stop and just stare. I could sit on the kayak and watch the reefs for hours. Kev was home Monday and when we decided to go to the beach I again went to the marina. We were at a different beach but the effect was still the same. Kev and I put the boys between us and paddled around the cove of secret beach. Trey loved it as he watched the colors from the world below and Big Guy kept a good eye on the big waves he thought we were getting too near. This is just one more thing I love about the ocean and I am sure given the opportunity I could become a kayak junkie.

Yeeeaahh! Daddy's home!!

Yesterday after church we had Catholic Heritage Day. Food, face painting, bouncy houses and games are always a good way to mark the end of another year of CCD. The kids went to the pool in the afternoon and then we made the sign as seen in the picture. Tyler was sooo excited. We couldn't leave for the airport till 9p so Tyler kept bringing me the clock to let me know exactly what time it was. Tara found lots of flowers for Daddy and wrote lots of "I miss you and I love you notes". When the hour finally arrived I loaded 3 very excited children into the van. Baby Trey didn't know what was going on but if his brother and sister were happy, then he was happy too! The airport is a 20 min ride. Halfway there poor Tyler fell asleep. He tried so hard to stay awake. Trey hadn't made it off base before he fell into dreamland. I don't know how Tara did it but she yakked the whole way and somewhere within a minute of the airport, I think she fell asleep mid-sentence. Kevin arrived on time and climbed into a van full of adoring, sleeping kids and I whisked him away into the night.

The T-Ball Finale

Well the first season of Tyler's first organized sport has come to an end. He had a fabulous game and finally received that trophy he has been waiting for since the first practice. He hit the ball solidly each time up to bat, had some good throws and his final run into home was memorable to say the very least. Make sure you watch the video of that!! Dad would be proud and Coach Tony presented Tyler with the game ball. Way to go Big Guy!! I can't wait for soccer!

Tyler's last day of pre-school!

The star of the day...yooohooo! Tyler's last day of pre-school. How cool is that? He officially is one of the big kids now (or so he thinks). He will start Mokapu Aug 1 in Pre-K and the very best part- it's free!! I won't be dishing out the dinero for child care until Trey starts the CDC and with the wait list, who knows how long that will be. I made cup cakes for his classroom Aloha Party and joined them for lunch. He was happy to finally get to that day circled on the calendar. No more asking "Is today my last day?" He also thinks he's top dog cause Tara has another week of school left. I am getting closer and closer to the long days of summer that I've been craving!!

Got it!!

I have been trying to figure out how to do this type of collage for weeks. I would go online and do searches, I've looked at buying programs, downloading programs, read countless tutorials.... and all along it has been on my desk top computer. MicroSoft Picture It!! Who knew???? (Thanks Pam!)

So this is my second attempt at collage building. The first is at the bottom of my page as Waikiki Sunsets. Expect to see more!!

Memorial Day Fun

Memorial Day we did the right thing. I had wanted to visit a veterans cemetery and do a cookout with games and fun but the weather wasn't cooperating. The morning was rainy and nasty. Tara had come home in the middle of the night so we got an early start. We gathered some beautiful flowers and tied them with ribbon to make two very attractive bouquets. I thought we would beat the crowds but they were already packed. People were selling flowers and there were tons of volunteers passing out water and flags and making sure people were able to find their loved ones. The rain was still coming down pretty heavily. The kids were very impressed with all the flags and flowers and I think they understood the spirit of the day. It continued to be cloudy right up to mid afternoon but at the last moment the sun broke free of the clouds so we ran out and played lots of games. Tug-of-war, egg tosses, 3 legged race, wheel barrel races, water balloon fights, crab walks etc etc. The kids had a great time and we topped it off with a cookout complete with the traditional and every kids favorite, hamburgers and hot dogs, chips, baked beans and a couple of cakes and some s'mores. It all came together nicely. Hope you had a great day too!

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!

It's a long holiday weekend here in paradise. My backdoor neighbor, Robert, found out Friday he had been advanced. We were all very excited and celebrated with a few adult beverages. Quite a few beverages. The good thing about my drink of choice is the Jeiger is mixed with Red Bull which leaves you with lots of energy for the next morning. Saturday, Tyler had a t-ball game and after was awarded with his most coveted snack pack. The girls set up and worked their lemonade stand. They had fun and I even threw together a cinnamon streusel cake so they could sell that with their drinks. The beach was beckoning so when Trey finished his nap, that's where we headed. Today we were all bad and skipped church. (I know, I know...we are all going straight to hell!) We packed up the cooler with sandwiches, milk, juices and snacks. We loaded up a football, a volleyball set, floats and snorkel gear and guess where we went? Yep, you guessed it, the beach! Is there any place you would rather be when in Hawaii? New pictures have been added.

Tomorrow I would like to wake up early and head to a veteran's cemetery. My plan is to take red flowers for the kids to leave and explain the history of Memorial Day. That is my plan but plans tend to change. My kids have all left me to spend the night with friends so the early start I was hoping for isn't going to happen. We have an Iwo jima Memorial on base so we may have to head to that instead. We will see. If you read this before 3 pm, that is the moment when you are to pause in remembrance and respect, honoring those that have fallen in service to their country.

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies
-Moina Michael

My hope is that everyone takes at least 60 seconds to remember the spirit of the day. It's not just another 3 day weekend! ( I will now jump down from my soapbox!)

The Pet Rock

Ok! Think fast, think hard! Does anyone remember having a Pet Rock? Ok times up! The year was 1975 and Pet Rocks were the craze. (I am really dating myself here!) I, of course, had one perched on a shelf on the desk in my room. I am sure the rock was given a name (probably first, middle and last) but it has long been forgotten. I do remember the little carton that folded closed, complete with air holes. The inside came with straw for my little rock to live on but I believe I promptly replaced that with scraps of fabric left over from Grandma's quilting. The rock was the greatest pet ever. Ya didn't have to feed it, clean up behind it and it was very skilled at various tricks, such as sit, stay and play dead.
Well, Tara and Cassidy were bored one day about two weeks ago (you know where this is headed, right?) and I suggested going outside and finding a special rock. We had a little package of squiggly eyes and I thought they would find that special rock, add some eyes, put it in a box and voila, a pet to amuse them for hours!! Did I underestimate the imagination of these little heathens. Not only did they find a special rock, they found an entire city's worth of special rocks. And it is no wonder because the little box I recommended was replaced by a large diaper box (like you get from Sam's Club). The smaller boxes were their "travel boxes". The little dears also decided that eyes were not enough. Oh no, they had to paint each and every rock. Not to mention the boxes that had to be decorated too! At my kitchen table. One color was not enough. There were stripped, spotted, two toned rocks and some rocks were designated as girl rocks and some were boy rocks. Once Tyler and Ray Ray got involved it was complete chaos. Their rocks weren't carefully chosen. They just wanted rocks...and paint. And they knew Mom wouldn't say "no" because the girls had been doing it.
I am still finding rocks. The lawnmower chews them up and spits them out. I find them in the toy basket, under the couch and in some very weird places. I know from where they came cause they are all painted. The cardboard box is still in my carport, filled with painted rocks and sitting next to the trash can. I am so tempted to discreetly throw it in the trash and be done with it all. I can't do it though, based on childhood trauma stemming from a pumpkin full of "little people" that got disposed of by accident (that is another story!). I will wait for Kevin to get home to do the dirty work. I wonder what happened to my rock? It was probably vacationing in the pumpkin....

Trey and the trampolene

Spring Fever?

Is it possible to get spring fever in Hawaii? Yesterday I allowed Big Guy to stay home. Last week they took half the class on a field trip to visit the elementary school. We did that together and yesterday they took the other half, so it was a worthless day for him. What did we do? What else! We went to the beach! I drove around in circles till Trey fell asleep and then Big Guy and I had a picnic in the shade. After we finished our sandwiches I plunked a chair down right in the water line and he began looking for shells. Trey slept peacefully under a tree enjoying the cool ocean breezes. All seemed right in the world. Stress was gone and I marveled how easily that happens. As I was lying on my chair in the water, I was thinking of how much I love the ocean and making a mental checklist of all the problems a trip to the beach can solve.
a. Congested? Swim in the ocean and it clears your sinuses
b. Boo boos? Take a swim and the salt water helps them heal faster
c. Silver jewelry tarnished? Take a dip and it'll sparkle like new!
d. Fingernails/toenails in need of cleaning? You guessed it- ride some waves
e. Stressed out, sad or blue? Stand before the mighty ocean and watch the surf roll in, hear the waves lapping at the shore, feel the sand massaging your feet and the warmth of the sun on your face and smell the salty waters and realize how small and insignificant you are in it's vastness. Problems solved and stress evaporates!
So the ocean cleans, heals and is way cheaper than a shrink. Do I have to leave? Ever? Tara came home from school and they were making a lemonade stand in anticipation of setting up at a neighbors yard sale on Saturday. This is no small undertaking made from Kool-Aid. They squeeze real lemons, add some sugar and their lemonade is great! When we all run out of lemons they swipe our limes and their lime aids are just as good. Maybe I'll make some cookies for them to sell too... Anyway they had found a big box and had to get that prepared as their stand. They were drawing pictures and the little darlings even cut holes so they would have a place to display flowers cause flowers make everything sooo pretty. They were so involved in all of this that when it came time for Tara to go to volleyball I let her skip practice. Not a big deal cause she's only missed one other practice. Right? Trey was happy to be free of the backyard and was happily running back and forth annoying both the boys and the girls. Big Ray had the boys out hitting baseballs so they could practice catching. Every now and then when they practice he'll deliberately hit them with the ball. Archaic? Yes, but he does have a point. Once the boys have been hit by the ball they realize it just stings for a sec and then they don't cry if they get hit during a game. That's boy logic for ya! Melissa and I sat on her new outdoor furniture in the yard and watched and waited till the very last moment before we had to retire to our respective kitchens to attend the nightly ritual called dinner. That's when I began to wonder if I was experiencing spring fever. I want to go to the beach, to the pool, let the kids play till dark, fix dinner late, bathing being an option till morning and just hanging out with friends chatting about nothing. In essence I want summer!! Spring fever?? Probably...

The FBI

Yesterday I received one frantic phone call, an upset e-mail and a neighbor that walked over waving an envelope while still laughing. Curious? Two years ago when we moved here I applied for nursing jobs within the GS system covering the military clinics here on island. Apparently they are finally processing my application. Part of the process is verifying my references explaining the ominous letters from the Federal Bureau of Investigative Services that friends have been receiving. Most have said they wondered "What have I done now?". So, if I have your mailing address and have known you for some time, this will explain the very official FBI letter you may receive. You have been warned!!

Why??

Kevin is still gone so we remain very busy. Tara is still playing volleyball and her serve is shaping up nicely. Tyler had a t-ball game Saturday and played the "pitcher" position. He was so proud ........ and so was I! He was stopping the ball and throwing straight to home or first base. Mother's day weekend we spent relaxing at the Hale Koa. That Saturday we had a late night at the Barefoot Bar with friends and Sunday we lay poolside enjoying the peace and freedom the pool and a lifeguard granted us. We took a bucket of chicken home and it was a stress free day.
Pre-school, CCD, speech therapy and school is all coming to an end. Each have been having conferences, meetings and teacher appreciation activities. Add to that our sport practices and games, first communion, field trips, talent shows, doctors appointments and life in general **sigh** I am ready for a little me time. I can't wait for Kevin to get home!! I can't wait for summer too!! I am longing for lazy days without homework and mandatory bed and bath times. I am even anxious to go back to work. How scary is that??
Anybody ever sit back and wonder "Why??" Let me explain a part of my Saturday. I gather the kids and get Tara and Tyler both dressed in their uniforms. Tara has a game at 9:15 in town and Tyler has an 11:00 here at the base. We get to the gym and Ray (he coaches a different t-ball team) tells me he plays at 11 and it's not against our t-ball team. I make a few rushed calls and find out Tyler's game started at 9. This is a big deal!! Tyler cannot miss a game or he will be impossible! I talk to another parent and make arrangements for Tara to get home. The boys and I jump in the jeep and we're off! I was early for volleyball and know I can make it back to base in about 20 min and therefore Tyler will only miss about half of his game. As I am racing down the road, the baby is playing with a small plastic hammer with a hole in the handle so that it can hang on the plastic workbench to which it belongs. Once I get to the freeway, baby Trey starts screaming from the back. Apparently my youngest has somehow gotten his finger stuck in the hole in the handle of the hammer. (Why???) As he is screaming, and I am driving, I am trying to work the hammer from side-to-side to try and get his wedged finger loose. Tyler is yelling "His finger! His finger!" Trey is still screaming so I grab a water bottle, dump it onto the offending finger and hammer and finally wiggle it free! This is still occurring as I am driving down the freeway racing to Tyler's game. I dropped Tyler off and headed home to change my now soaked baby and then raced back to watch Ty. I promise! I do not make this stuff up. What is it about boys that makes it possible to get their finger stuck in the hole of a toy or their feet stuck in the rungs of a chair?? Why do these things happen?? Anyhoo, Tyler made it in time to play over half of his game and Trey still plays with the hammer.
I have added a couple pics lately so check those out if you haven't!! Later...

Bye Daddy!!

Today was the last day Kev had before his trip. We all went to church, Tara went to CCD and then we all voted on what we wanted to do for the rest of the day. I voted the beach. Tara voted for the base pool. Tyler wanted to go to the Hale Koa. Kevin, of course, didn't care. So what did we do?? We went bowling!! It wasn't just bowling it was Cosmic Bowl or some other name for bowling in the dark. There were stars and planets on the walls and everyone glowed as if under a black light. Baby Trey was, at first, very frightened. Then my little freaky baby began to enjoy himself. The music penetrated his wee brain and he became a dancing fool. The music was loud, the floors were smooth, his arms were in the air and he was glowing and dancing as if that were the only reason for being there. It was more fun watching him than bowling. We all had a dinner of greasy fried foods and then we raced home so Daddy could shower and grab his bags. We took him to the airport and dropped him at the curb after kisses and hugs. Bye Kevin!! We'll miss you!

Tyler had a t-ball game this morning. There is absolutely no score keeping. When each team goes to bat, they run through their entire line-up. It is the cutest thing I have ever seen. Tyler loves it. He bats pretty well and yesterday he actually stopped the ball and was showing signs of life when the ball would come toward him. Soccer sign ups are all this month for a season beginning in June. He can't wait to do that too! I can't wait to watch.....

The neighborhood kids performed a luau for us last night. They even took entrance photos of us as we arrived. Cassidy and Mary were leaf dancers, Tara was their announcer/dancer, and the rest of the girls danced along with Ray and Tyler. It was very cute but Baby Trey stole the show as he joined them to dance with his arms in the air and a grin form ear to ear!! I have some pictures but when it got dark the camera wouldn't take anymore. Just another night in Paradise!!~

New Trampoline

It's Aloha Friday! Soon the kids will all be home and the madness that is every weekend shall begin. There is no homework over the weekend so as soon as the kids get home they are out the door to play. Tonight a friend of ours is having a wet down, or in non-military speak, an advancement party. I volunteered to keep the kids here for a few friends so the chaos will be more than usual. Tyler has t-ball practice tonight from 4:30-5:30 so there should be a little normalcy amidst the chaotic. My friend Kelly bought the kids a new trampoline while she was visiting. We have had one out our back gate practically since we moved in but it has become a little "worn". Now we have one inside the fence and this makes Baby Trey very happy. He loves to jump on the tramp. He loves it so much that even when he comes inside and sits on the couch we have to keep a close eye on the boy cause he jumps up in the air and plops down, usually way to close to the edge to keep Mom's breathing even. There are new rules for the trampolines. The one in the yard is designated for the little kids and the one in the back is for the bigger kids. Any bets on how long the rules shall be abided by?? I am putting a picture of the new tramp here and I want to again thank Kelly and Lexi. It will be the most used gift ever. Thanks!

This is actually a cleverly taken picture to mask the obvious signs of the children that live and play here. My yard would make Sanford and Sons proud. The bikes, the toys, the blow-up pool, the Lego table, all in their bright primary colors, leaves one to wonder if I am having a continuous yard sale. Another advantage that I credit the new tramp with, is that it masks some of the clutter by hiding it either behind it's sheer size or by making it less obtrusive behind the haze of the enclosure. I can now sit on the lanai in obscurity and pretend that I have the most manicured, well cared for yard- ever!!

I've been hiding!!

Yes, it's been way too long since I've last posted so I have to really think hard to fill everyone in on the Furey happenings here on the island. I will load a ton of pics so be sure and check them out! First off I had surgery and didn't work for a month. My Aunt Peggy died which brought my family to a standstill as we all mourned our loss. My mother finally retired and came for a 5 week visit. My father flew out and stayed for the last ten days of Mom's vacation and my friend Kelly brought her daughter Lexi here for Spring break. Tara wrapped up cheer leading and jumped right into volleyball and Tyler is playing tee-ball. Baby Trey has a mouth full of teeth and is constantly on the go. He has so much energy he refuses to sleep through the night so that he can still be up and running while the rest of the house is sleeping. Uuuuugh! (Except for Kev or I, whoever is lucky enough to be up with him.) Tara had a father/daughter dance she just attended and she was absolutely beautiful. Kevin is getting ready to take a trip and will be gone for 45 days and Tammy, Macy, Darby and Payden are going to visit the Casa de Furey June 6-16 and Macy will stay till July 23rd. So, we have been very busy and the fun never stops. Now that I'm getting back in the swing of things, look for more posts more frequently especially since I'll be without my other half for a while.

The Hale Koa, China Town & an Octopus

It seems that our group of friends will all be leaving by the end of summer. Most will be gone as soon as school ends. How sad for us but especially the kids. What will they do without the Reyes and Harrington kids to play with everyday? Those kids are here so often that they consider this a second home. I will miss them all and I am already feeling the loss. This past weekend we went to Haunama Bay, mostly because I wanted to snorkel. The day was windy and the sun played hide and seek in the clouds. The Reyes family met us there. On the way in they had signs posted for a jellyfish warning so the kids weren't really into water fun and since the day wasn't the best we decided to leave and move the bunch to the Hale Koa. Our thinking was if we had to be outside in the "cold" we might as well enjoy it with frozen tropical drinks on the lanai and a pool free of jellyfish for the kids. We had so much fun we were able to get a room for the night and we stayed. The discovery of our increasing ages also became apparent when after dinner we all went to bed early even though we had a babysitter. How sad is that? Downtown Waikiki with a babysitter and happy kids and we were in bed by 9:30.
This past weekend was also the big celebration for the Chinese New Year. Saturday after Tara's cheer leading clinic we loaded up cars and headed to China Town. The place was crazy. Melissa was in charge of finding us parking since she frequents China Town for shopping trips. We left late but we still found parking, walked over to the parade area and still had great "seats". This is the Year of the Boar so pigs were a big part of the decorating scheme for the costumes and the town. We had never been to a parade for the Chinese New Year and the Lion dancers were fabulous and so vibrant in color. I had actually always thought they were dragons but the kids corrected me since they had learned all this stuff in school. The lions came down the street and performed their dances from side to side and everyone (mostly kids) was holding out dollars. I want to read up on this for the meaning of it all, but the lions would open their mouths and people would stuff their dollars in before the lion closed and moved on to the next group. It was pretty amazing to watch how the people under the lion costume could all synchronize their movements. There were some that were just little kids. Tyler thought they were neat till the first one opened it's mouth. From that point on when he saw one he would run and hide behind Dad's back. When the parade was over we continued to walk around and occasionally one of the lions would be performing on a corner. Tyler asked Dad for a dollar and bravely stood with his arm outstretched. The lion came to him and opened and Tyler stuck his arm in the mouth. The lions hold that position for about 10 sec before they close and move away. Just before I could snap a picture and the lion could close his mouth, Tyler's new found courage faded and he ran for Dad!! So close!!! It was so much fun I can't wait for next year!
Today after getting Tara off to school and finishing up with Big Guy's speech we noticed something different in the canal under the bridge. The canal feeds into the ocean so their are usually fish or crabs and Tyler likes to stop and watch. I thought there was a hat or something in the water but I thought it looked like tentacles but I couldn't imagine an octopus in a canal! I threw in a rock and the tentacles began moving. A teacher was walking up that had been informed of the odd visitor by her students, so we all stood there watching this octopus in the canal under the bridge next to the school. I snorkel here a lot. An octopus is one of those things you always look for along with turtles and rays and just cool stuff you don't see everyday. I went home and grabbed my camera so I hope you can see it in the pictures.
My mother has finally set new dates for her visit. She will be here Mar 6 and Dad will join her Apr 3 and they will both stay until the 11th. We can't wait for them to get here. Another excuse to show off our island!!

Peggy

George, Grandaddy, Daddy, Jo, Gramma and Peggy

If you hadn't noticed by now, when I haven't posted in a while it's simply because their is craziness going on somewhere or somehow in our lives. This particular month Baby Trey has been sick, I have had surgery and my dear Aunt Peggy is dying. Trey has had a fever and not been himself and has required lots of coddeling. I had surgery and that required pre-op appointments. Usually it would have been one pre-op appointment but the procedure had to be put off for several days so I spent extra time at Tripler because we had to do the pre-op stuff twice. I won't bore you with the details but the procedure was done so that I could comfortably jump on the trampoline after having three kids after the age of 30. Not medically necessary, but I wanted it done and it has taken a few months now to make it happen.
My dear Aunt is lying in Lake Taylor Hospital actively dying. It seems for some reason people in our family never die peacefully in their sleep. My great-grandfather and both of my fathers parents were all in the hospital clinging to life before they passed and went, to what I believe, must certainly be heaven. Now my Aunt Peggy is doing the same. This is where I find strength and pride in the family. We may not see each other every Sunday or even once a month but when someone is in the hospital you discover individual strengths that you may not have realized were there before. My family is there everyday holding vigil by her bedside. They may laugh occasionally and they may cry but they are there for each other. My Aunt Jo is now on her way from Georgia and Uncle George is coming in from Texas. I am stuck in Hawaii. I don't think I can make the trip with the 3 kids and Kevin has to fly to Africa so there is no leaving them here with him. I am struggling with this because there is no where I would rather be than there at the hospital. Not that I could do any more than anyone else, it is just the being there that is important. My Aunt has worked hard all of her life and seemed to retire just in time to take care of my grandmother when her health was failing. Peggy lived around the corner from my Gramma and saw her everyday, usually twice a day. She had breakfast with her, took her to the doctor, the bank, the grocery store and in general, made Gramma's life easier. I envied the time she spent with Gramma and we will all be eternally grateful for the care and comfort she provided. Shortly after Gramma died Peggy was told she had breast cancer. She has battled with cancer and had her ups and downs but recently she developed an infection from which she couldn't recover. So this is where we are. I should pick up the phone and get my morning report but she was so fragile yesterday I am scared to make the call. When life ends too soon it always seems so unfair. It was Peggy's turn to sit back and enjoy retirement and finally worry about nothing but herself. I recently went home for a super quick visit and we made time to stop in at Peggy's house to say hello. I thank God every day that we took the time to make that visit. Peggy was always happy to see you and always had a smile on her face. I will miss you Peggy and you will always be in my heart!! I guess it is time to make that call.......

Rest and relaxation

Kevin and I spent a lovely couple of nights in Waikiki. Thanks Mike and Judy!! Kevin had to go to school/work Fri during the day so I spent the day walking, exploring and basking in the sun. The Hale Koa is the military resort on the beach so I spent most of my time there. The beach is nicer, the bar is close and everything is cheaper (major bonus!). Kevin joined me on the beach around 2 and there we stayed until the sun dipped into the sea. Pictures have been posted. We had a fabulous dinner at Keonies! and then strolled through the carnival that the streets become after dark. We watched bands, artists, guys painted silver that didn't move much and all sorts of weirdo's looking to make a buck. It was interesting. Saturday morning we checked out early and went to Hanauma Bay. By ourselves. With no children. WOW!!! We swam and snorkeled without care or concern. It was amazing. When we decided to leave we grabbed one bag and 2 towels and we were outta there. That was a huge change from the usual amount of junk we have to haul in and out of there. How glorious! The beach was so nice when we got home we dragged Judy and the kids back to the beach we have on base. Kevin had Judy out snorkeling and the kids were just glad to be there. They didn't care if they were in the water or on the sand, they were just happy to be there. Tomorrow we head out on the boat to float around Kaneohe Bay. Ahhhhh! Just another day in paradise! Aloha!

Mike and Judy are here!!

Mike and Judy have been visiting with us since the 16th. The children have had a grand time playing with their grandparents and Trey will even let them touch him now. (He was playing "hard to get"!) Judy and Kevin went out on a fishing trip. They caught lots of fish (the pictures are posted) but they both said the ocean reminded them of The Perfect Storm. The swells were pretty high but we ate well. We have been to the beach and we took them to the north shore to Turtle Beach too. I wasn't sure if there would be any turtles because as you know, the north shore swells can be huge in the winter time. When we first arrived they were hiding from us but eventually 4 or 5 showed up to play. Even Grandpa Mike was on the beach and caught a glimpse of my favorite island visitors. We stayed for a while and then headed down the coast to have another of my favorites- a shrimp truck plate lunch! We had scampi, hot and spicy and boiled with lemon. I tried to stay away from the scampi (all the butter is bad for my diet) but I did sample a little of the rice encrusted with huge chunks of garlic and seasonings. Yum yum! We have done some requested shopping and we are going out on the boat this Sunday. Mostly M & J have been around the house enjoying the kids and being a part of their "everyday". Kevin and I are staying in Waikiki for a couple nights and Judy is fully in charge!! She may leave sooner than planned!! We are staying at the Ohana Beachcomber right next to The International Market Place and have a beautiful view of the ocean and of the city at night. I am going to end this here so that I can head over to the beach. Can't you just feel the heat of the sun, hear the lapping sound of the waves and feel the warm sand between your toes?? I guess if it's cold and snowy that was pretty mean- tee hee hee!! Aloha!

Brrrr! The house is cold!

My a/c works!! I was able to turn off the window units, get rid of the fans and every room is cool and comfortable! Yeeaahh! Of course I had to go knocking on Forest City's door and ask why I had not heard from them since they had given me the estimated date of repair as 1/08. Amazingly enough they gave me a repair date for the next day. Now if I had inquired the day before I wonder if it could have been fixed the day prior? And if so, they should have been on the phone calling me to let me know that the parts had arrived and asking when they could perform the repair for me. Very poor customer service. Anyway I have a brand new unit and it is working nicely. Now I just have to return all the fans and a/c units we have borrowed.
Tara had opening day ceremonies for cheer leading again today but we are now into b-ball instead of f-ball. The performance was very cute minus a few technical difficulties with the music. They had a game later in the day that Kev went to while I napped so I could come in to work. He said they need to get used to cheering inside from the bleachers instead of outside behind the lines of the football field. The coaches always neglect the first game when preparing for opening ceremony so it will get better. Tara loves coach Angela and she is great with the girls. She likes to bribe them with stickers and, occasionally, candy. It works! Kevin was glad I was going to work tonight so they could eat pasta and bread. They have been eating healthy right along with me. I'm down 7 #s. My mother is coming to stay for a month in mid Feb and she is having an entire NS order sent here so we can do it together. Kev laughed and said she hopes she can sleep with it cause we are out of room! LOL! (Don't worry, Mom, he's just teasing!) Did I happen to mention to anyone that Tara decided she didn't like a piece of hair that was hanging in her face so she cut it off? Yep, right in the front and she cut it close to the scalp. Now it is growing out but we call her spike. She hates it! I have actually caught her with the gel trying to get it to lay down but it is just at a perfect length to stick straight up and it does! We are hoping she learned her lesson. I think I remember doing something like that as a child? Hope you had a great day and I have some videos I'll post tomorrow when I get home. Aloha!

Camping

The tent was our original idea. The cabin was our reality.

Camping! Rustic camping! The great outdoors, family bonding, hikes through the woods, s'mores, - torrential downpour? That wasn't supposed to be part of our trip! LOL! But, oh, the rain came down in buckets. The day started off grey but there was no delaying this trip for the kids. No way! Off to Bellows we went. Bellows is a beautiful beach just south of us with cabins and campgrounds and we were going to take the kids on the their first camping trip and strart a great family tradition. When we arrived the tent was set-up without a hitch. The kids ran around and everything was off to a great start. We rented a bicycle built for five, played at the playground, ran around the beach and then the sprinkle began. Thunder (it rarely thunders here) rumbled in the distance followed by more rain. We all jumped into the tent. It began to rain so hard that the bottom of the tent felt like a waterbed. We had a cooler full of food but I was having thoughts of jumping into the car and driving away to a nice restaurant for dinner to wait out the storm. That's not part of the outdoor experience so I stayed quiet. What I did do was make Kevin go to the office and rent a camper cabin. (I waited for the rain to turn into a drizzel so he wouldn't float away!) The camper cabin is a little log cabin with a queen size bed and a bunk bed. That's it- no tv, no kitchen, no couch. That's still pretty rustic in my book. In all actuality it turned out to be a great time. We had a porch so we had protection from the rain and we were able to get dinner together. The rain stopped and the stars and moon were even showing through the clouds. We cooked kabobs and hot dogs with campfire beans and a great big tin full of veggies. The kids were able to do s'mores and when Trey was sleeping soundly inside, we played a game of Sorry! on the front porch. The next morning we all played on the beach and the kids had a wonderful experience. That's what it is all about!! Our next camping trip will be after the rainy season...

Think warm thoughts!

Kevin is on his way to Alaska. Adak, Alaska, which is the little island that 3 or 4 people live on. I'm not sure of the spelling or the amount of people but I know it is basically considered uninhabited. Hawaii to Alaska in the dead of winter. I get the shivers just typing the thought! He was leaving at 2AM. The dilemma that I am building to here is that the KC Chiefs have their play-off game tomorrow at 11:30am our time. By his calculations he should be there by game time. But.....will the uninhabited island have a TV? Cable? Satellite dish with reception in a snow storm?? He is frantic!! LOL!!! Poor Kevin! I just hope there is a TV with the game cause if not his cell phone will be roaming for 3 hours. But maybe that won't get a signal either!! LOL!! I better set the DVR. (Cross your fingers and say a small prayer for him!)
So, Kevin is gone and won't return till Sunday late afternoon. Sunday is the day we go camping. Of course my dear husband will swoop in when the tent is set up and camp is complete and probably get there just in time for dinner. Luckily, our neighbors are going to go with, so Rey can do all the guy stuff. Tomorrow we need to get all the supplies ready but the kids say the only things we need are the ingredients to make s'mores. Speaking of kids, they saw Happy Feet tonight so they were dancin' around the house till we forced them to their rooms. The wondrous glory of childhood!
BTW, nutrisystem rocks!! And remember, think warm thoughts and TVs!! :)

Thank you Emily!!!!

My dog is so happy! She is laying very comfortably on the couch getting cozy in a blanket. Do you know why?? My dear friend Emily found 2 window unit air conditioners for us today. We have one upstairs and one downstairs and the house is cooling off nicely. At this rate by morning there will be icicles hanging from the ceiling. Fabulous!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

New Years Resolutions

We hope everyone had a great Christmas and a New Year in moderation. Oops! I know a bunch of us who forgot about the moderation part!! Glad that's over.... Of course the kids are on break here and since Christmas we have been letting them enjoy all their presents and each other. New Years Eve I woke up after working the night before, and the kids were jumping up and down (literally) because they wanted to go hiking. Also before I drifted off to dream land, we were going to have a nice quiet Eve with the kids and watch the ball drop. On our way to Manoa Falls (Kevin missed this one the first time around and I knew it would be an hour round trip) Kevin tells me that every one's plans had changed and they were all coming over. Yiipppeee! The hike is always a good one and the kids discovered the use of a walking stick. I thought the hike was going to be over before it started. Big Guy, on the way to the trail head, took a big spill on the pavement. Scraped his elbow and there was blood and everything. Luckily five steps away kind people had left walking sticks leaning against the fence next to the trail head. Good distraction technique!! Every other time he fell I would hold my breath until I heard the familiar "I'm okay!". A little family event was a good start to our evening. Several hours later we were ringing in the new year with sparklers and small fireworks. We played several rounds of 3 man, broke in the new blinko/drinko game and pretty much acted as if we thought we were 21 again. Problem is when I was 21 I didn't have to wake with the baby the next morning. The only casualty we had was the trampoline. As we were throwing firecrackers in the air one fell on the tramp. Pete made heroic efforts at trying to retrieve it before it did any damage but it did make several small holes. The children may call for a mutiny over this one!! Yesterday we loaded up the car and went to the beach over on Bellows. Bellows has an incredible powder sand beach and the waves break a little ways out making it perfect for boogie boards. Tara, Tyler and Kev had a great time in the water and I was kicking myself for forgetting my camera. Baby Trey was picture perfect as he dragged a boogie board around by it's leash. Too cute!! I sat on the beach freezing while everyone else was playing in the water. I have gotten so acclimated to my hot house (Yes, the idiots of Forest City have still not fixed my air) that the slightest bit of coolness gives me the shivers. While we were there we made a reservation to go back next Sun/Mon and camp. We shall see how that event unfolds. I know I missed some birthdays too so happy birthday to Barb and Kelly! Hope you had a good one!! I titled this new years resolutions so let me share mine here. I was most pleased with my weight after having baby Trey and managed to keep it off for the 10 months that I nursed him. Since then it has been creeping back. So I have decided to get skinny. Don't laugh! I'm serious!! I joined Nutri System and am now waiting for the arrival of my meals. Hopefully, in a few months, I'll be complaining because my clothes don't fit any more!! Wish me luck and I hope all of your resolutions come true too!!!