At Random

Tara was Citizen of the Month at Mokapu for September. Woohoo! Way to go Tara! She wore one of her fancy dresses for the occasion. Her good friend, Cody, was also Student of the Month. They are both in Mrs. Holiday's class and he lives just up the street. They are so cute!!!
Big Guy had his first football game Saturday morning. He had on his jersey, mouth piece in place, with the "black stuff" smeared under his eyes. He looked like such a little man!! He played hard and there was vast improvement from some of the first practices that I saw. They were able to actually make plays that didn't involve a dog pile. This is going to be one good season to watch!
Tara had her first performance of the cheer season shortly after Big Guy's game. The did a half- time routine that was done very well and even included some stunts. Very impressive for a first show! Last year they were the MCBH Bulldogs. This year they have changed their names to the D-Dogs. (Yep, we're on a Marine Corps base!) Gooo D-Dogs!!
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Tara is my child that tends to be on the creative side. If she is bored she will find something to do. Tape does not last long in my house. Most of her projects involve the use of tape. She tapes up the end of empty paper towel tubes to make shakers or tapes various items inside of boxes that become houses for pet rocks, etc. etc. I'm sure you get the idea. For the last couple of days I have noticed a new flower decoration taped to my wall. It's very pretty. It has a a big leaf with several other leaves taped to it and a gorgeous red flower taped in the middle. The entire creation is taped very securely to my wall. I get it. It's pretty and she wanted it to be a beautiful decoration displayed on my wall. What I am baffled by is the new addition I found taped next to her lovely arrangement. A calculator. A small hand held calculator is taped to the wall right beside the flower. Why??
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Last night was one of those evenings one spends reminiscing about the years before children. Kev and I were exhausted. He scampered upstairs about 7:30 mumbling something about watching TV. I knew what he was up to!! So I rested my weary head on the side of the couch and told the boys to lay down and go to sleep. Hah! That didn't happen. Who knew they would be up all night? I am pretty sure they must have been drinking coffee and eating sugar. Finally when I was done being awakened by toys bouncing off my head and Trey poking his fingers in my eyes and up my nose proudly showing off his anatomy skills, I got up and pulled the big bad Mom routine and made them go to sleep. Since my adrenalin kicked in I was hopelessly awake and began to do a little internet surfing. An hour or so later the real fun began. Big Guy woke up crying, hotter than Hades with the temp he was suffering from and complaining of a headache. ( I was waiting for this to happen. Emily's kids had it first so there were no surprises when this little virus surfaced!) Motrin had to be searched for in the medicine basket I pretend is organized, the thermometer's whereabouts I am still seeking, the puke bucket had to be recovered and I had to put on my Mommy nurturing smile and hold my now feeble child as he suffered through another late night illness. Just as I got Big Guy settled down guess what? It was Trey's turn to wake up miserable. About 3am I kicked Kevin out of bed and said "Tag! Your it!" (At this point he had been sleeping for at least 6 hours. How is that fair and why do I feel it is my sole responsibility to provide care during an illness? I know it is embedded in the mommy gene but I swear it is some type of genetic flaw that needs to be eradicated!) He spent the rest of the night holding Trey and keeping him comfortable. I can't stand when my kids are miserable. I am typing this pretty late on the following evening and Big Guy is still groaning and moaning in his sleep. I have a feeling this is going to be another long night. Remember when if you stayed up all night it was fun and then you got to sleep in the next day? Sometimes I do long for my misspent youth.

That's Love

I am double dipping today but I am feeling rejuvenated! When Baby Trey woke up I was really yearning for the beach. Tara and Tyler were out playing and I was tired of waiting for them. Since I have been working (I won't take that statement any further because I know you are tired of me whining about working) we are all growing quite pale. We are beginning to look as if we live in Alaska and not Hawaii. I was killing time, pacing back and forth when my DH said "Honey if you want to go to the beach why don't you go..." At this point in his sentence I took off like the wind, raced up stairs, changed into my favorite "no one will see me suit", grabbed a book, my keys and a towel and was almost back downstairs before he could finish his sentence with "...and I'll bring the kids if they want to go when they get home." That my friends is love. He earned huge brownie points for that one statement. I don't know if it was love for me or love for football, but really, does it matter? I was out the door before he could reconsider. I heard him say something about look for them as you go up the hill but I ducked my head and hoped for a clean escape. I drove on auto-pilot to Secret Beach. Apparently the secret is out (I'll blame that on Melissa and Ray!!!) because my spot was full and I was in search of quiet solitude. I drove a little more and found a nice deserted patch of sand further down. I spent an hour in deep thought about life and things when I noticed a beautiful girl walking the beach. That beautiful girl was Tara followed by Tyler, Trey and my DH. The few moments alone were nice, but the joy I felt in seeing my family, and the fun we had playing in the water and throwing around the clay we dug up with our hands and feet, was priceless. Aloha...

Too old....

Nothing makes my morning brighter than starting my day with a reading from this web site. This morning while laughing out loud with my coffee flavored hazel-nut concoction, Kevin came limping, moaning and whining down the steps.
"I am too old for this!"
He played softball last night. His elbow has a layer of skin removed and has begun to crust over making it painful to bend. He collided with a big ole' Marine as he ran for home and is now stooped over like an eighty-year-old man on a calcium-free diet for the last 50 years. He has a big old bruise on the inside of his thigh, right at his groin where his boys used to be. They got grazed and are still in hiding. He whined and moaned as he feebly stretched out on the couch. I looked at his softball schedule posted by the desk. "Hey dear! Today is Saturday! Just think on Monday you have two more games!" He replied with a groan. Hehehehehe! It's a great morning!

Wow! So much to say! So much to write about!
I have bad news. Work has asked me to extend my contract. They now want me to remain in the clinic through the end of December. Monday through Friday. I became a nurse so I didn't have to work 5 days a week. I don't mind the job, I sort of like it. They need the help too. So, if you do a good job, your are rewarded. The term that applies here, as with most things in life, is karma. My company has always treated me justly and fairly so I will do this favor for them. (Hey, I just found out I have accrued PAL time so I feel as if I owe 'em!) I will bite the bullet and stick it out. It's only 3 more months. Three more months of not languishing on the shores of the beach and enjoying the peace and the beauty that comforts me there. (What am I doing?!?) It's okay though, I know the warm sands of tranquility are there and will be at my next duty station too!
Not much has changed here. Tara is enjoying cheering and Big Guy is loving football. Football for 4-5-year-olds is a comedy in the making. Whichever poor child ends up with the pigskin is the base of a massive dog pile. It is play after play of the dog pile that moves down the field. They haven't yet grasped the concept that they are on the same team, nor that they are playing flag football and there is no tackling in flag football. Tara is participating in drama club. I don't know why she has to go to school to find drama, but it is an extracurricular activity and if it makes her happy, it makes me happy. Both are attending CCD. Big Guy wasn't real excited about it last year. This year he has lots of friends from his sports endeavors and from the CDC so he is very comfortable. It's a big year for Tara. She will receive First Holy Communion. She is very excited and a little too motivated. My dear daughter has the ten commandments posted on the refrigerator and is quick to point out the difference between right and wrong. My DH has been standing in for Mom and making the rounds at school for family lunch days. Gotta love the Dad that makes family a priority.
Tara and I had a Girls Afternoon Out. Saturday we took in a performance of the Lion King. The show was absolutely breath taking. The costumes and theatrics were incredible. Tara was wide-eyed with amazement and appreciated the story so much more because it was one that was familiar to her. She laughed and clapped and we all stood together for a much deserved standing ovation. If you get chance and opportunity this is one not to be missed.
I must now extinguish the power of the pen. It is back to work time for me.

Remember 9/11

Aloha! It's Sept 11. Please take a moment today to remember the tragedy that unfolded 6 years ago. Remember the horrific images of explosions, fire, death, dust and rubble. Remember too the hero's that were made and lost. I also remember, in the days that followed, how united we were as a country. It was amazing to look around and see Old Glory on cars and on homes, lapel pins, magnets. Spirits were high and the military was an icon of honor, courage, commitment and integrity. Now? People are done with the war and the military. It's a common theme of both conservatives and liberals "to support your service men and women" even if you don't support the cause. Why do people have to be reminded to support the men and women that are serving their country so that these same idiots are allowed to voice their stupidity? This is where I have to stop. It could get ugly. No politics today. Today is for remembrance. Remember the pride and hope that united us all after 9/11? See if you can't relive a little of that!
REMEMBER !!
NEVER FORGET !!

Citizen of the Month

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Originally uploaded by shrimptruckplatelunch

Tyler is having lots of firsts! He has started kindergarten, went to his first school friend's birthday party and at his very first assembly he went up on stage and accepted his first award as citizen of the month! Daddy took time from work, mom went in late and baby Trey was there too! He had cookies and punch to celebrate and then went quickly back to class just so he wouldn't miss anything. We were very proud of our Big Guy. Now if we could just get a real smile!!

Worst Parents Ever

My daughter is a sap. It's been confirmed before and there is no end in sight. She cries over movies, stray cats that aren't with their family and even flowers that die after being picked. This weekend she went over the top in the drama queen game.
Kevin and I have a 19" TV that we have had since we were married. It was actually left in his old apartment by one of his roommates that moved out too quickly. The name brand is Crozely. It's wrapped in a faux wood tone and is so old it has one port on the back to which you can hook up cable. We had to buy a special RF modulator thingy to be able to watch DVDs. In the last year, the picture has become snowy and it was just time to be rid of the old eye sore. This past weekend I had time to hit some yard sales in search of a replacement. I got a great deal on a 29" Panasonic TV with a built in DVD player. The DH and I did the juggle, move and replace thing and finally put the old TV out by the road for the trash to pick up. All is well, right?
WRONG!!!
We found our DD crying hysterically with her arms wrapped around the TV. After Kevin and I got done giggling over the situation while watching through the window, I bit the bullet and went to talk with her. Amidst the sniffles and sobs she proceeded to tell me that it wasn't fair. She had been with this particular TV since she was a baby and why couldn't we keep it? I tried to talk of living and non-living things and she wasn't buying any of it. Why couldn't it stay in a closet until we moved and then it could be put in a play room again where Baby Trey could watch it too? I shook my head and went back inside knowing I couldn't win against this particular chain of thought. I later discovered that my DD had rolled the thing back into the house and I almost tripped over it as I came down the stairs. It is now back in the yard and she periodically sits with it. I can only imagine the conversations are about how mean and evil her parents are for throwing it out. I am sure we are the worst parents ever! Drama Queen!

Why are you here?

I am working in an emergency walk-in OB clinic. Some of the things I hear are amazing. Some of the things I would like to say aren't very professional. Personally, I think I could cut down on our workload if I could just tell it like it is. For instance.....
Me: "What brings you in today?"
Pt 1: "I have a cold. I have had this cold for 3 days. I don't know what to do."
(You have a cold. A cold has to run it's course. A normal cold lasts 5-7 days. Go home.)
Me: "What brings you in today?"
Pt 2: "I am tired and and always feel as if I could puke."
(Sounds like you're pregnant. Oh! That's right, you are. Go home.)
Me: "What brings you in today?"
Pt 3: "My gums are bleeding and my tooth hurts."
At this comment I just stared at her. Really. I couldn't say anything! (Hey dumbass! You need a dentist! Not a doctor! DDS not MD! Go find a phonebook and look under dentist! You're in the military stupid! You have insurance! Please leave!
Me: "What brings you in today?"
Pt 4: "Well I need an STD check."
Me: Looking confused "Your admission paper says cramping and spotting."
Pt 4: "Yes but my boyfriend was with me. He's not very faithful so I would like to be checked for STDs."
Me: Just staring. (Wow. You're stupid. Get checked. Go home. Find a new boyfriend.)
and finally....
Me: "What brings you in today?"
Pt 5: "I was in a car accident and I think I hurt my wrist."
Me: "How many weeks pregnant are you?"
Pt 5: "Pregnant? I'm not pregnant. Why would you think I'm pregnant?"
Me: ***Deep groan*** (Because DA this is an obstetric walk-in clinic. Not only does your wrist hurt but you are stupid. Someone will be able to fix your wrist but my diagnoses is you're always going to be stupid!!! Please leave!)
I bet I could get people in and out pretty quickly if I could triage the way I want to! Where do these people come from??

Bye! Congrats! And California it is!

The weekend is almost over. The house is clean, laundry is done and we were able to hit the beach both days. Soccer was over Saturday. Tara had her end of season party right after the game but Tyler will have his trophy day next Sunday. Where else do you have a soccer party in Hawaii? Why the beach of course!! It's a potluck so I have to think of something delicious to bring. The Reyes are leaving tomorrow for a wedding. After they return they will be at the Hale Koa for a few days before they are gone for good. :( Big Guy was already whining today about how he was going to miss Ray Ray. Tara and Cassidy have spent every minute of every day together. This is going to be one rough good-bye!

Kevin has said that he will take the orders to California. (big surprise!) I don't know what we will do about schools. We may have to send them to private school. That sort of takes care of that bonus he will receive. Yikes!! We won't have to worry about a big change in wardrobes. A light jacket with a couple pairs of pants thrown into the mix and they should be fine. It will be nice to be so close to the beach and if we make a little effort we can go to the mountains and play in the snow. Julienne is a wonderful little town nestled in the mountains around a lake with little shops full of antiques and apple pie. I can't wait to be able to drag the kids to all of these places to see and experience new things. One of my favorite places, the San Diego Zoo, will be just a few hours down the freeway and we can visit all the theme parks in the area too. My big geek daughter wants to live in the same house she lived in when she was a baby. I try to explain that a two bedroom just wouldn't work these days.

Speaking of new houses, Kelly Nixon closed on her new house on the 24th. She is now a happy home owner and she did it all on her own. She is probably at this very moment painting! She and Lexi are now in a 3 bedroom house with room to grow! I have a picture here. She already has Cracker Barrel rockers for the front porch!

One last thing: Mom, those pictures you have been waiting for are posted! Aloha and have a great day!

Florida or California??

There is actually a moment here at work where I am able to post. I have pics of Tara's room but I haven't had a chance to sit at my own computer to upload. Remember I said Jax was an 85% sure thing? Well as with anything military, the 15% chance of elsewhere has changed. A bonus has been dangled in front of my DH if he will take orders back to Pt. Mugu and become a flight engineer. The orders are a sure thing for Jax- if he wants them. The orders for Mugu can be reality- if he wants them. I, being of gypsy blood, really don't care. The money would be outstanding. We spent a couple of years at Mugu and we were very happy there. We often commented on how wonderful it would have been to have had kids because the base was very family friendly. Jax would be nice because it would have been wonderful to have been in close proximity to so many of our family and friends. So for me, I am good with either. The decision is all his. ***uuhhhmm**** Any guesses on his choice?

Work Week II

Week 2 of work has come and gone. I still enjoy the job but I have serious issues with being away from the kids when they get home and do their homework. Kevin has done a great job of helping with laundry and when I came home yesterday he had vacuumed, put away dishes and straightened up the house. We have gotten pretty good with preparing meals on-the-fly and the crock-pot is a life saver. I did Kailua pork yesterday before leaving and it was delicious.
The house is under contract and we should be closing on the 28th. Gerry said she put a sold sign on the property and sees nothing interfering with the sale. The more I read/hear about how bad the market is and how it is going to continue to deteriorate, I am very thankful we sold when we did, got the price that we asked and am hopeful that there will be good deals in Florida in another year. And no Tammy, I am not going to quit now that the house is sold. (I think about it in an "I wish" sort of way :) ) It would be lovely if I could, but the greed factor kicks in and the extra cash is always needed. Trey breaks my heart when I have to leave him but the cure to that is having Kevin drop him off. Emily swears he's a great kid and said if this past week was as bad as he gets, than he's a dream. (He had that stomach virus we all had when Macy was here and was a puking nightmare!) Kevin leaves work at 3:30 and he is fortunate to be able to come and go to take care of doctors appts, etc. I am very thankful for all of the above and will continue to work as long as the clinic lets me.
The Harrington's are getting settled in their new home and the Reyes are getting ready to leave theirs. I try not to think about it. I asked Melissa if I could have custody rights in the summers. Apparently, I have to get in line behind the grandparents! What kind of crap is that? They will be in Florida near Disney so no matter where we go I guarantee we will see them!
The upcoming months appear to be busy. People are making plans for their last rounds of visits. Judy, Mike, the Fritts and the P Furey family will all be in Maui in Oct with Judy and Mike coming here to stay for a another week. The Thurmans are going to visit in January and the B Fureys are mumbling about coming over Spring break. Busy times ahead!

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Originally uploaded by shrimptruckplatelunch

All the curls are gone!!

Closing and Curls

We have a contract on the house!!! What a relief! Closing will be on the 28th of Aug so no more mortgage payments! Yeeaahh!! I really didn't expect a contract this soon so I am relieved and excited. The day they presented the contract they had already scheduled a home inspection. I'd say they are ready and expecting no problems. Makes me happy and I am sure my father will be thrilled not to cut the grass. The house was a nice place to call home for a while, but it was time to sell. The next house we purchase will be open, bright and updated. Oh, and it will be in Florida! The market is so bad there I am hoping houses will be even cheaper in a year.
Trey got his first haircut today!! Melissa was cutting mine and when I got up from the chair, he climbed up and looked to Melissa and pulled on his hair. That was her cue and she started cutting away the curls. He did well until she was almost done. My baby now looks like a little boy. I bagged some of his precious curls to keep forever.

Happy Birthday Suella!

When I move to Jax you better come see me or I'm going to bring all my kids and come see you! That's a promise!

Happy Birthday Bernie! Happy Anniversary Bernie & Kristi!

Spring break is Mar 14-30. Two long weeks to choose from! Hope you had fun at the fair....

Have I mentioned....?

I don't know if I have told many of you this but we are pretty sure (85%) we will be moving to Jacksonville, Fl at the end of next school year. I am not too keen on moving, since I am pretty positive I could live here for the rest of my life without any regrets. But...if I have to move, Florida is okay in my book. The ocean isn't far, and the weather is a whole lot better than Maine. Kelly D lives few hours away on the west coast, the Reyes family will be moving just a little south of us, CC is in Atlanta, they have a professional football team and my DH has an in with one of the coaches. The kids are at a perfect age to enjoy all the attractions of Orlando (military season tickets to Disney are half price), air fare to Va is fast and fairly cheap, I love the Keys, it's a great place to come visit and the winters are wonderful. There are no state taxes, the neighborhoods are built as communities with their own schools, pools and water parks and the housing market isn't ridiculously over priced. The base has a hospital on post along with childcare and all the amenities to which we have grown accustomed. I am excited to again be able to shop at Target!! I am also trying to convince myself of how wonderful Florida will be by writing all the "pros" down. To be sure, I have to jot down the "cons". Hot humid summers, traffic, congestion and once again returning to the rat race which is known as life in the big city. I am going to repeat over and over "It's going to be wonderful, It's going to be wonderful, It's going to be wonderful.."

Happy Birthday Doug!!

Are you guys still coming out for a visit? The final year is counting down!

Tears, Work and Puking

First-off and the most important news is Big Guy had his first day of school on Thursday. He had a brand new Mokapu t-shirt for Spirit day, 2 full bags of supplies, and a whole lot of excitement. The DH and I were able to walk him and he loved every minute of it! I packed him a lunch and when he got home he requested, with wide eyed amazement, that he wanted a school lunch because they looked yummy. He saw lots of friends at recess, including Ray Ray who was also having his first day. I didn't linger. I had to leave quickly. As I said good-bye and have a great first day I got the required hug but when he quickly gave me the second, just a little tighter than the first, I had to quickly retreat out the door to hide the tears that were filling my eyes. My premie, my little boy that lost part of a finger, my little guy with the big heart and the speech that has been a little slow to come had grown into school age. (I am fiercely protective of this one and God help the child/teacher that causes him any pain.) Kevin laughed at me but wasn't surprised. He promptly announced that we had one more to go and we pushed baby Trey home in the stroller.
Some how we have made it through the week. Everyone made it to school, swimming lessons and soccer practice without a hitch (thanks Melissa and Emily) while I labored away like the rest of the working stiffs. I have to admit that I actually like my job. I have always loved OB but this is a whole different aspect. I am doing OB registration. That means I sit down with any and all pregnant moms new to Tripler and give them an outline of appointments, labs, what ifs, no nos and recommendations. I will also be giving answers on the Nurse Advise line for those that call in with questions. I have been to a seminar on IVF pregnancy and have also sat in on a prenatal class offered to our new moms. The people are very nice and I am enjoying my time there. An added bonus is that I pack a nice big healthy salad everyday with fruit, crackers, yogurt and water. I have been drinking lots of water and I have a 2L of Diet Coke that is still half full after an entire week. Way better than my nearly 2L a day habit!
After 7 years of various illness' that strike the children at any given time, my husband stayed home with a sick child. The first day Trey stayed at Emily's he reacted to her kindness by puking all over her. As he continued to puke that evening and into the night I was lamenting about how he had to get sick right after I went back to work and Kevin said "I can stay home with him tomorrow." Could it be true? Did my ears deceive me? He grabbed the phone the next morning and went out front for a hushed phone call. He came back in and said "Have a good day at work dear." My mind took a few moments to grasp the fact but it was true. He stayed home and played Mr. Mom. Wonders will never cease to amaze me.

Every dog has it's day!!

Ha! Ha! Ha! LOL! Who would have thought that dog's would get their revenge?? Whoever thought this up, I tip my hat to you!! For a mere $10.99 plus $2.00 shipping you can order the newest doggie chew toy that is a must have. The Vick Chew Toy is now on sale here. It is advertised to be the only thing left you can still buy with Vick's name on it (you know, since he lost all of his endorsements...)

"Is it different you ask? You bet it is!
The Vick Dog Chew Toy is made of state
of the art “dog” material. The Vick Toy
Doll is so strong and flexible, it will challenge
even the most aggressive breeds. Especially
Mike’s Favorite Breed, The Pit Bull.
Unlike Vick, our manufacturer is so sure of
its durability they guarantee it against the
most aggressive dog destruction. It Bends.
It Bounces. It Flies. It Floats. And best of all,
it lasts through the whole season and more!"

Might I recommend getting yours today? Apparently there has been such a tremendous amount of activity on their site that the toy is on back order. Better hurry though, I hear their was no permission given by Vick or the NFL for use of their logo or name. Proceeds will be anonymously donated to "local" animal shelters. He! He! He! Yeeaahh dogs!

Craziness, Sadness and Pasta

What an idiot I am!! As much as I know I passionately dislike working during the day I am now working full-time, Monday thru Friday 7:30-4:30 in the OB clinic. I start Monday. As in tomorrow. The silver lining here? It's only till September 28th. In the interest of financial security while trying to sell our house in Virginia and the trip to Maui in October, I thought it prudent to make some extra cash. My DH is elated. (Of course!) Tara and Tyler will both be in school and baby Trey should be fine on his own. Just kidding!! :) Emily Dillon will be keeping Trey till my servitude is up. How bad can it be? It's the OB clinic! I love OB! Clinic work is always a tad boring but I would be making the same amount of $$ even if working in L&D. So I will now do a lot less work for the same rate of pay. Not too bad, huh? **sigh** What have I done?
Friday we went up to the Hale Koa to say farewell to the Harringtons. The kids all played around the pool and had a fantastic time. We dined under the stars and as we began hugging our last good-byes the fire works exploded overhead as if the grand finale was marking our sadness. There were lots of tears and sniffles on the way home. Tara said she wasn't going to cry because we would see them in a year when we passed through California to a destination still unknown. Robert, Celeste, Kayla, Mary and baby Ryan- we miss you all already!!
Anyway, I have some video from yesterdays soccer games I need to upload. Saturdays are always filled with soccer. Four games left!
Today is a family picnic sponsored by Kevin's squadron at the superpark. He actually made the pasta salad for this event. All I have to do is add the extra ingredients that make it more tasty. There should be more pictures posted later.

Happy birthday Tammy and Pete! You guys are old!!

The Big Boy Room

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Originally uploaded by shrimptruckplatelunch

Ok Mom, here it is! Ta daa! The curtains are even hung. This is the finished product of Tyler's new Big Boy room. He loves having the top bunk as his bed so much he didn't even complain about not having the fire engine bed. His trophy's, pictures, and little boy treasures are on top of the old toy shelf. There are more pictures loaded so take a gander at those if you want to see the border!! He is so proud!

Originally uploaded by shrimptruckplatelunch

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...