Home Sweet Home? Hmm....

     We have moved back to the mainland to "America's Heartland".  

All I have to say right now is that it has been one stressful

headache after another 

and I'd much rather be

getting kisses from "Laka" the dolphin

and hanging out on the beach with these two!

The End!

A Hui Hou Kakou Hawaii!

Last moments on the beach on Oahu.

Last beach park picnic.

Last.....why do we have to leave!!!! 

   Well, I'm both happy and sad to say that we are no longer on Oahu.  Boo hoo and yay!  We are currently on a road trip making our way to Kansas.  We've been having a great time catching up with family and friends.  

   Our journey started with an overnight flight from Oahu to LA.  At the LA airport (very early in the morning), our friend Laura picked us up.  We met Laura at Tripler.  She was a nurse on the CF care team.  She moved back to CA a couple years ago and we've kept in touch.  

  After Laura picked us up, we went to a diner to have breakfast  and then went to pick up my car.  I feared getting my car would be a hassle but I was pleasantly surprised.  Once in my car, we headed to Knott's Berry Farm.  We spent a day riding rides with Laura.  It was so much fun spending the day with a very kind and thoughtful friend.

  Once we were all done at Knott's, the girls and I met my step- brother for supper.  It has been many years (I think 10) since I've seen him.  A few months back he took a job in LA.  It  was so nice to sit, chat,  and catch up.

  The next morning, we left the hotel and headed for Fallon, NV.  We were going to my sister's house to visit and see my nephew graduate high school.   We've had so much fun there.  We always do.  My sister and I are very close and enjoy each other's company.  We get to shop, ride horses, browse through antique stores, & do farm stuff (that's Rachel's favorite thing).  We also enjoyed watching my nephew graduate.

   Next, we pick up husband from the airport and continue the road trip east.  We have plans of taking it easy, with a few fun stops along the way.  

   

   

The girls with Mom. 

Amelia enjoyed hanging with Uncle Lou.

Me riding again...so much fun.

My nephew & his big moment.

With his mom and dad.

Rachel made her cousin a graduation card
and put a dollar in it.

One night at the fire pit
roasting marshmallows.

Virginia City
Me and sis in jail!

   

Hawaii, you've been very good to us.  

We are going to miss you very much. 

We've made many special memories with you.

See you again someday!

Aloha

Change is Coming!

North Shore
watching big waves

    After waiting months, we know where our next Army move will be.  It's bittersweet because we've been here just over 7 years & have made so many memories.  Rachel just celebrated her 9th birthday with her BFF's on the beach.Yes, I'm sad to go but excited to be closer to family and friends & be back in the country!
   In just about 2 months, we'll be back on the mainland (that sounds so awkward for me to say).  Let the anxiety of having enough meds on hand, going through the airport/airplane with medical equipment, roaptripping & treatments, and....oh, let's throw in a toddler into the mix because you know I love a challenge!
   As for now.....our 2 months left, we are in full blown "act like a tourist" mode.  We have beaches to visit, fishing trips to plan, scenic hikes to explore, dolphins to swim with, turtles to visit, etc!

Mermaid in "da pool".

Makapu'u Lighthouse hike

Whale watching
Makapu'u Lighthouse 

Makapu'u Lighthouse

Bummed.....because...yes
she still has school!

Learning about the body.

North Shore
watching big waves

Having fun at the beach.

Beach Birthday Party

She's nine.

Awe...my sweeties!

She loves volleyball.

It's Been a Looonnnnggg Time!

Wow!  My last post was in July about stuff that happened in April and May. I'm now going to flash forward and hope that I can keep this blog a little more up to date.  First thing.....Rachel is doing fantastic.  The only health issues lately have been a couple sinus infections.  She has entered the world of CF & the sinuses.  She is coming up a year anniversary of hospital admission free.  So, yay! Anyway, below is a slide show of what we were up to all summer and into the homeschool year.

Crazy me with my sweet friend.
Ala Moana Beach Park
July 4 Waiting for the fireworks.

Rach with one of her besties.
Playing in the ocean.
Ala Moana Beach Park
July 4 Waiting for the fireworks.

Ala Moana Beach Park
July 4 fireworks 

Blooms from my plumeria tree.
It finally decided to bloom right before we sold the house.

Rach and one of her besties,
Tahitian class.

Last pic with this house.
6 years & many memories.

A little homeschool activity.

I even got a turn.

We celebrated our 10th anniversary with a fancy
dinner on the balcony & served by the
sweetest waitress!

Our 10th anniversary.

Sweet sisters.

We had to say "Good-bye" to our Daisy.

Rach in one of her many after school classes.
Archery is one of her favs.

Field trip to the Waikiki Aquarium

Beach fun after the aquarium.
Notice the dog on the surfboard in the background.

Field trip to the Ewa Beach Fire Station
for fire safety month.

A little pumpkin patch action at
Waimanalo Country Farm.

Playing a little before bed.
Gotta get in the "matchy matchy" pjs/clothes while I can.

Chillin' on the couch.

Now,  You are all up to date.  We'll see how long it lasts!

Summer Fun

     We started off the summer with Amelia's first birthday.  We had a baby's first birthday luau at a private beach.  It was so much fun.  It was kind of like a party for Rachel too, since most of her friends came.  A few weeks later we had the Great Strides Honolulu walk.  We (Rachel's Rangers) raised over $3,000.  I was pleased with that since I really didn't put much effort into my fundraising.  That night we (the girls and I) flew to NV to celebrate my sister's college graduation.  Mom also flew out.  It was so nice to see them both and do fun things together. I took Rachel to Sacramento to visit where she was born and see the first place she lived.  She seemed to really enjoy that.  We also met up with some of our CA friends.  While in NV at my sister's house, I took the opportunity given to me and did a little farm/desert photo shoot of the girls.  A few days after returning home, we put the house on the market.  Let me just say, "That's a chore!"  Once the house was listed, we all got sick.  Rachel's illness was going away so,I took her to the doctor.  It turned out that she had a sinus infection.  That's a first for her.  After everybody getting healthy, Rachel and her friend have been taking swim lessons and Tahitian together.  It's been busy, busy, busy as usual. I've posted a several pics of some of Rachel's summer fun.

Fun in the sprinkler on our little
patch of grass.

Amelia's hula girl b-day cake.
We had to have Barbie auditions;
our first choice was too tall!

The birthday girl.
Lucky girl to have a party
at such a beautiful place.

Rach out with all her friends.

Enjoying her birthday cake.

Great Strides
By her storyboard.

Great Strides
Cooling off with Aloha Pops.

Amelia took over my Aloha Pop.

My sis the graduate.
Congrats!

All of us together.
After, we treated her to lunch.

My Rach

She really wanted a picture with hay in her mouth.

If Rach wasn't in the house,
she could always be found with the horses
or goats.

Collected the eggs.

One of many pictures taken in the
beautiful desert.

Another Rachel in the desert pic.

In Sacramento at Fairytale Town.
We met friends here.

The first house Russ and I bought.
Rachel's first home.
Sacramento

Pigmy goat born when we were at my sister's. 

Amelia like the goats too.

Going for a ride with Aunt Teresa.......
somewhere on the farm.

Amelia got a little horse action, too.

A common sight.
Always finding Rachel there with the horses.

My sweets!

Cousin Phillip taking Amelia for a ride.

Phillip on his horse.

Rachel; happy as a clam....atop a horse.

Sister's enjoying a ride together.

PVC sword fight with cousin Phillip.

Last night....fire and roasting marshmallows. 

My babies.
Just love them.