It's the Final Countdown!

Humor me, I've been trapped in a suite for the past month and a half and as we've stayed here I swear whenever we leave the walls close in making it smaller by the time we return back. So, for this blog, I want you to hum out loud the popular 80s song by Europe, "The Final Countdown". A huge thank you to my HH, HS, and LD and Kendo for putting up with me (and for me dealing with them) as we head into the final countdown until we are DONE with the lodge!

In less than 24 hours my lovely family and I will begin the final phase of settling into Hawaii. Picture a big checklist and a big squeaky marker checking off the items one by one until I've reached the final stage of the moving process:

23. Complete storage, express, and household good pick-ups in Newport.
22. Drive two kids, 1 cat, and 1 grandma to Virginia.
21. Drive two kids, 1 howling cat, and 2 parents to Virginia Beach to meet HH.
20. Say farewell to the mainland
19. Board a plane for 10 hours with 2 kids, HH, and 1 howling, vomiting, and
panting cat
18. Pick up 7 pieces of luggage and load a rental car and DF's car with luggage, 2
punchy and exhausted kids, and 1 smelly, panting cat
17. Check-in to Navy Lodge only to find out that they have "lost" your reservation
so feel grateful you are given a room.
16. Drink one glass of wine to calm nerves by the end of the day

(Say to myself at this point: Hey, we are all happy, healthy, and gee this is so cool to be in Hawaii!) Resume checklist:

15. Purchase second vehicle
14. Get over the fact that you are now a "mini-van mommy"
13. Change all titles and registration for van so no laws are broken.
12. Pick-up Hans at the car delivery place on Sand Island
11. Get Hans examined at a vehicle station in order to register him at DMV
10. Register Hans at DMV
9. Drink two glasses of wine to calm nerves at night
8. Remain quiet during the day so HH can get rest for evening watch
7. Find out that Navy Lodge has messed up yet again and moved us to another room...a
single room. Move again to another suite after having a "coming to Jesus"
conversation with manager of Navy Lodge

(Say to myself at this point: Oh my God! Get me OUT OF HERE before I scream so much I lose my voice!) Resume checklist:

6. Arrange for delivery of express baggage and household goods.
5. Each evening walk to house and stare longingly through the fence
4. Sign lease
3. Jump for joy that we are checking out and the time at the Navy Lodge is over
2. Spend hours upon hours setting up house and trying not to lose patience with
family in my tired moving stupor

(Say to myself at this point: No matter how tired you are, remember you...are... HOME!) Resume checklist:


1. Sit on lanai with HH and toast with champagne our success over another PCS.
Thinking as I fight off the sleep deprivation, "Thank God this move is over."

Really, I Can Help!

While checking my email this morning, I saw from the corner of my eye HS heading towards LD who had been happily blowing raspberries and cooing. Within a flash and a few grunts of "goodness, you're heavy!" HS had picked up LD and clearly was a big brother on a mission with a show of pride in his eyes at every move he made. LD had her eyes bulging and legs hanging down like big tree trunks swaying. After racing off from the computer to help him, he was very clear and adamant that he could do it himself. After all, he's the big bro right and clearly she rolled towards him, made a funny look at himm, and cooed. HS assessment: she wanted to be with him and eat. "Really, mommy, I can!"

Fighting the urge to take over, I succumbed to the wishes of a proud helper bee. I prepared the bottle, cereal, and fruit and brought it to the waiting hands of HS and the waiting mouth of LD (patience is not her middle name when it comes to eating). HS once again told me that he had it under control...really let me do it!

I sat down on the sofa (heaven forbid I tried to sit at the table) and reflected on my two kiddos. Six years was said to be too long of a time between our kids. "They'll never be close." some said. "To bad you didn't get pregnant sooner" (yeah, we just thought it would be fun to try fertility treatments). Well, at that moment at the table, 80% of the food may have been going into LD's mouth the rest was plastered onto her cheeks, forehead, ears, hair.... but who cares?!?? LD was content to enjoy moments with a big brother who is 110% in love with her and obviously, the feeling is mutual. The bond has begun.

Far from Kansas

Years ago, we left American soil as a couple. All the cozy comforts of "home" would be changed in the first moments of arriving in Japan. The idea of pining away for things we would miss (Target, Olive Garden, family, and clothing that fit us) would not do anything but make the time spent in Japan worthless. Instead, we chose to embrace Japan for all the crazy culture confines and interesting people who make Japan unique.

We could eat sushi like pros, beef bowls were only good with raw egg on top, and cawfee was never as tasty as the kind found in a can of Georgia coffee. One pivotal necessary item always caught us off guard. Facing bathroom toilets I was always greeted with bold lettering: Toto.

Thinking it quite funny that "Toto" turned into a toilet, HH and I made up our expression that would help visitors as they came over the pond to visit us in our "foreign" world. "You know you are not in Kansas anymore when Toto turns into a toilet."

Well folks, we are once again away from the mainland. In Hawaii, Toto is a toilet.

Warning: Feline on Duty

Kendo, our cat has been quite the trooper over the past month and a half. Well, more like the past two years. You see, he is Japanese born and when we took him with us back to the good ole' U.S.A. he wailed the entire way over the pond. Poor guy never thought he would see sushi again, smell ramen in the air, or hear nihongo spoken freely. Little did he know that crossing the pond once was just a practice run. Within a month of arriving on the mainland we had already been told about our upcoming move to "paradise".

Enter the preparation year of getting Kendo cleared to move to Hawaii. This is not an easy task. I would say it is akin to breaking into high security prison. You can't make it in easily without a lot of pain and work and usually, you don't get in. Lab tests, blood work, check of immunizations, and did I mention blood tests, usually relatively easy for most cats; a vile taken through the leg and walla the pain is over. However, for Kendo, the blood test didn't go as smoothly. After howling profusely and repeat blood draws with no blood coming into the needle, the squad of vet assistants and lead vet tech decided to call in the big guns: the Army vet. A struggle, howl, and silence desended as blood was taken through his jugular.

In the end, Kendo passed his blood work with such flying scores that the state of Hawaii couldn't deny his entry and qualification for direct airport release. By April, we were set with the required paperwork and payment of hundreds of dollars to fly our beloved feline son into the state of Hawaii (cost to fly him from Japan to the mainland: $0). His file was thicker than our "human" kiddos and getting him into the state was harder than delivering our 1st born and becoming pregnant with our 2nd combined.

Since arriving on island, after howling for 10 hours in the belly of the plane over the pond yet again, Kendo has been relegated to his carrier whenever we leave the room. Whenever we return back to the lodge room, Kendo greets us with loud meows and a paw coming through the kennel door. Once released from his kitty prison, he races from the kennel and finds whichever one of us he can get to first and meows loudly as he makes several circles around our legs. Kendo translation, "how dare you keep me in there. You love me, remember?" Once he has forgiven us for leaving him alone he heads to one of three favorite spots: under the covers of our bed, sofa in the living room, or the window sill.
It is in one of these places that he can resume his AOR (area of responsibility) being charge of the itty bitty lodge room.

Today, his domain reached into HS's world. He had taken over and captured the Power Rangers. Each time you tried to go closer to the Power Rangers, Kendo would open one eye and stare at you.

"I dare you to take that..." he seemed to say though a squint.
HS replied with hands on his hip, "do you think you're in charge or somethin'?"
An eye peers at HS and then closes as Kendo returns back to his snooze not caring in the least that he has a rather irate 6 year-old barreling down upon him.

Of course he is in charge. After the hell we've put him through to live with us here in Hawaii, he has earned that right and privilege. He is our Feline on Duty or Mr. Large and In Charge.

In Need of H2O

"What are we doing today (substitute: now, tomorrow, this afternoon) mommy?" is HS's favorite question. The question pops up in the most unlikely and most predictable times. He'll ask me in the evenin' right before he shuts his eyes to drift off into dream world. It's as if he needs that simple reassurance that his mommy is going to get up and do something besides drink a cup of Joe and count down the days (soon to be hours) until "household goods" Thursday happens. This morning, right on cue as I was pouring my creamer into my cawfee, HS peers his head around the wall into the kitchenette and asks, "So...what are we doing, today?!?"

After ritualized morning chat with DF, we decided that a simple excursion to the pool would be fun. You can never get enough of H2O and it is a great way to spend the day with friends. So, loaded with sunscreen for all of us and swim diapers for LD, we headed to the Hale Koa pool with DF (thank you DF for being here...you've kept me busy!). The Hale Koa is placed in a great location along the shores of Waikiki. It is a kin to the New Sanno in Tokyo that we frequented with regularity during our tours in Japan. The Hale Koa is going serve the same purpose here. It is convenient and allows us to be "pampered" for a while.

Pampered we were (I'm easy to pamper...food, drinks, nice facility, and a bathroom are all I need when I'm with the kids). The pool is gorgeous and from the pool you can watch the surfers get their practice at the beach while you enjoy a non sand environment. HS and DF kiddos had a great time searching for their torpedoes and having "the best cheeseburger" they've ever eaten. Only HS only ate half while the roaming rats with wings ate what landed on the pool deck. LD hung out on her "princess boat" and kicked her feet and cooed at all who would listen.



My favorite take-away memory will be of the boys as they waited for their food. The creativity was sparked by dive torpedoes and before you knew it they were being used as ears, noses, mouths, and antennae. Children can certainly remind you to take a moment and laugh. After all, what's happening tomorrow, mommy?

Whipped over Whipped Pineapple

Toot!Toot!Toot!
The Pineapple Express is coming down the tracks.

We busily board and with shout of Aloha! we are off on a 20minute excursion around the Dole Plantation to learn about the history of Mr. "Pineapple King" Dole (New Englanda by education...wicked!), the pineapple boom in Hawaii, and other Hawaiian agricultural history factoids, all while we chugged around on a little train listening to Hawaiian music.

Ok. I know. Corney and hokie. Those it may be but hey, somethings just have to be done in order to produce those itineraries you all love when you come visit us at our duty stations. Chalk it up to not wanting to disappoint any of you who plan to hop across the pond for a visit! We know all about Dole now! Especially the good part of coming out to the plantation: partaking in eating the world famous whipped pineapple! Heaven found in a bowl with soft-served pineapple ice cream and fresh pineapple topping around the side. Yum does not describe this delight.



I'm addicted. HH is addicted and he is Mr. Health Nut (ha-ha!). HS and LD are so addicted they are willing to do the stare down at one another for a lick of the pineapple icecream. You'll be addicted too once you taste the first bite. After enjoying our whipped pineapple we wandered around a courtyard full of...guess...pineapple plants.

Did you know that there are more than just one variety of pineapple? There are big ones, fat ones, little itty bitty ones, red ones, green ones, pink ones? I didn't! I was in pineapple overload! They were really cool to photograph and I couldn't get over the fact that a master pineapple planter can plant up to 10,000plants a day. That's a lot of bending and planting. Thank goodness someone's willing to do that in the name of whipped pineapple production!

Toot!Toot!Toot!
Aloha!

Get ready for your trip by exploring: www.doleplantation.com

Belonging Among the Flowers

I am not your quintessential beach gal. I've never been. Read previous posts and you'll see that I am growing into liking beach outings and enjoying snorkeling etc., but dealing with the messy clean-up: sand in LD's swim diaper, sand that gets stuck in my toes and hair, sand in my car, sand in the pockets of HS's swim trunks, sand..sand..sand...everywhere imaginable is what I haven't gotten used to just yet and it's not like this is the first place we've ever been stationed that has a beach (my type-A personality may always impede the evolution).

I find myself belonging in and enjoying more the outings that I get to immerse myself in the beauty of our planet without having itching spells and icky stuff that leaves behind a heavy sigh as I try to figure out how on earth I'm suppose to find time to vacuum out the tiny grains of sand from my cat bus and carpet (unless I've fallen into a patch of poison ivy, mud, or water).

Today found us back hiking. Now don't get all ralled up...no stunt double practice today. Just simple walking among the flowers at the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens in Kane'ohe with our dear friends while HH enjoyed snoring in the Navy Lodge room without kiddo chaos (he is now on a very weird duty schedule and is currently on the night watch).

Loaded with stale cheerios, five kids, bug spray, and cameras, we set off toward the lake. The ducks at the garden are amazing. They each have a role to play in their quest to win-over a handout. The search party greets you (two adorable quacking ducks) on the trail as you are busily staring at an odd flower on a tree while the enticers (a group of four or so) wait a little down the trail to further your curiosity about how adorable they are. The battalion lies in wait around the bathroom building in a flock of so many that counting is futile...the ground is a buzz with little ducks waddling around craning their necks toward your unsuspecting pocket. After feeding the battalion, we really thought that the amazement would be through and the kiddos had received their fill of wonder. Not so...an adventure and nuances lies behind each turn in the trail at the botanical gardens!

Enter the "sensitive" plant. These were the coolest things ever! Small and delicate fern shaped foliage fools you into believing that these are just ordinary ground cover. Ha-ha-ha. Nope. A slight touch will send these little plants into panic as they quickly close their leaves and hope that you leave. Quickly. Stop laughing. They're sensitive. Our boys were enamored with these things. Shouts of glee as they discovered a new crop of them were heard the entire way back to our cars. Of course, the mommies were calm and collect. Yeah right. I was just as amazed and captivated as HS and DF's Sons. I am now on a mission. Buy sensitive plant cover for my lanai...they'll be the hit of a party or serve as adequate distraction when you need it.

So there you have it. As John Muir once wrote, "in every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks." I set out today with HS and LD to enjoy the company of our friends while HH slept the day away. However, by the end of the adventure to Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, I was perfectly happy, stress-free and captivated by nature, finding myself belonging among the flowers. Today I embraced God's flora with belonging. Tomorrow I'll try to embrace the little details like sand.

These "Flip-Flops" are made for Walking

Just change the word "boots" to "flip-flops" and you've got a theme song for the Navy Lodge saga!

These Flip-Flops

are made for walkin' and that's just what they'll do. One of these days these flip-flops are going to walk all over YOU!

After becoming a stunt double for Indiana Jones the other day, we received a very weird phone call from HH's watch floor on our cell as we were driving to DF's house. "Ma'm your husband has left something important and valuable at the Navy Lodge...maybe you should call them...it may be his wallet is what the women said." Oh, really...I quickly take a mental inventory: we haven't checked out of our room, HH has his wallet, Kendo kitty was secured into his kennel before we left for our hike, and we have our two darlin's so nope...nothing valuable left behind.

I quickly tracked down the number for the lodge and was greeted by a very unfriendly voice, "you left cat in room...you should 'ave taken cat!" What?!?! Why in earth would I do that? It's OUR room until the 1 Aug! We have our registration card, recent credit card transaction, and payment receipt showing we paid for Kendo to be in that room until 1 Aug. What in the world is going on? I was frantic. I was speaking to someone with little English and who obviously was stuck on one fact: our cat was in his kennel in our room and we had left him. Duh. The rules state to do that. Would someone PLEASE explain what is going on? "I have person call you back" was the unidentified woman's response.

I waited, I stewed. My blood pressure rose and the claws began to come out. What on earth is it now? They had already lost our original reservations, claimed we had never made them, gave us a room once they figured out we didn't have stupid written on our foreheads and then said, "so sorry. Glad we could fix the problem." Yeah. wish that would have been true.

The cell phone rings again, "ummm...we moved your belongings from your room and have placed them in a single room. You will be there for the rest of your stay. We needed that room for another guest." Silence. Blood boiling. "You did what?!?!" The screech of tires, shouting that this is some way to show Aloha spirit, and blood pressure still sky rocketing out to the outer reaches of space.

As we pulled up to the lodge, I looked at HH and said, "I'll just come in as a witness to what they say...I'll be good. I promise." Note to self, don't make promises you can't keep. In this case, I couldn't keep it. The manager tried to discuss how sorry she was...the other guest had a reservation after all and demanded that room. Thinking to myself, "I don't care if the guest were the pope himself. You've kicked us out of a room that was already in a contract." The bull**** factor was high and after tearing into her we headed to our "new" room.

New room was hot, muggy, hot waterless, and did I mention that it was HOT?!?! I don't do well in hot. That's why God invented someone to make AC. That evening, I tallied up the amount of times I called the front desk for things that were broken in the room or missing from our belongings: 10 times. Calls made to the front desk over the last month: 0. I am not a b****, but I just don't do well with bull****, and that was what was happening. The staff reeked of it.

Next morning, after not sleeping, my mom calls from the mainland. "Honey, I got a suite at the lodge...they have them available. Get them to switch you back to a suite. You're never going to survive unless you have space. Your HH needs to sleep all day to get ready for his night watches. Get them to switch you." I love you mom! Just goes to show that no matter how old you get, you always need your mommy.

"Central reservations is wrong, sir. There are no rooms."
"Really? Then why did you just give one to my mother-in-law?" HH says through clenched teeth.
"Ummm....well..."
"I suggest you check again!"
"Uh...ummm.."
"Is there a suite or not?"
"Ummmm...uhhh...I'll call you in a minute.
A second passes and the manager calls.
"Sir, we are moving you to a suite this afternon as soon as possible."

You bet your a** you will! I have to admit, I still can't muster a simple "hello", a nod, or anything else that resembles politeness to these incompetent people. (Papa, I'm staying on the highroad, I'm just choosing to ignore those on other roads around me.) We are in the countdown until we are in our house. For Pete's sake, who in their right mind really wants to live out of a suitcase for two months? Not me, but when you are moving, you do things that you have to do to survive. Thankfully, I was able to trade in my boots for flip-flops when we began this journey to Hawaii. Just like my boots, they're made for walkin' and as the people here in the lodge found out, they're made for walkin' all over you when you try to pull any bull**** on this clan during a PCS. My motto has changed for the moment to:

Watch Out...

You may just see our clan replace the stunt doubles for Indiana Jones! The other day, my clan and DF's clan proved that we could scale across wet rocks, swing from a jungle vine, and carry loads of weight on our backs (from our little darlin's) while balancing on one foot crossing many, many, many streams of water. We proved our wit, intelligence, and endurance on a three mile hike into the rugged wilderness of the windward side of Oahu. Dan-dan-dan-daaaa...dan-da-da...dan-da-da-dan-dun-du-du-da-da!

Ok...so I toot our horn. We hiked from 1000-1400 in the jungles of Oahu and had a fantastic time watching the boys as they explored and challenged their capabilities. I must say that we worked well as a big unit as we navigated safe passage across the stream (at least four different times just on the trip up and then again on the way down). The trail was much like those that we experienced in Japan. Not so much of a yellow brick road, but an infantry footpath just discovered. Roots, mud, jungle plants (DF is awesome at identification), and running water with very slippery rocks greeted us at every turn. We kept pressing forward and with each hurdle sucessfully navigated, another would surface. Our purpose was to have fun with eachother while enjoying the views of Oahu. We certainly accomplished that!

I am puzzled and yet thrilled by the various climates and scenery here on an island that is a mere 596.7 square miles. Rugged, flat, dry, and wet all disperse qualities around the island to make it form an impressive display of beauty. These attributes make it well worth becoming a pack mule as I carry LD on my back, glisten and totter on a rock tip all in order to get further down and explore the hidden beauty found along trail. Watch out Indiana Jones...we're coming for your part!

Roe-Dylin-da on the Road

Why in the world do I love this car so much? He's made of metal for peets sake and cost me a pretty penny that I didn't want to spend when we arrived back in the states from Japan (ok..so he was only 17,000...that's EXPENSIVE to me!)I'm not really sure why I love him so much, but I have to say I teared up when he came through the gate towards us.

Maybe the reason that he makes us all so happy is that he stands for what we had on the mainland, familiarity. With his arrival, we are one step closer to calling this place home. Whatever it the cause, he is "home" and has already proudly shown off his plates to let everyone know a Roe Dylin da is here. As I pulled next to Neko Basu (named for the cat bus in My Neighbor Totoro, a popular Japanese character.) you could almost hear Hans say "hey, howya doin'! This looks like a wicked good place."

Our family is complete, a HH, HS, LD, cool car, and minivan. What more could a gal ask for? Well...I'll think of something! Oh yeah, I'd like my stuff!

Day with the Animals

Going to sleep last night I was struck with the realization that I had neglected to take LD's car seat from the Nissan before HH set out for the night watch. Not good. I was stricken with that pit in my stomach that says, "you fool...you got excited to see your DF (dear friend) and her children and look what you've done...you won't be able to go unless you figure out someway to safely transport LD."

I should know better than fret. Military wives (and a dear military husband we know) are some of the most resourceful women (and guy) that you could meet. Never fear, they can turn anything around and find a solution. It comes from years of doing it all on our own with a smile and that undeniable sense of stick-to-it-ness. DF did not disappoint. Within 5 minutes of talking to me she had located a car seat for LD and was gearing up to leave the windward for us. We were on. Catastrophe adverted and we never needed to figure out how to get in touch with HH...he came home to go to bed! (pray for him...night watch is always rough). While HH drifted off into dreamland, the kiddos and I set out with our DF for downtown Honolulu. Home to Waikiki Beach, land of bikinis, surfers, and wild animals. Yes, that's what I wrote. Wild Animals....not the kind that walk on two legs but the furry, scaly, or feathery kind. The Honolulu Zoo.

I have to say, I was impressed. Going into the excursion today I had not set out for it to be on par with San Diego Zoo or Zoorasia (located in Yokohama, Japan) but I had thought it would have a hometown feel that would get some wiggles out of our kids while they enjoyed learning about animals and reptiles. The kiddos had a blast. DF and I expelled many exclamations all revolving around the basic premises whenever you deal with excited kids: "slow down", "wait for us", "just a minute...let me look at the animal in here before we move on to the next". I think I'll speak for us all that we had a great joint clan outing. We're already hot on the trail to plan another one.

One of my favorite memories of today will from lunch. Now, there are signs everywhere around the park to not feed the birds. Well, the sign is more like a suggestion than a rule. We sat down to eat our yummies and low and behold here comes a rather cocky peacock strutting his stuff around the tables. He would cock his head to the side, eyeball what you were eating, decide if it was worth his time, and then the stare down would begin. He stood for quite sometime near the boys. He would sway, he stared harder, he stretch and flopped his feathers. Come on...I'm fierce...can't you see it in my little bird "war" face? Our little men did not give into the plight of the peacock...I think they really wanted to, but our comments that they might lose a finger in the process may have had something to do with their decision to heed the sign rules. A much older lady than myself, well, she read the sign and busily fed the peacock within minutes of sitting down to her hamburger. (I swear what she was doing was not us in Glacier!!!) Guess she couldn't stand the "war" face...too frightening!

By the time we returned back to the lodge we had spent the majority of the day at the zoo. I'm so glad that the day was saved by DF's resourcefulness. I can't imagine today without enjoying a day with the animals, my kids, and my dear friend. HH woke up an hour or so after we got home and asked how the day was..."awesome. An awesome day with the animals in Waikiki. Next time you can come...we're members now."

To see where we were all day you can visit the Honolulu Zoo's website:
http://www.honoluluzoo.com

Legend Worthy

I've been thinking of ways to keep in touch with family and friends for a long time now. Let's face it, when have we ever except for the brief stay in Newport ever been on the East coast for a long period of time? Typically our assignments are clear across the palatial Pacific and phone calls were far and few (not now thanks to At&T Mobile to Mobile!!!) I searched and discussed ways to keep all in the loop of the changing world of our kids since time stops for no one.

So, when I made the decision to write this window into my mind, my first priority was to keep the blog safe for our clan. Let's face it the world of today has some freaky people in it and having the knowledge of who I am, where we are, who my kids and hubby are, and who my friends are all alarm me. So, I'm made up call signs if you will. I've been trained well. The more acronyms, abbreviations, and call signs the better: all the better to confuse the masses. Abbreviated as they may be these will help me write the blog faster and for you to enjoy them without causing you to scratch your hair out because you sat for a while staring at the screen until your eyes blurred contemplating blog call signs. Did I mention priority two of this blog? I want you to enjoy your time spent reading my musings on life with my clan. That's hard to do if you're getting a migraine.

The legend you'll need to follow is:

HH~ Handsome Hubby
HS~ Handsome Son
LD~ Lovely Daughter
GF~ Great Friend(s)
SQ~ Scullery Queen...me

There you go. A legend for the blog. Geez I'm becoming a Blogger Geek!!!

Snorkeling and Shorkeling

All was right with the world today. My headache which has been threatening to make me want to scream out at whoever would listen had disappeared this morning and the sky was the same hue of blue it always is with the same fluffy and billowing clouds along the mountain ridge that we wake up to every morning in "paradise." Last night HH and I decided that if I was feeling better we would take the kids to Harauma Bay which lays beyond Diamond Head near the Koko Head Crater and along the Kalanianaole Hwy. Look for the end of Oahu past Wakiki and you'll find the majestic and beautiful Hanauma Bay Beach and Nature Preserve. The tourists and locals alike flock to this beach and the parking fills up quick as a wink on weekends, so with a back up plan in mind and crossing fingers and toes, we set out for snorkeling and shorkeling the morning away with the Honu, tropical fish, and a handful of who would become our closest friends as we enjoyed the waters of Hanauma Bay.
As we rounded the bend we caught the parking lot sign and shouted out "yes! there's parking!!!" HS bellowed from the backseat, "that means we get the beach to ourselves!!!" Ummm...well...you can't blame a little guy for hopelessly dreaming that the rest of the population would just decided not to visit one of the most visited spots on Oahu. We were pleasantly surprised at how few people there were with us. We chalk it up to our ability to maneuver quickly from the house first thing since we have morning children, but more than likely it was because we were just lucky. The bay is a nature preserve and it is treated as such with volunteers guiding you through the process of getting yourself down to the beach. Don't even think about trying to get down there without watching the orientation video!!! You may be one of those people who thinks that the fish are for feeding and the coral is for touching and the turtle is there just for your own personal ride. Once you've seen it proceeding down the rather steep incline is mesmerizing. Walking with LD I had to remember what was more important...picture or my life and that of my LD with HH and HS way ahead of me since I had to ogle over the side down at the crystal clear waters and coral reefs.

Once we arrived at the beach the fun of finding the "perfect spot" began. When we were BC (before kids) we would have thrown our towels down anywhere and proceeded in. Life AC is very different...the more shade the better and with LD not mobile a little bit of grass is close to heaven. Since Hanauma Bay is "heaven" finding our spot was not difficult and once we were settled in, HH and HS headed out to snorkel and LD and I were left to "shorkel" (ok...after an hour spent hanging out on my towel I decided I had to come up with some mumbojumbo word to describe what I do while the guys are in the water). Here is a comparison of the two:

Snorkeling: Placing oneself into the water to observe the natural wildlife found within the coral and sand pockets and basically "spying" on poor unsuspecting sea creature.
Shorkeling: Placing oneself upon a towel in order to watch family members frolic in the ocean and snorkel but find themselves observing the humanlife found hanging out on the shore and within the water, therby learning about the eating and dressing habits of people. Watch out for the wildlife who hover to find the "perfect" spot on the beach.

While shorkeling, LD and I were privy to seeing some of the land creatures besides just the humans. I spotted my first mongoose who kept creeping out from the bush and making his round of the trashcan left near us in hopes that I just may have been sloppy enough to throw something aside of the trash instead of inside. LD was fascinated by the Brazilian cardinals who were fighting and playing a game of chase me, chase you for a bit of cracker.


After awhile HH and HS returned and were excited to see what I thought of the bay. Well, go in I did, and the world underwater here is easy to enjoy. Following unsuspecting fish as they went about their daily routine made me wonder all the more what they have to say about the weird masked wonder hanging out above them. I could almost make out the small pufferfishes' lament, "oh geez, here's another coming to see me...can't I have this reef to myself?" as he darted to and fro without slamming into the triggerfish munching on coral nearby. I tell you, it's a traffic jam sometimes down there!

I must have been out for awhile because when I returned both men were standing looking out to the bay with looks of panic that I had disappeared. Well, I did get lost for a while. Lost in the world of my own imagination and enjoying every minute of silence under the water with my new found fish friends who didn't have a choice but to allow me to hover over and live in their world for awhile.

If you'd like to see more of Hanauma Bay visit the following website:
http://www.hanauma-bay-hawaii.com/

Living in a Lego World

How do you open up a world of imagination? Give a little boy a box of Legos with no instructions and sit back and watch a new world form right before your eyes. HS has always enjoyed building and creating. After a few weeks of Lodge life it was apparent that we needed more Lego opportunities than what a city Lego set had to offer. So, after a visit to the NEX, he is on track again and obsessed with creating his Lego world.

Yesterday his creations were providing fire services to a small town on the hill (our sofa) and by the afternoon they were Navy ships about ready to attack the "bad guys" (who happened to have a base on LD's blanket). This morning his creations were in the far reaches of space where no one has ever explored but had just located an alien (the window sill near Kendo. Ahhh, the sound of happy chatter. A welcome relief from days spent trying to appease the clan in the lodge. I'm rather happy listening to him live in his Lego world...wonder where he'll be next...

I Once was Lost and Now I am Found

A while back LD's lovey, Lucien, could have been the face to see on milk cartoon. This funky little rabbit has been with her almost since birth and she adores him. Ears could be grasped, legs could be chewed, and the colors could be viewed when the world was in black and white. Needless to say she was in love.

As moving day approached, Lucien came with her everywhere. Sitting next to her in her car seat always the faithful servant enjoying all the love and squeezes she would give. He was with us flying in the airplane 10 hours to Hawaii and countless temper flares were adverted when his funny little face would pop over the side of her to say "hello".

We hunted. We searched. We mourned. We were perplexed. Where in the world could he have gone? LD refused to take another lovey. Nothing else would compare to her Lu. HS's lovey, McDuff sorta took the pain away, but still you could tell the luster she had when she saw Lucien just wasn't there.

Well, last night, on a walk along Ford Island we found her little lost rabbit. He had apparently decided to take a little adventure of his own by the deserted hangers and NOAA ships. Once his adventure was through he posted himself on a fire hydrant and awaited his majesty's chariot. The facial expression on LD was priceless, "IT'S HIM!!!" She reached out her chubby hands to grab and reach for a very dusty Lucien. So, after a bath, LD will once again get to enjoy her lovey and all is right in "lovey world." Can you hear the music now swelling in Lucien's head: "I once was lost, but now I am found...was on an adventure but now I'm home."

Finding the Sacred Wicked Cawfee

I've Been Searchin' for Dunkin' Donuts Cawfee
(Tune: She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain)

I've been searchin' for cawfee on Oahu.
I've been searchin' high and low for wicked cawfee!
I can taste my Dunkin' cawfee,
but I can't seem to find it, so
I'm falling deeply into withdrawl as I sing!

I went to the commissary yesterday.
I went to the chaos-filled shop to buy food.
But my eyes got big as saucers as I spotted my cawfee since
I long for those drive thru stops in Rhode Island!

Now I drink my cawfee in the mornin' when I wake.
I drink my cawfee in the noon to keep my mind alert.
I drink my Dunkin' cawfee and forget about Kona
since it's not my sacred wicked cawfee kahuna!

Don't Blink

Note to all mommies: Don't Blink
Ok, if the silent reminder fails then post a sticky note everywhere with "Don't Blink, Don't Blink, DON'T BLINK!!!"
Still not finding the pause button on your dearest ones? Well, when you find the trick let me know! I've been trying to find the secret button to pausing HS and LD since they were born.

Yesterday was LD's 7th month of enjoying life outside the womb. It is hard to believe that she is a mere 5 months away from her 1st birthday! How did that happen? So before she decides to turn 17 on us before we blink again, here's the list of her favorites and greatest moments at this point:

Favorite Foods: greenbeans (sorry TT!), squash (much to my chagrin!), bananas Toys: Lucien the Rabbit, Mr. Eli, and her excersaucer (hasn't seen this since the beginning of June)
Sounds: "WOWYA", "Mama", raspberries with lots of slavia in them
Moments: Pool time (can't resist the water she loves to splash and watch her big brother), Meals, Snuggle time with Mommy, Rolling around the Floor (watch out, she can get anywhere!)

Everyday her personality continues to shine a little more. We have been having a great time watching her as she changes and find ourselves wanting to find that magical pause button, but so far, God hid it well! Happy 7th Month Milestone, princess! I'm trying not to blink!

Becoming Beach Bums

Aloha Deals!

Since arriving, we have heard how fantastic the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet is for Aloha wear and everything "Hawaiian". Well Christmas Tree watch out, Shrine sales step aside and enter the king of bargains and stuff you never knew you needed until you wander around the Aloha stadium.

For a mere $2 ($1 per person over 12) you can buy your ticket into bargain heaven . Want a tiki god for your lanai or to hang from your rearview mirror? How about an Aloha shirt or dress for that special outing? Swimsuit cover for the beach? Or how about my personal favorites, the dancing Santa for your dashboard complete with grass skirt or classic Hula girl whose hips never stop swaying to her own music?

After walking the endless supply of Aloha wear and carseat covers, wood surfboard and tiki hut plaques, never ending shell and flower leis, and as fresh as you can get coconuts, while listening to the plinkey plink of Ukuleles, we have decided that the gouge on the swap meet was accurate. Get ready for bargains when you come visit!

Heading into the 4th of July Weekend

HH came back to the lodge after a busy 1st week checking in and felt that it was again time to destress in the ocean. If any of you have lived for any length of time in a small space with two kids, a cat, luggage, two burners and a microwave, you'll know what we needed a break from. Plus, it is the holiday weekend. Time to celebrate all that is good about being an American.

Bellows AFB was a perfect beginning of a great 4th of July weekend. This beach offers beautiful and stunning views of the Northern portion of Waimanalo Bay. HH and HS had a great time playing in the surf (a little crazy strong for me and C so we enjoyed watching the boys get pummelled instead!). HS still has no fear of the water, but now has at least a respect for what the waves can do to you.

Once we had cleaned up a bit and changed we headed for sushi. Our clan has been craving sushi since arriving on the island and there are kaiten sushi bars here! YEE-HAW!!! One that has been advertised on TV has been "Genki Sushi" or "Good Sushi". Good it was!!! However, if you look at the logo they use, the little man doesn't look so happy! Obvisously, we are back to the land of all things being a little out of the ordinary and the coolness of Japan is found in the least likely spots. We plan on returning since we felt we were back to normal pricing for sushi and the fun of watching your food go around in a circle is always entertaining. LD even wanted to join in the fun. We'll turn her into a sushi lover yet! We left happy, full as ticks, and ready for bed.



By the time we headed home both kiddos were ready to snore their way into dreamland and HH and I were left to settle in for the night and feeling like 4th of July was right around the bend.

This morning we can proudly say, "Watch out world...Bayfest over at Marine base Kaneohe and Fireworks all over the island will be lighting up the skies of Oahu tonight!" Happy birthday, America!

Beach Bums or Bust

As most of you know I shed huge tears when we prepared to leave Newport. During that tour we turned over a new leaf and now when asked where we want to live when we "grow up" we can tell people we could live on the East coast again...in New England... if our dream of Northern California somehow falls through. While we were there we loved hiking, biking, camping, exploring the quaint towns with clapboard houses and feel history coming to life on Revolutionary battlefields. What could be better?

Well, for HH, the notion of not being able to swim in section of the Atlantic was a little puzzling. The beach has been a main staple of his existence since he was born. For me, being immersed in water has never been a favorite of mine, but I always enjoy looking for shells, little critters along the shore, and watching the birds. FYI: I don't like murky water. I was raised in the middle of the country and was blind as a bat for the majority of my life. So, even though I love to swim, it is no wonder that deep water scares the tar out of me. Rhode Island offered us the opportunity to have less murky water, but with the temperature being so cold year round we became lovers of sailing and dreamers of kayaking in calm waters.

Enter Hawaii. How in the world is a non deep water lover going to deal with and love going to the beach in a state that is famous for its beaches? Well, conquer my fear I have begun to do since most importantly: I can see my toes!!! Yeehaw!!! I can see what's coming towards me from a distance away!!! Yet another big Yeehaw!!! There are rocks and crevices teeming with little shells, critters, and an endless changing scene as you enjoy the beach. So, I have begun to enjoy being a beach bum. Let's face it. You either go to the beach here or you sit in the house. The second option doesn't appeal since we are stuck in the confines of the Navy Lodge until the very end of July. So, out we have gone to stake out the best of the best.

Last weekend we headed to the North Shore. Now, don't get too excited. This may be the most popular destination for die hard surfers and the pictures you see of insane people surfing larger than life waves does happen on the North Shore, but not during the "summer". Right now, along the North Shore you can find calm seas, peaceful lagoons, and SEA TURTLES!!! Yes, sea turtles!!! Laniakea, the lagoon we went to, is famous for seeing Honu (green sea turtles) up close and personal. Take a look at http://www.turtles.org/laniakea.htm for more information on the beach area. It is an education in and of itself to go to this beach. This would mark my first ever snorkeling outing.

HH and HS headed out almost instantly. LD and I hung out along the shore marveling at the turtles as they swam in their environment. FYI they are huge!!! Aquariums do a good job at showing how they swim, but to see them bask in the sand is amazing. They She could probably hang out that way forever, but wrinkly skin begins to travel upwards and LD the raisin begins to emerge. HH traded places with me and I was off on my first snorkeling adventure.

Just getting the fins on takes practice. I tried several ways to get them on my feet but nothing seemed to work. The sand is certainly your enemy when it comes to putting on fins. By the time I got fins on and mask set I was really eager. Jana and I headed out to the open area of the lagoon. I felt great! I was gliding over the top of the water and felt fantastic. Until the water headed into my mask and I felt like I was drowning. Miner technical difficulties.

My second attempt proved to be fruitful as I worked hard at controlling my breathing and relaxed my anxiety. The world under the water's surface opened up like an upside down umbrella and captured your attentions as you tried to figure out what you were seeing. We saw sea cucumber as big as your forearm, mullusks, coral, kikakapu (multiband butterflyfish), and loads of humuhumunukunukuapua'a, the Hawaiian state fish(try to say that one fast!!!). I stayed out for a long time and enjoyed every second, minus those split seconds of calming my panic thinking a shark was lurking nearby.

Our time at Laniakea flew by. The turtles continued to swim and amaze other visitors as we left the lagoon and headed back to the car. The humuhumunukunukuapua'a kept swimming and letting everyone try to figure out how to pronounce his name correctly. Maybe becoming beach bums won't be so bad.