aloha, island air!

Today was Mitch's official last day at Island Air. Mitch forgot his camera so this pic was taken with his camera phone...not the best quality, but at least we got one for the memory books, right? This is after his final flight. It's been a great 4 years with the company, and it's a little sad to say goodbye! I must say, it hasn't quite sunken in yet. But we're excited (and a bit nervous) for what lies ahead.

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On a side note...give yourself 10 points if you know what this is!

(you local people reading this don't count!)

With the summer months creeping upon us, so does the best fruit season Hawaii has to offer. This is a lychee, and it's probably my absolute favorite piece of fruit. If you live in the mainland, you may have seen or eaten canned lychees, but make no mistake, it's not the same thing! Our good neighbor (whom Mitch mows and trims her lawn and trees) has a couple great lychee and mango trees and we're very fortunate to enjoy their fruits! I know, they look kinda freaky on the outside, but they are oh, so good on the inside! If you never get a chance to taste one, you're seriously missin' out!

memorial day

Happy Memorial Day! Mitch had the day off, and although he really wanted to do some more work on our house, we dragged him out to the North Shore to hit the beach. Ok, so it didn't really take that much convincing to get him out there since the weather was PERFECT and beautiful!! He just worked on the house a little before and after we got home.

The beach we went to is called Mokuleia...it's pretty close to where they film the show LOST! I'm not really a watcher, but I'm guessing all of you have at least seen it or heard about it! Anyway, the weather was great and fun was definitely had by all (even though it doesn't look like it in some pictures because Anna was pretty tired...). Let's just say they all slept great on the 40 minute drive home, and then 2+ hours after we got home! We'll probably have a late night tonight...but oh well. No more preschool for Kela so here's to sleeping in tomorrow!! :)

hawaiian...here we come!!!

Yesterday morning, we finally got the call we've been waiting for....

About 2 weeks ago, we were in Waikiki and Mitch got a call from Hawaiian Airlines for an interview! After some serious testing and interviews, it's been pins and needles...waiting in anticipation for the results. And just yesterday morning, we found out that he got it! In about a week, he'll be off for some more training with a brand new company, flying brand new airplanes! Jet planes! :) (he's been flying turbo prop planes at Island Air)

It's odd how all of Mitch's career changes have always coincided with a major change/addition to our family. Mitch began flight instructing right before we got married, and just when I was about to give birth to Kela, he got a call from Island Air and began his commercial flying career. Then about the time Anna was born, he upgraded to the larger airplanes at Island Air, which meant better pay! He upgraded to Captain last summer and just as we were thinking of creating the addition to our home, he was able to upgrade to instructor at Island Air. Which was an incredible boost in our pay and allowed us to afford to pay for all the construction costs! And now as we are preparing to welcome our third little girl, he has (finally) gotten on with Hawaiian Airlines...pending his passing of training, of course! We are so excited for him and know he'll do great! Although, this does mean a significant cut in our income (pilots always start at the bottom and have to work their way up...regardless of experience. It's all about seniority within the company), it does mean that he is finally where he has always wanted to be, and we are able to stay here in Hawaii for good! Horray for Daddy!! We are so proud of you~

park & primary activity

Saturday afternoon, we said Aloha Oe our good friends the Au's. They're leaving the island to move to Utah for Li'i's residency in Utah. We'll sure miss them! Their son, Zion is Anna's age and they are good Nursery buddies. It's especially sad for us since there aren't too many families our age in our ward...we'll miss you guys!

The park was super hot. And the girls were super tired before we even got there! But, we all had fun eating some yummy food and playing at the playground. It sure does feel like Summer's definitely here!

Then, after a short hour and a half, we were off to the primary activity. The one we've been sort of stressing about all month long. Kela and Anna came later since they were still waking up from their nap when I had to leave. The topic was "service" and my station was preparing bags of "hurricane popcorn" for some of our less-active kids. They had fun. And this was Kela's second ever Primary Activity...I'm so glad she enjoys primary as much as she does! And since Anna loves Nursery as well...Makes my life so much easier on Sundays!

happy graduation!

Kela and her cousin Hugo had their last day of Preschool today! I'm so sad! I love being able to drop her off and have just a couple of hours of free time to exercise and run errands...with only one child. It's insanely different when you have more than one. I'm seriously worried I'll be house-bound once this next baby comes! I doubt I'll ever want to leave the house by myself! But, with Kela starting a more steady preschool come August, I'm sure that will likely not happen. I forsee some seriously chaotic mornings in my near future...

But anyway, enough about the future. Kela's last day of her preshool was nice. Instead of exercising today, I had to run around to get some shopping and other errands run, so I got there later than I had hoped to pick her up...she was basically the last student there. I felt so bad! My sister in law had waited for me to come so I was able to snap a couple of pictures of the two of them before heading home. They had little certificates and had even colored their own colorful caps! It was cute. *sigh* I miss it already!

Tagged

I've been tagged again-by Gini again, too! Anyway, here goes.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

- Finishing up my year-long study abroad in Okinawa Japan, at the University of Ryukyus.

2. Five Snacks I Enjoy

- Silk chocolate soy milk (not really a snack, but I gotta have it daily), Kettle corn w/ mochi crunch (rice crackers) a yummy combo, ding dongs...but only every once in a while, Caramel Creme Frappuccino from Starbucks...just had one today! :) , and recently the Nachos from 7-Eleven. 'cmon, for less than 2 bucks get all the nacho cheese, chili and jalapenos you could want! Elika, I blame you for getting me hooked on these!

3. Five Things On My To Do List Today

-1.Take Kela to preschool...her last day! boo hoo 2. Shop for another crazy weekend (baby shower, luau, primary activity) 3. Sew a hooded towel & taggie blanket for a baby shower tomorrow.

4. Run permits (my job...had to take a cranky and sleep deprived Anna to the library to meet a client-not fun)

5. FEED & BATHE MY KIDS!!

There's so much more...but really not worth writing down-

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

-First, pay our tithes & offerings (of course), then pay off my family's debt. Set up a retirement, college & mission fund for our kids. Buy a home here in Hawaii. Sell our car and get THIS ONE!, and then possibly travel to places we've wanted to go-like to our old mission sites in Japan, parts of Aisa & Europe, the Sacred Grove...etc. Invest the rest & save for our fabulous retirement future. (selfish, I know...)

5. Five jobs that I have had

-1. I've waitressed at 3 different restaurants (all Japanese). 2. In college, worked at Photo Polynesia at the PCC-I took pictures of tourists, even developed some, and sold them to the tourists. A GREAT college job! 3. Worked at a chiropractic office (my bro-in-law) 4. Mission 5. Mom. The most stressful & exhausting, but most rewarding job to date!

6. Five of my bad habits

-1. THIS BLOG!! 2. computers in general....I have a bad habit of web surfing when I get bored 3. Ebay...although nowadays, Craigs list is getting up there, too! 4. Staying up waaaay too late. (scrapbooking or on the computer....and often on this blog! ) 5. Sleeping in. Although sometimes, I don't see the wrong in this!


7. Five places I have lived

-Okinawa, Japan (Preschool & 1 year of college)

-Sendai, Japan (Mission)

-St. Petersburg, Florida (2nd-3rd grade)

-Edmonds & Lynnwood, Washington (3rd grade--High School & College)

-Oahu, Hawaii! (post-mission, college to present)

8. Five People I Want to Get to Know Better:A nice way of saying “Tag. You’re it!”
Really? Do I have to tag someone else?
Naomi, Starr, Janee, Jenn & Val. (Although you're not necessarily obligated to do this!) I'll leave it open to whomever would like to "tag" themselves as well.

9. 6 Random Things:

1. I'm soo excited about the new X-Files movie coming out, I can hardly contain myself.

2. I have a brown belt in Aikido

3. I can't stand raisins...

4. My right pinky toe has 2 toe nails...happened when I ran my first marathon & lost 5 toe nails. My right pinky toe just didn't quite grow back normally. Gross, I know.

5. I have horns on my head...just kidding. BUT, I do have 2 "bumps" on my head where horns would probably be. That's why I can't wear head bands, or sunglasses on my head. (So, the next time someone asks if Mormons have horns, you can say that you know one that does! )

6. My friends and I are "extras" in the Heber J. Grant video of the "Modern Prophets" series from Living Scriptures. We were Japanese passers by in the scene where President Grant opened the mission in Japan! :)

first cleaning

Ok, ok...it's not like I have something against dentists in any way, but this was Kela and Anna's very first trip to the dentist. Ever.
I was so dreading this appointment because I had planned to get at least Anna down for her nap beforehand so she would be well rested and happy...but no such luck. Wouldn't you know it, that the one day I want her to sleep-she's wide awake! Oh well...also, Mitch was supposed to come with me, but work went longer than expected so he only came in the last 10 minutes or so-just in time to see Anna take the seat.
Anyway, despite their tiredness, for their very first cleaning they did pretty well! Kela didn't cry, or get too scared. She didn't care for the sucker thingy and really didn't like the flouride treatment, but was so brave throughout it all & held the sucker thing all by herself. Even Anna didn't cry or fuss until the very end with the flouride treatment. Both of them didn't care for the sucker thing (whatever it's called...I don't like it either, so can't blame them!) Mommy was so proud. And yea! No cavities!

That "happy pic" of Anna was before they did anything...the one on the left was right before the flouride treatment. Can you tell the difference? Still, though...she did very well for her very first dental cleaning.

Right afterwards...Kela tripped and hit her head on those bars right behind them, so she wasn't too happy. And Anna didn't make it past the parking lot-she was sooo tired!

A successful trip, I must say!