:: eleven ::

So....this went out today:

I'll be honest here: we were totally caught off-guard. We opened it up, and took a collective gasp, looking at each other in wide-eyed bewilderment.  I think I was the first to break the stunned silence:

"Well, that's definitely not the font we thought they'd use..."

(Gotcha, didn't I? ;-9)

In case you don't know, the couple in that picture are not models in an advertisement for classy holiday cards; no, they are my brother and his lovely wife, on the verge of a new and very real adventure.   If you don't know how this family feels about babies, then it's safe to presume that you've never had the great pleasure of trying to wrestle your baby back out of the loving arms of any one of us--and we are four generations strong, so it's quite a workout for any new parent.  (I think I'm also getting to the root of why we are only ever invited anywhere once.)

To say we are excited about this impending arrival is putting it very mildly; not only are our "babies" 10-years-old, but he will be the first grandson/nephew/boy cousin for both the Recaido and the Joyce families.  Joshua has gifted our family with lots of "firsts" in recent years; it makes sense that he'd be the one to make my sister and I uncles for the first time!

Hahaha.

{All for now.}

New Year's Eve 2012

(Another Draft.) 

 

Reminiscing/feeling sorry for ourselves: last year, we were lucky enough to be all together through the holidays; New Year's Eve found us in Leavenworth, a first for all of us.  Leavenworth is surely a special place, but I think the magic is always found in being with loved ones, no matter where you are.

Beautiful drive over.

Waiting in line.

Waiting in line some more.

Trying to keep up with Josh.

The Olders.

The Seconds--
Second Sister, Second Brother, Second Daughter.

Oldest Daughter, Oldest Niece, Baby Niece.

The Twins.

Girls getting ready for the dance competition.
Yes--there is video.

The video has mysteriously disappeared; I can only imagine Kale must have paid somebody off to get rid of it--there was some good stuff on there. :-D  Hope your holiday season has been filled with love, laughter, and yummy stuff to eat; looking ahead to another great year. 

{All for now.}

My Sister

And yet another one from the Drafts Folder.  This was a post I wrote as my sister turned 30; she has since celebrated another birthday.  (Do you see how ridiculous I am?!) Still, I wanted to share, because truth is timeless, and...well, because I love her. :)

Today, my sister joins me in the business of being thirty-something.  As per her usual modus operandi, she took 4 years and 11 months to join me in this; her husband will be quick to remind me that she is {always} worth the wait.  

Of this fact, I am well aware. I've heard often the story of the 4-year-old version of myself bursting through the door of our Ala Kapuna Place apartment on the day she came home from the hospital, flinging my backpack (and all niceties) to the floor, and tossing a token "Hi, Mom!" over my shoulder as I raced to the bedroom where she lay: my future playmate, sparring partner, secret-sharer, and accomplice in a very few, very minor crimes--I am, in fact, a quite boring and rule-abiding older sister.  (And I also would give much to hear our mom tell this story again.)

 

Physically, we are nothing alike, aside from the identical subtle (and finely-tuned) expressions used to remind our husbands who is {really} in charge (lest they forget).  Discreet death stares aside, my sister and I are opposites: I am the adorable and slightly squishy sister; she is the charming, beautiful runner whose mere presence can command a room--sometimes intentionally, sometimes not.  She has both the honor and the burden of bearing a beautiful resemblance to Mom; when I look at her, I catch glimpses of our mother that make me both smile and fight back tears at the same time.

 

Growing up, she quickly established herself as the child with a mind of her own, not easily swayed by the preferences and opinions of any who would care to divulge such things; this was sort of cute when she was 2 years old, and became slightly less charming as she got older.  Sometimes, it was downright scary, and there is a thankfulness for the grace and protection that has been hers through these experiences.  To this day, she continues to do as she sees fit, but has called to service the ability to listen more closely to that voice that comes from both above and within; her example has  reminded me to do the same.

 

I talked to her this morning; she recounted how she had fallen asleep on the couch last night, and when Terry woke her to go to bed sometime after midnight, even in her fog, she remembers realizing, "I'm 30 years old now!"  Funny; turning 30 did seem to be one of those things that was both everything and nothing at all, at the same time, in my memory.

 

 

 

 

I never could quite figure out how to finish this post; it's often the hardest part for me when I write of my loved ones, trying to summarize the depth of emotion that runs through this short little body o' mine. So I'll just close this today with a picture of us; love you, Keala.

 

{Thankful.}

 

 

 

Hippo Birdies

It's been three years since I complained publicly about it, but she went ahead and did it again, like she does every year; the nerve.

 

This cutie-turning-beauty made the jump over into 9-year-oldness two Tuesdays ago with her usual gusto and determination; apparently, she has long possessed a slightly rebellious streak: 

 



But when you've always been that cute, really--who's going to argue with you? 

 

*shrugs shoulders*



Oh, dear.
♥ I miss this baby. ♥

 

This year has served me many reminders of time marching on; I learn a little more each day about simply embracing it, and trusting that there is just as much goodness and joy for us in the future as there has been for us in the past.

 

 

 

Since celebrating Malia's last birthday as a Single-Digiteer, we've celebrated a few more in this family:

 

 Oldest Younger Brother turned 28 on the 20th: 



 

 

Husband kicked off his last year as a 30-something on the 23rd: 

 

And Sister moves into her second year as a 30-something tomorrow! 

 

 

Yep--it's the fall birthday season for this 'ohana once again;

bring on the stretchy pants.

 

 

{All for now!}





 

Work in Progress

Meh...this is what I get for logging on at bedtime--an ugly blog.  (And ugly frown lines, from glowering at an ugly blog.)  

Sorry. 

Come back in a few days; things may look better.  (I'm not making any promises, though.)  Before you leave, check out the Recaidos, over the years:

First, there was *me.*  And only *me.*  The whole world revolved around *me.* 
As you can imagine, this was a very dark and lonely period in my life;
having teddy bears with perpetually surprised looks on their faces
as your best friends ain't all it's cracked up to be.

I had to wait five years for this girl to show up. 
She then proceeded to show me up in, um, everything:
cuteness, intelligence, ambition, drive.
Love you, sis.

Along came Joshy the Wonder Boy, next great leader of the free world.
Keala looks less than thrilled; was it her newly-acquired sibling rivalry,
or the matching purple sailor dresses?

Oh, look--Kale showed up, and he's making denim overalls and an aloha shirt look good! 
This was only the beginning of a lifetime of being better than everybody
at everything; I think Josh was still trying to come to terms with that, at this point.

Apparently, it took us a few years to decide if we actually wanted a
family picture with Noah in it; I'm glad we decided to go ahead with it. :)
His arrival on this earth 15 years after my own spaceship landed was a welcome
surprise; he has kept us grounded through many experiences,
carrying a joy as infectious as his hilarious little girl giggles very deep, manly laugh.
Love you, baby brother! :D

::Made thankful again to have ended up in this bunch::

Remember to smile--it's Aloha Friday!