More Random

It's always interesting to go through the girls' memory cards, and see what's been on their minds; food stuff seems to have been a major theme recently:

And Orbeez.  I don't know what they are, exactly--I keep meaning to look it up--but they're really fun to sloosh your fingers through. 

Up close. 

 I think it might be cool to have a swimming pool full of this stuff.

 

In other news:

• We sent Papa home last week Tuesday; it was so great to have him here, and we're looking forward to his return in June. :)
• We had the workers for a few days-always a treat. 
• Malia started soccer.  I'd post pictures of that, but she just shows up as a wild blur in every shot. ;-9
• Kiana and Mikela participated in their first spelling bee!  I think they are genetically programmed to enjoy that sort of thing.



I think there may be more to write about, but it feels like bedtime. 

Have a great weekend!

:)

These guys showed up for lunch today:

Thought we'd take advantage of the talent, and record a few hymns while they were here--beautiful.

Trying not to question our good fortune, and just soak it all in while it's happening. ;-)

Have a great weekend!



Haiku

Noah shared this haiku with us last night; I don't know why it tickles my funny bone so much.


 

Haiku make no sense;

They are completely random.

Refrigerator.

    

                                     --Author Unknown

Happy Thursday!

Akaka Falls

We took a quick trip out to Akaka Falls on Wednesday; I haven't been since I was a child.  It was almost like remembering a dream: a familiar pathway, the same soft mist of rain on my face.   I love sharing these places with my daughters.

Heading out on the circle. 

Still takes my breath away.



Our Fab Five.



Rainforest giant.

Art by Kiana. :)

My sister and I.  Quite unfair, really. :-9

Our mini-me's.

Rainforest lace.

Akaka Falls. 

Heading back up the trail.

Wiped out. :D

Only 5 more days here--time has flown.  A hui hou!

Random

 Not too much to say; I always have been the quiet sort.  :)  Tonight, I am also the exhausted sort, so I'll just share a few, very random, rather unspectacular pictures:

One of many Madagascars hanging around Granny and Papa's house. 
Bold little things; we found another one helping itself to a rice cake that had been left on the table.



    

Standing in front of  'Iolani Palace, the official residence of King Kalakaua and family. 



Breakfast on the lanai.



View from the lanai.

Shave Ice. 'Nuff said.

Uh-oh--I've been remiss.  Little Miss Thing (one guess as to which daughter I am referring) has been reminding us all day that it is Uncle Andy's birthday.  So, Happy Birthday, Uncle Andy.  If you see him, please tell him we had mochi ice cream in honor of his birthday--we were out of Rocky Road and chocolate-covered marshmallows. :)  All for now. :)

Touching Base

Just a quick update:

• We're here.
• We had wonderful days at convention.
• Our hearts are full.
• So are our bellies.
• We took a quick tour of my old boarding school today--sweet memories.  Also drove by Punahou, President Obama's old stomping grounds--cool.
• We also took some time out to visit the Punchbowl cemetery--a very sobering experience, as death often is.  As we stood there reading the names of soldiers who have never returned home, the beginning strains of "Taps" broke through the silence, and we looked up to see a lone soldier standing on the hill, giving these final honors to one who has served.  Haunting, and I will never forget it.
• After this, we went to see Aunty Chris (Dad's younger sister) and her kids, and had some may-jah grindz at Ono's. Was 'ono. ;-D 
• Finished up with a trip to Wally's; the girls needed journals to do a little bit of travel writing--I'm looking forward to seeing what parts of our trip are deemed important enough to be written about.  I just checked Malia's; apparently, the Icee float from Sam's Club was the only thing worth mentioning today.  Oy vey.  Auwe.

Tomorrow, planning on taking a tour of 'Iolani palace, then a visit to Aunty's spa, and maybe some toe-wiggling in the sands of Waikiki.  Oh, and shave ice.  Definitely shave ice. =D 

Baby, it's cold outside....

23 degrees, to be exact.

Like the little snowflakes on the future forecast?  =)  I'd like them more if I wasn't trying to get on a plane for warmer climes tomorrow.  Seriously, though, this may be the best winter weather I've ever experienced.  (I say this as I revel in the comfort of a warm fire, cup of coffee in hand....)

Oh, wait.  Check this out:

Things change quickly around here. =D 

Daniel's slowly making his way home from work; he says there are cars all over the place.  Keifer just called; he got stuck trying to pick Noah up from work, so Daniel will grab them on his way up the hill.  I'm going to try and get a hold of Josh, but I'm guessing he's still at work...

Keep warm, keep safe.

On Vacation...

Well, not yet.  But I might as well be--my brain already thinks it has sand in its swimsuit. 

(Okay...that's a weird thing to try and visualize.  I told you I'm not functioning properly.)

We're heading out this week, leaving the hubs to hold down the fort; I trust it will be in the same, or better, condition upon our return, so don't get any ideas.  Unless, of course, you have a paintbrush, miter saw, or other similarly useful tool in hand upon your arrival; then you're welcome to stay as long as you want.  Well, at least until you get tired and stop working.  Then you have to leave. =D  I jest.  Sorta.

Well, 'nuff for now; this procrastinating mama's got a lot left to do.  Don't worry; even though you won't be there, sitting with us on the beach in 80 degree sunshine, you'll be in our thoughts.  That oughta keep you nice and warm in this fantastic winter weather. :-9  Cheers! =D

Chipping Away at This Old Writer's Block....

Call it writer's block, call it stage fright, call it fear of failure.

However you label it, I've got it. 

This latest "block" happened, rather inconveniently, right around the time of my sister's birthday. After a fairly easy run of writing last month, I hit a wall on or about September 29th.  (Sorry, Sis. :-p)  Admittedly, there's been a lot of guilt-tripping (self-inflicted!), and, well...I'm getting tired of it. :-p

As a general rule, I only write when I can't not write; when the words flow so easily, so clearly, that they can't be contained.  I never know when it will happen.  I also have never been able to will it to happen; this is one of those days. 

So I look to former posts, past writing, and hope they'll distract you until my brain starts cooperating again. 

Here's what I had to say about my sister back in February:

"Mr. & Mrs. Campbell

Thinking of these two today--it's been 8 years since that dude in the uniform whisked my sister and niece off to Yuma, Ah-wee-zoh-nah (that's how Cali used to say "Arizona"), to start a new life as husband and wife. I'll whine a little bit about not being able to watch my sister get married, but I guess the whole we-got-married-in-Reno story is kind of cute, so I won't carry on for too long. ;-9

There is much emotion as I consider my sister and her husband. They have walked some difficult paths, both before they knew each other, and in their last 8 years together. I am grateful for the tremendous strength that kept my sister pushing forward through the tough experiences; and for the incredible love and devotion that my brother-in-law has shown, both to her, and to my precious, precious nieces.

The depth of feeling is so much greater than my words can convey, so I'll just leave it at this.


I love you two; happy, happy anniversary, and wishing you many more to come. ♥"



Wow.  I feel like such a cheater. :-9  Here is my beautiful sister today:

Glamorous, no?

And her little family:

So, delayed as this post may be, the sentiment remains the same.  My sister continues to be an example of endurance, willing to make hard decisions in tough times, to do whatever it takes to move her family forward out of difficult experiences.   

Oh, and she always looks good doing it. :D

 Love you, Keala B. :-D 

Daniel's Turn

Some 33 years ago, on the day I was born (October 29th, people--get ready, now!), I'm sure the Universe looked upon me and said, "Someday, this being will have beautiful daughters, and one of them will look like this:

I'm sure this caused great distress, because, well...I'm not this cute. :-9  "Who will help her bring all this loveliness to pass?" they must have wondered, searching high and low, past and future, until somebody showed up and asked, "How about this guy?"

"Wow!" they thought. "He's perfect!"  But one little voice of doubt piped up from the back, "Are you sure? Because he's going to have spend a few years looking like this,

and I'm not sure she'll be okay with that."  A slight ripple of laughter washed over the crowd, and quickly a solution was found: "We'll make sure they don't meet until after he grows out of that phase, and starts looking more like this:

And he will love her, and protect her, and annoy her, and forgive her, and hold her, and make her laugh, and give her a life sweeter than her bratty self deserves, and she will understand a comfort, and have an unfair advantage, that comes in knowing there is almost nothing she can do to make him stop loving her (I haven't figured out what quantifies the "almost," and I don't plan on finding out.).  And she will love him more than even she knows.

And it was exactly as it should be. 

Happy birthday, Daniel.  I love you.