Hawaiian Vacation '09

(outside the rental, it was across the street from the beach, about a 6 second walk)

About a month ago, 2 of my friends were going to the Hawaiian islands. Different islands, bt they had both told me, go out there when we're there go, go, go! So, Jeff and I looked up airfare, and it was ridiculously cheap. We couldn't go at the same time as my friends, but we decided, the end of May is probably a good idea. So, we booked our airfare, car rental, vacation rental and packed up and went to Hawaii! We went to the North Shore of Oahu, that's our favorite place. Get away from all the touristy stuff of Honolulu and Waikiki. Which, are good one day things, but only one day. It's almost mayhem.

Jeff had still a partially injured ankle from his car accident last month, but so long as he came home each night, and iced it and wrapped it up, he was free to play as he liked, the next day.

We did the one afternoon in Waikiki thing. Jeffs old ship he was on, the Stennis, happened to be in port while we were there. And, there was a leak on the ship, so they were delayed and we saw people we usually wouldn't see during and probably after deployment.

As I;m trying to write this out, I'm oddly drawing a blank after only being home from the vacation, 2-3 days. Either way, we baked in the heat and the sun, got sunburned, but loved it!


We saw this, and it was a homeless persons tropical, oceanfront shelter. You can see their stuff off to the right. I didn't want to climb in it..


I LOVE this one! You can see the blue dancing across the top of the water. This is Shark's cove, across the street.





my new favorite picture of Jeff. He's half floating, half sinking.


We got an underwater camera, and we totally love it!


a fishy


This is at the tip top part of Oahu, it was all unpaved dirt roads, you don't get any higher up than this place! It was pretty cool up there.


Jeff and his friend Crystal. She's on the currently deployed Stennis. She worked with him the nuclear reactor dept.


In the warm water. Cold sand though!


Our old roomie, DanDan....or, just Dan. He's from Maui actually.


The Stennis, not a very good photo, but I'll be back to edit this more when I don't have so much to do!

All in all, the beaches were fabulous, we had a good time, we like the new color of our skin, but most of all, we were soooo happy to come home to excited little kiddies! I got really anxious towards the end of it, I just missed my baby, and girl. I think we'll take the kids next time :)

Meet "Silver Lightning"!

I don't know how many people know but let it be know, to everyone, that JEFF, totalled our last car. Not me! I'm going to sound like a bad wife for saying this, but, better him than me! I'd have my butt handed to me since I'm on "probation" (I can't get any moving violations) for the next 2 years. Per a mean judge's orders. ANd actually, Jeff agreed with me, he was happy it had happened to him, and not to me.

Long story short, Jeff and his Colleague, Sepencer (his last name, it's the Navy, we don't know first names, just last)were heading to an auto place. Jeff was following him. Spencer turned left at a yield. Jeff was off in la la land, watching a nice lady pick up trash on the street. Jeff out of the corner of his eye, saw his colleague turn, and he didn't check for traffic when he did. SLAMMED into a Dadoge Ram hauling down a main drag in Tacoma, and hit Jeff. OR, Jeff hit him. Whichever you prefer. The airbags went off,windshield busted, and the front end of it was destroyed. I'd show pictures, but I didn't like that car to begin with, so really, just trust me. and the only real damage Jeff's had, was his right ankle. It's all kinds of purple and nasty looking. The first day, he was in bad pain, he couldn't walk on it. We went to the army hospital, and come to find out, he'd only sprained it. Better than a break! Anyway, he's been going to a chiropractor a few days a week to help it out. (Jeff is big on chiropractors) Anyway, that put us down to one car when that wreck happened. Glory hallelujah though for this part. That day, of the accident, Jeff was going to take the Scion XB we are babysitting for a friend that's on deployment until end of summer. He ran out of time, and forgot to take that car. I'm glad he didn't take it, because that's not our car! (we're supposed to drive it on occaion so that battery doesn't die etc) That would've been horribly bad if he had totalled a car that's only a year old!

We decided, ok, let's get a new car. Should we get me my own car, or just let me drive Jeff's car? Jeff is so picky about the miles on the mazda. It's honestly a guys car because the suspension is rough, and meant for speed (hence the name mazdaspeed3) not for a around the town car really. And, it has 31K on it already, Jeff doesn't like that fact. Either way, we started loooking at new cars, with all the insane specials dealers are having trying to get people to buy, because the economy and the car industry are hurting. We'd eyed a 2009-2010 Ford Fusion. But, when push came to shove, we didn't want to pay 20 or 30K for a new ford vehicle. We just needed something that I could drive, that wasn't Jeffs car, but had all the specs I wanted.

We finally came across a 2002 (I think) VW Passat. In North Seattle. (that's a drive from here) It had low miles, and pretty much every bell and whistle I wanted, minus a navigation system because I lack ANY sense of direction. Nor do I stop to ask. (thank the craigslist killer for that, just kidding) Anyway, after about 2 hours at teh dealership, we were driving off with a second car for me, and new car for the kids. It's really roomy! While we were in the Seattle vicinity, we decided to go swing by my moms across teh water and see how she and Leena are doing. We showed Leena the car and holy smokes! You'd think she'd be able to play in it for hours. She probably could! Either way, we both really like it, and got a navigation system put in it yesterday. That was a chunk of change. But, Jeff was a doll and let me have what I wanted in it. Next thing we'll do in a while is, put the dvd system we have for the kids, in the back of the headrests. WOOHOO! Fun-mobile!

So, now my car is jokingly called "silver lightning" and Jeffs is "silver thunder". They're both silver.

We like it!


Interior

The voice activated phone, bluetooth, all that stuff. Just missing DVD, but I'm ok with that.

The backseat which comfortably sits 3. Considering hte value of it, we got a steal on it, no complaints here!
ANd, as I was typing this out, Jeff came down here with Landon, and Landonw as having a total blast on Jeffs shoulders. I grabbed the XD card out of the laptop, put it in the camera, just in time :)


My new favorite pictue!


My little explorer all rady for a day outside!


Lastly, 5 days til HAWAII!!! I need a break!

HE DID IT!!!

JEFF MADE FIRST CLASS!!!

In other words, he made rank, he's now an E-6!! Good job honey! I know you tried hard, 4 times, and did your best!! CONGRATULATIONS!! I love you! (He had to take a test 4 times, and it's incredibly long)

How we found out is the funny part. Jeff usually gets ready for work, downstairs so I can sleep etc. He'd come up here for something...And he got a text message on his phone from his friend Mike, that said "congrats on first class". And we looked at each other and I grab his phone and reply with "??????!!?" and hit "send". Jeff takes off like a bolt of lightning, I hear pattering on the stairs....then silence, then pattering up the stairs as he races in with his latop, whirls it openand goes to the Navy site to check if you passed the test or not...and tada! "Daniels Jeffery M" was there!!! YAY! It means he goes up in rank, and gets a pay raise, in short, it's a promotion, and a very good one! I'm so proud of him!!

So, I called my mom and told her, and now she wants a dinner for him at her house on Sunday, we'll be there mommy, no worries!

Almost here!

I can't believe that summer is so close! It's been incredibly warm here, especially for May! I know it was warm last year, but I don't recall it being this warm! Perhaps it's because I was working full time?

Either way, we had Leena here this past weekend. And when I saw how sunny it was on my way to go get her, I called up my mom, and told her to throw in her bating suit. I'd been at Target the day prior, and say a tiny kiddie pool, and figured, eh, why not? We don't want a huge one, Leena just wants something she can just sit and cool off in, this is perfect.

Landon had a fever, he's had alot of them considering his age. I really wish I knew why, I guess it's an unsolved mystery for now. I figured, cool water, let's put him in with Leena!

NOT! I stuck his little feet in there, and oh my heavens! He just let out the world loudest scream! He was so TICKED! He did not want to be in that water! So, we wwent and put some hot water in there to warm it up, he didn't lkike it, but he wasn't screaming that time around. A step up I guess? Either way, I spared him the traumatic experience, and had him come inside and hang out with me, while Leena spalsh around with Jeff. She really did have a good time, I think that was probably her highlight of her weekend. It's funny, she doesn't like swimming or baths, but she'll get in a pool (usually) no problem, as long as she can stand. Kids and their phobias!

My little boy is 7 months!

I can't believe Landon will be 7 months on the 22nd! I guess I can honestly ask, where the heck did the time go?! He's such a sweetheart, he loves to snuggle (he didn't before) and he's trying his hardest to roll over from back to tummy. He can do it if he works really, really hard. It's really amusing.

He still is toothless, but sure can bite! He's getting one lower bottom fang in, that's it! Our little vampire baby! He really is a doll and such a joy to have in our lives, I don't know anyone who doesn't love him, that's been around him. He is Jeffy's little buddy, and my sweet little boy. Almost sad that he will be a year just in 5 short months! Here are some of his pictures.

Zoo, moms day.

We have a Zoo out here in Tacoma, and it was actually a nice day. So, we decided to go to the zoo with Landon. We didn't have Leena, but we'll take her soon.

Here are the pictures.















After the long day at the zoo, we came home, went to bed, and the next day (mothers day) went up to my parents house for lunch and to say good-bye to my dad, and wait for my missionary brothers to call home.

Seth is in Boston, and he was going to call at 3pm PST. And, Cody, in CA, was going to call at 5. Seth had no time limit, Cody had an hour. Anyway, we talked to seth for about 3 hours or so. He's having fun :) I think the highlight of it all, was when Cody called and was anxious to talk to Seth. So, my mom 3 way called the boys together, and I think it was the sweetest thing. Cody was so quick to say "Seth! i'm so glad I get to talk to you! This is just....nostalgic!!" If you had a twin brother on a mission while you were on yours, I think you'd see why. They haven't seen each other in a year and a half. They went from being rather....rival I guess would be a good word, but also didn't get along the greatest, so that was the best part, hearing them compare stories, and talk about their experiences while on a mission. Cody was elated to talk to Seth, and vis versa. I think they've finally grown to love each other, you always love your siblings, but it's different when you get older. Anyway, you could hear the appreciation and gratitude in their voice, it's what made all the difference.

Leena got some new roller skates. She's funny, my dad when we were kids, my dad would try not to let my mom buy us things, in fear that we wouldn't use them. This, was the issue with the roller skates. So, I was out there and she says to me "Mommy, I HAVE to roller skae to show Papa that I'm going to use them"...HAHA! Good girl! She spent about 3 hours on the big desk, just testing them out. I had to help her alot and yell "bend your knees!!" many many times. But, literally, 3 hours later, she went from nervous nelly, to gliding, and falling down, with a smile! She's such a weird kid about her phobias, I'm glad she didn't let this one get the best of her.

After 3 or more hours on the phone with grandparents, my brothers, and being with Hillary and Aaron, we woke up Landon and headed home. I've had worse mothers day, but this wasn't a half bad one.

Congrats Lulu!

This past weekend, my little sister Hillary got married. The picture to the left, is the night of her bridal shower.

She got married to a guy named Aaron Albrecht. He's a nice guy :)

I started off the weekend with going up to my folks house on thursday to hang out with Hillary, then back up there again Friday to go out with Hillary her good friend Mikayla, and her soon to be sis-in-law, Adele. We were going to go to a restaurant in downtown Seattle, but with Mariner game traffic, and protests (this state is the biggest hippy state, I hate how people are SO liberal here...get a life, go smell the flowers!)going on because it was May Day....we sat on the last exit before the bridge goes across the lake, turned around, and went to the Kirkland waterfront. The debate was up, where to go for dinner? We ended up at Anthony's. A seafood joint, a somewhat high end one too.

I'm not a seafood fan, but I got stuck because it was Hillarys choice, and so long as it didn't smell like seafood, we were good. Here's one small detail, Hillary wanted all of us to "dress crazy". She did NOT pass that memo onto me, she forgot. Convienet that I drive the furthest, and she forgot. So, I looked all pretty but for the first time in my life, I should've have! Anyway, Hillary and Adele had BLUE eye shadow, and looked like Mimi off of the Drew Carey show. And had hats on and zebra pants. So, as Adele and I were in thecar, she realized she was not dressed for Anthonys, at all. And she lives really close by. We ran to her house, grabbed clothes for her and Hillary both, threw them on, and then we were Anthonys appropriate. Everyone had seafood, I ended up having the one non-seafood thing, red meat. It was good. I don't think I'll ever go back not a seafood person.

Jeff, Landon and I all stayed the night at my parents house. We don't fit on a twin bed. (we were in Hillarys room that she's vacated) That wasn't not fun. Not to mention Landon had a fever a good part of the week, he was miserable. Anyway, Hillarys small ceremony was at 1pm, sharp. We raced to get the kiddies ready let alone ourselves. Chaos started to go on with picture, Hillary in and out of the house, typical stuff for a wedding day. About 30 people were there all pushed into the living rom, which had been fairly well decorated by mom and some others. The bishop married them, Leena was the little flower girl.

I almost felt bad because Aaron was crying before everything started! And not many of us had kleenex! They both were crying, it was sweet.

All in all, a busy but family filled event! I'll post pictures when i can get my hands on them from my parents camera, being mine died, and the ones from Hillary later.