Happy Birthday Grandpa

A day early but since the card is going to be a day (or two) late I figured it all evens out!  Honestly we have two 8 am soccer games in the morning and by the time we get home you will be half way through your big day.  Just wanting you to know we are thinking of you!

 

Hope this brings back happy memories of your time here and that you can feel the warm winds! Hau`oli la Hanau!

Great Aloha Run!

I am always amazed when I go to update my blog and start looking back on our recent days.  It's been less than a week since my post but so much has gone on it seems like eternity!  Much of it the usual - sprinkled with some fun in between.

Lake Erie had their Christmas party on Friday night.  Yes, Christmas.  Does that tell you anything about scheduling on a ship?  I must say it was fantastic - great entertainment, great food, great music and even some dancing for us old folks (we had to show them how it's done after all!)

Hula performance during dinner



Who says you can't find a little beauty while taking out the trash at 5:30 am?

The Great Aloha Run was held on Presidents Day.  This annual run is 8.12 miles and goes from the Aloha tower in Waikiki to the Aloha Stadium by my house.  They shut down the Kamehameha Highway and bus people from the stadium to the tower at 5:00 am.  After doing boot camp for almost a year now (which doesn't including running I have to add) I felt like I should be able to do this...at least partially.  David was all for it so I signed us up before I could change my mind.   

The military "team" starts the race.  There was a long line of them (imagine running 8.12 miles in cadence?) and we hit the start line about 7:15. 

Although I have never run more than about 3.5 miles before (10 years ago) I was hopeful that I could run/walk it in about 2 hours.  At the 4 mile point when I slowed for water I fast realized stopping meant never starting again so I just kept running - yes it's very Forest Gumpish.  I reached the stadium (with some very rubbery legs) with an official time of 1:25.  According to the stats I was # 4,191 out of 27,000 and I came in 144th of the 1,240 in my age group! 

David finished in 1:09 which was 1,208 out of the 27,000 runners and 75th of the 911 in his age group. 

Any way you slice it we rocked!  It was really fun and I am still so sore it hurts to breathe :)  I gave myself a meritorious day off from boot camp today. 

David is now out to sea - the kids are sick and the AC is broken.  Now that kind of stuff you can count on! 

My Rock Star!!

Olivia asked for a real hair cut a while back and yesterday was the day!

She picked a big bangs, chunky layers, rock star thing

The only thing missing is the streaks of color but since that is not allowed in her school it'll have to wait for summer.

Cool!!

Happy Valentines Day!

I am officially off duty...until Easter!

12 and one week

Party Day!!! 

Beautiful Day...check

Large group of girls who can scream for no reason...check!

High jumps...check!

Low jumps...check!

Goofy boys...check!

Cake...double check!

Heart shaped gifts...check!

Synchronized swimming...well, not so much!

If noise level is any indication of fun then today was a roaring

success!  Normally I would breathe a sigh of relief for the party circuit being over for a while but alas...tomorrow is the big one.  Yep, Valentines Day.  A celebration like no other in our house.  Why?  Who knows.  Probably because way back when some over achieving "A" type mother thought it would be cute to make a big deal with hearts, valentines and a big meal.  What a dope.  I need to travel back in time and set her straight.  

 

And She's 12!

Well, she did it.  Lived to be 12!   Believe it or not I'm almost at a loss for words.  Olivia is an amazing girl.  Smart, savvy, funny, clever, creative, hot tempered and goofy.  She has taught me a lot in these 12 years. 

She is having her party next weekend (Superbowl Sunday doesn't make the best pool party day) but we did go to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory last night and unwrapped presents today. 

I think you all captured her perfectly!...

Perfect shoes!



Perfect Pastime!

Perfect Sauce!

And Cake!

Thanks for the gifts, cards and phone calls.  She felt very special and had a great day.

Pint Sized Playdate!

Since my girls had a day off today, I surprised Emily by picking up her BFF's from her old school for a play date.  The first thing they did...change clothes.  It's the first thing they always do!

Lunch, another wardrobe change and we were off to get our toes done!

One more wardrobe change and they were ready

for their rock star debut!

You are glad this doesn't come with audio, trust me.

Big girl joined in the fun too.  Can't believe she turns 12 on Sunday!

Gimme an E!

Me: "Emily are you wearing lipstick to soccer practice?  Are you a player or a cheerleader?"

Em: "Oh!  I'd much rather be a cheerleader!  Can I?"

Olivia: "You walked into that one Mom."