North Shore

I have seen more of Hawaii in the past 4 days than I have in the 10 months that I have lived here. Gil and I decided that we would wait and do a lot of the touristy things when family came to visit. Which means Gil still hasn't seen any of it. When his parents came to visit he was working and now that my parents are here he is deployed. After these past few days though I realize we should have done it on our own as well, so that he experiences it as well. I think we just didn't realize how little time he would really have free to do what he wants. So once he gets home there will be no more of this waiting for visitors; we will do it with and without visitors from now on.

My parents arrived on Wednesday and we started off with a bang! Their first full day we got Mom's military id renewed! Woohoo! Actually, the first day we spent not only getting her id but also running a few errands. We ended the day at the local farmer's market though, which we were all excited for. Dad and I got some GREAT beignets (; mine was stuffed with chocolate and peanut butter. On top of having fresh produce, bread and flowers they also had food stands that sold homemade curry dishes and risotto balls. I think the farmer's market might be my new dinner spot for Thursday nights!

Friday we started the real fun, the North Shore! Our first stop was Giovanni's for lunch. All along the roads headed up north there are these shrimp trucks; fresh straight out of the water and onto your plate. Giovanni's is apparently the best and even though it is the only one I have stopped at, it was pretty freakin' amazing!

Next stop, was the sea turtle beach! I had been to this beach twice before, each time there were no turtles. All my friends had seen them but I still hadn't. Finally, third times the charm; they were out and in full force! When we got there they were just in the water. We spent maybe an hour or so on the rocks taking pictures and watching them wash up right to us.

They are absolutely amazing animals! They are so prehistoric and so incredibly massive! After we took about 100 photos of the sea turtles we headed up to Haliewa to the North Shore Marketplace. We first had to get some shaved ice. Our goal was to go to the famous Matsumoto's but once we got up there we forgot which one we were suppose to go to so we ended up at A shaved ice place but not THE shaved ice place. None the less it was still good. We then went to a few of the stores at the North Shore Marketplace and check out some local art.

We decided to go back the same way we came instead of going around the whole island. It would have been shorter at that point but we wanted to stop off at Ted's Bakery and see if the sea turtles were up on the sand yet. So we turned around and headed back to the sea turtles. Lucky us they were out of the water and on the sand. There were three with a forth waddling out of the water as we got there. Sadly my battery was dying and mom ran out of space on her memory card but we managed to get a few more pictures.

Our final stop was Ted's Bakery...

for their famous chocolate haupia pie. It is basically a chocolate and coconut cream pie. It was very good and very creamy!

We finally loaded back into the car with bellies full and headed back home. It was really great to finally hit up some of the local spots. I can't wait until Gil is home and we can experience it together.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

I can't wait to see you in 3 days!!!

I love you!

Kai's Morning at the Beach

Even though Kai is part lab, she still isn't very fond of the ocean or water in general. Bright and early every morning we have been walking down to the beach to get her use to it. I think it is working because after a week or two of walking to the beach she is becoming much more confident. She hasn't actually swam yet but she has gotten into some pretty deep water.

Today was a very successful trip. If she would have taken one more step she would have had no choice but to swim. She got all the way up to her chest. After we played in the water, I sat down on the rocks while she found a stick to chewy on.

I am hoping it won't be much longer before I can get her all the way in. It is hard since it isn't still water. She gets scared of the waves and I think mostly the noise of the crashing waves; even though where I take her they are more of a bump in the water rather than a wave. We will get there. Hopefully soon.

She is watching a bird in the sky. I like this photo. I think it is a good profile picture!

Little Lizabeth's Wedding!

After NC, MA & NH I finally ended up in Alabama for my amazing friend, Elizabeth's wedding. I was there a few days before the wedding so we had time to just hang out and relax.

I finally got to meet lovely little Molly and she was nice enough to help us make Elizabeth's bow bouquet for the rehearsal.
All the events really started on Friday. Elizabeth's grandma's threw an amazing bridal luncheon. It was at the old town jail which was turned into a really great cafe. It was really cute because they left two of the cells so you could still see the past in the present. They went all out with beautiful centerpieces and everything. It was a lot of fun for me because it was the first time that I was meeting many of the ladies. Here is a picture of all the ladies who attended the luncheon.
After the luncheon we headed home to get ready for the rehearsal. There was a little stress due to the grooms men's vests not being on time but while we getting ready for rehearsal they finally arrived. I think the UPS guy was a little scared of us because we ran to the door and he sort of tossed the box at us. I think he was afraid we might jump him. The vests were finally the last piece of the puzzle. After the excitement of the vests we headed to the church for rehearsal, followed by the rehearsal dinner. Everything went smoothly that night and rehearsal dinner was a blast; great food and great conversation. Below is a picture of the bride and groom at rehearsal and of course Elizabeth is in her signature color...purple! Somewhat of a theme for the week.
Finally it was here, wedding day! Elizabeth, her mom, her sister and I woke up early and headed to the site of the reception to set a few things up. Once we were done it was looking pretty good. After the reception site, we stopped for some food on the way to the church to let the florist in. Our stop at Chick-fil-A was quit an adventure. To keep it short that is the only time Elizabeth cried all day. It ended up being pretty funny once we all realized that chicken sandwiches is what pushed her over the edge. Once the florist arrived we were getting really excited because the flowers were so beautiful! We left her mom and sister at the church with the florist and Elizabeth and I headed to the hair salon. After the hair salon everything seemed to fly by. We headed home to pack up the car for the wedding. Below is a picture of me and two of the bridesmaids hanging out before the wedding.

The next 4 hours we hung out, got ready and took pictures. Everyone was so excited once Elizabeth was in her dress. She made such a beautiful bride!

The ceremony went smoothly and before we knew it we were off to the Westin for the reception. The rest of the night was full of good food, lots of dancing and CAKE! Check out their beautiful cakes!
It was so great to not only be there for Elizabeth's wedding but be a part of it. I was so happy to be there and share in the joy of her big day. The very next day I headed back home and Elizabeth and Caleb headed to Sonoma, CA for an amazing honeymoon full of wine and hot air balloon rides!

There are so many more pictures so if you would like to check them out go here: Elizabeth's Wedding

Cary, Boston, & Westmoreland

5 Time Zones and 2 days later, I finally arrived in North Carolina for my three day visit with Sally. It was so great to see her again! It makes me really wish I lived closer to her and Elizabeth.

For those who don't know Sally is getting married August 1st...which happens to be the same day my brother is getting married. Since I can't make it to her wedding I decided to visit her before the big day. While visiting Sally we were hoping to do a few wedding things. That didn't quit work out but we still had a great time! The wedding dress ended up not coming in when it was suppose to but the invitations did! So we got to go pick those up and they are beautiful! Daniel, Sally's younger brother was in a male fashion show one night so we went to that.  We went all out and made signs and everything.  It was very amusing.  It was the first time though that I really felt old!  All the teachers that were there were my age...which was just really bizarre.  I don't feel like I have the ability to teach 18 year old kids or even to get them to listen to me.  It was just weird!  I also got a glimpse into what the wedding is going to be like; Beth did a fashion show of the bridesmaid dresses, lovely J.Crew dresses of course and Sally, Laura and I walked to the country club where the reception is going to take place.  It is a gorgeous

 ballroom with a huge chandelier and a staircase leading down to the dance floor.  It is going to be amazing!

Sadly my visit with Sally and the Cunningham's was way to short.  Three short days later we were already heading back to the airport.  It was so great to see Sally though and get a glimpse at what her wedding will be like.  

Next I was off to Boston for Anthony's (brother-in-law) graduation from Suffolk.  My parents picked me up from the airport and we immediately went back to the hotel, changed, then met up with the whole Desroches group at the Cheesecake Factory.  This trip was extra awesome because I got to meet even more Desroches family members that I hadn't met before. The draw back of the trip was his graduation was in Boston and it was FREEZING!  

Sunday was the graduation and Anthony was so nice and gave me one of the four tickets to actually go to the graduation.  I felt very honored and was glad to be there and represent for Gil.  The graduation was nice and they had some great speakers.  Right after the ceremony we headed to the docks to board our dinner cruise.  We did the same for Gil's graduation 2 years ago...but I have to say Anthony's dinner cruise was much nicer; better DJ and better food.  It was such a great night full of dancing, cake, presents and lots of pictures.  The more time I spend with the Desroches family the more I love it.  I love how Anthony and Brian consider me a sister and there were little things through out the weekend that just showed how much they consider me a part of the family.  It was a great weekend and so nice to see everybody.  

The very next day after graduation, Mom and I woke up and went to Anthropologie so I could finally spend my birthday gift card.  I got an adorable black and white cotton dress.  Then it was time to get in the car and drive home!  I was very excited to get to go home for a day...well not even a day...less than 12 hours I think.  We left Boston a little later than we thought, therefore we got home a little later than expected.  We stopped at an awesome diner on the way home where I had amazing mac'n'cheese!  Very diner-ish!  Once we got home we got ready for dinner.  My parents planned to take me and a few of my girlfriends out for Mexican.  It was so great to see the girls again.  We had a great dinner and just caught up.  Then it was home and to bed because we had to wake up the next day and drive back to the airport in Boston!  Yes, Boston!  I told you I was home for less than 12 hours!

Once back in Boston, I said goodbye to my parents and boarded a plane that would eventually take be back to Alabama...viva Ohio.  I know...I don't understand airlines either.  I was finally on my last leg of my trip and getting ready to begin the most action packed part of my trip.  Elizabeth's Wedding!  I will write a separate post for that.

Even though the next week was going to be packed with events my first week back on the mainland was a great one...full of a lot of airports and and too short of visits with friends and family.

Oh, I almost forgot.  While visiting Sally I was able to meet up with my parents really good friends Jim and Renee Bayha.  We met them when we lived in Germany and I was only 3 years old.  The last time we lived in the same place was when I was in the 6th grade in NC.  It was really bizarre to see them again but also really great.  Their kids are all grown up now which was weird because last time I saw there son he was a baby!  

Well that is it for this post.  

Onto the wedding of my little Elizabeth!

Somewhere between HI & AL

I am sitting in the Denver airport right now in my second time zone in less than 24 hours. I have one leg left; Denver to Birmingham.

I said goodbye to Gil...yesterday which to me feels like today. I think I did pretty good. No major waterworks until I was sitting at my gate. Mom called because she couldn't sleep and she helped me get through the tears...then Gil called and it started all over again but I pulled it together and as Gil would say, 'manned up' before boarding my flight. Now I am just exausted and ready to be on the east coast.

I have been able to talk with Gil each time I have landed, hopefully I will get to talk to him one last time once I arrive in AL.

We had a good last weekend together. We went to an amazing French resaurant called La Mer on Friday. It was just like being in Paris, minus the volcanic crater and palm trees out the window. Their bread was to die for! I could have just eaten bread all night. We decided we would consider that dinner our one year anniversary celebration.

Saturday Gil went golfing and I went golf cart driving, later that night one of the other Lt's came over for dinner.

Sunday we dropped Kai off at the boarding facility. She did really well; I think she remembered the place and she seemed to have such a good time last time so I think she will have fun. The rest of the day we just ran errands and made sure that we were both packed and ready. For our last dinner we had a little picnic of wine and cheese on the living room floor; which we wouldn't have been able to do if Kai was home.

And that takes us to now...sitting on a plane somewhere between Denver and Birmingham.

I can't wait to see all of those who I am on my way to visit and thank you for all the supportive thoughts.

Lastly here is a funny picture of Kai...I don't think she liked us much after this!


-- Post From My iPhone

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

I can't wait to see you in SIX days!!!!

I love you!