We surprised our parents and flew home for Christmas : ) They had no idea. Sean's dad was so in shock when he opened his door at 11 o'clock at night and Bannock was standing there. He was speechless even when Bannock walked right in and said "Pop pop!". It had been almost 4 months since they'd seen him. We surprised my parents the next night and even though they had just seen Bannock it didn't register that he could be in California. It was a fun surprise and a fun visit. We went to Folsom Zoo's first annual Christmas night at the zoo thing - they had lights everywhere and all the nocturnal animals were still awake (did anyone know the Folsom zoo had tigers?) At the end of the walk Santa and Mrs. Clause were there to take pictures. It was Bannock's first time and even though he would get excited and say "Santa!" any time he saw one, being up close and personal with him did not go over well! What is it with kids and Santa? We also got to go shooting with Sean's family, which was fun. It had been awhile since I had gone shooting. I'm pretty proud of the picture of Sean I took - you can actually see the bullet! Anyway, we had a great Christmas, it was so nice to be back and almost impossible to leave. As great as Hawaii is there is no place like home!
25.1.11
Home for Christmas!
We surprised our parents and flew home for Christmas : ) They had no idea. Sean's dad was so in shock when he opened his door at 11 o'clock at night and Bannock was standing there. He was speechless even when Bannock walked right in and said "Pop pop!". It had been almost 4 months since they'd seen him. We surprised my parents the next night and even though they had just seen Bannock it didn't register that he could be in California. It was a fun surprise and a fun visit. We went to Folsom Zoo's first annual Christmas night at the zoo thing - they had lights everywhere and all the nocturnal animals were still awake (did anyone know the Folsom zoo had tigers?) At the end of the walk Santa and Mrs. Clause were there to take pictures. It was Bannock's first time and even though he would get excited and say "Santa!" any time he saw one, being up close and personal with him did not go over well! What is it with kids and Santa? We also got to go shooting with Sean's family, which was fun. It had been awhile since I had gone shooting. I'm pretty proud of the picture of Sean I took - you can actually see the bullet! Anyway, we had a great Christmas, it was so nice to be back and almost impossible to leave. As great as Hawaii is there is no place like home!
A visit from the folks
My parents came to visit the beginning of December and it was a lot of fun. They rented this cute little bungalow on the beach that we practically lived at with them. We went to the Billabong Pipemasters surf competition which was so fun (got a ton of free stuff!), went to Pearl Harbor and saw the Arizona memorial, ate delicious Thai food at Haleiwa Eats and then caught a cute Christmas parade through the town. We also got to pay our respects to Ron Artis' family - he's a great local artist who had passed away just two days before we went to Haleiwa where his home/studio is. We spent a lot of time on the beach, of course, and Bannock was thrilled that his Nahna and Pop pop were there to spoil him rotten! It was a great week : )
10.12.10
in parenthesis
I have news and updates and pictures galore but for now...
I stumbled upon this dreamy little website in cahoots with Anthropologie.
The Anthropologist
It has articles on wonderful people, places and things. A long with beautiful photographs. Look. Dream. Imagine.
8.11.10
Kethup
Here's a little catch up. We've been loving it out here. It's so nice to be back in school. I'm just soaking it up, so glad to be getting a good education! I love campus life and I'm trying to participate as much as my work/wifely/motherly duties will allow! Each weekend they have a free moving showing in the theatre on campus and this past weekend we watched "the karate kid" (yes the new one) with our friends Jason and Amber, Zach and Julie and Jozie (minus her other half Tommy, who was in Arizona for a wedding). Bannock didn't do to well during but after we went and nabbed free food (sushi and fruit and a chocolate fountain anyone?) from the Fashion Show while Bannock took his first ride(s) on a skateboard. We've made the best friends here and I'm going to be so sad when we they have to move in January, but the campus is small (shoot, the entire town is small!) so I'm sure we won't lose touch! It's just been fun to have potlucks and impromptu game nights and venting about landlord issues!
But moving on! These pictures are from two or three weekends ago (i forget to bring my camera everywhere!) when we went on a little drive in our beautiful 1988 toyota camry. I WILL post more pictures and more often!
This is the view from the Valley of the Temples 
Our dashboard friend/sunglass holder KeAloha, she's legit
A mausoleum in Valley of the Temples
Chinaman's Hat off of Kualoa + random tourists
Another view from Kualoa
8.10.10
An address to these changing times
I have to speak up about these current events. I refrain from posting anything political or religious on facebook because I feel it just stirs up contention. I have so many friends and family members of completely opposite beliefs and sadly I feel that stating my opinion in such a public place as Facebook for all of them to see would merely pit them against each other.
Yet I can't remain silent about what is happening in this world. To start, Elder Boyd K, Packer of the quoram of the 12 Apostles spoke at the sunday morning session of General Conference. He reiterated the church's proclamation to the world and our beliefs about the organization of family. He in no way attacked. he said nothing hurtful. He merely re-stated what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' stance on marriage and the family as well as touching on various other points of church doctrine. I was sad and angered to hear that in response a gay activist committee rallied in front of the church headquarters in Salt Lake City and asked Elder Packer to "retract" what he said about the FACT that the Lord would never impose on us inborn tempations that are "preset and cannot be overcome". Our Heavenly Father does not tempt us beyond that which we are unable to overcome.
We do not go to the Gay community and ask you to retract your views that marriage is not a sacred God-given ordinance so do not ask the LDS church to retract its views on homosexuality. I am sorry that there were people who were hurt by these statements. But many in our religious community are hurt by the fact that we must change our laws (on state level, by no means do i mean on an eternal level) to accomodate your views.
I am becoming tired by the politics of this country. The United States of America was founded on the basis of religion - the freedom to worship as we please. How dare anyone try to take that away? So many have forgotten who the founding fathers were. They were God-fearing intellectuals and I aspire to be that someday as well.
I support the rights of the minorities. To an extent. When the rights of the minority are held superior to the rights of the majority, and therefore are subsequently imposed on the majority, thats where the line must be drawn. For now you are creating a minority out of the majority. And then the process must then be reversed, should it not?
I am afraid for the world to come. I fear for the society my children will inherit and I am sad for the destruction of the world which, judging from current events, is not far off. I am thankful for the Gospel and the faith that I have, it brings me an inner peace that I wish we could all have. I know the Lord is merciful and through Him all will be made right in the end.
I leave you with this:
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light and ligh for darkness, that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" - Isaiah 5:20
Yet I can't remain silent about what is happening in this world. To start, Elder Boyd K, Packer of the quoram of the 12 Apostles spoke at the sunday morning session of General Conference. He reiterated the church's proclamation to the world and our beliefs about the organization of family. He in no way attacked. he said nothing hurtful. He merely re-stated what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' stance on marriage and the family as well as touching on various other points of church doctrine. I was sad and angered to hear that in response a gay activist committee rallied in front of the church headquarters in Salt Lake City and asked Elder Packer to "retract" what he said about the FACT that the Lord would never impose on us inborn tempations that are "preset and cannot be overcome". Our Heavenly Father does not tempt us beyond that which we are unable to overcome.
We do not go to the Gay community and ask you to retract your views that marriage is not a sacred God-given ordinance so do not ask the LDS church to retract its views on homosexuality. I am sorry that there were people who were hurt by these statements. But many in our religious community are hurt by the fact that we must change our laws (on state level, by no means do i mean on an eternal level) to accomodate your views.
I am becoming tired by the politics of this country. The United States of America was founded on the basis of religion - the freedom to worship as we please. How dare anyone try to take that away? So many have forgotten who the founding fathers were. They were God-fearing intellectuals and I aspire to be that someday as well.
I support the rights of the minorities. To an extent. When the rights of the minority are held superior to the rights of the majority, and therefore are subsequently imposed on the majority, thats where the line must be drawn. For now you are creating a minority out of the majority. And then the process must then be reversed, should it not?
I am afraid for the world to come. I fear for the society my children will inherit and I am sad for the destruction of the world which, judging from current events, is not far off. I am thankful for the Gospel and the faith that I have, it brings me an inner peace that I wish we could all have. I know the Lord is merciful and through Him all will be made right in the end.
I leave you with this:
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light and ligh for darkness, that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" - Isaiah 5:20
24.9.10
untitled
Dear ants crawling on the bathtub, wandering alone on the carpet, coming in through the kitchen window-
I hate you. I loathe your existance. Really, what ARE you DOING?! there is nothing on the bathtub to be congregating in that mass for. There is no reason to be scavenging by yourself on the carpet- if there were food i'd understand but so far you're out of luck so why are you wandering aimlessly around? And to you in the kitchen, I more fully understand your reasoning over the others, it is the kitchen after all. But I try to be as meticulous as possible and make sure there is NOTHING for you there. So please. Leave. Either get all your buddys, attack, swarm, have at it, get it over with - or just accept that there is nothing for you here and please get on with your measley existance. Or you will face mass death by my hand which I will not regret but enjoy to a full extent.
Sincerely,
the one whose sanity you are destroying.
I hate you. I loathe your existance. Really, what ARE you DOING?! there is nothing on the bathtub to be congregating in that mass for. There is no reason to be scavenging by yourself on the carpet- if there were food i'd understand but so far you're out of luck so why are you wandering aimlessly around? And to you in the kitchen, I more fully understand your reasoning over the others, it is the kitchen after all. But I try to be as meticulous as possible and make sure there is NOTHING for you there. So please. Leave. Either get all your buddys, attack, swarm, have at it, get it over with - or just accept that there is nothing for you here and please get on with your measley existance. Or you will face mass death by my hand which I will not regret but enjoy to a full extent.
Sincerely,
the one whose sanity you are destroying.
18.9.10
My baby boy is not a baby anymore...
My little man is growing up. I need a post devoted just to all the new things he's been doing. I love this boy so much and everything he does amazes me. I adore him to pieces.
- He knows how to sign: more, again, please, thank you and all done
- He says: Mama, daddy, Nahna (grandma), that (his word of choice), what, Bopbop (bottle)yuck, rock, hi, buh bye and All D (all done)
- Just tonight Sean was reading him a book and he saw a sick person in a bed and put his finger to his mouth and said "shh"
- He gives the best kisses- puckers his lips and all
- He's started giving "group hugs" - he'll put one arm around each of our necks and pull us together (or if he's on the ground he hugs our legs)
- When he gets really excited about something (ants, crabs, waves, his Star Wars Lego jammies) he says "mahmah! mahmah! THAaaat!?" and points to whatever it is thats intriguing him
- He says "hi" in the sweetest voice - even to the birds (he waves at them too)
- When he's ready to go he just starts saying "buh bye" to everyone and waving at them and heads for the door
- He wears mine and Sean's shoes around the house
- When he wakes up in the morning and sees us he says "Mama, Hi" "Daddy, hi"
- He knows the difference between "mine" and "his"- when I ask where my nose/eye/mouth/ear is he points to mine and if I ask where his nose/mouth/etc. are he points to his
- He helps me pick up and sweep and put things back where he found them (when I ask of course)
- He loves little babies - he likes to touch their heads and feet and get real close to their face and smile at them
- He loves to hug other little kids he meets (sometimes knocking them over in the process!)
- He absolutely LOVES to read - he can pick up any book or even magazines, catologs, maps and sit down and flip thru the pages for over ten minutes - when we read to him he is completely enthralled
- He gives pats on the back
- He loves to dance - I can make a beat on the table with my fingers and he'll bop up and down and sway back and forth - the boy can pick up a rhythm from a blow-dryer (seriously)
Even though he gets a little too adventurous and curious, and sometimes I want to pull my hair out over the messes he makes, I love him regardless of any wrong he does because he has only to say "mama" and my heart just melts for him. Even though I am in school again and so happy to get a break and some time to myself, being a mom is first and foremost and it is the most rewarding thing I could ever do. It is truly impossible for anyone to understand this kind of love- you have to be a mother to know, there is no way of explaining it. I love being Bannock's mama.
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