Ohana means Family

I'd been looking forward to this weekend since I found out about it. A Hawaii reunion with the B family in the South. The B family has in-laws in Greenville, South which is only two hours away from us!!!! They were coming down for a visit for a few days and invited us up for a cook out / gathering. I saw them back in December when I went to TN for a visit but the hubbs hadn't seen them since he was on R&R, March 2011. Let me just tell you if there was any other girl he had wrapped around his finger it would have to be their now 4 year old. He LOVES/D S so so much, that was his little squirt. I asked him almost EVERYday to see if he could get the day off to go up with me and finally at the last minute we found out he was going to have off. THANK GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!
We met the B family in Hawaii, I worked at the CDC on post and S was in my class. R asked me to watch her a time or two and then from there we were always hanging out and spending holidays together. When her hubbs was deployed I helped her out a lot with S. They are family to us and I absolutely LOVE them. Baby O is now 8 months old and as cute as a button, back in December when I first met him he was only 2 months old. He definitely has more of a personality now and starting to become quite the charmer. The hubbs had loads of fun with him, he is so good with kids. For someone that doesn't want kids anytime soon, he really is good with them. It makes me smile and warms my heart, because I know he is going to be a great dad one day. 

While we were hanging out before we left we took some "family pictures".
I love these two kids they are so cute and fun to hang out with.

family pic. take ~ 1

 family pic. take ~ 2

 family pic. take ~ 3

 Oh goodness I wonder how will we will be able to manage family photos when we have our own kiddos. It was so funny trying to get both kids & us to look at the camera at the same time.

Two of my favorite girls!!!!
We've celebrated many birthdays, homecomings, deployments, tears, dinners, shopping trips, Hawaiian adventures, late night dates (together & separate) and so much more.
I broke S of her passy, I was the first one to keep her over night,
(& up until tomorrow night I was still the only one to ever keep her over night)
I let her walk around my house while eating right out of a tub of icing,
(hey she was going home shortly after lol)
I would & still would do anything for her & her brother. I hate HATE that we live so far apart now. Although now that we are on the Mainland we are closer than when we were in Hawaii after they left. Still there's that distance thing, darn you Army.

She could totally pass as our kid right :)
(shhhh, you can keep a secret right....... I hope when we do have A (yes single) child that its a girl bc I know she will be a daddy's girl.)

We had such a blast catching up with the B family and meeting some of their extended family. Lunch was beyond fabulous, everyone was so welcoming and you would never of though that the Hubbs, C & R hadn't been around each other in over a year. That's what I love so much about our Hawaii Army Ohana, we are able to pick up right were we left off no matter the time apart. 

~DAY 248~

Hale'iwa Farmers Market

Sunday morning Gabe & I got up bright & early, my husband really loves me to get up @ 5am in the morning so I can go running. Now I'm sure you are wondering why in the world he had to get up so early if it was just me going running. Well see we were headed down to the North Shore so my sweet friend Vic and I could run together. She has a sweet lil one & since daddy is away right now for a month Gabe so kindly offered to watch her while we ran. How sweet of him on his last day to sleep in before returning to work from block leave. I tell you that man will do anything for me and I just love it.
Lucky for him when we set out on our 6 mile run Gigi was fast asleep snoozing like a champ. So my love was able to kick back on the couch with Izzy (their 4 legged baby) and play around on the Ipad. Gigi loves her Uncle so it would have been a wonderful surprise for her waking up to him. BUT, that didn't happen......leaving Vic's house right @ 6am we got back just shortly after 7:15 and the lil monkey was still fast asleep.
We cooked up a 5* breakfast thanks to the lovely hostess being the rock star that she is. With a assortment of fruit courtesy of yours truly & scrambled eggs for me along with eggs Benedict for Gabe & Vic. topped of with a side of brown sugar / pecan coated bacon and we were eating a feast. Mean while the little one was STILL asleep going on almost 8:30 now. Craziness she never sleeps that late but she got to bed later the night before so maybe that had something to do with it.
Just before 9am we went in and checked on the lil squirt she was asleep in the middle of her floor, at some point in the middle of the night she had gotten out of her big girl bed and never got back in. (thank goodness for her blankie she drug with her)

We spend the next half hour playing and chit chatting with the girls and just having a wonderful relaxing morning. It was so simple but I loved every minute of it because we were with the people we love to hang out with. Being able to watch Gabe with Gigi just melts my heart he is so great with kids and there is just something about him and her playing together that is so sweet.

CONVO~ Gabe: Gigi wanna go rob a bank?
Me: Gigi say no thank you.
Gigi: NO THANK YOU
Gabe: but we can sing songs
Gigi: my mommy says no (mom wasn't in the run at the time)

OMG yes he is going to be a great dad that is what everyone keeps telling me. lol He'll have our kid thinking that robbing a bank it the next greatest thing to do.



We then set out for the local farmers market were we continued our morning with the W family. Looking to get some fresh veggies and whatever else we could manage to snag as well. While in Maui we bought some really yummy coconut candy & we wanted to try our hand at making it. I have search every were and online coming up empty handed with a place that sells it on Oahu. So a coconut was a must find while at the market. Just in luck walking past one of the vendors I looked down and there was a cooler full of them. Only 3 bucks what a deal that's a heck of alot cheaper then at the local grocery store. Gabe told the gentleman what he was going to be doing with it and he helped him pick one out that would work just right.



We stumbled across some of the ripest tomato's & avocado's that were just beaming at me to purchase. I looked at Gabe and suggested we make guacamole one of our favorite afternoon snacks. He is not a man to turn down a suggestion on chips and dip. He was on it picking out the tomato's, peppers, onion, avocado and told me to grab a lime. We were set with everything we needed and best part we helped out lots of local farmers.



I'm not a big fan of pineapple, I will eat it in small amounts when its cooked in something else but not alone. However these little guys were so cute, I was tempted to get one but then again it wouldn't get eatin at our house. (well the hubbs would have but he wasn't interested) So I snagged a picture for memories :)



It was a successful trip to the market we had great company and taste tested some yummy local fixins. Looking forward to going back again next weekend to see what else we can stumble across. This is another favorite about living in Hawaii, the outside farmers markets run by the locals and there home grown produce. It just doesn't get any better than this!!!!!

Hiking Hawaii

Off on another adventure reaching new heights mountains above sea level. Each hike we do just amazes me more and more. When I first moved out here I never would have thought that I would have enjoyed it so much but now that's our weekend tradition. Seeing the island from sea level is simply breath taking but seeing it from a couple hundred feet or even a thousand feet above sea level is just amazing. On our hike this weekend we took our pooches. They had a blast running along the trail smelling everything they could get their noses in. We've taken them on a few before but it's be awhile. I'm so happy we brought them along.
It was a perfect day out with our little family. Once we had almost reach the top Gabe didn't think the dogs could make the last little stretch so I went ahead while he waited. Thank goodness to because I'm not sure they would have been able to make it. A very narrow slippery path led the rest of the way to the top. Holding on to the ropes pulling myself up hoping I wouldn't step wrong and fall. Finally making it to the top I was rewarded with the most fabulous views ever seen. Some body pinch me was all I kept thinking "I made it, I did it and didn't fall or get warn out."
Moments like these are the ones I'll always remember years from now. Here are a few pictures I snapped on our adventure.

Dingo waiting for daddy to come back from reparking the car :)



This was the top of a tree swing that we came across along our way.



Stairs stairs Stairs & more stairs, from this point forward there were tons.



As soon as I got to the top I parked it for a moment to take in the view.









Making our way back down the mountain.



All in all it was another wonderful day in the Land of Aloha!!!!!!!

Fun w/ Dolphins

While my MIL was here we took a day to go swimming with the dolphins. (Gabe & his dad went swimming w/ the shark while we did this) My friend Sarah's sister & mom happen to be in town as well and the three of them joined in on the fun. This was the first time I had ever done anything like this so to say I was alittle nervous would be a understatement. However after getting adjusted to my 2nd mask & snorkel (the first set I accidentally knocked it in the ocean. oops.) It was time to get in, now any other time I get into the water from a boat I climb down the back latter near the motor. NOPE NOT this time, we just jumped right in from the side were we were sitting. EEKS, not my cup of tea but by the 2nd time getting in I was totally fine. However the water was a wee bit nippy at first. Once we got in and got use to it we were good but it was that first shock that was the kicker.



There was a photographer on board & at one of the many stops she went down to the bottom of the ocean & came up with this creature. A Star Fish, the only other star fish I have ever held was the ones my mom had in her bathroom as decor. This thing was creepy, prickly & it smelled funky. I can say I held one but you can bet I wont be jumping up & down to do it again.



This is the boat we went out on, now I was a bit lost at first. I guess in my head I figured "ok we are going out in the middle of the ocean we should be in a larger deep sea type boat made of fiber glass." NOPE, wrong again we were going out on a boat that was filled with air to hold it up. Boy did we get the ride of our life heading out to sea, to our first swim area. Our Capt. didn't slow down one bit when she went over the waves, we were literally holding on for our life. It was so much fun, Sarah & I just kept looking at each other laughing.



Swimming with the dolphins was one of the neatest things I have ever done. I'm glad I was able to take my MIL to do this she had a great time. Even better Sarah & her fam getting to join as well. At some points we could have reached out and touched them if we wanted to. HOWEVER you are NOT allowed to. Seeing so many in one area together at a time was amazing, out in the open ocean at that. They ranged from all different sizes from small to large, mommies & babies. These type of dolphins are called spinner dolphins. As we just kinda floated there in the water looking down they were swimming right under us, at one point they swam right past us & we swam as fast as we could to get closer.

This was the background view we had all afternoon while we were out in the deep blue sea. It just doesn't get any better than that, simply beautiful.

Many faces of the Spouse & I. Above & Below the water having the time of our life, laughing & giggling at each other. We would take turns diving down to see how far we could go, at one point I had my life jacket on (which was required while swimming near the dolphins) and when I came up I pretty much ran right into the boat. Sarah got a good laugh. I'm still getting use to the whole mask / snorkel thing, I hate the salt water in my eyes or if I get it in my mouth. But I'm getting better and quite proud of myself.

We have so much fun together & its always an adventure when we go out. Never know what we are gonna find or what we are gonna get ourselves into. I can't say enough about how much I love this girl.

The 5 of us had a fantastic day together, I got a new camera just in time for our outing which worked out perfect. Another thing marked off my "Hawaii Bucket List". I absolutely love our life that we have built here in Hawaii. As much as the Army may frustrate me at times if it wasn't for the army we wouldn't have some of the opportunities that we do.

Paradise liven :)

What better way to spend a Sunday when you live in Hawaii then at the beach. Its one of my all time favorite things to do :) This Sunday was no different, we had plans to meet up with N & her fam. North Shore bound it was, I spent alot of time through out the deployment down on the North Shore. It was my safe place in a way. My little spot to get away from the rest of the world just to soak up the sun.

I am absolutely loving getting to do all of these things with Gabe home now. Sure it was nice & enjoyable to a point by myself but it's simply amazing having him there with me.

Soaking up the sun, playing with the kiddos, watching the sea turtles, chatting away, sitting out in the ocean together........just like old times before he left. Making new memories to add to our story book I call LIFE.


Simple days like today are the moments that I long for the most. I can't imagine life with out Gabe at all, he is my whole world and so much more. I'm head over heels in love with him and falling more and more each passing day. :)

"Falling in love is a magical time... where the world seems even more beautiful, colours more vibrant, foods more delectable, sounds more enchanting and time less important."

Little pieces of Hawaii that I enjoy!!!!!!!!

Experiencing Hawaii

Sunday after our adventure at Ala Moana which included watching two of Sarah's kiddos' (from this years 3rd grade class) dance Tahitian dancing, shopping at Victoria Secret & Fossil we were ready to head home. With a semi detour in the mix of that as well, I wanted to show S one of my favorite parts of the Island. As we were making our way around we stumbled upon two tree swings that S saw & we just couldn't pass up the chance of trying them out.

It was like we were kids again, trying to see how high we could go and praying the tree branches didn't break.

I can't wait to go back and show Gabe our new little hidden secret, and see if I can talk him into taking a swing at it lol. I love getting to experience everything Hawaii has to offer, there is always something new right around the corner.

I absolutely never want to leave this place its just perfect!!!!!!!!!

~*~FaBuLoUs~*~

That's how I'm feeling right about now.......FABULOUS........for so many different reasons. Of course the main reason is because the love of my life is home. The past few days have been wonderful, just getting out and about doing every day things together. I miss being able to go shopping with him, and cooking dinner. Him helping me around the house and doing dishes, its just the little things that I enjoy the most. Over the last 3 days we have looked at three different cars. Yes I know its a problem that Gabe has and I tend to tag right along with him. It comes with the marriage, it's just something that he enjoys doing. He says the market has come out with quite a few new cars since he has been gone and just wants to see what is available. Hey as long as there is no trading in the truck & buying I'm all for it. I have to say there are some pretty nice features on some of these new cars that have made there way to the lots in 2011.



Monday we went to the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, the Hawaiian Hall was absolutely gorgeous. I enjoy seeing the different artifacts that the ancient Hawaiians used. The science part of the Museum was really neat as well, especially the black light hall way. This has been some were we have been talking about going since before Gabe left we just hadn't got around to it. I'm glad we were finally able to check it off our to do list.
On the dinner menu for the evening were Quesadilla's, not just your average ones either. Loaded with chicken, beef, fried potato's, refried beans, bell peppers, onions & cheese. The hubby was quiet impressed, I absolutely love cooking for him.

Tuesday after Gabe got back from the gym we had plans..........plans of reaching new heights that is.



We hiked our way around Waimano and it was absolutely beautiful out. Not to hot and not cloudy at all, just perfect. I love getting out side and hiking with my love its one thing we really enjoy doing together. I miss being able to see the island this way when he is gone. After our hike we did a bit of shopping around, we got a new coffee table for our house and I got a new cell phone as well. This is something that was long over due, as mine as been giving me crap for the last few months. I'm not good with new electronics but I'm getting there.



Wednesday we did some random things around the island that needed to get done. The oil changed on the truck, registration and inspection on Fins car. We went to breakfast at home of Gabe's favorite place's Anna Millers. We decided that we would get his Dress Blues bought and put together over R&R so that when he came home for good we didn't have to worry with it, so today we did that as well. Almost $500 later and we are good to go, well we still have to pick them up from alterations next week.

Thursday was a exciting day but yet I was kinda nervous about it as well. We went to lunch at a local Mexican Joint called Cholo's & then we had plans to go horse back riding. (more on that in another post) and then for dinner we where having lunch with Gabe's LT. They happen to be on R&R at the same time, I have met him before but never really spent much time with him. I was semi nervous because we were going to a Thai place in Haleiwa called Haleiwa Eats. I have never had Thai food in my life and frankly I was not looking forward to it. Thankfully I did a bit of googling before hand found out they had Fried Rice. So of course that's what I went for, I'm not a out of the box kind of girl unless I cook it. Dinner went well and I guess you could say better than I had though but I am glad it's over with.



This is just a little sneak peak of the AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL life we are living. Sure it might be R&R but this is our every day life even when he is home & not going through a deployment. I absolutely love our life together & couldn't ask for anything better.