Ornaments

Since the first time I went to the NEX, I have said that I wanted to get a ornament from the booth that they have right when you first walk in. The booth is there year around and so every time we go I always say I'm gonna get it today and then never end up getting it.
Well today was the day finally I got my ornament and not just one. I got 3 for us and one for my mom and one for Jared's parents. As I was going to check out and pay there was another one that I wanted to get, on top of the 2 we had already picked out. Then the sales lady processed to tell me that if I buy 4 you get one free. SWEET, but it took me long enough just to figure out which two I wanted in the first place how am I going to pick 2 MORE?????
That's when I decided it would be a perfect idea for my mom & his parents.
I love the ornaments because they have tons and tons of different ceramic designs to pick from. Once you pick the one you want then you can have it personalized. Of course they have every day traditional designs but then they have the Hawaiian one's as well and that's what I was going for.
Every year since Gabe & I have been together we have gottan a new ornament or two and these were our special ones for this year.





Two of them were for the tree and then the other was to hang on the wall.

STOMP

With this being the first Christmas that Gabe and I are together in Hawaii, I wanted to do something different. Growing up every year Christmas was spent with family. It consisted of going to the Christmas Eve service @ Church the night before, waking up and having Christmas and opening gift then getting together with all our family for a big feast. Jared has been use to being away from his family for the past few years with him being in the Army, so this year was no different for him. (not being around family that is) Me on the other hand its my first Christmas away from everyone back home in Texas.
With us not having children there isn't much to do on such a big Holiday just the two of us. Yes, we have decorated the house, put up our very first Christmas tree and we even have tons of gifts under the tree. However I still didn't want it to turn out like just another day in Hawaii.

So that's when we decided to go see STOMP. I bought our tickets, they are going to be in Hawaii December 22nd - January 4th, & I got the tickets in the mail today. So we are going Christmas night. The show starts at 8:00pm so we will still have the whole day together to do what ever. (i think we are going to have a picnic on the beach but we will see.)


I am super stoked about seeing STOMP live again. I saw them once in New York on my 2nd trip there and I have seen them one other time as well. Jared on the other hand hasn't seen them at all and thinks I'm totally crazy but that's ok he wants to go with and is just as excited about it as I am now :)








It is a heart-thumping, soul-sizzling Off-Broadway phenomenon.
STOMP is explosive, provocative and sophisticated. The idiosyncratic band of body percussionists fills the stage with magnificent rhythms, using matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters and hubcaps – everything but conventional percussion instruments. It is such a high-energy, percussive symphony, coupled with dance. It is movement made original through the use of everyday objects in non-traditional ways.



I think I am more excited about going to see the show, than I am about opening the gifts under the tree :) hee hee I cant wait!!!!!!!!!

North Shore

After work today I made my way down to North Shore and got some amazing shots with my new camera. The waves were GIANT, its so breath taking just to sit there and watch the waves crash in against the shore line. I could have sat there for hours watching the sunset and listening to the ocean. Evenings like tonight is why I love living in Hawaii. This is something that we will only experience once in a life time so I am taking full advantage of it now.

Here are a few of my favorite shots I managed to snag. "ENJOY"

CC3

FINALLY I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!! I GOT MY CC3. AFTER WHAT SEEMED LIKE FOREVER, I WAS GIVEN MY CERTIFICATE ON MONDAY ALONG WITH MY LITTLE PIN TO PUT ON MY NAME TAG. NOW THAT I HAVE MY CC3 I WILL BE GETTING A RAISE AT WORK THAT TAKES PLACE AS OF MONDAY THE 7TH, AS WELL AS THAT MEANS I AM THAT MUCH CLOSER TO GETTING MY CC4 AND BEING DONE WITH ALL OF THIS NONSENSE TRAINING. UGH, I AM SO SICK OF IT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE SAID I WANTED TO QUIT JUST SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT ANY MORE. ONCE I REACH THE END AND FINALLY SEE THE GOOD OUT OF DOING IT ALL, MAKES IT WORTH THE LONG NIGHTS AND FRUSTRATION.



NOW I JUST HAVE TO FINISH GETTING ALL MY TRAINING DONE TO GET MY CC4 (comes with another pay raise) & I WILL BE DONE WITH IT ALL. OH I CAN'T WAIT.

Special Project

I am working on now getting my CC4 at work which in tells another pay raise :)
I can't pass that up, (what the CC part of it stands for I don't know) but I have tons of training I have to do in order to get my 4. I have finally finished with all of my modules and moving on to the rest of the training.
Once I get my 4 I can apply for a full time position in a classroom that I want and I will have a set schedule and hours which will be nice. Not to worry with that now though since I am going to HMR in about a month. But once that transitions is over I will be going back full force on wanting a position.
Along with having to do tons of book work and other things, I also had to do a "special project". To use in the classroom with the children.
I had in my head for a while now what I wanted to do, It was just setting aside the time and getting it done.
So Sunday when we got back from the commissary & getting the supplies, I needed I went to work on my project.
With alittle bit of help from Crystal it turned out awesome. I am so happy to have that done and out of my way now. There is only a few more things I have to do before I get my 4. The best part about it is once I have my 4, I don't have to do any of this training again. It's just once a year review all in one day and it stays with me as long as I decide to stay with in the Army CDC. That means even when we move, I can just be placed in a center and not have to go through the interviewing and hiring process again. :)



For my project I gathered a few empty water bottles. Filled them half way with water and then put different colors of food coloring inside. The other half I filled with cooking oil. This allows the water and oil to separate and become to different liquids, even when it is shaking up. It will still be two different liquids. The food coloring adds color to help the children learn their colors in different ways. I also labeled every bottle and hot glued the lids on. Some of them have glitter in them as well. I was so happy with the our come and the best part was my trainer was as well. I passed!!!!!! Yeah, one more thing down. I can't wait to be done with it all.

Honolulu City Lights

Celebrating Christmas in Hawaii has its perk and I am taking full advantage of it while I can. Yesterday was the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Honolulu "Honolulu City Lights". It was the 25th Anniversary so everything was done even bigger and better this year. Meaning the starting of the Holiday season was here. Gabe and I had talked about going and made plans to get there early so we would be able to watch the parade as well. I was super excited because my all time Holiday wish is go to the Thanksgiving Day Macy's Parade one year.

There were tons of people little and big that just lined the street on both sides waiting for the festivities to begin. We made our way down the street to the giant Christmas Tree, there sat Mr. & Ms. Clause. It was so neat to see all the different holiday displays. As well as the parade was just as much fun to watch. (not nearly as good as I was hoping It still allot of fun.)

This year the Holidays are extra special to me because I am spending it with the one I Love.
Our friends Crystal & Adam and their daughter Cheyenne went with us as well to the Honolulu City Light.

Shootin in Style

Saturday as we left the house to get out and get a few things done Jared said "I hope your Christmas Present gets here soon".
Not knowing what he was talking about at all (because I didn't ask for anything), we went about our day.
That afternoon we came home and there was the giant box sitting on our front porch. I got out and looked at the name on it and it was for Jared so I left it for him to get and made my way inside. After checking the rest of the mail, he asks if I want my gift early and I said NO. I wanted to wait till Christmas because that is the whole point of the Holidays.
Well, after much convincing from him I gave in and said YES. He started opening the box and gave me a smaller one from under the tree to open. Mine was a lens for a camera and the one he was opening was a CAMERA. Not just any old point and shoot one either. It was a Sony a300 like I had been wanting forever. He even got a second lens to go along with it for taking pictures really far away. I love photography and taking pictures and when I get back to the mainland I want to finish my schooling in photography because I want to take professional pictures. One day my all time dream would be to open up my own Photo Studio. I was so excited and couldn't believe he got it for me. It's so fancy and has so many buttons and options to choice from for taking pictures.
I'm loving it and can't wait to go out and capture the world in style.
"A PICTURE IS PRICELESS & SAYS A THOUSAND WORLD"

Making a Move

Things at work have been very stressful these past two weeks since I have been back from Texas. Rewind about a month ago and I loved the way things were going. I was in a class with a group of ladies that I loved and the kids were just amazing. (most the time that is) However shortly after I got back from Texas and back to work all the positions started to get filled with full time employees. Leaving me with my hours dwindling less and less. Why didn't I take a position you ask??? Well a long story short you have to be a CC4 to have a full time spot and I just am about to make my CC3 so it wouldn't of worked out. To move up you have to do tons of training which is very time consuming.
Monday when I went back to work after being off the week of Thanksgiving I was excited because I was back in the room I enjoyed being in and working 8 hours a day. WELL THAT'S WHAT I THOUGH, Looking at my schedule for the week I noticed that starting Tuesday I was going to be switch around from room to room because all the positions in the room I had been in have been filled. UGH, I was so so frustrated.
Now rewind two months ago when the decision was made to close Hourly Care (parents can bring their children for a few hours a day to run aarons or go to appointments and what not) and move it to HMR Helemono Military Reserve which is about 10 minutes away from Schofield. They were looking and asking for volunteers to go out there and work but no way was I taking them up on it, I was just happy were I was.
Coming back to this past Monday when I was looking at my schedule and the frustration that just ran through my body I just knew I had to make a move. I had talked to Jared about it before off and on and the main reason I didn't want to go to HMR was because I was happy were I was. I love the people I worked with and I don't like change as well as the drive. Right now it takes me less than 5 minutes to get to work and going to HMR I will have to leave my house a good 20 minutes early just because of traffic going toward North Shore on the two lane road, one lane going each way.
My Director was standing there while I was looking at the schedule and I asked her if we could talk and she said sure. We went into her office (she is new to the center and I really really like her, she knows what she is doing unlike the previous Director) and I asked her if she was still needing people to go to HMR and she said YES, with this desperate look on her face. I told her I was interested in going and explained my situation. She told me she was meeting with them tomorrow, Tuesday to finalize everything and asked if I wanted a day to think about it. I thought about it for a few minutes sitting there and I told her NO. I was afraid if she went over there with a maybe from me then they would fill the spot with one of their staff and I would have missed out on the chance to have full time hours and only being a CC3. See the down side of making the move to HMR is that I will not be able to come home during the day on my lunch to let the pups out or spend time with my love when he is home but the plus side of it is that I will have SET HOURS, MY OWN CLASS and I WONT HAVE TO WORRY AND STRESS ABOUT MONEY AND GETTING HOURS. To me right there that is all worth it. So starting Monday January 4Th 2010 I will be working in the Hourly Infant room Monday through Friday 7:45am to 4:15pm with a half hour lunch I will be getting 8 hours a day. Now the change is only for 6 months and then the Hourly Care Program will be moving back to Peterson CDC (they are moving it do to renovations at another center for the 6 months) come July of 2010 which if things pan out the way they should we are set to PCS in June so we will see when that time comes. But for now I am really excited about this new change and opportunity.
After talking to my Director about the change I went in and told my friend Crystal that I work with about what I was doing and why. She was so excited for me and said she would love to go but only if she could be in the Hourly Infant Room with me as well. I told her to go talk to the Director about it, since she was having the meeting tomorrow to finalize everything. So she did, she came back and said that she was going to check on Tuesday when she went for her meeting if there was another spot available. (keeping our fingers crossed that there was) Crystal like me is wanting full time hours but as well is only a CC3.
Wednesday before I was going to leave work I double checked to see if they needed me to stay late to help in any other classes, thankfully they didn't but Marleen, our Director told me that starting on the 4th Crystal and I both will start at HMR together in the same class and same hours. YEAH!!!!!!!!!! I am so stoked about it now, even more than I was before. It works out perfect because she lives right behind me and her babysitter is super awesome and is willing to stay till after 4pm when she gets off work. :) As well as since Crystal and her husband only have the one car we will car pull over their together. Even better :) I am really looking forward to the new year, 2010 is going to be a GREAT year. I can feel it all ready, I am ready for anything the world / Army has to through at us. Jared & I are going into the new year with a smile on our face and a positive out look on our future together.

3 years ago

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
I was driving along to my Aunt's house and well I never made it there. My phone rang and the number on it was my friend Josh. I answered and it wasn't him it was some guy named Jared. The phone was passed around to all these different guys who were board waiting on the bus to come pick them up and take them back to post. They were calling to see why I was talking to Josh a few minutes earlier. (we went to church & school together & stayed in touch after he joined the Army & moved to Hawaii) I told them we were friends and that was it. After all of them putting in their two since I asked to talk to the guy who called me (Jared) once he was back on the phone I decided to pull over and talk to him. About 1hr 30mins later the bus was there to pick up the guys and Jared was asking Josh for my number (I can hear him asking), as he is telling Jared NO I spoke up and said "Hello stupid, ask me for my number I am still right here on the phone". So he did, and after that day we talked for hours and hours on end. Getting to know each other and what we had been through in life and were we wanted to go.
Jared had no intentions on getting married at all because he said it never works out and everyone always ends up in a divorce. WHATEVER!!!
Over a few weeks we (I) started falling in love with this guy name Jared whom I'd only seen 2 pictures of. I was desperate to meet him in person, so we made plans to meet over his block leave and from that moment on we knew we were meant to be together. I couldn't live another day with out him in my life. The way he talked to me and planned our future out was just perfect. I was so in love and would get butterflies in my stomach when I would just think about him.
Once we met the nervousness just went away and you would have thought we had been together for years.
Looking back on that first night 3 years ago November 29, 2006 I never would of though that today I would be sitting here married to Jared. But I am so thankful that I am. He has changed my life in so many ways for the better. I have grown up so much and I am who I am today because of him. He is my life, my Best friend, my Hero, My EVERYTHING and I love knowing that we will be TOGETHER ALWAYS AND FOREVER AND THENSOME!!!

HAPPY 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY BABY, I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE TO COME :)XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Talk about MUSCLE

I am all about cars and the speed LOL. About 2 weeks ago we bought a new Dodge Ram SLT Crew Cab 4x4 and we just love it.

While there at the dealership I found a car that I just fell in love with and have come to the conclusion that it WILL BE MY NEXT CAR. Weather that be in a month or a year from now, I am so excited. Now that we have the Crew Cab truck there is no need for us both to have a family style car. So sports car for me it is :) I have always been a car girl and Jared just brings that out in me so much more. I have always wanted a big truck lifted up off the ground & all decked out but now I am ok with out that since we have the Dodge.

I want a DODGE CHALLENGER, it is the most AMAZING car I have ever seen. It reminds me of a old muscle car redone. It dose have room to put 2 people in the back seat and it has all the perks that my Mazda has now plus some. Oh I cant wait, I am always looking it up on line now researching it and trying to see what all it offers. We are hoping by some time next fall we will be able to get it, I am so excited.

I can just picture us now cruising around town in it.
"You only live once and we are not promised tomorrow so why wait and sit on things and hope that they will come to you, you have to get out there and live life to the fullest and that is just what we are doing." This is my new life motto that I am living by. Forget what others say or do, its your life and you are the one living it. :)

choo choo.......all aboard

~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`A 2nd trip to the Dole Plantation had to be made for another pearl for Jared's mom. (she lost the first one)
While there we got some roasted pecans, which are just so yummy in my tummy. And then decided to take a ride on the PINEAPPLE EXPRESS. We have been through the maze before but not the train so I was excited to do something new.

Along the ride we heard four songs from a local singer as well as the story of how the Dole Plantation came about and Mr. Dole himself. It was a pretty interesting story (however I don't remember it all). We were able so see fields and field of pineapples growing from all different sizes and even a few other plants.
The views of the mountains surrounding us were just breath taking and the wind blowing through the train just made for a perfect ride.

Its begining to look alot like Christmas

Thursday night we started putting up the Christmas tree and much to our surprise the lights we got for it were different colors. One box was a ugly yellow and the other was a pretty white. (the white was what we were going for) After much frustration we went to return the light and get new ones Thanksgiving night. It happened all over again on Friday, so Jared took them all back and got new ones AGAIN. He checked them at the store before he brought them home just so we new it wouldn't happen a third time. The lights were good they were what we wanted. After getting them on the tree, Jared turned on the switch and half of them were YELLOW AGAIN. OMG, I was frustrated so much more now. Friday we went to the PX to see what they had, and nothing. Off to Kmart it was, we finally found clear lights that we had been wanting, and bought 5 boxes of them just to be on the safe side.
Now with the tree lit, we could hang the ornaments. We always get two or three new ornaments a year to help us remember what went on that past year and that are meaningful to us as well. All the ornaments are hung, the tree skirt is in place and the stockings are hung. (all four, ours and the pups that I made) It truly is starting to look like Christmas at the Gabriel house hold. With the tree, stocking, the wreath I made, and a few other decorations in place we are set. I am so excited about Christmas this year. After being with Jared for 3 years we have not spent one Christmas together so this is our first. I can't wait to celebrate!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now there are even gifts under the tree, awh more and more its starting to look allot like Christmas.

PARADISE COVE

Friday night we thought we would do things Hawaiian style & go to a Luau. Seeing's Gabe & I had been to Germaine's luau before we wanted to do something different. So Paradise Cove it was.
We arrived & were greeted with a Mai Tai & a shell Lei, what a way to start the evening. We found our sets & started exploring the lagoon. There were so many things to do from making Lei bracelets, Haku-lei's (a lei head piece), taking a canon ride, having our pictures taken with parrots even gift shops to explore.
After the unavailing of the pig that had been cooking all day long we made our way back to our seats to get ready to enjoy the wonderful feast that had been prepared.
Dinner was so good, well the part that I had was but Jared told me everything else was pretty good as well.

The show began and it was the most spectacular show ever. Sitting there with My Loves arms wrapped around me keeping me warm, just gave me chills up my spin & butterflies in my stomach. He is the most amazing person ever and always will do whatever he can to make sure I am enjoying myself and having a good time. :)
The evening was just PERFECT as we sat there & listened to the Hawaiian music and watched the dancers dancing with the sun setting in the back ground over the ocean. I just began to think that this is the best year living life in PARADISE!!!!!

Shaved Ice Hawaiian Style

A stop for shaved ice was a must when Cathy was in town visiting and I knew just the place to go. I have had shaved ice a few times since I have been here on island and just loved it but never have I been to Matsumoto's. So it was a perfect chance for us both to do something touristy. I have seen Matsumoto's on the TV show Dinners Drive Ins and Dives before as well as driven by it many times when driving through Haleiwa. So off we went, after fighting through the traffic on our drive down North Shore and some moron local that didn't know how to park we made our way to the line that wrapped around the side of the building.
I knew just what flavors I wanted Strawberry & Banana are my favorite. Cathy went for the Hawaiian Special: Pineapple, Coconut and Banana. It made for a great cool treat after all the shopping (more so window shopping) on black Friday we did.
We even got the super awesome holder to go with our shaved ice, thank goodness because I wouldn't of made it driving back to Schofield with out.
Now to take my love back for some, ummm he says it all taste the same but I have to say he is so so wrong. lol

Happy Thanksgiving

We successfully cooked and hosted our very first Thanksgiving as a married couple in our first home. It went off with out a hitch. We had every Holiday dish you could imagine. Ok so many be not everyone, but pretty darn close. From the Turkey, Ham, Rolls, Sweet Potato's, Green Bean Casserole, Corn Casserole, Dressing, Western Bake Beans, Mash Potato's, Cranberry Sauce, Gravy, and Deviled eggs. OMG, it was to die for. I was so proud of myself for managing get everything together and still not need Jared's help. Due to him having staff duty the day before he slept all through the cooking and preparing. I was really bummed at first when I found out he had it, knowing he would sleep most of the day Thursday but it really wasn't to bad. He woke up just as lunch was ready and the table was set. My sweet friends Crystal and Adam along with their daughter Chy. joined us for lunch. It was the best Thanksgiving since I have been married. Seeings the first two I spent with out my husband. So having him here just made the day that more better.






After lunch we cleaned up everything (awh, I was so happy to have my kitchen back in order) and off on the road we went. Over to the Kbay side of the island, I love the drive up and around KoKo head Crater. Its just so pretty.



All in all it was one of the best days we have had in Hawaii so far. I'm looking forward to many more to come.