Growing Pains

My boy just brought me a glass of lemonade that he made all by himself.  Gosh he will make a wonderful husband (someday---in like 30 years:)


My girl is growing up so fast, they both are.  People tell you that you turn around and they are grown: "little kids, little problems.  big kids, big problems."  So not ready for the big kid problems.  


Leila kissed a boy at preschool and got caught....She has four "boyfriends" (all of whom I thoroughly love and I happen to adore the parents, but four years old???)

J and his friends talk about all the cute girls at school and who has a crush on who.  It goes something like this:  "who do you like?  you do?  but i like her, can't you find someone else?"
Seriously.  

I'm headed to the firing range to sharpen my skillz............

Kisses,
Rie

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

Gosh.  It has been so long that I am not even sure where to begin.


I took a break, stopped the chemotherapy and every other drug doc's have placed me on over the past ten years.  I'm not gonna lie, a few months in paradise actually felt like an eternity in hell. 


The flip side is---it was all worth it.  My head is clear, I am healthier and I actually feel like a normal human being again.  

I love Hawaii.  It is beautiful and everything one would imagine it would be to live here.  The jacked-up prices no longer bother me and the simpler life has felt far more appealing.  I miss our Arizona home, very much so.  I miss my friends and family.  I miss having a Target within five minutes.  God do I miss Lifetime Fitness! But today, I had the rare luxury of laying on the beach all by myself.  No children to worry about drowning; nothing but the sun, sand and myself.  


J has mono so we had to cancel his big summer plan which was surfing lessons.  The kids, myself and the dogs have all settled in nicely.  I am actually going back to work and school! It's time.  I miss that piece of myself.  

I'm going to leave this post short and sweet as I ease my way back into writing.  


To my blogging friends, I have been absent in writing and reading what you have written.  Never has a day gone by that I did not think about you all and how life was going.  Just like old friends, life has a way of picking up right where it left off.


Kisses,
Rie

Sicky girl hanging out on the terrace.

Yes---it really is chilly.
>

Just the Mr and I

The mr and I got away for the weekend---just the two of us. We participated in the Travelocity surprise package, meaning for cheaper rates you only know the area and star rating of the hotel, nothing more.

Sometimes throwing caution to the wind pays off big time.

A beautiful day at the beach!
This was taken pre-pneumonia. Leila is well and will start preschool next week! Until then, I'm enjoying having my little peanut all to myself.

Aloha
Rie

It Rains Pineapple Juice

HERE.

Interesting eh? NOBODY stops what they are doing if it rains. You're at the beach? No biggie--if you run the locals know you're a tourist:) And let me tell you---locals spot them right away. We are not, but we look like we are, we act like we are, so until they realize 'hey, those folks haven't left yet?' then tourists we shall be.

I have taken SO many pictures but can not figure out for the life of me how to put them on my blog. If you are reading this and know how, please share the love and leave me a comment telling me how. I have an I-phone and blogging on my I-pad. The pictures are on my I-pad but can't get to them?

The Mr took off to finish up work in Phoenix and I really miss him.

Leila was diagnosed with walking pneumonia yesterday and seems to be getting worse. She is on nebulizers and antibiotics with a follow-up with the doctor on Sunday. I L-O-V-E our pediatrician, she is amazing.

I found a private preschool for Lei and a public school for J that is right around the corner. It was pure luck to find a spot for Lei with the waiting list and coming in mid semester. Again, meant to be.

Detroit is playing in a minute so I need to go represent. Oh, Hawaiians are real big into football! I love that!

Aloha,
Rie

Mele Kalikimaka Everyone!

Boy has this Christmas season been the craziest experience ever. We are light-less, decoration-less and present-less. BUT.....

"Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny f****** Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse.". Christmas Vacation, the ultimate Christmas experience!

just couldn't help myself! Our seemingly absent Christmas spirit this season is within reason. And besides, it's not the outwardly show of spirit that truly matters, although beautifully meaningful in its own right, it's what you carry in your heart and share with those around you that truly envelopes the meaning of Christmas.

On January 1st, 2012, we begin an experience of a lifetime.
Our family is moving to Hawaii, Oahu to be specific. We will leave behind our home in the desert and enter a new home residing less than one mile from the beach.

Why? Well first of all why not? However, the most notable reason is due to my health. The Mr applied to several places all over that had more temperate climates and oh my gosh by golly, Oahu picked us! This move was so meant to be that we are simply showing up---God has arranged everything for us.

I miss writing/blogging, it's what I love to do, it's what I hope to do more of from our seaside dwelling. Also on my list? Reconnecting with my camera, what better place to do so than paradise?

Merry Christmas to you all. May the new year bring to life new dreams, health and happiness.

XOXO
Rie