Here's hoping

That YOUR Saturday was just as swell!

Freecycle Friday Project

We found the cutest little project over on Not So Idle Hands blog.

Figuring "why not" . . . .

we made a jar for each member of the house.

Not too shabby for a free project on this rainy Friday.

Change of Command, Pacific Fleet.

I could have put COC PACFLT - but I didn't think too many of you would understand.

Dave's command, U.S. Pacific Fleet*, held a change command during a ceremony Sept. 25 on Naval Station Pearl Harbor in view of the historic memorials of USS Arizona and USS Missouri.

The Change of Command ceremony is among the oldest traditions in the Navy.
The change-of-command ceremony, which is rich in naval tradition, is quite formal. The turnover of a Navy command is the formal passing of responsibility, authority, and accountability of command from one officer to another.

United States Navy Regulations, 1990, Department of the Navy, Office of the Secretary, Washington, D.C., 1990. Few occasions stir the emotions of people more than a formal naval ceremony. Most of these ceremonies instill a great amount of pride in our naval service for all who attend.

In your naval career you will attend many formal ceremonies. No matter what role you fill, take a moment to look around you to reflect on the traditions and customs that have been carried on for many years. These traditions and customs will make you proud to be a part of the greatest Navy in the world.

Mack, W.P., and R.W. Connell, Naval Ceremonies, Customs, and Traditions, 5th ed., Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Md., 1980. Mack, W.P., and T.D. Paulsen, The Naval 0fficer’s Guide, 9th ed., Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Md., 1983

*The Navy's largest fleet command encompasses more than 100 million square miles. Nearly 200 ships and submarines and 125-thousand sailors

Satisfaction . . . .

. . . . . .In a job well done!

One of two 'paver patios' that we installed.

Go FETCH!

Fetch your own at http://www.bestinshowsf.com/index.html

A Tale of Thai Fabric

On our girls trip to Thailand Madi and I stayed in the most cozy, unique and beautiful place The PAK Chiang Mai Guesthouse.
Their website claims, "Come as guests, leave as family" . . . . which is exactly how we felt!
Noon has created such a peaceful oasis in Chiang Mai. Her attention to every detail was obvious during our stay.
Noon's mother had a wonderful talent with fabric and a simple sewing machine. We were lucky enough to have her make a few items for us and indulged in buying up almost every piece of fabric(sarong) she had left. (and then some!)

Noon and her family were so sweet and accommodating. It was a wonderful visit that I will treasure forever.

Fast forward a few months:

I gingerly packed that colorful fabric with me for our visit to Utah. I was so excited to show my sisters and mom, sharing with my family countless stories of our trip.

Madi used some of her choices of that fabric to make a quilt with her Aunt Sid.

Again it was packed up for the trek back across the ocean to our new island home of Oahu where we spent the next month or so in a hotel room - no where near the intimacy of the PAK.

Every so often, I would break out my fabric box and look at the bright colorful patterns - imagining how they were going to look in our new home. Obviously anticipating great things to come!

Our long anticipated home of choice in Hawaii didn't come to fruition.

I was bummed (to say the least).

Gone were the images of my colorful fabric splashes in that newly constructed 2200 s/f house on Ford Island. We settled instead on Constance - our "cute" pre-WWII era duplex.

It was tempting to leave that fabric packed away.

"Why bother?"
But I'm so glad I DID bother . . . .

Yes, it's makeshift.
But it makes me smile when I see it each morning.

And I'll gingerly pack it all up in a short 9 months when we move to that "Beautiful new house"

. . . .wherever that may be.

Do I have waaaay too much invested in just silly fabric?

Probably. But that's just how my life is.

Have a lovely week and don’t forget to stop and take in the small and beautiful every day moments.

Back To School

In the spirit of . . . .well . . . . .everybody else,
we wanted to post our "First day back to school photos".

Starting the day fresh and ready to go . . . .

Physical Education . . . . . .

Break between classes . . . . .

And just to reassure you that we haven't dropped the ball . . . .

The curriculum for the year arrived via snail mail.
Yes, all 40+ pounds of textbooks.
(I'm so glad they aren't wearing that on their backs each day!)

As hesitant as we were about this decision to home school while here in Hawaii, I can honestly say we haven't looked back.

I'm a FAN!

No - I (Chan) am not a fan of KISS by any stretch of the imagination. But we all know David is.

His fun crew in Guam sent him the most unique coconut postcard I could ever imagine.

Now THAT crew in Guam . . . . I'm their biggest fan!

My biggest challenge

You know how we're only given challenges that we can handle?

Yah, I'm about done with that concept.

I was proud of myself the way I came out of this challenge with my sense of humor still intact.

Never did I suspect it was just preparation for what lie ahead with this Pearl Harbor move.

Meet the latest:

Polynesian roof rat! And no - I'm not about to personalize this experience more by giving them a different name.

These pests make my termite problem in Guam seem like keiki play.

But with the help of Fred the exterminator/verminator - my new best friend - we're going to conquer! (Or at least displace them for the next 10 months!)

So far 10 of those pests have left our house for a better place - the plastic garbage bag!

*chal·lenge: to arouse or stimulate especially by presenting with difficulties

In the neighborhood

My high school reunion was held a few weeks ago and I missed it.
I wanted to attend - even if it was just to support all the hard work and planning that goes into an event like this. But with the move, a tropical storm (that fizzled out) and David having to leave town - it just wasn't in the cards.
It was a hoot hearing the stories from the event and checking out all the photos.
Trying to match up faces with memories from what seems like so long ago.
But my heart skipped a beat when I came across this one. . .

I had to stop and pause.
These are the kids from my neighborhood.
The Union 17th ward neighborhood.
I see those faces and I'm immediately flooded with years of memories. . . . . .Church, youth activities, toilet papering in the wee hours, etc.
It looks like home to me.
It's had me thinking . . . . . what will tug at my kids heartstrings in 20+ years? What will trigger their memories?

Madi's room

Don't you just love the couch cover? The colors match perfectly.

I must add - Madi did most of it by herself.

The color choices, painting, etc. I taped (where she would let me!) and finished painting where she couldn't reach.

The 'couch cover' - A beautiful quilt handmade by Aunt Sidney.

It's really on there just for display - no one's allowed to sit!

Which isn't too bad - since we're banned from her room anyway.

Chicken Skin

On our way home from a mediocre day at the beach*, Madi announced completely out of the blue, "I need April to come visit. I think the house is haunted and she's in to that kind of stuff."
Quit giggling - she's DEAD serious! (At least that's what I was told)

Apparently my sister is now dubbed the family exorcist.
*We need WAVES! Guam was beautiful - but wave less! Today's visit did not have the adequate amount of waves to constitute a good beach day.

I think it's about time. . . .

. . . . .You were officially introduced.

Meet Constance.  Otherwise known as 302B Julian Ave.

I don't normally make it a habit of naming inanimate objects, but my dear friend Misse does. She names everything down to her cell phone!  I figured I may as well give it a whirl - trying to form somewhat of an attachment that has so far eluded me.

So why Constance?

Because she is constant.

She's been housing military families just like us since 1938 or so. We as families move on - but she's here waiting for another family to move in and make their memories.

Can you just imagine all the birthdays that have been celebrated within these walls?

Deployments waiting for Dad to come home for what seems like forever.

The morning of December 7, 1941.

Definitely a work in progress, but she is starting to grow on me.

I've been holding out on you . . .

My days of mourning housing are nearing an end. The house is coming together (as it always does) The sense of humor is easing back and I'm starting to see it all in a better light.

But just to show that my complaining was not completely unwarranted, I give you . . . . .

The COMMODE!

Isn't she a beauty?!

Absolutely no discretion in this 1200 s/f cottage (including the lanai). We can hear you finishing up from the carport outside.

(Never mind that I had to climb into the tub to take the photo. It's all about being cozy here in paradise.)

Just look at all the multitasking that can be accomplished from one seat!

So this isn't Home Sweet Home. Adjust.

Hey - if they cliche fits!

Desperate times call for desperate measures

We’ve gone Melodee!

Bellows, Boogie Boards & Buddies

What a great kickoff to the weekend by boogie boarding at Bellows Beach.

Dave's command had a picnic at Bellows Friday afternoon. The timing was great! Friends from Guam had just arrived Thursday afternoon for a few days on their way back from 'Camp Cousin'. How could we not invite them to come along?

The car was loaded with our extended ohana (the Lallatin's), all our newly purchased beach gear from Costco - (because of course all of our old beach stuff is packed with our household goods - waiting to be claimed) as we picked up the Grants in Waikiki.

The breeze was blissful as we chatted on the beach.

The water - just a tad bit chilly (compared to Guam of course).

The waves were WONDERFUL.

The traffic - well that was just H.E. Double. Toothpicks!

Throw in a bashed bloody nose, box jellyfish, and burgers . . . . . .

To sum up - not a bad way to spend the day.

The Suite Life

Today marks our two week anniversary on the island.

What better way to celebrate than by moving . . .

. . . . . to a new room!

Moving up in the world of lodge living gives us 2 tv's AND a couch! Not to mention 2 additional chairs at the little bistro size table. Bliss I tell ya!

E komo mai!

We've been here a week.
It hasn't been paradise. Yet.
But we're working on it.
Baby steps, I guess.

For now - a car to call our own.
A '95 Civic complete with blessings from a recently graduated BYU-Hawaii couple headed back to the mother ship.

In the meantime - check out our housing in the back of the photo. Good old NavyLodge on Ford Island.
We've been lodgemates with many other families in the same situation - all of us searching and waiting for good housing. On a good note - Molly has plenty of furry friends to play with each afternoon.

A loooooooo HA