We decided to spend the whole day on Friday showing Lucas and Ke'alohi around Des Moines, the city where our family took many of our vacations to visit my dad's family. Iowa holds a special place in my heart because so many of my childhood family memories took place there. A fun fact about Iowa is that Iowa ranks first in beef, pork, corn, soybean and grain production. In other words, Iowa is a happening place!We showed Lucas and Ke'alohi the … [Read more...]
Saying Goodbye to Grandma Pauline
November 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Today was a tough day. Grandma looked so peaceful at her service and I know that she is in a better place with Grandpa Bill. The Pastor who presided over her service said something that truly helped me, "If there's a pond in heaven, she is fishing there." After he said that, I felt this overwhelming feeling of peace. In my head, I had a picture of Grandma and Grandpa sitting on a bench at the end of a dock happy and … [Read more...]
Back in the Midwest…
November 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
We made it! After what seemed like days of flying, it was only 7 hours from airport to hotel, we checked in and got settled at the Embassy Suites on the River. It is a great hotel that even provided us a crib for Ke'alohi to sleep in. The weather here is crazy cold since they just had their first snow storm of the season last night. When we landed, we saw white everywhere, a first of Lucas, Ke'alohi and I. Opa and Puna were … [Read more...]
Weekend with Auntie Nalani
November 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Though this weekend has had it's ups and downs, a major highlight for me is having my best friend Nalani stay with us. With us living on the mainland, Ke'alohi doesn't get to spend that much time with her Godmother and we have been so blessed that since her birth, Nalani has visiting California twice. This weekend, Nalani was between a work conference and a work training seminar so we got her Saturday and Sunday!Yesterday was spent … [Read more...]
First Time in a Highchair!
November 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Just look at her! Can you believe that she is already old enough to sit in a high chair on her own? Today at lunch we decided to test her out and see how she would do in a high chair. I had been putting it off for a bit now because of two reasons; first, I didn't want to admit she was getting bigger and second, we hadn't bought a shopping cart/high chair cover yet. Ke'alohi loved being at the head of the table and everyone … [Read more...]
God Has a New Angel…
November 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
As much as 2011 has been an unbelievably great year for us, it has also been one of the hardest for my family. Today we lost Grandma Pauline, my dad's mom. She lived a full life to 94 years old, times full of love and happiness. She was my last living grandparent and meant the world to our family. She lived most of her life in Des Moines, IA in the house my dad grew up in and was moved to St. Paul, MN in 2009 to be closer to my … [Read more...]
Visit with Uncle Dan, Cousin Jocelyn and Cousin Julian
November 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Since we were in San Diego, we called up Lucas' family and met up with them at Julian's soccer game in Solana Beach. Right before we left for the game, Ke'alohi gave us the blow out diaper of the century which needed a hotel sink bath to clean up. Hope she doesn't kill me when she is a teenager and sees that I posted this picture of her! Julian was a superstar and running around the field like he owned the place. … [Read more...]
