Happy Memorial Day!

Welcome to Hogwarts

I have decided that military life here in Hawaii is like being in a Harry Potter book.

This is my personal observation.

(I limit this to Hawaii as this is the only place I've lived while being a military wife, and considering I have friends and spouses of friends in all branches of the military throughout the world, I do not think it necessarily applies to military as a whole. This analogy just wouldn't work. But for here, thus far, it does.)

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First off, there are 4 houses: Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Griffindoor, and Slytherin

There are 4 branches here: Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Army, respectively.

(I don't know anyone in the Coast Guard)

For some reason, the Army people think they are all that and a bag of chips here. I didn't even know there were that many Army people based here... I wouldn't even have known there were Air Force had I not been part of it. It's kinda a given that Navy and Marines are here...come on, it's the ocean every direction you go! Some Navy fit the egocentric category too, but I'll explain that here soon.

They don't all necessarily get along. At least, the Air Force wives are much nicer to me than the Army wives. I don't know why. Just like in Hogwarts, aren't we all here to do the same thing? (In their case, learn magic. In our case, support our husband while they serve the country.)

But why didn't all the kids at Hogwarts get along?

* Pride in ones' house

* Pride in ones' heritage

*Jealousy between houses

and on and on and on...

So naturally, you assume the branch you're affiliated with is the best. I think Ed did good with the Air Force, considering he fit into the same nerdy mold as a lot of other airmen I've met. They are nerds. It's a fact. (Griffindor had a lot of nerds too.) I like my Airman. But everyone likes their guy and whatever branch he is in. And who's husband wouldn't be in the best? So there you go...

I noticed there are many military wives who were previously military brats (aka they grew up in the military) and so they are experts on this lifestyle. Don't believe me? Just ask. They'll tell you. You don't even HAVE to ask. They'll still tell you! They must have psychic powers...

These, my friends, are the PUREBLOODS.

They think they are better than us who are totally and in all other words, completely confused about this whole new lifestyle. If I don't know something, it's just downright appalling. I can hear them thinking "This girl doesn't know anything? How dare she be a military wife!"

Yes, yes...I am... a MUDBLOOD, or muggle. I bring outside world experience with me which is all so different and hard to accept, and still struggle with day to day military life. I've met some of these purebloods... they are not nice :-(

My husband is a halfblood. He has military here and there in his heritage. His grandpa was in the Air Force, so his mom did the military child thing. He also has a cousin serving, and I think his uncle did. Our sister in law just got done with time in the Army... It's a good mix. But he's kinda like Harry Potter. Still didn't know a thing about it really when he got in...

My problem is, I'm not as brave as Hermoine... When I don't know something, I'm afraid to ask, fearing that scoff from the "purebloods" or even more experienced "muggle born wizards". There is soooo much to learn, and no one will tell you unless you asked specifically about something. It's just, you don't know what to ask until it's too late.

Why did I pass out when I pulled the mandrake out of the ground? Oh, because I didn't wear the earplugs? That would've been nice to know.... BEFORE I passed out!

And finally, there's a little bit of jealousy. If one house got something that another house didn't, there were spells a-flying behind professors' backs. In our case, just angry mumblings. Glad we don't know magic. I haven't had to deal with this too much, but I know that we have a little shop we can go for Air Force families and get things we need/want for free...but the Army isn't allowed unless they work as a volunteer there for X amount of hours a month. I feel bad, but I'm sure they get things we don't. I just don't really care to find out. :-/

Anyways, this random post has been brought to you by:

*trumpet sound*

Paula!

**These are the crazy things that pop into my head during those rare rare occasions I get to think all to myself with no children or husband around... this came to me during the re-making of this:

(aka Ugly Dora Table)

To this:

(Not so ugly Table)

Polynesian Cultural Center

Eddie got off for his holiday this past week on Thursday and Friday, so we took a trip up to Laie to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center. It was so much fun!

We got there a little early so we could go see the temple. It's been under construction for a couple years now. The reopening keeps getting pushed back. Right now, it's by the end of the year. They are completely redo-ing the entire interior to make it more accommodating. Apparently, it just was small all around, making it hard for anyone over 6 ft tall to walk in some places and anyone with a wheelchair had to be carried upstairs by special Somoan men with that specific job due to lack of elevators. I thought that was kinda interesting. :-)

The best part was as soon as Lexi saw the temple, she folded her arms and slowed down a little. So cute! And the Sisters working in the visitor's center had matching mumu's... gotta love it!

We tried to see as much as we could while still keeping the girls happy.

This is the tribal ritual of the New Zealand people as they welcome visitors (or trespassers) to their island... just to make sure they are peaceful. Eddie got to join in.

and here's Lexi and I with Poi... a weapon and fun ball twirly thing:

We saw some Tongan drums, but no pictures. I was too busy laughing at the show. All the people here were so much fun!

We made fish out of leaves. This one is mine, a few days later:

Here we are in Fiji playing the bamboo chutes...

and Lexi got to dance (at least, that's what she was suppose to be doing):

We walked into Hawai'i to do some activities and Lexi found a guy playing the ukulele and just randomly started dancing next to him. It kinda freaked him out afterwards... we just told him we thought it was cute. Maybe he didn't like us video taping him... I dunno.

That evening we went to a Luau where we got to eat some good food and hear some fun music. At the end, they had the children come up for "Aloha E" which means "farewell to thee" (It's actually glued inside our hymnals at church because we sing it so often)

There was a big show at the end, and we went since we had paid for it, but we were in the very last row, the girls were soooooooooooooo tired and cranky, so by the end, I was swaying back and forth with Carissa asleep in the backpack, and Eddie and Lexi sleeping in their seats. I enjoyed it, at least. But we were wiped out!

It was totally worth it though!

Thank You VeggieTales...

...for babysitting my girls :-(

So Lexi has had a little cold, just a slight runny nose and watery eyes (with the occasional irritability) and then Carissa woke up with some sneezyness and slight runny nose, and Ed had some tummy grumblies...

So we decided that Ed would stay home with the girls from church since I had a primary lesson to teach.

We were "chided" as parents to teach Lexi how to walk more, since she had gotten in trouble for running in the nursery last week, resulting in someone else getting a bloody nose. So OBVIOUSLY it's our fault as parents, even though I've never had that particular problem with her before. So needless to say, we didn't really want to give them another excuse to get upset with us, so we thought Lexi should stay home should she accidentally sneeze on someone.

I even asked "Will you be able to stay awake with them?"

You see, Ed has a new work schedule which requires him to sleep during the day, making a 12:30 church schedule particularly, difficult.

I walk in from church at 3:45 today to this:

(The cheese they are eating is actually from me... I felt bad since their supply of goldfish had run out... who knows when...)

Oh, look who just woke up...

;-)

Progression of a Mess

One night, we had Dark Chocolate Mousse.

It started out innocently enough.












Mmmm.... I think she liked it!

Raspberries Anyone?

This is for you, Grandma and Gram-Eni :-)
(and anyone else who likes cute little videos)

This Mother's Day

Mother's Day is such a beautiful holiday. 

We get to think about all the wonderful women who we have encountered in our lives and all they have done. 

But this Mother's Day, I feel saddened. 

A very dear friend of mine lost her beautiful little boy this week. 

He was the most precious Child of God you'd ever known. 

She is a wonderful mother. 

I'm so grateful for the Plan of Salvation and eternal families. 

They are an eternal family. 

We're thinking of you at this time.

I feel blessed to be part of an eternal family also. Some days, I don't act like it. I have a patient husband and two daughters that love me unconditionally. I will try to be the mother that they deserve.

Happy Mother's Day!

Just another day at the Beach

Momma was hurrying to make lunches while Daddy was getting the girls ready after our quick trip to Costco. And Carissa wanted to help apparently...

Carissa really likes the freedom of playing in the sand...and unlimited crawling space!

Helping Mommy bury Dad in the sand and make...

A beautiful mermaid! (hee hee)

My Hubby is such a good sport!

We love the beach, huh Carissa?