December 2025

Jane spent months trying to lure Fancy Pants into being her own cat. She was finally able to pick the cat up and walked home, but unfortunately, she didn't like that and wriggled away. This made Jane very sad. I told her that when we move, she can get 2 cats. That made her day. 

Kate started doing crochet animal orders for my work as well. 

Jane singing their Christmas Performance in Waikele. She and Liana had a solo part and they did so well! I'm so proud of her bravery!

Jennifer came into town for the Honolulu 10K/marathon. First things first, a yummy breakfast with kimchi fried rice, spam, and eggs!

Beautiful sunset at Kahanamoku Beach Park.

Picking up our packets at the Convention Center.

Laying wreaths at Punchbowl National Cemetery for Wreaths Across America.

The boys traveled to Lanai and were able to bring home some deer meat.

The wettest race we have ever participated in! We stood in line for the bathroom at mile 2 for about 30 minutes. It started raining buckets about 30 minutes before the race began and just kept coming. Jennifer's friends completed the marathon, while we just did the 10K. It was a nice little jog through town.

Hanging out with friends while we waited for our marathoner to finish.

The next day, we were supposed to go to the sandbar in Kaneohe. However, with the storm and rain they canceled our excursion about 20 minutes before our arrival time. So Bryan and I did an island tour with our new friends to some of our favorite spots. Apparently we did a pretty good job- we got tipped!

Anne Miller- a favorite of ours.

We traveled to Maui over winter break for a Christmas Party with the eye clinic Bryan moonlights. They always put on a great work Christmas party and we usually end up taking a prize home.

 This is a pretty cool spot on the west side of the island.

Watching the sunset at Haleakala. Quite the crowd for the winter solstice. We made sure to dress appropriately and hydrate!

Above the clouds. 

Also, this is Bryan and mine's 20th anniversary! We will have to plan something later... without the kids, of course! 

I took the girls on a short hike up Iao Valley. I'm not sure if they were impressed...

Howie protecting our Christmas tree. 

This year the girls received gifts that were a little more practical. I feel like they are at an age where toys and games are not something they immediately choose. Books, clothes, electronics, and self care items are more appropriate choices. I can't believe I don't have any more pictures!

I remember why I don't have many pictures- I was having issues with my cellphones storage. I was deleting pictures/apps/messages to try to increase my space. It was quite the nightmare!

Howie loving on his favorite human, Miles.

April 2025

Manana Ridge Trail: Hiking with friends on a Sunday afternoon

Kelsey, Tiffany, Rebekah, Wendy

Jennifer came to visit and we took her to the Mauka Warrior Luau in Ewa Beach.

Giving Jennifer a tour around the island with the kids in tow. I had to make sure we didn't too much walking- as we had to save our legs for the 1/2 marathon on Sunday.

RACE DAY #beforeScott

Always trying to get the best post race selfie- this was like take #3

Taking Jennifer on an epic hike on the windward side- Pu'u Ma' 'eli' eli Trail

Stopping at the NEX to send a picture to Corbin and then dropping off my bestie at the airport.

Great shot of Bryan and me surfing- curtesy Brian Duncan.

Jane's 4th grade class field trip.

         Jane's BIG 4th grade project on the Ahupua'a. 

More sewing projects I have been working on.

Easter 2025

*Note to self- no candy in the eggs placed on the outside of the house

The girls also attended an Easter celebration for Bryan's work. Collecting Mario and friends characters was the highlight. 

Some friends recorded me at the Ukulele Festival in my muumuu.  

It was so fun to have friends attend our performance. 

Afterwards, we attended the SPAM Festival in Waikiki. The food was awesome, but the crowds were not as awesome. I guess there was also a Boys to Men concert that night. 

On Sunday, the girls completed their first bike race in Haleiwa. I rode along with Jane, while Kate felt confident in taking off on her own. I am so proud of them for doing hard things that we sign them up for (and they don't get much notice). 

Jane getting an x-ray after falling on her elbow and complaining for several days. No break. She got to wear a sling, and that seemed to make her happy.

Kate going roller skating with friends from church.

May 2022

Lots of goodbye this month...

At the beginning of the month, I took the girls to Louisiana to visit my best girlfriend, Jennifer. Our dogs did not get along! But Bryan was working on getting his parachuting license and wouldn't be home to watch him. So I had to bring Howie with us. Otis is really sweet, but definitely a protector. 

In the morning, we went to the Armadillo Stampede 5K in Leesville. The girls rode their bikes while Jennifer, Ryan, and I ran. Kate took off and I was running after her panicked she would get hit by a train, that I ran my fastest ever, until a train made us all stop. Ha! I ended up with the first female finisher and got to eat breakfast for free at the May Day Fest.

After we cleaned up, we went downtown to enjoy the festival.

Jennifer made us do this crazy awesome video!

The girls got some awesome face painting and slushies. It was really HOT! 

And then we went over to Jennifer's friend Zandy so the girls could create a cute little Mother's Day artwork for me. Isn't she the most thoughtful?!? Thanks Jenny!

The following weekend, our family flew to Utah for Bryan's mother's funeral. She passed away on the 4th of May surrounded by family in her home in Highland, Utah. I will forever be grateful for Debbie teaching Bryan good work ethics and strong mindedness. She had such a strong personality and I can see a little bit of her in all 11 of her living children. She is survived by 46 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren (probably more than this). If you knew Debbie, then you were sure to know her whole life story. She had a smile in her eyes and an enormous amount of energy. She was steadfast in her faith and the glue that held the Ahlborn family together through the years. I am grateful she is at peace after a tough battle with cancer. She will be sorely missed by all. 

She had a beautiful funeral service. The 11 siblings were finally together after 20+ years. Most of the grandchildren were able to make it out to the funeral as well. Stratton, Becky, Rachel, and Aunt Julie were the speakers and they all did a fabulous job describing their mother/sister. We were able to have a goo day celebrating the life of Chammelia Deborah "Debbie" Ahlborn. 

Debbie's one wish was to have family photos completed with grandpa. The photos turned out really well and it was nice to see everyone together.

When our family returned back to Texas, it was my turn to say goodbye to all my friends and co-workers at Seton Medical Center. This is the first place I have worked for a consecutive 4 years. I worked with some really great people and am really going to miss the place. 

The girls had their last day at Northside Baptist Academy. They spent 2 years at this wonderful private school during such a crazy time (pandemic) in the world. I will forever be grateful for filling up the last available spots the week before school started! 

School ended early with a pizza party, bouncy house, and obstacle course.

Kate's teacher Mrs. Harvey

Jane's teacher Mrs. Oster

Saying goodbye to everyone is so hard! I wanted the girls to be able to enjoy the last day of school and so we had an end of school, moving, and pre-birthday party at our house after school. One last hooray! I ordered Chick-Fil-A and a water bouncy house and let the kids go at it. 

Jane wrote this cute story about her summer plans. I love it!

Another goodbye...

I am so grateful for Mrs. Christie! She was such a wonderful piano teacher for Kate and Jane. The girls did a great performance at the end of the school year recital. Jane played "The Cinderella Waltz" and Kate played "Almost There". 

We put our Harker Heights home for sale on Memorial Day weekend. Over the last 2-3 months, Bryan and I have been preparing for our move to Kansas. We sorted through our stuff, hosted a garage sale, starting using up the freezer and canned goods, and fixed up the house (all the important things that need to be done before a move). We will miss this place!

Saying goodbye to our great neighbors!

And of course my best friend!

We started our 3rd drive to Utah at the end of May- actually the day after school ended! The house was packed (mostly) and we were headed to vacation before the great move to Kansas. Time for a little fun! 

A stop at Wilson's Arch to break up the drive. Bryan and I have been up for 24+ hours at this point...

When we finally arrived in Utah, I think Bryan and I took a 4-5 hour nap. We were exhausted. When we woke up, my parents were home taking care of our kids that we had neglected (kind of) while sleeping. So grateful they house and feed us during our times of limbo. 

Memorial's Day was a bummer because it was cold and wet! We were used to Texas weather and Utah wasn't really showing signs of summer when we arrived. Bryan arranged for us to go to the Children's Museum with Becky and Lauren's kids. They had fun, until playing in the water area and getting too cold again...