March 2026

 

The spider lily I transplanted to our house on Leko finally flowered!!

We started taking pictures of our house to put on the renters market for tenants. I really don't want to leave our place, but Bryan has always been great at managing out rentals throughout his Army career. This is the master bathroom with the new cabinets.

Master shower

Master Bedroom

Kate and Jane's Bathroom with the new cabinets. 

For our spring break, we went to Hilo, Hawaii. All the islands were being showered with a Kona Low, so it was a very wet spring break. Our first stop was Rainbow Falls.

A wet walk around Banyan Drive 

Lili'uokalani Park and Gardens

The pool was rather cold. Jane's friend Liana was visiting her grandmother, so we invited her to come hang out at the pool with us.

Antics Pizza

A cute little pizza shop with old video games at the tables.

We had reservations to go up to Maunakea Observatory and view the stars, but unfortunately the tour was cancelled due to the storm. The road had given out, making it unsafe for anybody. So we just looked around the museum and did a short hike to see if we could see anything. As you can see, we are up in the clouds. 

Kaumana Caves

This lava tube went on forever. It made Jane a little uneasy. 

Hilo Bay from our hotel room.

The broken bridge to coconut island in Hilo Bay.

Tephra at Volcanoes National Park.

We were fortunate to be able to enter the park while we were on Big Island. Kilauea was venting and made the air extremely toxic. The gift shop had to shut down because of the vog. The park had previously been closed due to damage from the eruption over the last month or two. The buildings, tennis courts, parking lots were covered in tephra.  

Akaka Falls

442 foot drop

Enjoying some pineapple and coconut after the hike at a local farm.

Honomu Goat Dairy Farm

They had really yummy cheese and caramel.

Hilo Zoo

Richardson Ocean Beach Park on our last day on Hilo.

Sea Turtle

A hike with Kristi over at Hanauma Bay. 

Caught Howie sleeping on the bean bag chair in Jane's room!

October 2023

Bryan spent the last two weeks of September in Texas for work, so we were able to decorate and get everything ready for his arrival the beginning of October. Happy Birthday Bryan! 

Bryan got a day off of work and the girls were still in school, so we took advantage of the situation and went for a hike up to Mount Olympus. My sister Kristi came along. It was actually quite a difficult hike and we weren't really sure why. I think it was because there were lots of ups and downs? Who knows! Beautiful views of course!

I have a starfruit tree that just produces so much fruit. I have eaten raw, dehydrated, and frozen. If someone else has ideas, please let me know! I hate to have the fruit go to waste.

The girls have a fall break and so my parents came out to visit. We had a great time showing them our house and our neighborhood, places we have visited so far, and just relaxed and played games. 

We went to a farm in Waimanalo for a pumpkin fest. The views were amazing! 

We went to the Bishops Museum to play in the air conditioning.

We took my mom and dad to Sharks Cove. The tidepools were just fine, but the other areas were not. We now know it is not a good idea to visit north shore in the fall and winter seasons!

My first acai bowl! Bryan thought they were some type of Asian cuisine and so he never wanted to stop at the little storefronts. Now that he knows they are a smoothie, I hope we can stop more often!

We also visited an old friend of my parents and went for a swim in his backyard.

We took my parents on a hike on Judd Trail. The conditions were perfect for my mom and it was a fairly short hike.

The girls had spirit week and LOVED dressing up! 

The last day my parents were here we went to Bellows. I grew up coming to this beach through my childhood and so it was very fun for them to be back and reflect on their past. Unfortunately the waves weren't that great for boogie boarding, which is one of my favorite past times. 

We took them on a hike to Kolekole to see the beautiful Waianae Valley.

Chili's for dinner!

Kate received Rainbow of the Quarter and was recognized at school during an assembly.  She has really had to work hard here to fit in. The curriculum is a little different and the way things are done is a little different. She has found a couple friends, but it has been a little challenging with a few classmates. I know exactly how she feels because I had a very similar experience around her age. Moving is tough. Leaving friends is tough. Change is tough. I just hope she knows she can always come to me.

Bryan's work dressed up as McDonald's for Halloween. I think they did a great job and should have one first place in the contest! They had a trunk or treat in the parking garage. It was fun to see all the different departments participating in different themes and decorating.

Our church had a trunk or treat the same day, so we had to hurry over after Bryan's work party. We dressed up as blow-up sea creatures- Jane's idea. It was an excellent choice and everyone around us loved it! 

School Pictures:

Kate 5th Grade

Jane 3rd Grade

The girls participated in a Halloween piano recital at a nursing home near by. All the kids had spooky music and it turned out really nice.

We took the girls hiking up Lower and Upper Waimano trail. It ended up being a pretty good hike. Definitely need to remember this one for my parents when they visit again. There are these tunnels in the dirt from old water pipes that were removed. It is pretty creepy walking through them, but something different and fun!

Pumpkin carving time! In Hawaii, you should do this the day of or the day before Halloween. Otherwise they rot so quickly!

This is the first year I didn't really have to help Kate do anything with her pumpkin. She did an excellent job.

I helped gut and trace Jane's pumpkin, but she did the rest! She did great as well.

Halloween 2023 in the books! Bryan is a shark. I am a starfish. Kate is an orca. Jane is a seahorse. And Howie is a lobster.