I miss you.

I've come to realize that good girlfriends are few and far between. It makes me really appreciate the ones I do have. No matter where they are, I have stayed in touch with them and I miss them something fierce! I miss you all. A lot. A lot a lot. 

Audi, I can't wait to meet that 'lil baby of yours! I miss you.

Sarah, I hope your enjoying looking for whales in the Gulf of Mexico. I miss you.

 Cody, I seriously need you back so you can make me laugh again. I miss you.

Stevie, I can't wait to see you in 2 weeks! I miss you.

Genn, it has been far, far too long. I need to hit some balls with C-train. I miss you.
(sorry, it was the only picture I had of us...it's been too long!)

Katie-Kins, thanks for making high school a fun memory for me. I miss you.

Rugrats.

I ADORE these little keiki. Sometimes, I get to play with them for hours & hours. One sweet summer day, we baked chocolate-chip cookies & learned how to skate the mini-ramp in my backyard. Kari, thanks for letting me steal your kids & get some serious playtime in every once in awhile.

Tevita

Malia

Shalye

A Shower for Becky & A Baby to Boot.

I'm so glad we were able to have Becky's Baby Shower before she had the baby! I was a little worried for a while there...We did a garden theme party on my lanai in Hau'ula.

We dined on fruit kabobs, cinnamon rolls, croissants with jams, quiche, and a delicious tart.

Had some great prizes for the funny games we played.

And everybody got to take home some Basil & Chives seedlings.

Then, almost exactly 2 weeks later, baby DeMartini made his debut.
...and, I just LOVE him already.

Congrats Doug & Becky! I'm so, so, so happy he is finally here.
Can you tell?

I Am Ridiculously Excited.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
I read my first Harry Potter book when I was in Mrs. Ormonde's 7th grade English class. I haven't been able to stop since. These are the only movies that I will guzzle a giant Mountain Dew and stay awake for a midnight premiere (along with the rest of the 12-year olds). Let me know if your in. November 19.

Preserve.

I LOVE this. I really like it when people become innovative and think outside of the box. Especially when it benefits something worthwhile. I have been buying these toothbrushes for some time now and think you should too! They are powered by and made of recycled yogurt cups. The toothbrush comes in an easy to recycle postage-paid mailer. You save the package, place worn toothbrush into package, stick it in the mailbox, and it is recycled again and again and again. (Well, hopefully not the bristles. I'm sure they don't just REUSE toothbrushes). I buy mine at Target, but they are also available at Whole Foods Markets and Trader Joe's. To find a location where they sell Preserve products, click here.

I Think I'm Turning Japanese, I Think I'm Turning Japanese...

Last weekend was very...interesting. Families in La'ie frequently have the opportunity to host students from all over Asia. This past weekend, they had a shortage of families and I was asked to host some students. Since Kari's family had ward camp, she graciously offered her house up to me. Originally, I was supposed to have 2 female students. However, they ended up having about 40 girls and 120 boys, so I was assigned two young men from Japan. I recruited my friend Teren, who speaks Japanese to come and stay in the house with me and help me translate. We took them to a BBQ at the Goat House (which was their favorite), to church in Hau'ula, to Haleiwa, to Wal-Mart (another favorite), and Burger King.

Probably the funniest story, among many: Teren didn't really let the boys know that he spoke very much Japanese. He insisted that we speak only English to them because the purpose was for them to learn English while here. BUT, Teren could understand every word they were saying and would inadvertently giggle sometimes when they would be talking. Sunday morning, Teren and I were making breakfast for "our kids" and it was really hot so we opened all of the windows, allowing a couple of flies to get in the house. Soa ("so-ra") said to Akia ("aki-ra"), "Wow, it's amazing that the flies don't bother them. They don't even notice them." Akia said, "It's because they are one with nature, like all human beings should be. They are so close to nature". HA! Apparently, I am one with the earth because I can eat my spam and eggs with flies buzzing around my noggin. Love it.

Typical American Experiences: WAL-MART

When they figured out there were shopping carts, they started all over again at Wal-Mart. 1 1/2 hours later, they had filled their cart with chocolates, Sony MP3 players, jeans, creepy skull t-shirts, Twilight New Moon Bracelets (HAHA) and Casio watches. They kept asking for Dolce & Gabbana. I didn't have the heart to tell them that Wal-Mart was not that kind of store. Oh well, I guess no one in Japan will ever know the difference.

They loved that you can "self check-out". I loved watching 5 Japanese kids trying to figure out self check-out.

BURGER KING

I know, Mean. It was just too funny to resist. We made them wear crowns while they ate their Burger King. Some were happy about it, some did so grudgingly.

RIDING IN THE BACK OF A TRUCK

All I can say: They were stoked.

BREAKFAST

Teren really had to pester them to smile in this picture. I think they thought we were really weird. Heart plates because we loved them so much.

Teren, thank you for making my life so much easier last weekend. I couldn't have done it without you. This is our awkward little "family". And my little Japanese boys, thanks for making me laugh more than I can remember in a long time.

Makapu'u Lighthouse & Sea Life Park

Since I've started a blog, I have had the desire to make my life a little more adventurous. I figure, if I have nothing exciting to report then there is really no point in my having a blog. In a way, it is inspiring me to see more of the island and have a more exciting lifestyle.Last week I FINALLY hiked Makapu'u Lighthouse, which is something that I've been wanting to do for about, oh, 4 years or so. It was on my list.

I also went to Sea Life Park, again. I have to say, I definitely look at those dolphins leaping"happily" out of the water a lot differently since I watched the documentary "The Cove".
If you haven't seen it, it's a tearjerker. Especially if you have any love of our precious marine mammals.