2010

Good-bye to 2010.  So many thoughts on 2010, so many great things took place this year (a new nephew, Luke's first triathlon, Logan was in several plays), but so many sad things happened, we lost 2 friends to cancer, both leaving behind 2 little ones, and the end of my marriage.  Because of those losses I am able to appreciate the good and bad and feel lucky to be here with my beautiful children.
My resolution is to go into the New Year with open arms, I know new experiences  lie ahead in 2011 and it is time to get excited about it.

Aloha to 2010

Picture Perfect

Today the kids and I went to Makalawena Beach.  We had been there  2 years ago and I remember it being nice, what I forgot was it is stunning!  I also forgot that from the time you pull away from the hwy (between mile marker 91 and 90) for the next 20 minutes you are on what they posted as "unimproved" roads...more like a lava path.  Once to the lava parking lot you walk along a lava path for 10 minutes (give or take) to the first beach, there are some abandoned red houses and you carry on to the next path for the next 20/30 minutes until you reach (in my opinion) the most beautiful beach!
If you go to this beach ( I highly recommend if you are on the Big Island)  a few things to consider.  1. if you get car sick you may rethink this or take something ahead of time, 2. the hike gets warm, go before its too hot and 3. pack light, but do take a cooler with beverages and lunch!

A little break on the path to the beach

We arrived

The sand is light colored and so soft

My two little beach bums

This picture doesn't even do it justice

On the way back, these are two of the greatest troopers ever

The "unimproved" road

All is right in the world again!

Much better day, started with seeing my old friend Lance, so good to see him again! Of course I am sure he remembered us from two years ago! I plan to edit the photo when I get home (unless of course I see him again and get a better shot), I was so busy flipping U turns on the Hwy, pulling off the road, finding my camera, running back up to the road....then I got a little crazy and started jumping up and down yelling to the poor soul!
2 things about this pic, notice his hand (he had just finished waving), and the TT bike pretty sure would be a Trek but its unmarked.

December 28th

A year ago on this day I celebrated my 11th anniversary with the person I considered my best friend.  My parents arrived here yesterday and today I was supposed to be celebrating my 12th anniversary by riding the ironman course with Lars.  I really have tried not to put too much thought into this day, not wanting to dwell on what life has dealt, but rather put one foot in front of the other and take those steps into my new life.  Goodness it was an emotional day, I found myself battling waves of tears and mourning the loss of a union I considered beautiful and mature.  I am so grateful my parents are here, I look at these two beautiful children and try to put on a strong face, I was glad to have reinforcements here!

This happened in Maui too...no one's here

Any where any time this is my child

The little miss showing us her stuff

Finally made Lo get out at 6pm!

Lookin good

Well...it's a good thing we are underwater with these things!

Lazy Beach Bums

Today we drove to the Kohala Coast to go to the beach. Kona lacks the sandy boogie boarding beaches (makes up for it with the snorkeling beaches).  Its 32 miles from Kona but takes about an hour.  Got there just before 10 and left around 2:30, we figured that Luke spent at least 3 and a half hours boogie boarding!  Logan and I spent at least 3 hours floating on a boogie boardwatching until she ditched me for some body surfing! 

Mele Kalikimaka!

A few photos from our Christmas day.  When I get home I will try to edit these a bit, but what you will notice from the pictures it looks a bit hazy here, and in fact its actually pretty clear for here right now because each night we have had massive rain and lightening storms, but by morning its sunny and in the 80's.  For those that don't know the haze is VOG .

Big Island Fun

The kids had spent the last week in Kauai with Lars, and on Thursday they flew to the Big Island where I met up of them!  Boy was it good to see them!  This our second trip to the Big Island, it's quickly becoming one of our favorites.  Super laid back, but enough activities like great snorkeling to keep the kids entertained.
Here are a few shots of some friends we met up with at Kahalu'u Beach Park.

There's another one to Luke's right.

Goodies!

This is one of my favorite times of year.  I love to bake, yet never have time for it.  But because it's the holidays it is expected of us, I gladly go along. 

I will confess this gingerbread house was premade

My little artists



As always, its rough being a bassett



My Girls

These are some of the lovely ladies in my life, that at times lately help me get through the day (or night).  It is because of their love and support I know I will be o.k!

I am looking at my friend Heidi's Christmas card and it says "good friends are like snowflakes, each is unique, heaven sent and makes the world a beautiful place" ~ so true!

Merry Christmas girls, I love you!

Iron Man Post

I had to post this You Tube....I have many crazy friends like this, and love them!

I'm Training for an Ironman

Thank you!

First of all, thank you all for the kind words and messages.  I truly feel blessed to have so many supportive, caring people around me!
The kids and I are settling into a new routine, a rather relaxed approach to each day.  Yesterday was a perfect day to be outside, so after lunch we went snowshoeing.  It took longer than usual because Logan needed a "few" breaks, but we were in no hurry, just enjoyed our day!

They were such awesome troupers!

I am loving this picture, Kaiser was "smiling" the whole time, pretty sure it was his BEST DAY!

Probably our tenth attempt at a self photo...finally got us all in there!

These times, they are a changing

Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is a post I have been trying to come up with for the last couple of weeks.  This blog has become sort of a journal of my life, opened for viewing.  I have such wonderful relationships with so many of you, but find myself so busy at work, or after school with the kids that I haven't been able to share some major changes in my life with you in person.

This is not easy to write.  But because this is my life and futures posts will reflect the future challenges as well as hopeful joys, I will share with you.
A few months ago Lars said he was unhappy, I assumed this was just one of life's little bumps in the road.  In general the life I was living with him, and the kids felt happy.  I will not go into the months of pleading, but the outcome was he "ultimately needs to be happy" and that is not with me.  Lars moved out last Saturday, and I filed for divorce.

I have lost the person I have shared the last 14 years of my life with.  This is the person I have shared all major life events, lost loved ones and friends, but also shared daily mundane things with!
This is not the path I would've chosen.  Another quote I love from Ralph Waldo Emerson  is "do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."  Time to forge my own trail!
I am learning (with the help of my friends) there is my voice of logic, and a voice of emotion. I am learning to stop asking for answers, because none will be given to my satisfaction. I am learning to lean on friends when that emotional side becomes too much.  I am learning to let go.

I will take this opportunity to bond with my kids in a new way, the three of us.  We will be OK, I know this.  I am grateful for all the love and support from the truly amazing people in my life.  Thank you!

Thanksgiving 2010

Luke did the Turkey on the Run for his 2nd year with some buddies!  So proud of him (his mom wimped out)!

My parents REALLY wanted to play Rock Band after our big turkey dinner.  I had never played before, but I played the drums on this night...so much fun!

Before Rock Band, my Dad and Luke got the tree set up and my Mom and Lo did an awesome job decorating!  Thanks SO much for helping you guys!

Concert

Sunday night we took Luke to see Brandon Flowers in Seattle at the Showbox.  For those that don't know he is the lead singer of The Killers (the 1st concert we took Luke to last year), and he's out on a solo tour.  I LOVE the Killers, so I was a bit saddened  when I heard he was hitting the road solo.  However Luke convinced me to get his cd...I liked every song!  We heard he was heading this way got, our $25 tickets and went.
When we saw The Killers, they played at the WAMU in Seattle, it's bigger than the Showbox (this I did not know until last night).   So knowing we would be standing, I wanted to be as near to the stage as possible, the doors opened at 7 (we were in line in the rain at 6:30 with maybe 100 people, the rest showed up closer to 9), stood for an hour inside until the opening act came and then FINALLY at 9 Brandon Flowers...I was tired (way past my bedtime) and we had to drive back to Wenatchee after, but it was AWESOME.

Testing the camera to make sure our flash was not on!

This is without zooming...we were that close!



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