Oh How Time Flies!

This past week has gone by to quickly! Tim came back to me last week Sunday and since then the week has flown by. It's to bad my honey is flying away with it. Wedding prep is underway and the little dominator, Nuggie, is preparing to make his debut into the world. He still has another 3.5 months to go but takes his training and growth very seriously. Lol.

On Monday we went to Haleiwa to put Timmy's surfboard in the shop for fixing. We had acai bowls and some coffee and then I watched him surf at his new favorite spot "Rocky Point." I'm jealous that I can't be out in the water with him and I enjoy voicing it to Tim so that I can get some pity and attention. Haha... But really I'm serious, it's not fair! Our little Nuggie is growing bigger and starting to kick and punch. It's such an amazing feeling and I feel happily reassured that he is alive and kicking (literally). While Tim was surfing I sat in the sun on the sand and the baby started to kick A LOT. He was kicking and then did a lightening-speed two punch combo. I laughed to myself, he wants to get into the surf as bad as I do. After that we headed to Kahuku to pick up Kamani, Tuto, and Nava for some Uncle Tim Beach Time. The kids really love him, especially Nava. I recently have been pushing the two older boys to learn how to swim and to float on their backs. We even got Nava into the water and after 5 minutes of worrying and crying she relaxed! I was so happy to see her enjoying the water, I almost cried.

Tuesday. Tim went surfing on his own and came back early to take me to breakfast at Hukilau Cafe! YUM! I ordered my usual corn beef hash and ate the whole thing! Tim says I've gotten my appetite back. After that we drove into town for our doctor appointment. We got to listen to the baby's heartbeat again and ask a few questions of the doctor. I also signed up to be a part of a research study, it takes an additional 20 minutes after each appointment, and every time I do it I get a $40 giftcard! It's a study involving measuring blood temperature in the fingertips to see if it can test for signs of pre-ecclampsia. It's already proven to test for heart problems. The only downside of the test is that they take your blood pressure for 5 minutes! It's really uncomfortable, but I think it's for a good cause AND it doesn't hurt that I have a $40 giftcard to foodland! After seeing the doctor we ate at Boggart's. It's a pretty trendy cafe near the health bar at diamond head. We had dinner with Tim's friend Alex, the star of Hawaii 5-0, at a Japanese restaurant. It was just like being in Japan again!

Wednesday. We slept in! Had a coffee at starbucks Pupukea and then I watched Tim surf again. The waves weren't to bad, I tried to get in the water on the shore but was a bit hesitant at first. Tim was afraid I'd get sucked out, or accidentally get pounded. He is always worrying about me and the baby, it's so sweet. But we were fine! We went to see a movie that night "Hanna," it was alright. 2 out of 5 possible stars.

Thursday. We had lunch with Alex and friends, then Tim went surfing with his friend Yuri, and Crimson and I went to do some wedding planning. We went to a place called The Wedding Cafe at Ward Center. Looked at a ton of different things and came up with some ideas for the wedding. It's such a smart idea to have a "cafe" like that. I figured out what type of flowers I want, centerpieces, food, aaaand cake! I want to do cupcakes, but have a small cake at the top. Lots of things to do and only a month and a week to do them. But I'm sure things will turn out fine. The important thing is that WE'RE GETTING MARRIED! Yay! We had a bbq at Al's house and got home pretty late. Don't remember anything after I walked into the house.

Friday. Breakfast at Hukilau Cafe AGAIN!!! Spent the day in town. AGAIN! Took my nephews paddle boarding! Crimson invited us to go with her family. They are such nice and good people. They are even letting us use their beach house for the wedding. Her niece and nephews were at the beach and all the kids played on the boards together. It was really fun watching them. We were all so tired by the time we got home. The kids slept over that night.

Saturday. We took the kids to Gunstock Ranch for their annual easter egg hunt. Tuto found a few hard boiled eggs and even found a special yellow egg that he could exchange for $1! Then the kids got to have 2 free horseback rides. After that we took them to Haleiwa for shave ice, then to Hukilau for a swim. But the day wasn't over yet! I got "dressed up" and drove to town for Randie Girls fashion show. It was a fashion show to showcase the work of the students who were graduating. Randie's line, "Ku'u Aloha" was elegant, trendy, Hawaiian High fashion! It was amazing and of all the designers her line was the most wearable and basically THE BEST. Because she is THE BEST! Went to Walmart, bought some eggs and Gushers, got a foot massage from Tim at home, then knocked out!

Sunday. I slept in. We went to Matai's birthday party. He just turned 1. He's one of the sweetest most mellow little boys I've ever met. Tim surfed in the afternoon, I chatted it up on the sand with the phone in my hand. Then came home to Easter dinner! Shoyu chicken, mashed potatoes, and a jello dessert!

Now I'm sitting here, Nuggie is moving and kicking, watching my sweetheart sleep. I feel so lucky to be alive, to be carrying new life, and to be sharing it all with him. It was a long, and busy week. I'm surprised I remembered this much! So much to do, so much to plan, so much to prepare, but as long as we're together and have each other... toooooo easy! (Aussie slang)

Nuggie

Kicked me today

My heart gave a jump

Love that grows more

with each beat and each bump

Nihon

My heart is aching for the people of Japan. And at the same time I feel so amazed at their strength and their goodness. And their ability to pull together.

I'm also so proud of my friends at Disney and E-village. A few of them have been going the extra mile and helping their Japanese neighbors shovel out mud in their homes.

I don't have the time or words to say everything I would like. My heart is full of love for Japan and her people and I pray with all my heart for their safety and comfort. Trying to find ways to send my love and help.

Oh Laie!

I apologize ahead of time if you read this and are bored. I'm just thinking out loud.

I've been reading for the past hour and a half about Laie and the Envision Laie Plan, and also different articles on the plan and the comments of those who also read the articles. RIDICULOUS! I'm trying to find more information to form a better opinion of everything but there is so much going on. I plan to check out the "information center" down at the shopping center. So far this is how I feel and what I know about the "plan."

-there is already land behind BYU that has been zoned for affordable housing. BUT BYUH wants to take that land for themselves and use it to increase the amount of students at the school. (NO THANK YOU!) They are trying to get the state to use OTHER lands for the community's affordable housing.

-They are building a bike path. (woohoo!?) It is a beautiful bike path, and there are a lot of people that like to run that stretch from Laie to Kahuku, but why is it so BIG? It's huge! it could be another lane for cars to drive in. Lol. It is a bit ridiculous. BUT a good start and a good thing. I GUESS. It just seems a bit frivolous.

-They want to build a huge hotel! I heard that it's going to be 4 times as big as the old Laniloa lodge. NO THANK YOU! They bust down the old hotel and have all that land ready to go. Just waiting for approval. I don't like how this will effect the traffic in our area, or the fact that our town will be overrun with tourists even more than it already is! (And it's being overrun by stupid byuh students who walk in the middle of the road down my street and don't move when cars are driving past. Get off the road!) The costs of what the community is paying to have this hotel built (not monetary costs) is greater than the reward.

Ok so I'm just ranting about all of this. I want to do more research. And make sure I have all my facts straight. But from what I've learned so far... This is how I feel. So now i'm going to go check out the info center tomorrow and see what else the plan has to say.

I'm confused and surprised that so many members of our community are in favor of the plan. I can't see the benefits for the community. Looks like PCC, BYU, and HRI will benefit. Not Laie.

Your Heart

Anticipating the cool gel

a bit of slather,

a quick pitter-patter

breathing softly to hear you

while you move

A split second stricken with worry.

Are you still there?

The rhythm starts

first faint to loud

the whole world falls apart

in you I find my universe

Cherishing, loving, listening to your heart

Aloha Hawai'i Ku'u One Hanau

Aloha Hawai'i, the sands of my birth. Words can't explain how good it feels be home again. The sound of the waves crashing in the night to lull me to sleep, the stars at night, the green trees, the beauty of the mountains and the warmth of the sea. I am me again. Complete, in a sense, because I am home.

It's also nice to be reunited with Ohana. The nephews and nieces are growing so fast and mom and dad are still as loving as they always were. It's nice to "make trouble" to dad, and take the kids to the beach, and wake up in the morning to mom's hugs before she goes to work. And of course HUKILAU CAFE. Lehua still knows that I like to order Corn beef hash with scrambled eggs and coffee (on the down-low)!

I'm so grateful for my Timmy. I'm so lucky to have him in my life. He is truly my best friend. I'm so happy that I can share my family and my world with him. And I'm so blessed to be so LOVED.

I could say it over and over again. There's no place like home.

Australia

day 2

Woke up at at 5am to go to the airport. Matt drove us in the rental. On Jet blue your carry on bag can't be more than 7k! ridiculous! got on the plane and sat in the middle of Tim and a blonde lady. The three of us were laughing at the air hostess' welcome speech. She told us to "chillax" and then when she gave her "goodbye" speech she told us, "we know it's a pleasure for you to have us on your flight." lol. it was so funny.

Arrival in Melbourne. Such a beautiful city. So many random pieces of art architecture. There were these cool Oval things over the freeway. Old looking english buildings. We were picked up at the airport by Tim's friend Ryan and his beautiful wife Fabi. She's brazillian. We had brekky on Chapel St. It's famous for it's many cafes AND shopping. We then went st. kilda Acland street to buy me a swimsuit. Got to go to woolworth's (aussie grocery store) it was pretty cool to see the different things and brands they have. BUT EVERYTHING IS SO EXPENSIVE! After that we got dropped off at our hotel. The bloomfield. An old english building with a kinda frenchy look inside. Nice small comfortable room.

We got a call from tim's friend Adam, and he wanted to have a coffee with Tim. He came with his wife Tammy and picked us up. Tim had ANOTHER coffee. lol. Aussie's are obsessed with their coffee. It's too strong for me. But I could get used to if I was a big coffee drinker. We had a nice sit in the sun having water and coffee, and it was nice to be warm and to see Tim catching up with his closest mates. MATES.

We got back to the hotel and Tim wanted to lay his suit out on a hanger. he opened up his stuff and realized that he had left his suit pants back in sydney. HAHAHAHAHA. I couldnt' help rolling with laughter. He's always forgetting things. But he's so cute when he does it! So he left to go back to chapel street to do some shopping. While he was gone I tried watching Aussie Tv. not much good was on. We probably don't get the best stations here in the hotel. but i did find Bewitched on tv. So i watched that while i ironed my dress and prepped my wedding outfit. Tim came back and said he'd have to go back to the store to pick up his pants. They were being taken up.

We went for a swim in the pool on the roof. it was nice and the water was cool. I went with Tim back to chapel street, picked up his pants, had a chicken bacon ranch from Subway, and caught the Trams in Melbourne back to the hotel. We got ready for the wedding and were running a little late. Got to the ceremony right at 4:30 when it was supposed to start.

We looked all the way to the end of the park, and there was the bride with her bridesmaids. She looked beautiful! And the groom looked very handsome as well watching his bride walk all the way across the park towards him. it was a very dramatic and suspenseful entrance! Once they got close the DJ started playing the Braddah IZ version of "What a wonderful world" I had to count in my head to 100 so I wouldn't cry. The officiate was a bit weird, and she sounded like a gameshow host. lol. We went to the reception and there I watched everyone consume a ton of alcohol. did a little bit of dancing with my sweetheart. The food at the wedding was good too! AND THEN at about 11 we went home. It was a good day. And I'm loving Australia so far. There's a lot of nice greenery around and big parks. And it's nice to be back in the Summer weather. And best of all to be with my honey! He's the best!