Family Reunion: Hokanson 2009

{Park? Check.}



{Food? Check.}



{Coolers Hubby Would Be Jealous Of? Check.}

{Homemade Rootbeer? Check.}



{Treats? Check.}



{Crazy Momma In Charge? Check.}



{Everyone Helping Out? Check.}





{Loved Ones? Check.}







{Family Volleyball? Check.}



{Cute Little Ones? Check.}







{Nap Time? Check.}



{Auction? Check.}



{Auction Winners? Check.}



{Egg Toss? Check.}



{Egged Victims? Double Check.}







A wonderful time was had by all!

Super Sabbath

What a great day! Douglas & I woke up in time to get ready, have breakfast, and walk to church. Sacrament service was excellent. A lot of the talks were on family unity - and I thought it was beautiful. I was asked to stay in the nursery which was enjoyable, lots of little kids and they were all so super adorable in their own little ways. This one little girl, Kit-Kat {adorable nick-name}, was drinking milk out of a sippy cup - no one knew where it had come from. When asked if it was hers this was her response, "Of course, cause it's tasty!" Ha! So cute, so stinkin' cute. Right after sacrament meeting the Relief Society President pulled me aside to ask if I would be willing to do the Relief Society newsletter - wow, that I think is more overwhelming than the primary pianist, which they let me know today that they really missed me, made me feel great - I loved it in there. So you are looking at the new newsletter designer. I really am strongly considering going to online school for graphic design/digital imaging. I really, really love it.

So back to the whole family unity thing. Ever since we've been married I have wanted to have a family mission statement and after reading a post on Simple Mom, I think I'm going to work this week on putting one together. After I get it done and Douglas and I 'edit' it I will use a fun font and have it printed 8x10 or maybe bigger then mat and frame it and hang it in our living room. I'm very excited for this. And even though we won't be able to do it in the 2-6 hours I'm sure we can get it done by August {that's my goal anyway}. This will be a short week as I leave for a family reunion on Thursday! I'm so excited! It will be a good opportunity to get some shots that I can edit and post. Have a wonderful week!

Inspiration-Less

I already told you how magnificent our trip to Hawaii was - stress free, easy - the way I think every day should be. I'm ready to pack up and move. Live in a cardboard box if we had to... just to feel completely alive like I did while we were there. Don't get me wrong, I have a wonderful husband and enjoy my job and my two terrific friends. But there is just a feeling I have while in the tropical air a calming and freeing sensation that I don't have to worry that things will be okay. It's like somehow my faith grows stronger when I'm in the islands, even when I was younger I looked forward to our trips to the keys for that same reason. As I have nothing new to say I'm just going to post pictures.... enjoy.

More To Come

Just thought I would send a quick note that we are IN LOVE with Hawai'i - and I will live there some day. I have to finish downloading pictures and get readjusted to California time, unpack, grocery shop and all that jazz. Douglas and I are now proud owners of Costco Cards. Here is one of my favorite pictures of Wailua Falls in Kaua'i. We went here a couple of times and I loved it.

Tomorrow's Departure

I can't wait! I am so excited to be in a warm climate surrounded by ocean - I L.O.V.E. the ocean! Things I still need to do in the next 21 hours? Change Bedding for Cinderella - Final Load of Dishes - 2 More Loads of Laundry - Exchange Coin at bank for Cash - Pack Suitcase (haven't started) - Sleep - Print off Tickets - Paid For Our 1 Suitcase I guess I should get busy when I get home? I have 4 more hours here left at work until I return in 11 days! mwahaha, I'm sure all of you readers wish you could be gone from work for 11 days don't you? If not, well, you should. I feel like I have so much left to do here, but I'm sure I'll get it done, hopefully...

I'm so thrilled to be around ocean and boats again. That is something that I really love. I remember our Florida trips so well and wish that we could still take them yearly (parents, remind my again why you decided to move to the snow laden desert?). I can't wait to go Deep Sea Fishing and hopefully I can find time to para sail (one of my favorite things).

So completely off the topic but I am a fan of CSI all of them (CSI:NY, CSI:Miami, CSI:LV yes in that order), and of NCIS, JAG, and any other crime solving dram that exists minus Law & Order not a fan of those series. But along these lines I was watching Numb3ers (doesn't matter the show this happens in all of them) the time came for guns to be pulled and the 'sneak attack' to begin, I love it except for the part where you have the lead 'gunman' being all sneaky and waving his gun in all the right ways but have you ever looked to the right or to the left, there is another person doing the same thing only he/she looks completely out of place and, for lack of a better word, dumb. If you pay attention I'm sure you'll feel the same way, they also usually end up pointing their gun at the person in charge of the whole escapade - you know the guy in front that looks normal holding and pointing the gun.

But anyhoodle, hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures and stories regularly from Kauai, Hawaii! We will be thinking of everyone while we are there....

Much love,

Another Day Goes By

I'm home. I'm finally home. I never thought I would be, not saying that I didn't enjoy visiting with my family because I more than certainly did, it's just good to be home. It was good Thanksgiving I didn't take but a couple of pictures as my camera battery died. But when I get the time I'll upload the ones that I have and post them. Life is good - a little plain - but good. Work is well work, I still enjoy it which is a good thing as some days I wonder about some people.

I. love. my. Zune. only when it's having good days. It's been resetting itself after the *so-called update* and doesn't remember where it was and in general it's being cranky, so when I get home tonight I think I'm going to un-install my software and then re-install it and see if that helps, it also doesn't play podcasts which is a little annoying so that's another problem to figure out.

California, what an interesting place to live. I'm getting used to it, however I'm not made for this state. I would love to live close to my family but don't think that will happen any time soon. Hubs has made it clear that if I said tomorrow, "Lets pack up and move to Georgia tomorrow" he would be packed before I finished saying it. I think in about a year it will be time for a change a new chapter a new move.

On to other things, VACATION. Guess who is going to Hawaii in March for 11 days?!?! Yup, that is right it is me and Hubs! I'm very excited, a little nervous but very excited. We got a great deal with Hawaiian Air. Before we go I'm hoping to be down about 30 pounds (I'll keep you updated). I know that I'm *allergic* to carbohydrates, isn't that joyful? But I actually feel so much better and have lost some weight by not eating them like I used to. I have maybe up to 50g per day but that's about it mostly it's just meat, cheese, and veggies that I eat.

Not too much to update on today, just wanted to give a little view into our life today.

*Sweet Morsel: Cuddling, oh and hooking up my new Blu-Ray player, I'm in love it's official.... yes with my husband and tv/blu-ray*