Mele Kalikimaka

Mele Kalikimaka, Feliz Navidad, and Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas to you from Hawaii and California! Joy to the World! The LORD is come!

Even though we did not send out Christmas cards this year, I told Hubs we HAD to take a family Christmas photo. I use our family's past Christmas cards as part of our decorations each ear. Well this year, I lost a lot of weight, and this was NOT the year not to send out Christmas cards!!! Mahalo to all of you that sent me a Christmas card to our old home address because they forwarded to my mom's address in San Diego. They brought me much warmth even though we are in hotel rooms! And if you STILL want to make me feel good and send me a Christmas card, you can send it to my old address, or via email.

Since I am in such a giving mood, we are going to play Guess that Waterfall. If you want to play along leave me a comment guessing the name of the waterfall in the picture. The first correct answer wins a box of chocolate covered macadamia nuts.

We are in San Diego for ten days, part of the total sixty days we are in hotels. We are returning to Hawaii in a few days. I will swim every day when I get back for sure! I am freezing in San Diego. It is a thirty degree drop from Hawaii, landing us in the 50s right now. This is arctic for San Diego. It may not sound cold, but imagine a sudden 30 degree drop from your usual temperature.

Christmas on the Big Island

I have so much still to tell you about the move. But you are going to have to wait, even past Christmas morning. So to hold you over, here is a little Christmas cheer from the Big Island of Hawaii.

There is a little story behind this picture:
Son1 is now horrified by Santa. And his little brother followed suit. Supposedly, Santa arrives in Hawaii on an outrigger canoe rather than on a sleigh. We do not have snow, and we do not have chimneys. So imagine what happened when we played a Christmas Sesame Street DVD (a gift from a neighbor) for Son1 and I heard horrific screaming coming from another room. I found a shaken child. I glanced at the screen and Santa appeared at a chimney fireplace with a big black sack covered in soot. "Santa is scaring me!!! He is a robber!!! He came down the chimney, like the Big Bad Wolf!!"

So he tried proving he was a friendly Santa:

Our whole family loved the tree decorated in ukuleles. The kids strummed the lower instruments.
The Twelve Days of Christmas, Hawaiian Style (an actual song sang Hawaiian pidgin style) was one of my favorite.

After I saw this tree, I told Hubs I NEED another Christmas tree, tropical style, with fresh Birds of Paradise as the topper next Christmas!And for those of you that are dying to hear the Twelve Days of Christmas, Hawaiian Style, enjoy!
Twelve Days of Christmas Hawaiian Style

Mark the Hammerhead Shark

When things were crazy with Hubs gone and my mom in Hawaii, the rest of us were "car-a-zee." Unfortunately, Hubs was not in Hawaii for the Awana Grand Prix. But he and Son1 crafted a car over several nights before the big race.

The Awana Grand Prix is a pinewood derby race. Over 5,000 events are held annually at local clubs nationally. Each clubber purchases a pine block of wood and standard wheels. Everyone constructs a car that meets standard specifications to race in a four lane car race.

So Hubs and I discussed car design at length. I suggested our theme should reflect our time in Hawaii. Hmmm. Well, Son1 is CRAZY CRAZY for sharks, as in, he loves non-fiction shark books and ogles the majestic creature in aquariums and on TV. He knows sharks by their specific names. Get it? So we all settled on a shark car. Hubs called up a coworker with a band saw and a rotary sander in a garage with no light. So after sunset, in limited light, he made a few cuts and sanded it into a shark shape. At home, he and Son1 kept working. He pulled out his Dremel tool and mounted some glasses on his nose. Well Son1 figured he needed safety goggles, too. So he dug into some scuba equipment. Hubs and I had a good laugh.
But he chucked the scuba mask for more comfortable swim goggles.
Can you guess what kind of shark they are making? Let me say I am far less confident and more petrified of my children using anything that requires electricity than Hubs.
The next night Hubs and Son1 got to sanding. If you haven't figured out what kind of shark this is, well....hmmmm...they birth their young on the Windward side of our island every year. Maybe you have seen the show on the Discovery channel.A few years back we sprayed the lamps in our kitchen a stainless steel color. Hubs plucked that spray can from our shelf and together they dolled up that pinewood shark until he gleamed and shimmered a sharky silver.Hubs assembled the little car, complete with a 3 ounce weight in front. See that first little fin? That is the 3 ounce fishing weight, front loaded. The car could weigh a maximum of five ounces. We borrowed a mail scale from my neighbor, and sure enough, the HAMMERHEAD shark made weight. You can't see Mark the Hammerhead Shark's front grill, but it is a mean read set of chompers. Googly eyes rolled on either side of the head. Son1 added the number for on each side of the tail fin. Hubs asked him what number he wanted on his car. He looked at him rather obviously and said, "Four, 'cause I'm four!" We placed Mark high on a bookshelf until the night of the Grand Prix. I explained to Son1 that this was the only car he had. I wasn't going to craft another one for him if this one broke. So, he eyed it every night until the big event. See those stripes behind Son2? That is the only proof I have my mom was there.

The Awana club served dinner, but Son1 was too excited to eat. I started to cut his little brother's hot dog, but he was so impatient he grabbed Son1's hot dog and chomped it down whole. This is my lightweight child that can outeat any preschooler hands down. Where all of his food goes, we haven't a clue. Sure enough, he ate his own hot dog, some veggies, and everyone's chips, before dessert.

Weren't these cute?

After dinner, the cars were weighed, measured, and visually inspected for standards. we voted for best design in each category. There were over 60 cars and voting seemed like forever. See Mark? He was #3.

Just before the race, Son1 took his place at the sidelines. He had a great seat.
Finally it was Mark the Hammerhead Shark's turn to race.

Sadly, he did not win for speed. Hubs considered purchasing some graphite wheels for Mark. But he thought $30 on plastic wheels for our 4 year old son's car was a little excessive. While I was videoing, the father of the child's car that beat Mark the Hammerhead Shark grinned and told everyone he had bought graphite wheels. But that was ok. Mark was a winner, too, and not just in our hearts. Guess who won first place for best design?!?!?

By now, my kids were melting down, so my mom and I left and loaded them in the car. This was just the preschool race. They had still more grade levels to go. Just as I was buckling my kids in the car, my cell phone rang. What was Hubs doing awake on the East Coast? He wanted to know how Mark had performed. I laughed. It was well after midnight there. He told Son1 how he was proud of him.

As for me? I kept fighting with our desktop on uploading video. So Hubs never saw the video until he got home. But when he did, hmmm....he started to think about next year. And Son1? He was on Cloud Nine. He loved his trophy and he made sure to tell me that the packers should take great care of his Mark.

Aloha Friday #9

Fridays are the days we take it easy in Hawaii. We call it Aloha Friday, much like what folks on the mainland call TGIF. I post a question, and you comment. That's it, unless you want to ask your own question at An Island Life. My question is:

Do you have a favorite museum or nature interpretive center near you?

The major museum collection for the state of Hawaii is at the Bishop Museum and they have great exhibits! This week end I am posting about the shark exhibit.

WW: Mickey D's in Hawaii

WW:

Our Golden Arches in Hawaii are a little different.
Signs are posted at the drive through exit that say "mahalo" or thank you in Hawaiian. The employees all wear Hawaiian print golf shirts. The menu is slightly different, and our prices are a tad higher.Spam is a delicacy in Hawaii, so naturally Spam and eggs are served. Our McDonald's restaurants also serve Portuguese sausage, served in a many local breakfast dishes. The McTeri is a local variant of the McChicken and was invented at a McDonald's in Honolulu. Local food uses a lot of "teri" or teriyaki sauce.

For more WW participants, go here.

Every Story Has a Beginning

It is hard to tell you how our move happened so fast without starting from the very beginning.
Remember the story of the red vetted bulbul in our backyard? Sure enough, in an instant, BAM! We had a buyer. But the buyer's offer was contingent upon the sale of their home, which was not a done deal. They had a shaky buyer for their place. So we kept the contingent offer quiet, fully expecting it might fall through. We knew comparable homes to ours had just fallen out of escrow. We did not have our hopes up. We scheduled our home to close two days after their home closed. If our house fell out of escrow, at least my worldly possessions would not be on a boat to California with us still in Hawaii. I mentioned we were doubtful, right?But then Son1's name was drawn at Awanas to keep Cubbie Bear for the week. And I thought...hmmm....could it just be possible that we might be moving? Out of all the kids, what a great time for our child to host Cubbie! It seems silly now that I took Cubbie Bear's visit as a sign that we were moving, but I did.

Time started to tick, and the new buyers opened escrow. They could still walk away from the contract after the home inspection. Within days of opening escrow, prices of homes similar to ours plummeted in a blink. POOF! The potential buyers could have backed out, and bought a similar, less expensive home in our same subdivision. By the grace of God, they did not.
Just a few days later, Hubs left for a two week business trip. That left barely any time when he returned before our packers arrived. So he suggested I call my mom. On a Thursday we invited her to come that Sunday for over two weeks. She helped me with the kids so I could get the house in order to move. I explained that we really could be moving, maybe, possibly, hopefully?!?!? The days were long and I was exhausted. Blogging did not happen. But we managed to squeeze in some last Hawaii fun for my mom....

Take My Pulse

I am still here. I am sitting in a gorgeous hotel room at 427 AM. Son1 had a nightmare and now I cannot get back to bed.

We turn over our house keys to the new owners later today. We are going to finish cleaning the house. It is pretty clean. We gave a cleaning credit, anyway. So I am not too worried about passing the white glove test. 'Cause we are good and generous people.

It has not been relaxing thus far. But I have some good news for your little eyeballs.

I have many half finished posts, and much more of Hawaii yet to come. Just wait.

We do not permanently leave the island until January 17!!!!

Maybe I Didn't Tell You

Did I happen to mention the packers are coming on Monday?!?

Congratulations to Your Parents

Family culture in Hawaii is warm and beautiful. "Ohana" or family, extends beyond a traditional family unit. It means family that you are born into, and any adoptive or intentional family. It means every one that is tight knit and close, all those that are involved in your children's lives.Recently Son1 won an award at school. There was a punch and cookie reception after the assembly for the recipients. Many parents and tutus (Hawaiian word for grandparents), aunties and uncles (either by blood, or a term of respect for any adult and close to the child) attended the reception. Trays and trays of food were displayed. But before the reception, the principal had a few words to share.

We all congratulated the recipients with an applause. Afterward, the principal addressed the children, and shared that this honor was not just for them, but also for their parents, for their grandparents, and for their aunties and uncles. He said much about respect and honor, and the responsibility children have to their parents. Finally, the children were asked to get cookies and drink first for their ohana, and then for themselves. The children obediently went to the lines, selected goodies for their ohana, before serving themselves.

I attended by myself, while Hubs took time off to watch Son2. My heart melted when Son1 brought an embarrassing amount of food back to me. I declined a powdered doughnut. Those are Son1's favorite. His smile stretched across his face, and he said, "I want you take this all home to Daddy!" He knew his Daddy was home just so that I could come. I am grateful in a small way he understood.

A Hawaiian Thanksgiving

Our turkey roast and pork shoulder butt were cooked in a Hawaiian imu (pronounced ee-moo). Kailua High School hosts an athletic booster club fundraiser. They invite the public to purchase a $15 ticket to cook meat in the imu. They only sell 350 tickets, and we got one!

An imu is an outdoor underground traditional Hawaiian oven. This is how pigs, fish, and other meat are cooked for luaus. The meats are cooked under heated rocks. Steam is created by the vegetation placed in the imu, from ti leaves, coconut palms, and banana leaves.

The high school asked that we bring our meats in an aluminum tin, not to exceed 25 pounds. We prepared a turkey roast and a pork shoulder butt. Pork shoulder butt is traditional Hawaiian luau food. Hubs plucked ti leaves from a ti tree in our yard.

I called my neighbor and asked if she had any sea salt. She generously shared something so much better. For many years her husband's family has collected sea salt from rocks along the beaches. Think unprocessed, completely organic, straight from the sea. The salt was fine and crumbly, not dry and grainy. We placed the pork shoulder butt in foil, and rubbed it with salt and patted it with butter.
Next we wrapped the pork in ti leaves and closed it in foil.

I hacked some small apple banana leaves from a young banana tree in our yard.


We salted, buttered, and wrapped the turkey roast in banana leaves. We could have wrapped a whole turkey. Instead we prepared two types of meats.
We added four large sweet potatoes in our aluminum tray and we wrapped the whole package in foil for drop off.

Since Kailua is on the other side of the island, on the Windward side, Hubs, Son1, and Uncle T delivered the tray after their fishing adventure. They rented a Boston whaler, bought squid for bait, and grabbed some fishing poles. They only caught some love and family time.
They hurried from the Kaneohe Bay marina to drop off our tray. The drop off time was only 90 minutes long. They waited in a line, and high school students walked up to the car, took our tray, metal tagged it, and handed the Farmer men a claim number. Hubs, being the big fan of The Farmer Files that he is, asked the student to take some pictures of the imu for the rest of us. This is the bottom layer of the imu. The meats are placed on top, and then covered for steaming.
The next morning, Hubs cooked Thanksgiving pancakes before heading out to pick up the Thanksgiving meal. Pilgrim Farmer joined us.

Hubs, Uncle T, and the boys drove to the Windward side to collect our tray after breakfast. They drove all the way home, dropped off the tray, and trekked to the airport to pick up Grandma T. Finally, we unwrapped our meats and potatoes, and served Thanksgiving dinner. I unwrapped the meats, and they literally fell limp, juicy, salted, and mouthwatering to the tray.
These are the wrapped meats just before dinner.
While I was finishing the side dishes, Walking Bear and Grandma T started growling at one another. Better at one another than the cook. Well, we plumb stuffed ourselves til we couldn't breathe. If we ever move back to Hawaii we are cooking our dinner in the imu again. This was the first time we bought an imu ticket.

We took a family walk and enjoyed the Hawaiin trade winds before dessert. This was the first time Hubby's immediate family was together for a holiday in six years. We missed Aunt M but the boys couldn't get enough of Uncle T. We are thankful this year to be together for Thanksgiving.

There's always November!

This Thanksgiving I am particularly grateful for November.

Seven Novembers ago, Hubs walked into my classroom with some stapled papers. "I found this house! I know you are going to love it...!!!" It was not a good time. My class was full of parents and students working on a Veteran's Day project commemorating those who lost their lives at the Pentagon. I shooed him away, and promised to call in ten minutes during lunch. I called, and he was already writing an offer on the house without me seeing it. He was right, though. I loved it when I saw it.

We wrote a contingent offer because we needed to sell our current home. We were sweating bullets. Two months after 9/11 the market in the metro DC area declined, a terrible time to sell a home. But that November we sold our home in four days, and purchased the other home by the end of the year!

Fast forward nearly seven years. July, 2008 we listed our home in Hawaii. Just a few weeks later, the economy started to tank. We were slow to follow the mainland because our local economy was fairly strong. Over night our gas prices soared, groceries soared, tourism declined, and homes for sale just sat.

Hubs told the Powers that Be that we needed until November to sell our home in Hawaii. Our plan was to re-evaluate on November 30 if our home was not sold. When we felt down these past months, we reminded one another we had sold and bought a home in November seven years ago. "There's always November!"

Folks, it is November. We are in escrow in Hawaii. We thank God that we have a clear answer and direction. Now, my heart feeling major loss? Well, it is Thanksgiving, and we are only talking thankfulness today. So I will save those heavy feelings for when the packers come.

We Start 'Em Early on the Farm

In the evening Son1 and I spend alone time, just the two of us, working on Math. Yes, MATH. I know, that's not what it looks like in the pictures, but yes MATH. We joke about raising the poker prodigy and the card shark, but not these nights.

The first few minutes he explores the manipulatives independently. He plays with them however he wants.
Then after awhile, we play different games that require dominoes, Uno cards, poker chips, and dice. I adapted many games I used to teach second and third graders for my preschooler. I am amazed at his Math literacy that I completely did not teach him. Just by handling dominoes and dice in particular, he made simple observations about the different ways to make the same number, such as 4 and 2, 3 and 3, and 5 and 1. They all "make" 6.
His eagerness and wonder inspire me. Am I too grown up or too busy to wonder like a child, to make new discoveries? Do I just need to play more?

The Farmer Files Phones Home

It is nice to be missed! Mahalo for the comments and emails asking what happened to me. I am alive and well, and I missed you too! I have to catch up and visit many of you!

My mom was here, and The Farmer Files took a back seat. My biggest fan was back on the Big Rock, so sad I wasn't posting pictures of his sons. My mom left last night, Hubby arrived last night, and Hubby's brother comes into town today. With all of the testosterone back in the house....I am going to escape and blog a WHOLE LOT. I promise.

I was asked if I attended Abe's mom's service. My husband went, but I did not. He said Abe's eulogy was inspirational. I read it on Abe and Heather's private blog, and I too was so inspired to speak wisely and carefully to my boys. The pinewood derby hit home, because last Friday my son entered a grand prix with his race car. Here is the beautiful eulogy Abe delivered:

Today I’d like to share a short thumbnail sketch of my mom by answering two questions

1. Who was Carolyn?

2. What lessons did she teach me?

I’ll start with the first: Who was she?
Born October 8th, 1950, my mom arrived in the world with a strong curiosity for learning and a passion for helping others. She grew up with a warm, loving family in Atlanta, GA, and was fortunate to have a strong mother (my Nana Tyler), a wonderful caring sister (my Aunt Peggy), and a wild and crazy but very protective brother (my Uncle Bobby).

Growing up as one of her children was a privilege; she lavished me with love and encouragement my entire life — even calling me on the phone and encouraging me as a parent just days before her trip to Spartanburg, South Carolina.

She was not perfect, but she was a great mother, and friend.

She sought opportunities to serve and care for her family and friends continually.

After my brother and I both graduated from school, she came to Immanuel Bible Church, to work in the music ministry. She came to love her work here - she loved the people of this church, and she was energized by all of the good things going on here.

She had a gift for connecting with people and letting them know that she cared about them. Even with half a dozen things going on, if you ran into her she would suspend everything and let you know “Hey - God loves you, and I do too.”

She saw her life purpose as worshiping God - by serving others.

Understanding a little about who she was, I’d like to share three lessons she taught me.

Lesson One

I remember vividly, the many discussions I had with her when I was in high school. I wanted her to tell me what I should be but she refused.

She explained that WHAT specific role I chose would be much less important than HOW I chose to live it out. Whatever I did, I should do for God’s glory and the benefit of others. She encouraged me to pray, decide for myself, and take a leap of faith.

Incidentally, I ended up joining the Army and becoming a paratrooper. I don’t think she intended for me to take her advice so literally!

This past Christmas, she solidified her advice giving me a wooden plaque with the famous quote from Abraham Lincoln, "Whatever you are, be a good one."

Lesson Two

When I was eight years old, and playing with my friends the Hurdles, I invited my brother Dan to jump on the bed with us. After only a few bounces, he flew off the bed like a cartoon character and bonked his head into a radiator. Blood was everywhere; I screamed for help and Joan Hurdle and my mom rushed Dan to the hospital.

I was very sad, and I cried (although I did ask if I could have all of his toys). A few hours later, he returned with some stitches and a smile.

That night, my mom made it clear that Dan was going to be okay - but at the same time, I should never take loved ones for granted. She told me that I had a very important job; when I asked what it was, she said “Love your brother - everyday."

As I matured, I grew to understand a broader meaning of what she meant. I was to love my brother Dan; and I was also to love everyone with the same compassion she demonstrated.

Lesson Three

When I was a child, I attended Cub Scouts and I learned the scout motto “do your best.”

Some of you might be familiar with the Cub Scout tradition called the pinewood derby, where scouts carve wooden cars and then race them. At my first pinewood derby, I had a mechanically challenged car that barely made it down the track. (Dad, you remember!)

But my mom was so proud of me, when it was my turn to race, she stood at the sidelines and cheered for me “Do your best! Do your best Abe!” My car did so-so, but my heart was so filled up with love, I never forgot that lesson.

Throughout my youth, she always cheered me on to do my best.

At 17, I left home to attend West Point. As I suffered through the first year of hazing I remembered her words “do your best” I did - and I made it through.

At Army Airborne school, faced with jumping out of planes and completely terrified, I could hear her whispering “do your best”… and I overcame my fear of heights to become a paratrooper.

During Army Ranger School, while ascending a mountain in the Tennessee Valley Divide and struggling with a sprained ankle and over 120 pounds of equipment in the cold of winter, I could hear her “Do your best!” - I went on to climb that mountain and graduate Ranger School.

Even today, as a 34 year old man struggling with new problems and worries, I can still see her standing on the sidelines, smiling and cheering me on “Do your best. Do your best Abe!”

Whatever you are, be a good one. Love your brother. Do your best.

I am grateful for these lessons, and many others that my mother taught me. I thank God for her vibrant life, and I thank this church for remembering her and for loving her family.

Aloha Friday #8

Fridays are the days we take it easy in Hawaii. We call it Aloha Friday, much like what folks on the mainland call TGIF. I post a question, and you comment. That's it, unless you want to ask your own question at An Island Life. My question is:

Do you play games for fun or for money?

We have been known to do both. I have more fun playing for prizes than for money, though. Come back tomorrow and read how my four year old plays with poker chips and dominoes.

Walking with Abe and Heather

Hiking Diamond Head is the one thing every one tells you to do on Oahu. Except no one tells you to hike it pregnant. But Heather didn't seem too worried. She was pregnant with her second baby, into her second trimester. We stood in the middle of the crater in the parking lot. The early morning sun was blazing hot already. Hubs was saddled with our chunky toddler in a back pack frame. We grabbed water and cameras and climbed to the mouth of the trail.

Climbing the steep trail, Hubs quickly found that the weight of the backpack on the incline was less burdensome if he kept moving. Our little guy wasn't quite a lightweight. So he and Abe kept a-climbing, while Heather and I hiked at our own pace. I could hear Heather's breath quickening as she continued to climb. I kept asking her if she wanted to stop. Most times she said no, but every now and then we would stop for some water. I was a little paranoid because we had already been to the hospital once since they arrived (oh it was necessary and eventful, but it turned out ok). I had no idea what it felt to be pregnant and making the steep climb, but I was right there with her, walking the trail. We were both going to make it to the top, one way or another.We climbed the switchbacks and finally caught the men before the 99 step staircase. Next was the spiral staircase, and a few more steps. Hubs stayed behind at the summit since the backpack wasn't going to fit. Pregnant Heather, Abe, and I made the low duck out of the the last tunnel and stood 761 feet above sea level. We had made it! We stood at the top of the crater that dominates all of Waikiki, looking 20 miles west to Barber's Point, and 9 miles to Koko Head Crater behind us. Heather was the only pregnant lady we saw. We took some pictures, admired the beauty, and began our descent. We started back down Diamond Head, down the spiral staircase, down the 99 steps, and the other tunnels. At one point, Abe offered to carry our little man. He didn't know exactly how Hubby felt making the ascent, but he had inkling because he had walked with him every step of the way. So he offered to carry little man down the trail.
We started walking with Abe and Heather in 2000. We met them in Northern VA, through an Adult Bible Fellowship. In 2003 some of our friends ran in the Marine Corps Half Marathon at Quantico. Hubs fell behind some of the faster guys in our group. Abe hung back with Hubs until they reached the finish line. He was with him every step of the way.You know how you just click with some couples? The husbands click, and the wives click, and it just works? That's how it is with Abe and Heather. I asked Hubs how that happened for him and Abe. He admired Abe's commitment to God, to his unconditional love for his wife, and who are we kidding...this is Hubs we are talking about...and his intelligence. Oooh when I met Heather I thought ohhhhh she is so like me, I want to be her friend. Well, she is like me...in a remote way I suppose. HA! But she is infamous for her, "Now, if I was a Farmer I would....but I am not a Farmer, so I will not..."

I remember our pastor in Virginia said more than once, "You pick two or three couples where you are committed to each other's marriages, and you walk with them your whole Christian life."

I looked up synonyms for walking, and here is what I found:

stride, stroll, trek, stagger, tiptoe, limp, hobble, hike, march, pace

See how many different ways there are to walk? They are all require action, though. We are committed to walking with Abe and Heather, like they have been committed to us.

Some of our walking has been carefree, and some has been emotional. We have walked with Abe and Heather. We have known births, we have known deaths, we have known stress, and we have known joy. But just as I didn't know what it felt like to hike Diamond Head pregnant, we have only an idea because we have chosen to walk with them.

Columbus Day weekend, Abe's parents were in a terrible car accident, miles from their hotel. We spent the last month praying for a miracle, praying for peace for their family, walking with them, even from 6,000 miles away. Veteran's Day, his mother was promoted to Glory, and is at Home with her Heavenly Father. Our hearts are heavy for their loss, but bittersweetly rejoice that she is no longer in pain and her soul is at peace.

I grew to know Carolyn as more than Abe's mom. She mentored me, and I grew in my marriage. She also helped me when I had trouble nursing. How we hurt for you, Abe and Heather. Know that we are walking with you.

How good is your Hawaiian?

Wordless Wednesday:

Almost all of our street names are in the Hawaiian language. There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet. Street names are difficult to pronounce so many locals give directions by landmark and not street name.

For more Wordless Wednesday participant go here.

Hubby Gets LOST

Last Saturday Hubby got the call to be an extra on LOST. He emailed a response to the show's request for military guys. Now he isn't in the military, but he sports a military hair cut. He was cast as someone totally different, thanks to his great local looks. Still, he needed a hair cut, even if he wasn't cast as military, before Tuesday's filming. He planned his hair cut for Monday.

On Sunday afternoon we were on our way to the pool. The kids were strapped into their car seats in the driveway, I was running in and out of the house, and Hubby was gathering things from the garage. He heard me come into the garage with his back to me. "Um, I think I need to go to the hospital," he muttered. And then it was like a bad movie. He turned around slowly, and all I saw was his profile. Blood streamed down his temple, down his cheek, across his shirt, and all over his hands. I screamed. I panicked. I freaked. It was that bad. It was a lot of blood. And I don't do blood.

I handed Hubby some towels, and we landed in the car. I jumped in the driver's seat and drove to the nearest hospital. The minutes were long. We knew the blood was coming from his head and he was sopping through towels. I dropped him off at the ER and then met him inside. I looked in his scalp, and sure enough there was a little canyon two inches long. His head had caught a corner of the white wire shelving in the garage. He imagined stitches were necessary, following a hospital shaving of his head. He was nervous for the very same reason as me. I bent down, kissed him goodbye, and said, "Don't let them shave your head! Tell them you are going to be on LOST in two days, and you can't let them make your head look all funny." Well, long story short, he didn't have stitches. They used the new super glue for deep cuts on his scalp. No stitches were needed. Even though his hair was a bit long, he was raedy for Tuesday filming.

We intended to share his LOST day like I shared mine. He arrived on a closed set (first clue), checked in, and went to costume. The costume director sized him up and down. His wardrobe was perfect, unlike most extras. He donned a custom made suit, shirt, and shoes. He had them all hand made in Thailand in the fashion district. His wardrobe fit like a glove.

A closed set meant that there was only one way in and one way out of the set. When I was on LOST some of the public had access to the set. Not this time. It was all hush hush. Hubs also had to sign a multiple page confidentiality and non disclosure agreement. It states he could be responsible for $5 million if he breaches the agreement. So there went this blog post! And yes, some big stuff went down on the day of his filming.

His episode airs in February, episode 7. We will have to wait for his recap then. I know! But he did bring me home this:

Aloha Friday #7

Fridays are the days we take it easy in Hawaii. We call it Aloha Friday, much like what folks on the mainland call TGIF. I post a question, and you comment. That's it, unless you want to ask your own question at An Island Life.

My question is:

Who is your favorite LOST character?

I really like Ben because there is still so much we don't know about him yet. I met him when I was an extra on LOST. My husband was an extra this week. Find out more tomorrow!

Halloween in Hawaii

I am still recovering from a Hawaiian Halloween. It's just not your standard trick or treating here. Nooo. The night before Halloween I was making goody bags for Son1's classmates. Goody bags are a cultural tradition for Halloween, Christmas, Easter, and the end of the school year in Hawaii. You have to make one for every single kid in the class. See my bags? They had SIX pieces of good candy in each goody bag.
And this was the loot that came home just from his classmates, before we started trick or treating.I tried to talk Son1 out of this costume. It is hard enough to trick or treat with TWO feet in the dark, let alone six. But thanks to a birthday gift card from Grandma T., he won.

What would a cowboy be without his cow? People in Hawaii are extremely generous and do not give out much cheap candy! People either gave treat bags or really great candy! We treated just our street without a stroller for Son2. We rounded our culdesac and jumped in the car, and headed straight for a church Trunk or Treat. Right at the trunk of a car I found myself a Beth look-a-like. You know, Dog the Bounty Hunter's wife?!? So Hawaii!

Finally, we headed back to our neighborhood and hit up a few more streets with the neighbors. It was so late we put the kids to bed, and sorted out the loot ourselves. We received quite a bit of play dough in our stash. When it was all said and done, we sorted the candy into six gallon sized ziplock bags. Whew! I am going to miss this!!