June's Fabric

This is my favorite place in Kalihi.  Ok, so Kalihi isn't on my top ten places to visit, but June's Fabrics is!  Cotton Poly blends start at 3.50 a yard.  100% cotton is 5.50 a yard.  I stocked up on fabric for muumuus, skirts, a shirt for Jesse, and lots of fun projects to be decided.

I was a pretty upset when I thought that they might have closed since they are no longer at their school street location.  (Yikes!  When I asked, they said they moved 5 years ago!)  I found them next to Kaiulani Elementary school on Austin Lane.  Jesse might freak, but I kind of want to go back and get even more!!  Or, we can just come back to Hawaii more often.  Hmm.  I like that one better.

If you are planning to go:

June's Fabric

938 Austin Lane

Honolulu, HI  96817

808-845-5400

Open 9-6 Mon-Sat

We are in Hawaii

And I'm finally updating my blog!  It has been a crazy couple of months.  Once we finally got settled in Wisconsin, we came on an extended vacation to Hawaii.  We're loving our time here with friends and family.  The kids love Pounders.  Miriam has made two trips to Wailele already.  We had so much fun with Kaity and family.  And we stopped by to see the turtles at Lani's.


I had an exciting week applying to grad school.  I've been thinking about it for a couple of years but this trip cemented the deal.  I'm going to library school (if they accept me!).  I'm hoping to study academic librarianship and music librarianship.  Did you know they even existed?  I'm planning on studying full time.  It should make life totally crazy, but in a good way.  I'm pretty lucky to have such an awesome supportive husband.

It's good to be back in blogland!  More updates to come...

Photog Answers

For all my non family readers (I think there are a few of you!), go look at my brother-in-law Adam's blog.  He is an amazing wedding photographer.  And his last two posts are about buying a camera and taking great wedding shots.  Also, you can download this picture or tomorrow's (or the day after's) at this link for your wallpaper.  Plus he does amazing family photos, and he's super cool. 

Happy Birthday Tutu

Today is my Tutu's 85th birthday. She is one of my favorite people. I got to spend a lot of time with her when I was in college. I would ride the bus to her place where she would feed me (she is an AMAZING cook), give me great advice, and make me feel completely at home. She loves to talk story. And she has a great way of tilting her head and getting conspiratorial when the talk gets juicy. She made an amazing life for her family. Tutu gave me her love of creating, cooking, and her amazing practically wrinkle free skin (bless her for those fabulous genes). I wish I could come celebrate and plant a kiss on her cheek. I love you, Tutu.

And thanks for flying from Hawaii to DC when I was born.

Funny Friday

Totally made my day. I was completely busting up. If you're not into bleeped f-bombs, then give it a skip. But if you're an snl fan/Jack Johnson fan, so funny. Made me think "I guess he really did go to Kahuku."

The Rains Came Down

If you hadn't heard, this was our most memorable vacation ever. My mother in law's house was flooded last Thursday and we've been working hard to clean up ever since. We had some camera issues so I don't have any pictures, but check out here for a video my friend took in front of our house and inside hers.
And they know how to use 'em. Monkey and Ada spent Thursday morning pulling out nails after the guys ripped the dry wall out. They also learned how to use the screwdriver to pull out screws. They had a blast. Monkey told the shuttle driver this morning about it when he asked what we did in Hawaii. He looked mystified while Jesse and I just giggled not bothering to translate or contextualize for him.

Now the best part about flooding your house is getting rid of your stuff. And the best person to be when you are getting rid of your stuff (especially childhood memorabilia) is Mermaid. She brought home numerous treasures. J's shark teeth collection (he finally threw away his wisdom teeth. anyone want to join me in a chorus of "ew. gross." ?), rock collection, art pads, pencils, notepads, etc. You get the drift. She would dive into the piles of stuff, sifting for anything shiny, cute, jewelish, basically useful to a six year old kid.

We got in on the red eye and this morning had the feel of a frat house after a big party. I put Mermaid in the bath, went to lay down, realized I hadn't heard her, went in and found her almost asleep in the tub. I got her out, dressed, and fed, then went up to sleep again. Found her curled up by the heater three hours later. Woke J up around 1. "Are you going in to work today?" We were just missing the red plastic solo cups, the smell of vomit, and we had left our house a little too clean. But, you get the picture.

No one there is that doesn't love a thicker wall

If you haven't heard, we're flying to Hawaii this week. The person happiest that we're leaving would have to be our neighbor. She made another visit to complain about the noise. She made the huge mistake of telling me that she was trying to take a nap (it was 2:30 pm. like I wouldn't have killed for a nap myself). We had just gotten in that morning from driving 8 hours in traffic and I was exhausted and knew there was no sleep for me until later that night. Usually I'm conciliatory, but not then. I laid into her about how this was my home and if my kids wanted to walk around and play in their home, they had every right to do so. I was not in my finest form, but it felt good to stand up for myself. Unfortunately, now I have to make some sort of peace offering because I really don't want to live next to an antagonistic neighbor.

So everyone should be happy for the next 10 days. We get to stomp around Pammy's house and raise our terrible ruckus (kids asleep by 8, no tv, no loud music. I know, we're a earful). And our neighbors get to listen to silence. Does anyone want to borrow a key and run up and down our stairs a couple times a day just so they don't miss us too much?

Feeling a little homesick

Two of our favoritest places in the world. Kaaawa Falls and Kahana Valley. Unfortunately, will be awhile before we make it back.Check out more of Adam's photo's here.

Aloha Friday

I could blog about how much blood I've had drawn for testing, how spring break is almost over (yeah), how we're reading our first marriage book (almost 7 years and we finally break down and buy one), how M keeps trying to get me to move back to California tomorrow, or I could just post this awesome picture of Pounders. This is where I would have liked to have spent my Friday.photo courtesy of adamapalmer

Let's go swimming