A Mini Vacation

We really enjoyed this last week, spring break! We spent a lot of stress free time hanging out, exploring the island, and as SJ says "relaxin'". We decided we better head over to the other side of the island for a couple days and take advantage of the kama'aina rates (the best!) and pretend to be tourists. Sophie was in love with being at a hotel. She got to pack her dora suitcase, eat pizza on the bed, swim all day long, paddle board, ride a tram, and watch a movie in bed until she fell asleep. (which, she lasted a whole 15 mins.) Oh, and the ice machine. Can't forget about that. Every time we walked past one she helped herself to a few pieces. 

We are so lucky to live in hawaii. Every day I think of how blessed we are to live in this beautiful place. 

New Tastes

While living in Hawaii we have tried a lot of new kinds of food. Some good, some bad.

Today we tried some native versions of Sushi and Lau Lau.

Lets just says I am going to stick to Chicken Alfredo and Green Salad! :)

I can only imagine SJ was thinking...  "This doesn't look like cheese or smarties to me..."

PS - Photography credit goes to Brian, Mr. 1/8 a pharmacists.

Got Mac Nuts?

Yesterday Sophie and I spent the morning sitting out on the driveway cracking mac nuts. She loves to run around and pick up the green shells remnants that fly all over the place! Such a good helper.

I never knew what a macadamia nut actually looked like until we moved here to hawaii. All I knew is that they came in a round can and were tasty!

Now I know that Mac Nuts are green on the outside, brown on the inside, and white on the inside, inside. And I also know why mac nuts are so expensive. They take a lot of work to get the nut out. A lot. [Hammer and knife required] But, we love the end result, and thankful for the fact that we get to do such an un-ordinary tasks like shell and eat raw mac nuts!

Weekending

I know you were probably all a little shocked to see a new post around here. Without going into to much detail -- the shortened version is -- I first started blogging to capture pieces of our life. Recording the memories. Then I got busy busy busy with a second new found love, photoshop{and now business} meanwhile forgetting all about the documenting our life details aspect.  I was reminded how much I loved love blogging right here I have plans to make some changes [here] so that this piece of family history can get some attention.

-- Weekending at the Park --

Sophie is a park dare devil. Up the slides, rock walls, and not one bit of hesitation! 

Pretty crazy to think we went to the park after Thanksgiving Dinner huh?

Still working on adjusting to having one "season." Kinda wishing for some fireplace and hot chocolate weather about now to make it feel a little more like the holidays! 

Black Sand Beach

We have been enjoying exploring our new city and hawaiian life! We are loving it here so far! Of course we are missing utah and family but we are having quiet an adventure!
One thing we have discovered....
Where we live in hawaii there aren't a lot of sandy beaches. There are a few but not many.
Most of them are either rocky or have very little sand. Here are some pictures of us exploring the beach....

Aloha!

We Made It!

Aloha!
Just checking in real quick to say we made it to Hawaii!
It was been quiet an adventure but we made it safe and sound!
We are still trying to get settled and find furniture but
yes, we have been to the beach 2x already and plan on going later today!
Miss S LOVES the beach!

 It is so  b e a u t i f u l  here! I can't wait to post some more pictures!

...just a sneak preview of the loads and loads of pictures to come! 

Goodbye, Hello

 image from google

Thinking about saying goodbye to a few things in utah, and hello to some changes...

goodbye mountains, hello volcanos
goodbye lakes, hello ocean
see ya snow, hello rain
later four seasons, welcome summer
goodbye shoes and socks, welcome flip flops
goodbye majority, hello minority
goodbye apples, hello pineapple
see ya snowboard, hello surf board
goodbye coat, bring on the swim suit
so long dry desert, hello tropical humidity
goodbye pines, hello palm trees

goodbye utah, hello hawaii

Simple Joy

Some days you just need a little flour, sugar, and chocolate! I get such a simple joy out of making cookies and especially eating the dough! hmmm and the smell is divine! Yum!

Recently I tried a new recipe. I think it might be a keeper! They made chewy and soft choco cookies!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cooks Illustrated  from Ourbestbites.com
 
2 C plus 2 T flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
12 T margarine
1 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
1/2 C granulated sugar
1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
2 t vanilla extract
1 1/2 C semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

Do the normal cookie things... cream butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients. Bake at 350 until slightly golden and cracked, about 10-13 mins.

Enjoy a little baked love!



:: On another note I am gathering ideas for keeping a 1.5 year old entertained on a 7 hour airplane ride. Any suggestions?

an idea to store away

image from emily loerke

Don't you love when you stumble across the best idea ever! While bouncing around blogland I just happened to see to come across just such an idea.

These graduation announcements.... for when Brian graduates pharmacy school.

Your probably thinking that I am getting a little ahead of myself, since he won't be graduating for 4 years but.... Emily's idea is that good! I am storing that one in the "keep file" for sure.

Speaking of pharmacy school here is a little update:

We are going to move to hawaii sometime between May and July. 

No, we don't have a set date, we are still working on that. It all depends on when we find a house to rent.

Meanwhile I have been google-ing everything there is to know about hilo hawaii.

Some facts I have learned...

average temperature 78 {average temperature in utah, slc area is 51}

the coldest time in hilo is febuary... its gets down to a freezing 63 degrees.

there are white, green, and black sand beaches.

we are moving to the rainy side of the island. 130-200 inches per year.

 gas in hilo is currently $4.33 a gallon

Getting excited to start the adventure. Getting sad to leave family behind.

He Got Accepted!

Aloha Brian,



Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, College of Pharmacy, Class of 2015.....

He got accepted!

Remember all my posts about pharamacy school and waiting, waiting, waiting. Well, the waiting is over! Last night we received an email from the University of Hawaii! He got accepted! We both did the happy happy dance last night! Miss S thought we were crazy. We are crazy, crazy excited about the prospect of moving to Hawaii!

Don't worry many, many, many more Hawaiian details to come soon! Aloha!

Have a happy weekend! We are off to do some celebrating!!!

:: These Days We.... are thinking about surfing, the ocean, pineapples, and of course blogging from Hawaii!


:: ps. The picture of B is not in Hawaii. It is in Cabo. But it was my only ocean picture.