Alison playing in the bathtub last night. Busy busy... 

Hagen changing Lovis 

Is his not just BEAUTIFUL? 

Hagen, Jordis and Lovis 

Catching up...still

I'm so slow to recover and get into a pattern. Sorry!

There's a lot to cover, so hang on!

The latest in the brother saga is slightly dramatic and very sad. My parents did everything in their power to help him. They were even able to get him to join the army and look for a job while living under their roof, then one day it got ugly and he took off. Since then he's been drug tested by the army and failed. He is no longer being shipped out on December 29th as planned and is hanging around with his old drug buddies. We're all hoping the best for him, of course, but I know that I'm done. There is nothing I can do for him, and there is definetely nothing he can do for me. Layne is in the custody of his maternal grandparents, which is sad for us becuase none of us are allowed to visit, but we did hear that the mom is doing well. The good thing is that he's with his mother. No matter how screwed up her family really is.

It hurts to know that I couldn't do more. I wish so much that I could have fixed everything for Layne, but you can't save them all. I just want everyone to know that we all appreciate the prayers, well wishes, gifts and happy thoughts that you've given. They have helped keep me sane!

On a happier note - I GOT MY CHRISTMAS CARDS MAILED! All except one, which I'm not sure about. I don't have the address, and when I emailed the person for it I never got a response (unless you count the forwards as responses). So they don't count since it's not in my power to mail it! HA! I have almost all of my christmas shopping done too!

Wow, I guess there really wasn't that much. bummer. I'm not very interesting these days. It's all the domesticity that I'm taking in. All the Christmas decorating and vacuuming. LOL!

Christmas Cards....CHECK!

Yes folks. That's right! I got my Christmas cards out. There are a minor few of you that I cannot seem to nab addresses from but otherwise they are gone! Done! Fine (italian...duh)!

For those of you who don't know my mailing habits all that well....let me fill you in.

We went to Hawaii. I bought many many postcards and spent two hours getting them all ready to go on the second day of our trip. I had yet to mail them on the way to the airport. No big deal, I calmly said to my husband as he rolled his eyes at my procrastination. I will mail them from the airport! I proceeded to drop him and my daughter off at the terminal and take the rental car to turn it in. I handed over the keys and walked off, leaving all of my addressed (but not stamped!) postcards in the console of the rental car. THEN...to try and make up for my mistake I decided to buy more postcards and fill them out before we flew to honolulu. That just wasted $10 of my dollars because my daughter was having a travelling tantrum that lasted until we got home to ALASKA!

So I just want you all to know how proud of myself I am. I know that other people might not be as excited as I am, but it always feels like a major accomplishment when I get mail stamped and in the postal system. Makes me all tingly inside.

Finally on my feet!

I know that it's cliche to say that you need a vacation from your vacation, but that's not going to stop me from saying it. And maybe it's not necessarily a vacation but just a few days to regroup and remember who you are and how you function on a daily basis. I have felt totally wacky the past few days. I'm finally feeling like life is returning to normal. YAY! and yet it's so sad...it's freaky cold out! I know I know....it's only 25-30 degrees and snowing. That's a heat wave for a true Alaskan winter, but it's still not the fabulous 83 degrees on the beach that I just left.

I love Alaska. I really do. I HATE cold. I love not having to layer my clothes. I don't like pants. I would really rather wear shorts all day long. And tank tops! Or just walk around in a bikini all day because it feels better than wearing things that cling. No, I'm not a nudist or an exhibitionist. geez...get your brain out of the gutter. I just find that I feel very constricted in clothes (especially on fat days). Like it's already hard enough to move around all day long, but to slow it down with clothing. ugh.

Anyway, life is settling back to normal. I've been to the gym a couple of times. I'm balancing the checkbook and vacuuming and making the bed and cooking dinner, etc etc. bbooooorrring! But somehow still rewarding! Motherhood is weird.

I have been wanting to sit down and write down my thoughts but they've been so scattered and chaotic. I've been trying to just get grounded and centered. Which is hard enough for me on a normal day. I couldn't sleep last night because there was too much going on in my head. I was scared that if I stopped thinking that I would forget all of the things I kept remembering I needed/wanted/should do or say or have or get. So I started writing things down. And HOLY CRAP! I have written the longest lists in my life these past two days. Crazy ideas and honey-dos and wants.

I think maybe Hawaii is a place to become inspired. Vacations definetely are, but Hawaii really kicks your muse in the pants. I have never really had a vacation where I felt renewed and ready to start new adventures. It's very thrilling. I have been recycling some old pillows in the house by making cuter ones out of their stuffing, I started weight watchers again (only online this time, but I LOVE), and I've been keeping my kitchen spotless and enjoying cooking.

IN FACT, I just made a recipe that I saw on Good Eats today. Anyone who knows me knows I love that show! I think I have a crush on Alton Brown. Anyway...it was about Sweet Potatoes, which I have started to love, if cooked the right way, but I never make them because Joe doesn't like them. So I tried this really easy interesting recipe called Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes. That's right! Chipotle and Sweet Potatoes! It's weird tasting, but still good. Only weird because I had a couple of bites before I added the chipotle and the taste change was a little difficult to handle. But I'm hoping it will be good with dinner. We'll see.

Gotta go cook the chicken now!

On the last stretch of the road back from Hana. Farmland with lots of cattle and horses.  

Circling the other side of the island on the road to Hana (this is where we drove along the cliff face) 

This was in Hana at the black sand beach right in town.  

My new favorite place in the entire world. The pictures does NOT do it justice.  

These trees are super cool! They look like they were painted! 

The first view on the road to Hana.  

Sunset over Molokini - This was on our way back from our circle around the island.  

Amber and Sarah at the head table post nuptials. 

Niki a the Maui Tropical Plantation 

George, Linda, Kirsten, Grandma and Grandpa Hamilton 

Linda Bjore! Can you believe what a hottie she is?  

Niki getting her toes ready 

Courtney (Jason's Sister), Kendra (Kir's Cousin), and Jasmine (Jason's Sister) 

Family Picture at the Maui Tropical Plantation 

Niki and I at the Tedeschi Winery 

Molokini - From the Tedeschi Winery 

Joe and Amber at the Tedeschi Winery in Upcountry. They had great wine and beautiful views.  

Pretty Flower.... 

Mr and Mrs Jason Guerrero

I don't have any pictures posted yet. We're about to head out to drive the Hana Highway, but I just wanted to announce that Kirsten and Jason are now husband and wife. The wedding was beautiful. It was at the Maui Tropical Plantation (www.mauitropicalplantation.com). It was very small and was outside on the grass. All of the bridesmaids had heels, so we opted for barefoot and all of the groomsmen and bride and groom followed suit. Big party afterwards with lots of speeches that made all of us cry more and more. Especially since most of them mentioned Pike. :( It was a wonderful party and a beautiful ceremony. I was very very sad to have to say goodby to Kirsten. And getting to know Jason so briefly was nice but sad to have to end too. So Niki and I are planning on a short weekend trip to see their house and spend some quality time with them.

Lana'i pictures

Niki and I at Lana'i

Sunrise while on the ferry at Lana'i

Lana'i Beach

Niki and I had the most fabulous day at Lana'i today on a beach just a ten minute walk from the dock. We spent the day body surfing onto the shore with Kirsten, Jason and some more friends/family. And Niki and I went snorkeling in this little tide pool where I saw beautiful little yellow and pink and you name it colored fishes. AWESOME!

Lana'i

 

Ali on the beach. The one with the hat is on D.T. Flemming Beach. and the other one is Maalaea Beach in front of our condo.