Up Next...

There's more of Maui to come...please tune in again for the Lavender farm in upcountry, and the lush Maui valley and more....

Another trip of a Lifetime...

I am so thankful that I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel so much these past few years. I am even more thankful that most of the travel has been with my family. I would have never been able to afford a trip this extravagant without family. Thank you, Meme and Pappaw, for such a wonderful vacation. I really enjoyed every second of it. I know you worked hard to make it this AMAZING!

Bubba Gumps, Lahaina

It was soooo super yummy! When you needed something, you would just turn the sign to "Stop Forest, Stop!"
We sat right next to the windows that were open and overlooking the water. We really enjoyed it here. In fact, Meme and Pappaw enjoyed it so much that they went back again later on after I flew back to Oahu!

Ironwood Ranch Horseback Riding

We went riding through the hills and fields of Maui. There were some really great views and we really enjoyed it! Looking rough after the ride...

Pappaw rode "Owen Wilson" like a pro...

I got "Will Smith"...

Meme rode "Janet Jackson"....

Pappaw was last in the line with Owen Wilson...His horse was always trying to scratch his butt on the bushes. Pappaw kept telling him to hurry up, but Owen didn't care. Pappaw said Owen made him look bad....

Our Resort...Ka'anapali Shores

Maui Ocean Center

We got to watch them feed the stingrays! What a job....

Our soon to be House...

1522 Kaufman Court...it's the one on the left....Yay! A garage!

Throw the ball. Ball. Ball. Ball....

Bourbon loved having his great grandparents go with him to the park. Gee, they sure are easy to train!

This is what most of our lazy days look like....

Our little fam...well, most of us.

Byodo-In Buddhist Temple, Kaneohe

Meme and me on the grounds...

The way to the temple...

The Buddha?

Such a pretty temple...

Me and Pappaw at the temple

One of the only things Pappaw wanted to do on Oahu was go to this temple. And I'm sure glad we did! It was so beautiful...Actually, pretty amazing. Too bad it started raining on us...but not for long! I hope you all remember that you can double click to blow up the images! Some of them are definitely worth it!

Holiday Time....

Here are some of the photos from the Thanksgiving I attended with some other wives from the boat. It was so much fun, even though all the guys were gone for Turkey Day!

Amber Nalu, Johanna Griffin, Patty Beltre, LeAnn Ecker, Lindsey Holtan, Emily Jo Strickland, Lindsay Powers, Chaliza Bobbitt, Me, Teresa Stagg, and Cathy Spangler (sitting-the host)

The Doggy Park!

Bourb and I just got back from the dog park. It was so much fun tonight. We started out around 4:15 with just one other dog and then bam, there were over 30! There were three other weimeraners there: Bailey, Leonidus, and Kaipo. Bourbon was the most handsome and most well behaved believe it or not! So nearly two hours later....we are home! Whew! What fun for him!

Work was okay today. It was my first day to run clinic alone. I work for an ortho surgeon, Dr. Rodriguez, who is originally from Puerto Rico but went to high school near New Orleans. What a small world. We have plenty to talk about. Thursday and Friday are holidays so I am off from work. Thursday is my first PAID day off. I don't think I've had one of those before. Wow! Exciting.

It's getting late, and I am super smelly from all the slobber and dogs so off I go.

Ta Ta For Now!

Lacie

Back in the groove...

I know, I know...its been over a week since my last post! I have been sooooo busy.

So I flew back from Maui on Sunday and got some things done around the house.

Monday I was up early and had to go down to the hospital to finish all my paperwork for my new job. Tuesday morning I picked Meme and Pappaw up from the airport from flying in from Maui. We had an amazing lunch at Schooner's on the water at Pearl Harbor. It was such a beautiful day.

Wednesday was Meme and Pappaw's last day before their flight home. We had another great lunch at the Seabreeze restaurant located at the oceanfront on Hickham Air Force Base. It was once again one of those beautiful Hawaii days. The water was clear and blue. We went home and rested until I had to drop them off at the airport around 5 pm for their flight out. It is always so hard to say goodbye and drop family off there. I feel so alone after leaving the curb. But all good things must come to an end...so off they went. We had such a wonderful visit. I am so thankful they had planned such an amazing trip and included me in everything! We all really enjoyed it.

Thursday morning was back to work for me. I started my new position at the Ortho Clinic. And I won't say I hate it. But I don't love it, that's for sure. I guess whatever it takes to bring home the bacon. This will be the first time (and probably the only time) I am making more than Charles! (Not counting BAH!) So I guess if you count that then I'm not! But it sure feels good!

And here we are once again at Saturday. Today was the MWR Craft Sale/Garage Sale. I had my booth filled with all my treasures that I paint, shabby chic, etc. I ended up making around $300! I was not expecting that! I was so excited! But tired. It's hard work when you're loading, unloading and setting up a tent with no help! Whew!

Now I'm home...Bourb by my side, digging his beyond cold nose into my legs, huffing as if he just can't bear to watch me type any longer. Come play ball, mom, he is saying. He must think I am such a bore. Wish I had more energy to share with him.

We miss our Charles so much and wish he were home for the holidays. Its so hot here that my brain still is in summer mode. It feels nothing like the holidays should and I'm pretty sure that I don't like it. But I can't complain about the weather. It is beautiful here. Only about 20 more days until we move to our newer house down the way. I am soooo ready. Bourbon probably won't like his new way smaller yard, but overall I think it is a better choice.

I have all our vacation pictures on discs and hope to be getting them up sometime this week. Its a big job since there are about 600 of them to choose from and edit.

Take care and Aloha from Honolulu!

XOXOXO

Lacie, Bourbon, Oliver and Fat Felix

(Charles in our thoughts)

The Meme and Pappaw are here...

So, the Meme and Pappaw arrived safely in Honolulu on Monday. They were so excited to finally be here after the long plane trip. We headed to see Charles down on the submarine since he had duty. Meme and Pappaw were able to get their own personal tour guide, Charles, to tour them around the boat. They couldn't believe how small it was on the inside!

On Tuesday, we headed over the mountain to Kaneohe to the Buddhist temple. It was beautiful. We got some great photos that I will post when I get back home. After the temple, we headed to the North Shore to see the turtles (which was a bust since it was raining). So we stopped in Haleiwa Town to eat at Haleiwa Joe's. After lunch, we headed back home and stopped at the Dole Pineapple Plantation on the way. Meme and Pappqaw loved the fresh pineapple and the pineapple ice cream there! YUMMY! We were supposed to go eat out that night, but we didn't get a chance to since Charles got in so late from work.

On Wednesday, Pappaw got up early (what a surprise there) and made me a big batch of his gumbo so I could freeze some for later. I am still so happy about that! Charles was off this day, so we mostly just hung around and relaxed. It was Meme and Pappaw's 48th anniversary this day, and we were finally able to go out and celebrate. We headed down to Waikiki and ate at the rotating restaurant, Top of Waikiki. It was so nice to see the sunset and for Charles to be with us for once. Later that night, I had to drop him off on base so he could start up for the underway for the next month. So that is where he is now.

We got up super early Thursday, dropped Bourb off at the sitter's house and headed to the airport to catch our flight to Maui. How exciting! I have never been to Maui before. We picked up our rental car (which took forever b/c some cocky guy named Gary was as slow as a slug), and we headed out to our hotel. We arrived, got all checked in and headed up to our room. It is so nice. It has a beautiful garden and ocean view from pretty much all the windows. We got settled and changed and headed out again for dinner and a magic show. It was actually pretty decent believe it or not....I mean, the food could have been a bit better, but overall a good experience.

Friday was early morning horseback riding through the Maui countryside....such beautiful and amazing views! Can't wait to post the pictures! After riding, we headed to a little town called Lahaina for lunch. We ate at a little place called LuLu's and it was super yummy. That night, we shopped a bit and then had dinner at Bubba Gump's on the waterfront. Also very yummy!

And here we are at Saturday. This morning we woke up and headed to town. We stopped at the local scrapbook store of course, and then we were on to the lavender farm in what they call "upcountry". I call it "up a big ass mountain". But whatever...slight differences in how you view it, I guess! The lavender farm was amazing. I totally recommend it for the fragrance and the view. After the farm, we had lunch at Burger King of all places and headed to the Iao Valley. So gorgeous! It was absolutely amazing. I really can't wait to post the pics for you guys! So here we are-Saturday afternoon and I'm now blogging. Just a few hours before it's time for dinner at the Lahaina Grill. It's my last night here. I leave for Honolulu in the morning. I have to get back to work. Meme and Pappaw will fly back to meet me again on Tuesday.

So now everyone is up to speed. Sorry I waited so long in between posts. I 've been a busy girl these past few weeks. Love and miss you all.

XOXOXO

Lacie

Halloween BBQ...

Wow...can you believe its November already? Time is a flyin' by. Thank you everyone who came over last night for the Halloween BBQ. We didn't realize it was going to be such a big hit!

Charles grilled kabobs and they were super yummy! And I made some baked beans...I hope everyone had as much fun as we did. Bourbon sure did love all the attention.

Its a beautiful day today, and Charles has duty. I am very tempted to go to the pool or beach or something outside. We'll see how it goes.

So time has changed on the mainland and it has stayed the same here. What does that mean to you, you may ask? All of the CST people are now only four hours ahead of us instead of five. And the EST people are now five hours ahead instead of six. Oh, the little things that give me joy!

Aloha to all of you and I will keep you updated!

xoxoxoxo

Charles & Lacie