A Mommy Daughter Day

Today Chase actually had to work...imagine the shock when he told me! I was a little excited on the inside because Ava and I could spend the day together. We love it when Daddy is around but there is something fun about it just being us.

We found ourselves at the park under a big tree. Where we cuddled up.

We gave kisses. She gave me some too, just not on camera....she doesn't kiss and tell! :)

We laughed and squealed. Well I laughed and Ava squealed.

And we watched birds too - Ava's new favorite thing to do!

When ate lunch under the tent on some picnic tables.

And see that juice box back there, thats Ava's drink....well she didnt want that one!

We had such a good day :)

Now she is napping and I think I may nap too.

Daddy says he has to work all week -

so more girls days to come!

a little bit of home in Hawaii

Last night we went to dinner in Waikiki. I have been begging Chase to take me down there since we got here and we finally went. As soon as we got there I knew it was going to be my new favorite place. It was Rodeo Drive meets Atlantic station - all the stores I cant afford but love to browse through and the stores I can afford and love to buy from - at all in one place! We walked around and ate at Margaritaville. It was YUMMY and they had little shows while we ate:

It was so much fun. We took our first "family" picture there. The staff was amazing and offered to take a picture of all 3 of us!

When we were leaving I caught something out of the corner of my eye....was that what I thought it was?? YES!!! In Hawaii they make leis out of kukui nut shells. They sell them everywhere in all different colors and they are beautiful. I had been looking for one to go on my rearview mirror of my car and I found the perfect one.

A BEAUTIFUL GEORGIA KUKUI NUT SHELL LEI

A little piece of home in Hawaii... the lady said I was lucky because they sell out of Georgia ones really fast. That put the biggest smile on my face! All the way out in Hawaii they sell out of Georgia things? I was so giddy!

We had a great time being tourist last night! Again next Friday?? I hope so!

True Love

Thats what I call it....in the form of a department store yesterday. They heard I was coming to Hawaii and built this brand new Target. Just for me Im sure! It is beautiful! We bought Ava a white beach hat and a little pink skirt for 5 bucks each! ohh I was so happy to find a Target. Now if I just had Granny and Grandpa here to get their discount we would be set...hint hint...a visit is NEEDED!!!

Eating Goldfish

on the bed in a hotel room made me realize how much closer we have gotten as a family since we have been here. We have been cramped in a little one bed room hotel room for a week now. Fun I know! I have only had one breakdown which is good for me and we have had a lot of fun. I do miss all our stuff, we have been without it for 5 weeks now, but i dont miss cleaning or cooking so thats a plus! We have spent so much time with Ava just playing and laughing. Pillow flights and watching Barney have become favorites around here. And when Ava goes to sleep we have no other choice but to spend time just the two of us. IF we were at home chase would be playing some sort of video game (yea my husbands a loser like that. haha just kidding hunny) and I would be doing something crafty - in separate rooms. It's funny how something so simple like eating goldfish in the bed of a hotel room can make you stop and think just how lucky you are. I have an amazing husband and (if I do say so myself) a perfect daughter and I couldnt ask for more. And we couldnt leave out a picture of my perfect daughter eating goldfish on the hotel room bed. It was just to darn cute not to share.

Itty Bitty Yellow Polka Dot Bikini

because you just cant resist the cuteness of these pictures! She is just so AWESOME and YUMMY I could eat her up, sand and all. She has such a little diva attitude, you can see for yourself her these pictures!

Whale Watching

Our whale watching experience in pictures with Ava as narrator. Hope you enjoy it!

We drove to Honolulu. It was an interesting drive up and down the mountains and through tunnels.

But we made it!

We were going to get on this big boat to go see the whales.

While we waited daddy and I looked at some fishies

And Mommy and I looked out at the ocean.

When we got on the boat I was a very good girl!

I played with mommy

And with Daddy

We made leis

and learned to hula dance

but then i was like "wait" aren't we here to see whales??

so i set off in search of them.

Daddy and I looked for a long time!

we thought we saw something once

but it was nothing!

We did see Diamond Head (or thats what mommy thinks it was anyways)

and the views were ok for the old people.

but NO WHALES. Mommy says we can go back next weekend! Ill post pictures of a whale then!

love, Ava

The Hawaiian Sun...

didn't compete with me wanting to be home today! Tiffany and Shaun had their little babies. Aubrey Michelle was 5lbs 5oz and 18 3/4 inches and Blake Robert was 6lbs 1oz 20 inches. They truly are two blessings. They are in the NICU now which just breaks my heart. Tiffany finally got to hold both her little angles today and it made her so happy. She has wanted to be a mom FOREVER and will be such a great one! I wish I was there to hug all 4 of them! They are doing better and we will know more about everything Sunday. If all of you could just keep them on your prayer list that would be so fantastic! The little time Ava spent in the Nursery after she was born fixing her lung problem killed me. You feel so helpless as a mom and it's just plain hard. I know they are two strong babies and they will pull through whatever gets thrown their way. They also have an extremely strong mommy and daddy and they have family that couldn't love them more. I'm still waiting to see pictures of them....hint hint!

News From Hawaii :: Chase doesn't have to go to the Big Island to train next week. His command is AWESOME and thought he needed to stay and get his family settled so he could me a focused Marine when he started. He also got word that he has the section. YAY! Thats the whole reason we came here. People are telling him how he is the newest hottest stuff. It is making him blush but it makes me smile. I am so proud of him. Our car got here today after its long boat ride from California!!! Now if we could just get a house. I hate to ask for more than one prayer in a post but if you could keep that in your prayers too that would be wonderful! :) We are going whale watching tomorrow on a BIG BOAT! You will see lots of pictures and hear all about that tomorrow i'm sure! ALOHA

I Call This Home

I was very unsure about moving here to say the least. I am very close to my family and have never been this far away from them. I took the news hard when Chase told me we were being stationed in Hawaii. But I mean seriously.....look at this place! I love love love it here. Dont get me wrong, I totally miss my family, friends, and sweet tea back home but this is truly paradise! We haven't done much yet. We are still homeless and car-less, but in this place who cares!?!?! The people are so nice and the food is amazing. Ava loves all the fresh fruit here and she is warming up to the sand on the beach. Chase is leaving next week for a 3 week field-opp and we are bummed about that but Ava and I will be really tan when he gets back. Nothing really exciting yet but its coming, I promise! For now, Aloha