Teenager in the House

Kalia is an official teenager (3 days ago). Where has the time gone!! I'm amazed at how much she has grown. She is fun and feisty. I wouldn't trade her for the world. I would be lost without her. She helps out lots even if it's with some attitude at times. :0) I Love Her and am glad she's mine. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!


2 months, 4months, 1, & 2 years old

3, 4, 5, & 6 years old

7, 8, 9, & 10 years old


11 & 12 years old

Best Question Ever Asked!

Sixteen years ago yesterday Eric asked the best question he would every ask. "Will You Marry Me?" We started dating in February of 1993 and he asked the question on May 5th. I know, I know WOW that's fast. But hey, when it's right it's right! I was mesmerized by his charm, humor, and good looks. Another bonus he had was he played the guitar. I never thought that would get me but it definitely helped. I loved when he played his guitar. It would completely relax me.

On that great day we were hanging out at his place and he was playing his guitar. I knew most of his songs from hearing them many times. He gave me a list of about 4 songs, I picked one and he began to sing. When that one was done I picked another, then another. When he was done with the third song there was a knock on the door, it was his parents down for a day visit. Well just as quickly as they came they went. I thought, how strange but Eric said they were off to see his brother first.* By this point I was completely relaxed and on my way to dream land. Well I kept picking the wrong songs so he began another song and before I realized it I heard something about eternity and realized what he was doing. I don't think I actually heard those 4 words but I sat up, no, I jumped up and started hugging him. He finally said, "Well is it yes or no?" Of course it was yes! The next time I was able to hear that song was at our reception. He had only written up till the part when he popped the question. He then finished the song over the next couple of months and sang it to me at our reception. It is of course my song and my favorite!!

*Later I found out that his parents were there asking if he'd asked the question yet. He told them that he was just getting the nerve up to do it when they knocked. He kindly asked them to leave and got back inside and finished what he started to do.

Eric serenading us.

Eric's roommate took this picture. It was right after our first kiss and I totally and completely knocked him off his feet!!

Us getting ready to go to one of the dances at EAC.

Me hanging out in my cousin's dorm room.

Happy Birthday Eric

Happy Birthday Eric!! Today has been pretty low key. He did get to take a nap, go out to eat for lunch, have all the kids including nieces and nephews sing Happy Birthday while he blew out the candles, then he spent the rest of the day and night at Parker's first baseball game.

Love you Eric! You're the best husband and father ever! Our lives would be pretty sad, and boring without you. Thanks for all you do and put up with!!

Sisters Retreat!

This past weekend my sisters and myself got together to have a weekend of fun and playing. Kanani, Lehua, and myself headed to Phoenix to catch our plane. Kuliana flew from New Mexico and had a connecting flight in Phoenix which was the same flight as ours. We then were headed to Utah to stay at Leilani's and have a break from the kids. Here's us waiting for our flight and of course doing what we do best. EATING!!

After waiting for our flight that was delayed we were finally off.

Leilani picked us up at about 8:15pm and we headed off. Even though it was late the first thing we did was shop. We knew what stores stayed open past 9:00. After that we of course had to get a late night snack and stopped to talk and eat at Chili's. We then headed to Leilani's and stayed up past midnight getting ready for the next day's activity-snow boarding and skiing.

Thursday morning we awoke early with excitement. We ate and headed out. It was a beautiful day the weather was perfect. We arrived at Snow Basin bought our passes and head to the bunny hill. Leilani, Kanani, and Kuliana were pros but Lehua and I weren't. They were all on snow boards and I was on ski blades. I had never been snow skiing in my life. I decided to wait until I was in my 30's to try it out. Big mistakes. I managed the bunny slope ok but was still very inexperienced and didn't know what I was doing. Because Lehua was trying snow boarding for the first time they decided it was not steep enough to teach her what they wanted to. They decided to head up the mountain. They figured that since I made it down the bunny hill that I was good. They didn't realize that I just went straight down and then crashed to stop since I didn't know what I was doing. I said No Way, I was staying at the bunny hill so I could figure it out. But...they talked me into going up. I was told that we would take the easy hills down and everything would be fine. We headed up the mountain in the gondolas. Upon reaching the top I was extremely nervous but was going to do it. We took some pictures and got our gear back on.

(Pictured: Me, Lehua, Kanani, Kuliana, Leilani, Me)

They all took off and Leilani stayed to help me get my stuff on. We then headed to the hill. We went down the first small slope. Then the next one came and she headed off like a pro. I on the other hand just stood there for awhile. I started to go just a little but sat down to stop and just stayed sitting. I was looking at this slope and thinking there is no way possible for me to do this. I had no idea what I was doing! After several minutes of sitting I called Leilani to say there was no way I was going down it, that I was going back up to the gondolas to go back to the bunny hills. Once again she talked me into it. She promised once I got down that hill that it became more flat. Mistake number 2!! I started going basically on my bum. I wanted to get past this slope. I started going too fast for my comfort and tried to stop by going all the way down to my bum. Huge, mistake! I wiped out. Leilani happened to be watching and said I tumbled 3 times. In the middle of this my knee popped and I was instantly taken over by the most extreme pain I had ever felt. I was ready to die and throw up. I laid there and yelled to Leilani that my knee was hurt and to help. Other skiers at this point started to stop and ask if I needed help. Yes, I needed help I thought I was going to die. They called ski patrol and I waited. Now I was freezing and in pain. Ski patrol finally arrived. He braced my entire leg and loaded me into the toboggan. Now remember I was at the very top of the mountain and I knew how far down we had to go. I was so freaked out! Luckily they lay you down, bundle you up, strap you down, and then a tarp comes up by your face so you can't see anything. At first I thought, "Oh no don't make me feel like I'm in an MRI again." I breathed slowly and was ok. We took off and I closed my eyes tight. Even when they were opened all you could see is the sky and the top of the trees but I had to imagine that I was being pulled on the flat ground. I was surprised to find out that it was no big deal. It was bumpy but I never felt like I was falling. We arrived at the bottom and they wheel chaired me to the little medic room. They took my statement and info then sent my on my way with a cardboard splint.

(Don't let the smiles deceive you, I was in complete PAIN! I was only smiling because Leilani kept taking pictures and I felt like a total retard!)

We debated on whether I should could to the ER but decided to wait a day to see. Leilani took me back to her house to lay on the couch and be miserable. This is how I spent the rest of the day. My fun weekend was GONE! That night we did go to Wal-Mart and with the help of crutches to get in the store and the use of the riding shopping cart I got myself a brace to wear.
We then returned home because they were all exhausted and sore due to their great day. We watched a movie then headed to bed.

Friday morning we were suppose to go Mountain Biking. Obviously I couldn't. My Dad also flew in the night before and he decided that I really needed to go to the doctors. Leilani, my dad, and myself headed to insta care and the others decided that they would rather go shopping. We sat and waited. Eric called one of our friends from Yuma who is a Physicians Assistant to see if anything could even be done. He said to wait a week and then possibly go in then depending on what symtons I had. So, after an hour of waiting we left.

We then headed to the movies and watched 17 again. Dad and Bam (Leilani's husband) headed to a separate movie, I don't know why. :0) We all thought it was cute and a couple of my sisters said they have crushes on Zac Efron. Who wouldn't? After that Leilani needed to run her children here, there, and everywhere. I stayed with her in the car since it required no walking and the other 3 went back out shopping. We did stop at a couple of stores and I used a crutch to help me limp along very slowly. After spending about 4 hours in the car it was time to head back to Leilani's for them to get ready for dodge ball.

I've played this before when visiting last summer and loved it. I was so looking forward to it but instead I got to sit and cheer them on from the bleachers. After that all us girls, Dad, Bam and Kealani (Leilani's daughter) headed to Texas Roadhouse and stuffed ourselves till we were sick. To exhausted from another long day we all just went to bed when we got home.

Saturday morning we woke up, got ready for the day, packed our stuff and headed off to shop and to the airport. We did a little shopping (I did a little with the help of a shopping cart). We then took Kuliana to the airport then went back out shopping again until our flight. We returned to Phoenix and Kanani and Lehua still weren't done shopping. We hit a couple of more stores, we'll they did and then we headed home.

Even though my weekend wasn't what I had in mind it was great to be able to hang out with my sisters and Dad! Thank you girls for helping me all weekend! Next time, we're doing something that I can't get injured at!!

I've been domesticated

Apparently I've been domesticated. My sisters, Kanani and Lehua, had decided before I moved here to start canning once a month. I of course jumped on the wagon. In about a weeks time I canned chicken and did strawberry jam. I grew up helping my Mom do all kinds of canning. I had never canned or used a pressure cooker on my own. It was SO easy. Who knew?

The Ride

At the end of March, Eric and I went on a motorcycle ride with Brian and Brenda. Eric and I spent Thursday March 26 traveling the 5 1/2 hrs to Yuma to begin our ride Friday morning.

We pulled out of Yuma at about 10:30 after a couple of delays. To start off the trip Eric dropped his brand new helmet, scuffed it all up and lost one of the screws. We ended up at the Harley shop in Yuma to get it fixed. Once that was fixed we were off. One of our first stops was at this Country Store in Brenda, AZ. Brenda felt right at home and picked some goodies with her name on it. The men instantly sat back and enjoyed a cold drink.

We continued our ride and made many stops. I enjoyed every single one of them!

Here's another stop where Brenda and I got a little break.

We arrived in Prescott, checked into our hotel, and made our first stop. It was of course at the Harley Shop. I guess that's what you do when your on a motorcycle ride. ;0)

Here's Eric chilling in Prescott.


We looked around, went into a couple of small stores than stopped to eat at Murphys. It was great food and rolled out when we were done. We then retired back to the hotel for a cup of hot chocolate. It was pretty cold! After that we called it a night.

Saturday morning we packed up our stuff and headed out.

Here's our first stop on our way home. The view was gorgeous.



We arrived back to Yuma safely. I'm always hesitant to get on the motorcycle but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Surprisingly it was very relaxing. The weather was great, the ride was great, and the company was even better. Thanks Brian and Brenda!