you just can't beat this...

here i go!

i am traveling SOLO (did you catch that? S O L O) to tennessee next week to meet my dad and sister to visit my grandma b. who is 92 years old. i haven't been there in about 3 years, since nanea was about 18 months old, so i'm overdue for a visit.

this marks the first time that i am leaving the kids for more than a couple of days. and, with noa having to deal with meals, bedtimes, school, etc. on his own (i've only left once for 2 nights over a weekend for work). i'm sure that he'll be fine, but it will certainly be an eye-opening experience for him. i wonder how many days nanea will be late for school...and if he'll remember that they need to be picked up after he's done with work. i guess i'll never really know the truth, but look forward to him being in MY shoes if only for 4.5 days! yes, i'm crazy and am traveling across the country for a very short amount of time!

popsicle girls

enjoying their favorite treat on a rare night that they were allowed to stay up late. they brought their furniture outside to hang out with the grown-ups.

no posting

i know i'm behind. it's not that there's no news, just life has been BUSY. school has started for nanea and we are filling out kindergarten apps for next year, makena is a little "big" girl who talks non-stop and clearer each day. i need to work more in the office, work has been crazy, crazy, C R A Z Y. did i say crazy? at this time of year, the end of wedding season, i am so over weddings i hope to not see another for a long time. last weekend marked a 3-day extravaganza of a total of maybe 10 hours of sleep over a 72 hour period, and a circle island driving tour x 2. it was the last mad weekend of the year (well, there is maybe 1 more in late November, but at least that's a couple of months away), and although the remainder of the year stays busy, it's not MADNESS like may - sept has been on a consistent basis. 16 events in 4 weeks, huh?

i'm off for some much needed and overdue twin/dad/grandma time in tennessee at the end of the month, SOLO, so that will be an adventure. i don't know if i'll know what to do on a plane by myself after all this time of traveling with littles. especially the marathon 1 day trip each way from hawaii to tennessee.

finally, since it is still september 11th in hawaii, i wanted to write a little note of remembrance to all those affected by the tragedies that day. of course, we were all affected in some way, weren't we? no one will ever forget the sacrifice of the rescue workers, and all of the people who died that day. i remember our 80+ year old neighbor shouting through the window at the wee hours of the morning "noa, they're going to need you at work, the shit's hit the fan!" and noa jumping out of bed, talking to mr. ed, and subsequently getting into his flight suit, rushing to the car and to the base. he needed to get there because they wanted all the planes in the air. at that point, they thought the u.s. was under attack, and all commercial airline flights landing had f-15 escorts that day. i sat in our old recliner in a little ball, glued to the television and fielded calls from friends and family, all trying to get a hold of mikie since the phone lines were so jammed. they could call hawaii, but not ny. i actually don't think that i spoke to her that day, not being able to get through either. i was panicked at first because i had no idea where her office was in relation to the wtc. my grandma called me pretty early because she had been able to get a hold of her. i was so thankful that my office closed down, due to its proximity to the airport. i would not have been able to stop watching. we must also remember the men and women who continue to sacrifice their safety and lives each day, in the military, as well as police and firemen. they are true heros, even with little or no fanfare or recognition. i will never forget.