Visitors from Utah

About a week before Thanksgiving, the Panees came to visit for the Thanksgiving holiday.  It was so much fun seeing them and doing fun things while they were visiting.  When they arrived on a Saturday morning we had pancakes with the Magleby's syrup.  I made all different kind of pancakes, pumpkin spice pancakes, banana pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes, banana chocolate chip pancakes, etc.  all different variations.  We also had blueberry muffins, bacon, and fruit.  Yummy!  Later that day I think we just relaxed and because of the long drive they took naps to get rejuvenated and we played some Just Dance on the Kinect.

On another day we went on the duck tour.  It was freezing but it was a fun time!

I love these faces of Eli, haha

These are views when we were crossing over the bridge.  I believe that is Lake Union

The view from on the Lake

Haha cute Mika, I love her.  It was so cold

The little green house is the floating house on Sleepless in Seattle

The kids got to go up front and take a picture with Salmon Ella.  We had a really fun tour guide!

After the duck tour we walked through the Jimmy Hendrix museum, well more like the gift shop.  We didn't actually get to go in the museum.  However, we went into the science center and spent sometime playing around in there.  The kids had a fun time and so did I.  

Bray and Malakai in the dinosaur footprint

This is the best shot I could get of all the kids in some space rocket thing

The kids and Uncle Doug attentively listening to the science demo

Sitting on the caterpillar and Eli is falling off while Ani is trying to save him! 

I couldn't resist taking this pic of baby Keilani in her baby bjorn, she's so cute!

Lots of butterflies in the butterfly exhibit

I thought this was cool, the stages of cocoons

I tried for such a long time to get a picture of this butterfly.  It only had blue on the inside so I tried and tried to time it so that the picture took when his wings were open.  It was nearly impossible.  However, I got lucky and got this picture by the lovely "Caution, Wet Floor" sign.

Haha I love these pictures of the babies in their baby bjorn, so cute!

Miss Mika trying to hang on this thing.  This was right by the green wall which was one of my favorites.  Its a dark room with fluorescent green walls, a light would flash and it leaves your shadow on the wall, that was one of my favorites when I was a kid.  

On the way back to the car I snapped a shot of the beautiful space needle.  I think it looks so pretty at night.

Anyways, I had lots of fun with the Panees and I loved seeing the kids.  It's always so fun to play with them, they always make me smile.  

Booty Barre

So while I was in Seattle I found something called "Booty Barre".

I was very curious what this was and saw that they had a complimentary class for first timers at The Pilates Company in Woodinville (so if you're ever in the area, you should give it a try).  I thought I would give it a try since I hadn't been doing any sort of exercise since I had been in Seattle.  Amanda and I went to our complimentary hour and a half booty barre plus class.  Oh my gosh, did it kick my butt, but I loved it.  I felt so out of shape, ha oh wait I probably was so out of shape.  I was so sore for the next couple of days.  I like feeling sore though so it was a good thing.  I loved it so much I bought a month unlimited package.  So I went almost everyday for a month.  

If you are wondering what Booty Barre is, it is a mix between pilates and ballet.  It is a great class that works a little of everything, arms, shoulders, legs, booty, back, and abs.  You start out with a warm up and then you do a series of arms with hand weights.  I thought I could totally do five pounds, but hello I was dying.  I almost had to switch to threes in the middle of the series.  You don't ever get a chance to rest, so its non-stop lifting which equals really sore and tired arms.  After the arm workout, you move to the barre and work every part of your legs and your booty.  This section is killer, you feel the burn very fast.  haha You then move to the floor for abs and you finish with some light stretching.  I fell in love with booty barre and kind of got addicted.  I was sad to leave because I knew there wasn't any booty barre in Hawaii.  So I had to buy the DVD before I left so I could still do some booty barre myself.  I got this DVD...

I've done it a couple times and it is still killer.  Before I left seattle the studio mentioned they were doing something called the Booty Barre Redemption challenge.  Its a 6-week program that combines unlimited booty barre classes and a healthy eating plan.  They have prizes for the most classes attended, the most weight lost, the most inches lost, etc.  I would've loved to do it well, because I love booty barre and because the grand prizes are awesome.  The first a $250 Nordstrom gift card (my favorite store) and unlimited booty barre classes, second $150 Nordstrom gift card and unlimited booty barre classes, and the third $75 Nordstrom gift card and unlimited booty barre classes.  Its a bummer that I won't be there for the challenge but since I have the DVD I'm going to do the challenge myself at home!  I don't get the Nordstrom gift card, but maybe I'll just go shopping at Nordstrom and spend $250 when I'm done with the challenge.  haha We'll see how it goes!  :)  But I highly recommend Booty Barre to anyone who is interested and wanting a good workout!

Aloha from Hawaii

Ok so since it may take me awhile to get up to date (and lets face it, it's going to take me awhile!), I decided I'll start blogging about my life now and input old posts where I can.  So, with that being said...I AM IN HAWAII NOW!

Yes, I did make the move to Hawaii!  It was a bit scary making such a big move, but I have to say I haven't felt more certain about a decision.  Let's just say someone was throwing some pretty obvious hints that I was headed in the right direction.  It first started on November 28 when I started my travels to Hawaii.  I woke up that morning with a little sick feeling like "you're not supposed to be moving yet" or something.  I continued to feel that way all the way to the airport.  Backing up a little bit, the previous couple of days I was trying to pack all my stuff (and I always overpack "stuff").  I was stressing a little bit because I wanted everything to fit and I didn't want my luggage to be overweight, and I didn't want to have to pay for extra luggage, and trying to do that with all my stuff was hard.  I even tried to see if I should ship a box.  For 200 some what dollars, it was cheaper to pay $125 for an extra bag.  So thats what I decided to do.  I was taking three big suitcases and one carry-on.  Anyways, back to the airport, I got there and struggled with my three huge suitcases walking to the check-in counter.  After suitcases falling over and looking like a complete idiot and traveling amateur I made it to the check-in counter.  Stressing that I most likely would be overweight I weighed my first two bags.  Luckily they were both under...barely (48.5 and 49 lbs)!  Wahoo.  Then I told the lady I had a third bag to check.  She then told me I would have to pay $125.  Already anticipating the amount I agreed.  Surprisingly, the lady was sooo nice.  After some hesitation she said, "You know what?  I'm going to waive the fee because I don't want to see you pay $125."  What?  Who does that?  I was so thankful to her I wanted to reach over the counter and hug her.  I honestly couldn't thank her enough (now that I think about it, I should've gotten her name).  I thought I was fine after I checked in my third bag, but then they told me to weigh my carry-on.  Oh gosh I shoved everything in my carry-on that couldn't go in my suitcases because it would put it over the weight limit.  So come to find out my carry-on is eight pounds over so I offered to pay for that because I had no other option, I needed all my stuff.  The lady being as nice as she is said that she's not going to charge me and told me to gate check it when I get to my gate.  Once again I wanted to hug her.  After I got all my bags taken care of I was so relieved.  So much stress lifted off my shoulders.  

Well, if that wasn't enough, she put me through the first class line so I didn't have to wait in the long line for security, I skipped all the way to the front. Now because I was flying to Hawaii on a buddy pass, I wasn't certain that I would make it on the flight, but I didn't mind.  As long as my luggage made it there I was fine.  haha So I get to the gate and I hear the voice over the intercom, "This is a very full flight so if you have any carry-ons you would like to check, please bring them to the desk."  So like the lady said I gate checked my bag, but I wasn't expecting to get on the flight because it was very full.  After waiting for majority of the passengers to board, I was surprised to hear the lady call my name.  I made it on the flight, but not only did I make the flight, but I got to ride first-class!  Really?  Could anything work out any better?  I was seriously blessed.  I even got to sit next to the nicest most friendly lady.  It was a quick five hour flight and I landed on the beautiful island of Hawaii!  

So now I'm here and trying to get settled in and start my new life...I have to find a job, apply for school, find a bank, find a car, find a gym, and I think thats it.  So that's what I'll be doing.  

If anyone plans on coming to Hawaii give me a call, I would love visitors.  Even if you're not planning on coming to Hawaii, come anyway and visit me!  :)

Baby Keilani

Wow, I am the worst blogger ever!  I am still trying to catch up on all the things (well highlights) of October and November.  So a week after I had been in Seattle, Amanda was due.  She was hoping to come early, but Mei Mei (meaning little sister in chinese, that's what the boys called her) needed all her beauty rest so she went full term.  Amanda was induced on October 1 at 5:30 am I believe, so bright and early.  She gave birth all natural (what a tough cookie) to a sweet sweet baby girl, Keilani!  I stayed home with the boys in the morning while Joe and Amanda was at the hospital.  I fed the boys breakfast when they woke up, then we spend the morning getting the house ready for mommy and Mei Mei to come home.  We drew pictures, made a card and even made a "Welcome Home" banner for them.

Around 2 o'clock we got the okay to come to the hospital to see mommy and Mei Mei so I piled the kids in the car and off we went to the hospital.  The boys were so excited to see mommy and Mei Mei.  Isn't she just precious?  

Mei Mei had a gift for the boys when they got there and the boys loved their new toys.  They each got a coloring book and a little paddle and a bouncy ball toy.  They immediately put them to use...

Such good boys 

I got to hold sweet Keilani

We had lunch and chatted at the hospital for awhile, but alas it was time to go home.  The boys really missed their mommy and were sad to leave her at the hospital.  After we visited mommy and Mei Mei at the hospital, we went back home.  However, the next day we were able to go back to the hospital and pick them up to bring them home.  What a beautiful family.  

Ready to go home!

q

Kirkland, Home of the First Costco

I know this isn't the greatest picture, but I went with Amanda to Costco one day and learned that this Costco was the very first Costco to open.  It is located in Kirkland, WA.  Ever wonder where the brand Kirkland came from?  Probably because the first Costco started in Kirkland...I don't know just a hunch.  Anyway I just thought I would share.

Pike Place Market

I looove Pike Place Market.  When I was younger and we used to visit my grandma in Seattle we would do all the site seeing including Pike Place.  It has been so long since I had been and the only thing I remembered was the fish throwing.  When we visited this time I think I appreciated it a lot more because I felt like I could go to the Market every week.  My favorite things there were the flowers!  Oh my gosh I wanted to buy them all they were so beautiful and the best part was that they were only $5 for the small bouquet (which was still pretty big) and $10 for the large.

I couldn't resist so I did leave with this beautiful bunch...

These are the beautiful flowers in the vase when we got home

There was also a large variety of fruits and vegetables displayed.  I wanted to buy all those too just walking by.  

Ugh don't they look delicious?

Oops!  Fingers got in the way, but look at how huge that avocado is that I'm holding

Then of course they have the infamous fish market where they throw the fish around.  I wanted to buy one just to see the whole performance.  (Gosh why do I want to buy everything?) Unfortunately, I didn't get a good video of the whole fish throwing, but here is the display of all the seafood!   Mmmm I love seafood!

There's also a cute little park close by with a great view.  We walked over and took a few pictures...

Eli was having a great time running around.  Doesn't he look so cute in Malakai's hat?

And this is the view of the beautiful lake.  I love any view with the water in it.

Here you can see Safe Co. field and Century Link field

Oh something I also learned...the first Starbucks opened in Seattle right on Pike Place.  This is the first Starbucks ever!  There's a lot of firsts in Seattle

That ends my Pike Place Market experience.  I loved it and of course I had to get a pic by the infamous sign...