Sunday, September 27, 2009

Our last suppers with...

The Palmer and Chinh Ohanas! So this will be my last post about the east coast, even though I could write a book about all the wonderful people we met out on the east. But it's only fitting that I will end by writing about the Palmers, who always showered us with generosity & aloha and made us feel like we were in the islands,
and the Chinhs, who are such a wonderful family and they were still doing nice things for us up until the time we left the east. Gina kindly gave us a ride to the airport because we sold our Rodeo. She was always doing thoughtful things for us and I wish I could have reciprocated more! Gina is a dear friend - she inspires me to be a better person. She's such a dedicated mother; she's always teaching, learning and serving. She has so many creative talents, and is a fabulous cook. I love how assertive and articulate she is, and wish I could be more like that. She is very insightful and while she has strong convictions, she is very open- and fair-minded.

The night we got together with the Palmers, we our sides and cheeks hurt from laughing so much. Tua mimicked a Polynesian comedian's act he found on the internet and had us rolling! He's hilarious. We talked with him and Dana into the night, reminiced about our childhoods (bottlecaps, garbage pail kids...) and Tua brought out his favorite childhood marbles... Nizhoni laid them out aritistically on the table and I had to take a picture! Of course, I also had to take pictures of the delicious food: bbq chicken, pasta salad, fresh fruit, Hawaiian sweet bread rolls, fresh green beans and onions, rice and chocolate cake... We miss you guys!!
Our night with the Chinhs was so nice and relaxing, full of sweet hugs between the kids. It was close to when we were leaving and didn't really have any food in our fridge so it was so nice to eat such delicious fish tacos. I love the way both Gina and Dana cook! Gina made us homemade peach ice cream - such a treat - with a white cake topped with coconut! Of course, I took a picture of that too. This is a tangent, but the reason I like to take pictures of food is because people work so hard to make something so delicious and pleasing to look at and then it is gone! I like to remember all that went into it. : ) I love all the sweet hugs!! We love and miss you guys!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Reminicing... Michelle & Damon

I'm nostalgic, but it seems so long ago when Damon, Elise, Ethan, and Ches were this little... (Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's the back of Ches' head! : ) I believe this was taken at Michelle's house when the kids were around 16 months, before Elijah was born. I can't write a post about them without reminicing.
I miss those round, baby faces. In this photo, Damon is around 2 and Elijah looks to be about 8 months.
The last time Elise and Damon got to hang out with each other, they came over for a swim in our pool.
Our three cuties warming up on the benches.
This is my absolute favorite of Damon. You just can not take a bad picture of this kid - seriously! He should famous, he is so photogenic and cute.
Michelle is so lovely and we adore her sweet new baby, Brixton. She is such a true, dear friend... always generous and thoughtful. Once when were all home sick from church with something, she stopped by with a plateful of delicious brownies and a card addressed to "Sweet, Sickly Aunas." It made us smile! She was always more than willing to watch my kids when I had an appointment or errands to run. Once she drove me to the temple twice when it was raining because I had forgotten my reccomend!
Michelle always makes laugh, she says things I wish I could say with tact and humor. She's is out-going and warm, and a best friend to so many people! I'm grateful for her and how she kept me sane while we were neighbors. I am so grateful that I could confide in Michelle all about the challenges I had with my kids, the joy I found in their development, and that we could encourage each other in our goals. I'm so grateful for the great memories of going to the Olive Garden, parks, pools, picnics and watching fun shows on my laptop. We feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends!

Aaron and the kids floating on a sea of foam noodles.


Our free picnic dinner, courtesy of Summit Hills. : ) It was a fun way to say goodbye, and the kids really enjoyed seeing Damon one more time before we left. We love and miss you guys!

Catching Fireflies...


For Elise and Elijah, the wonder and excitement of catching lightening bugs never wore off. We loved chasing them and watching them glow in our hands. This had to be one our favorite experiences of our summers on the east coast....

Random Kensington pics & Slideshow

The great guys who moved our heavy sleeper sofa down 5 flights of stairs!
A most welcome surprise - the beautiful Fordham family. They dropped by and surprised us the night before we left! It was really sweet and thoughtful!

Sweaty Jackie and the lovely Young Women's Presidency. I admire these ladies so much and learned much from them. Rachel just had a baby in this picture and looks fabulous. The rest of us played basketball with the girls that night.
Annie is hilarious and makes me laugh - that's why I posted this picture. Ameri & her daughter are also kneeling on the ground. Brenna, Ari, Madeline, Becca, and Copeland are behind them.

Lovely Barbara was one of the women I had the great opportunity to visit teach.
The awesome Kensington Young Women.

Aaron and his good friend, Aric.
The rest of the pictures I took on the Sunday we left and when the Fordhams visited us the night before we left.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Kensington EQ activity...


How can you go wrong with a barbecue? We topped it off with firefly chasing.

Aaron and his friends from the Elder's Quorum. I know he has great respect for each of them, especially Adam, the one right next to him.
Sweet Camille and her daughter Eliza. We were delighted that her husband went to BYU Hawaii and that he and Aaron know each other.
Cute Asher and Elijah tangle up the tether ball.
I really like this picture of Ilsa and her friends, they are quite photogenic!
Emily and her family warmly welcomed us into the ward, and we are so grateful for their sincere kindness.
Brenna has such a gift with children! Our kids adored her.
We love Allison, Brad and their sweet family. They are so warm and down-to-earth. Also, they love our mutal friends the Tanigawas - how could we not love them?

Wheaton Carousel and Train

The week we left we met up with our cousins one last time at Wheaton Regional Park for a Carousel and Train ride. Coincidently, we had the happy chance of running into our sweet neighbors: Maricel, Mike, Katherine and Jacob. They are so wonderful!
Little Audrey is such a ham!



Thursday, September 10, 2009

I hope the kids remember...

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue

(Annika, Elise, Mark and Christopher. I took over 200 pictures at this playdate, but this is one of my favorite.)

A bright, gorgeous day for swimming with friends. We're grateful for all the people who planned these get togethers, and for Sue's generosity wih this particular playgroup activiity. It was one of our last chances to see everyone before we left the east. Sorry for posting so many pictures, but I really wanted to post at least one pic of everyone (in no particular order) because we love everyone so much....

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Annika & Elise. I loved catching these two in the midst of sweetly playing, unaware that anyone was watching.)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Elijah, Mark and Christoper huddling for warmth. Elijah admires these guys so much and became their little shadow.)


From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Sweet Hannah & Elise.)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Happy, smiling Imani.)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Lovely Gina & Anna.)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Beautiful ladies: Sue & Tiana)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Elise & Elijah taking a little break to warm up.)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Sunny Callie, Hannah & Madeline)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Pretty chicas: Tiana & Ellie)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Radiant friends: Elizabeth, Robyn & her cute son)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Delightful Allie & Will)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Classy and talented: Mary, Callie & Madeline)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Cheerful Abby.)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Flavorful fish tacos.)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(Three amigas: Taylor, Hannah & Elise. It was so heartwarming to watch their imagination at work as they scooped up tiny, sleeping water babies and placed them on a kickboard bed.)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(I love this action picture of Andrew.)

From Swimming Playgroup w/ Sue
(A floating peaceful Ches and sister in the background.)