More Nadia...

I can't help it. I love taking pictures of her. She makes the cutest little faces...

Seven years later...

Today Inoke and I celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary. What?! How can it already be seven years? Holy smokes. I remember the day so clear I was a 22 year old that knew everything and could be told nothing... soon thereafter I became a 22 year old that knew nothing; but still could be told nothing. The crazy thing about it all is I still feel like I am 22; not 29 going on 30. Inoke and I have had an awesome 7 years and at the risk of sounding all mushy; I am so greatful that he is there with me for eternity.

No big plans for celebrating this year. We are just enjoying a quiet day home with Nadia. I can honestly say, she is the best anniversary, Christmas, birthday present all in one. I would rather stay home with her than go anywhere or do anything. Funny how fast you can totally adore a little baby girl.

Fijianisms' 101

I will be the first to admit that making the jump from "aunty" to "mommy" can be a little unnerving. I mean all those little things that mom's just automatically know. I never really thought about it; then there is the whole every mother raises their own baby their own way thing. I mean there really is no right or wrong way, there are just different ways, right? Inoke's family all flew out this past week so it is now just the three of us here at home. I think I am adjusting rather well, and Inoke is head over heals for Nadia. It is really endearing to watch him learn how to change dirty diapers and gain confidence that he won't "break" her when he picks her up. We are coming along just great.

So I have to share a couple new things that I learned from my Mother in Law when they were here regarding raising babies Fijian Style. One evening Nadia was fussy, totally not normal for this little one, she is normally a total chill baby. We figured out that she had some gas. So Inoke's mom asked me to get her a piece of paper. I thought maybe she was going to write down some ingredients to get at the store or something to fix the gas; but no that wasn't it. She putNadia down and rubbed the paper on her stomach then crumpled the paper up into a ball and handed it to Inoke; instructing him to go hang it out on the clothes line. I guess after raising seven babies of her own she has her own little ways of doing things. It just made me laugh a little because I had never expected that one. So the other day when I came home and saw a piece of crumpled paper hanging from the window in the bathroom, I just deduced that Nadia must have had some gas pains.

The second natural fijian remedy I learned last week was one for hiccups. I guess paper is a pretty popular remedy... one afternoon Nadia had the hiccups; they didn't seem to be bothering her but they did bother Inoke. So he took a small piece of paper, licked it, and stuck it to her forehead. Again I just looked and smiled. So if you ever see a little Fijian baby with a spit wad on their forehead, they must have had the hiccups.

The Wise Man Built His House...

And the rains came down. Holy smokes did the rains come down on Laie yesterday. To say it poured would be a gross understatement. One of the joys of living in Laie is that every couple of years we get a good dumping. It is pretty much inevitable that the rain will come and instead of getting all worked up about the inevitable flood damage people still go out and "play." What never ceases to amaze me is how fast the water gets soaked back up into the ground. This morning our yard was "dry." I am truely greatful that our house is up on stilts and built upon the sand... cuz the water just kept on rising up those back porch steps and even though we had about 6" of standing water in our yard and the carport was totally flooded our house stayed dry. The worst I suffered was the loss of one of my work shoes that was left out on the steps... (I found the other shoe floating around in the back yard). Here are some pics of La'ie.

Our Newest Addition...

Last Friday we welcomed Baby Nadia to our little family. Uh, no you didn't miss nine months of pregnancy, I am really not that great at keeping secrets. We are adopting her, she is Inoke's sister Finau's little one. She was born on October 15th and we have been anxiously awaiting her arrival to Hawaii for the last seven weeks. She is amazing. Truly amazing. I love her curly dark hair, and her big black eyes mesmerize you with her stares. We are all adjusting and enjoying having family around for the first little bit. Finau and Jay came down with Vaka and Nadia; then Inoke's parents arrived from Fiji on Sunday, so we have a full house. It is a pretty close call as to what Inoke loves more; having Nadia around, or having Finau and his Mom cook all his favorite Fijian foods. One thing is clear though, that little girl has Inoke wrapped around her little pinkie... uh oh I can see how this is going to be...

Ba Humbug...

Today I was talking on the phone to my sister, in the background I could hear my little 3 year old niece singing Christmas Carols loudly. It was making us both laugh to listen to Olivia and her little versions of Jingle Bells so Olivia got on the phone to sing a private concert for me. "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride on a one fa na la bay." That little girl can bring a smile to anyone in a matter of seconds with her Innocent and genuine actions. It got me thinking how totally Ba Humbug I am around the Holiday Season.

For example we have a Christmas tree... that has been set up once in the last four years. I even tried to sell it at the yard sale last year because it was taking up too much precious space. In the beginning Inoke used to ask me all excited like if I was going to "decorate;" sadly over the years he has come to know me better... now he doesn't even bother to ask. I have the decorations all packed nicely in a box collecting dust in the back of the spare closet.

It goes further than just not decorating... I don't even bother to cook special meals at Thanksgiving or Christmas any more. It doesn't help that Inoke refuses to eat turkey... but still I have become so lax in this area. Last Thanksgiving we BBQ'd ribs and hamburgers. Yep, forget about the stuffing, cranberries, and pecan pie; A hamburger and some Doritos will hit the spot.

That is if we even spend the day together. The last two Christmas' Inoke pulled double shifts at work and I spent the day catching up on laundry. This morning someone asked me if I had plans for this Thursday... my response. Yep, Inoke is working and I am going to organize the kitchen. There is one good thing about my lack of holiday cheer, I don't have to worry about gaining ten pounds from eating all the leftovers for a week after the dinner.

I've never been huge into holidays... but lately I have realized that since I got married I have totally been slacking in this area. So in an effort to start new "family traditions" with Inoke I am making a new resolution to do better at trying to bring some sort of holiday cheer into the house without grumbling too much.

Fiji Nine

So overall we had a great trip. I miss waking up at 6am to Yaca and Juju asking for me to fix their hair or put on make up. I even got to see Inoke's Elementary School and his old house in Waila. It was fun to imagine him as a little kid running around barefoot in the school uniform. As usual trips to Fiji are few and far between. The last time I was over there was 2002. So we never seem to have enough time to see everything that I want to see or do everything that I planned to do. I do have lots of fond memories though, like sleeping outside on the porch under a mosquito net because it was sweltering hot in the house. I guess we will just have to take another trip back to see all the things on my list... the Hot Bread Kitchen is calling my name.

Random Pics

Fiji Eight

The night before we headed to Nadi to fly back to Hawaii everyone got together for a family dinner at the Raintree Lodge. I love that place, it is like being in the middle of the Rain Forest, but then you are still close to Suva. It was a beautiful evening, and it was really something to have the whole family together (except Finau). We took a Biutanaseva Family picture and having six of the seven kids there with their spouses was something to see.

Raintree Lodge

Fiji Seven

What is a trip to Fiji without taking all the nieces and nephews to Mc Donalds? Everyone but Nolani got up early one morning and we squeezed in the car to go eat Happy Meals. Yum. Juju was a little hesitant about eating the hash brown and egg mc muffin... but her brother Peni didn't hesitate to eat her share too. It was fun listening to them tell stories and play with the toys. That afternoon Inoke and I went to pick up Nolani from school and she so kindly reminded us that she too needed to eat Mc Donalds since she missed the breakfast run. Personally I would much rather have a $2 roti/curry parcel than a $6 happy meal... but then again I can eat Mc Donalds whenever I want to.

Mc Donalds

Fiji Six

We spent another day cruising down to Pacific Harbor. It is always fun to check out the Handycraft shops and walk around somewhere where the foreigners outnumber the locals. Just watch out for the tourist prices. Ouch. It was sweltering hot and I was looking for a cheap little fan to cool off. Uh the lady offered me $20. So I replied in Fijian and walked out the door. Hello that same fan is $3 in Suva; she must have been smoking some good crack to think I would spend $20 on a woven fan. We had a good time though. After shopping around and finding some great deals on necklaces and bracelets we cruised across the street to the beach and relaxed a while. It was a good day and all the kids were knocked out on the drive back to Suva.

Pacific Harbor

Fiji Five

We decided to get away from all the wedding hustle and bustle one day. So up to the Le Suva we went. I had to have a laugh at the receipt that the Forestry Office gave us to enter the park. "2 overseas & 3 locals" Danielle and I cost $5/each. Inoke, Wes, and Esala were only $1/each. Only in Fiji. Wes wanted to hike down the trail from the first pool while Inoke wanted to drive down to the biggest pool at the bottom. So I got out and hiked while Inoke took the car down. Uh, someone should have said it was a full hour of a hike down steep muddy steps and massive spiderweb rain forest. There were eight different pools that all led to the big one at the bottom. It was a beautiful hike and by the time we reached the end Inoke was already swimming in the pool. I was totally bummed that I still couldn't swim so I watched as everyone else took turns on the rope swing. Ahh next trip I will swing too.

Hiking

Fiji Four

Saturday was the "western style" reception. It was at Central Cuisine in Suva. Danielle, Balavu, and I went down and spent the afternoon decorating the tables and preparing the last minute details. All the nieces were thrilled to go to the salon in the morning and get their hair done for the occasion. They looked so beautiful in the red dresses that Finau sent down. It was a fun night with lots of food and dancing.

The Reception

Fiji Three

The temple ceremony was Thursday, but the Tevutevu wasn't until Friday afternoon. So after the temple Talei came back to us and stayed with her family until Friday night. The Tevutevu is the traditional fijian wedding ceremony. The bride's side brings mats, blankets, masi, pillows, bedding, mosquito nets, and other various things to the groom's home and they present the bride to the boy's family sealing the match with the traditional presentation of the tabua (whale's tooth). For days prior to the Tevutevu family from all sides brought piles and piles of gifts to the home. It was an amazing process to watch. My favorite gift was the waiwai (homemade coconut oil) Inoke's mom was kind enough to hook me up with a bottle of the sweet smelling oil to take home to Hawaii.

Tevutevu

Fiji Two

Next on our trip was the temple. I will never forget Talei's wedding. We rushed and rushed around to be there for the ceremony at noon. I was yelling at Inoke all the way up the steps that we were going to be late. He just kept telling me to relax, it was Fiji Time. When we got there the Temple Matron told us to relax Talei and Jona went to town to get the marriage licence. Uhh small detail. So we sat and waited and waited talking story with the temple matron. Finally Inoke, Wes, and Sami got tired of waiting and decided to leave to go get some food. Only in Fiji. Talei returned licence in hand and we got started at 3pm. It was a beautiful ceremony and Inoke's dad was able to officiate. The rain even held out for a few pictures afterwards.

The Temple

Fiji One

First major stop on our trip was to our niece Halani's School for her birthday. She turned 7! I remember holding her in my arms as a little baby, and now she is such a beautiful little girl. Finau sent down lots of little goody bags for all the kids and every kid in her class got a Happy Meal from Mc Donalds. We will just say that she was the Queen of the Class... it was so fun to see all her class smiling from ear to ear and all the other little kids from other classes peeking into the classroom trying to score some Mc Donalds. We had a great time. I especially liked watching giant Inoke maneuver around the classroom serving cake to all the class. It was quite comical to watch the small little boys get up the courage to approach Inoke for a second piece of cake.

Halani's Birthday

I'm Back.

For the few who read this, it has been a while since my last post. The last two months have been crazy. Hopefully I am now on the upswing of things and life is getting better again. In a nutshell I had surgery in Sept. It was supposed to be an easy in and out thing but with complications... it became 9 days in the hospital and a cut from sternum to just below my navel. Not so cool. Inoke was a super nurse/housekeeper/chef/husband. Seriously when they say if this doesn't kill you it will only make you stronger.... that was us. I couldn't lift more than ten pounds, and for the first 5 weeks I couldn't even sit up without help ( funny how much you use those stomach muscles to do everything) I spent six weeks trying to recover enough to go on our trip to Fiji. The doctors weren't going to let me go all the way until three days before we left. So when I finally got the green light for travel I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to figure all the things we needed to pack. Dressing an open wound in Fiji requires serious supplies. We did it and I survived our trip very well. (More on the trip to come). So that is my lame excuse for not blogging in a while...

Proud to be an Alaskan...

I know it is shocking that a Political Science Major doesn't really follow politics these days. I think politics lost their flare a while ago for me, but did you see that GOP Convention yesterday?!?! WOOHOO. Go Sarah Palin. Living in Hawaii everyone is going on and on about Obama and how wonderful he is... I was going for Mitt Romney in the beginning but once he was knocked out of the race the political race lost its savor. So I have admittedly been rather blase with the Presidential Election. Not that I have given up totally, I mean I am very grateful for the right to vote... I just haven't been as interested of late. Well that all changed when I found out McCain picked a fellow Alaskan Girl for a running mate. I was a little cautious as I have lived in Hawaii for a while and the last time I was in Alaska Frank Murkowski was Governor. I have read up on the various opinions on a Beauty Queen Governor... and the scandal about her teenage daughter's pregnancy. None of that mattered after I heard the speech last night. The woman has talent. She made me proud to be an Alaskan Girl. I have never been so enthralled with a political address. Kudos to the writer.. but big time kudos to the Hockey Mom who pulled it off. She rocked. Now I am finally into this election process and excited to go cast my vote. Inoke is way excited too, as he is officially an American Citizen this election and now can exercise his right to vote too.

Mais Oui... une Wii

I don't know if I am getting soft in my old age or if Inoke just is learning how to push my buttons, but he definitely is getting really good at getting what he wants. This weekend we were at the mall and Inoke stopped in at his favorite little shop the Game Stop. Personally, I don't know what is so fascinating about video games. My indifference might be largely attributed to the fact that I have never been particularly skilled at them. I remember when we had a Nintendo and playing Super Mario Brothers only to get totally creamed by my 5 year old brother... yes. I was the kid that could never get past the first level and was jumping for joy if I ever made it to the swimming around underwater level... Usually I had my little brother finish off the ending to get me up to the next level since I never could coordinate how to jump on top of those HUGE mushrooms.

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Inoke on the other hand is amazing when it comes to video games. He is the guy that will sit and figure out all the shortcuts and special secret weapon moves. He will sit for hours trying to master each game and then move on to the next challenge. I have accepted the fact that he loves Madden Football and every year he HAS to have the next Madden game. He likes his video games like I like my pedicures.

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So this weekend Inoke was trying to convince me that we NEEDED an Xbox 360. Hmm, nope not going to happen. We don't need an Xbox 360. I however wasn't on top of my game and said, "No way! If we are getting another of these game systems we will buy a Wii." Cuz lets face it that commercial when the guys are playing Wii and the one guy throws his remote at the other guys flat screen tv on accident, the Wii looks way fun. Well Inoke took that reply and ran with it. Pretty soon he was showing me all the cool games that I could have if we had Wii and how I could get a yoga mat thingy and an air guitar and all these cool "exercise" games. I lost, he won, we got a Wii.

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I actually kinda like the Wii. Especially the bowling, because that was the only game that I could beat Inoke at. He creamed me at tennis, golf, and I didn't even want to try the boxing or baseball. I will have to work up to it. We had heaps of fun, here are some pictures of the excitement.

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Api and the boys came over to join in the fun.

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While Inoke, might never admit it... Loren actually beat him at a couple of the tennis matches. This kid has skills. :)

Look at that smile. Someone is a happy camper.

995 Reasons Why...

Inoke so kindly reminded me last night that it has been a while again since I have updated this blog. I asked him what I should update everyone about, and his reply was "You'll think of something, you always do." One day he might regret that sentence. So for the last two years or so since he fried the hard drive on our old computer; Inoke has been bugging me that we NEED a laptop. I really don't know why he has this fixation with laptops. I am perfectly fine with out a computer at home... well probably because I sit at a computer for 8 hours a day at work. So about every month or so he will bring up the subject of needing to buy a laptop. I know it isn't nice, but normally I pacify him with the "I am looking for a good one... or We will get one next (major holiday sale), etc." Usually I can get his mind onto something else for a while and side step the issue. Well usually, last week on his day off Inoke went to town. When I came home from work that day I found him with his shiny new laptop.

There are three things I would like to point out on this subject...

First, some people think I am a slave driver because I always am sending Inoke to do overtime shifts or to work on his day off. Contrary to popular believe I am not a mean wife, I just know what trouble my husband gets into when he has idle hands...

Second, this isn't the first time he has pulled something like this. When we were first married and waiting on his work permit to come through I went to work. One day I came home and found him with a brand new Play Station... uhh huh.

And third, this is why I am a meany and don't let him have the credit card in his wallet for "emergency purchases" because to Inoke a $995 laptop is an emergency.

So the credit card is back in a secure place and Inoke is very happy with his new toy. I have to admit it is a great laptop and it is saving us lots of money usually spent on phone cards to Fiji... I love Skype!

Blood, Sweat, & Tears...

Last night I learned a valuable lesson about charity and service. One of the girls I visit teach told me that she loves Pani Popo and she is moving in a couple weeks. So Adrian and I got together after work and made a couple batches of Pani Popo for the girls we visit. In the old days I was known to be the Pani Popo Machine. Seriously when I was in college I was the Secretary for Samoan Club and every function we had I made big batches and trays of the coconut buns. Now a days it is a rare occasion that I will slave over the stove for 2 1/2 hours to make the dessert. Only if Inoke really begs for it. I have heard of using frozen dinner rolls instead of making them from scratch... but I am just old fashioned and I like the taste of soft home made rolls. So I digress... after we finished baking we headed over on foot to deliver the trays. As we were walking carrying the trays my slipper broke and I totally bit it on the asphalt. Seriously, it was a doosy of a fall. When I was going down the only thought in my mind was "SAVE THE PANI POPO!" So I sacrificed my leg and the tray didn't even spill. It was a miracle. I didn't even twist my ankle, which was another miracle because I was wearing those 4" slippers... But as I stood up I looked down. Even in the dark I could see the blood starting to drip. So I hobbled over on one broken slipper to deliver the trays. Lucky Mariko was kind enough to invite me in to clean up my leg. Now here come the tears. Have you ever poured hydrogen peroxide on an open wound??? HOLY SMOKES! Seriously I was biting down on a towel to keep from screaming and it didn't just sting when we poured it on, it kept stinging for like a half hour. Ouch! Here is a photo of the wound.

Look! Now I have matching war wounds with Inoke!

Lesson learned. No more 4" slippers. At least we got a good laugh about it all and I actually did my Visiting Teaching this month....

Do I really want to remember????

So I just have to say Thanks Brittany for the trip down memory lane! Holy Smokes. After seeing these pics I don't know if I want to remember (or atleast admit) those old days! Maybe if they were from the 80's or something I wouldn't be so shame... but this was only a couple years ago... hello Fashion Police!!!

Here is a good one of Me, Monica, Margorie, and Ofa (in front). Wooo Monica looking good!



Then we move on to Ice, Inoke (why did I let him out of the house dressed like that???), and Suka.

And last but not least the smiling tripple trouble, Joape, Ice, and Inoke (Now I remember why he got turned into Honor Code so many times... hello can you say C-L-I-P-P-E-R-S).

Me in pictures...

I saw this on a blog and thought it was pretty cool. You can do it too if you like...

Here is how you can play too:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker ( I couldn't figure this part out so I stuck them in photobucket and made a slide show that way...).

The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name. (kid version: favorite animal?)

Opinions...

I have been working on a design for a family reunion t-shirt for our trip in October. Here are a few of the contenders. Opinions are welcome. I know it is going to be hot over in Fiji so I figured the shirt either has to be "white" which Inoke is not thrilled with or a darker color (to hide the sweat marks... ).

Tag.. Your It.

OK Amy this is for you.. I will play. I think only six people read this blog anyways... if you read it leave a comment... my record thus far is SIX whole comments... :)
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1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

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2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Never say never...

So last Friday my old friend Mose got married. Anyone who knows the guy can testify that it was a minor miracle. Not that he would find a girl to marry; but that he would actually go through with it and find "the one." I have known Mose for ten years now; he was one of the original friends I had the first year I came to school in Hawaii. There have been plenty of oportunities for the guy, I am just so happy that he finally found "the one." So here are a few pics from the wedding reception. They had the reception at the Hale Kaua'i and it brought back fond memories of going to Monica & Kali's reception.

Here is the happy couple Mose & Annie Paopao...

Kitione flashing his little signs...


Loren with the double signs... where do they learn this???


Must be a family thing... here is Fetu looking great almost 5 months along...

And last but not least... Inoke looking thrilled as usual at my attempts to take his picture.

Only In Hawaii...

So first of all I just have to say that I haven't been posting all that often, because frankly I don't think my life is all that exciting at the moment. But this morning Inoke was asking me why I haven't posted on our blog in a while (honestly, I was shocked that he even checked our blog) so I figured I would come up with something to say.

That being said, I am going to talk about something that happened to me today at work. Has anyone ever noticed how totally and completley honest Polynesian people are. I mean they just tell it like they see it. Anyone reading this blog that either is married to a Polynesian or has a Polynesian friend will understand my story, and probably even empathize. As a preface I am not looking for sympathy, I am fine, it just cracks me up that after being married to Inoke for 6 1/2 years I am still shocked at some things that people say.

OK, so I am at work this morning and a lady comes in the office. Mind you, I don't know this woman. I have seen her around Laie a couple times, but it isn't like we are friends, I don't even know her first name. So she is talking to me about some things and then she says to me "You know I don't want to be rude....but...." and thoughts flash in my head. OK she doesn't want to be rude...well then don't be rude, I am racking my brain to think of what the heck she is going to say next and then it comes... "You know I have noticed you around for a while and well... you used to be thinner, you should try to lose some weight." Then she proceeds to tell me about how I should start going to Curves and Weight Watchers and any other weight loss program available around here... I had to laugh. I mean seriously, thank you so much for pointing that small detail out to me; after all I certainly haven't noticed that lately I have a little more junk in the trunk than before, but do ya really have to point it out to me lady? At least when Inoke's family makes comments on my size they do it in a code i.e. "Karla you look so healthy!" translated... whoa your putting on some weight girl.

So the moral of the story is... well I don't know it just was funny. So now I am off to work out... oh wait someone just brought in some Ted's Pies maybe that work out can wait...

M*A*N*G*O

Mango Season is finally here! My most favorite fruit of all time is the Mango. I can't get enough mangos. For the last month or so I have drooled while anxiously watching the mango trees around here bloom. It takes a while from the time the green little seedlings show up to the finished edible product, but the wait is well worth it. I remember the first time I tasted a mango, when I was seventeen and living in Australia. It was truly love at first bite.. hehe. No seriously the mango is like the forbidden fruit to me. After I returned to Alaska from Australia, I paid $4.99 for ONE mango just to get a taste of the tropical addiction. When Inoke and I were dating I used to beg him to bring me mangos home from the Fijian Village trees, and when we went to Fiji I made him drive a special trip to the little fruit stand to buy some Mangos just for me. I know every blooming mango tree in La'ie; but I am not a fruit stealer, I am just envious... So you can only imagine the excitement I had the other day when someone came into our office selling mango. I ordered a case for $10. I was expecting 8-10 mangos... he delivered the case yesterday with 25 mangos! So now I have mangos, mangos, and more mangos. There is no way I will finish them before they are too ripe so I have found recipes to make things. Yum. My favorites are Mango Chutney and Mango Sorbet. Here is a quick easy recipie for the sorbet just in case someone else shares my love.

Mango Lime Sorbet

Ingredients
· 1 cup sugar
· 1 cup water
· Zest from one lime
· 3 ripe mangos (about 2 1/2 pounds)
· 1/2 cup lime juice

Directions
1. Heat the sugar, water, and lime zest in a medium saucepan until the sugar has completely dissolved. Set aside to cool.
2. Cut the flesh from the mangoes.
3. Put the mango pieces, sugar water, and lime juice, into a blender. Blend until completely smooth. Pour into a medium bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until completely chilled.
4. When ready to put the chilled lime mango purée into your ice cream maker, mix. Process the mixture in your ice cream maker according to the ice cream maker directions.

Transfer mixture to a plastic storage container and freezer in your freezer until firm, at least 6 hours.

Makes almost 1 quart.

Missing Alaska

My sister Kirsten was up in Alaska the past week visiting friends and running in the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon. I am so proud of her for sticking to her goals. She started on this fitness quest nearly two years ago and it was her goal to run in the Mayor's Marathon. In the last year she moved all the way to "po dunk" North Dakota. She never gave up on her goals though and her husband even bought her a ticket "home" to Alaska so she could see it through. She is an inspiration to me and the definition of perseverance. She ran the 1/2 marathon on Saturday; not only finishing the race but coming in 93rd in her age group! Holy smokes. Go Kirsten!

While talking to my sister during the week I was reminded that this weekend was my favorite day of the year, Summer Solstice. Solstice just doesn't seem the same these days as it did growing up in Alaska. Back in Alaska Summer Solstice is a huge deal, it is the longest day of the entire year and the sun doesn't set, it just makes a circle on the horizon. It is truly an amazing sight to see. I almost found myself homesick in a sense for Alaska (and those of you who know me well; know that it is a rare occasion indeed if I am missing Alaska). I miss the never ending daylight, there is just something to be said about being able to sit on your deck and read a book without a light on at 1 am. I even had a crazy dream this weekend that we moved back to Alaska.. CRAZY. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Hawaii. I love the beach; distance and time does have a way of making you remember all the good times. I am sure if it was winter Alaska would be the last place on earth that I would want to be... but man there is nothing like the summers in Alaska. So here are a few pics of my homeland...

I miss the majestic snow capped mountains...

I miss the fire weed and all the beautiful vibrant wildflowers that grow for miles and miles.

I miss the quaint unique little buildings. Everything in Alaska has "character."

But then I remember that winter is NINE months of the year... and am brought back to reality.