A-Camping We Go

There are few things in life that I love more than friends + good food + a beautiful setting. In fact, if I were to make a "top ten list" of some of the best moments in life, they would likely involve all three things.

This summer, we've seemed to enjoy a nice dose of all three, which would help explain why our house/yard/life is in a bit of disarray. I guess you can't have it all, right? There is always a sacrifice. Mine comes every Monday when I have five loads of laundry, no food in the refrigerator, and an ever-growing presence of dead flowers in the yard.

Maybe someday I'll be able to effortlessly plan trips, pack quickly and efficiently, unpack with ease, remember to find someone to water our yard & flowers (and maybe make some $ to pay them), make record-breaking trips to the grocery store, and learn to fold laundry in my sleep. Until then, I will just have to embrace the madness. I guess.

So yes, we did go camping this weekend. We went to Priest Lake (favorite spot on planet Earth). We went with the Rockwells, Gutmans, and Pickerings. Wonderful friends. Yes, a lady in the campsite bathroom did ask us how many kids under the age of 5 we had in our group. To the rest of the camping world it may have felt like more, but it was just five. Plus four kids over the age of 5, nine adults, and two very content dogs. It was a great group.

Unlike the past two years of August camping, the weather was perfect. Warm enough during the days at the beach to make you want to jump into the lake. Cold enough at night to make you bundle up and snuggle. That's a great combination, as far as I'm concerned!

We spent our camping days doing lots of important things like...

Hanging out at the beach:

Playing bocce in the water (who knew this was possible?):

Diving after frisbees:

Hiking to the playground at Hill's:

Jumping. Essential:

Being forced to look cute, which wasn't too difficult:

And so they cycle continues. No matter how bad my house looks, I will make memories this summer. Laundry schmaundry. Food schmood. Flowers schmowers. They'll grow again next summer, right (at least in your yard)?!

Hawaii Part II: Sara + Andrew

After spending the week in Maui with the Hook clan, I did something incredibly exciting AND terrifying. I left the island and flew to Oahu. By myself. For three days and nights.

What would prompt such a thing (after all, I have yet to leave Clara for more than 12 hours. Ever)? The wedding of my dear friend, Sara, of course. She and Andrew got engaged over Christmas, and when I found out the date, we planned the trip as a double whammy. It really was an ideal situation. My mom has the summer off so she could watch Clara while Jonathan went back to work Monday. Jonathan had his whole family to assist in the 10+ hours of travel time. I got to spend three whole days with some ladies that I rarely see and LOVE hanging out with. Oh yes, and be part of the celebration where Sara Toguchi became Sara MacDonald!! (Plus enjoy the six hour flight home alone, reading and sleeping) ;)

The weekend was a blast. Of course this was to be expected, given the participants. One thing I was sad to have missed was the bride vs. groom ultimate frisbee match. Sara & Andrew met while playing ultimate at Central Park, so it had to be a part of the wedding weekend. Although I consider myself pretty athletic, I really don't hold a candle next to these ladies.

I did arrive in time for the bachelorette party on Saturday night. We had a great night out. I look pretty excited in the picture below, though, don't I? The picture may have been snapped just after one of the many crazy guys tried to slither into our circle. So maybe I don't have the most dance club experience (nil, actually), but I was a little freaked out by the sheer volume of scary dudes and their tactics. We hung together in a pretty tight pack.

The next morning, Sara took the bridal party girls to a darling little nail salon for manicures and pedicures. It was such a fun, relaxing morning. I can't remember the last time I got a manicure or pedicure! P.S. If you're wondering which toes are mine, look for the third toe that resembles a pinky finger + rainbow sandals that need replacing.

The picture above is of the six ladies who made up Krista (Clegg - Johnson)'s Bible study from high school (We wish you could have come, Krista!!!). All of us ladies started meeting at Encore Espresso (no longer in existence) at 6am Thursday mornings. We were all fourteen or fifteen years old. Holly was a major tomboy. I was shy. Sara was (and still is) crazy. Janie was dependable, even then, and Kim only came when we woke her up at her house ;). It is just amazing to think that this many years later, we still love each other - and we always seem to pick up just where we left off.

I just have to add that these ladies are really so much of the reason I am who I am today (as a friend, wife, follower of Christ). They are the best. In fact, on the plane ride home, I was reflecting on each of these women, and I started to make a mental list...

One math teacher in the bronx. One accountant in Seattle. One pediatric NICU nurse at LA Children's Hospital. One surf shop owner in San Diego. One YL staff member/crisis pregnancy center employee. One stay at home mom/volleyball coach. (I'm sure it's hard to figure out which one is me) In high school: four soccer players, one cross country runner, one volleyball player, three ASB members, two senior class officers, a homecoming queen, a liliac princess, and two valedictorians.

Yep, these girls are amazing. And I count myself very blessed to have them a part of my life. I only wish they lived closer!!

Now, on to the wedding ;). It was beautiful. Or maybe that is an understatement. Sara & Andrew got married here. It may look familiar, as it was the site of filming for Jurrasic Park, Lost, and Pearl Harbor. Sadly, I did not have my camera with me (I left it on Maui with Jono), so I didn't capture any pictures of the whole wedding party -or any of the rehearsal dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse either. Bummer. Here is what I do have, thanks to some bridal party gals (thanks Shannon & Jocie!)...

I also just got ahold of the video link from Sara, if you're interested. Especially if you're my mom or my sister, or maybe Krista? Or if you happen to know the bride and groom, here's the link. It'll give you a better glimpse of the day!

What a packed three days it was! Exciting. Relaxing. Fun. I will hold those memories dear for a very long time!

And I was also very relieved/excited/blessed to make it back to my wonderful husband and Clara the terror. Oh, how I missed you both!

Mahalo

We just returned from a family vacation in Maui. Jonathan's parents took the five of us (Ma & Pa, Anna, Jono & me) six years ago, although we went to the north shore of Oahu. We always said we'd love to go back to Hawaii, and when Aaron entered the family, we started looking into possible times to make the trek.

It didn't seem to work out while Jonathan was in PT school. And it didn't make sense to go the summer after Australia, when Jono had just started working and was studying for the boards. Last summer, Clara was tiny (and most importantly, Anna was very pregnant). So this was the summer! We wanted to sneak in the trip before we had to pay for seats for the girls. Eleven and fifteen months were great ages for travel too. Mostly ;).

We had a wonderful time together. Our days looked slightly different than they did six years ago, when we traipsed to the ends of the island in search of the latest adventure. We worked around nap schedules and infant limitations. The funny part, though? Nothing about our laid-back days felt like we were missing anything. I have no regrets. We got to swim and snorkel in the ocean every single day, exercise plenty, and just relax and enjoy being together in such an amazing place. Pure loveliness. Thank you, Nana & Papa!

Here you have it. 10 highlights of our trip (no particular order). In pictures...

10. Watching Clara explore everything. Literally.

9. Sandy booty (and every other body part imaginable)

8. Driving to Haleakala at sunrise (for Jono & his dad, at least)

7. Date night out

6. Sunrises and sunsets

5. Lu'au

4. The pool & our view from the condo

3. Walks and Runs

2. Family Time

1. The Beach

And I just have to add two more "firsts" for the Claranator. She is adding new words at a rapid pace ("bye bye Joe" has been uttered about a dozen times since she learned the name of her new friend, Joe, yesterday). On the trip we realized that Clara has a name for Sophia. She calls her "eeya" (ia). All this time I've been calling her cousin "Soso" and the little lady can't even say her "s"es. So she circumvented her mother's strategy and made her own name for her cousin. Love it.

And she also pulled a Finding Nemo moment and started saying "butt" for boat. It was hysterical. My immaturity surely came out as I took any and every opportunity to point out boats in all directions, forcing Clara to say it as often as she possibly could. Oh the ridiculous things I do!