Almost exactly 1 year later, and still COVID is on the forefront of our minds! Although funny to think that February 2021 we were freaking out with 60 cases, and this week we were having 6,000 cases. Omicron strand now, less severe, vaccine not as effective, spreading like crazy. So many feelings over masks, vaccines, politics, distancing measures, CDC guidance confusion....so so ready for it to be over. Anxious that masks are going to last forever, especially at work. Holding on to this thought...
Despite COVID, this past year has just been wonderful. I think I will look back at these days as the happiest time of my life. Family nearby, cousins to connect with, living in Paradise, not being in residency or school, young innocent childhoods, getting back into nursing but with a comfortable schedule, perfect weather and so much to do and explore, good health, steady income, free healthcare, convenience. These are the days and I feel so fortunate.
Right before COVID shut down Hawaii, we were slammed with visitors. So when they couldn't come anymore, it was a welcome break to just have the island to ourselves. Well, with everything COVID touches, that got old and we came full circle and missed having visitors! (Mom, dad and Kylee continued to visit, even through COVID). When visitors come, it reignites our love for the island, often doing our favorite things + with a lens of excitement that visitors bring with them. We cherish the gift they give to us as they force us to leave behind the daily chores and re-see our beautiful home. Here is our list of visitors since the last post:
Mom, dad, Kylee, Ashley x10ish*
Huish*
Halversons*
Abby Phillips & Friends*
Mom & Dad Rampton*
Porters*
Egberts*
Ormes
Reeders
Filiagas*
Drapers
Grandpa & Linda
(*Stayed in our home)
First time on the outrigger canoe, girls paddle with instructer @ Hickam
Troy's first day of in-person school - Feb 2021?
Gave about 200 covid vaccinations in the early days of the vaccine roll out, when it was only available to elderly
Seeing whales at Makapu'u
Preping for girls camp
Pi Day
Rocky's Pre-K graduation
Trip to Big Island with mom, dad, Kylee
Lava caves at Big Island
Red Cross Award
Me: (same picture that was used on National Red Cross website - never saw but heard about it)
Fishing at PCC
Camping at Bellows for Troy's birthday
Haleiwa Joes
Koko crater rim trail
Diamond head with the Halversons
Ford Island
In Feb, while hiking Crouching Lion, I was carrying Tyler in a pack. It was so slippery, so I was so careful with every step. When I could see the car, and thought I had made it all the way, I slipped and fell right on him. A couple days later, after he still wasn't walking on it, they diagnosed a small fracture to his Fibula. Poor baby. He was running on it within the week though.
Pink Pillbox, then some with Jessica Improta and Becca Akaka
Crouching Lion with Ellie Durfey (before the accident)
Staycation at Hilton Hawaiian Village
Raider of the Quarter #2
Covid vaccinations in the pouring rain
Rocky got called up in front of an audience. He was compliant but very contemplative.
Trying to stay preoccupied in the 1.5 hours of swimming lessons every morning.
Waimano, I think upper and lower trail
Visiting Aly in the hospital for her mono mono twins
Saying goodbye to friends
Bobby and I flew to Utah to see the parade of homes. We also drove to Idaho and relived where it all started - Lava Hot Pots.
...and we flew first class! The best
Kolekole
Summer in Oregon:
Rafting with Ramptons in Medford
Alice's museum
Enchanted Forest with Phillips
Boating with Ramptons
Summer soccer season - Bobby and Chelsea as coaches, Rocky, Troy and Izzy on the team. Chelsea pregnant with John
Ellsworth's Move to Hawaii!
Fourth of July with Richards and Ellsworths
Ky and me surfing
Aly Robert's (our neighbor) newborn twins
Halloween 2021 - Flash (with no muscles), light up Jellyfish, Skeleton
Haleiwa
Camping at Bellows
Haleiwa River with Ormes
Surf Club
Suzanne's bday
Rocky's birthday request- swimming at hotel
First day of Second & Kindergarten
First day of school nursing for me
Service project
Raider of the Quarter #3
Koko crater arch
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens
Looking for a bench to do homework
Troy gets prescribed glasses
Supervised scuba with the Porters - I was not graceful at all
Tyler's 4th birthday
Wanted to swim with cousins
Jellyfish at Waimanalo
Carl Filiaga teaching them paper airplanes
Trying to hike baby John out at Koko head
Getting to be her nurse
Filagas stayed with us for about 2 weeks while they were getting medical care in HI
...sent us these beautiful outfits to remember them by
Baby snuggles
Fall soccer with coach Mike
Girls night for Hayley Richards birthday
Marriott in Laie
Good-for-the-soul girls night to say goodbye to Jessica Improta moving away
Giving my boys the flu vaccine at a drive. I asked one of the boys to get a picture and this is what I got...
Tripler Ridge first mile perhaps
Surf Club
Stitches at the Marriage Conference the Army let us attend, Tyler slipped at the pool and needed 7 stitches
Fancy marriage conference that Rocky did not take full advantage of
Yummy!
Preslee delivers baby Henry at home. I got to witness. It was amazing.
So early December neighbors started complaining of gasoline smells in the water. By Dec 5 the Navy admitted there was jet fuel in the tap water. It was crazy - setting up a aide camp at our community center, portable showers, having to collect water from military trucks, they provided all meals/transportation/hotels. I felt the Army took great care of us. It's Jan 17 and we are guaranteed at least another 30 days in a hotel while they are still working on it. Sometimes I'm real annoyed. Other times we take full advantage of the fun hotels.
Hilton Hawaiian - Bobby also got $30 of free food credit/room/day here which was fun
At the community center at one of the provided meals
Love my lights
Olomana with mom, Kylee, Ashley, Jared. All three peaks
Ashely got engaged to Jared Hyer!
Pontoon boats to sandbar
Nativity with Roberts and cousins
Christmas
Jan 1 2022 New Year's Hike: Hau'ula
It was just beautiful! One scenic ridge point (pictured) but most of the beauty was from the trees hiking up and back. Neat forests
Chelsea's 32nd birthday
