Still COVID

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

Alohilani

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