Sunday, September 19, 2010

Dear Mama,

How are you today?  Anything exciting? Nothing here today.  Just being lazy lani with the kids.  It's nice to just bum around the house.  I did that yesterday too.  It's getting a little too comfortable.  LOL

The other day I received a video from Melissa Ponder of the interview that she did with you.  It was so nice to see you sitting there.  When the video opens, you're sitting there staring in to the camera.  It was almost as if you were going to say something to me.  I laughed at all the words you tried to say & how animated your face got when you'd talk about certain things.  All the little small things that I no longer see everyday....I miss those things.  I laughed through tears when you were trying to say endocrinologist & that it was a ear, nose & throat specialist, because that's not what it is....but it's so you to say something like that.

In 2 weeks a few of us are off to participate at Uncle Mark Ho'omalu's competition, Ka Hula Hou.  I can't wait to go!!  The boys have been working so hard & I know that Uncle has high intentions of winning.  It adds fuel to his fire when the AHA boys post up videos & comments about how they're going to win.  Then the boys die a little more at the next practice.

As for things here, Nunu is enjoying 5th grade.  She likes her teacher & hasn't had much homework yet.  She's looking forward to middle school & is telling me which one she wants to go to.  I don't want to talk about it yet.  Ry is NAUGHTY!  She's so opposite of Nunu, she's aggressive, she's loud, she hits, she yells & is very independent.  Marcel has been working a ton & is learning to take a few days off here & there, which is a surprise.  Dad is doing well, still working, yet still enjoying spending time with everybody.  I am working on re-vamping my photography business, been doing a lot of zumba (3-5 days a week) & at hula 3 times a week....for now.  In October, we add one more practice.  I'm sure Marcel will not like that, but it's only for a month.

After Ia Oe, i'm hoping to have a fabulous 1 year get together for you.  I can't believe it's almost been a year. Where did the time go?

I hope that you are loving all that you are doing & experiencing things that you never got to when you were here.  There are no limitations for you, so do it all.  I love you & have been thinking of you so much lately.  I hope that you miss me too.

September 6, 2010

Hi Mommy,

Happy Labor Day!!  Anything exciting today?  Not much at all here.  Typically every year we're just coming home from our trip to E Hula Mau.  Not this year....we didn't participate & it was also a week earlier this year.  As you already know, today is halau's birthday.  Today we all spent the day at the halau, having a potluck, hanging out with one another & enjoying the day.  It was so nice to relax & just be...

So things are finally feeling a bit normal.  Marcel has been working days, I wake up early to get Nunu off to school & while I'm getting this ready for her, Ry wakes up.  We get Nunu to school & the day is ours to do as we need to.

I've recently immersed myself in taking zumba at the gym.  I love it so much.  I'd much rather dance for the hour than work out on weights & the elliptical.  My instructor is so much fun & makes the class go by so quickly.  I've even taken some of my hula brothers & sisters to class to check it out too.

On top of doing zumba 3-4 days a week, I also have practice 3 times a week.  Wednesday night is my solo practice night, then our wahine line has practices on Thursday's & Friday's now.  So needless to say, i'm staying active & I enjoy it.  I actually feel like i'm doing something for myself & I feel no guilt about it.  I love it.

So lately, i've had you on my mind a lot.  I dream of you often.  In one of my dreams, I remember touching your face & you were still talking to me, telling me that you didn't feel any pain.  But as I touched your face, you got colder & colder.  Just as cold as you were the last time I touched your face in the hospital room the morning that you passed.  I sometimes think that you channel things through Ry.  I'm not sure exactly why, but I just do.  It fascinates me that every single time Hinano (the bass) comes out, she runs over to it & starts to pluck at the strings.  It happens every. single. time.  It's so strange.

Anyway, I know that you were missed today while hanging out at halau.  And not just today....everyday.  Things are just not the same & doesn't run as smoothly as they did when you were here, but i'm trying my best.  I love you so much & miss you more than you could ever imagine....

September 3, 2010

MOM!! :)

How are you? Anything exciting? Sorry for lacking here, but as you can see, things were crazy busy for awhile. The last 4 weeks are somewhat of a blur.....

Week 1 - Okekai & Steven's Wedding

And then a few days later, I photographed this....

Week 2 - Kamehameha School Reunion - 60th Birthday Party

And then 2 days later, this happened...

Week 2 - Samantha & Trevor's Wedding

And then we decided to take a mini-vacation with some of our most favorite people in the world....

Week 3 - Roslyn - Cle Elum Mini Vacation

And then 3 days after returning from our getaway, I went to my first photography seminar which just so happened to include my favorite photographer, Jasmine Star....

Week 4 - Jasmine Star, JD (her hubby) & I at WPPI Road Trip - Seattle

And Nunu started 5th grade. Her last year in elementary school....yikes!!

Week 4 - First day of school!!

I hope that you look down upon me & wish that sometimes you could be here with me again....

I love you so much & miss you more than you know.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Hi Mama,

How are you today? Things are good here with all of us. Our schedules have been crazy hectic lately, but luckily it's starting to slow down & the kids will be back in school in about 2 weeks. I can't wait.

Wasn't Okekai's wedding beautiful? It was so hot, but it came together nicely. I was asked to put together a slideshow of them growing up until now as well as honoring those of their family & friends that have passed on. I had you in it & was ok watching it while I made it, but as soon as I watched it at the wedding, I cried. I just miss you....and I know that everyone else does too.

Halau is going good. As much as we try, it's hard to do your job as well as you did. The boys are preparing to go to Ka Hula Hou on October 2nd. And we're also preparing for Ia Oe E Ka La in November. I'm so excited to get out of town with everyone. Last week Uncle made soloist announcements...it's Albert & I. YAY!! I'm excited, I love the challenge....but I know when I get there that i'll be missing you & I anticipate an emotional breakdown at some point during that weekend.

I hope I make you proud everyday. I love you & miss you more than you could ever imagine...

Monday, August 2, 2010

Dear Mom,

How are you today?  Anything exciting going on?  Not much today for me.  Just spending the day cleaning house & getting things done.  We spent the weekend in Vancouver, WA & Portland, OR.  We left early Saturday morning & drove to Vancouver for Auntie Diva's ho'olaule'a where we usually do the dessert booth.  We decided not to do the booth again this year, but instead decided to spend the day hanging out, enjoying the atmosphere & relaxing with the family.  We ran into a few familiar faces while we were there...even this one...

Larlyn!!  YAY!! I haven't seen her in forever & it was so nice to run in to her & catch up.  Can you believe the kids are 12 & 8??  I feel old.  When we were packing up & getting ready to leave, i heard the people on stage singing...

"there's a feeling.....deep in my heart....."

*sigh*  I started to cry & made my way out of the park towards the car.  I miss you.  And it seemed as though the song played just to let me know that you were there with us.

We went to eat at Joe's Crab Shack after that & had a GREAT dinner.  It was SO GOOD.  And then we were pretty useless after that & had to go to the hotel to lazy around.  On Sunday, we went school supply shopping & then got Nunu & Makana's hair cut, then we headed home in traffic.

I just wanted to come by here & let you know that I miss you every day.  And that I hope that you are watching proudly from above.

I love you.

Monday, July 21, 2010

Dear Mama,

Sheesh....it's been busy lately.  It's crazy that the weekdays just fly by & before we know it, it's the weekend & we've got things to do.  So much has been going on & I'm trying my best at planning for everyone, but it's so hard.

So here's what we've got coming up.  In 2 weeks, Okekai & Steven are getting married.  In 3 weeks, i'm taking pictures for the Kamehameha School Reunion.  Then 2 days later, Samantha & Trevor are getting married.  Then 2 days after that, a bunch of us are travelling out of town to stay at a vacation home for a few days.  (i really can't wait for this!)  Then in September we have a show in Seattle.  October is Ka Hula Hou.  And November is Ia Oe.

It's crazy that you could handle all of this stuff by yourself!!

I miss you so much everyday & wonder if you look down on us & miss us all too.

I love you.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Hi Mama!!

Happy 4th of July!! Today is no different than the years past. We're headed over to Sean & Roxanne's to have our 4th of July festivities. I can't wait. I made sweet potato salad & banana cream delight, then I bought supplies for the kids to make sundae's. It's gonna be great. I have you here at the house while Dad's gone...i like having you here, even though i have my own small urn of you on my mantle.

I hope that you're having a wonderful day making ono food & lighting up the sky.

ps - i made your sweet sour spareribs the other day! i think i did pretty good.

I love you & miss you...