2010 - A Funk Odyssey

My Brother Ramon's Visit

2009-06-21T20:30:00.030-10:00

I have been a naughty and horribly neglectful blogger lately. Same old, same old...there just never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything done! But this time I will blame it on my brother, Ramon. Months ago, he bought a plane ticket to come out here for a much needed vacation, and a couple of weeks ago, he finally arrived! As always, I turn into a crazy, OCD-like, house-cleaning mess when I know my family is coming to visit. Those who know me best are probably chuckling as they read this, because the general consensus is "aren't you always like that?" The answer is yes...however, I also happen to possess a secret button on my person labeled "overdrive." So, in preparation for his visit, I pressed it. Perhaps more than once. I stocked up on extra cans of Bustelo, spent an entire afternoon making freezer bags full of empanadillas, scrubbed the house from top to bottom, and cooked up a huge caldero of arroz con gandules. I also stalked my mother repeatedly over the telephone, where I picked her brain over how exactly to replicate her coffee and my brother's favorite foods. Why all the preparation, you wonder? Well, let me tell you why:

My brother is the ultimate, quintessential mama's boy.

I write this with a great deal of amusement, because it is a well-known fact amongst us Colon siblings. We all understand that no matter what anybody does, it will never, ever, EVER live up to the way my mother can do it. Coffee and all. So don't even bother trying.

But I love a good challenge. Which is why I made it my goal to ensure that my brother, who was badly in need of some time away from the stresses of life, had the the best of both worlds: all the comforts of home (i.e., my mom's kind of cooking and pampering) intermingled with the multitude of fun, new things there were to do here in Hawaii. And all the effort was worth it, because we had an absolutely phenomenal time together! I think we may have even temporarily regressed back to our teen-aged selves for part of his visit....I have rarely seen my brother, who is usually very reserved and serious, let go and be such a social butterfly! What can I say? By the time he left Hawaii, the ladies at my Crossfit facility had nicknamed him "Romeo." Here is his trip in pictures:

Visiting Iolani Palace, home to the Hawaiian Monarchy prior to the island's statehood:

Hiking the volcanic crater known as "Diamond Head":

(The view from the top is just GORGEOUS!)

Getting ready to go and hang out downtown with Isaiah and Keith (yup, that's a smile!)

Posing on the beach at a luau:

Of course Ike and I had to get in on the action : )

Enjoying the after-dinner show at the luau:

*Interesting note: Through absolutely NO meddling of my own, Ramon was "randomly" picked out of the crowd at the luau and pulled up on stage by this drop-dead beautiful dancer who proceeded to teach him how to hula. I got it ALL on video....needless to say, he had the HUGEST grin on his face the whole time. Hmmm, I wonder how that happened? :o )

I can't even manage to list all of the other things we did during his visit. We shopped (yes, Ramon secretly enjoys it!), enjoyed the views at Pali Lookout, drove around the island, feasted on delicious pineapple ice cream at the Dole Plantation, lunched at Haleiwa Joe's on the North Shore, and relaxed on the beach at Hanauma Bay. Ramon was able to see Amir's 6th grade graduation, party like a rock star downtown, and experience the Crossfit lifestyle with Ike and I. Which brings me to the final picture of the bunch:

Last, but definitely not least, here he is posing with some of the Crossfit ladies after a morning workout:

This picture was taken on his last day on the island. Bittersweet, I think, because I truly enjoyed having Ramon here with us, and the fact that he was leaving just made me completely start tearing up on the way home. We made some awesome memories while he was visiting...and he even bestowed upon me the greatest compliment ever as we sat drinking our coffee prior to leaving for the airport:

He sipped, looked at me, and said, "It's perfect, Cariluz."

I'll take that any day.

Amir's Graduation Picture

2009-05-19T21:06:00.002-10:00

I find it to be incredibly surreal that my oldest boy is getting ready to graduate into junior high school. I still remember when he was a little round toddler who we all called "Meatball." He took a ride with me today, and I couldn't help but think, "gosh, this is really nice" as we drove and then sat with each other, chatting over coffee at Starbucks. I am truly starting to realize what a constant progression the whole parenting road is - your relationship with your children evolves on so many levels as they get older. Despite the occasional drama, tears, and discipline, there is a lot of laughter, hugs, and love, too. I just praise God that I was blessed with the children I have...they are so awesomely different, and each of them brings "that special something" into my life. Congratulations, Amir - I know you will have so many new experiences, and they will only serve to enhance the wonderful character and loving personality that makes you so uniquely "you."

Divas Need Their Sleep, Too....

2009-05-18T22:26:00.002-10:00

My little miss conked out after a day of shopping : -)

Amir's Track Meet

2009-05-08T22:28:00.004-10:00

Last year, I discovered that my oldest boy Amir was a pretty awesome runner. Being an avid runner myself, this makes me happy - it's nice to know that I have a potential running buddy in the making! On Thursday, he had his first track meet for the season and did great. He ran the 4 by 100 meter relay, as well as the 4 by 800 meter relay. And of course, being his momma, I screamed my little heart out for him! Watch him go (he is in the lead):

The school did an outstanding job at the meet, and Amir ended up finishing first in his races. Here he is afterwards with one of his good friends, Haleigh:

I can't wait to see what the season holds for him!

Easter

2009-04-13T09:25:00.008-10:00

I woke up on Easter Sunday feeling better than I have for quite a while. I don't know if it was the anticipation of one of my favorite church services, or maybe the migraine medication I had taken the night before (LOL) but I jumped right out of bed and was rarin' to start my day. As you can see, the kids were too! I was able to catch a few pics of them clowning around as we prepared to leave the house for church:

As you can see, we are very "Aloha casual" here on the island : )

The church we got to is called New Hope, and I have to say that it has been my saving grace here in Hawaii. That church has such a wonderful spirit of love and fellowship, and incredible outreach to both the adults and youth. The membership has grown so tremendously that there are seven campuses throughout the island, and this island is pretty small, compared to the rest. Our pastor thought it would be a good idea to try and gather everyone from the respective campuses under one roof for Easter, so we took over the Blaisdell Center (think of the Wachovia Center in Philly) downtown and this is what it looked like:

That picture was taken from our seats up on the upper tier, if you can believe it. And what was really cool was that there was a musical guest to sing for us after praise and worship: Michael English! I don't know how many of you have heard of him, but you may know him through his song, "In Christ Alone." That is one of my favorite songs ever - it just gives me chills whenever I hear it. He shared with us his story - how he had risen to fame, fallen from grace, and found redemption again in the arms of Jesus Christ. It was...well, in a word, awesome. We all enjoyed the service, even the kids....and for my 2-year old to sit still (for the most part) and not yell out even once during the message was an accomplishment in and of itself!

We had a mellow and relaxed day afterwards. I had to get my nose back in some books, and the kids spent much of their time on our lanai hanging with their friends.

As for other news, Amir now has braces on his teeth (could you tell in the pics? He hopes not) and will be graduating from the 6th grade next month. I say it a lot, but sometimes he makes me feel so old! I got his graduation pictures on Friday - it's a big deal in Hawaii - and he looks so grown in his cap and gown and kukui beads. I promise I will post the picture once I get a chance to scan it on my computer. Johnny just turned 9 in March, and is getting ready to head into the 4th grade. As for Isa, my munchkin is keeping me constantly on my toes. It truly is amazing how much the little ones pick up at that age...I have to be EXTRA careful what I say and do. I am sure you all can relate ; )

And that's about it in a nutshell at the moment. I have to run, Isa is asking for her potty and that, beautiful people, is music to my ears!

Could Use Some Prayer

2009-04-10T11:18:00.002-10:00

I have not posted as frequently as I used to, and I have to admit that I actually miss it quite a bit. Unfortunately, I don't have as much free time on my hands these days. Another contributor has been the recurrence of some health issues. Because they were starting to affect my daily activities, my doctor suggested I get some additional screening to try and narrow down the possibilities of what's wrong. So, a couple of days ago I went for an MRI with contrast (this is when they use magnetic resonance imaging to view the inside of your head, then inject dye into your veins to get a better look). I should be getting the results back soon, and hopefully there is nothing wrong that cannot be fixed. Your prayers for a good report would really be appreciated.

On the flip side, the kids and Isaiah are doing just great. I plan on hooking up a lengthy post with pictures and more detailed updates as soon as I get my health issues back in order. Believe me, there is so much to fill you in on!

There's Nothing Like...

2009-03-17T21:13:00.004-10:00

...walking into the bathroom, only to find that the toilet is clogged because "someone" wanted to see if their toy cars could float in water...yup, the maintenance folks were loving me that day...

or:

....going to a store with your potty training child, only to have her pull up her dress and yell "go poo-poo!" loud enough to have half the people in the store look at you like you just grew another head...

and of course, my favorite:

...walking into a commander's call (squadron pow-wow) feeling all professional, just to have someone whisper in your ear that your daughter's Strawberry Shortcake stickers are all over the back of your BDU pants.

Kids are a trip ; )

The Things That Keep You Going

2009-03-15T23:50:00.002-10:00

Over at Crossfit Oahu, the workout facility where I spend several days a week, there is a quote that a lot of my fellow Crossfitters like to repeat when things get difficult:

"Start by doing what's possible, then do what's necessary, and pretty soon you are doing the impossible."

That saying has gotten me through many a tough workout - but recently, I have found myself applying it to more than just those times where I am drained from the WOD (workout of the day) and feeling as if I am about to drop. It actually comes in handy at other times, too.

Like those times when you have spent the day running your kids to every single kind of appointment, class, or activity known to man and still have to get home in time to make dinner and knock out 3 loads of laundry.

Or those days when your child is asking for help on their homework, and you realize that you don't even know to help them because you no longer remember how to do algebra. Google, here I come....

Or how about those mornings where you are groggy because your youngest just would not stay asleep the night before, so you stayed up with them and now have a billion things to get done - and have no idea how you will manage to do them. And not looking particularly attractive, either.

Not that these kinds of things have happened to me or anything.... ; )

Mom & Titi Ely's Visit

2009-02-26T14:53:00.007-10:00

As you may already know, I was extremely fortunate to have my mom and her sister from Puerto Rico, Titi Ely, come out and visit me for 3 weeks. I had to get express permission from my father to borrow them, of course : ) But they made it out here in one piece and had an activity packed visit. And when I wasn't working or doing schoolwork, I went along for the ride on their adventures around the island. They flew over to the Big Island to check out the volcanoes at night, went to a luau, explored the Polynesian Cultural Center, strolled Waikiki, and even jumped on a bus tour to see some of the sights. Of course, I think their favorite part was the shopping, but let's keep that between us. Here are some pictures from their visit:

I wish they could have stayed longer, but their husbands were running out of food and clean laundry, so I had to send them home. And back I went to making my own coffee every morning...I am sure my father is snickering right now!

It's Finally Over!

2009-02-17T00:03:00.008-10:00

After months of preparation and a week of non-stop scenarios, in-your-face inspectors, and constant alarms, our base operational readiness inspection (ORI) is finally over! Sorry, I know it probably sounds like I am speaking gibberish again. This is an inspection that - as the name implies - tests our readiness as a base in all kinds of war-time scenarios. It is a pretty big deal; this is the type of thing that can make - or break - the careers of a LOT of people. So pray that we all passed!Otherwise, I will be supremely irritated that I spent 7 days straight, working 12-hour night shifts, dressed like this for up to two hours at a time:

Welcome to MOPP 4. This is how we have to gear up in the event of a chemical/biological attack. Just in case you didn't know, it is HOT inside of these things. And if you have even the slightest hint of claustrophobia, you'd probably go stark raving mad and rip the whole outfit off, gas mask and all.

Not to mention the fact that you sweat like a pig in that get-up. Ew. You don't want to know what some of us looked like at the end of our shifts. Believe me when I say that I took great joy in coming home each morning and showering for a LONG time before going to sleep. And now that freedom is mine again (sort of, LOL) it is time for me to catch up on all the schoolwork I missed while trapped in that suit!

The good news is the kids and I have not been alone, although Isaiah is still deployed. At the beginning of the month, my mom and Titi Ely (her sister from Puerto Rico) flew out here to keep me company, help with the kids while I was working, and to have some fun on the island! It has truly been a blessing having them here - I actually feel kind of spoiled, because only my mom could pamper me like this. I am so used to being the person who does everything in the house - the meals, the cleaning, the chauffeuring and refereeing of kids - that it is sheer luxury to wake up and have someone hand me a cup of Bustelo and say that everyone is accounted for!

I have to get back to a paper I am supposed to be writing at the moment, but I still have a lot to share and some great pics to post. So hopefully I will have some more updates in the next week for you to check out!

A Venting Moment

2009-01-22T09:25:00.016-10:00

One of the things that you have to accept when you are either

#1. In the military, or

#2. married to someone in the military,

is that it brings its own unique set of issues, conflicts, and at times, weird interactions that you try to learn to take with a grain of salt. One such issue is that unless you yourself are also a service member (and if you aren't in uniform, folks don't always know off the bat, anyway), one of the tendencies in that world is for everyone to identify you by your spouse. Essentially, it can be like having zero identity aside of your husband (or wife, in all fairness...but those are few and far between). And the kooky thing about it, is that once you start playing along - and often, you don't have a choice - you can find yourself doing it to other people! For example:

Scenario - I have met another adult female at a children's football game

Me: Hi, I'm Carmen! (I give her the "once-over" to try and determine if she looks like an enlisted or officer wife - trust me, sometimes there's a difference - and hopes she doesn't notice)

New Person: Hi, I'm (insert name here). Is one of your children playing? (after sizing me up too, she determines that I am not a threat and she scans the field as if in search of my kid)

Me: Yes, my son is playing. He is number 32. What about yours? (I purposely try to delay the inevitable question I know she wants to ask)

New Person: Oh, he is number 12. (She pauses - auugh, here it comes!) So...*what does your husband do?

*Note: This question can have several variations. I have heard everything from "what squadron does your husband belong to?" to "what rank are you guys?" to "Who do you belong to?"

Me: (Inwardly groaning) He's a loadmaster in the C-17 squadron. His name is TSgt M* (Geez, now I have to ask her what HER husband does now...it's part of the ritual) What about yours?

New Person: (proudly) Oh, he's in the same squadron! Actually, his name is MSgt So-and-so! Wait a minute, doesn't my husband supervise your husband? How funny!

Me: (Oh, great - ha, ha, ha, so funny) Yes, yes, I guess that's ironic isn't it? Well, gotta go, have a nice day! (I book it out of there like I have fire on my heels - I can tell this conversation is going to either irritate the heck out of me or end up with me saying something I will get in trouble for)

Okay, so that's just a little taste of some of the interactions that I have experienced. Trust me, that one seems minor, but there have been plenty more, some uglier than others, and some less so. But (and here comes my venting) what bothers me most about it all, is that there is this air of one-upmanship that exists in most female military spouse communities...it is part of the reason I tend to avoid those types of social settings because I simply have a problem playing along. What can I say? I DON'T ROLL LIKE THAT. I don't choose my friends, or who I will speak to, based on who their husband is or what rank they are. But unfortunately, a good number of people do operate like that, and it makes me want to scream!

Oh, what the heck, I might as well: AUUUGGGGHHHHHH! There....I feel better.

I have thought about it many times, and while there is absolutely nothing wrong with being proud of your spouse - and I am very, very proud of mine - there is something very "Stepford-ish" about some of the women I have met. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it is like there is no sense of self. Everything is about their husband's promotions, accomplishments at work, deployments, etc...some even wear their spouse's rank and authority like it is theirs! There are no introspective conversations about life, love, our dreams...or even mundane conversations, like what you bought at the store that day or fed your kids for dinner. BORING and MIND NUMBING. In all honesty, I just don't have it in me to humor folks like that most days...I enjoy having an identity all my own.

It may have taken a while, but situations like that are my timely reminder that I am so fortunate to have acquired a group of wonderful friends - great people I can rely on for just about anything - who have their feet planted firmly on the ground, as opposed to having their noses in the air!

And just so you don't think that I am not exceedingly proud of the work that Isaiah does, I will include some pics from an article in the Air Force news where he was featured on an airdrop mission. You go, boy!

Christmas, 2 Birthdays, and a Great Surprise!

2009-01-05T17:41:00.015-10:00

I know I am behind the power curve on getting this posted, but every time I try to get on the computer, I end up doing completely unrelated things, like balancing my checkbook online. I know, I am such a barrel of excitement. : )

Christmas was pretty jolly this year - and now that I think about it, it was pretty loud, too! Anytime you cram a bunch of Colon siblings and their families under one roof, you end up with a house of rambunctious mischief and rehashing of old stories and memories. We inevitably talk, tease, cuddle, and act like your typical crew of miscreants who can think of no better way to show our love for each other - and I think it totally rocks. I meant to take a slew of photos, but was having so much fun pulling my brother's hair and teasing my nieces and nephews that I kept forgetting to actually use the darned camera. Luckily, my brother's wife Charline and my niece Iliana took enough to satisfy my quota. Here are a couple:

Jose's three kids (Joseito, Miguel, and Arianna) along with two of mine (Amir and Johnny)

Tata and I...boy, do I have a large head or what?

The next day, we packed up early in the morning and headed out to Lancaster, PA, to spend the weekend at this wonderful hotel that we have been going to for years. The Amish country is just so peaceful and family-friendly, and the kids were begging to go. We thought it would be a nice way to celebrate our respective birthdays, as well. Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that my oldest son Amir and I are "December babies." If you have ever had your birthday near a significant holiday, you may share my pain on that one (LOL) - as a result I don't usually do much to celebrate my birthday, because it is somewhat redundant when everyone else is still on the holiday high. It's actually kind of ironic because when I think back to when Amir was born, I can still (vividly!) remember spending that particular birthday in labor! What a gift, right? But, I digress.

Despite the freezing cold, we had a blast shopping (well, at least Mom and Isa and I did) while the boys swam, played, and basically exhausted their grandfather running here and there and everywhere. Isa also got in on the swimming fun - thank goodness for the indoor water park - and took particular joy in kicking water all over anyone who dared to come near. Some more pics for your viewing pleasure:

Now for the best part. As you probably know, we came out here minus my husband because he was set to deploy overseas during the holidays. I have to admit, although I am used to him being here one minute and gone the next, I was missing him quite a bit. And based on how he was sounding during our telephone conversations, he apparently felt the same. He was scheduled to leave Hawaii on my birthday, so after that point we no longer chatted. The days passed on and my mother and I had just finished cooking up a storm for our family and friends who were coming over to spend New Year's Eve with us. The doorbell rang and when I opened it, there stood Isaiah! Oh, I can't tell you how excited and happy I was! I jumped around for awhile and then kind of attached myself to him while he explained how he got there. The short version of it is that his flight to his location had been delayed, and he ended up in Baltimore with a free evening on his hands. So he rented a car, drove up to NJ, and poof! Ended up on our doorstep. What a blessing that we had some extra time with him before he departed - we didn't really get to say a proper good-bye when we left Hawaii because of work and all of the rushing around prior.

New Year's Day rolled around and Isaiah had to drive back down to catch his flight - I think it was easier for me this time around, but it was much harder for him and the kids to say good-bye. One of the things about deploying is that you often have to get your mind in the right place before you leave. I know he was happy to see us, but I think having that so fresh in his memory made it a bit more difficult for him to leave without shedding a tear or two. And Isa didn't make it any better - she is quite the Daddy's girl, and I pretty much had to pry her away from him as he walked to the car. That made me tear up, and him too!

But all in all, I must say that this was a memorable holiday. I am getting ready to return to Hawaii next week, and while I will be glad to get back to some warm weather, I will miss my family terribly. I also do not relish the thought of returning to an empty house. But as one of my church friends always takes care to remind me, it isn't really empty, is it? God is always present, and that is ultimately the best kind of reassurance as I get ready to assimilate back into my typically hectic and somewhat harried schedule.

We would really appreciate any prayers you could send our way - especially for Isaiah, whose job often requires him to fly into less than ideal places. And while I am not an especially mushy person, I just have to say this one thing: I am SO thankful to have you all as my family and friends!

Feliz Navidad!

2008-12-25T03:23:00.003-10:00

With much love and joy, we want to wish everybody out there a Merry, Merry Christmas! May God bless you during this beautiful holiday!

Back to the Sticks!

2008-12-17T19:00:00.006-10:00

Nah, I'm kidding, really. So what if I grew up in an area where we give directions based on landmarks rather than street names? LOL....I am back in NJ and loving it already. Of course, one of the wacky things about coming back after you have been gone for awhile is that you notice how much has changed in your absence. Almost like you thought that everything should have stayed the same while you were gone, you know? But c'est la vie (I probably didn't even spell that correctly, so forgive me if you speak French)...

So let me tell you about the trip...if you have kids, perhaps you understand the stress of traveling with children for long distances. I think one of the troubles with living on an island is that you can't exactly drive to your destination on the mainland. Even though you would technically be trapped for long stretches of time with your kids in a car, you don't have to inflict them on other people in a confined area of space. If you have to regulate on them, it's your business and nobody is looking at you like they are about to call Child Protective Services. But airplanes...oh, my. I try really hard to prepare myself for the plane trips - I get toys and gadgets for entertainment, the portable DVD for distraction, a favorite stuffed animal/blanky, and of course, extra meditative breathing exercises and a nice, extended prayer that we not only have a safe trip, but that I don't completely lose my mind in the process. God certainly granted my wishes in His own way, LOL...I have to believe that He was giving me an opportunity to improve my skills in the area of patience!

We were traveling on a night flight, and I was operating under the assumption - or hope, rather - that all 3 would pass out once we got to cruising altitude. No problem there with my two boys. But for some reason, Isa decided that this particular airplane was not doing it for her. She did not want to sleep, she wanted to run around. Needless to say, the aisles of airplanes these days are not exactly the widest places in the world, so that got old pretty fast. Next attempt was the DVD player. I don't think Isa realized that the people around her did not want to hear her recite verbatim the dialogue (and songs, mind you!) to "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything." So I attempted bribery with food - I know, bad Mommy! But alas, the goldfish and juice only went so far, because my little terror was tired and fighting sleep like crazy.

I don't know about you, but I absolutely hate it when you are trying to calm down your child, and everyone is making that face like, "Can she PLEASE get that kid under control?" So sue me, maybe I have had that thought myself at times...but now I realize how much it sucks, especially when you know that under most circumstances, your child is a well-behaved creature. Well, those were the faces I saw while Isa and I battled for supremacy over her desire to holler and cry in a plane full of folks attempting to sleep. The sleeping giant eventually took over - HALF AN HOUR LATER - and mercifully, she finally passed out. Did I mention that I went and hid in the bathroom for 10 minutes afterwards? I was so frazzled at that point that I couldn't sleep myself!

I stayed awake throughout the entire flight (thank you, Lord, that the tailwinds were fierce - our usually 10-11 hour flight took only 9 hours!) and we made it to Newark only a little worse for wear. And boy, was it cold! It actually was raining (hailing?) ice while we drove down the turnpike to my parents house in "P-Town." When I finally went to bed the first night, I slept from about 10:30 pm until 1200 pm the next day! Man, I was exhausted.

But I was definitely ready to head outdoors on Wednesday! First stop: commissary. On the way to Fort Dix and McGuire, I got nostalgic and drove on the back roads past Garden Terrace to see where my old house was. And then I got kind of sad - it no longer exists. Torn down with all the rest of the decrepit, outdated homes from back in the day, and replaced with this housing that is just so beautiful. And don't get me wrong, in retrospect, my old house was not a prize...if I am being honest, it kind of looked like a small, extended white box that was plopped on earth back in the 60's. But I still remember that it was my very first home as an adult, and both times my Dad was stationed on Fort Dix we lived in the same neighborhood, in homes exactly like it. Sniff, sniff....memories....

....but the homes are still gorgeous! Who knows, if we get stationed back at McGuire, we may move back into that neighborhood! Nice thought to ponder over.....anyway, I hit up the commissary to stock up on a few things that I just can't live without, food-wise, and then the PX/BX. Isabella scammed us out of an Elmo doll that won't shut up. I thought it was the cutest thing ever until she decided that we all should hear every single one of his programmed phrases, over and over and OVER again. I think my ears are bleeding. Needless to say, Elmo got sent to bed for the night and is now sitting on a shelf until tomorrow.

I also got to take a brief trip to Target...and almost sighed in sheer bliss as I walked into the store. See, there are certain stores that do not yet exist in Hawaii, and Target is one of them. And I LOVE THAT STORE. I have been suffering from separation anxiety without it (just for the record, Hawaii also does not have Victoria's Secret, JC Penney, Bath and Body Works...but they recently acquired an Express, however, and I hear rumors that they are thinking of opening a Target, but we shall see. Don't get my hopes up). Anyway, I picked up a cart full of stuff and even got most of my Christmas shopping knocked out. Woo hoo!

And now I am in my Dad's office, where I have commandeered his computer so I can catch up with all of you. My fingers are freezing and I am starting to yawn, so this must mean it is time to wrap things up. But first, I have to add one thing: Ike, if you are reading this, I love you and we miss you, too!

I will keep you updated on our adventures in the Garden State. I plan on seeing a lot of my family and friends, so there should be plenty to write about! 'Til then...

Rolling on a Jet Plane....

2008-12-14T11:40:00.003-10:00

Happy happy, joy joy, happy happy, joy joy....yup, I am doing my famous happy dance (well, famous to my friends who have seen it, LOL) because tonight, we are boarding a plane for Jersey! Oh, and let me tell you what happened yesterday - I promise there's a point. It's funny, I was walking around in Wal-Mart and started chatting with another lady who was in town on vacation. We were discussing what we planned on doing for the holidays...hey, Wal-Mart was crowded and occasionally I like to strike up conversations with perfect strangers. Totally not a Jersey thing to do, but oh well. So I mentioned that I was flying back to the East Coast for the holidays, and she looked at me like I suggested we go out back and smoke a crack pipe or something. She then asked rather nastily, "Why on EARTH would you want to leave a beautiful place like this to go out THERE?" Like Jersey is the armpit of the nation or something. Hey, let's clarify something - I am from SOUTH JERSEY, land of farms and cows. Completely different from the stereotypical place depicted on TV (Sopranos, anyone?) Really, we should be divided into two different states...but that's neither here nor there. Anyway, the interesting thing about her question was that at another point in my life, I probably might have seen her point.

But that's where the change lies...as much as I love it here, and as much as I love the life we have managed to carve out for ourselves with our dear friends and children, the bottom line is that sometimes it feels a little empty without my parents, brothers, sister, and the rest of the Colon crew. It's hard when there is this huge time difference, and something exciting happens, and the first thing I want to do is call somebody out there and can't. Or when I hear about the milestones in people's lives that I have missed, or will not be present for, like birthdays, graduations, hospital stays, weddings, etc...

But no complaints - just sharing - because that's life in the military. I am simply happy that I will get to spend some time playing catch up with awesome friends, much-loved family, and even try to appreciate a bit of the cold weather...after all, I do miss my winter clothes and I am getting to be something of a thin-blooded pansy out here, LOL....

So back to the lady in Wal-Mart. I didn't even hesitate. I just smiled and told her, "My husband is deploying overseas, so we will not be fortunate enough to spend the holiday season together. However, I AM fortunate to say that if I cannot be with him, I am blessed to spend Christmas with the folks I love best in the world."

That sums it up pretty well, don't you think?

My Football Players

2008-12-06T21:38:00.005-10:00

Wordless Wednesday - Reminiscing

2008-12-03T10:44:00.003-10:00

Isabella then:

Isabella now:

I've Been Tagged!

2008-11-30T21:08:00.004-10:00

Woo-hoo, I've been tagged by my cousin Ruth! My directions were: Go to My Pictures, then click on the 4th folder, and then the 4th picture in it. Done, done, and done! Here is this picture:

Here are my paternal grandparents, better known to us kids as Papito and Mamita. I was only a few years old when Papito died, so I never really knew him. However, all of us did know Mamita, and when I say she was quite a lady, I mean it. There are many things we all loved about her, but for me, there are three things that stand out the most:

1. She made the best banana pancakes.

2. She always kept a container full of Smarties for her grandchildren, and whenever we would visit, she would make sure to give one to each of us.

3. She was the most incredible prayer warrior I ever had the pleasure to know. Every night, she would kneel by her bed (it didn't matter whether she was home, or staying at one of her children's homes) and pray, often for what seemed like hours. And the beautiful thing was, according to my father, was that she would pray - by name - for every person in our whole, gigantic family. How awesome is that?

When she died in 1991, I know it created a void for so many people. Talk about an inspirational person!

Wow, I am so glad I got tagged - this brought back some great memories! Thanks, Ruth!

Now it is Elizabeth's turn over at The Mommy...etc. You've been tagged!

I Know It's Still Early...

2008-11-26T18:15:00.004-10:00

...but I couldn't wait! I absolutely love Christmas! We did a Hawaiian tree, too:

Now if we could just get some snow....just kidding!

Let's Try Something New

2008-11-16T12:39:00.021-10:00

I am a shoe lover. Stiletto, boot, wedge, flat, sneaker - doesn't matter, I just adore them. I keep my collection in individual, clear plastic shoe boxes stacked (by color and style, mind you) on the shelves of my closet. My favorites used to be this gorgeous pair of strappy, black leather stilettos that always made me feel like a total babe...something that was much needed on the weekends after wearing combat boots and a fairly masculine uniform five days a week! They looked like this:

But alas, stay-at-home motherhood has prompted me to move on...I now tend to sport a "Mommy" uniform most days, or my workout gear. So, I have a new favorite pair of shoes:

These are my Vibram Five Finger Sprints, and whoa, are they great. I know, I know, they're funny looking, aren't they? It never fails, whenever I step out in these bad boys I get stared at by people who are probably wondering why it looks like I have gloves on my feet. But let's keep it real, the first time I saw them myself, even I had to do a double-take. My initial thoughts? Weird.

When I first started doing the Crossfit thing, I saw tons of people wearing them. They would explain that it was the closest thing to working out barefoot, and I would just think, "why on earth would I want to do that? I have my faithful, broken-in pairs of running shoes - and they rock!"

But as I began progressing in my workouts, I realized that those people had a point. My sneakers actually seemed to weigh me down when I would sprint, or throw me off balance when I would attempt a handstand push-up or do dips on the parallel bars. So I bit the bait, and spent an afternoon navigating the streets of dowtown Honolulu with Isaiah, trying to find the ONE store that actually sold them on the island. (Okay, in all fairness, I could have bought them online - but I hate paying shipping! I guess I'm cheap like that with some things.)

Anyway, we each got a pair - once we finally found the store, that is - and strapped them on for our next workout. And you know what, my skepticism disappeared once I hit the gym. I saw such an improvement in the way I moved - my stride changed, I felt lighter, and my balance was WAY better. Check out our handstand push-ups at the squadron gym:

Not bad at all. But the final test, of course, was when I went on one of my long distance runs. These shoes held up wonderfully during circuit training and sprints around the track, but I wasn't quite sure as to how this whole "barefoot" thing would work when it came to the outdoors. Especially when I would venture off the beaten path. And especially after being spoiled by my comfy, cushiony Nike's.

The first time I tried them outdoors, I went on a two-mile test run. At first, my natural reaction prompted me to overcompensate for the lack of "spring" in my shoes; I would find myself tensing up, or trying to hop up on my toes.

But once I started to relax, everything else fell into place. Nice, quick cadence, a soft landing, a swift and light step, and it was almost impossible for a hard heel strike - oh, and it was an incredible calf workout, too! Over the past months, I have managed to shave a minute off of the running time for my PT test. I think that qualifies as results, don't you? : )

Hey Mickey! Hey, hey, hey Mickey!

2008-11-10T13:47:00.019-10:00

Guess what? I actually managed the act of being spontaneous and flexible at the same time! Want to hear more?

(Of course you do).

Well, since you are just begging to find out (ha-ha), here it goes. There was an Air Force convention being held out in Anaheim, California from Thursday through Sunday last week. A few days prior, my good friend Denise came up with the fabulous idea that we should pack up the kids (she has two, I have my three) and catch a hop (for the unfamiliar, that is when you catch a free ride on a military jet) for a little mini-vacation. She figured that we could have some fun and take the kids to Disneyland for a couple of days while the men were at the convention. My immediate answer was no...an organization freak like myself thought it was too "short notice" to actually just pack up and go at the drop of a hat. But lo and behold, I reconsidered and said "what the heck!" - shocking! - and things began rolling from there. And to make it even better, our other close friends Keith and Reshon decided to join in on the spontaneity and fly out with their three rugrats...so you can imagine that we were quite a group! Here are some pics from our trip:

The kids posing before we got on the tram for Disney...don't let Isa's sweet face fool you, she was a wild child!

The boys mugging for the camera...I didn't know until later that we weren't supposed to climb on these rocks! Oops!

Isa and her Papi grinning on Main Street

One of the rides in "Kiddyland"...I ended up going on all of them

Try spinning around in one of these teacups and then standing up...I almost fell on my face!

'Nuff said...

Can you imagine having to be the one to plant this? If it were me, poor Mickey would be missing an eye and probably an eyebrow, LOL....

All in all, we had a kick-butt time over in Cali. Our pockets are a bit lighter but I must say, there are some things that are definitely worth it, and this was one of them. We got back late Sunday night, and I am completely wiped out. Though not enough to stop me from unpacking everything and doing a couple of loads of laundry before I went to bed. You know me, neurotic as always : )

Water Play

2008-10-19T20:25:00.004-10:00

Auuggghhhh! They got me with the sprinkler!

Hey, hey-hey!

2008-10-15T20:49:00.008-10:00

So....I haven't posted in a bit, but since I have already waxed poetic about why I am so sporadic at times, I won't rehash my spiel : ) Ha ha, that's a mouthful. Any-hoo, let me fill you in on the "goings-on" over here in my time zone:

Isaiah went out of town again last week to do some flying, and boy, could I tell that he was rarin' to get out of the house! Now, don't misunderstand; I know that he treasures his time at home with us, so he didn't go running out the door and flash me a "peace" sign on the way out or anything. But I believe that everybody has to have something that they are passionate about - and for him, it's being out on the road, doing his job. I guess one of the things people may not "get" about most military jobs is that it is more than just a career - it essentially becomes your lifestyle. And when you truly love your career field the way he does...well, I shudder to think about what will happen when he retires from it one day! That's one of the things that attracted me to him...I remember a few years back when we were both on TDY's in the same area, I had the opportunity to watch him teach a class. I was absolutely mesmerized by his knowledge, skill, and easygoing but professional way of interacting with his students. I guess this is part of the reason why I don't tend to worry much when Ike is out of town; barring outside forces beyond human control, I am secure in his abilities, and the knowledge that God has His hand firmly upon him. Which brings me to another relevant update: Ike will be leaving in December for his overseas deployment. There's not a whole lot else I can really put out there, but I do ask that you all pray for his safety, well-being, and overall spiritual, physical, and emotional health while he is gone. And as selfish as this sounds, for me to get through the time that he will be gone without flipping out, LOL!

As for the boys, they are having stellar football seasons so far. Amir's team has been undefeated, to date, and Johnny's team has only lost one game. Oh, and on another note, can I just tell you that I am constantly amazed by how quickly children grow up? That sounds so cliche, I know, and when I used to hear folks say that I would usually think, jeez, that's kind of silly. Time must pass so much slower when we are adolescents. Anyway, I was out shopping with the boys for clothing the other day, and it jolted me when I discovered I could fit the same size pants (length-wise, that is) as my oldest! As a joke, I even tried on one of his new shirts....and it fit. I don't know whether to be flattered or afraid! And Johnny, despite being a good three-plus years younger than his older brother, is not far behind. At this rate, I almost expect Isabella to start spouting Shakespeare and discussing the upcoming elections with me!

Now, on to me. I have to tell you, I was really down in the dumps two days ago. Here's the deal: if you interact with me enough, you will know that I will proclaim from the highest mountaintop that I am horrible, horrible, HORRIBLE at math. I guess I didn't tie that factor in to the physics class I am currently taking, amongst others. Okay, in all fairness, my advisor told me there would be some math involved, but I didn't think that it would be to this extent. So I took one of my quizzes, and boy, did I bomb it. Out of 60 questions, I got maybe 34 correct. This is an insane aberration for me, and now, in order for me to keep my "A" going, I have to pretty much ace everything else that I do in this class. Not a good feeling at all.

But - on a happy note, I can say that I had a great day yesterday. No, I didn't do anything out of the ordinary or especially spectacular. I simply spent the whole day, from late morning until the evening, out and about with my three (not so little) munchkins. It's funny how those kind of things can bring some contentment and levity to my most trying days. We shopped, had lunch, strolled around different places, and chatted - which I think I liked the best. Oh, and my boys treated their mom to some coffee at Starbucks...mmmmm.....

And that's the end for now. I have another chapter of laws and mathematical equations open on my desk. I think it's taunting me. Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha! I'll fill you in on more later!

Potty Training Woes

2008-09-30T12:12:00.006-10:00

In case you haven't figured it out yet, this post is devoted entirely to my gripes, successes, and failures as I attempt to potty train the child-who-refuses-to-sleep, Isabella. As I type she is eyeballing me from the couch where she is supposed to be settling down for her afternoon nap, although she has become expert in the fine art of pretending she is asleep whenever I actually turn my head in that direction. Tricky one, she is. We have been spending the past day and a half practically glued at the hip as I try to "pick up" on her "signals" (overt and non) that she has to use the bathroom. This is per some potty training literature that I picked up the other day, although I cannot yet testify as to its effectiveness. I pulled out my stockpile of potty training paraphernalia, and am trying to make heads or tails of what "method" I should be following, and it's all Greek to me, to be honest!

So far, we have met some success, although I should be up-front and admit that most of those were a result of me running her to the bathroom and plopping her naked booty onto the potty when I sensed she was on the verge of letting loose. Other than that, my washing machine and dryer have been in heavy rotation - not to mention the Pine-Sol, bleach, and bathtub, since Isabella has taken it upon herself to dump the contents of her potty bowl onto her head a couple of times. Not a pretty sight, I must say!

And, of course, like most people, I inevitably encounter that one person - who shall remain nameless - whose child is the exceptional Einstein of their generation. C'mon, you know what I'm talking about! When the other moms (like myself) are discussing how great it is that our children are starting to speak in sentences and finally managing to feed themselves without chucking their plates at our heads, that certain someone's child is sitting daintily in a chair and completing quadratic equations with one hand while decorating a cake with the other. And of course, was potty trained when they were one and a half, within a three-day period, with nary an accident. Yup, that's the person I end up running into while on a "happy, happy, joy, joy" high from the fact that Isabella actually peed in the potty without finishing on the floor. Way to go, self-esteem!

Don't mind me, I am just venting - I am sure she will get the hang of this eventually and maybe even before I sprout gray hairs. I am an open vessel for any advice you want to divvy out, so please feel free to let me have it. And since it looks like Isa has finally drifted off, I should probably try and get this laundry folded before she gets up again! Adios for now....

DVR's Rock!

2008-09-23T21:15:00.006-10:00

At the moment, I am feeling what could be considered an odd and irrational love for a piece of technology. I am not ashamed to admit it.

I. Love. My. D.V.R. (Digital Video Recorder, aka "Tivo") It has been my saving grace for the past week. This is why:

I am still sick as a dog and still sounding somewhat like a guy, although it might be safe to say that instead of being in the throes of puberty, my voice sounds like it has actually made it there now. Anyway, I woke up the other morning and had what I like to refer as a "mini-breakdown" where I threw myself on the bed and begged my husband not to leave me alone with Isabella that day. I know that comes off as being horrible, but I was in misery and just could not fathom chasing after her all day, feeling the way I did - she's like the Energizer Bunny sometimes and gets into everything! Poor Ike, he looked like he felt so bad for me. But there was no way he could stay home, he had to prep for a flight and couldn't get out of that, obviously. Once he left, I kind of buried myself in blankets and pillows and imagined getting some sleep, until I was snapped back to reality by my munchkin, who proceeded to dig me out and proclaim "eat, eat!" I kid you not, I had no idea how I was going to survive the day until the boys or Ike came home. Sounds melodramatic but I really, really, really was feeling terrible. But then I remembered....the power of the DVR!

If a mothering group ever read this I am in trouble, but I confess that I have never been so grateful in my life for my "Tivo." Programmed into that bad boy is a never-ending roster of Isa's favorites, from "Wow Wow Wubbzy" to "Yo Gabba Gabba." I was able to lay on the couch and occasionally doze while she sat mesmerized by Noggin's educational programs. Yes, yes, give me the naughty mother of the week award, but I was desperate!

The only downside to this whole thing is, now that I am trying to get back to my normal daily routine, I am constantly humming the bars of music from her shows. I had finally managed to get Dora's voice out of my head, and it has been replaced by Wubbzy and every Veggietales movie on earth. Don't get me wrong, I love the Veggietales! But when you are in church and hearing the pastor speak on, oh, say the Wall of Jericho, and the image that comes to your head is of little vegetables throwing slushies down at Joshua and the Israelites, it gets a little difficult to compose yourself (true story - it happened to my mom!)

And that's about all I can get down at the minute, because today (dum, da-dum-dum!) I have a full schedule that includes parent-teacher conferences (seems early, but school started back in July), Gymboree for Isa, and some Crossfit for me to get me out of my little funk. So until later, I bid you adieu...hahaha....

Anniversary Dinner

2008-09-19T20:55:00.007-10:00

Saludos a todos! It's been a slow week, mainly because I have been dealing with a killer cold that has me sounding like a young man in the throes of puberty - really, one of my friends called the other day and thought I was Ike. Scary. So I have given myself the liberty to be a slug for the past few days. And thanks to my husband, I did something unheard of...I slept in until almost 1130 hours the other day! He was flying that night, and instead of going in early like he usually does, he stayed home and took care of Isa. Trust me, I say with zero sarcasm that it was the best anniversary gift ever, LOL. Although I am still wheezing/hacking quite a bit (and still sounding rather masculine) Amir offered to baby-sit for us so we could go out on a date and celebrate. Yes, we jumped at the opportunity and headed straight for Romano's....and it was SO yummy...check out my dish:

(Side note: I also scarfed down a loaf of Italian bread and some bruschetta...I am a self-admitted carb-junkie. Don't ever take away my pasta, rice, or bread, and we'll all get along, LOL)

Anyway, Isaiah and I sat and reminisced on our first dinner at this place and it got me kind of nostalgic. We discovered this restaurant years ago when he was taking me down to Maryland and Washington D.C. for the medical appointments leading up to my brain surgery in 2004. We even went there on the day I was finally released from the hospital, looking all kinds of crazy, because I like it so much. So you can imagine how excited we were when we found out they opened a Romano's here in Honolulu...it has meaning for us! Isaiah decided to memorialize us on their table:

Don't worry, we're not vandals - there is a roll of paper on top of the tablecloth. And we're not usually this corny, but we figure it's permitted once a year : )

Now we are home, so I think I will take some nice meds that will help me breathe normally and maybe even get a decent night of sleep. As I type, I can see Ike dozing on the couch out of the corner of my eye. I can already predict what will happen - I will try and pry the remote out of his hands to turn the TV off, and he will pretend like he has been awake this whole time. Gotta love him...Happy Anniversary, babe!

Long Time, No Write!

2008-09-14T18:35:00.018-10:00

Hey, beautiful people! I know it has been a LONG time (for me, that is) since I have posted anything, but it seems that every spare second I have has been consumed with the needs, wants, and must-haves that arise in a busy household. I am sure you know what that's like : ) So let me update you on the happenings of our crew, along with a few visual aids for entertainment purposes, and we can play catch up with each other!

School first: it was kicking my little Puerto Rican tushie. Especially in one of my classes, where I had a professor who was this die-hard stickler for perfection, and wanted us to "infuse" our work with "deep thoughts, research, and soul-searching insights." I thought, hey, no prob - I can handle that. I was doing pretty well, too, staying up late and working on this 16-page argumentative paper that was going to make up the bulk of the final grade. But once I made it to page 12, a strange phenomenon occurred where I believe my brain spontaneously combusted. Seriously, it started driving me nuts because I barely have free time as it is, and every time I would sit in front of the computer I just kind of stared at the screen and every little bit of inspiration that may have been churning around would suddenly fly right out the window, and I would eke out maybe two sentences in an hour or so. VERY annoying. However, I did learn that deadlines must have some kind of reverse effect on me, because about 12 hours before it was due, my brain kicked back into gear. I somehow managed to get it finished, turned in, and got the final "A" I needed to keep myself on the Dean's List at the university, thank you very much. I cannot tell you how good it feels to get that monkey off my back - I danced a little jig on my counter in celebration (hey, it was one in the morning and I was wired on coffee - my neighbors are lucky I didn't start break-dancing in the street). Woo hoo! (Don't worry, I didn't fall off the counter and break any important body parts...LOL)

So that was the school report; I am now on a nice 3 week break until the next semester starts up. Moving on!

Amir and Johnny have begun playing football, and boy, have their practices had me running around like a chicken on speed. I was kind of hoping that their schedules would at least be on separate days, but nope, wasn't going to happen. They actually overlap, take place on opposite sides of the base, and are scheduled right around our dinnertime. I end up cooking in the morning (before or after various appointments), and when the boys come home from school, speed feed them, and run child #1 one out the door while the other is eating or finishing up their work. Then back home, where I do a patented "hi and bye" hug/kiss for the husband (who usually has just gotten home) and scoop child #2. Drop him off, then grab the child #1, whose practice has just ended. In between all of this, I grab my grub on the run, and end my night waiting on child #2 to finish up while reading from the dome light in my car so I don't fall asleep. Sound confusing? Yeah, sometimes it is....just wait until their games start! Besides the sports, they still have their other activities going on and I must say, I find it quite entertaining. I tend to catch myself re-living certain aspects of my own childhood when I hear all of the stories from the halls of the third grade and more so, the sixth grade! Seems like so long ago...remember back when the most crucial thing you had to worry about was whether you would have enough time at recess to play kick ball? Wow, it's hard to believe life was ever that simple!

And on to Ike's mini-clone, Isabella. That girl is a trip and a half - even when I have to discipline her for something, I often have to turn my face to the wall so she doesn't see me chuckle at times. It amazes me how much kids at that age soak up, and learn new things not just from day to day, but almost from hour to hour or minute to minute. Last month, I went out and purchased all of the requisite "materials" needed for potty training - Ike and I were under the delusion that this would be an easy feat. I mean, I have two boys and they are supposed to be harder to train, right? Well, so far, Isa has used the potty approximately 3 times. Sounds nice and all, but let's just say that my daughter has also decided that the potty is more effective as a portable footstool. I find it in really strange parts of the house - once I went into my closet for a pair of running shoes, and found it propped up near the shelf where I keep my handbags. Don't even get me started on the time when she actually used the potty, and decided it would be fun to wear the seat on her head as a hat. Thank goodness for bathtubs, shampoo, and my Swiffer! (By the way, I wholeheartedly welcome any and ALL potty training advice, so lay it on me!)

As for Ike, he (as well as I) have fully embraced the Crossfit lifestyle. You might recall, I mentioned it back in an earlier post - you can always google it (or click on the link to check it out)if you get bored one night and don't feel like watching mindless infomercials. And this is completely off-subject, but after so many late nights, I think I should mention that I have probably seen each and every infomercial that is currently in rotation...I've concluded that their intent is to wear down your resistance until the lack of sleep and repetition actually convince you that you need what they are selling. I almost bought a few things, in my weaker moments. Disturbing, I know. Anyway, back to the topic at hand. In Ike's own words, he is feeling "outstanding," and if I do say so myself, he looks fantastic. Not that he didn't before, but goodness gracious, he looks like he did when he was 25! My, my, my....as for his possible deployment, it is still pending at the moment. While I am hoping that they don't send him back to the desert again (especially during the holidays!) I am still resigning myself to it just in case. Oh, and he is also playing basketball again, now that his previous injuries have finally healed up completely. He wants you to know that his squadron won their first intramural basketball game of the season. Go, Airlift Squadron, go! Woo-woo!

And back to me, the blogger. I am happy to say that I am feeling pretty outstanding myself. Along with everything else spinning in my little world, I jumped on the Crossfit bandwagon with my husband, his best friend Keith, and his wife Reshon. I can honestly say that the difference in each of us is tremendous. I am woman, hear me roar! Grrrr!

After all of this hustle, the girls and I took a much needed break and had a fabulous "ladies night" out on the town. It was Reshon's birthday, so a group of my girlfriends - Denise, Rose, Tina, myself, and Reshon, of course - headed out to Bubba Gump's for dinner at the Ala Moana Mall in downtown Honolulu. Believe me, this mall is huge - the entire fourth floor is dedicated solely to restaurants, and in the middle of all of them sits a Tiki bar where they play live music. We got to listen to some great local music while sipping on fruity drinks and grubbing on seafood. Check us out:

We were a loud and rambunctious bunch - so naturally, we made fast friends with our servers. They thought we were a riot! Here I am with my favorite one:

After we stuffed ourselves silly, we jumped in the car (once we remembered where we parked...hey, it really is a huge mall) and did a little club-jumping. We started off at this place called Moose's and ended the night at Rumours, which just happened to be having a "Flashback" Saturday. Ever go somewhere and see people get ridiculously excited when some song that they probably danced to at their prom or whatever comes on? Yup, that's pretty much what was going on there. We had a blast! And I probably shouldn't be telling you this - but I will anyway - we engaged in a little "people watching." Whew....all that I can say is that there are some truly wild characters out there in the world. Here we all are at the end of the night:

Not bad for it being 2 in the morning, right? Ha ha : )

So, folks, that's about it for now. I could probably go on and on about all of the other inane things that take place in my Hawaiian existence, but you might fall asleep on me while sitting at your computer and we don't want that. Broken keyboards (or noses) are kind of a pain to deal with. Instead, I will try to do a better job about getting on here while I am on my school break - and you can pray that my professors for the next semester are a little more relaxed than they were this past one! Besos!

Some Pictures from Isa's 2nd Birthday

2008-08-20T20:51:00.006-10:00

As I mentioned before, our youngest one turned two last week. She had a wonderful birthday, and although we kept it pretty low-key (hung out at home and let her be princess for the day) I am fairly certain that she had a good time. : )

I thought the cake was pretty cool! Much easier to serve, because it is constructed entirely out of cupcakes! And they were good.... I ate two.....mmmmmm.....

Blowing out the candles with her Daddy...

...and licking icing off her fingers along with her brothers! Can you say "sugar rush" three times fast? Hahahahaha....

Isabella, the Chef

2008-08-10T13:38:00.008-10:00

My littlest munchkin, Isabella, has a birthday coming up this week. She will be turning a grand two years old on the 14th of August, and boy, has she definitely been growing by leaps and bounds. Sometimes she completely surprises me with the things she says - although I will be glad when the word "no" stops being one of her favorites, LOL. Well, it looks like Isaiah will now be going out of town (to Australia - what a hardship! wink, wink) and will miss her big day, so we went out and got one of her birthday gifts in advance. Check it out:

Isabella absolutely loves puttering around my kitchen and trying to "help" me when I am cooking and baking. So now, she has her own kitchen to whip up whatever she wants, however she wants. I would have LOVED one of these things when I was little - the phone rings and speaks, the burner turns red and bubbles, the overhead light turns on and off...need I go on? Very, very cool! As soon as it was set up, Isa headed straight for it and began playing with the little dishes and utensils:

Many thanks to Isa's Abuela and Papa for helping give our girl her dream kitchen. Grandparents are so awesome!

On another happy note, my cousin Beth - who inspired me to start blogging in the first place - was blessed with the arrival of a handsome and healthy baby boy named Caedon on July 31st. If you get a chance, swing on over to her blog, See Bess Run, and send her some congratulations! We all know that pregnancy and labor is no joke, so I am sure that this delivery was both a blessing and relief for her. I bet she will be lacing on her running shoes again in no time : )

Better Late Than Never, Right?

2008-07-30T11:24:00.009-10:00

I meant to post this the week before last, but for certain reasons, I never seemed to get around to pressing the "publish post" button. I'll get into the reasons for that later. Anyway, I am almost two weeks late on this, but the Feel Good Friday theme over at MommyETC on July 18th was:

...post SONG LYRICS that make you happy, that teach you more about yourself...about God, that make you cry, that make you feel special...that make you "feel good".

It is hard for me to admit (reason #1 for my tardiness), but I felt a bit of tugging in my heart when I read that. No, not because I had heartburn or anything. Because I was instantly convicted (reason #2). If you read these lyrics you might understand why:

One Touch (Press) by Nicole C. Mullen

Been ostracized for 12 years

I'm used to being alone

Spent everything I had

And now it's gone

I'm used to being put down

My issues tell it all

My only hope is anchored

In this fall

Chorus

If I could just touch the hem of His garment

I know I'd be made whole

If I could just press my way through this madness

His love would heal my soul

If only one touch

So many people calling

How could He ever know

That just a brush of Him

Would stop the flow

If he knew would He rebuke me

Or shame me to the crowd

Well I'm desperate 'cause it's never or it's now

Chorus

Suddenly He turned around

He said somebody has unleashed my power

Well, Frightened and embarrassed I bowed

You see I told Him of my troubles

And how...

I had to touch the Hem of His garment

And I know I've been made whole

And how I had pressed my way through the madness

And His love has healed my soul

Then with one word

He touched the hem of my garment

And you know I've been made whole

And somehow He pressed

His way through my madness

And His love has healed my soul

I tell you He touched me

He reached way down and touched me

When no one else would touch me

Jesus, shol' 'nough He touched me...

And I know I've been made whole

This song absolutely does it for me - it sums me, and my life, up in so many ways that I get a lump in my throat and have to look in the other direction if people are around. In case you didn't know, this song is about the woman in the Bible who suffered from an "issue of blood" for about 12 years; she was an outcast in society because of this, and I imagine that she was a lonely and sad woman, too. She was desperate, probably at the end of her rope, and when she saw Jesus, she just knew that he could heal her. Her faith drove her through that crowd; and even though she knew that she wasn't supposed to touch him (the laws concerning issues of blood forbade her to) she reached for the hem of his garment. Jesus knew instantly when she made contact; he felt his power unleash and asked, "who touched me?" Although the woman was afraid, she confessed to being the one to touch him. He then turns to her - and this is what really pulls my heartstrings - and lovingly says, "Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace..."

I can identify with this story. Not the issue of blood part - I have dealt with some serious medical issues over the years, but not that one in particular. What I can understand is that feeling of being an outcast, that feeling that nobody wants you - those kinds of feelings that drive you to the point of desperation, where you know that nothing can save you but the blood of Jesus. Just one touch. That's all. Just one touch to heal you, to fix the things that are wrong; one touch to let you know that there is indeed someone who loves you more than anything, and knows you as His own, even if you don't always acknowledge Him. And that word he uses: "Daughter." I don't know about you, but for me, it drives home the point that even when society was shunning this woman, Jesus was not. He acknowledged her in front of everyone in that crowd as His own - "Daughter." Okay, I can feel the lump starting to pop up again so let me take a minute....

See, I have to admit - even though I don't want to - that I haven't exactly been on my best behavior lately. Frustrations with various things, anxiety, lack of sleep, school - so many things have had me on edge lately. I can't seem to find enough time in the day to do the things I need to. I snap so easily lately...at everyone, to be honest. I find myself becoming increasingly dissatisfied, and then look for things to validate that emotion so I can wallow in my pity party. And although I try to justify it, I admit that I haven't been as active in my prayer life and one-on-one time with God lately. Ever notice that when that slacks off, everything else just seems to fall out of whack?

And therein lies my conviction. I have been that woman - the one that Jesus acknowledged and saved when she was at the end of her rope. And you would think by now, that I should be a seasoned enough Christian that I wouldn't allow myself to fall into these kinds of ruts. But I still do, and it is just the worst feeling!

Have you ever fallen into that valley before? What did it take for you to realize that you had wandered off the beaten track? What prompted you to turn around? If you want to share, feel free...and if not, no worries, just typing this has been therapeutic.

So that is where I am at right now. I am going to make the effort to carve out some much-desired time to try and re-organize and re-prioritize certain things in my life. I have a feeling it's not going to be easy...but the most important thing is that it will get me back to where I need to be. Thanks for letting me vent....it's so nice having a springboard to get all of this out of my system! Blessings....

Ouch!

2008-07-24T22:44:00.008-10:00

I....am....so.....sore......right.....now.

I am not sure why but it even kind of hurts to type, too. All because I had to go and try to be superwoman.

Okay, here's the deal. I consider myself to be a pretty fit person. In fact, if I listen to the Air Force, I can even smile and go ahead and say that I am in excellent condition. When I took my annual PT test in June (which consists of timed military style push-ups, sit-ups, and a 1.5 mile run), I beat every woman in my squadron, and in the run, almost all of the men, too. Had me feeling all good and positive. All the running I do at night actually pays off, I thought.

Then Isaiah and his best friend Keith decided to introduce me to this workout regime called CrossFit. You may have heard of it, but if you are kind of oblivious to these things (as I tend to be most of the time) you are probably just staring at the screen with a blank expression. It's okay, I completely understand.

Anyway, I am probably not doing the program much justice by describing it in these terms, but it is basically a no-frills kind of strengthening/conditioning program that is used by countless athletes, special forces units, martial artists, etc....it is not meant for people who are trying to look cute and check themselves out in mirrors while they do bicep curls or something in the gym. Now, this is how it was told to me, and I got really amped about it. I don't know about you, but I cannot stand the gym most of the time. You either have the same guys there checking out the women (this works in reverse too, ladies!), or you have to fight for your turn on a machine. Gets kind of old. C'mon.

As I was saying...I got all excited about it, especially when Isaiah came home the first day completely wrecked and about to toss his cookies. Since it was the day after his birthday, I figured that the drinks he and his friends celebrated with the day before might have got to him. I empathized with him while the naughty voice in my head cackled "wimp!" Then I promised to go with him and Keith another day. No sweat!

Wrong. Very wrong. There was sweat. Quite a bit of it. Belonging to me, as a matter of fact. We were given a deceptively simple sounding workout to do. The "simple workout" nearly made me hurl. Let's just say it involved a combination of a whole lot of push-ups and pull-ups (called burpies), and squats performed while hoisting a 20-pound ball in the air (okay, I admit that I took a lighter ball....so sue me). I started off pretty strong, but by the end, only sheer willpower and the fact that my husband was watching (of course, he finished before me) got me through the workout. I tell you the truth, it took everything I had not to hurl in the bucket affectionately named "Pukie" that they keep for newbies like me.

So now I sit. In front of the computer. Wondering how on earth my body is still operating. I squatted down to pick up my daughter earlier and couldn't get back up. Yeah, it's pitiful. So the question is, am I going back?

Call me crazy...but yes! There is something so...well, therapeutic about reaching beyond what you think are your capabilities and actually finding out that you can do so much more. And not drop dead in the process. Even if I hurt. Today. And probably tomorrow. And the day after.

So, people, I will keep you posted and let you know if I am able to hang. And that's about all I can manage at the moment...because I am going to bed! Besos!

Installment #4: The Colon Family Takes Over (And Departs) Hawaii!

2008-07-14T21:51:00.017-10:00

Let's play a Hawaiian version of "Where's Waldo?" Observe the picture below. See anything interesting?

Your eyes do not deceive you, people. That is indeed a coconut tree.

What's that? Oh! I guess you may have also noticed the man perched (quite comfortably, I might add) on the tree! Well, this took place while we were visiting the island of Samoa. No, not the real island of Samoa. I'm talking about the one at the Polynesian Cultural Center!

The Polynesian Cultural Center is one of those places where you truly have to experience it for yourself in order to fully appreciate how incredible it is. This is a 42-acre Center located on the Windward side of Oahu, containing seven native "villages" that each represent one of the Pacific Islands: Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti, Marquesas, New Zealand (which is actually called Aotearoa - I never knew that) and Tonga. Each village had all kinds of activities to offer, such as Tongan spear throwing contests, preparing (and enjoying!) Tahitian coconut bread, playing the drums, even Samoan fire-knife training. We made it our goal to make it through every single village in the place, which was no small feat once you threw in a blazing sun and some unusually hot weather!

However, we actually made it around the entire Center, and were rewarded with a truly authentic Hawaiian luau. I'm talking about pineapple drinks, tiki lamps, beautiful music, and the best part of all, food! Here is one of the men preparing to remove the roasted pig from the fire pit:

And here is the procession of the Royal Hawaiian Court:

After the luau, we enjoyed a spectacular show that showcased performers from each of the native "villages" - it was a breathtaking performance, complete with fire-dancers and all! I really wish I had some pictures to show you, but like Cirque, we couldn't take pictures for fear of blinding the performers. Again, I can accept that because I agree that it would be kind of ugly for a flash to go off while someone was dancing around with a flaming torch or something. : )

After spending a whole day, morning to night, at the Polynesian Cultural Center, you would think we would be too tired to do anything else that weekend. But of course not! We got up the next day, pumped our bodies full of caffeine, and went to the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park in Kapolei. Which, ironically, is the only water park on the whole island - who'da thunk it?

I'll be honest with you - after being raised in such close proximity to Six Flags Great Adventure, I admit that I tend to be a bit blase about water parks. You know the concept: been to one, seen them all. I mean, you can only ride so many water slides before you just kind of sit there and go catatonic, right? But once again, I was wrong - I acted like a big child and got on some of the crazy rides with my Dad and the boys. The wildest one was this new ride called "The Tornado." It is built into the side of the mountains bordering the water park, and you hike up them to reach the the place where the ride begins. The best description I can give you is to imagine (along with whoever is with you, naturally) being shoved backwards into a humongous red funnel that spins you around to the point where you are literally circling the tube upside down! Very tornado-like....if I hadn't been hanging on to the grips of the tube, I don't think I would be typing this right now! And I kid you not, there were grown men in there screaming like girls...I'm talking about big, masculine men, too, LOL....

Now, can you believe after visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, there would be more? Oh, yes! The following day, Mom and Dad headed out to visit the Big Island - land of Kona coffee, black sand beaches, and of course, the volcanoes! I can't elaborate fully on their experiences, being that I obviously wasn't there, but according to them, it was an awesome trip. Also, they took a ton of pictures, but for the sake of your eyesight, I will put in the money shot that you know you want to see:

Volcano!

While the parents were off trolling the Big Island, Isaiah and I were pretty busy ourselves - it was the day that we were all set to be given the keys to our new house! Man, what a blessing, and a long-awaited one at that. Just to give you an idea of why we couldn't wait to get out of our old house (which was being torn down, thankfully) let me give you a brief description of our previous abode. A very old home built out of cinder blocks, with peeling paint on the cinder blocks, no less; a lanai door that let countless creatures in (you should see some of the critters here); a yard that refused to grow real grass; really, prior to our departure, this house was literally falling apart all around us. To add insult to injury, after accidentally knocking a chair into some moulding, we discovered a ridiculously large ant colony residing in our walls! To a germ-phobe like me, that was enough to send me into the fetal position, quivering in spasms of horror. So, you can be assured that I was lurking outside the housing office like a desperate stalker, waiting for our names to be called so we could get our keys and run as fast as we could into the new place!

The last few days of Mom and Dad's visit, we spent doing all the things that come with moving - sorting, discarding, packing, and the best part of all, buying a few new things! And, as I am sure you probably can figure out, we were pretty exhausted. However, it made my heart smile to see my Dad and husband tinkering around with the boys and showing them how to be little handymen.

Then Friday rolled around. It was the 4th of July, but I just couldn't seem to muster up much excitement. We all kept ourselves busy with unpacking, moving things in their proper places, hanging curtains...but there is always that awareness in the back of your brain that reminds you that soon, your happy time will be coming to an end. Although I purposely tried to avoid looking at the clock, I knew the time was getting closer to when we would have to take them to the airport. My mood was growing increasingly somber and when Amir burst into tears at the dinner table, I had to go into the kitchen under the guise of cleaning the dishes so I wouldn't embarrass myself by doing the same! Time ticked on much too quickly...it seems that whenever you wish time would linger, it does the opposite and goes into fast-forward.

So, off we went to the airport - we were all doing a pretty decent job of acting like it was no big deal, in retrospect. That is, until the final good-bye came - then I lost it. Mom came to give me a hug and I just refused to let go of her...it's funny how the familiar scent and feel of a person can take you back to when you were just a child and the only people who mattered were your parents. After a few attempts, she finally dislodged me and man, then the waterworks really sprang into full effect. I can't properly express how hard it was to say good-bye to my Dad after that. One of the things I love best about him is his habit of whispering that special bit of parting counsel, tempered with a loving gesture, right before he departs. And he didn't fail to tell me just what I needed to hear before he gave me one last kiss and hug - although what he said is something that I will keep between he and I, of course. : )

Back in the car I went, looking like a hot mess - running nose, red eyes, tragic face and all. However, I did manage to compose myself before stepping in the house. And I have to tell you, if I didn't have my husband and children there to make me laugh that day I would probably have just sat around looking pitiful. Because it's strange when you are used to having an extra presence in the house for a significant amount of time, and then all of a sudden, it's gone. The kind of company where you can just go about your daily life and have the comfort of knowing that even if you don't say a word, or just sit around doing something as mundane as enjoying a cup of coffee together, you are content and happy.

But time marches on, and thankfully, it is capable of providing the best kinds of distractions. I have been busy to the point of exhaustion with all of the things that have popped up in the past few weeks. School, work, prepping the kids for sports, lessons, TDY's, the list feels never-ending at times...but most, if not all of you can relate, I am sure.

And thus ends my final installment of the Hawaii "take-over" by the Colon Family. A big mahalo to them for giving us some truly beautiful memories to hang onto until we visit again. I close this with a picture that should sum up their experiences here in one pose:

I think they look happy, don't you? : )

Catching Up!

2008-07-11T22:51:00.006-10:00

Hey everyone - I know I still owe you guys another installment, but things have been so crazy here I haven't had a chance to sit down for very long and finish it. The last three days of Mom and Dad's visit, we had to move from our old house in the ghetto (if anyone from housing happens to come across this, sorry, but you know it's the truth, LOL) to our brand new one, and all I can say is this: Valió la pena! Yup, it was worth the wait, most definitely. I will try and post some pictures of the new place soon. On top of that, school has picked back up for me, Isaiah is preparing to go out of town again, and my youngest munchkin has decided to fully embrace the "terrible" portion of her terrible two's! Oh, my...but in the meantime, I leave you with some pictures that we all took together while my parents were still here. Much love to everyone, and just bear with me, I will update this blog again soon!

Installment #3: The Colon Family Takes Over Hawaii!

2008-06-30T12:37:00.017-10:00

The North Shore of Oahu has a lot to offer. Miles and miles of sandy beach? Check. Miles and miles of ocean? Check. Countless tourists attempting to master the art of surfing next to countless locals who probably ride the waves during hurricanes for fun? Check. Gigantic maze in the shape of an over sized fruit?

CHECK!

Interestingly enough, it exists! An insanely large maze, in the shape of a pineapple, designed to torment anyone brave enough to venture into its eerie depths. Okay, maybe it's not that ominous, but I still didn't want to attempt to navigate it. My luck is, I would either pass out from heat stroke 5 feet from the exit or simply never come out - my sense (or lack of) direction is kind of infamous in these parts, LOL. Which is why Isaiah ended up trapped inside of it with Johnny, while the parents and I munched on pineapple themed goodies and shopped inside the Dole Plantation store. Here is a picture (of a picture, since my ability to fly over tall buildings wasn't functioning that day) of the maze:

The Dole Plantation's claim to fame, besides being the producers of Dole Pineapples, is the fact that this maze was listed as holding the world record for being the largest one in the world. On the other hand, that was back in 2001 so I am sure that somebody, somewhere, has taken it upon themself to commission a ridiculously larger maze just to beat a somewhat lame record in a book. I mean, really, when was the last time YOU looked in the Guinness Book of World Records for entertainment? : )

Eventually, Isaiah and Johnny emerged from the maze, so we celebrated by treating ourselves to some fantastic pineapple ice cream at the snack bar. After feeding the fishies in the pond, I entertained myself by stalking everyone with my camera:

Isa the barbarian...she likes to bench press me at home for fun : )

Dad flirting with one of the female workers....until Mom pointed out that she was made of cardboard, haha...

Once we tired of prancing throughout pineapple fields, we got back into the car and cruised down the road to check out the rest of the North Shore. There are pros and cons to rolling around this part of the island. One of the cons - at least for a Jersey girl like me who prefers to get wherever she is going as fast as possible - is that the road in this rural area is only 2 lanes (one coming, one going) with a max speed limit of 35 miles per hour. However, one of the pros FAR outweighs the cons. What, you wonder, could make a speeder like me slow down? See below:

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. This is indeed a graffiti-covered, RV-style vehicle located on the side of the road. If I drove past it in the evening hours back home I would lock my doors and keep on truckin'. However, it is home to Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, a North Shore tradition and providers of the absolute BEST shrimp ever. And believe that everyone knows about it here, whether you are a local or a tourist. They have spicy shrimp, lemon butter shrimp, garlic shrimp...am I am starting to sound like Bubba from Forrest Gump?

Anyway, we got in line with a ton of other people and each ordered a garlic shrimp plate, which is served scampi-style with rice. Ohhhh, my.....all I can say is that we were in heaven. Garlic-breath and all.

Once we ate our food (I admit it, I licked the plate), the men appeared to be in need of a serious nap. Funny how this tends to happen after an especially good meal...and also when the word "shopping" is brought up! So, the ladies (Mom, Isa, and I) took the men (Dad, Isaiah, and Johnny) home and went right back out to scour the shops for some retail therapy. Oh, and if you are wondering where Amir was, he spent what he described as an "awesome" weekend out camping with his Sunday School class....coincidentally located at the North Shore!

And that's all for now. In a few short days, Mom and Dad will be returning to NJ, and our time together will be drawing to an end. I am trying not to think about it too much - denial is my friend at the moment. And since there are still some more stories to share, we won't focus on that sad fact quite yet. So - stay tuned for the next installment, for I will regale you with tales of spear-throwing natives, fire dancers, and strolls through seven authentic Polynesian villages. Oh, and did I mention a spectacular luau and night show? All this and more, during our adventure to the Polynesian Cultural Center - same bat time, same bat channel! (Sorry, I couldn't resist....you know you watched the original Batman series on television back in the day!)

Installment #2 - The Colon Family Takes Over Hawaii!

2008-06-25T22:17:00.026-10:00

Told ya' it was coming....it just took me a minute to actually get on the computer long enough to type something! Fresh of the heels of a card game, I am waiting for some laundry to finish drying (because we all know I cannot sleep if things aren't finished before I go to bed), and since everyone else is already knocked out, there is no better time than the present for some updates. So, beginning with the most recent excursion of the week, I would like to introduce you to a most entertaining new friend of mine:

Everyone, meet the Llama. He (or maybe it was a she - I didn't exactly check, so let's just call he/she "Llama") was one of the creatures hanging out at the children's section of the Honolulu Zoo. Don't ask me why I decided to share this picture when I probably should have posted the typical pics of the lions and tigers and bears (oh, my!) but I just find Llama amusing. Llama, in turn, seemed to find my tank top to be WAY more interesting than satisfying than my odd sense of humor, so Isabella and I moved on before I lost my shirt. On to the little goats!

I kind of wondered if Isa would attempt to climb on one of these little guys and try to ride them around, but she was content to pat him on the head and say "ni-i-i-i-i-ice" in a surprisingly soothing voice. I was just glad she didn't bonk him on the head and try to take him home!

I could probably bore you to tears and post a lot more pictures, but since you have all likely been to a zoo at some point in your lives, I won't sear your poor corneas with things you have already seen before. So I will leave you with one cute pic of Papa with his grandkids...

...and move on to excursion #2, our visit to Pali Lookout!

Alright, Pali Lookout is what we would usually call a "scenic overlook" off of 295 out in Jersey, but it's really much more than that - like most places here in Hawaii, it has been the location of some crazy historical events. Rather than give myself Carpal Tunnel syndrome by typing it all out, I cheated and took a picture so you can read for yourself what happened there:

The picture was really much bigger when I viewed it on my computer...but if you can't read it, the story takes place in the late 1700's and ends with a bunch of Hawaiian warriors being forced off the end of this cliff:

That drop looks like it would really, really hurt. But the view is spectacular, though!

Much nicer than thinking about a bunch of warriors going over the edge of a cliff, right? Oh, did I mention that according to historical information, a bunch of them jumped (on purpose) to avoid being captured? By the time you finish reading these posts, you won't need to come to Hawaii to get an education in historical events, haha.....

...and on we go to excursion #3, our visit to the USS Arizona:

The USS Arizona was one of seven battleships that were tied up along "Battleship Row" along Ford Island when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred in 1941. The ship was struck, exploded, and sank, trapping around 1, 777 of her crew members within. The memorial, which is built out white marble and black granite, was actually constructed on top of the sunken hull of the battleship! A ferry operated by the Navy took us out to the memorial, the inside of which has a wall honoring the perished soldiers:

What's incredible is that because the memorial is built on top of the sunken battleship, you can look over the sides of the memorial and actually see the USS Arizona through the waves.

Wow....what a sobering thought to know that this ship is essentially the final resting place for all those crewmembers who lost their lives during the attack. I mean, can you imagine what must have run through their minds that day? The day started just like any other - then out of nowhere, with little or no warning, those brave servicemembers faced their end so unexpectedly. It really serves as a reminder that we need to have a ready heart, mind, and spirit for God, because we never know when He is going to call us home.

Now, I know that I was supposed to tell you all about our trip to the North Shore and Dole Plantation as well, but I think this post is already long enough. No need for me to strain your eyesight any further today (wink, wink). So as we say in the military, stand-by to stand-by! Installment #3 will be arriving soon! I leave you with a pair of happy viejos:

Awww....aren't they cute? : )

Installment #1 - The Colon Family Takes Over Hawaii!

2008-06-20T18:49:00.014-10:00

Yippee-ki-yay, I proclaim! My parents arrived safely (although somewhat jet-lagged) to our lovely little island here in the Pacific, and we have been moving full speed ahead ever since. Strengthened by multiple pots of Bustelo coffee, we have been hauling our sizeable brood all over the island by day, and engaging in spades championships by night. Dad has reverted to his jibaro roots and spends his days eating mangoes and lemons off the trees in my yard, riding bikes with the boys, and lounging at the pool and on the beach. Not surprisingly, he seems to become increasingly busy on the days when Mom and I plan on spending our time trolling around the malls and shops down in Waikiki...hmmmmm...could this be on purpose? ; )

This past Monday, we went to explore the USS Battleship Missouri, also fondly called the "Mighty Mo'" by us residents. Not only is this battleship the last of its kind, but it was also where the peace treaty was signed that ended World War II. Don't believe me? Check it out below:

Believe me when I say that this battleship is absolutely huge! I'm talking about 3 football fields, at least, with multiple floors decks above and below. I don't know how the Navy men handled being on one of these ships for extended periods of time without getting a serious case of cabin fever or claustrophobia. More power to them, I can only say. We also lucked out because the Army "Strolling Strings" band, who have played throughout the world and are favorites of the White House, just happened to be performing on the Mighty Mo' that day. These soldiers have been trained at the most prestigious musical conservatories, and boy, can you tell. For most of their performance, I just stood there with goosebumps and will even admit to becoming just a teensy bit emotional. Have you ever listened to music that is just so precise, so perfect, and just so beautiful that you can only marvel at the talent of the people creating such a sound? Ooh-wee, what an incredible experience!

Monday was a special day for another great reason - Mom and Dad celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary! These days, it is getting harder and harder to find people who remain steadfast, and keep alive the love that brought them together in the first place. I think it is pretty darn cool that after all these years, they are still so enamored with each other - and still would rather be with each other than anywhere else in the world! As an anniversary gift, we gifted them with tickets to see Cirque Hawaii. If you aren't sure what that is, just think (or google) Cirque de Soleil and you will know what it's all about. One of my best friends, Denise, came with us and all I can say is, I would see this show over and over again. The acts are mind-boggling! Contortionists, trapeze artists, performers flying through the air while spinning and twisting and flipping.....whew, I was the classic audience member, screaming and whooping it up. The pina coladas I was drinking might have helped me out a little, actually...LOL....anyway, we couldn't take pictures during the actual show because it was a safety hazard to the performers (bad news if someone got blinded by a camera flash, I think) but we did stalk the performers afterwards and got some nice shots in. Dad was especially pleased to gain the attention of some of the very pretty ladies, ha ha...see below:

I am sure we will end up passing out from sheer exhaustion, sooner or later, but until that actually happens, I will continue to document our shenanigans across the island. So, stay tuned for Installment #2, where we will attempt to explore the North Shore, Pali Lookout, and the Dole Plantation (oh, yeah, pineapples galore and a maze to match! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!)

I'm So Excited!

2008-06-11T11:00:00.019-10:00

Ever see that little dance football players do in the end zone when they've scored a touchdown? They get all hyped and then, in the moment of victory, throw down the football like, "Bam! In your face!"

Well, toss me a pair of played out leg warmers because that's me right now. Doing the victory dance with my legs running in place like a desperate extra out of Flashdance. Except I don't really have a football to throw (unless I take my son's, and that would require me actually sneaking it out of his room) so I will have to settle for throwing down a Bustelo coffee can. Bam!

I'm such a dork sometimes. But I really am excited, though. My parents are coming to see us for three (count 'em, three!) whole weeks! While we have had alot of visits from good friends and our military buddies since we came to Hawaii, none of my family has made it out here yet. Okay, technically my Mom did come out when I had Isabella, but that doesn't count since we had literally just moved here and I didn't know anybody or how to get anywhere except for a shopping mall....or two....and of course a Starbucks, LOL...

I have no problem admitting that I never quite managed to "cut the cord" all the way when it comes to my parents. While I like to think of myself as an independent person, I still cannot get through a day or two without calling my Mom at least once to engage in mindless chatter about the day's events or to have a good talk with my Dad. My mother is still one of my favorite shopping partners, my father is still the first person I go running to when I need some good advice, and Isaiah and I love nothing better than to spend an evening with them playing spades and sipping on some coffee. I could wax poetic for pages about why I am so geeked that they are coming out, but that would make your eyes hurt, so I will just do another victory dance and yell, "Woo-hoo!" (c'mon, you can even pretend you are in the living room with me this time) : )

Also, not to toot my own horn - well, maybe I am but give me a break - but I have, to this date, managed to maintain a quite lovely 4.0 GPA in my classes. I have one last final next week to knock out, and then I can chill out and rest my poor brain (which is on the verge of exploding) until classes pick back up in July. Then it's back to the grind...and my poor husband having to scrape me off the desk when my head meets the wood!

2 Weeks of Hustle and Bustle!

2008-05-29T12:30:00.020-10:00

Wow, talk about a whirlwind couple of weeks. Ever had one of those moments where you stop and wonder when was the last time you looked on your calendar and didn't have something to do? That's pretty much me right now. To cope I like to envision securing just one day for myself when I can be a complete and total bum who stays in her PJ's (okay, sweats and a t-shirt for me), eating a pint of Haagen Daz while entertaining myself with endless rounds of mind-numbing television, intermixed with occasional bouts of napping throughout the day. Yup, sounds good - no appointments to go to, no practices or lessons to cart the kids to, no dinner to cook, no tantrums to ride out - essentially, no one to cater to but me, myself, and I! Mmm-hmm, fantasies are a good thing....

...but who am I kidding? I "ping" far too much to actually be able to sit down for long without getting up and doing something completely ridiculous, like straightening kitchen towels that aren't hanging exactly parallel to the floor. How my husband puts up with my odd tendencies, I will never know, LOL. Anyway! In between all the typical mish-mash of life with 3 rugrats and an often traveling husband, we have somehow managed to squeeze in some fun things.

First, Isaiah and I had what we like to call "an evening off" where we attended the NCO Academy graduation of one of our friends. Amir provided outstanding baby-sitting services while we trekked up the road in our dress blues. It almost reminded me of when we were dating! We used to attend alot of military functions together back then - and really, there is something so sweet about getting all dolled up with your man and spending a nice evening together, sans children. It helps me remember why I fell in love with him in the first place! Yup, lots of coy flirting going on that night...

Over the weekend, we enjoyed a nice pre-Memorial Day BBQ at the beach with a group of our friends out in Ewa Beach. Isabella spent her time dumping shovels of sand into buckets with Keith & Reshon's daughter, Kai (and on their hair, clothes, and the rest of us) while the boys played some football with the other kids.

(Isa also spent some time in the gazebo singing and dancing...I will try to figure out how to post a video clip later!)

The 50th State Fair also came into town and parked itself at the Aloha Stadium. On Memorial Day, they gifted all military members with free admission, so you know where we ended up on Monday! The carnival rocked - the kids definitely enjoyed the unlimited rides and games, as well as the naughty things we adults aren't supposed to eat, like cotton candy (okay, I snuck a few handfuls, I can admit that...it was blue, though! You can hardly expect me to avoid it!)

So...end result? I may be tired, but I DID manage to get the following accomplished:

1. A nice little tan
2. The sand out of Isa's hair (thanks, Reshon, for the hair tips!)
3. Three worn-out children who have slept quite nicely
4. Some one-on-one time with my man

and....most important

5. A supremely cool set of memories! (am I a cornball or what? Ha ha....)

Amir Can Fly!

2008-05-20T13:02:00.006-10:00

Okay, not literally - but I have to admit, he is pretty darn close. He came home a couple of weeks ago, excited because he had tried out for the school track team and made it. His team practiced just about every single day, and then he informs me that he was chosen to compete in a track meet against seven other schools. So, on the day of the meet, my girlfriend Denise and I packed up our little ones and drove out to Mililani to check it out. Now, mind you, I had never seen him run competitively before - I was all ready to hand out pats on the back and words of consolation in case he didn't do well. After all, isn't that what parents are supposed to do? LOL....anyway, the time comes for the 400-meter relay, which is the race everyone had been waiting for. I started to get my camera ready as Amir got into position to grab the baton and go. The starting gun goes off - "bang!" - and the next thing I know, that boy was flying around the track like he had fire on his heels! Oh, my - I know it sounds corny, but I got chills in the ninety- degree heat. I honestly didn't know he could run like that. I couldn't even take a decent picture; I just stood there, flabbergasted. Denise looked at me and says, "Carmen, he looks like a flying ostrich! Hurry up, take a picture!" By the time I was able to get myself together, I only could take one far-away, semi-hazy picture (see below). Sorry for the horrible quality, but it was the best I could get!

I know we are all kind of biased when it comes to our own kids, but as a runner, I tend to be a bit more critical than most when I watch these things. Yeah, mean Mommy, don't remind me. But wow, I cannot express how awesome that was to see. Looks like I may have a new running buddy on my hands...

Mine, Mine, Mine!

2008-04-30T21:44:00.007-10:00

Isabella has discovered a word that she likes a bit too much at the moment - MINE! Talk about frustrating! I thought it was the cute at first, because it showed me that she understood the concept of ownership, but now she has taken it a whole other level. Now EVERYTHING is hers - and that extends to all things from her brother's food (see the picture above) to my shoes! So, I tried some corrective approaches:

Example #1: Isa decided that my sunglasses (she has her own) belonged to her. So, I took her hand gently in mid-grab for the desired object and said, "No, this belongs to Mami," thinking foolishly, perhaps, that we would have this magical moment of shared understanding (yeah, I read too much) and that she would hand it back. Result: the word "no" has now become another overused part of her vocabulary.

Example #2: Isa is fascinated with Amir's guitar, so he will often let her sit in the room with him when he practices. She decided that meant she could slip into his room when he wasn't home and drag it away along with his guitar case. I intervene - cue tirade of "mine, mine, mine!" followed by a Riverdance-esque tantrum in his room. This time, I try stating "this is Amir's guitar" and remove her from his room. Result: an encore of Riverdance in the hallway.

Example #3: Isa sees Johnny with a lollipop. No problem there at first - she has one too. But for some reason, she decides that his is more desirable than her own. Nevermind that the lollipops in question are exactly the same. I'll let you figure out what happened from there. Result: an early bath, and liberal use of hair detangler to remove the lollipop.

I admit, part of this post is so I can vent in peace without flipping out. Now, keep in mind that I am far from a wuss (did I even spell that correctly?) I am a fairly strict disciplinarian type by nature - when it comes to the roles of good cop, bad cop, I tend to fall in the latter category. But for some reason, I find myself at a loss with my munchkin...she is usually such a good girl and my natural instinct when I see misbehavior is to nip it in the bud. Plus, because the boys are older, it usually just takes a look or reprimand to put them in check if necessary. So, this has been an interesting couple of weeks, to say the least!

Anyone want to referee? LOL...I love your inputs so feel free to leave this frazzled Mami some advice, if you've got it!

Under Pressure

2008-04-21T16:10:00.006-10:00

Never fear, I haven't lost my marbles yet. I put that poster up all in good humor. Humor is what gets me through my days sometimes, as I have a tendency to take myself too seriously at times when I am stressed out! Anyway, things have been a bit more hectic than usual over here, which is why I haven't been on the computer as much. I have been dealing with some health issues as of late (no worries, I am feeling better) and as some of you may know, have been squeezing in classes on nights and weekends for my business degree. Those two things combined with the mish-mash of daily life with 3 kids and a husband who is constantly on the move, has had me a bit more frazzled than usual. I know, I know, breathe. Wooooo-sah...

Anyway, as for the latest on the Murray-Colon familia: we are still counting down until we can finally move out of our soon to be demolished home and into our new one. I try to keep reminding myself that patience is a virtue....although in my case, a bit harder to come by more often than not (wink, wink). Amir has been taking guitar lessons every week, and has made such awesome progress already. Listening to guitar music always brings me back to when my father used to play for us when we were little. Johnny wants me to inform you all that he is eagerly waiting for football training to start up again, and is keeping busy in the meantime climbing trees and doing cool tricks on his skateboard. And as for Isabella, I recently enrolled her in Gymboree classes not far from the base. I thought she might be a bit shy or perhaps hesitant on her first day, but actually dived right into the action and only cried when it was time to leave! Thank goodness for the open play program; on the days she doesn't have class, I can still bring her in and she has fun swinging and jumping all over the place. That's a wild one right there...she keeps me laughing every day because it seems she is always either doing something new or saying something completely unexpected. That's the kids.....

And that's about it for now. I will try to get back on here more often once I get through these mid-term papers!

Feeling Nostalgic

2008-04-09T11:41:00.014-10:00

I know some might read this and think I am completely nuts, but it's the truth: I am missing New Jersey. Don't get me wrong, I have come to love Hawaii and all the perks that come with living in a year-round tropical paradise, but as a born and bred Jersey girl, there are just some things that you can't find out here that I have a hard time living without! See, I woke up this morning to a dark sky and rain (which I find pretty cozy, to be honest) and for some reason, got all nostalgic. So, to make myself feel better, I decided to share my favorites with you:

#1. The Philly Cheesesteak

I love these things. I spent a lot of great evenings out in Philly grubbing on these - you know something is good if you will jump on 295 and cross the bridge just to get one! Other states try to duplicate, but it's just not the same anywhere else.

#2. Puerto Rican Food

This is a gray area for me - I was raised cooking all kinds of PR food and it is a large staple of my family's daily cuisine. HOWEVER, many of the things I love to cook or eat require ingredients that I am simply unable to find here. Whenever I take a trip home, I stock up and look like a bag lady lugging anything back to Hawaii that they will let me on the plane with! But it inevitably runs out...so this is a shout-out to pasteles, bacalao, yucca, malanga, empanadillas...man, the list goes on! I miss going to the Supermercado out in Trenton on early Saturday mornings for fresh lechon asado...

#3. Boardwalk Snacks

Yes, we have beaches galore in Hawaii, and they are gorgeous. But they are missing a certain something...like a boardwalk! If you are from the East Coast, then you know the beach isn't only about the sand and ocean. I miss the cheesy games you can play, the rides, and definitely the food. Funnel cakes, fried oreos, fresh lemonade....all those naughty things that you aren't supposed to eat but you do anyway, because you're out with friends and family and having fun!

#4. Jersey Diners

Vincentown, Holly Brook, Mastoris...you name it, I miss them all and each for a special reason. I have such great memories of hanging out and bonding with my brothers at Holly Brook when I was in high school. Mastoris was the place to go for this incredible cheese pastry and cinnamon bread. And Vincentown...wow, I had a lot of early breakfasts at that joint after a night out on the town. You can't beat that...

Whew! Okay, I feel better now. No worries, I still embrace Hawaii. But, needless to say, my mom and dad will be toting an extra bag or two of goodies when they come visit this summer!

Learning to Be Flexible

2008-03-25T22:29:00.005-10:00

Flexibility - characterized by a ready capability to adapt to new, different, or changing requirements.

What a word. There are a couple of definitions for this doozy - yielding to influence, pliant, elastic, etc., but this is the one I liked best. Simply because it sums up so succinctly (try saying that 3 times fast) my most recent attempts to improve an area where I could use some refinement. Yup, I admit it - I am not the most flexible person on earth. I try to be accomodating. I even succeed at times...albeit trying really, REALLY hard. But in terms of the whole natural reaction thing? Nah. Not a great area to be lacking in when you have kids. Which is why I rely on my wonderful husband, who is blessed with an easygoing nature that could weather a couple of nuclear disasters with ease, to reign me in when I find myself "pinging" (his word, not mine, yet I find it pretty accurate, LOL).

But, unfortunately, my man is out of town on another trip, and I have decided to take advantage of his absence to try and at least somewhat corral my inane desire for everything to operate on a rigid schedule. See, if I have him here to help, then I know I probably won't put my back into the effort, you know? So I chose Resurrection Sunday as my starting point (thinking, in my head, what better day for change?) and went to bed, determined that I would begin my transformation into the flexible mother of my dreams.

Yet, like all things that I struggle with, it seems that the moment I begin to consciously work on my shortcomings is when I get hit with every single thing that could possibly make me flip my lid! I woke up the next morning to find that I had less than an hour to get the kids up and all of us out the door for church - my alarm didn't go off because I accidentally set it for "p.m." instead of "a.m." (for the record, it usually takes me about an hour and a half to get us all out the door on Sundays). I go racing down the hall, waking the kids up, only to find that Isabella had somehow managed to leak through her diaper and soak her sheets and pajamas. Great. Now I am rushing one child into the bathtub while dragging the other two out of their comfy beds, while alternately trying not to trip on Johnny's giant SpongeBob Squarepants - not an easy feat, since I have not yet managed to pop in my contacts, without which I am blind as a bat. At this point, the drill sergeant lurking in my psyche (I try to suppress her, really) was beginning to make her grand entrance. By the time I realized that I was losing my battle with flexibility, I was already barking orders to my boys to have themselves ready for inspection while on all fours looking for Isabella's hair brush under her changing table - at which point she accidentally conked me on the head with the picture frame next to her. We eventually made it to the car and onto the highway, where I promptly hit a traffic jam (likely comprised of all the other late people) and was almost sideswiped by a trolley full of tourists. When I finally pulled into the church parking lot, I was cranky, irritable, and not in the mood to celebrate anything - especially since I felt like I had just majorly bombed in my resolution on the very first day!

What a blessing that God always knows when you are floundering. Our pastor, while discussing the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, remarked on God's never-failing patience and forgiveness. That despite our failings as human beings, He is always constant and seeking to assist us in the areas where we need help. One of the verses he quoted hit me right in the heart:

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

Whoa. Something I have heard countless times, yet there is such a difference when it strikes you on a personal level. Funny how I can often start my days off with the best of intentions, yet many times will allow the smallest break in routine or a few unexpected obstacles to dictate my attitude. Even I can tell that this habit does not exactly facilitate my desire to develop the mind, heart, and attitude of Christ in the things that I do. Talk about humbling. So the question I had to ask myself is, what was I going to do about it?

The only thing I could do - give it over to God. Let Him help me. Stop trying to do it on my own, and allow room for human error. Wow, I walked out of the service feeling SO much better - not because I thought that I would no longer struggle with this particular issue, but because of the timely reminder that God is always in control...especially when I am not! And while I will probably never be the poster child for flexiblity, I can take joy in the fact that God does see my efforts, and has His own plan in motion to help me be the person He wants me to be...poopy diapers and all. What more could I possibly ask for?

Easter Pics

2008-03-25T11:39:00.005-10:00

You can probably tell I gave up trying to get my youngest child to stay still, LOL...and let's pretend that you don't see the cinder block walls of my house. We will soon be moving out of our little "ghetto" and into our brand new home! Thank you, Lord!

Have a Blessed Resurrection Sunday!

2008-03-21T13:58:00.007-10:00

There is only one who can bring eternal hope and peace,

Who can make our hearts new and offer a new beginning...

His Name is Jesus, and He is Risen Indeed!

Happy Birthday to Johnny...

2008-03-18T22:32:00.004-10:00

Okay, I technically should say "belated" since our son Johnny's birthday was on Friday the 14th, but we have been so busy I haven't had a free chance to put this post up. Our boy is now officially 8 years old, and a grown 8 years old he is! To celebrate, we went out to play miniature golf (or "putt-putt", as we call it), went to the movies, out to eat, and ended the evening cutting a cake with a trick candle on it. You know, the ones you think you managed to blow out but they keep lighting up? Ha-ha....it took him a couple of tries to figure that one out, but he got it eventually!

While I was cleaning up, I was thinking about all the things I love about my boy and decided I would share the Top Three with you:

#1. His blissfully carefree personality - it is a personality trait I would love to possess! You could tell him that the sky was falling, and he would still find a way to get you to forget about it and play Legos or something with him, LOL...

#2. His innate ability to get you to laugh. Oftentimes, when I have had a hard day or am frustrated to the point of losing it, he will come give me a hug or do something silly to make me chuckle.

#3. His inability to hold a grudge, even when he has been disciplined for something. I absolutely love that about him...

It's funny, but whoever said that we learn from our children definitely hit the nail on the head. I can only pray that God - who blessed them with their unique characteristics - will grant our children the grace in life to maintain those traits which make them so special!

Our Trip to Bellows AFS

2008-03-07T23:27:00.019-10:00

It's still Friday here in Hawaii and everyone in our house is sound asleep - except for me, obviously, who as the resident laundry woman simply cannot go to sleep until the clothes are done! Yes, I have issues, LOL. : ) Since I am still awake, I figured I might as well write about our day! Isaiah, the kids, and I spent the day with our friends Kevin, Denise, and their kids at Bellows Air Force Station, which is a gorgeous stretch of white sandy beach up in the northern portion of Waimanalo Bay. The scenery on the way is just beautiful:

Bellows AFS has these great, rustic cabins right on the beach, along with campgrounds, parks, and all kinds of activities. Denise and Kevin decided to rent a cabin for the night, so we packed up our kids, cookout supplies, and swimsuits and headed out there to join them for some fun and sun!

Isabella took to the beach much better than she has done before. She was fascinated by the way the tide would roll in and out...I had to stop her a few times from running in too far!

After tiring outselves out on the beach, we cleaned up and barbecued at the cabin. Denise and I got nostalgic and decided to make some old-fashioned s'mores for the kids (and us, too!) When I say old-fashioned , I mean we got sticks for toasting the marshmallows and everything...mmmm. Of course, I ended up driving home with a car full of snoring people...but it was a great day!

NCO Academy Graduation

2008-02-21T22:39:00.012-10:00

Our close family friend, Keith, graduated from the NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) Academy last night, and I was so fortunate to be there and share in the celebration. Having gone through this type of training myself (when I was pregnant with Isa, no less) I cannot begin to tell you how much hard work and effort it takes to successfully navigate that course. The support of your loved ones is a must - and I think he felt the love from all of us as we cheered him on! Check out the graduate below:

TSgt Keith Townes and his beautiful wife Reshon

And of course, you can't forget the members of his cheerleading squad:

On another note, please keep Isaiah in your prayers. He injured himself yesterday morning, and was in such severe pain that he was unable to attend the ceremony. Being that Keith is his best friend, he was devastated that he could not be there to watch him graduate. Poor Isaiah is currently sporting a neck brace (definitely not comfortable) and trapped at home with me for the next several days...on second thought, pray for me too! (just kidding....sort of)

Folding Laundry

2008-02-20T12:36:00.008-10:00

Living with 3 men has practically guaranteed that my laundry hamper is a bottomless pit of clothes - gym clothes, basketball clothes, football clothes, you name it, it's in there. Some days I feel like my life revolves around washing and drying and folding...but fortunately my Isabella has decided that she would like to pull her weight in the household and help her Mommy out! She started off pretty well...

...until she found her paño (blanky)...

...and decided that she would rather lay in the basket!

But she had fun, apparently! I will train her better in time!

Pro Bowl 2008

2008-02-18T13:31:00.006-10:00

As I had mentioned in an earlier post, Johnny and his football team had the privilege of going to the Pro Bowl which took place here in Hawaii on February 10th. They participated in the Pre-Game Show, and got some awesome seats to watch the game here at the Aloha Stadium. We were rooting for the NFC, so Johnny and his team were thrilled when they took home the victory!

The Hickam Tigers (Johnny is in the middle)

The team carrying the AFC Banner

The Half-Time Show

My Day of Flying

2008-02-17T17:59:00.015-10:00

Yesterday was a blast - thanks to the guys at the 535th Airlift Squadron, I spent my day flying on a C-17 around the islands of Hawaii. We flew around Oahu (our island), Molokai, Kauai, Maui, Lanai, and the Big Island, of course. I have never had the opportunity to see them with my own two eyes from such a low level while flying...very cool! You could see everything from the whales swimming in the ocean to the lava flow on the Big Island. Here are some island pics taken from the flight deck:

My friends and I being goofy...don't my neon earplugs rock?

Here is my girl Denise displaying the virtues of the "Motion Sickness Bag" for the PAX:

And then of course you have me, who was just happy to be on a flight and not worry about taking care of patients!

Don't I look thrilled? Ha ha....

But all good things must come to an end.....

Afterwards, we enjoyed a nice sit-down lunch from Bucca di Beppo's...mmmmmm..... trust me, it's a GREAT change of pace from the standard military box lunch!

Family Geneology Project

2008-02-05T16:29:00.000-10:00

As some of you may already know, my father Ramon began an interesting project while in recovery from his most recent surgery. He has undertaken an extensive family geneology project involving a great deal of research, data input, and sorting through old photos and documents. The amount of information he has already managed to unearth is incredible. So far, there are over 500 individuals listed and over 100 families connected through our family tree!

I, for one, am intrigued by the various ties that bind us all together - we are such a diverse mix of cultures, languages, and unique backgrounds. It fills my heart with pride when I think of our respective accomplishments and the various ways in which we are all connected. Many people - myself included - identify strongly with their backgrounds; it becomes a major part of who you are, and often, who you become. I definitely look forward to the prospect of being able to share our family history with my own children.

Because we are all constantly growing, embarking on new professions, and traveling/relocating throughout the country, it can be very difficult to track down each person on an individual basis. And being that nobody knows our immediate families as well as ourselves, it would help my father tremendously if anybody interested in this project would contact him. He would love to hear from you! His contact information is below:

Email address for Ramon A. Colon-Latorre: doncolon@comcast.net

I Have Entered the Realm of Temper Tantrums

2008-02-03T10:23:00.000-10:00

Yup, it's been one of those weeks. While Amir and Johnny have been well-behaved, Isabella has discovered the beginnings of that disturbing phenomenon known as "the temper tantrum." This is entirely foreign territory for me, as I truly do not recall experiencing that with the boys. In all fairness, that is probably because I was working and they went to daycare during those years - so the likelihood is that their daycare provider got to handle those. But this child of mine - bless her independent little heart - has decided that she wants to act a fool when she doesn't get her way. Falling out on the floor, legs scissor-kicking in the air, you name it...all while howling like a banshee. I have never been so frustrated in my life! Isn't that supposed to happen when they turn two? Fellow mothers of the world, feel free to send me your advice...needless to say, I will be SO glad to have Isaiah home from Thailand this week!

Other than that, we are doing fine. Amir's basketball game was a success, with a final score of 24-18. Johnny is his usual happy-go-lucky self, going about his business without a care in the world. And I am counting down until next weekend, because one of my very close friends is coming out to visit. We met in the military and have been tight ever since. I am definitely looking forward to getting to hit the beach and the stores with her - we always have a blast together!

Thank Goodness It's Friday!

2008-01-25T15:54:00.000-10:00

En route to the Shoppette to get some icees for the kids....and some Sangria for me!

Another Day, Another TDY!

2008-01-24T17:17:00.000-10:00

I think I have gotten spoiled. For the past month, Ike has been home here with the kids and I. That's probably the norm for most households, but in ours, it's a world record! So naturally I took full advantage - went to the movies with my friends, did some shopping...took way longer than usual at the commissary, took a bunch of unecessary trips to the BX, and all because I could just pick up and go without worrying about anything. Well, now he is off on another TDY (Temporary Duty for the non-military folks) and I am back to being the sole ruler of the kingdom in his absence. And of course, while that absence comes with a few perks (less laundry, less cooking!) the errand quotient has risen significantly. I am presently trying not to lose my mind while shuffling between basketball practices, school projects, homework, the typical sibling disagreements...you name it. These are the days when I marvel at how my mother seemed to manage all of us without seeming to break a sweat while my father would be on his TDY's when we were younger. Hey Mom, if you're reading this, I just want to tell you one thing: YOU ROCK!

Our Football Player

2008-01-18T18:00:00.001-10:00

The football season for Johnny has come to an end, and what a phenomenal one it was! His team, the Hickam Tigers, finished their season virtually undefeated. Johnny did an outstanding job as both wide receiver and defensive lineman, although I think he preferred the latter simply for the opportunity to tackle someone. His team was SO blessed to have an interactive coach who truly enjoyed teaching children. Big shout out to Coach Jayson for his dedication! The kids had sleepovers, barbecues, and are even going to the Pro Bowl together in February, which is a BIG deal here. They will get to meet the players, attend the warm-up sessions, and then watch the big game.

And as if you couldn't tell by the beautiful ocean in the background, they took their pictures right on the beach near our house...one of the perks of living in Hawaii!

The Attack of Dora! (With a Side Lesson on Sharing)

2008-01-17T21:45:00.000-10:00

I said it would never happen...and it finally has. (Cue the music: dum, da-dum, dum!) What, you ask? Well, I was driving down the highway today with our daughter Isabella, listening to one of my CD's, when this one song came on called "Che Che Colé." If you have ever heard it, you know it has the kind of beat that makes you want to dance and sing along. So, I open my mouth to start singing, but instead of the lyrics, I burst out with:

"Do-do-do-do-Dora! Do-do-do-do-Dora!"

Yup, I guess it's a matter of public record now - Dora the Explorer has managed to permeate my psyche. The mornings of watching her while cuddling with Isabella have worn down my iron wall of resistance, and she has now officially invaded my home, LOL. I now find myself humming along to those catchy songs on her cartoon and repeating little sayings from the show - I can't help it, it's addictive! Oh, the clever art of marketing...we have all been sucked in and now, Dora paraphernalia is popping up all over the house. As you can see below, our living room is now graced by the presence of the "Dora Chair," where Isabella sits and reigns over her toy subjects:

Did I mention that it plays music, as well? More to hum along to, I figure....and fellow mothers of the world, I imagine that some of you are chuckling at me right now and I don't blame you one bit! It was bound to happen sooner or later!

Moving on to another subject....we have been finding some success in our quest to teach Isabella about sharing with others. Since I am the one who is home with her during the day, I usually am the lucky recipient of her efforts. This is what happened when I asked her for some of her snack:

She then proceeded to get up from her chair and feed me some of the snack from her bowl. I give her an "A" for effort and enthusiasm!

Birthdays and Basketball Games

2008-01-12T16:50:00.001-10:00

Being that we started this blog after the New Year, we missed the opportunity to share a milesone in the life of one of our children. So, we would like to recognize our oldest son's birthday! Amir Andrew turned 11 years old on the 27th of December, and according to him, it was a VERY momentous occasion. When we asked him what made this particular birthday so "momentous," his words were, "because I am almost a teen-ager, Mami and Papi!" And that actually jolted us a bit...because he is right! I am starting to feel old, LOL.....

Today also marked the beginning of the basketball season for his team, the Hickam Suns. They played their first game this afternoon. Although the other team emerged victorious, I have to give him and his teammates kudos for a game well-played. The final score was 14-11, for all you sports enthusiasts out there : )

You Gotta' Love Computers!

2008-01-11T14:21:00.000-10:00

Okay, we are not exactly novices in the computer arena, but I am always surprised by the very cool things you can do with some pictures and a good computer program. Isaiah's father came to Hawaii and spent some quality time with us over the Christmas holiday, and being that we are all picture fiends, took a bunch of photos with his supremely multi-functional cell phone/PDA/MP3 player....well, it does pretty much everything but cook your dinner, if you get my drift. Anyway, he loaded them onto his Mac and emailed us this attachment:

I almost fell out of my chair laughing...not good when you are drinking your evening cup of Bustelo! This definitely tickled my funny bone - the inevitable result of growing up with comic-book collecting brothers and being married to a man who has our storage area stacked with boxes of comics himself!

Just Sharing...

2008-01-04T20:11:00.000-10:00

Since this blog is intended not only for family updates, but also for personal insights and such, I thought I would share with you some things I have dealt with as of late. I am usually so critical of anything I write that I tend to simply delete whatever I type out when I am finished, but in the interest of embracing my "inner therapist" I guess I will type freely!

Anyway...I was thinking about how life can ever so quietly change up on a person without them even realizing it. Despite extensive traveling for sometimes extended periods of time, up until 2006 I had always been blessed to reside fairly close to my family and some close friends. Then we PCS'd (Permanent Change of Station) to another duty station....12 hours away (and that's by plane!) from everything that was familiar! For a person who thrives in an environment where things follow a schedule, and does not like to lose control of her circumstances, it is safe to say that a whole other side of me came out during the adjustment process - one who found fault in everything, and was constantly unhappy. In retrospect, I realize that much of my unhappiness was an outright unwillingness to accept my circumstances - and the unexpected feeling as if I were suddenly all alone in the world. It has taken countless ups and downs, a couple of years, and the influence of some very special people in my life to bring about a change that I never saw coming. As cliche as it may sound, I know that God has steadily kept his hand on me and my family; using the good, but more importantly, the difficult times to draw me nearer. I can now look back at the person I was then, compare her to the person I am now, and be pleasantly surprised; for the whole experience has in many ways molded me into someone who may be a work in progress, but is aspiring to be better and better everyday!

I guess that difference has never been as evident to me as now, when it seems as if the lines between genuine friendships and relationships are no longer blurred, but rather, brought sharply into focus. You begin to see that the person you used to be, who may have been younger and rebellious and maybe even a bit self-destructive, is no longer driving your actions; they have been replaced with a more responsible and grown-up person whose priorities are in another area, with a different direction in life. And when confronted with those kinds of pivotal changes, you wonder - sometimes sadly - where do I belong? My father has always reinforced to me that when you embark on a path that isn't too popular with others, you can feel like a stranger, or outsider, in the world where you were once so comfortable. I don't think I ever knew how true that statement could be until now!

Believe that I am in no way professing to be a person who is perfect; rather, I struggle with my own insecurities and shortcomings SO frequently. I am a self described (and well known to those who love me) control freak. I like for things to be nice and neat and organized and have some degree of predictability/stability, and that applies to everything from my home to my relationships to my work. That, obviously, has hindered some of my attempts to evolve into the kind of person I would love to be. You know the kind of people I am talking about; the ones who you meet and they just completely enthrall you with the "aura" (okay, Rick James moment) they project. The folks who seem to always have control of their emotions; they almost never lose their temper, rarely fuss with their husbands, are ever so patient with their children, etc, etc, etc...they manage their homes effortlessly, it seems, and always have a smile on their face. The very epitome of peace, love, kindness....these wonderful attributes....then you have me, who strives for this kind of "perfection", but never quite makes it or sustains for too long. I lose my temper on a daily basis, have to pray up insanely extra measures of patience with my children, have at least five "is this my life?" moments each day, and occasionally, wonder how my husband can put up with me?!

But the great, great thing about it all? The knowledge that God knows all of my struggles and insecurities and shortcomings - and loves me anyway. For a person who has rebelled as much as I have, that kind of reassurance is staggering - at times, it takes my breath away! When I question where life is taking me, especially during the sad and lonely moments, I know that He will give me the grace to persevere. And most incredible, when I really stop and think about it, is that everything in my life has had a time and purpose, with everything (even the mistakes) being turned around for good, with the intention to lead me where I am meant to be. One of my favorite verses in the Bible says "I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future." Despite my failures, I can wholeheartedly say that there is no better balm for your hurts when you have to face the things life can throw at you.

And, of course, there is another blessing - the discovery of people in your life who will be true to you no matter what. The ones who give you that haven of unconditional love and security, and have your genuine best interests at heart. I am realizing that life has a way of weeding out the people who are toxic to your growth, and that despite the hurt that accompanies that kind of loss, God will provide people to be your rock and encouragement. It amazes me that the ones who end up supporting you have often been there all along - you just didn't notice!

Another TSgt in the house!

2008-01-04T13:43:00.000-10:00

Yesterday afternoon, we attended a base-wide ceremony during which Isaiah was recognized for his promotion to E-6, or TSgt in the Air Force world. It was a pivotal moment for him, as that is one of the more difficult ranks to achieve on the AF career ladder. The ceremony was especially poignant, as his mother Gloria Jean was able to fly in from Georgia and attend. With her on one side, and the children and I on the other, we helped him pin on his new stripe!

Afterwards, we celebrated with his commander and some of our dear friends who were in attendance. In true Hawaiian style, the guys threw their hands up into a "shaka" and shared some Aloha spirit!

All in all, it was a wonderful day and we were proud to be a part of it. It's a really great thing when you get to see all of the hard work a person has invested come to fruition. Congratulations, Isaiah!

Testing the Waters

2008-01-02T23:36:00.000-10:00

As evident by our bare page, Isaiah and I are new to the blogging world! My cousins set the precedent with their pages, and we think it is a great idea for keeping in touch with the family and dear friends we have scattered across the globe. As part of a dedicated military family, it can be challenging to share aspects of our lives with our loved ones due to distance and time differences - you can imagine what an appealing solution this is for us! So, beautiful people, feel free to check us out as we each attempt to learn the art of blogging - we will do our best to keep you informed on our lives with pictures, stories, and updates!