catching my breath...

face time with cousins!!!

an empty house.  just playing.

my amazing, new, handmade, restoration hardware-copycat table.  

well, the underside and the inscription just for me.  

my  husband after staining the table.

my new table.  we JUST got the chairs today, so i will get a pic of that!  but, my wonderful father in law made this for me.  and i am in love! 

a little bit of hawaii in rhody!  a fun, hawaiian style restaurant here.  

teaching brother to read!

nora cheering at sports camp!

holy crazy month, batman!  after 3+ weeks without our stuff, and 6 houseguests "glamping" in style, we got our 11,000 pounds of stuff.  and i promptly wanted to give it all back!  we actually donated a good 7 or 8 boxes!  phew.  but, as of yesterday, we unpacked the last box.  and are perfectly settled in this house.  with the hope of downsizing a little more!  

it was a busy time.  my sweet sissy, her hubby and two girls, my mom and my other sissy all flew out to see us.  and we had a blast.  the cousins loved playing.  the sisters loved catching up (we were missing our newest sissy!!).  and we explored!  

the kids had a fabulous week at sports camp leading up to that.  and LOVED it.  i had to bribe james on the first day.  i usually have to bribe him each day for things like that (vbs, etc).  he begged to go back each day!  i was thrilled.  

we are getting settled.  it was fun knowing a few families moving here at the same time.  and knowing some from before, or other duty stations.  it feels like home.  and we love it.  

except tonight, i was driving home from picking up dinner for david and me.  we sometimes do a stay-at-home date night.  we get the kids in bed and one of us picks up take-out.  we rent a movie and have a date on the couch.  (however, golf has caused a minor interruption... hence the blogging!)  and it struck me.  i USED TO LIVE in hawaii.  not, i live there and am on vacation.  it is a thing of the past.  and when that hits me, as it has several times over the last 2 months, i have to catch my breath.  and fight the urge to cry.

i LOVED hawaii.  i loved our school.  and our church.  and our neighborhood.  and our (FREE) beaches.  (ironically, as i type this, i inadvertently got invited to a playdate on the beach in hawaii- salt in my wound!!!!!)  i loved just BEING in hawaii.  and my heart and soul ACHES to be there.

that said- i LOVE our house here.  i love the little niche we have.  the opportunities.  david's hours!!!  it is a fun transition to here.  i love "starting over".  getting to do things i wouldn't in hawaii.  THIS place is good.  i just have a hawaii shaped hole!