Finishing our first year in Hawaii (Sept-Dec '13)

It is about the that time again where I write some of the things that have been going on in the past few months. It definitely has been a busy time for Randy and I but SO good! This is a long post---just warning ya!

September

HFD Update

This was a big deal month. On the thirteenth Randy interviewed with the Honolulu Fire Dept. (this is basically the final "test"). He came out of the interview feeling pretty good. Randy said right when he went in to be interviewed the panel of guys (there were 3) started off by saying how impressive his resume was with all of his prior experience as a firefighter. Randy said after that he felt pretty at ease as they asked him questions for about thirty minutes.

Fireworks
That same night, we celebrated Randy's successful interview by going to Waikiki with our good friends Chris and Jill. We had a blast! This was my first time being there at night. I don't love cities and big crowds of people but this seemed so different! Everyone was relaxed and having a good time. It was nice to walk around experiencing this unique place with Randy.

We first watched a firework show over the water. It seriously felt magical. Then we walked on the beach passing the back sides of the hotels (where their pools were). From one hotel to the next we could see people having a good time listening to live Hawaiian music.  I felt like I was in a dream with everything that was going on all around me. In that moment I just remember feeling so grateful for my life---especially for Randy. At the end of the night we got a picture with the Duke!

Saunders Fam Visit
Randy's brother Jef and his wife and kids came to visit for a few days before they flew out to Kauai. We had so much fun with them. In one day we went to three beaches. We started with Waimea Valley where the kids jumped off the rocks, then went to Shark's Cove and went snorkeling. We finished at Castles where Randy spent time teaching our nieces and nephews how to surf. We also took them to one of my favorite places to eat---Kahuku Farms Cafe.

Annie learning how to surf with Uncle Randy.

Hanging with Nadia and Holden
We also babysat our other niece and nephew, Holden and Nadia. We walked to Backyards (the beach closest to us) and they played on a boat right on the sand. When we walked home, I made them peanut butter banana smoothies (Holden likes to call them milkshakes).   

Holden having a "milkshake"

Accepted!
At the end of the month (9/29) we got a very important email from the Honolulu Fire  Dept. Randy got accepted into the academy!! He now has to go through all the paper work, physical exam, background check, etc. Randy sent me the email while I was at work and I was SO happy when I saw it in writing!

October

Randy surfing at Turtle Bay

General Conference

This was another big deal month! First was general conference on the 5th and 6th. There were so many inspirational talks given. I LOVED the talk by Elder Holland called Like a Broken Vessel. We went up to Mililani and watched it with my sister-in-law Wendy and her family.

Birthing Class
During this month Randy and I began attending a birthing class at the hospital where I work. Don't worry everyone I am not pregnant...yet. The birthing instructor noticed I kept asking her questions when she would come for the class and said I should attend the next session. I told her that might be weird because I am not even pregnant. She went on to convince me that it was actually better to come before I got pregnant....so we did! I was the only one that wasn't prego, but I didn't mind at all. In fact, the class helped put my mind at ease about the birthing process. Anyways, preparation precedes power right? Also there is the scripture that talks about if you are prepared you shall not fear. And I am all for that!

The hospital
Work has been going really well for me. This month the Kahuku High School cheerleaders came to visit the residents, decorate sugar cookies, do crafts, and sing. When they went around singing to the various residents and patients they began bringing people to tears. It was such a good experience and days like these help me stay energized.

The Olomana Three Peaks Trail
Randy, Cyd and I decided to be adventurous and went on a gnarly hike. Complete with fraying ropes you need to climb down the peaks and sheer drops on both sides as you hike. It also rained on us at the beginning and this guy told us to turn around. We met this cool couple who attend UH and are from Denmark. We had some cool discussions and by the end I wanted to call them my sweet danishes (the first nickname the American girl thinks to give them has to do with baked goods). Don't worry---I refrained and stuck with their names! I just LOVE nicknames---I think they make me feel closer to people. Anyway, we completed the whole hike and it was absolutely stunning!

Our ONE year anniversary <3
On the 27th Randy and I celebrated our one year anniversary of being married in the Newport Beach temple! Our neighbors Chris and Jill went on a catamaran ride with us and it was breath taking! I loved seeing the island from such a different view. For Randy's little gift I made him scones and honey butter and he made me a video recapping our wedding, reception, and memories we had made together. The next day we also had a bonfire on a beach by ourselves. We roasted smores and enjoyed a romantic evening together talking about how far we had come as a couple and looking at the stars.

I am incredibly blessed for the man Randy is. He treats me SO well! I am grateful for his goodness and for how hard he works. He is my soulmate (because I chose him and he chose me).

Halloween
I went to work and dressed up as a witch. Preschool kiddies came to the hospital to trick or treat with our residents and the kids even sang them a few songs. All of our female residents dressed up like witches and the guys were wizards! When Randy and I got home we had Cydonia over and hung out with Chris and Jill in front of the house passing out/eating candy and chili Jill had made for us.

Our Halloween "decorations"

November

ONE whole year in Hawaii!
We hit the one year mark for living in Hawaii! Last year, right after our honeymoon, we flew from Phoenix to Oahu with 1 suitcase and 1 backpack each with the hopes of starting a little life for ourselves out here and a year later we are still making it! So much has happened in just one short year. I know I keep saying this all the time but I just need to give credit where credit is due. The only reason things have worked out for us here in Hawaii is because of our Heavenly Father. I know this with COMPLETE certainty! There were no such things as lucky breaks or moments of coincidence...it all came from God and through putting Him first and trusting in Him. I just want to vocalize that.

Friends from Laguna Hills visit
On the eleventh many couples Randy knew while growing up in Laguna Hills vacationed down in Waialua and we were able to visit with them. I loved hearing all of the stories about Randy as a young boy and all the crazy things he used to do with his friends and brothers.

Thanksgiving
Randy and I started the day off by running in the turkey trot with my fitclub buddies. Afterwards, I "worked" at the hospital for a few hours. The residents and I made pumpkin crunch together and we all LOVED it! Afterwards Randy and I drove to Mililani and Wendy was nice enough to let me try and make a nutritarian Thanksgiving meal. We both decided we wanted to try something different this season when it came to the food. I could be a little biased but I loved the food!! Seriously! I actually felt better after eating the meal (no regrets or post-Thanksgiving sickness/comas here) AND it was delicious (just not the gravy--I put too much seasoning in). All my recipes came from Dr. Fuhrman. I made non-meat loaf, sweet potatoes with apples and walnuts, mashed red potatoes, gravy, and pumpkin pie with almond crust. Wendy made a few items as well and we all enjoyed a big feast together :)

Tastes better than it looks---promise!

The "whip cream" is made from macadamia nuts

My first time SUP'ing!
One morning Cyd and I decided to go stand up paddleboarding (SUP) in Haleiwa. Heidi was nice enough to let me use one of her boards and Cyd had her own. Although I have lived here a whole year this was my first time and I was surprisingly a little nervous! Once I got on the board I felt fine. It was so fun---for some reason I felt like I was in a dream as we paddled down past the Haleiwa bridge. Is this really my life?! After SUP'ing I had another first with Cyd---going to the Beet Box Cafe and my smoothie (the Lasse) was AMAZING! Can you tell I like food?? Sorry I talk so much about it at times I can't help it---I love me some good food/drinks!

December

Eric and Alison Affeltranger

 Saying Goodbye to Friends and Pipemasters

Our dear friends, Alison and Eric are leaving Hawaii and going back to Utah this month. They were some of our first friends here in Hawaii and we had many adventures with them through the year. We stopped by T-Bay to say bye and they will be missed! Randy and Chris also woke up super early the morning of Pipemasters this month and got epic seats and watched history be made with the Lees.

Christmastime
This month Randy and I went to look at all the Christmas lights in town with Chris and Jill and it was beautiful. We also got some yummy malasadas while we walked around. On Christmas day I worked briefly with my residents at the hospital. We had a tasty treat and played some Bingo together. A few days earlier, we had a big party for all the patients/residents at the hospital and each person had a secret santa. One of our staff was Santa and many people volunteered to perform for the party (Bobby Benson youth, Uncle Benny sang for us, and many more) and I made sure to get a variety of Ted's Bakery pies and cakes. I think the carrot cake is my new favorite.

On Christmas day when I got home from work Randy had this HUGE box wrapped up for me!! I had no idea what it was and kept trying to guess. He finally said I just needed to open it. It was one box after another getting smaller and smaller till it was as thin as paper! As I opened it a card was inside he made that explained I would be going home soon to California to see my family!! I was so stoked. Guess what I got Randy---some dark chocolate covered fruits! I can easily say I have been outdone this year.

Our Charlie Brown Tree 

Randy is an amazing person. He seems to hardly desire any material possessions (maybe besides a stand up paddle board and a few other small items). When I ask him what he wants for holidays/birthdays he usually says nothing, or mentions things that are very practical like socks or things that are free like a homemade card from me. I feel like he spoils me while he gets very simple gifts. He reminds me of my dad in that way. The only thing anyone in my family can ever think to get my dad for the holidays are chocolate covered cherries.

On Christmas day we also spent time with Wendy and her family at the McMillans eating dang good Hawaiian food and playing with the kids.

Babysitting and breaking arms
At the end of the month Randy and I had the unique opportunity to babysit the 4 Spiegler boys (the oldest is 8). Their parents needed to leave town quickly for a funeral. We babysat them for about 5 days and it was definitely an eye opening experience for someone who does not have a single kid. These boys are tough as nails! They love wrestling, going to the park, playing with their cool toys, and going to the beach. Randy was seriously a pro and had them under control with little help from me. The baby would wake up in the middle of the night and Randy would be up right away trying to help him go back to sleep while I snoozed away. I guess to be fair I was working and Randy was on Christmas break but I knew right then and there he would make an amazing dad! These boys loved playing jailer with us and hide and seek in their house. Although we did a decent job with these kids we were not perfect. While at the Sunset Beach park, the oldest boy broke his arm by jumping off the play equipment. Did this boy cry or scream when it happened? No! He just told Randy, "I think my arm is broken." That was it. He was in a lot of pain, but I remember when I was in high school and fractured my arm and I cried hysterically. This kid was 8! Anyway, maybe I am making too big a deal out of this but I was VERY impressed! I was also impressed with my love who made a legit splint for this kid's arm out of cardboard. Lets just say the more life Randy and I experience together the more confident I feel about conquering the world with him (Pinky and the Brain status).