My Old Blog

New blog!

2009-02-07T03:13:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends! I will not be posting at this blog address anymore (not until I find something really cool and unique to post about...ha). For now our family blog will be at http://songsofdelmer.blogspot.com/ I eventually want to start some other type of blog that will be at this address, but I have not decided what yet, and I am not sure when I will actually do it.

Delmer the Adventurer

2009-01-28T10:58:00.000-08:00

THE ADVENTURES OF DELMER!!!!

Delmer has had a very adventurous week. Yay for our little adventurer!

From left to right:

He went to the Heiau above Waimea; Went to the famous Matsumoto's

Enjoyed the Mac Nut farm; Hiked up to the lighthouse

Enjoyed the streets of Waikiki; Met Duke

Enjoyed the great view

Went to Pizza Bob's...Yum! He enjoyed the food later on....

We are so excited to take him on more adventures!

Every Day is a Holiday

2009-01-15T01:28:00.001-08:00

I stole this website idea from Nathan, but everyone needs to know that everyday is a holiday! Just so you all know, this month is National Oatmeal and Soup month! You had better be eating up!

This is what life is all about!

2009-01-15T01:04:00.000-08:00

Our little rocker!

Yesterday Delmer had his two week appointment. He now weighs 8 lbs 10 oz. Grow boy grow! He is also 21" (1 1/2" more than his birth length). He eats a lot!

Life Couldn't Be Better!

2009-01-01T06:29:00.000-08:00

Our little Delmer Zane Kessie was born on Sunday the 28th at 3:08 pm weighing 7lbs. 11 oz. Having a baby was the most amazing feeling in the world and we are so thankful we have been blessed with a perfect little boy!

In the hospital

Cool hat from Jackie

No cry, just a funny face
Sleeping on Dad
He sleeps so peacefully

My mom made it here just on time! yay!

Merry Christmas World!

2008-12-25T14:31:00.001-08:00

We were so excited to buy our own Christmas tree this year. Yipeeee! We thought maybe the babe would celebrate Christmas with us..but not yet.

I woke up early to open presents. I could not help myself! I was so excited!

I love Christmas

2008-12-21T16:01:00.000-08:00

It doesn't matter where I am, I will always love Christmas. This Christmas we are going to be in Hawaii. At first I was slightly longing for the cold weather and being with family...but Christmas is Christmas no matter where you go. This will be a neat Christmas because it will be the first Christmas that Jared Zane and I will celebrate it in our own home with our own made up traditions. How fun! Who knows, maybe a baby will be joining us too. hehe

However, I am reminiscent of past Christmas' spent with our families.

Kessie Christmas

Bliss Christmas Don't we all look so cool on Christmas morning? There's just a little sleep in my eyeball.

FLOOD

2008-12-21T15:42:00.000-08:00

I know this is old news for people here...but last week our little town had a flash flood and the internet was out for over a week. Now that it is back I can finally post. So for all you who haven't seen, this was our backyard.....

I am soooo glad we don't live downstairs. They all got flooded and they can't live in their houses until the new carpet arrives!

We made a breakfast upstairs for all of those slaving away in the muck water.

My Vintage Etsy

2008-12-06T10:10:00.000-08:00

I have decided to put some of my vintage stuff online. It is taking up too much room in my house!

Pretty Much Awesome

2008-12-05T12:39:00.000-08:00

Katie's white trash baby shower was pretty much awesome. Especially this picture

Thanksgiving

2008-12-02T18:16:00.000-08:00

I know this is a little late, but we had an awesome Thanksgiving! The Kontoes' provided their wonderful home for the festivities. Goodness gracious do I love eating! Mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, pie.... yum yum yum!

As of yesterday our car broke down. boo hoo. I don't like how I always have to have something taken away from me before I really appreciate it. I mean, I always have been grateful for our car....but I guess not grateful enough! Next Thanksgiving i'll have to remember to put our car on the thankful list.

Here are some pictures!

About a week before Thanksgiving our ward put on a Thankgiving dinner by sharks cove for the homeless (or anyone else who wandered by). It was raining, but it was cool! Nathan was here so he got to come too!

Blurrr - 0 - rama

Update

2008-11-23T22:33:00.000-08:00

"Fancy That"

Here is me at 8 months prego-rama. I just want people to see that I actually do have a belly. It was not as noticeable in the baby shower pictures. ha! (Yes I still have the same swimsuit...it doesn't really fit correctly, and I'm sure it will be akward and stretched out after the baby comes).

Topsy Turvy Teaparty!

2008-11-23T14:06:00.000-08:00

I had THE best baby shower ever! It was not just a baby shower...it was a tea party baby shower! Jackie planned it and it was delightful. She is absolutely amazing! It just so happened that Valerie (best friend growing up), Bille & Mike, and my brother were all visiting that weekend. Fancy that..so they were all able to go too. Yipeeee! Mike Gniewosz took these awesome photos. Thanks Mike!

Thank you EVERYONE for coming! I am so thankful for all the gifts too. You guys are awesome!Thanks to Bille, I had an official tea party hat Marni and Nathan, how eloquent

Prop 8

2008-11-04T09:44:00.000-08:00

If I were to vote on Prop 8 I would vote YES. Does this mean I am racist? Does it mean I am full of hate? Does it mean I don't believe that people should have rights to be created equal? Does it mean that I think I am better than gays and lesbian couples? ABSOLUTELY NOT

Personally, I don't have a problem with creating more rights for this population. Sure, I am against hate crimes, job discrimination..etc. I don't hate this population, I actually find that the gay and lesbian friends and family members I have are very likable, caring, fun people to be around, and some of the most lovable people I know. I am neutral with the idea of gays and lesbians being joined in a bond which would include rights similar to marriage...however when this bond is called MARRIAGE I do not agree.

I do not agree when calling this bond marriage means that I do not have a right or say as to what my child is learning in school. This will create conflict between secular schools, and the values that are being taught by many parents. Parents have the right to teach their children based on their personal beliefs and values. Are our children old enough (at 7 yrs, the same age "Prince and Prince" could get taught in schools) to conceptualize this information? Is it too young to be throwing completely different values and beliefs in their direction? I find it very confusing to these young minds.

Furthermore, I do know that there are people who struggle with same-sex-attraction, but do we want this to become a learned behavior? Why should we encourage our children to participate in these relationships when we don't know how biological the tendency is. If the tendency is biological, why should we make it a learned behavior? WHY SHOULDN'T PARENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS? Why should calling this bond between gays and lesbians a marriage mean that we no longer have a say (as parents) as to what is being taught in the education system?

I do not agree when calling this bond marriage means that freedom of religion and speech is taken away. It is clearly not constitutional to take away the freedom, or for someone to be discriminated against because of their beliefs. So why are churches being discriminated against for refusing to marry gay and lesbian couples? Why should a photographer be fined for refusing to take pictures of these couples? (Shouldn't it be his choice? I mean, he's the one losing business...right?) How much more power will be put into the hands of the government to force beliefs and power upon people? What could this lead to? It may sound far fetched (but so do many things that are going on TODAY), but how long will it be before we are forced to believe a certain way? Will we really have these freedoms much longer?

VOTING NO ON PROP. 8 GIVES RIGHTS TO SOME, BUT TAKES AWAY RIGHTS FOR MANY

Whether I agree with Prop. 8 or not, I DO NOT find it right that the decision to allow same-sex-couples to marry in California was made WITHOUT a vote from the people. People deserve to make decisions for their society today. That is one of the blessings of being an American. If decisions are being made for us on this issue, than there is not doubt that decisions will continue to be made without the majority vote. We need to stand up for our rights as American's and not let this happen again. I am glad that this Proposition was introduced, and the people will now have a say on this issue.

6 Unspectacular Quirks

2008-10-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

Well, it took me FOREVER to do this post. Lindsey tagged me and I don't know why its taken me so long!

1. It is hard for me to fall asleep if the window is closed. I always open the curtains before I go to bed. For some reason I feel more comfortable looking outside.

2. The whole house could be messy, but if the dishes are clean I feel good.

3. If I don't eat a bowl of salad a day I feel guilty for forgetting my veggies, so sometimes I will fit one in at the end of the day...even if it's midnight.

4. I think scars look cool.

5. I got this idea from Lindsey, but it is absolutely true... I love walking around barefooted!

6. I always have a tune playing in my head, which leads me to constantly playing tunes on my fingers. Ever since I started piano lessons (8 years) I have not been able to stop. It is not noticeable by others, unless you are holding my hand. I don't actually tap my fingers, but I just put pressure on whatever object I am touching (if that makes sense).

Vote Your Conscience

2008-10-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

I thought this was a good video. I stole it from someone's blog. It was made by the catholic church. It is sooooooooo important to vote! Vote your conscience!

Awesome Maternity Photos by Mark Lee

2008-10-19T16:08:00.000-07:00

We are so excited, happy and amazed at how well Mark Lee did on the maternity photos he took for us. We have never been this pleased with the way our pictures turned out. Thank you so much Mark Lee! If you have not seen his photography, seriously check it out! He also has more pictures posted of us on his blog if you want to see. Click here to link to his website, Holladay Photo, or his blog.

Hiking Again! Nakoa Trail

2008-10-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

This past weekend (I guess its already been about a week) we went and hiked around Kahana Valley. It was so quiet and peaceful and lovely! We got to cross little streams. We didn't think about bringing bathing suits for some reason, but there were some fun looking rope swings!

Birthday Week!

2008-09-29T23:34:00.000-07:00

At first I thought that 25 sounded old, but then I realized that 35 doesn't sound very old to me...and it is still 10 years away.

This past week was quite splendid! I was so excited to get a b-day package from my family that I just knew would contain my favorite chocolate covered soy nuts from Trader Joe's, along with another food delicacy selection of their choice. Usually this delicacy is Tortellini or delicious Almonds...but this time it was Gnocchi, which I am eager to try. Has anyone tried it? I love Trader Joe's! I was also VERY excited that they sent me big mama maternity clothes so I can stop busting the buttons off everything I own. ha!

And then of course, Zane bought me pop-tarts (birthday tradition from long ago) and some very delicate flowers that I love. I hope I don't let them die! He also made a cool scavenger hunt for me around the house that was very thrilling.

To make it even better my dear friends came over, even though our house was super hot, and made me feel special on my 25th. They are awesome!

I then received this lovely treat in the mail from my friend Val. I thought it was way cute! Each square is a mini piece of cake.

Zane extended my B-day to the weekend by taking me to a hotel in Honolulu so we could go on a pretend vacation. We mostly walked around and people watched. Very entertaining! It was nice to be somewhere different, even for just a night! Here is some of the night life:

When we took this picture someone asked us for a dollar, but kept apologizing once he realized that we live here and aren't rich people on a vacation.

Sleeping Boards

Excited couple in love

I swear I have seen this guy try to fight someone on two different occasions. He was mad that someone took a picture with him and didn't give him money. I was nervous when Zane took this picture that newspaper man would notice and get mad that we didn't give him anything. He is really good at looking like a statue.

In the morning I was super excited to go paddle boarding....I have been wanting to try for a while because it looks way peaceful and meditative. I wish we took pictures, but we were too busy in the water! Zane paddled me around on the front for a while and it was fun. I think I found a new love! I felt like I was walking on water! I am so excited to paddle our young child around on the tip of a paddle board.

We were going to eat at a nice restaurant, but then we came across a Denny's that happened to be the same Denny's we went to on our first unofficial date. We decided to go for memories sake. Great times!

Cute Husband

2008-09-28T16:18:00.001-07:00

This morning I was running a little late for church and I called into the other room and said:

"Can you do my hair for me?"

I was totally joking, but he came over and said:

"What should I do?"

He was serious! He really thought I needed him to do my hair, and he was willing to do it! I thought it was cute.

We Are Robots

2008-09-25T20:49:00.001-07:00

Every day I think more and more about how my body is a machine. Our bodies do so much...and most of the functions they perform I hardly think about!

Ever since I have been pregnant I've imagined my body as a machine. I kind of think of it in the same light as The Magic School Bus. When I eat healthy foods like fruit, vegetables, protein, iron, or calcium.... I imagine them traveling to the special places they are needed. I imagine the chemicals that break them down, and I think of the energy being produced. We are amazing! When I exercise I imagine energy stores being used up, and the sweat glands jumping into action. I have always known my body has done these things, but suddenly it has more meaning to me and I am much more amazed. I think that sometimes I take my body for granted...I don't appreciate how hard it is working.

We need to be kind to ourselves by treating our bodies right ... wearing sunscreen, not picking at scabs, not putting crazy chemicals on ourselves, eating healthy... so that we aren't making our machine bodies do too much.

We Are Robots!

The Morning Rays

2008-09-24T12:59:00.000-07:00

Since I have been bussin' it to work I decided I am going to start taking pics. of the morning life. I don't have photography skills yet, but maybe after many early morning excursions I will learn something!

Nothing can capture the way I feel for the morning. Every day I am super excited to wake up and look out the window to the morning. I love the smell the feel, and the fresh new feeling of a new day. I feel like everything has so much more meaning in the early hours of awakening. While many are asleep, nature has already begun its day. Some of the most beautiful sights are only witnessed by the morning watchers eye. So many times I wake up late and feel so guilty for not glimpsing at the sunrise or the early rays casting their perfect light.

A Few things I want to make:

2008-09-09T21:01:00.000-07:00

There are so many crafts I want to do! These are only a few....

This super cool robot from by revoluzzza

My favorite animal, the elephant, from Craftster

Super hip diaper bag from A Mingled Yarn

And a million baby shoes from Stardust Shoes
(This is the first pair I tried making!)

The Bus!

2008-08-31T17:42:00.000-07:00

Today was our bus adventure. We are both tired of cars and driving...so we rode the bus to Haleiwa. It was fun to just sit next to each other and not have to worry about driving. It was also funny to listen to bits and pieces of conversation.

We walked around town and enjoyed the day!

We even walked by this bus house. I thought it was funny that the bus had a Beware of Dog sign. The dog even started to bark when I took the picture. Good thing they have a dog! There bus surely won't get stolen now!

We ate lunch then went to the beach for a million years. Perfect! When we were done all we had to do was walk to the bus stop and enjoy the weather until our ride came. Super!

This month I think I am going to buy a bus pass. There is actually a lot of time (and money) saved riding the bus. The bus is a perfect opportunity to talk to community members, read, sew, and just enjoy looking out the window in an air conditioned vehicle. I love the bus! I know it's annoying when you really have to be somewhere and it's late, but I don't think i'll have too much of a problem going to sunset and back. Plus, it is an adventure every day!

One Year Older and Wiser!

2008-08-31T16:53:00.000-07:00

This week Zane had a birthday (even though no one really knew because he likes to be secretive about these things). We had our own pizza party at Pounders. Oh how delightful. It took a while to find our pizza though, because I ordered from what I thought was Pizza Hut...but I guess I accidentally called Dominoes instead! I was so confused when I went to pick it up. (baby brain?)
But anyways...I am so grateful for Zane! He makes me happy every day, and I am glad that I have now been able to spend 3 birthdays with him. Yipeeeeee!

2008-08-24T19:03:00.000-07:00

BEFORE

AFTER

TVA put new cupboards in our house. They started about 3-4 weeks ago, but did not finish until this week (a few doors were missing)! Now we can enjoy a full set of clean cupboards. Yipee! I think the new one's look a lot nicer...don't you? (I know some of you have cupboards that look identical to these!)

What do you do to keep yourself sane?

2008-08-18T18:37:00.000-07:00

Each day I'm super grateful for life and living...but it is still hard to avoid those days that feel repetitive, unfair, and quite un-enjoyable. These are some things that have proved successful in keeping me sane:
(they aren't in any order of significance)

1. Remember to take it easy! Do some neck rolls or something. Don't feel so tense, life isn't THAT serious

2. Don't let people get to you....live your life how you want to live and don't worry about them. Try not to judge them because you probably don't know them well enough (and if you do just be glad you are yourself)

3. EXERCISE!

4. Wake up early. I have been waking up at 5:15 lately to do yoga. It's great because I feel like I am not waking up to go to work or an appointment, but I am waking up because the day started and I love the day! I guess waking up early gives me more purpose to my day. It's refreshing to see the sunrise too.

5.Serve others. I guess I haven't been too good at this one lately...but I know it helps in keeping me sane. When I help others, my problems magically seem quite insignificant.

6. Personal prayer and scripture study...always works, yet sometimes I still skip out!

7. Take time to reflect, think deep, think of what I can do better

I am writing this to remind myself that I can be doing a better job at keeping myself at 100%.

What do you do to keep yourself sane?

The Verdict....

2008-08-06T01:26:00.000-07:00

BBBBBBBBBBbOOOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!
It's a boy and we are soooo excited!

Our baby's yawn makes me happy every second. heehehe

Looks like another big Bliss mouth!

So the majority of people who guessed on the blog guessed correct! Yay! Most of the people I talked to in real life thought it was gonna be a girl. I had a feeling about this one! The doctor said that there is usually a 75% chance that the mom's prediction is right. Yipee! Now we need to think of names! Let us know if you have any ideas!

I'm growing!

2008-08-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

My family thought I was trying to hide my belly in the previous blog posts, but I promise I really wasn't! Today we will find out if it's a boy or a girl. What is your guess?

In the wild again!

2008-07-28T02:51:00.000-07:00

A view of town from our hike

This weekend we checked out a camping spot in Aiea. Approved! It is above the town...a nice little quiet area with only about 7 camping spots. We were thinking it would be fun to go back with friends and take up all the spots so the whole place could be ours!

There is something about sleeping outdoors that always makes me feel better about life. I guess I like being under the stars without distractions of cars, lights, and noises. In our tent I appreciate the fact that we are so small compared to the whole world. Admist the small feeling, I feel that we captured the night and it only exists because we exist under it. It is a very grand feeling...and I guess it is how we should all feel; because even if there was only one person left in existence, the earth would still be here just for him! The night is ours!

In the morning we hiked along the Aiea ridge. There was also a medicinal/healing Heiau that was pretty cool!
Another view....Mt. Ka'ala in the distance (I've been wanting to hike that mountain forever! The tallest mountain on Oahu)

Fashion + Skateboarding = RADICAL

2008-07-27T00:02:00.000-07:00

I stole these pics. from Jackie's blog...who stole them from from the amazing photographer Mark Lee. On Thurs. we had a fashion show with some of our vintage clothing, Jackie's designer dresses, and Robin's wardrobe on display. Afterwards the ramp was open for a styling skate session.

I was way stoked that Callie skated in our vintage clothing.

She rocked! (and rolled..haha).

Mark Lee was super generous to document this event with his amazing photography skills. It was so hard for me not to skate! The energy was too high, I knew that if I stepped on the ramp I would not be able to hold back...and probably do something that would result in me landing on my pregnant belly. It was so hard for me to stand and watch though. At least Meg stood with me, she understood the desire! 5 more months!

Look out for more fashion shows in the future!

The Happiest 2 Years Ever!

2008-07-22T14:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was our 2 year anniversary! Two years can go by so fast, yet it feels like we've known each other forever! I couldn't be happier to be where I am right now in life, married to the most amazing person who I've ever crossed paths with. Isn't life wonderful?

Oh the memories.....and the memories in the making!

Catcha Later Bro!

2008-07-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

I'ts always been nice to have Nathan in Hawaii...I love having an extra family member here, plus we laugh about the same things, ponder the same things, and enjoy the same things. My mom said I ran to his crib every morning waiting for him to wake up. Ha, I'm glad he's going off to do cool things though. This island is just always a little different when he's not here. It's fun to run into him randomly all over town and he's always up for whatever strange thing I want to do. Bye for now Nathan! We miss you already!

We had a goodbye jam session on the deck of the Goat House...thanks to Clark!

Here Last Week

2008-07-19T10:35:00.001-07:00

We had so much fun camping at the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden! What a beautiful place! Very peaceful and away from the hype of the world. Sometimes it's nice to relax in nature and enjoy the magic that surrounds us every day. These mountains are beautiful! But do I think about their beauty enough? Probably not. I love taking the time out to appreciate so that I will never take anything for granted!

Thanks Jackie for making this trip possible!

We are hoping to camp out more this summer. Anyone in say "ARGGGGGGGG"!

The Other Day...

2008-07-07T00:08:00.000-07:00

The other day Zane and I hung out with our friend Maresa before she left the island. Kathleen came along too. We were on our way to the Vans outlet and to watch WALL-E. We had recently watched Dogtown and Z-Boys, and decided we were going to practice power-slides on the way...

Kathleenprego-slide

I don't think it's possible to have as much style as Jay (above) but these slides are super fun!
WALL-E was an especially cool movie. Zane was extremely into it...I kept watching his satisfied face expressions. Very artistic and very well done!

When I was Away. . .

2008-07-05T12:53:00.001-07:00

I was able to take a nice journey to Bakersfield CA. Fun! I love being with my family, they are my best friends. I had a great time... it would have been ever greater Zane was there!

The great Kern Valley

This is my sister Emily's inpirational cat: Ginny Weasely. She and her friend Melissa found this cat in an alley and its eye was super infected. No... really, the puss and gunk was protruding from its face. Well they wanted to help the cat, but when they took it to the vet it was going to cost $500 to remove the eye. These girls didn't give up and went to Venice beach to get donations. Well, they got over $100 in 2 hours. They were able to buy medicine that cleared the eye up a ton...and it probably won't have to be removed after all. Yay for the Good Samaritans!

My family and I went to the Bakersfield Street Fair.

I ran into an old friend who let my climb his rock wall for free. Rad! I love rock walls. My sister Sarah did it with me, she is next to me.

Truthfully, I didn't pay much attention to the street fair because I was too excited for ice cream from Rosemary's later. I just love the brownie fudge sundae! I could eat one every week.

Melanie and I .....yum

We also went to Hart Park to enjoy dutch oven brownies on a striped blanket and watch the funny peacocks.
Watch out girlfriend...he's after you..
I then visited my friends Lindsie and Doug who just got married and already have a huge house! Our TVA apartment is smaller than their room.

The jolly ol' crew went with me to visit my friend Becky in Irvine. She showed us the accessories she designed for Metal Mulisha. Such a cool job!
(This is an old pic.! I was so sad I forgot to take a picture!)

Then we went to Laguna Beach. Yay for sun and water!

(i've never really photo-shopped before...but I thought i'd give it a try. Zane helped me with the pics that acually look somewhat good)

Sarah and I jumping over waves. Why did I feel like I was jumping high?

Sunbathing MelSarah and Melanie

We tried to catch sand crabs. Can you spot one in Melanie's hands?Sand Crab Friends
Then we went and visited Emily at her job in downtown Pasadena. She works at a store called Beach Bliss. I wonder if the last name "Bliss" helped her to get the job. She looked pretty hip sitting behind the counter.
We then played in the air vent grate. haha We watched our hair and clothes fly up for like a half hour
Oh what a fun trip to see my dear family! No matter what anyone says, Bakersfield is super rad. I was sad to leave, but excited to join my husband back for more adventures in Hawaii. Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

For Those of You Who Didn't Know....

2008-07-01T01:32:00.001-07:00

It's definitely not coming in a parachute, but it's fun to think of it that way..

Daughter For Sale!

2008-06-25T23:07:00.000-07:00

marryourdaughter .com

This VERY disturbing website is a location where
parents can sell their daughters off
to be married. This is their purpose:
"Marry Our Daughter is an introduction
service assisting those following the Biblical
tradition of arranging marriages for their
daughters. "

Kristin J.
Age: 16,
Location: South

Bride Price:
$49,995

Kristin has a wild streak. She likes parties and has spent more time with boys than we’d have liked her to. We had a family talk and decided that it was time she settled down with a man who could meet her needs and help her fulfill her dreams of being an actor or singer. She’s a bit fiery but worth it.

Cheyenne B.
Age: 16,
Location: Northwest

Bride Price:
$5,995

We’re a Christian family and Cheyenne has had trouble with unchristian desires although at heart we know she's a good Christian girl. She needs a husband with STRONG Christian values who will provide her a STRONG Christian home and help her to live a godly life.

Marissa J.
Age: 16,
Location: South

Bride Price:
$79,995

Marissa likes to put on airs and thinks she’s better than all of us here and who knows maybe she’s right. She’s looking for a smart, sophisticated man who knows “art” and “culture” and “style” and who can understand her better than we can.

Katelyn F.
Age: 14,
Location: Caribbean

Bride Price:
$24,995

Our own Little Mermaid Katie Lynn swims like a fish and isn’t happy unless she’s getting wet! She got her SCUBA ticket at 12 and she can pull more than her weight as crew on any kind of boat or ship. She tells us she’s tired of dry land and that’s she’s looking for a husband who works on, by or in the water.

And here are some AWESOME testimonials!

“Our 15 year old daughter Mary wasn’t very popular and did nothing but mope around the house bringing everybody down, so we decided to marry her off through your site. Now our house is a lot cheerier and we love our new swimming pool and Jaccuzi! We’ve told our youngest that when she turns 15 we’re going to marry her off too!"

—Mrs. James P.

“My mother thought I was getting ‘too frisky” and that I had to get married right away before I lost my purity to some high school boy. Marry Our Daughter found me a husband and my parents were able to keep their house and pay off my mother’s medical bills. I was so glad I could help them, and being married at my age (I'm 16 now) has a lot of advantages, like my own credit card!"

—Nancy A.

***********************************************************************************

When I first saw this website I could not believe what the world was coming to!
This does not follow Christian tradition at all! Selling a daughter
because you need money? What is going on here? Although I was appalled, I thought it was hilarious at the same time. For some reason I was slightly disapointed when I read an article that this was a hoax. I guess some guy made this website because he was mad that two 13 year old girls from his community had their marriages arranged. He said the fact that parents can give consent to their children younger than 18 to marry is the real outrage. He wanted people to realize that it is possible for parents to actually give their young children permission/arrangement to marry. He was hoping this website would cause more of an outrage about it.

It is pretty crazy that a 13 year old can get married. That's my sister!

What s really scary is that tons of people actually tried to use the website. Since the site was created, there have been 70 million hits, about 3,000 of those were from people making a proposal and 1,200 trying to post their child on the site.

ew! I'm glad my parents would never even think about posting their daughter for sale? Who are these sick people?

My new favorite lunch!

2008-06-05T20:47:00.000-07:00

I have grown a recent obsession for avocado sandwiches. No meat...just avocado, tomato, lettuce, and mayo mixed with dijon mustard with a few drops of vinegar. Sprinkle a little pepper on..and Yum! I could eat this sandwich every day!

(Yes... I did feel nerdy for taking a picture of my sandwich)

Tag-O-Rama

2008-05-26T01:02:00.001-07:00

So... I keep looking at my blog and thinking "My blog is so annoying!" I am tired of looking at it. I guess it's time to post something new. About a million years ago Jennelle tagged me to write 6 random things about myself. I don't know if I have that many random facts about myself but i'll try!

Six Random Facts about Anna:

1. I played bass guitar in a metal band in high school. No..I was not good. I had just got a bass guitar for Christmas and some of my guy friends thought it would be a cool image to have a girl in the band. Not to say that "metal" was my favorite type of music at all... I thought it would be fun to be in a band with friends, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to learn how to play. My head banging ended when my mom went to a concert and was appalled by all of the moshing. I was mad at the time, but now grateful because I think deep down I didn't really want to be in the band anymore. Plus...I thought the name of the band was lame, and the guys wouldn't change it for me.

Me and Val after a crazy show. ha

Just for some fun

2.I have a birth mark the shape of a heart! (I know some of you Kessie's already knew that one!)

3.One of my favorite snacks is saltine crackers with frosting

4.I may not remember simple trivia answers, but I can remember what I wore on a certain day 1-3-5 years ago. In some cases, 18 years ago!

I remember this outfit!

5. I still wish I was a pro skater. Someday! ha

6. My goal in life used to be to make myself laugh. This is still a goal for me, but not to the same extent. My friend Val joined me on this mission. Once we tied tumbleweeds to our legs and ran all the way home from the gas station (a busy intersection) pretending they were chasing us. Sometimes we wore Arabic robes to school, and other times we danced on top of the van with flour all over our faces listening to loud Mexican music. I don't think anyone thought we were as funny as we thought we were.... but at least we had something to laugh about all day and for the rest of our lives. (There are many more stories)

I am not much of a tagger so if you don't want to you don't have to, but I am going to tag Marni, Shira, and Cody!

Let's Take Care of OUR Earth!

2008-04-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

With all the Earth hype this past week, I have done a lot of thinking on how I need to play my part on keeping the earth clean.

First of all...we need to keep our priorities straight!

All around the world many DRY landfills are being used. A dry landfill may take over 100 years to decompose... some trash FOREVER! Wet landfills decompose quicker, but the downside is that they emit toxic chemicals into the soil and the ground water that I don't want to be around. Do you? Landfills also create methane gas, which can be explosive. Researchers have excavated landfills and found items to be unchanged after YEARS of lying there! Gross! Even Hot Dogs were found intact!

Basically, a landfill is a disposal facility where wast is buried in the ground. It is often covered to look like a natural part of the environment. Sometimes it is used for agriculture. I don't want my food growing there! Not too long from now the landfills will run out and we will have to start building on these dumps! We CAN'T let this happen It is time to STOP waste!

Drink this! If we don't stop now, we'll have to!

Think about these decomposing rates:

Banana Peel: 3-4 weeks Paper Bag: 1 month
Cotton Rag: 5 months
Cardboard Box: several months to 5 years
Cigarette: 12-40 years
Fruit and Vegetables: 6 months - 2 years
Paper: 5 months to 50 years
Wool Sock: 1 year
Lumber: 10-15 years
Tinned Steel Can: 80-100 years
Aluminum Can: 200-500 years (but if recycled can be reused within 6 weeks)
Plastic Bottles: 50 - 100 years
Motor Oil: 10 - 30 years
Disposable Diapers: 500-600 years (in a dry landfill) 20 years if in the sun and rain
Plastic Bags: 1 million years
Glass: millions of years
Styrofoam: Eternity

Mostly taken from (http://www.merton.gov.uk/landfill.htm)

It seems that vegetables would decompose faster, but if they don't have any decomposing agents, the numbers aren't hard to believe. I'm never using Styrofoam again!

Did you know that recycling 1 ton of newspapers saves 12 trees, and recycling 1 ton of computer paper saves 24 trees? Think of how fast a ton is used in the workplace. Poor trees!

Ways We Can Recycle Old Items:
This website has many tips, some are cheesy but are appreciated! http://www.ccsolidwaste.org/Recycling_ideas.htm

Buy recycled paper instead of the other kind. Only 10 percent of paper in the stores are recycled because not enough people buy it.

Automotive Floor Mats (rubber/carpeted)

Take with you when you go on a picnic. Put them on a picnic table bench if it's wet from rain or dew or on the ground if no benches are around.
Place plastic mats under pet water/food dishes to catch spills.
Use as a floor mat for leaky containers in the garage or basement

Baby Wipe Containers

Use the cylindrical type with the hole at the top to dispense balls of yarn. It keeps the yarn from getting tangled
Place to store plastic bags (also can use old tissue boxes)

Bags--Baggies

DON'T USE!!! Use tupperware instead.
For those of you who need your baggies, wash them out and reuse them for your next lunch.

Bags--Paper (grocery)
Use for garbage bags around the house.
Use to cover school text books.

Bags--Paper (lunch)
Don't use.
Reuse.

Bags--Plastic (grocery)
Use the plastic bags you get from stores for liners in garbage cans around your house.
Keep them in your car for garbage.

Belts
Use to tie back tree branches.
Use for tying young trees to supports.

Binders (three-ring)

Cut out the section which has the rings on it, drill a hole through the rivets, and then screw the strip to a wall. Use to store commonly used utensils, paint brushes or your keys.
Use for orderly storage of bank statements, credit card statements, etc.
Print out your favorite recipes on paper and then store in a binder. (You can find them much quicker this way than searching through several cook books.

Blankets

Keep an old one in your car for emergencies.
Fold in half the long way, sew it together, and use it as an exercise mat. If it is not cushy enough, sew two together.
Keep for use at the beach or when on a picnic.
Take when camping so you don't destroy a good one.

Books and Magazines

Donate books to a library.
Sell college books directly to other students
Use cool magazine pictures as envelopes.
Make bath toys by cutting pictures out of a magazine and covering them with contact paper, leaving a one-half inch lip around each piece to allow it to seal. When these pieces get wet, they will stick to the bathroom tile.
Use old magazines to make cool collages for gifts.

Bottles--Beverage (Glass)

Use an old beach bottle as a candle holder--the wax dripping over the side will make pretty designs.
Fill a clear glass bottle with small candies.
Make a glass bottle into a vase.
Make a bank.

Bottles--Beverage (Plastic)

Fill with water and freeze. They make nice "blue ice" for coolers

Bottles--Household

Use detergent, fabric softener or shampoo bottles filled with USED motor oil for lubricating drive chains.
Fill glass cleaner bottles with soapy water and keep by the area in your house which has been infiltrated by ants. It is messier than traps, but safer than poison.
Cut the top part off of a liquid laundry detergent container. Use the main part as a pooper scooper and the top portion as the pusher. Empty, rinse and reuse.

Boxes--Shoeboxes

Use to store recipes.
Tape the lids to the boxes, paint them bright colors, and give them to the kids for building blocks.
Use to hold odds and ends--just paint or cover with cool paper.
Make into a dollhouse.

Compact Discs

Use as reflectors.
Use as coasters.
Place a watch in the center and hang it on the wall for a funky clock.
Tie mono filimant fishing line to a CD and hang it in your fruit tree. It will keep the birds from eating all of the fruit.

Cookie Cutters

Give to the kids and let them use when playing with playdogh.
Give to kids as templates for tracing on paper.
Children can dip in paint and then press onto paper to make art.

Crayons

Melt old crayons together and use cookie cutters to make fun shapes for younger kids.
Make patchwork crayons.
Create a vase by melting different colored crayons over an old bottle. Let the wax drip randomly.
Make creative envelope seals by dripping crayon wax onto the back of an envelope. Make a special imprint in the wax if you want.

Drink Mix Containers (those with twist-off caps)

Use for storage of rice, pasta, etc. when camping (or at home).
Use the large bottom portion to hold water to rinse paint brushes. Use the lid for the paint.

Envelopes

Take envelopes which are sent by businesses (in the hopes that you will return them), place a label over the pre-printed address, write in a new address, and send it on its way.
Use for writing notes to family members. Don't recycle until it is completely filled.
Use for storing receipts.
Use for storing or carrying coupons.
Use for writing grocery lists.

Fabric Softener Sheets

Tear the sheets in half before using in the dryer to reduce the number of sheets you use. (Carie)
Use to dust your house.
Place inside shoes at night to keep them smelling fresh.

There are SO many ideas on the website listed above! I am too tired to finish all or the ideas. What ideas do you have to help save the earth?

I almost put a picture of a dead bird that suffocated from plastic, but it was too sad

KOKO CRATER

2008-04-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

Some may wonder why my husband and I have 2 separate blogs. We do this because even though we enjoy the same events and activities together...we both have different perspectives and ideas. I like his blog better, so if you want to check his perspectives out click on Jared Zane Kessie!

We went hiking up Koko crater in Hawaii Kai this weekend. I never knew there was a railroad track that went straight up to the top of it! In a way it reminded me of Stairway to Heaven, except we were walking up a train track instead of steps. Of course it wasn't quite as long either. While walking I tried to imagine the train chugging its way up to the top in the 1950's. My grandpa served on a military base here, and I wondered if he ever journeyed up to the top of the same crater.

Imagine your train zooming down these tracks! You can't tell from this picture, but this is a bridge going over a little gap in the crater. It was kinda scary walking on because I imagined my feet falling through the tracks!

View of Haunama Bay.... I could not tell where the ocean met the sky. It was such a hazy day it seemed we were in a snow globe of sky.

I like old graffitied walls

The gears!

There was a plethera of old military gear. We even found a secret bunker! The reason it was secret...is because it would not have been found if we didn't do some exploring. Nathan and I were sitting on a cement looking hut and did not even realize what lay beneath us! We then noticed there was a door, but the hinges were rusted shut. I peeked in a tiny slat window (just barely big enough to shimmy through on my stomach) and I saw a dark staircase leading down! We wanted to go explore it...but knew it would be hard without a light. We used the flash on the camera and we could not see the end of the stairs. Zane had to lay on his stomach and lean over the opening while I sat on his legs in order to take the picture. It totally reminded me of Lost. I think someday we may try to go down, but I kinda want to bring a rope to rapell because I don't trust those rusty stairs! I thought it was neat that it was so hidden; i'm sure people have re-discovered it before, but I doubt many!

The Hatch

cool pointy ridge

We were so hot that we HAD to jump in the water at Sandy's to cool off after!

This hike was kinda a last minute thing. We wanted to invite others...but we did not want to wake people up early in the morn against their will. If you are interested in hiking next weekend, or any weekend for that matter, let us know! We love hikes!

Kokua Hackey Sackin Hang Out

2008-04-22T00:39:00.000-07:00

Some may remember about 3 years ago when a big group of us hung outside the Kokua Festival. Well we tried it out again this year and it was a great chill. Mason Jennings and Jack Johnson were sweeeeeeet. We especially enjoyed hacky sacking in the sun. We ate fruit and BBQ all night. Yum!

Ha, I don't really know what i'm doing

Shira told me that people were selling tickets for $170 at the gate! CRAZY! Um...oxymoron because the definition of KOKUA is helper/respect.... people selling tickets for that much are definitely not helpers.

Diamond Head

Brother Nathan's Birthday!

2008-04-19T12:48:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to Nathan my lifetime friend and brother. If you know Nathan...you know that he will make you happy any time of day! He is quite the funny folk as well and is always ready for fun.

Dinner!

When we were little, me about 2 1/2 and he about 1, I would wake up and run to his crib. I could not wait for him to awake so we could play! We were quite the pair..and everyone thought we were twins. We never fought. When my sister was born my mom could not believe that she was a hitter because mother dear had never witnessed that behavior between Nathan and I.

Yay for 23!Cake!

A song for the boy with the birthday

Laughing attacks

HA

2008-04-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

Truthfully I am very tired of my jobs and I probably will find a new place to work soon, but at least I can laugh at the silliness of kids in the meantime.

I work for an after school program and I teach a group of five 2nd and 3rd graders. The other day I walked across the room to get something...and in the short time I was gone I began to hear a raucous beginning to arise...Great, what's the matter this time.

I heard children arguing..
"It's mine"
"No I had it first"
"Let me see no its mine"
"It's his, its his!"
"Give it back to him"
"Give it to me"
"I want it!!"

In the meantime their hands were all jumbled upon one another's and I couldn't see what they were fighting over. The children who weren't jumbled in the mess were yelling their opinions on who they thought the object belonged to. Well I took the object away and asked who's it was and a kid said "I found it" I asked what it was and he did not know.

Well this is what the object looked like. haha. Why was this pointless piece of plastic even worth fighting over? And to think it got everyone riled up. I just laughed when I took the object.. case closed. I was the new owner. I took a picture and threw it away.

Perhaps it is a chimney for a train, or part of a spinny top. Do you know what it is?

Talent Show-o-rific!

2008-04-06T05:01:00.000-07:00

Since tonight was our ward talent show....we performed a little number with our so called band Mustafa and Friends.

(Photo courtesy of the Guzman family)

Once upon a time there was a cat named Mustafa that lived by our house. For some reason it would always come around when we were jamming. We decided the cat was our friend...hence the name Mustafa and Friends.

Although we don't perform as a group often, the name will forever stick. There is not a better name that I can think of! Ha!

We were so thankful for the participation from all the people in our ward. Our calling is the Activities Committee, so that type of thing is super important to us. Everyone was so willing to help and to share their talents. Even though some may not have wanted to go out of their comfort zone...they gave it a try for the better cause and it turned out great! It is amazing how many talents you can find within the area of a few buildings.

I truly feel that the talents of others motivate and help to strengthen me. I am so grateful for my family and friends who have shared bits and pieces of their talents with me. It is a good feeling to know that others are willing to share their gifts. I just hope that I can inspire others in the same ways that others have inspired me. Tonight I was reminded not only to work on my talents, but to stop hiding them under the bed!

Thank you friends and fam for your awesome talents that have motivated me to learn and push myself harder! You have all inspired me in many ways. Seriously! Yippeeeee!

YES

2008-04-06T04:40:00.000-07:00

YES I should be in bed right now because Conference is in the morning...but for some reason I am wide awake.

I don't know why I do this...it happens almost every night if I don't make myself go to bed.

What happens is I get motivated to to things in the night. Out of all the times of the day, why the night? Suddenly I will start to think of all the things I want to do and I will get really excited and anticipate doing them. I usually don't end up getting much accomplished late at night, but for some reason I still stay up. Ahh! Silly me!

MUSICA!

2008-04-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

I put some more music on my blog! I put another favorite song written by my husbandorific. The band "Blast Off!" is our band that we started together but haven't done anything with since. We plan to write more together in the near future! If you right click on the songs there is an option to download. YIpeeoo!

Jennith and Anner!

2008-04-04T02:27:00.001-07:00

That's what we called ourselves. Jennifer is my inspiration. She is not only inspirational through her super positive vibes and her acceptance in everyone for who they are; but she also rocks at skateboarding (we started together) and she is a professional level ballerina! Super talented and a super good friend. We miss our old time adventures so much, but hope to reunite soon.....

Anniversary of the Engagement!!!!!!!!!!

2008-04-04T01:37:00.000-07:00

Two years ago on Monday was when Jared Zane my love proposed to me. It is fun to think back to all of the excitement. The feelings we had for each other hit us kind of unexpectedly, and when we realized we wanted to get married we were both shocked at our choice.

My brother was the first one that introduced us...but after that I only saw him the few times I would go over to the neighbors house (he always hung out there). I kinda watched him at a distance.. or should I say spied, but I was sure nothing would happen between us because he hung out with tons of girls and I did not doubt that one of them would get to him first.

This was before we knew of our destiny. I was banging on a driftwood drum.

Well...to make a longer story short we ended up in a tree together and we both realized that we were magically in love. About a month later was when he proposed!!!!!!

(I look really short!!!!!!!)

He did it in the Gazebo above the temple (because that was the only place that was dry) during the year of the floods. It had been cloudy and rainy for days, but amazingly right after her proposed the rain stopped and the sun came out. It felt like a fairy tale....and believe me, our life still does! I still can't believe that someone would want to be with me for eternity. Crazy huh?

Mound Lives On! Yay!

2008-03-29T12:21:00.001-07:00

Those of you who have known me for a while may recognize a creature we call "mound". Mound is a comic that originated from the founders Nathan Bliss (brother), Anna Bliss (Now Kessie), and Valerie Porter (best friend). Mound officially came to be when my cousin Christian and my brother were way into skateboarding back in High School. They started their own skateboard wax by the name of Squigemon. My cousin is a very sarcastic person who likes to make fun of everything and everyone. In his world Squigemon was somehow making fun of Pokemon. The wax they made, also known as Vegetable Wax (because they put vegetables in is..eww), had many funny looking characters somewhat similar to the funny looking characters of Pokemon. One of these characters was MOUND. For some reason my brother, Valerie, and I took and obsession to this character. Nathan was the first one to make this character into a comic. Val and I caught on and soon after, mound was the only thing we ever doodled in our notebooks at school.

Val and I hung out with a large group of people who owned converse all stars. Somehow we started the trend to make the mound face on the tip of our shoe. Suddenly many people started to catch on to this. Not only people from our school, but people from church and other places we would go. One time one of our friends from school went to a concert and she noticed that the person next to her from another part of town had mound on his shoe. These two people did not know each other but soon realized the connection.

Mound brought people together!

Mound also became the logo for the Earth Club at my school.

The younger generations in my family shared Mound with their friends. There are still some creators in California, Utah, Illinois, and of course Hawaii.

However mound has not been seen as frequently in the last couple of years. It is time to BRING MOUND BACK!

Feel free to draw mound on anything you own. He looks great on anything that is "mound" shaped.

His main trait is eating. He will eat EVERYTHING. He will even eat the whole world if he is not careful. He also has a short temper (which is usually what leads him to eating). Don't make him mad!

This is just one of the typical comics (I'm not very good at paint).

He will eat YOU if you make him mad!

I love watching the old school ways!

2008-03-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

The first one is 1975 girl skaters in Hawaii, and the second one is a 1964 commercial with Pattie McGee (girl skateboarding champ)! Girl Power!

Birthday Jam

2008-03-24T01:29:00.000-07:00

Friday was my friend Kathleen's B-day. She was so excited to surf and skate all day, but the plans changed when she sprung her ankle skateboarding on Monday. We opted for a more mellow option. Jam night!

Oh Yeah!ConductorTuningShake itFun

Soda Bread!!

2008-03-18T16:35:00.001-07:00

I decided to try Soda Bread strait out of Ireland! It ended up being very dense because the main ingredients were flour, but I guess that's the way they like it! A slab of butter made it delicious!

I was gonna write more on St. Patrick's day, but my husband beat me to it! If you want the details check out the blog of Jared Zane Kessie. Cheers!

My favorite Artist

2008-03-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

I just posted a song on this page. Any ideas on who it is?

My Family is the Best!

2008-03-06T23:04:00.000-08:00

We have so much fun together. I miss these awesome people!

Here's some more........

2008-03-06T22:50:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help but posting these:

The students were learning the sight word "like" and they were supposed to use it in a sentence. A 5 year old child raised his hand and said "we like to ride in our mustangs with our girlfriends in the back seat". This is the same kid that break dances or plays air guitar during song time.

Another kid today pointed to a scab on his leg and said, "It's frozen". I said "How is it frozen?" and he said "It is" as he brushed his hand across it. I think that was his substitute word for a scab.

Here is a quote from another child during sharing time:
"I went to the skatepark and Billie's house. I went to the bike track the went home because I peed my pants".

Comments That Keep Me Going

2008-03-02T22:32:00.000-08:00

When I am out and about I look forward to:
1. Having a good conversation with someone
2. Overhearing particularly funny comments

I try to carry a notebook around to jot down any exciting information Here are some comments have kept me going:

Kissing my Girl
Adult: "Tomorrow's Valentines Day!"
Child (5 years): " And I'm gonna kiss my girl"
Adult: "Who's your girl?"
Child: "Jenny"
Adult: "Does she know she's your girlfriend?"
Child: " Ya, my mom told her at Walmart last night

My Eye is Alive!

Funny Girl right after recess:

"When I looked in the mirror I thought " It's a miracle, my eye is alive! I am still alive!
.....I thought I wouldn't survive!"

Hiccups
The day after a child had been home sick:

"I had the hiccups on the floor, on my carpet, in my toilet, on my "bed, and even in my room!"
( I think he meant to say he "threw up")

A Pool?
My brother and I were at the Banzai Skatepark as two elderly ladies on their morning walk were making their way up the a dirt hill towards the pool, very curious about the sight their eyes withheld. One asked in a confused voice.." Is that a pool?
A guy who had been skateboarding said, " Yea, it's a pool for skateboarding"
The lady paused for a moment to take in the information then asked, "but....did they mean to fill it up with water?"
The guy then explained that the pool was specifically built to skate in.
This was obviously foreign information to them because the look on their faces was classic. I guess it would be a hard concept to grasp, especially because the pool looks real. It has drains, and stairs.
The lady then exclaimed, "Well my grandson will have a hoot when he finds out this is here. I live right across the street and I did not even know this existed!"
They then made their way down the hill jabbering back and forth about the new discovery they had just made.

I think the funniest part was the looks on their faces. They looked at the pool like it was a spaceship.

Snow-fun

2008-01-05T23:58:00.002-08:00

We had a great time knitting those scarves these past few weeks

Today was super-rad because Jared, me, Kaitlin, and Dad Kessie took a trip to the snow. We tried out the snowboard and Jared and I had a blast. Neither of us had snowboarded before, but we quickly grew very fond of the sport. Jared helped me a bunch. It would have taken me a while on my own. Falling is so fun.

It was hard to switch from skateboard mode to snowboard mode. The survival techniques were quite opposite. We also took inter-tubes down big hills. Oh how I love snow flying into my face at high speeds! Dad Kessie was getting daring and going off jumps face first. I want to go to the snow again!

Abominable Snowman outfit! Or Big Foot. I love this attire.

Care Free Vacationing

2008-01-05T23:31:00.000-08:00

It has been so nice to feel the nip of the cold, do puzzles all day, read, eat delicious food, bond with the family and much more with all worries and responsibilities on hold until we return to Hawaii. At first it was hard for me to sit still without having to worry about cleaning, work, car troubles, etc. I realized that when I am at home I don't sit still often and I thrive off of being busy (or outdoors) every second. Now that our vacation is coming to a close I am going to miss this lifestyle. I am glad we were able to spend time with Jared's side of the family. The Kessie's and Goude's are awesome! One of my favorite parts was joining in in song while the family got together to play guitar, fiddle, upright bass, mandolin, and sometimes banjo. Jolly Times!

Okay, so the sound got messed up, but this was fun

RADIOHEAD

2008-01-03T20:24:00.002-08:00

I love radiohead. Today Jared and I were at the store and he had some extra money to spend. While he did that I browsed & listened to music in the musical section. We started to leave and Jared pulled something out of his coat and surprised me with the new Radiohead cd. Instead of buying cool stuff for himself he bought something for me. He is so radical! Yes I know I could have downloaded it for free, but Radiohead is one of those bands I respect so much that if I hadn't paid anything I would have felt guilty.

Radiohead puts me in such a daze that I could lie on the floor and listen to them for hours. I feel like their music is on the same wavelength as my brain. A whole other world musically. Yay!

Attack of the Dinosaur!

2007-12-18T19:58:00.000-08:00

We had a splendid time making gingerbread houses with our neighbors.

Jared made a house for his alien.

Little did we know that we weren't the only ones eying the candy!

The Hard Work Paid Off!

2007-12-12T09:14:00.000-08:00

OH the days of ending a draining day of work, only to be followed by a run lasting well into the dinner hour are over! (For now at least). Bille and I were training (for what felt like forever) for the Honolulu Marathon. Our evenings were shot, along with EVERY Saturday morning. I'm so glad Bille trained with me or else I would have given up a long time ago. Mike and Zane also sacrificed their Saturday mornings to bring us water on our long runs.
On Sunday Bille and I ran the marathon together and it was awesome! Definitely worth the hard work.

Many people have said that running a marathon is a spiritual experience. I really didn't know what to expect though. At the start of the race it began to pour. Squishy Shoes...the whole way! It hurt because the wet socks were rubbing away. I was so worried about running the perfect pace because I did not want to run out of energy in the end. I just took it mile by mile. I looked forward to 10, then 13, then 15..17..20..21.22.23.24.25.26! and then I was there...at the finish line.
It was crazy to look at the people all around me. There were people of all ages from different places, running together. We were all in pain, but trudging forward to the end. It was an amazing experience.

I am so grateful for my body and the strength I have! It was such an amazing feeling to know that I really was going to finish. When I crossed the finish line I almost started to cry. It really did feel like a spiritual experience.

Bring on the next marathon!

What Made You Smile?

2007-11-29T01:31:00.000-08:00

When life gets too routine it is nice to reflect on the day and remember those moments that made life worth the effort.

Putting on warm clothes (Scarcely happens in Hawaii)

Listening to a child count to 10 very confidently "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (his voice speeding up rapidly) 14-16-19-18 (to the point I couldn't understand). He then sat down very pleased with himself. ha

The croak-croakety of my voice was funny at times, especially when I was trying to sound seriously stern at work

Listening to the tunes of Elliot Smith while driving home in the rain. Fitting!

Getting a big kiss from my love as I walked in the door

Running through a shaded path covered with fallen flowers in a tunnel of Banyan trees

Standing knee deep on the shore with my surfboard trying to say bye to a friend as a wave caught me off guard and hit my surfboard, sending me toppling into the sand (arms and legs flying about). I'm sure all she heard was "Ba...". As I paddled back out I kept laughing at how silly I must have looked. "Ba-boom"

The sea turtle that decided to pop up right next to me

Drinking tea made by my husband; very soothing to my throat

Waking up without a voice, and going to bed with some of it regained

Comment and let others know what made you smile today!

Quotes From A Child's World

2007-11-26T21:06:00.000-08:00

Every weekday, whether I feel like it or not, I am surrounded by young elementary school students. Their minds are in a whole other world. I find myself secretly laughing at the comments they make under their breath and to those around them. This is going to be my compilation of favorite quotes:

The big kick 5/07

A child is standing atop a hill with pondering eyes as he is about to kick a kickball when he says:
"Guys rule girls drool"

He then puts his foot back to standing stance and he still has not kicked the ball. He looks like he is concentrating hard and is about to kick the ball again as he says:
"Guys rock girls rule" (He IS talking to himself)

I guess that phrase wasn't quite right for him because he goes back to standing stance without kicking the ball.

Suddenly a smile creeps on his face as he looks up to the sky, something just hit him!
"Guys rock girls roll...ROCK AND ROLL!" He says to himself as he swings his foot and the ball goes soaring across the field. I guess it took a good phrase to pump him up for his big kick.

I laughed at how happy he looked when he finally found the right words.....

Superhero 11/26/07

Child: "I want to be a superhero"
Teacher: "What would you do if you were a superhero?"
Child: " I would slap an alligator in the butt"

Nerd

Nice girl who likes to tell me her thoughts: "Mrs. Anna, I'm a nerd, but don't tell anyone...okay?"
Me: "You're not a nerd, why do you think you're a nerd?"
Girl: "Because I get wedgies every day"

Pie Explodes!

2007-11-24T21:31:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving morning I was very excited for the eating that would occur later in the day. I was particularly excited for pie. YUM! Baking a pie is so exciting I just want to smear it all over my face. I decided I was going to make the best apple pie in the world! With much care I sliced each apple to perfection. It was destined to be just like Grandma's Country Fair prize winning pie!I set the apple pie down on the stove to put in the oven soon. The glass pie dish made it look especially appetizing. Hungered from the cooking I set some soy beans on the stove to boil. Oh what a delightful day!

My friend Maresa was leaning over the stove to get something out of the cupboard. Suddenly I heard a loud pop noise and glass was flying everywhere! "A glass must have fallen out of the cupboard" I thought. "Oh wait.....no! My prize apple pie!" The realization occurred that I had turned the wrong burner on for my soy beans...the same burner that my apple pie had so peacefully laid.

I am thankful that Maresa did not get sliced to death with glass. I am especially grateful she did not get sliced to the eye. But my pie! I still wanted to try it, but I did not want to risk glass in my throat.

I was sad at the moment, but now I realize that the exploding pie made my Thanksgiving. Don't worry! I am going to make another apple pie this week!

I always seem to turn on the wrong burner. I think our stove knobs are backwards so I automatically reach for the wrong one. I could sue.

Poop

2007-11-23T19:07:00.001-08:00

Poop is funny!