Dinner at Bandito's
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Graduation
Ryker's graduation was June 6th at Aloha Stadium. There were over 580 graduates and thousands of spectators. It was a pretty cool event!
Dinner at Bandito's
Dinner at Bandito's
Lei Making
One of the graduation traditions here in Hawaii is the giving of leis. We wanted to give each of the graduates at the party a real flower lei. The morning of the graduation party we had a lei making party. Mom and I were out early picking plumeria flowers from our yard. We have 4 plumeria trees, in the yard and they are all different colors. They smell great and are so pretty as a lei.
It is pretty simple to make a flower lei, you just string the flowers one at a time on a long, thin needle and time them when it is long enough. There are plenty of ways to make it more complicated, but I am not the master of anything quite so crafty.
The lei makers - Grandma Cherie, Quincie, Christian, Kate, Kendra, Shane, and Doris.
It is pretty simple to make a flower lei, you just string the flowers one at a time on a long, thin needle and time them when it is long enough. There are plenty of ways to make it more complicated, but I am not the master of anything quite so crafty.
The lei makers - Grandma Cherie, Quincie, Christian, Kate, Kendra, Shane, and Doris.
Graduation Party
On June 5th we had a graduation party for Ryker. It was a combined party with Christian Putegnat. It was a fun party and everything went very well. There were plenty of hands to help with the set up and decoration. The school colors are orange and black, so to avoid looking like a halloween party we decided to go with a mixture of bright colors.
The 66 balloons seemed like a lot when I was trying to get them in the car, but were just the right touch as centerpieces on every other table. We covered 2 tables with plain white paper for people to write messages to Ryker and Christian. The coolest were the drawings by the Sonomura family!
Carl was our MC for the night. Carl and Ryker performed a couple of songs with Carl on guitar and Ryker on harmonica. The first song was one that Carl wrote for Ryker a few years ago. The other was a Tom Petty song with a great harmonica part. They did a great job! I wish I had it on video. One of these days I need to get a video camera.
The Graduates!
The 66 balloons seemed like a lot when I was trying to get them in the car, but were just the right touch as centerpieces on every other table. We covered 2 tables with plain white paper for people to write messages to Ryker and Christian. The coolest were the drawings by the Sonomura family!Carl was our MC for the night. Carl and Ryker performed a couple of songs with Carl on guitar and Ryker on harmonica. The first song was one that Carl wrote for Ryker a few years ago. The other was a Tom Petty song with a great harmonica part. They did a great job! I wish I had it on video. One of these days I need to get a video camera.
The Putegnats put together a slide show for each of the boys. It was fun to see all those old photos of them through the years. 18 years goes by so fast!! Here are some pics of Ryker with the family. Grandma Cherie was able to be here for the week and was a great help!
Ryker and Grandma Cherie
Ryker and Dad
Ryker and Q
Ryker and Mom
Ryker and Grandma Cherie
Ryker and Dad
Ryker and Q
Ryker and Mom
The Graduates!Deep Thinking on a Hot Sunday Afternoon
Lately I have been puzzling over the concept of time. According to our tools of measurement, time is very precise and cannot be altered. 365 days in a year, 52 weeks, 7 days in a week, 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes in an hour, 60 seconds in a minute .....
Then how does it slow down when you are sitting in the dentist's chair with a drill boring through your jaw? or speed up when you are late? A memory of 20 years ago can feel like yesterday, and yesterday can seem like an eternity. Time is relative, relatively speaking, or so it seems.
Time is not the only unit by which we measure our lives. Money, finances, wealth, debt, cash flow, investments, earnings, assets, liabilities, all are supposed to tell us our net worth. It's all there in black and white, just like the clock or the calendar. It is or it isn't. The balance at the end of the page doesn't lie. But it doesn't tell the whole story either.
When I was 16 and had $100 in my pocket I was rich! Today, $100 in my pocket and I am worried. A $10 movie ticket can be a bargain, or it can be a rip off. It all depends on the quality of your experience for that $10. Rent in Hawaii is expensive, but much more affordable than taking a 5 year vacation to Hawaii. Is a pair of shoes really worth $60 bucks? how about $100? $200? or even $5? I have a pair of shoes I thought were cute, cost me 5 bucks, but they hurt my feet. They are worth a negative $200. Monetary worth is relative.
Have you ever thought about what makes money valuable? It's just paper. Special paper of course, but still, just paper. It can be easily destroyed. It's the agreement that society accepts it that attaches the value. It's based on gold, right? Or it was at one point. What gives gold value? It's pretty, looks great next to your skin when you have a tan, but why is it more valuable than say, turquoise? It's a pretty color too. What makes jewels worth millions and a pack of ramen noodles worth a quarter? If we were to experience a disaster, what would you value? Gold or food? Jewels or water? A big house or a way to safety? Worth is relative.
If someone told you that there were $20 bills hidden all over town, you just had to go find them, would you go? How much time would you spend looking for those $2o bills? An hour? Two hours? All day? Would you take a job for less than $10/hour? Would you cut out a coupon to save 50 cents and then drive across town, taking an extra 30 minutes of your life to use it? What is your time worth? How much do you value each day, each hour, of your life?
Scripture tells us to use our talents wisely. Talents can be time, and talents can mean money. I think they are the same.
I like to be efficient. I like to be organized, and have a plan. I don't like to waste time and I don't like to waste money. Sometimes in my desire to save time, or save money, I miss the moment, miss the opportunity to enjoy, or grow, or whatever. My fear and indecision keep me from action, which is opportunity lost, time wasted.
I am changing how I think about time and money. I want to figure this out and make real, lasting change.
Then how does it slow down when you are sitting in the dentist's chair with a drill boring through your jaw? or speed up when you are late? A memory of 20 years ago can feel like yesterday, and yesterday can seem like an eternity. Time is relative, relatively speaking, or so it seems.
Time is not the only unit by which we measure our lives. Money, finances, wealth, debt, cash flow, investments, earnings, assets, liabilities, all are supposed to tell us our net worth. It's all there in black and white, just like the clock or the calendar. It is or it isn't. The balance at the end of the page doesn't lie. But it doesn't tell the whole story either.
When I was 16 and had $100 in my pocket I was rich! Today, $100 in my pocket and I am worried. A $10 movie ticket can be a bargain, or it can be a rip off. It all depends on the quality of your experience for that $10. Rent in Hawaii is expensive, but much more affordable than taking a 5 year vacation to Hawaii. Is a pair of shoes really worth $60 bucks? how about $100? $200? or even $5? I have a pair of shoes I thought were cute, cost me 5 bucks, but they hurt my feet. They are worth a negative $200. Monetary worth is relative.
Have you ever thought about what makes money valuable? It's just paper. Special paper of course, but still, just paper. It can be easily destroyed. It's the agreement that society accepts it that attaches the value. It's based on gold, right? Or it was at one point. What gives gold value? It's pretty, looks great next to your skin when you have a tan, but why is it more valuable than say, turquoise? It's a pretty color too. What makes jewels worth millions and a pack of ramen noodles worth a quarter? If we were to experience a disaster, what would you value? Gold or food? Jewels or water? A big house or a way to safety? Worth is relative.
If someone told you that there were $20 bills hidden all over town, you just had to go find them, would you go? How much time would you spend looking for those $2o bills? An hour? Two hours? All day? Would you take a job for less than $10/hour? Would you cut out a coupon to save 50 cents and then drive across town, taking an extra 30 minutes of your life to use it? What is your time worth? How much do you value each day, each hour, of your life?
Scripture tells us to use our talents wisely. Talents can be time, and talents can mean money. I think they are the same.
I like to be efficient. I like to be organized, and have a plan. I don't like to waste time and I don't like to waste money. Sometimes in my desire to save time, or save money, I miss the moment, miss the opportunity to enjoy, or grow, or whatever. My fear and indecision keep me from action, which is opportunity lost, time wasted.
I am changing how I think about time and money. I want to figure this out and make real, lasting change.
Friday, June 5, 2009
My Thoughts Today
Today is the day of Ryker's graduation party, and tomorrow he graduates from High School. It's an exciting, joyful event. We have been looking forward to this day, and planning for it for months. Well, years really. I always knew today was coming, but it seems to have come too fast.
I'm not sure I am ready to say good bye to this era of my life. I like being the mom of two kids that I see everyday. Ryker and Quincie are terrific kids. Spending every day of my life with them for the last 18 years has been awesome! In just a couple months that is all going to change.
He will be attending BYU Hawaii in the fall. It's the best of both worlds for me. He will be at a good school, with a good measure of independence, but not too far away from home if he needs us, or if we need him.
My Mom is here for the big event. I haven/t seen here in over 2 years. It has been at least 6 since she has been in my house. It's been so long that neither of us remembers for sure. It's been awesome having her here. It's the closest thing to cloing myself. She did our laundry yesterday, just like I would, only better! It has been one of the busiest, craziest weeks of my life, and I haven't had even a single headache. Having my Mom around is good medicine for me. Having her here makes me realize even more what I am missing. How great it would be to have my family close on a daily basis!
Today is so good, I am sad for tomorrow to come.
--
Wendy
808-347-1133
I'm not sure I am ready to say good bye to this era of my life. I like being the mom of two kids that I see everyday. Ryker and Quincie are terrific kids. Spending every day of my life with them for the last 18 years has been awesome! In just a couple months that is all going to change.
He will be attending BYU Hawaii in the fall. It's the best of both worlds for me. He will be at a good school, with a good measure of independence, but not too far away from home if he needs us, or if we need him.
My Mom is here for the big event. I haven/t seen here in over 2 years. It has been at least 6 since she has been in my house. It's been so long that neither of us remembers for sure. It's been awesome having her here. It's the closest thing to cloing myself. She did our laundry yesterday, just like I would, only better! It has been one of the busiest, craziest weeks of my life, and I haven't had even a single headache. Having my Mom around is good medicine for me. Having her here makes me realize even more what I am missing. How great it would be to have my family close on a daily basis!
Today is so good, I am sad for tomorrow to come.
--
Wendy
808-347-1133
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
If Wendy Starts to Vacuum
I just had an, "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie", afternoon. If you've never read this cute children's story you should.
Here is the Wendy version of the story -
After vacuuming the floor, I need to empty it. The kitchen trash can was full, of course, so I pulled out the bag, dumped the vacuum cannister contents, and headed out the door. While walking to the trash can, I notice Charlie has flies bothering him, so I spray him with some bug repellent. Charlie hates the bug repellent and tries to rub it off on his carpet. I notice the carpet is dirty and so I start to sweep it. While sweeping the carpet I notice the entire carport is dirty. I decide that the hose is the tool for this job. While walking through the yard to fetch the hose, the flies seem to be coming from the area in the yard Charlie uses as a bathroom. All the piles were picked up earlier, but it still smells bad over there. I get the hose and start spraying down the stink. While standing there with the hose I decide to go ahead and water the rest of the grass on that side of the house. I gradually find myself in the back of the house spraying off the trampoline. Charlie barks, and I remember the carport so I head back to spray it down. Spraying down the steps to the door I look up and notice the exterior of the house is dirty. I spray it off. All the dirty water lands on my washing machine and dryer. Luckily I have it covered with a clear plastic shower curtain. So, I take off the shower curtain, and put it in the washing machine. Not wanting to wash it alone, I throw in a few other items. Ok, back to the carport. It is now wet, and muddy. I pick up the broom again and begin to sweep. I sweep all the gook into the yard and put the broom away. I really need to rake up the big stuff from the carport that is now in the yard. The rake is usually right next to the broom, but is missing. I commence looking for my missing rake. All the while Charlie is looking for a dry place to lie down, but at least the flies are gone. It occurs to me to look in the shed for the rake. I need the key to shed, so I go in the kitchen to get it. There I see the trash can, without a bag, and the vacuum waiting to be put away, and remember what started this crazy afternoon. I found the rake in the shed, but decided to leave it there, and go back to the kitchen and finish what I started. The raking can wait for another day.
I am sure there needs to be a paragraph break or two in that narative, but I if you read it straight through, without a pause, you will have a better feeling of how the experience went for me.
I just looked at my feet. They are pretty dirty from all that playing in the water. I am going to go take a shower. Wonder what adventures await in there ...
Here is the Wendy version of the story -
After vacuuming the floor, I need to empty it. The kitchen trash can was full, of course, so I pulled out the bag, dumped the vacuum cannister contents, and headed out the door. While walking to the trash can, I notice Charlie has flies bothering him, so I spray him with some bug repellent. Charlie hates the bug repellent and tries to rub it off on his carpet. I notice the carpet is dirty and so I start to sweep it. While sweeping the carpet I notice the entire carport is dirty. I decide that the hose is the tool for this job. While walking through the yard to fetch the hose, the flies seem to be coming from the area in the yard Charlie uses as a bathroom. All the piles were picked up earlier, but it still smells bad over there. I get the hose and start spraying down the stink. While standing there with the hose I decide to go ahead and water the rest of the grass on that side of the house. I gradually find myself in the back of the house spraying off the trampoline. Charlie barks, and I remember the carport so I head back to spray it down. Spraying down the steps to the door I look up and notice the exterior of the house is dirty. I spray it off. All the dirty water lands on my washing machine and dryer. Luckily I have it covered with a clear plastic shower curtain. So, I take off the shower curtain, and put it in the washing machine. Not wanting to wash it alone, I throw in a few other items. Ok, back to the carport. It is now wet, and muddy. I pick up the broom again and begin to sweep. I sweep all the gook into the yard and put the broom away. I really need to rake up the big stuff from the carport that is now in the yard. The rake is usually right next to the broom, but is missing. I commence looking for my missing rake. All the while Charlie is looking for a dry place to lie down, but at least the flies are gone. It occurs to me to look in the shed for the rake. I need the key to shed, so I go in the kitchen to get it. There I see the trash can, without a bag, and the vacuum waiting to be put away, and remember what started this crazy afternoon. I found the rake in the shed, but decided to leave it there, and go back to the kitchen and finish what I started. The raking can wait for another day.
I am sure there needs to be a paragraph break or two in that narative, but I if you read it straight through, without a pause, you will have a better feeling of how the experience went for me.
I just looked at my feet. They are pretty dirty from all that playing in the water. I am going to go take a shower. Wonder what adventures await in there ...
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Of Slugs and Sluggishness
The best way I can describe how I am feeling today is sluggish. I've been feeling kind of yucky, with a slight fever, no big deal, just enough to take the wind out of my sails. The last week went by so fast, my head is still spinning. It was a good week, with lots of things accomplished. The weekend has been pleasant. I spent most of Saturday out shopping with Ryker and Quincie. Ryker needed a suit. Prom is next week, graduation in a month, then off to BYUH. The passing of time is freaking me out. I want to scream "stop!" and hold on to each passing moment just a little longer.
I'd like to go back and live the last 18 years over again. It was just so much fun, I want to do it again. I've been on an awesome roller coaster and now as the ride starts to slow, I just want to get back in line and do it again. I love our life now, it wasn't better then, or better now, it's all been great. I love being a mom, and I especially love being a mom to Ryker and Quincie. They are the best kids ever. They don't fight and argue with each other. I have never heard them yell unkind things at each other and they have never been in a physical fight. They are both obedient and respectful. They are good, kind, smart, interesting, and fun people. I am blessed to be their mom.
I have a long list of things to do in the next few days, weeks, and months. Graduation is in a month. Between now and then there is prom, a graduation party, and my mom comes to visit. I haven't seen my mom in a couple of years. We are all so excited! I want to have that week while she is here as free as possible to do fun stuff. I need to mail out the graduation announcements and party invitations. That didn't happen today like I had planned. I've been doing my imitation of a slug all day - moving slowly with my only motivation to move at all being the quest for food.
Work is really busy right now and I am very thankful for that. I have been learning lots of new things, which is both exciting, and frustrating. It will be nice when these new skills are old hat and the work comes easier. My brain has been stretching lately, and that's a good thing.
We are planning to move when our lease is up in August. We need a different house. We need a fenced yard for the dogs to play in, a garage for Carl's truck and tools, at least one more bathroom, and some personal space for me. Right now my office is the corner between the back door and the kitchen table. It's a nice little corner, but it is hard to shut my office door and concentrate. It's a little too soon to start seriously looking, but the thought of moving is ever present and colors many of my daily choices. For example, the yard ....
I want to leave it looking nice, but I am not going to plant any more flowers or vegetables directly in the ground. My latest tomato experiment is in a big pot that will easily come with us. It has a nice cluster of green tomatoes that should be ripe in another week or so. I've given up on the slugs. They win. Let them eat my marigolds. I just can't imagine marigold leaves being that tasty, but then again, I am only a slug in attitude, not in appetite.
I'd like to go back and live the last 18 years over again. It was just so much fun, I want to do it again. I've been on an awesome roller coaster and now as the ride starts to slow, I just want to get back in line and do it again. I love our life now, it wasn't better then, or better now, it's all been great. I love being a mom, and I especially love being a mom to Ryker and Quincie. They are the best kids ever. They don't fight and argue with each other. I have never heard them yell unkind things at each other and they have never been in a physical fight. They are both obedient and respectful. They are good, kind, smart, interesting, and fun people. I am blessed to be their mom.
I have a long list of things to do in the next few days, weeks, and months. Graduation is in a month. Between now and then there is prom, a graduation party, and my mom comes to visit. I haven't seen my mom in a couple of years. We are all so excited! I want to have that week while she is here as free as possible to do fun stuff. I need to mail out the graduation announcements and party invitations. That didn't happen today like I had planned. I've been doing my imitation of a slug all day - moving slowly with my only motivation to move at all being the quest for food.
Work is really busy right now and I am very thankful for that. I have been learning lots of new things, which is both exciting, and frustrating. It will be nice when these new skills are old hat and the work comes easier. My brain has been stretching lately, and that's a good thing.
We are planning to move when our lease is up in August. We need a different house. We need a fenced yard for the dogs to play in, a garage for Carl's truck and tools, at least one more bathroom, and some personal space for me. Right now my office is the corner between the back door and the kitchen table. It's a nice little corner, but it is hard to shut my office door and concentrate. It's a little too soon to start seriously looking, but the thought of moving is ever present and colors many of my daily choices. For example, the yard ....
I want to leave it looking nice, but I am not going to plant any more flowers or vegetables directly in the ground. My latest tomato experiment is in a big pot that will easily come with us. It has a nice cluster of green tomatoes that should be ripe in another week or so. I've given up on the slugs. They win. Let them eat my marigolds. I just can't imagine marigold leaves being that tasty, but then again, I am only a slug in attitude, not in appetite.
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