Hawaii...

Warning to reader - prepare yourselves for excessive use of exclamation points and adjectives.

Holy moly, what a trip. Brad and I are just back from a WONderful 7 days on Oahu on a trip to celebrate Jessica and Thad's wedding! The wedding was absolutely perfect, the bride and groom were beautiful, happy, glowing and completely lovely, and the celebration was incredible. We were so honored to be included! Congratulations Jessica and Thad Laird!

I had the chance to show Brad around all my old stomping grounds, Punahou, my favorite beach-y spots and introduce him to our closest family friends. A pretty overwhelming (in the good way!) trip down memory lane. For being a born and bred midwesterner, Bradley fell in love with Hawaii. We were both more than a bit sad to return to reality.

A huge thank you to Aunty Noni and Uncle Ray for their hospitality, generosity, ti leaves and Prince Kuhio-help!

Oddly, as I sit here on a particularly overcast and chilly Central Oregon day, there is a beautiful rainbow out my window. "Someone" is trying to make my re-entry a bit easier!

The house I grew up in. Oh man I miss that place.

Halekou Road, the street we lived on, and Apuakea, my Hawaiian name!

Lanikai Beach. Amy's number one favoritest place in the whole wide world.

Self-portrait of Amy's excitement at her favorite beach.

Hiking the old Pali highway with this gorgeous view of the Ko'olau Mountains

Thad's family hosted a wonderful luau in honor of the couple. Here are the boys hamming it up for the camera. Brad, Thad, Chad (whoa, those all rhyme), Kyle and Cole.

Brad, Kyle and Thad lookin' good in their aloha shirts

Back on the beach after catching a few waves with Corey

The Clems at the wedding reception. The happy newlyweds (getting their Waikiki portraits done) and Diamond Head in the back ground.

Cutting the cake!

First Dance as the Lairds.

The Hanahauoli gang back together. Cole, me, Sam and Thad.

A photo with the newlyweds!

SO great to see you again Kaui! Andy, great to meet you!

Christine and Jason grooving on the dance floor.

Late night hang at the Mai Tai bar!

The next day. We revelers were a bit more mellow the next morning. Nothing a fruity bev with paper umbrella couldn't fix though...

While Corey and I were surfing, Kyle and Brad were on Ben-duty. With Kyle carrying the baby gear and Brad carrying Ben, they were getting all kinds of looks, and half expected someone to tell them "how much they admired what they were doing"! This photo, complete with fruity cocktails, really seals the deal. We've nicknamed them "The Schlems". You guys make such a cute couple!

The newlyweds received a week at a Punalu'u beach house as a wedding present. Here is the happy couple lounging beach-side. We crashed their honeymoon (we were invited, promise!) and joined them for an absurdly fun afternoon of beach time; Hawaiian-style lunch with lau lau, lomi lomi salmon, and Brad's favorite... poi; a few brews; and fun with Bonkers McGee.

Not such a bad spot for them to spend their honeymoon, eh?

My husband turned into a local boy!

Driving back through the Dole plantations.

Our last night in Hawaii - dinner at Keos in Waikiki, home of the spiciest green papaya salad I have ever ever ever ever come into contact with.

Thad & Jess Leave for Their Wedding!

Here are Jessica and Thad preparing to fly away to Hawaii for their WEDDING!!!

The happy beautiful bride

First Friday at TBD Loft

Mom and Dad showed their most recent pieces at the November First Friday Art Walk. It was a great evening and their work was really well received. The TBD Loft space is just beautiful. A few photos of the pieces on display taken by a very proud daughter.

Mom, Pamela and Randy


Dad and Brad have spent so much time together that they're starting to look alike....

Halloween 2007

Does anyone else think Halloween gets to be even more fun the older you get? 2007's Halloween goes down in history. After a stint of handing out candy to the neighborhood ghosts, goblins and cans of spam, we joined the Schmid Halloween party which was in full swing.

baby bee!



Mike. Appropriate since, you know, he's the most pious person I've ever met.

Yes, I'm a chicken.


The Chicken and Disco Brad


Colleen. The cutest clown I ever did see. Also very talented, as it appears she's bursting into flames starting at her feet...


Jessica the Mon Chi Chi! Jess MADE this costume! And there were supposed to be two of them, but Thad was sick. And a sniffly Mon Chi Chi is less cute.


The Schmid Family went as Gang Green - get it!?!? Here's Corey lookin' real tough

Baby Hang & Impromptu Dance Party

So, for all my best intentions of updating our new blog regularly (or good grief, at least once a week), here is the first entry in oooooh, about a month. But we've got some good stories to share. Here are some photos from the Schmid, Mudd, Clem dinner party at Jenny, Mike, Makena and Sierra's house. I have kept the really incriminating photos - those involving tequila and any dancing "action" shots - off the blog. You've all heard those "she got fired because of a posting on her blog" stories.



Proud Papa Kyle teaching Ben the importance of watching football and drinking beer.


Amy preparing to run away with Makena.

Corey's turn with gorgeous little Makena!

Future sweethearts. Although if Benny's face is telling, he's not so into girls right now...

Proud Mom Jenny. And Makena trying to figure out depth perception.

Brad, Jenny and Mike after a fiesty round "shut the box". I think pigs might have been involved too... Dance party photos were taken in the wee hours.