Coffee Date

I met my friend Hope for coffee on Wednesday morning at Starbucks! I had such a good time talking to her about music and how very different we are from lots of people, but very similar we are to each other. I think music minded people are really just a species of their own.

When I got to Starbucks, I decided to buy a new cup because my "Coffee Bean" cup has really had it and it's OLD! So ... in the very same day I bought a new cup, I thew out the old! I was a little sad because I've had it for a very long time, but it was time!

Starbucks is starting to grow on me. Never thought that would happen, but after sitting and chatting it up with Hope (for over 2 hrs), I thought the atmosphere deserved some recognition. :) I ordered a regular coffee and I have to say ... it was alright.

So this is my new cup. It even says STARBUCKS, but very small ... hardly noticeable. Like I said ... it's growing on me. It might take some time before I announce to the world that I'm "one of those" people.

Dolphin Scholorship Auction

Yesterday, we had lots to do. First, we went to see our friends, Paul and Angela and their baby, Donte! We hadn't seen them in like a month! He has grown so much! Paul and Angela also just moved from Lani Kai to Kailua into a bigger house! It's a great house! They also got a new car because a BIG Recycle truck hit their Volvo! Now Angela is sporting a very cute Nissan Altima! The new house is great and has LOTS of sunlight! So my photos are really light, but here they are...

Got Milk? Ang does.

Look at the nice big kitchen!

Daniel getting his baby fix.

Then we went to take Ally to her modeling class downtown, Honolulu! I used to hate the mall experience, but I'm really loving it lately! We always go to the mall and just walk around and look while we wait for Ally. I love the kitchen store and yesterday, I got these awesome measuring spoons! I love them!

Then we picked Ally up and went to JEANS WAREHOUSE so Ally could get some tops for her photo shoot coming up. I'll take some pics of her later in her new clothes! It felt like it took forever, but this even finally ended and we were back on the road to drop the kids at home before we headed to the Dolphin Scholorship Auction.

Looking fabulous, Joanne celebrates her Birthday! Happy Birthday Joanne!

And here are some random photos I took throughout the Auction. Enjoy!

This is a really cute picture of Mary and Ashley.

Film Festival and Rock Band

I feel like I've been gone forever! I'm so glad to be home. I had to go home (Oklahoma) for a funeral. I hate that I had to go under such circumstances, but I was able to see many family members that I hadn't seen in many years. We lost a cousin, Trina. She was only 37 and left 4 children behind.


Now that I'm home, I hope to get settled into our routine once again and start planning our next adventure...Australia!

Last night we had people over to watch videos we made of our pictures from our vacations. I love to hear stories and see pictures of people's vacations. It makes traveling so much fun when you get to see from others what's out there! I'm so glad we got to see each other too! Since the guys came home from deployment we've all been very busy.

Of course the night just wouldn't be the same without some Rock Band...

Blake was a serious rocker last night. I have a video I will try to post!

Ally and I singing away!

Ashley is always ready for Rock Band!

Mary and Cara, I'm so sorry you didn't come. It wasn't the same without you!

The "Hotch-ki". Plural for the Hotch! hahaha

Shiny Penny

I took hundreds of pictures today! This was in upper Makakilo where I was trying to get a picture of Diamond Head and Honolulu. None of those turned out so well. So this is the one that I liked from there.


I went to lunch with Stacy today. We went to California Pizza Kitchen (my favorite). She brought Penny so I got some really cute pics of her! This one makes me think "Peek-a-boo"!



This was Penny "shiny".





Then, as Stacy says, she wasn't so "shiny"! You know... Shiny Penny! So cute!





Lunch was great and so was the company!

Here are some other pictures that I like from today.

Did you Know?

Have you ever seen a real bird of paradise? I was completely engrossed in the Discovery Channel- Planet Earth today and saw these birds! I live in Hawaii and I see the flower all the time and while it is beautiful, it's nothing compared to these birds! Youtube has some videos of the show. I didn't want to post the video because it takes too long and I'm tired. ;) What have I become? Now I'm cyber-bird-watching!


I really love Grey's Anatomy! It's one of my favorite shows! I love all of the cast members! So... last night I was trying to find something to watch on tv. It was really late I couldn't sleep- one of many nights like this since Daniel has been gone. When I came across a great movie that I hadn't seen in a long time. As I'm watching this movie, this guy really reminds me of someone and I can't quite place him. Finally! I realize this is Karev from Grey's. I cannot help but crack UP! He is MAXIMO on The Wedding Planner! I was laughing histerically! If you remember Maximo- he's the guy with the HORRIBLE Italian accent! hahaha! There he is getting married to Jennifer Lopez! Go Karev! I thought this picture would remind you of the sexy, Italian, wierd, stalker- Maximo (pronounced Mogz i mo)! HA!

I went to Lani Kai this afternoon to celebrate my one week anniversary with my new stud muffin, Donte Kali'i Costanzo! One week today was when we met for the first time! haha.

I'm so sorry I don't have pictures of this, but Ally was holding Donte and then she wanted up. So she passed him off to me and as I was sitting with him, I realized that he had a little "poo" on his leg. Then I realized it was coming out of his diaper. So I got up to change him and told Ally she should look at her.. SHIRT - OOPS there was "poo" on it. So as I'm changing Donte he decides he's not finished! Then he chooses (yes, chooses he knows!) to "shi shi" (tinkle) while I'm changing him. So Angela and I get him all cleaned up finally. Then I look down and he now has his feet in his old diaper. Yeah, during all the craziness, I forgot to remove the old diaper! Good thing his cord fell off today. He's getting a good bath tonight!

What a day!

Rock Band

Today Mary and Ashley came over. I made some shrimp, salmon, and chicken on the George Foreman because it was too icky outside for the real grill. We sat at the table and TALKED for like 5 hours! Ashley thinks we covered all major conversation topics; politics, religion, and sex. While playing Rock Band, we got Mary to sing and she was GREAT! She was a little surprised that singing could be so fun!

Ashley was her normal serious self during this event and totally rocked out after we downloaded Sin Wagon by Dixie Chicks! I'm so glad that they came over. I had a great time. Having events on the weekends really helps to pass the time while we impatiently wait for the guys to come home! So close, yet so far! GRRR! Now, I'm off to relax in my bed.

Thanks for coming Mary and Ashley! Can't wait to do it again... Hopefully we can squeeze in another day before the guys get back! Then, when they do get here, we will OWN them! YES!

G'night!

Sweet Wadinga

African Hands-

I was reading a blog earlier that made me think of Wadinga Wadinga. He does surgeries in a little village in Nigeria. He sent pictures to me that would break your heart. He used to send pictures and update me on the progress in his patients. For some reason, I got too busy and even though I think about it, I don't write to him. He is very driven in his work and has to work in such harsh living conditions while still saving lives. He's really quite amazing. I really need to write to him and might do that tomorrow!

This is a letter he wrote to Angela and I sometime last year.

Goodmorning Kelly/Ang
This is saturday afternoon 1:05pm in maiduguri.the sun is so bright and shining.The skies with some clouds.its the rainny seasons and the weather is good temprature range 30-38 degree celcius.Sun set is colourful and beautiful,sometimes with rainbows in the sky.It always reminds of the story my dad use to tell us on the farm of the rainbow as a sign of the promise made by God to mankind never to again flood the creations of his hands with water like the days of Noah.but to wait for the end of all the living both small and great to be judged. Everywhere is green.
It is cooler at night with the moon and the stars so bright and clear.you could count the stars here.with fresh air blowing.
It will not be so in the next 4months.it will soon be a harsh and dry weather with dust blowing all across the norh Afriaca through the sahara desert reaching us-sand storms,particles of sands cover everywhere that is in the open.It seeps in through the tinniest holes in your cars and homes.

Mosquitoes are everyhere in the wards office homes the open even as iam writing you this mail i am constantly moving my legs to make sure they dont bite me.. i laugh.Its no longer a problem,We keep treating malaria all the time.
There are so many reserviours for mosquitoes,everywhere you go and the weather is suitable for them.poor drainage,gutters not covered.The government doesnt care though.Children take the worse consequences of malaria and believe me many die.Maiduguri is the best centre to study malaria's effect in human.

Remember,Nigeria is the 6th oil producing state in the world.But sometimes kelly I shed tears to see Children, young people doing nothing on the streets,just go out and you can get up to a thousand children at a whistle blow. At night you see them sleep under trees.With millions of mosquitoes over them.


We are all fine Wandama,Jerry,Danielle are all saying hi.on this beautiful saturday.
love
The wadingas

Donte Kali'i Costanzo

We finally got to see Donte' this afternoon. He is the cutest little baby ever! Mom is still very tired and Dad is so very helpful! The delivery was a little rocky and there were some concerns because Donte', the football player boy, has huge shoulders and needed some help from a talented nurse coming into the world! As the hospital staff saw that there was trouble with the baby's shoulders, she jumped up onto Angela's belly and pushed! That had to be a little scary! So with the nurse's help, Donte' made his grand entrance!

Mom, Dad, and Donte' will be going home tonight where they will have tons of help from Angela's family!

I can't believe it has finally happened! Paul and Angela have really become like family to us over the years. Paul and Daniel have shared the same career path for about 9 years now. Paul and Angela have been through so much in last few years and I'm so happy to finally see them experiencing the joys of parenthood! We love you Paul, Angela, and Donte' !!!! (Not sure of the spelling... let me know)

And so tomorrow is back to school for my kids and I can't wait! I think I'm going to do NOTHING all day! haha! OR I could put all my Christmas junk away. It's all put away, just not put back in the attic. I could do that...

What an awesome day! I just love babies!

Donte' Kali'i (Paul) Costanzo is the most beautiful baby boy in the world!!!!