Great Aloha Run 2011 1 hour 28 min 43 seconds

The Great aloha run is a run n Honolulu that is 8.15 miles. I have always wanted to do it but never have. It is every year on presidents day. This year there was 27,000 entries. I was one of them. I signed up back in January. I thought if I am going to do this I really want to do this. My friend shirlyn gave me a training schedule and I was set. I used to fun about a mile and think I was going to die so I really wanted to give this a try. When I did my long runs Saturday it was neat to see me go farther then I thought and to see my time. The first time I did 6 miles I was so proud of myself. It was very empowering for me to set a goal and work hard it. I could tell when I was pushing myself and not really pushing myself. sometimes I would hate when the alarm when off since during the week I would get up so I would have enough time to run and shower before we had to leave the house at 7:30 for school drop offs. I stuck with it and I am very proud of myself.


February 21 2011 came and I got up at 3:30 to eat breakfast and get ready to go. There was a group of us that was doing it together. Laura was the driver and she came and got me and chantell(she was visiting from out of town. She used to live in Hawaii I have known her since the day we moved here). We wen and picked up Tricia and shirlyn and we were off. Of course we were stuck in traffic for way to long but it was just us girls so we didn't mind talking the morning away. We parked at the stadium were the race ended, got on a bus that took us to the start, had a bathroom break, heard the race start and we were off. We started together but we are at different levels so we had the meeting spot at the end.


The finish line is inside the stadium so u run through a tunnel then end in the stadium.. As I crossed the finish line and was being headed to were we were suppose to be I heard a cute little voice yell mommy! I look up to see Brooklyn waving her hands frantically and shaking some flowers they had for me. Then I saw David, Landon, and Dawson. Talk about a proud moment.


I am so lucky to have David he was so supportive of me the whole time. I took my phone with me and I told him I was going to call him but not talk to him when I entered the stadium so he would know I was in the stadium. I was a sweaty mess and I had my phone tucked into my tank top and I was nervous the battery was going t get wet so I happened to be holding it at this time and about mile 6 when I needed a good boost I got a text from David that said Go Amanda. Just what I needed.

I am proud of myself for working at a goal and seeing the hard work pay off. I had 3 different times in my head that I wanted to finish in. When I crossed the finish the line clock said 1 hour 40 min 22 sec. I was kind of upset because I felt that I was working so much harder then that but I felt like I really pushed harder then that. Then today I checked my email and there was an email that said I could check my time. So I entered my race number and it said 1 hour 28 min 43 sec. I totally forgot to factor in I didn't start at the start line right when it started. I started about 7:15. I was so excited since my time I wanted was less them 1 hour 30 min. I was so happy and so proud of myself.

It was a neat experience all around. To see how I was running from when I started to the race day was awesome to see how I was gaining more endurance. i will never forget finishing and hearing Brooklyn's little voice saying mommy and looking up and seeing David and the kids all waving and with smiles. I will also never forget and cherish the time I had with my friends in the morning I have made such great friends here I get sad to think about leaving them soon. We were all there for each other and stayed until we all finished. It was just a really bet experience and I am so glad that I can say I did it!!

The finish line

laura, tricia, chantell me, shirlyn

we only had hone cameras at the begining so we had to get a good sweaty pic at the end

showing off our legs

Leslie comes to town

My sister leslie came to visit for a week. It was so much fun to have her here. we did alot of laughing, drinking diet coke, soaking up the beach in the sun, laying out by the pool, pedicures, outlet shopping,fire pit on the beach, grilling at the Hale koa and the fireworks,shaved ice from the north shore,getting all caught up on days of our lives( I am a little addicted again thanks leslie), the swap meet, and we had so much fun. Thanks for coming out leslie it was totally wicked and sure do love ya

submarine leaving Hicam Beach

smores on the beach

best buddies

Dawson in his own world waiting for the fire pit

The beach we went to to do the fire pit and smores had so many turtles. You could easily walk out to them. I was tryig to get a picture with le and the turtle in that you could see, If you look close enough you can see a turtle shell.

It was fun to have leslie here and I am totaly lame and didnt even get a pic of me and her. I guess we were having to much fun playing.

Party Time for Dawson

Dawons party was fun. super cheap, and my sister leslie was here to celebrate with us. For his birthday we had his party at the burger king playplace on base You seriously cant beat them setting up, 10 kids meals, and the cake or $50.00. The kids just played and had a fun time.

birthday boy

excited for presents

the guests

MMMMM Birthday cake

Happy Birthday Dawson

I cant believe that you are already three. Time is going by way to fast. This year Dawson dad was home for your birthday. He missed the last two so it was extra special this year. It was on Sunday this year and it was stake conference so that means a vacation day for us(just kidding well sort of). You love balls and kicking so we got you a soccer ball and a net,you got some playdoh, and some toy story three toys. You love the movie toy story three. If I pt that on you will watch the whole thing. That is one way I know how to get things done while I know you are going to be in one spot. You still love your blankey. You don't go any were with out it. You love fruit snacks,hot dogs, mac n cheese, chicken nuggets, gogurts,suckers, gum, apples, bananas, and pretty much any food.





You have two modes destruction and crazy. I wonder what goes on in your head when you do things like trying to jump from the top bunk to the floor while saying to infinity and beyond,pulling chair over to the stove to see you mac n cheese cook, out of the blue start your own bath,run around like a crazy person, destruct anything in your path, think that when the van door opens it is a ride to hang onto the door handle, wear your rain boots and call your self woody,and many more things that just show your true personality. I love when you are tired or sic you will let me hold you with your blanket for ever. I love those times you let me do it.





You are such a joy to have around. I couldn't picture this family with out you. You always make us laugh and keep us on our toes. You are a great brother to Landon and Brooklyn. You love to play star wars with Landon and littlest pet shop with Brooklyn. We love you so so much.





You brighten our days everyday. You are a joy to be around. These last three years have been full of fun adventrues and hair pulling for me with you. I look forward to this year as you grow,explore, and learn so much more. Love you dawsey

Goodbye 2010 Hello 2011.

This years for new years eve my and my friend shirlyn decided to go out with a bash. Have a disco party. We reserved our community center and went to town and had such a fun night. The invitation stated that disco attire was not required but highly recommended. I loved David's outfit for the night. I was so bummed that this was the only good picture I got of his killer outfit. We had different stations set up. You could play rock band, karaoke, eat allot of yummy food, and my favorite was the disco ball pinata that I found. I didn't get a good picture of it but it was awesome. Made my whole day when I found it at party city.

Groovy outfit David

tearing it up at rock band

Girls karakoing the night away

thanks Angela for bringing the karaoke machine

Yummy Food table

Santa brought David the xbox kinect. It has been lot of fun to play. We played dance central and sports game. They were both a big hit. Shirlyn don't kill me for putting this picture up. At about 11:00 we had tried to get the kids to lay down to watch a movie. I don't think the parents won that one. We had about 15 kids all trying to lay down and watch a movie in the media room. While the kids were watching a movie the adults turned the night into a dance party .

Good times

Punch Punch Punch

all she wants to do is dance dance dance

We had such a fun time. We have the greatest friends out here. Thank you all for coming we missed friends that couldn't make it. Thank everyone for bringing yummy food to share and there best dance moves. We made party favors for the party. This was a new years eve that will go down in the history books as the funnest new years. Happy 2011

Great group of girl friends

Party Favors

Cant wait for the changes in 2011

ice skating and Caroling

This year for Christmas eve we decided to go ice skating. It was allot of fun. We met our friend the cox's for some ice skating. The place is called the ice palace. It did feel a little wintry in there but the second we walked out the doors we were welcomed to the blazing hot sun.

They had a portion for the kids and they had walkers for them. They were really helpful. If you had a walker then you couldn't go out were the other people were. It was nice that the kids weren't getting ran over by bigger people.

Little Dawson

Walking on the skates

Dawson not ready yet to walk

all set to go

There she goes

Landon doing great

oops fall down

Christmas eve night our friends invited us over for the some caroling, It was fun walking the neighborhood and singing songs all being in good company. We are very fortunate to have such good friends, It was a little sentimental as we were walking through the neighborhood with our friends as this will be the last Christmas's in Hawaii. Being surrounded by such good friends. After we were caroling we had brownies and ice cream.(my kind of dessert). The kids were able to play one last time together. Then back home to put the kids to bed and wait for Santa to come.

caroling in the neighborhood

all the kids having dessert

Good night and merry Christmas

More big island part 2

The next day it was rainy,cloudy and foggy. We went on some small hikes. We went into the lava tube that was cool. It was a big tube/cave that you walk through were only a few hundred years ago lave flowed through. When you are not in the lava tube you are walking through a rain forest. It is really gorgeous.

Entrance to the lava tube

I was playing around with our camera and didn't take it off the black and white setting OOPS

walking around

Inside the lava tube entrance to some more caves/tubes you can explore

Since it was raining and foggy we decided to just do some little walks rather then full oh hikes. We saw some excellent views of the crater.

lookout

After we played around in the park we went to Hilo and went to a waterfall. It was a very pretty waterfall.

rainbow falls

It was such a great three days and two nights that me and David had. It was nice to not have to worry about how the kids were doing since I knew shirlyn was taking good care of them. Did I have to call them once yes and did I make cards for them to open each night from me yes. It was a wonderful time to spend time together. We talked allot and laughed allot. We had our share of relaxing as well. We kept it very simple which was so nice. When we usually get away overnight when we are in Utah we always plan a nice place to stay a nice dinner and Nice event. I am grateful that David treats our time away like that but it was so nice to keep it basic and simple. It was nice to just be together. I have missed him more and more each time he has to go to sea. It was great to sit back and relax and know that I was in the best company I could ever ask for.